Memorial Day Should Be About Action, Not Simply Remembrance.

Written by Scott Cooper

The thrust of what I am about to write came to me two years ago, in July 2011, as I stood on the front steps of Robert E. Lee’s home at what is now Arlington National Cemetery.

I was at Arlington with Student Leadership University.  The students were scheduled to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; however a European dignitary was squeezed in ahead of our scheduled time, providing us a little over an hour of extra time.  Myself, and two other individuals chose to invest our time touring Lee’s Family Estate, known as Arlington House.

My thoughts and this message are not centered on the Civil War, the issues or outcome therein, but on the personal sacrifice of Robert E. Lee and his entire family.  While I knew he had been offered by President Abraham Lincoln to lead the Union Army, until I sat on his front porch viewing Washington DC, where he likely sat weighing his options and future sacrifice, I really did not fully understand the sacrifice or the hardship he placed his entire family under when he choose to do what he thought was right.

The home, sat on land that had been in his family for 83 years, and had been constructed 61 years prior.  6 of his 7 children had been born in that home.  What I did not know, is when he was offered leadership of the Union Army, he was in his 32^nd year of Federal Government Service.  When he made the decision to stand with his home state, Virginia, he not only sacrificed his career and whatever pension he may have been due, he and his family vacated the mansion, as he knew the Federal Government would confiscate it, which is exactly what it did within a week of his departure.

This got me thinking about a subject I have written about before.  Where are the leaders within the bureaucracy, who see what is taking place within our Federal Government and should be willing to stand up to stop it?

Selling Out Our Country, One Stapler At A Time:

Let me start by telling you my story about my stapler.  This stapler has sat on my desk for 33 years, since I was in the 5^th grade.  What is interesting is how I acquired this stapler. 

During the fifth grade, I lived across the street from a Type A Government Worker.  (Yes, they do exist, and I greatly appreciate them).  Occasionally, when she would go into the office on Saturday, she would take me with her.  One Saturday morning in September 1980, we went to spend a few hours at her office in DC.  In the hallways there were piles and piles of office supplies.  I was told by my neighbor, that if there was anything I needed for school or to work on projects at home, I could take it.  Shocked, I didn’t believe her!  “I can’t do that – these items must be needed by folks that work here,” I said. 

No, I was told.  This was all going into the trash, to make room for a huge shipment of office supplies scheduled to arrive any day now.

As an 11 year old, I inquired, “Why are they ordering more office supplies, when they have to throw good stuff out to make room for new stuff?”  Seemed like an honest question to me!  I had been taught to “waste not, want not,” and to make everything last as long as possible. 

The explanation was-  “Due to the budget process, we need to spend this years money before the end of the fiscal year, in order to ensure we are budgeted the same amount of money next year; therefore an order for a boatload of new office supplies was made.  You see, if the money isn’t spent, we won’t get it again next year.”

“But it obviously isn’t needed, as can be witnessed by the amount of items that are being thrown away,” was my frustrated, aggravated response.  “Scott, that’s just the way it works.  I agree with you, it is wasteful, but that is the way it works.” I was told,

My hatred for Federal waste began at this early age.  I still have that stapler 33 years later, and my anger grows more every year.  I often use it as an example in conversations, or when I am speaking somewhere, stating “We are enslaving our children and grandchildren with useless debt, one stapler at a time!  I literally still use that stapler, and wonder how many have been thrown away in the last 33 years!  They don’t even make solid, metal staplers like this one any longer!

Got to get another fuel order in before the end of the fiscal year!

One night I told my stapler story to a group of men, and we began to share government waste stories.  “Oh that’s nothing," one man said.  "When I used to be stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station, at the end of the fiscal year, we would be ordered to take our jets over the Atlantic Ocean to dump fuel, to make room for another fuel order.”  This absolutely infuriated me. 

A couple months later I was at a convention where I relayed that Oceana Naval Air Station story to another guy, and he said – “Oh, I was stationed at Oceana in 1974.  We were ordered to do it back then too!"

