Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate a stellar moment in American history. June 17th 2015, Donald Trump and wife Melania took their famous ride down a golden escalator at Trump Tower. Arriving at the podium, he announced his campaign for the presidency: Politicians are all talk and no action. They will never be able to fix our country. They will never bring us to the Promised Land, and I cannot sit back and watch this incompetence any longer. Ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for President of the United States. Our country needs and deserves a comeback…but, we are not going to get that comeback with politicians. Politicians are not the solution to our problems-- they are the problem. They are almost completely controlled by lobbyists, donors and the special interests—they do not have the best interests of our people at heart. We will never...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute George Shoup, born near Pittsburgh, June 15th 1836. Age twenty-three, the entrepreneur moved to Colorado. During the Civil War, he was scout, then officer with the territorial cavalry.  Peace restored, Shoup relocated to Idaho and became a successful merchant. His political career began as county commissioner and school superintendent. He first won election to the territorial legislature in 1874. He was delegate to the GOP’s 1880 national convention, followed by six years as Republican National Committeeman. President Chester Arthur named Shoup commissioner to the New Orleans World’s Fair. There, at his own expense, he promoted Idaho products. President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Territorial Governor. In 1890, statehood achieved, Shoup was elected Governor. Less than three month later, the legislature elected him Senator. ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Andrew Jackson Stevens, co-founder of the Iowa GOP. He studied law in New York under supervision of William Seward. The ambitious Whig relocated to Des Moines in 1847 and taught school. Prospering as railroad and banking entrepreneur, Stevens served on a committee that named the counties. He was elected state auditor in 1854. His anti-slavery Iowa Citizen newspaper gave way to the Commonwealth newspaper for young Republicans. February 1856, Stevens attended the GOP's nationwide organizational meeting and was named national committeeman. He signed the call for the 1856 Republican National Convention and attended it as delegate. That year, Stevens financed a scientific expedition to Ecuador — yes, Ecuador. After brief service in the Union army, he was appointed consul in Italy. Later years found him in Nebraska and California. H...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate the first radio broadcast of a presidential speech. It happened June 14th 1922, at Fort McHenry Park, in Baltimore. Warren Harding dedicated a memorial to Francis Scott Key, author of the words for The Star Spangled Banner . City government coordinated with the War Department to transmit audio by telephone across the country, for re-transmission by radio. In this way, people nationwide could hear the President speak. He emphasized patriotism: " We have no rivalries in our devotion to the things we call American, because that is a common consecration." Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I denounce Democrat devilry. June 14th 2017, a volunteer for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign shot Representative Steve Scalise and several other people. The gunman intended to kill many Republicans as they practiced for the annual Congressional Baseball Game.  Fortunately, his victims survived and the deranged Democrat was killed by police. President Donald Trump said: "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected." He and Melania visited Scalise and an injured police officer in hospital. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the fut...