The Remarkable First Day

It was a day that began rather unremarkably, like this column. First came finding the place. Thanks to an app called Waze, we navigated around all of the many streets cordoned off for what we were affectionately calling "Republicanville" by the end of the day.


The crowd cheered when a speaker thanked the Cleveland police for doing such a good job protecting the Convention -- applause that was well deserved. But after a silent protester was escorted out of the building for unfurling a sign supporting Syrian refugees, it was clear that more than just our safety was being secured.


I am too harsh. This is, after all, a convention to celebrate and promote the Republican nominee. It's the winner's victory lap, and he should be entitled to a unanimous -- in perception at least -- cheering crowd. That's what party conventions are for.


And that's why there was little sympathy for last minute efforts to derail the Trump nomination.


In any event, it seemed hypocritical for those claiming to speak in the name of the people to be advocating that party insiders use the rules to snatch victory from the candidate who received millions more votes than any of his competitors.


The mainstream media kept political opinions to themselves except when we were standing in line for the shuttle. We learned from a Buffalo television reporter that Trump may in fact have enough support from upstate and renegade Manhattanites to carry New York. But then again, that's the kind of thing I imagine any smart political reporter in an habitual blue state would say to retain viewer interest.


We met a Clevelander who'd also made the climb up the steep hill from the riverfront, home to our cheap parking space ($10, in contrast to the $50-$80 parking closer to the arena). She confirmed that the city this week is nothing like normal Cleveland. It sounded like this young woman is a lone Republican in a neighborhood of Democratic wolves. She said she had supported Rand Paul, but when he dropped out, she crossed over to vote for Bernie because she hated Hillary so much.


Maybe hating Hillary so much will win this election. That certainly was the theme for many of the speakers last night. A Gold Star mother seethed in contempt for what she said were Hillary's lies to her about the circumstances of her son's death. In a night when a former fashion model would be the keynote speaker, debate raged over whether Hillary would look better wearing pantsuits in orange or black stripes.


The Benghazi rescuers spoke way too long. I never thought an account of rescuing Americans from the embassy could become boring, but by the end of their speech, I noticed a sea of cell phones receiving more attention. They weren't taking pictures of the speakers either.


Senator Jeff Sessions also was a victim of delegate distraction. Someone walked into the arena in the middle of his speech. Not sure who it was because the focus of attention was below the balcony where we were sitting. Was it Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Gollum? Whoever it was, more people were interested in taking his photograph than paying attention to Senator Sessions. We ran into the senator afterwards on his way back to the hotel. He first ignored us, then waved an acknowledgment without turning around. He clearly was not happy with the way his speech had been received.


More content was Senator Tom Cotton, who did a much better job delivering his first convention speech than had that other Arkansan when he first appeared on a national stage. There is no need for Senator Cotton to play the saxophone on the Tonight Show; he did a commendable job. He was spotted smiling, holding his wife's hand, strolling down the hallway afterwards.


The speakers who really were on fire were Rudy Giuliani and the Milwaukee police chief. They both gave stirring talks focusing on why blue lives matter.


Notwithstanding the meandering speeches by the Benghazi rescuers, most of the evening was tightly produced and effective. I had been dubious about the speaker line-up, which was light on professional politicians and heavy on ordinary folk. I was wrong. The large number of persons of color and accent on that podium support Trump's claim that he has constructed a sufficiently broad tent for victory.


The speaker with the most striking accent -- both in appearance and speech -- was, of course, Melania. It is hard to say the candidate is anti-immigrant when his number one fan is a naturalized citizen. It will be hard to say the candidate is anti-Semitic when his daughter Ivanka -- who converted to Judaism -- will introduce him Thursday night.


Melania's speech writer should be fired if he/she plagiarized Michelle Obama's speech, as is being reported. But despite this mar, Melania  did a superb job humanizing her husband and bringing a little of, dare we say, Jackie Kennedy-like glamour to the stage. He won't like for us to say this, but she really upstaged her husband, who made cameo appearances before and after her speech. (For a host of reasons, they could have done without Queen's "We Are the Champions" as background music.)


The only former GOP presidential candidate in attendance was former Senator Bob Dole, who Melania rightly singled out for a standing ovation. None of the famous Bush family was there. The only sighting of 41 and 43 was in a joint photograph in the hallway, along with pictures of other Republican presidents from the past. I spotted only one photograph of Abraham Lincoln, one of Ronald Reagan, several of Richard Nixon. Go figure.