Conclusion:

I understand Self-Interest or Self-Preservation is a powerful motivator. 

I also understand that the pressure placed on potential whistleblowers is relentless and sometimes life threatening. 

Recently I had a conversation with a government insider who in tears said, “Scott, you simply do not understand the risks involved when trying to put a stop to any government corruption.”

I also understand what Edmund Burke is attributed to having said, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing.”

Well – this waste is just that, evil.  And for decades we have allowed it to take place.  We have done very little to stop it – and our kids and grand kids will be forced to pay a horrible price, even if we did put a stop to it today.

Perhaps it can’t be reined in.  Perhaps we are destined to collapse fiscally, and enslave our kids and grand kids, because for decades we have permitted this to continue.  Ultimately, those within the system – who saw it first hand, promoted, encouraged or allowed it to happen, will be to blame. 

I mentioned Edmund Burke.  I also absolutely love the quote from Billy Graham, “When a bold man (or woman) takes a stand, he strengthens the spines of others.”

It is my hope and prayer that enough Individuals within the system will say enough is enough and begin to take bold and courageous steps.  Individuals who will no longer be willing to play a role in selling future generations of Americans into bondage.  Men and women of strong courage and character - like those we honored on Memorial Day, who paid the ultimate sacrifice!  Like Robert E. Lee, who after weighing his options, chose to do what he thought was right, and left the results up to God.

The whistleblowers in the current IRS, Benghazi and AP scandals give us renewed hope! 

I am confident there are many more out there – who are praying through such decisions. 

Consider spending some time, even tonight, in prayer for those individuals. 

The Liberty all of us have enjoyed is indeed at stake – at it is going to take many Patriots within the system, to turn the tide!

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A Few of Scott's Past Writings:

August 16, 2011 – The Next Greatest Generation

Memorial Day, 2012 – Don’t Just Remember The Dead, Honor Them By Engaging in the Current War

June 6, 2012 – The 68^th Anniversary of D-Day – My Thoughts

American Betrayal - A Book and Interview with Diana West!

Written by Scott Cooper

Diana West has a new book, American Betrayal, which I recommend all American’s who are concerned about our National Security and Constitutionally Limited Government take the time to read.  Ms. West draws correlations between the infiltrations of Communists (Joe McCarthy Era) into our government starting in the 1930’s to the infiltration of The Muslim Brotherhood into our government today. 

The level of historical fact in Ms. West’s book, combined with the belief that; “power corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” as the explanation of why government often no longer functions in truth, but functions in the effort to retain power, and forcing any and all efforts expose problems within the system are squelched – often at the peril of true patriots seeking truth.  This really is a non-partisan issue, or at least it should be.

Tom Trento of United West did an exceptional interview with Ms. West on Monday.  The interview actually begins at about minute 10.  Please make sure you listen to the conclusion, starting about minute 44:30. 



Here is another interview that Diana did with The Daily Caller:
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Why I am supporting Dustin Curtis for Virginia House of Delegates – District 54

Written by:  Scott Cooper

   

We are at a point in our history where our priorities need to be analyzed and re-set. 

       
Over the last two decades we have seen the expansion of government at every level.  In Virginia, over the last twelve years, we have seen state and local revenue increase 8 out of 11 years, including the last two years.  During the same time period, Virginia dependency on the Federal Government has also grown.  According to Clifton, Larson and Allen, in most categories, Virginia ranks in the top five states most financially dependent on the Federal Government, which as we know is sustaining itself through the printing of money and borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends.  If you want enlightening reading, peruse the Clifton, Larson and Allen report, especially pages 12 - 16!

This past legislative session, while facing pending sequestration cuts from the Federal Government, and in the midst of one of the worst recessions since the great depression, our Republican House of Delegates and Senate passed the largest tax increase in Virginia history.  It is expected Republican Governor Bob McDonnell will sign that tax increase. 

