Monthly Archives: February 2012

Exclusive: Newt Gingrich Talks to RedState

This morning I had the privilege of conducting the first interview with Newt Gingrich in Atlanta, Ga. following the primary elections in Arizona and Michigan. The former speaker seemed resigned to the results and matter-of-fact about Tuesday night’s results, emotionless about facts he can now do nothing about. He spoke quietly and calmly with intensity, if not energy. I started our interview asking him about his path to victory, given he is now behind Rick Santorum in delegates. He pointed out how few primaries we have had compared to prior years and how many delegates are up for grabs still. Calling Rick Santorum a “huge labor Republican”, Gingrich made clear he thought neither Santorum nor Romney would play well in deeply red states, as we saw in South Carolina — states that are about to be up for grabs on Super Tuesday and shortly thereafter. He views Mitt Romney as someone who cannot sell himself to the voters because Romney does not know himself who he is. In the interview, more to be aired tomorrow, Gingrich also responded to Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) claiming Gingrich, Santorum, and Romney are at war with Islam. We delved into Operation Quick and Furious, energy prices, and Gingrich’s plot to save upwards of $500 billion a year by transforming the federal government with Lean Six Sigma. There was one question, though, with an answer that really stood out. I questioned Speaker Gingrich if the economy does improve and the Republican rationale this campaign season has been that they will fix the economy, on what turf do Republicans try to win the 2012 election if suddenly the voters reckon the economy has turned the corner. You can hear that answer and more in my exclusive interview with Newt Gingrich. Tomorrow we’ll run the full interview.

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Exclusive: Newt Gingrich Talks to RedState

Competition or Cartel Control? An Entrepreneur’s Fight for Fairness

How government uses its powers to regulate and license to act as a cartel for established businesses and to exclude new businesses Artist, veteran, and entrepreneur Julie Crowe wishes to provide a female-friendly vehicle-for-hire service for students in the Bloomington-Normal community, but her attempts are thwarted by city officials who insist students have no need for her services. With the help of the Liberty Justice Center, Ms. Crowe fights back. In Bloomington, Illinois we have just such a case. Julie Crowe had an thought for a business, one that seemed to be …

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Competition or Cartel Control? An Entrepreneur’s Fight for Fairness

Not Defending Romney Moves to Godwin’s Law: How Seth Ellis Proves Me Right

In my morning post on Mitt Romney’s wins I noted that the press is now starting to trot out tales about the Mormon Church, its race issues, baptizing the dead, etc. Contained in that post Seth Ellis goes there where there is pulling a David Brooks, comparing critics who I assume include me to Nazis, and violating Godwin’s Law. So first, I win. Thanks Godwin’s Law. But look at Ellis’s comment: First they came for the Mormons. I am disappointed that Erick would promote this tale as a reason not to select Romney without pointing out how shameful of an attack this is. It is an assault on religion, and it is no different from what they did to Santorum. The only difference is that Romney its smart enough to not fall for it. We cannot stand idly by as the media continues its assault on religion. It is exactly this sort of comment from Erick that leaves so many of us skeptical on Erick’s claim that “his Mormonism has nothing to do with it”. Note first the “first they came for the Mormons” and see David Brooks from yesterday . Second, note that Seth Ellis proves me right. The Democrats smell blood in the water. Romney is weak. He’s headed into the South with his negatives going up. And whether you agree or disagree, as I noted here accurately on January 24, 2012: the secularists in the media — not the Democrats, but the media to the extent it can be separated from the Obama Machine — will spend six months creeping out independent suburban voters about Mormons, holy underwear, Kolob, postmortem baptism, and views on black people and then, as the coup de grace, Barack Obama will fire up millions of dollars of ads on Bain Capital raiding pension funds forcing the government to cover the debt so Mitt Romney could make millions whether he won or lost a deal. It is beginning. It is beginning early because Democrats see Romney going into Southern states and more conservative states hemorrhaging and they reckon they might now have a chance to pick him off and get Santorum — something they did not reckon was possible just a month ago. They reckon they can start unloading the opposition research, which will include lots of tales about the Mormon Church. So back to Seth Ellis. He writes I am disappointed that Erick would promote this tale as a reason not to select Romney without pointing out how shameful of an attack this is. Each day the GOP spends defending Mitt Romney’s faith, which polling of independent and secular leaning voters shows hurts Romney more with them than with evangelicals (specifically, I believe, a Pew poll on the matter), is a day the GOP is not going on offense against Barack Obama. More troubling, the reality is that most Christians do not consider Mormons to be Christians, so while the left is attacking the Mormons and the right is defending Mormons, you’re going to have a lot of Christians pleased to defend Mormons, but make it all the more awkward when distancing themselves from Mormons at the same time. Just as Santorum’s devout Catholicism will come under attack from the left, you must be nuts to reckon Romney’s faith won’t come under attack as well. The difference is the groups that will and will not rally will be different and potentially more disadvantageous toward Romney. And that is the point again. The more we’re all forced to defend Romney on this issue, the more the press will focus on it, and the more our attention will be distracted away from Obama. It is not honest. But it is reality. My opposition to Mitt Romney has nothing to do with his faith. It has everything to do with his opportunism. But I’m also not so naive as to reckon it will not be one more attack used by the left. And, by the way, had hypersensitive Seth not already developed a bunker mentality I suspect many Romney supporters will soon develop, would probably recognize that that line in my post was not meant to be me attacking Mitt Romney, but pointing out that the left’s assault is already beginning. And Seth’s overreaction shows just how terribly many Romney supporters are going to handle it. I’d let him respond, but stooping to Godwin’s Law gets you banned around here.

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Not Defending Romney Moves to Godwin’s Law: How Seth Ellis Proves Me Right

Allen Covert Talks Kids Books, Politics, and Hollywood.

Few actors in Hollywood are able to bring you into the dramatic and painful world of their character with such unfettered boldness as to leave you wallowing in the depths of your own suffering as brought back by the realistic journey of the actor. Allen Covert is not one of those actors.  He’s much better than that. Allen is one of those actors that lives comedic characters in film so well that even when he only has 5 minutes of screen time, you’re talking about his character as you leave the theater. I had Allen on the show yesterday after meeting him at CPAC where I learned that not only was he a conservative, but he had cofounded a publishing company that has released books in the App store for the iPhone and iPad.  Children’s books to be specific.   Brilliant children’s books to be even more specific.  I know this because I am a father of four children and they have spent many a night cheering to read more of the tales. What makes them so special? Well, the fact that you’re reading this tells me you’re probably a conservative or at least right leaning.  Covert and his partners founded Cherry Tree to make children’s books that did something which is unfortunately incredibly unique these days.  They wrote tales about characters that (gasp) like America! Have an inkling of moral values!  Reckon there is a difference between excellent & terrible.  And most incredible of all: expect that individual responsibility (yes, even in children) is something to be applauded, not subsidized away. I urge any parents reading this or who listen to the show to check out the books and read them to your kids.  Go to www.cherrytreechildren.com to learn more. Allen spent well over an hour talking with Ace and me and I’ll be honest, not much of it was politics.  Lots of discussion of movies, hollywood bias and filmmaking.  It was a fantastic insight into a fascinating industry.  Of course we eventually covered some politics as well and discussed the California primaries and what Ace perceives to be conservatism’s last stand. Go to The Ben Howe Show  to listen to the interview and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes . Follow @ben_howe

cac2936097Deeds1.jpg 150x91 Allen Covert Talks Kids Books, Politics, and Hollywood.

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Allen Covert Talks Kids Books, Politics, and Hollywood.

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