But this convention isn't about the past or politicians, at least not in the usual sense. This convention is going exactly how I had expected, and that was what made the first day so remarkable.
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Day One of Convention Shatters Expectations

Leading up to the convention, many doubted Donald Trump's ability to assemble an all star convention speaker lineup. If tonight is any indication, that could not be further from the truth. 

Tonight's speakers made us laugh, made our hearts mourn for unnecessary death and suffering caused by Obama and Clinton's failed leadership, made us frustrated at the damage our country has suffered over the last eight years, but most importantly made us hopeful for the change that is ahead. 

I was particularly moved by Mary Ann Mendoza, Sabine Durden, and Jamiel Shaw's stories of their children who were killed by illegal immigrants. In all three circumstances, the killers were felons who did not face appropriate punishment for their crimes or deportation, which would have prevented the death of three innocent men. Pat Smith spoke of her son's death in Benghazi in an emotional speech in which one could not help but empathize with the pain she felt, especially with Hillary Clinton lying to her face about the cause of her son's death. We've heard a lot about Benghazi since the attack in 2012, but tonight really showed the consequences in a way in which any American could relate.

Darryl Glenn, Republican nominee for Senate from Colorado, delivered an impressive performance. Glenn, an African American, began by attacking Obama as a divider, a contributor not remedy for recent racial tensions. Later, in a moment of comic relief, Glenn spoke of Hillary's love of pantsuits; he suggested that perhaps she'd look good in an orange one!

In one of the best performances of the night, Rudy Giuliani energetically spoke directly about the night's theme -- Make America Safe Again -- and laid out the need for a leader dedicated to supporting the police who protect us at home and our military who protects us abroad. He also spoke of his personal relationship with Trump. "You deserve to know this about your next president. He’s been great a great father, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend to me, my wife Judith, and my family for now almost 30 years." Giuliani continued, "I know him personally, and this is a very good and decent man. And he will be a great president!"

Giuliani in an unusually energetic speech

In a dramatic climax, Donald Trump unexpectedly took the stage to introduce his wife, Melania, who eloquently spoke of her experience immigrating to America and attempted to show voters her husband's human side. She said: "Yes, Donald thinks big, which is especially important when considering the presidency of the United States. No room for small thinking. No room for small results. Donald gets things done." She followed up, saying: "If you want someone to fight for you and your country, I can assure you, he is the 'guy'. He will never, ever, give up. And, most importantly, he will never, ever, let you down."

Donald Trump unexpectedly emerging to introduce his wife, Melania

Melania was confident and poised

Unfortunately, Melania's speech has been overshadowed by accusations of plagiarism which the Trump campaign has denied. Any resemblance to Michelle Obama's 2008 speech must almost certainly be coincidental, as it would be absurd to plagiarize in such a high profile speech. It's really a shame because Melania's speech was so excellent, and many will miss her incredible story in light of these accusations.

Unofficial Delegate Photo

This was taken at the same time as the official photo. Look for the Kentucky delegation on the right side.

 

Never Trump has formally fizzled; now say cheese!

Contrary to what Politico is reporting, the convention floor has been rather tame during the so-called revolt against Trump. A delegate from California has just offered a resolution that the secretary of the convention publish its report from the rules committee. This should effectively cut off the never Trump effort. They are moving on to taking the official photograph of all the convention delegates. We  will post the unofficial one taken from our vantage point soon.
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Did the protesters get the date wrong?

As I write this, the weather outside is a bit overcast, but not enough to limit the humidity and heat. For such a large city, Cleveland felt a bit empty this morning. As we drove to pick up Secret Service credentials, there was nary another car for most of the trip. Granted, many fellow RNC-goers were probably taking the opportunity to catch up on some sleep after last night's Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. Many of the main streets have barricades, security checkpoints, and and an iron wall (maybe eight feet tall?) encasing the convention perimeter. This writer is grateful for the efforts by local and national law enforcement agencies to keep the convention running safely and smoothly

Nevertheless, the few hours before the official start at 1:00 lacked what I expected would be a staple at this convention -- Where are the protesters?! As we wandered the perimeter, I expected to see crowds of people giving the usual spiel: Trump's a racist, the GOP is racist, they need to condemn him as a racist, etc. etc. Side note: I find it interesting that liberals can simultaneously hold the view that the GOP is completely racist yet still insist that it must condemn the frontrunner to save the "soul of the party". Kind of a chicken and egg argument, but I digress. 