Delegate Bobby Orrock, who has served Spotsylvania and the 54^th House district for 23 years voted for that tax increase.  My understanding is Republican Speaker William Howell of Stafford, who has served for 25 years, in an effort to get the tax increase passed, pledged his war-chest to protect any Republican who would support the tax increase.  That is speculation – all we can do is watch his expenditures toward contested republican races during the upcoming campaign season to see if it is valid.

I firmly believe it is time for new representation at the Virginia House of Delegates.  I believe that very few individuals who have served in elected office for over 2 decades, unless they have a strong track record of speaking against and preventing the expansion of government – which has led to our current financial predicament, need to remain in office.  This is not personal.  I personally like both of the Delegates I mentioned above, both of whom are in their third decade of holding the public trust.  I simply believe they are too close to the expansion that has taken place to adequately address the problems we face.

Why Dustin Curtis:

I have known and observed Dustin Curtis for over two years now.  Here are a few things I can tell you about Dustin:

·       Dustin is an articulate and passionate individual who has thoroughly studied the issues. 

·       Dustin not only talks about the problems we face, he has thoughtfully researched and can articulate solutions.

·       Dustin understands what it takes to win – he is a graduate of The Leadership Institute and has worked with We R Virginia and on multiple campaigns.

·       Dustin has served in leadership roles as Chairman of The Fredericksburg, VA Patriots, and with We R Virginia and Campaign for Liberty.  In leadership, especially in civic organizations, there are always difficult situations.  I have witnessed Dustin handle difficult people and situations with tact, grace and decisiveness.

·       Dustin has surrounded himself with fantastic mentors.  In my opinion, this is an important thing for anyone in leadership – especially in elected office.

·       Dustin comes from the generation that will pay the heaviest burden for our collective financial irresponsibility.  There will be some who say his youth is a detractor from his candidacy.  I view it as very positive.  We need individuals of Dustin’s caliber, in his demographic, who understand the severity of the financial situation we are in, who are willing to take the bull by the horns to fix our problems.  Dustin is such an individual.

Please take a few minutes to review Dustin’s web-site.  If you agree with me, that we need Republican leadership in Richmond who are willing to draw a line in the sand, and re-prioritize our spending – who will say enough is enough on the tax increases – don’t just vote for Dustin in the primary this summer – please support him with your financial contribution. 

Bobby Orrock currently has $ 170,000 in his campaign account, and Speaker Howell has pledged to protect the Republicans who voted for the largest tax increase in Virginia History with his war chest, which currently sits at half a million dollars. 

If we really want new elected leadership in Richmond, each of us need to contribute, and we can make that a reality.  Please consider $ 25, $ 50, $ 100, $ 250 or whatever you can to this very important race. 

 

Thank you,

 

Scott Cooper

There Will Be No Draft

Written by: Scott Cooper
                           

The difference between our grandparents generation – The Greatest Generation who fought off tyranny abroad and OUR generation which must fight off tyranny ON OUR SHORES is our grandparents had the draft and our country was led by individuals, who while progressive, were unwilling to see evil triumph.

Our generation will not face a draft.  We will not be REQUIRED to serve.  We must individually recognize that evil is triumphing within our borders, and WE MUST INDIVIDUALLY decide, will we stand up and do something, or will we remain silent? 

Is our heritage, our values and our way of life so important that we will decide OURSELVES to do everything we can to prevent its demise.  Or are we so complacent, so in love with our things, our personal time, our vacations, our sports “brackets”, and watching “Desperate Housewives” and reality T.V. that we will not invest the time required to turn the evil tide in our society.

“Silence in the face of evil is evil.  God will not hold us blameless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer  

The good news is: history shows it only takes 20 % of society to chart a new course.  The radicals which control our academia, our media and our government at all levels are a far smaller minority.  It only takes 20 % - “an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men” who will turn the tide of history. 