Anyways, I finally got a glimpse of the throngs of protesters just behind the great, big, iron wall as we travelled from the Quicken Loans Arena to the Huntington Convention Center to mingle with the rest of the Fourth Estate. Hopefully there will be time to interact with the crowds outside the perimeter. 

Today's forecast, cloudy with a chance of crowd control.

Dr. Ben Carson

Just ran into Dr. Ben Carson, who was just as friendly in person as he comes across on TV. He graciously stopped for a photo with my brother Christian and me. 

 

Hello Mr. Rather

You never know who you will meet at a political convention. Soon after we arrived in the media area, I looked up and who did I see other than the last person I'd expect: Dan Rather. I reached out and shook his hand. "Hello Mr. Rather. Nice to meet you." He seemed genuinely pleased to be recognized. No one else seemed to be paying attention to him as he headed towards a concession stand. The man he tried to take down -- W -- is not showing up this week. Who would have imagined it a few years ago?

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

We need a cup of coffee

I just arrived at the U.S. courthouse to obtain secret service clearance. Outside there is hardly anyone in the streets. No protesters. Nothing. A reporter from the UK I just met described the city as a "ghost town". He said he was going to get a cup of coffee. The whole city seems to need one too.
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Baring My Pre-Convention Thoughts

It's been eight years since the last national Republican convention I attended, and I wonder how this one will compare.

At the last one, in Minneapolis, McCain was the nominee, but really Palin was the focus of attention. And Romney was so off the radar screen that I almost bumped into him alone on a sidewalk outside the arena after McCain's acceptance speech. That he couldn't find a friend to walk with him that night should have been a sign of things to come. This year Romney won't even be at the convention. McCain will be in the Grand Canyon both literally and metaphorically, given how far away he is from everyone's attention these days.

Eight years ago Ron Paul brought the most motley band of supporters. I remember attending their outdoor rally in a park, where a couple of fellows in whitey tighties were preaching libertarianism and passing out copies of the Constitution. This time those standing with Rand (in business suits) probably won't be noticed. That's too bad. Maybe in another four years.

In Minneapolis there were a few protesters. But it was nothing compared to what has been hyped for this week. When McCain was nominated, the nation yawned, except for its momentary interest in Palin. But she seemed more like a Hail Mary than a solid player in a game where the Republicans were badly behind. The Democrats were making history with the first serious African American candidate. McCain wasn't the first anything. Only the most diehard of protesters thought it worth their time to protest him.

This year is different. The Democrats are trying to win with the same game plan as in 2008, only substitute woman for Black. But the Republicans have stumbled upon a nominee who is even more intriguing than a first female president. Forget the question of whether America is ready for a woman as commander in chief. What has the thousands of media and the anticipated protesters all in a dither is a far more interesting question: is America ready for a Trump in the White House?

That query will drive all the discussion both inside and outside the arena this week.

I don't expect to run into a future presidential nominee in an unguarded moment as I did in 2008, but by definition you never know at the time it happens.

Speaking of unguarded moments, there were more than a hundred bare naked ladies protesting something earlier today. You know Trump is onto something huge when he causes people to shed their underwear. Not even Ron Paul could pull that off.
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Republicans Need to Come Together this Week

Kentucky Republicans may remember just one year ago when we found ourselves in our own unity crisis. Matt Bevin had just won a heated four-way primary by a mere 83 votes that had pitted Kentucky Republicans against each other. 

I remember some republicans who were so dissatisfied their candidate lost that they planned write off this election and hope a better candidate could defeat a presumably  Governor Jack Conway in four years. Immediately after that primary election, few had hope that Bevin would win, much less that Kentucky Republicans could heal their divisions. 

Fortunately, most Kentucky Republicans eventually supported Bevin and helped propel him to a surprisingly large victory. Hal Heiner earned a place in Bevin's administration, James Comer is the nominee for the 1st district congressional seat, and Will T. Scott is presumably still telling jokes and jumping out of airplanes. Most importantly, Governor Bevin is making critical changes that will save our state from fiscal ruin. 

Republicans across the country find themselves in a similar position today to that of Kentucky Republicans a year ago. We faced a primary which at one time featured candidates numbering in the double digits, almost all of whom were well qualified. There were real differences between each of the candidates, but so many more commonly held beliefs. 

Ultimately, Donald Trump will officially emerge as our nominee this week in Cleveland. Perhaps he isn't your first choice, or second choice, or even fifth choice, but he is our man. There is so much at stake that we simply cannot afford to not support him.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and other liberals want to deny us our basic liberties —our right to free speech (that opposes their radical ideals), free exercise of religion (especially if that religion is Christianity), and our sacred right to defend ourselves and our property with firearms. 