Where will we as individuals sit, with the 5 – 10 % of the population who are radical leftists, will we help grow the freedom lovers who will invest their time and resources for the cause of liberty to 20 %, or will we stay with the 70 – 75 % who remain silent?

There will be no draft.  The choice is yours.  Kind of like God’s Grace – he provides us a choice – and does not mandate the Liberty of His Grace.  Also, kind of like God’s Grace – there will be consequences for our action or inaction.

Something I wrote about the NEXT greatest generation in August of 2011.

 

South Carolina Tea Party Focuses on National Security

Written by:  Scott Cooper

                   

 

It was an honor to play a minor role in the South Carolina State Tea Party Convention last weekend. 

 

Joe Dugan, SC State Coordinator with Tea Party Patriots, as well as the director of the MyrtleBeach Tea Party put together an event that brought together international experts on all the major issues facing our republic, most of which are not being addressed by our elected officials in Washington.

Because of my interest in National Security, my role was to help organize the National Security Panel, which of course dealt with the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood, The existential threat of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), and the reality of International Law being implemented in our country.  The panel consisted of my father, Hank Cooper, Chairman of High Frontier; Frank Gaffney, President of The Center for Security Policy, Tom Trento, Director of United West and Decorated Navy Seal.  Each had about 20 minutes to speak, which was followed by a brief panel discussion of the issues they addressed.

 

I want to lead with what was a real honor for me, to have the opportunity to introduce one of my hero’s, a true Patriot, my father, Ambassador Henry Cooper, who spoke about EMP:
 



As you know, I am very engaged in educating the American Citizenry about the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood into our republic.  Last October, I had the opportunity to host Frank Gaffney in Fredericksburg, VA, where he and Christopher Holton of Center for Security Policy spoke on State Legislative Solutions to the Infiltration of The Muslim Brotherhood in America.  This past Saturday, in Myrtle Beach, Frank gave, as always, an exceptional explanation of the challenges we face.  Unfortunately, the video for that presentation has been taken down; however I would recommend checking out www.MuslimBrotherhoodInAmerica.com to hear his entire course.
 

Mr. Tom Trento provided a motivational speech, referring back to the battle of Trenton, just over 237 years ago, and then he spoke about the threat of International Law:

 

Following Mr. Trento, decorated Navy Seal Benjamin Smith gave an exceptional talk, which was followed by a panel discussion on National Security Issues, by all four speakers:
 

 

The entire Conference was exceptional and Joe Dugan and the entire team deserve to be commended.  I highly recommend watching the entire conference in its entirety, which can be done by CLICKING THIS LINK!

I am working at the state level, with High Frontier to help protect us from these national secuirty threats.  If you would like to help us with this effort, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE. 

 

$ 100, $ 50, $ 25 or even $ 10 a month will go a long way in helping us.

 



 

 



 

               

 

 



Have You Had Your “Pearl Harbor Moment” Yet? What Will You Do With It?

Written by: Scott Cooper

                 

                  

“December 7, 1941, a day which will live in infamy” are famous words delivered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a joint session of Congress the day following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, 71 years ago today.

Those who were 18 years old that day, if they are still alive, are 89 years old now.  The result being, very few Americans personally know or understand the sacrifice that generation of Americans made to stop tyranny.  Over 60 million individuals or 2.5 % of the world’s population died in that war.  Over 418,000 Americans died.  Great Britain lost over 450,000.  As a percentage of population, Great Britain lost twice as many citizens as The United States.

Until December 7^th, 1941 most American’s were oblivious to the world at war.  Many who understood did their best to ignore it and encouraged their neighbors to do the same.  The attitude in Great Britain was similar, until September 1939.  This was despite numerous warnings from statesman Winston Churchill, who lost his seat in Parliament almost a decade before being called back to lead the war effort, in part because his vision was ahead of the people he represented.  Please read a tribute I wrote to statesman Winston Churchill, on his birthday last week!