Senator McConnell brilliantly announced that the Senate will not consider an Obama nominee to the Supreme Court, thereby preventing a progressive takeover of an institution that can make or break our most important freedoms. This election is about so much more than Trump vs. Hillary; it's about preserving our Constitution. 

Trump released a list of potential Supreme Court nominees filled with proven conservatives who would take seriously their oath to defend and uphold the Constitution. 

Our nation depends on the rule of law, and the Constitution is the essence of it. Hillary Clinton has repeatedly demonstrated that she thinks she's above the law; we cannot afford a Court that would vindicate a President Clinton's illegal actions, much less Obama's. 

It is imperative that Republicans come together this week and support our democratically chosen nominee. The alternative is quite simply more than our nation can bear. 

Rand Paul to Skip Convention

 Laura Ingraham is reporting that Sen. Rand Paul will not attend the Republican National Convention; instead, he will campaign in Kentucky.

His opponent has tried to make an issue of Rand's presidential run. That issue has no traction here, so I don't think Rand needed to skip the convention.

Will his opponent skip the Democratic National Convention?  Was he even invited?

My C-J Column on Bevin's Prison Reform

My most recent column is up in print in today's C-J:  Reprinted with permission:

A great deal of energy goes into the debate about whose lives matter in criminal justice. But perhaps too much focus has been on the front end — the arrest of the criminal — and not enough on what should be the back end — his rehabilitation. Kentucky’s burgeoning prison population reflects that we do a good job catching, convicting and incarcerating criminals, but a lousy job preparing them to re-enter free society.

Gov. Matt Bevin is doing something about this by forming Criminal Justice Policy and Assessment Council.

Bevin explained the need for the council: “We must continue to hold people accountable for their crimes, but also find ways to cut re-offense rates, improve reentry after incarceration, increase drug treatment and effectively treat mental illness – all while helping victims and improving public safety.”

The composition of this council illustrates Bevin’s pragmatic and innovative style of governance. This is not business as usual in Frankfort.

The council includes professionals from all levels of the criminal justice system: prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, a former FBI special agent and a jailor, among others.

It’s bipartisan and includes both rural and urban legislators. That improves the odds that its eventual recommendations will become law.

Most encouraging, Bevin included several members of the clergy. Criminal justice reform should include an element of grace and redemption. It should manifest that most American of values – the hope for a better life – and its corollary: we are the land of second chances.

Local churches and faith-based groups like Prodigal Ministries can play an important role in supporting inmates in becoming law-abiding – and tax-paying – members of the community.

Violent criminals should go to prison for punishment and to deter others, but not all crimes are violent. Further, incarceration is expensive; Kentucky spent nearly half a billion dollars on corrections last year. The high number of people who return to prison suggests that this model is not working. Simply put, it’s not a good return on our tax dollars.

Kentucky houses nearly 24,000 inmates. That’s up from 15,000 in 2000. The heroin epidemic will surely increase that number further. Unless the trend is reversed, Kentucky will have to build more prisons that we cannot afford.

Releasing a heroin addict who has not dealt with his addiction often results in that individual getting rearrested. This cycle is expensive for taxpayers and devastating in human terms. Every prisoner, after all, is someone’s family member – maybe their parent.

Far better to treat the mentally ill and addicted, perhaps with community-based treatment, than to simply warehouse them.

Bevin promised in his inaugural address to see what other states are doing well and then copy their successes. To that end, the council can take the concept  “tough on crime” and update it to make Kentucky “smart on crime,” by using data-driven solutions from states like Texas.

The prison population in Texas had tripled from 1990 to 2010; the price for the new prisons necessary to hold all these people would have been $2.5 billion.

So Texas instead invested a fraction of that cost into drug courts to divert non-violent drug offenders into community-based treatment. It focused on rehabilitation to help reentry. The results: a 14 percent drop in the state’s prison population and a 29 percent reduction in crime. That is, Texas found a model that saved money, improved safety and gave former inmates with the desire a new trajectory for their lives.

States around the country have replicated the Texas results. The Pew Safety Performance Project found that the 10 states with the largest drops in imprisonment rates cut their crime rates by 13 percent on average.

It’s a little counter-intuitive. One would think that fewer people in prison would mean more criminals on the streets. Here’s the missing piece that Kentucky needs to include: Public policies that turn lives around reduce the crime rate by cutting recidivism.