Today we face threats to our liberty and freedom which are more significant than tyrannical governments outside our borders, like those we fought after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Indeed our enemy is within our borders.  Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, known for his military efforts in the mid-19^th century, is noted for stating “We have seen the enemy and they are ours….”  Often paraphrased, “we have met the enemy, and it is US!”

                                                                      

This morning, as I reflected on what took place 71 years ago, two thoughts came to mind. 

1. First, most of our citizens, especially the youth have no grasp of our history, not only about this date but about the foundational principles and the price that was paid for these principles to become a reality in the republic of the United States.
2. We are being destroyed from within, in such a way that if we do not wake up soon, when our next Pearl Harbor takes place (and it will happen – think September 11, 2001), we will be unable to get back up.

I believe we each need to have our own “Pearl Harbor Moment,” but in our own lives.  The key is, once we have that moment, we need to get up from the dinner table, where we have been gorging on the bounty of past generations fight for liberty for far too long, and engage the culture and civic arena to take back what so many of our ancestors bled and died for. 

These “Pearl Harbor Moments” aren’t where planes blow up ships.  These “Pearl Harbor Moments” are more like epiphanies in our own minds where we realize: “Houston, we have a problem!” 

Then, like the scientists who gathered to fix an impossible problem during the Apollo 13 flight, we need to build our own networks where we will impact change to help steer the ship right. 

This repair job will not happen if “We the People” remain at the table eating the dwindling inheritance our forefathers gave to us. 

We need to begin building an inheritance for our kids and grandkids!  One they can be proud of.  The inheritance I refer to is the blessings of Liberty and Freedom.  These blessings were purchased at a great price.  What are you willing to personally do to ensure we bequeath the same inheritance to our children that previous generations bequeathed to us?  Or will you sit back and allow their inheritance to be used up in your lifetime?

I used Apollo 13 as an example, because it is a real story of hope and redemption.  All odds were against bringing our astronaut’s home, yet not once did Gene Krantz and the team he assembled give up hope.  Against all odds, they accomplished an impossible task.

I know many individuals have given up hope.  Folks who believe America’s best days are behind her.  There are individuals who are actually abandoning their businesses or reducing the sizes of their businesses, because our government has simply made it impossible to remain in business.  The reason may be due to religious conscious issues, or outrageous regulations.  Some individuals have left the country and every day more consider it.

What will be your “Pearl Harbor Moment?”  Let me share a few of mine:

• U.S. Debt Crisis:  In college, in the late 1980’s, I thought a lot about US deficit spending.  As a Political Science major, I remember giving a speech about it in Public Speaking Class, when our total debt was a mere $ 2.8 Trillion!  I was infuriated back then at the irresponsibility of our government.  I did think about how I could get engaged in the effort to restrain government spending.  From 1987 – 1991, the years I was in college total U.S. Debt grew by $ 1.3 Trillion.  After a brief internship on Capitol Hill in 1990, it was obvious to me that the majority of those in power at the time did not take this issue seriously, so I decided to pursue business opportunities, rather than seek employment in Washington.  From 2009 to today, the years my 21 year oldest son has been out of high school, total U.S. Debt grew by over $ 5 Trillion.  Many of those in Washington during my internship in 1990 are still there.  In fact, they are now in leadership.  Speaker John Boehner has been in Washington for 21 years.  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been in office since 1985.  Pearl Harbor Moments!  First during my 1990 Internship.  Reinforced daily since 2008 when George Bush announced, “I have decided to abandon the free market system, in order to save the free market system!  Here we are a generation later, and our rate of debt growth is 400 % faster than when I graduated from college.