Former inmates who cannot find a job upon their release resort to old familiar patterns that land them back in jail. The cycle cannot be broken without jobs.  However, two-thirds of ex-inmates still don’t have a job one year after they’ve served their sentence. That’s where the private and non-profit sector can help.

The American Printing House for the Blind is setting an example for Kentucky employers to hire released inmates. Its pilot program uses ex-convicts who received Braille training in prison to work as book transcribers after they leave prison.

Likewise, the Charles Koch Institute has developed a Prison Entrepreneurship Program that teaches business classes and culminates in a business plan competition. It gives inmates who so desire the skills and support to work for themselves.

Bevin has seized an opportunity to transform Kentucky, one life at a time by focusing on its most important resource: our peopl

KY Chamber Takes on Health Insurance Tax

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has written to the Kentucky delegation to express concern about the Health Insurance Tax component of Obamacare, a topic this blog recently addressed.

Essentially, the HIT taxis a sales tax on health insurance plans that will be born by consumers and businesses that purchase the plans. It is projected to cost families approximately $5,000 a year.

The Chamber highlights the devastating effect HIT will have on small businesses. That is, it will ultimately kill jobs, at a time when they are scacre enough thanks to seven years of the Obama economy.

Here's what the Chamber posted:

The Health Insurance Tax acts like a sales tax on health-insurance policies purchased in
the market by individuals and employers. While the tax, when implemented, is supposed
to be paid by the insurance companies, the real cost will be passed through to the
customers who pay for the insurance.

“Kentucky families depend upon a growing economy and a strong private sector to ensure
they can meet their needs today and reach for their goals tomorrow. When a tax or
regulation targets the business community, it doesn’t just hurt the entrepreneurs and
owners: whatever holds the businesses back also holds back their employees and the
people who might have become employees,” Kentucky Chamber Vice President of Public
Affairs Ashli Watts wrote.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business, the tax will cost nearly
250,000 jobs – with 59% of the job losses falling on small businesses. Large employers
will also experience considerable job loss, resulting from the residual effect of initial
cutbacks made at small businesses.

“Collectively, these impacts on jobs and growth, coupled with fewer investments, will
cause a ripple effect on the already fragile Kentucky economy,” Watts said.

Watts also stated that the tax will lead to higher premiums for individuals and their
families as a study by the Joint Committee on Taxation states that “a very large portion”
of the tax will “be borne by consumers” in the form of a 2 to 2.5 percent increase in
premium cost by 2016. As a result of the tax, families could experience a $5,000 increase
in the cost of their premium over a decade.

Because of the negative impacts to come from this provision, Watts expressed the
Kentucky Chamber’s appreciation that Congress has delayed implementation of the
Health Insurance Tax but asked that members of Kentucky’s federal delegation seek
permanent repeal of the measure.

UK Gets Brexit Right

The United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union is a vote for decentralization -- a vote against elites who govern from afar, are removed from the people they govern, and lack transparency and accountability.  Brexit also speaks to a renewed respect for what it means to be a sovereign nation.

It bodes well for Republicans on the other side of the pond.

Removing the layers of regulation that stem from all the interlocking EU entities will help the UK economy. it was long overdue.

And those who talk about the 40 year history of the UK's participation as if this was some permanent fixture ignore that the EU is a blip in Britain's longstanding history. Viewed against that backdrop, the EU is just a blink of an eye.

Dr. Noelle Hunter, an Amazing Woman

Russell Coleman has an excellent letter to the editor in today's Courier-Journal about a woman I had the privilege of meeting in 2014, on Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's campaign trail. Gov. Bevin recently appointed Dr. Noelle Hunter as Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.

Noelle Hunter, Phd. is in recovery -- a fact she's been very open about, and a fact that demonstrates her courage, perseverance, and God's grace. Her prior drug use made her the subject of a media hit piece recently. I'd hazard a guess that what really drives the left-wing crazy about Dr. Hunter is that she is a Black Republican, and an outspoken one at that.

Here's Russell's letter:

The CJ on Thursday raised the past mistakes of one of Gov. Bevin's recent Transportation Cabinet appointees. But the reporting fell far short of telling the whole story of Dr. Noelle Hunter, Ph.D.

It's a story of redemption, resilience and God's grace. It's one that we want for so many Kentuckians who have fallen victim to the scourge of the commonwealth’s illegal drug abuse epidemic. It's one that Gov. Bevin, Kentucky lawmakers of all political stripes and The Courier-Journal itself have recognized in supporting recent legislation to give certain ex-offenders a second chance and to approach criminal justice reform with common sense.