• Work Ethic Crisis:  Working in Operations Management in the service or retail industry for the majority of my career, I have seen first hand the declining work ethic of our citizenry, especially the youth.  It breaks my heart to say that, in my opinion, the generation that responded to Pearl Harbor, the children from the depression era, would be ashamed to see many of their great grandchildren today.  I could speak about it from my experiences running car wash or mechanic shops during my time in the rental car industry.  I could share my experiences running logistics in the big box retail industry.  Simply put, the idea that we need immigrants to do work American’s won’t do, is in large part because we have bred a generation to believe there is a certain level of work which is beneath them.  This is perpetuated by an entitlement structure (government run) and parents who give their children so much that the concept of starting at the bottom and working your way up is no longer noble.  Pearl Harbor Moment! 

• Immigration Crisis:  I know this issue will come up politically in the near future.  Personally, I don’t believe we can have serious immigration reform without serious entitlement reform.  This is extremely complicated but PART of the problem is for the reasons listed above, businesses seek migrant labor.  It isn’t because they don’t want to hire Americans to do decent jobs.  It is because they can’t hire Americans, even those who have been unemployed for months.  I have two friends who run farms.  Both friends for over a decade had the same migrant workers come each year to help during the season.  In 2009 due to high unemployment, our government placed restrictions on their ability to have their migrant workers return.  They were required to attempt to hire American’s in multiple states prior to having their seasonal workers return from Latin America.  After investment of time and thousands of dollars, they were unable to hire Americans to do these tasks, all during a time period that government dependency has increased.  I am reminded of Ben Franklin’s comment, “I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.”  Honestly, I don’t think that is a hateful comment, but it is an understanding that when you consistently provide basic needs for people, they become dependent upon it and unwilling to do for themselves what God gave them the capacity to do.  Pearl Harbor Moment!

• Muslim Brotherhood Crisis:  There is a “Silent Conquest” (please watch video for details) taking place in our republic, and just like our leaders have failed to deal with our debt crisis, our entitlement crisis, and our securing the border crisis, they are unwilling to deal with this crisis.  Pearl Harbor Moment!

• Energy Dependence Crisis:  The Department of Energy was created by Jimmy Carter in 1977 with the purpose of becoming Energy Independent.  We are 35 years removed, and we are still dependent on our energy supply from the very individuals mentioned in my bullet point above!  Pearl Harbor Moment!

• Growth of Government Crisis:  One of the tasks in Operations Management has been to complete annual competitive wage survey’s, to ensure our compensation packages were in line with the market.  This is not a poke at the thousands of outstanding government workers, but the reality is, the private sector funds the public sector.  The sector that receives its funding from the private sector has compensation packages that for the most part far exceeds the compensation packages of majority of the private sector.  So much so, thousands of citizens are more motivated to “Public Service” rather than building businesses.  Reflect on that some, as our private sector decreases and public sector increases!  Pearl Harbor Moment!

Have you had your “Pearl Harbor Moment” yet?  What are you going to do with it?  

Our children and our grandchildren will receive an inheritance.  The Bible states in Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (NASB).

Our fathers and grandfathers who fought in WWII, who we remember today on Pearl Harbor Day, were children during the depression era.  They came back from hard times and left us a tremendous inheritance.  We owe it to them to do the same for our children.

Have you had your “Pearl Harbor Moment” yet?  What are you going to do with it?

Today’s Senate Vote on U. N. Treaty Is a Reminder for Grassroots in VA to Begin Preparing for 2014 Now

Written by:  Scott Cooper
                   

Today at 12:06 P.M., The United States Senate voted on the ratification of the U.N. Treaty, The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  The treaty was rejected by a vote of 61-38-1.  It required 66 votes to be ratified, and only 61 yea votes were received.  Thank God!  

For the long list of reasons highlighted in the video at the end of this post, this treaty goes against U.S. sovereignty and the individual rights of our citizens for a whole host of reasons.  It is not surprising that Democrats would vote for this treaty.  What is surprising is that of the 46 Republicans in the U.S. Senate, 8 Republican Senators voted to yield our sovereignty and our citizens rights to an international body, and 1 Republican Senator chose not to vote.  The Republican Senators who voted for this treaty are:

Senator Kelly A. Ayotte (R-NH)

Senator John Anthony Barrasso (R-WY)

Senator Scott P. Brown (R-MA)

Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME)
Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)

Republican Senator Steven Kirk from Illinois was the only Senator who did not vote.