Dr. Hunter is a woman who, like many of our fellow Kentuckians, once battled drug-related demons, but who almost a decade ago, through God’s grace, accepted responsibility for her actions. She is a mother who endured unimaginable adversity with the parental abduction of her daughter, and who at great personal risk made multiple trips to terrorist-infested Sub-Saharan Africa to save her daughter.

She is a talented academic who taught at Morehead State, founded a non-profit organization to assist similarly situated parents in their time of need, served on the staffs of U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Legislature, and the Smithsonian, and has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations regarding international child abduction.

Dr. Hunter has made no secret of her mistakes, citing them frequently when sharing her story of recovery and repentance publicly.

I have had the privilege of observing Dr. Hunter as she tirelessly and courageously worked to rescue her daughter from Africa, and have been privy to her eloquent use of her own mistakes to encourage others. I thank Dr. Hunter for her willingness to offer up her imperfect past as an example of the power of redemption and her embrace of the opportunity to serve Kentuckians. I applaud our conservative governor, who demonstrates real leadership in affording a second chance for an extraordinary woman and who advocates for second-chance policies for all Kentuckians. Our commonwealth will benefit mightily from both.

Russell Coleman
Louisville, Ky. 40202 
The author is an attorney at Frost Brown Todd who previously served as legal counsel and senior advisor to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

ICYMI: My CJ Column on Rand Pauls Plan to Honor Ali, End Registration

Reprinted with permission of the Courier-Journal

The world watched Kentuckians honor Muhammad Ali last week in many different ways. Thousands stood in line at 5:30 a.m. to get a ticket to his funeral. Crowds jammed the funeral processional route in 90-degree heat.

Sen. Rand Paul, likewise, has a fitting tribute: a stand-alone bill to end Selective Service registration. Paul named the bill the “Muhammad Ali Voluntary Service Act.”

Ali was called up for the draft in the prime of his boxing career, at the height of the Vietnam War. He had become a devout Muslim by that point and therefore refused to be inducted. He was willing to go to jail for his religious beliefs. That took courage, regardless if one agrees with his beliefs or his decision.

Ali was convicted of a felony for draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison.

Will Smith’s performance in the movie “Ali” shows the human cost of the fighter’s resolution. Ali lost his boxing license and his ability to provide for his family. He was stripped of his world championship. He was vilified.

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His appeal took years before the Supreme Court overturned his conviction 8-0.

The draft was abolished a few years later. Nonetheless, American males ages 18-25 still must register with the Selective Service. Jimmy Carter initiated registration to expedite things if America ever reinstates the draft, and like many bad ideas from the Carter days, it persists.

In explaining his legislation, Paul rebuts a misconception about Ali: “Muhammad Ali was not a ‘draft dodger.’ When Ali was drafted, he did not run away. He did not go to Canada. He did not ask for special favors, treatment or even try to get a deferment. He was a conscientious objector and practiced civil disobedience, a proud American tradition that runs from the Founding Fathers to Thoreau and all the way through Martin Luther King, Jr. in Ali’s own time.”

Paul’s proposed legislation is timely and appropriate, and not just to honor Ali. Now that the ban on women serving in combat has been repealed, the exclusion of women from Selective Service registration is hard to justify; it likely violates equal protection. If Selective Service registration remains, its constitutionality requires the inclusion of women.

Congress has begun to debate whether young women should be required to register for the Selective Service. The issue even surfaced during the presidential debates.

Paul gives a better solution: Scrap Selective Service registration altogether.

The caliber of our all-volunteer armed services — superior to conscripted forces — has demonstrated that Selective Service registration is not necessary for our national defense. Volunteers have better morale and are more likely to reenlist, which enhances the armed forces’ professionalism.

Moreover, the fact that our current soldiers volunteer makes their service even more honorable, more selfless, than if they were compelled to serve.

The Selective Services System costs more than $23 million a year to prepare for a hypothetical draft that has not been necessary for four decades. We have wasted nearly $1 billion on registration.

The penalty for failing to register is five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine as well as exclusion from federal programs such as college financial aid. The compliance rate for registration is high, 89 percent for 2013.

But those young men who fail to register tend to be high school drop-outs, poor and disadvantaged, who find out about registration the hard way, when they cannot get financial aid, or apply for certain federal jobs or renew their driver’s license in many states.

In short, Selective Service registration needlessly makes it harder for poor young men to escape poverty.

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Both liberal and conservative economists recognize that an all-volunteer force is preferable to compelled registration and service. It’s said to be the one issue upon which Milton Friedman and John Kenneth Galbraith ever agreed: the military’s need for soldiers should function as a labor market. The government should determine the size and then pay accordingly to recruit and retain soldiers who choose to serve.

But beyond economics, ending Selective Service registration would ensure that military service is just that – service. It should be a matter of conscience to do what one thinks is right to protect one’s country.

Ali made a decision of conscience not to fight. Others have made decisions of as much conscience as Ali’s to fight.

The government shouldn’t compel people to violate their faith, whether through military service, or by forcing bakers to make wedding cakes or by making nuns provide birth control. Such coercion corrodes liberty.

Eliminating Selective Service registration ensures freedom for every citizen to act of his or her own free will to provide voluntary military service. Or not. That’s a principle worthy to be remembered in reflecting on Ali’s life.

Bridget Bush is a Louisville attorney and founder of Elephants in the Bluegrass blog. Her column appears every third Wednesday in the Courier-Journal.

McConnell Calls Out Dems for Missing FBI Briefing

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's remarks on the Senate Floor this morning note that Democratic Senators who filibustered yesterday guns missed a critical briefing from the FBI.  In short, they chose to grand stand rather than inform themselves about Orlando terrorist attack.

Here are McConnell's remarks:

“Over the past few months, terrorists inspired or directed by ISIL have committed mass murder in Brussels, in California, and in France. When ISIL issued a call for lone wolf attacks against the West during Ramadan, its followers heard the call.

“This week, just outside Paris, more innocent lives were ended brutally — by a terrorist who broadcast news of the attack over the Internet.

“This week, in Orlando, Americans were targeted deliberately and taken forever from their families — by a terrorist ISIL has claimed is ‘one of the soldiers of the caliphate.’

“It’s clear from his behavior that this was not a random act of violence. This was a calculated act of terror.

“As CIA Director John Brennan testified this morning before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Islamic State militants are ‘training and attempting to deploy operatives for further attacks on the West.’ He also called this terrorist attack an assault on the values of openness and tolerance that define the United States as a nation. He’s right. It throws into stark relief the troubling reality we now face.

“ISIL is not the JV Team. ISIL is not ‘contained.’ ISIL is the personification of evil in our world, and it will continue to bring tragedy after tragedy to our doorsteps until it is defeated.

“President Obama needs to finally lead a campaign to accomplish this objective, or at the very least prepare the military and intelligence community to help the next president do so if he won’t. This is his primary responsibility in the wake of this terrorist tragedy.

“Here is ours. Our responsibility in the Senate is to make a choice: Work on serious solutions to prevent terrorist attacks, or use the Senate as a campaign studio.

“Yesterday the FBI Director came to deliver a critical briefing on Orlando and explain what’s needed to prevent similar terrorist attacks in the future. Senate Republicans attended and asked serious questions; a group of Senate Democrats regrettably skipped it for a campaign talk-a-thon.

“It’s hard to think of a clearer contrast between serious work for solutions on the one hand and endless partisan campaigning on the other.

 

“Doing what we can to fight terror beyond our borders and prevent attacks within our border were priorities of ours well before the terrorist attack in Orlando, they continue to be at the forefront of our efforts now.

“We just passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act. It will go a long way toward helping Americans confront global security challenges today and toward preparing the next commander-in-chief to take on threats tomorrow.

“We’re now working to pass an appropriations bill that will give the FBI and other law enforcement officials more of the resources needed to track down and defuse threats on American soil. As we consider that measure, we’re continuing to explore additional tools that can help prevent devastating terrorist attacks — like tools to help us permanently address the threat of lone wolf terrorists, and to help us connect the dots when it comes to terrorist communications.

“Now is the time for Democrats to finally join with us in pursuing serious solutions that can make a real difference. As we said on Tuesday, there will be amendment votes on this bill — and yesterday, we were prepared to begin that process but were unable to get amendments pending because of extended floor debate.

“We will try again today to move forward with amendments from both sides, and once there is an agreement to do so, we’ll update everyone.

 

“Of course no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns — let’s get real here — so if Democrats are actually serious about getting a solution on that issue, not just making a political talking point, they’ll join with us to support Senator Cornyn’s SHIELD Act. It will give the Justice Department the ability to prevent known or suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms. It will protect the Constitutional rights of all Americans. It will go a step further too, and actually allow terrorists to be taken into custody if a judge finds probable cause. Now that’s a serious solution on this issue.