I believe this vote has significance to the grassroots of Virginia as we begin to prepare for the 2014 U.S. Senate race, and here is why:

When we look at two things:

1.  It is the job of the U.S. Senate to ratify treaties.  Our sovereignty is under attack through international treaties such as the one that was voted on today.  There are a multitude of additional treaties in the pipeline.  We know how Senators Warner, Webb and Senator-elect Kaine will vote.

2.  The United States Senate has not passed a budget in over three years.  Our current Virginia Senators have not attempted to rectify this situation, and I doubt Senator-elect Kaine will do anything to challenge Harry Reid.

Virginia U.S. Senator Warner (D), who is up for re-election in 2014 voted yes for this treaty.  What is disappointing is his willingness to ignore his constituency.  Speaking with his Legislative Aide (LA) yesterday at 3 PM, I am confident that Senator Warner knows the majority of his constituents were opposed to this treaty.  After explaining to Senator Warner’s LA that U.S. disability law is superior to most nations in the U.N., including most of the Security Council nations, she could not articulate why the Senator would be in favor of subjugating American Citizens to this treaty.  She also told me that his decision was not made yet, which simply could not have been true. 

It is imperative Conservatives regain control of the Senate in 2014.  If Virginia is to play a role in defending our national sovereignty and protecting individual liberty in the U.S. Senate, Conservatives and Republicans in Virginia need to do better in 2014.  Clearly our strategy for the last 6 years has not worked. 

Let’s look at a brief history of RPV’s success rate at state wide races for the last 6 years:

Republican George Allen lost our U.S. Senate seat to Democrat Jim Webb, a political novice, in 2006.  George Allen lost the same seat again to Democrat Tim Kaine in 2012.  In 2008, Republican John Warner retired, and a seat which had been held by Republicans for 36 years (held by Republican William Lloyd Scott for 6 years prior to John Warner’s 3 decade reign) was lost by Jim Gilmore to Mark Warner in a vote of 65 % to 33.7 %.  Since 2006 RPV has lost 3 U.S. Senate races and two Presidential races.  What is interesting is there is a lot of blame these days being tossed toward the Tea Party, which didn’t even exist until 2009.  Go Figure.

Let’s look at some trends:

This week U.S. House Republican leadership are doing everything possible to purge Conservatives from leadership positions.  Tactics were used this summer to shut conservatives out of the process at the GOP National Convention, as well as at state conventions across the country.  The result: it helped Democrats across the country get elected, including the Presidential and Senate races in Virginia.  While there is an effort among establishment Republicans to blame the Tea Party, the reality is, it is GOP establishment behavior that is leading to the demise of the party.

 Lessons for 2014:

1.  The Grassroots needs to consolidate behind a conservative candidate for U.S. Senate early on so there is a bold candidate going against Mark Warner.  We struggled doing this in 2012.  It would be nice to think that candidates would see the need to self-consolidate, but there are too many forces working against that idealistic thinking.

2.  The Central Committee of RPV needs to vote to have conventions for the 2014 candidate selection process.  Here is a great piece on why Conventions are better than Primaries. 

      3.  RPV needs to embrace the conservatives who want to help our party abide by our written principles, rather than attempt to exclude them.

There is a tremendous amount of energy in the Conservative movement.  The question is, will the Republicans follow the tactics of the past, or when you look at the U.S. House leadership this week the present, or will they chart a new course? 

My hope lies with the people, not the party.

P.S.  Here is the video with point as to why this was a bad treaty.  This was presented by Michael Farris, Founder of ParentalRights.org, Home School Legal Defense Fund and Chancellor of Patrick Henry College, Senator Mike Lee and Former Senator Rick Santorum.