“Let’s remember, however, that this issue represents only a piece of a much, much bigger challenge. Director Brennan also told the Intelligence Committee today that ‘despite all our progress against ISIL on the battlefield and in the financial realm, our efforts have not reduced the group’s terrorism capability and global reach.’

“If we want to prevent ISIL-inspired and directed attacks, we have to defeat ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Here’s what that means. From the White House, it means we don’t need another lecture or another threat to veto the defense bill — it means we need real leadership and a plan of action to defeat ISIL. From our colleagues in the Senate, it means we don’t need more campaign talk-a-thons — it means we need serious solutions and hard work. That’s what our constituents sent us here to do. We may have gotten held back by a day, but now we’re able to keep moving forward to set up votes on both sides, just as we always expected.”

Congress Should Repeal the "HIT" Tax

The Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") always struck conservatives as Orwellian in its name, given that it has made health care less affordable.

One piece of Obamacare, however, is accurately named:  the Health Insurance Tax, or "HIT."  This tax is indeed a "hit" to families and small businesses, which is no doubt why Congress has repeatedly deferred its implementation.

Think about that.  Obamacare is six years old and yet we are still being subjected to new taxes from it. That is, we still haven't experienced its full ability to hurt our economy, cripple businesses and otherwise screw up the health care delivery system.

Essentially, HIT is a sales tax on insurance policies. In theory, the insurance companies have to pay it, but we all know that it then gets passed to the consumer -- small businesses, farmers and people who unlike large corporations do not have the luxury of self- insurance. What's most disturbing about HIT is the hidden nature of the tax. It's part of the lack of transparency that the Obama administration used to try to dupe the public into accepting Obamacare.

We're talking about an extra $5,000 per family over the coming decade. Trade associations that have looked at the issue estimate that HIT will disproportionately hurt those in the $10,000 - $50,000 a year income range. These are families who can ill afford an extra $5000.

Fortunately, even Democrats recognize the unfairness of HIT. Last year, approximately 100 Democrats and 300 Republicans voted to suspend its impact for one year. Rather than continually delaying this HIT, Congress should just repeal it altogether.

To be sure, it would be preferable to repeal Obamacare in toto. That's not possible right now because we don't have a filibuster-proof Senate or the White House. So in the meantime, let's chip away at these provisions of Obamacare that are so outrageous that both parties recognize the need for action.

When the Bathroom Wars Hit Middle America

As I wrote recently for the Courier-Journal, transgender people make up less than one percent of the population. It's a fact that keeps getting lost in all the anger swirling around whether transgender individuals should get to use the bathroom of their identified gender, as opposed to their biological sex.

It's an issue that is not going away and if anything is coming to a bathroom near you. Indeed, it's no longer limited to the bathroom

Summer is here and the pools are open, this year with challenges heretofore unimagined.

A mother shared with me that at a neighborhood pool in Louisville recently, a little boy came up to his mother and asked if "girls need to wear swim suits on top." She assured him that they do.  He explained that there was a teenage girl in the parking lot with no top on, and he and his friends were watching her.

Not long thereafter, the club manager informed the young woman that she could not enter the facility without a top on. She replied that she was transgender, and identified as male. The club manager stood firm and she eventually left.  Fortunately, she was a guest rather than a member.

This occurred in Louisville, Kentucky. Not the Hamptons, or San Francisco or any other liberal enclave.

The "free the nipple" folks might think this is no big deal. So some kids get to see unclothed breasts of strangers in public. That's how they sunbathe in France -- which reminds me of something that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said for some time:  the Left wants to turn us into France.

Why Our Soldiers Should Have the Right to Carry on Base

My most recent C-J column -- a fitting post on Memorial Day. Reprinted with permission of the Courier-Journal:

Last weekend’s National Rifle Association’s meeting in Louisville highlighted the most absurd example of an assault on gun rights: the ban on soldiers carrying guns on base.

Lt. Col. Oliver North (Ret.) spoke in detail about the topic at a firearms law seminar. His remarks echoed the sentiments of the Republican Party of Kentucky state convention last month.

RPK delegates unanimously passed a resolution that called for military personnel to be given the right to carry firearms, in light of the shootings in recent years at recruitment centers and bases in America. (Currently, military police may carry guns on base, but other soldiers generally may not.)

The only discussion I heard about the issue on the Resolutions Committee was surprise that service men and women do not already have that right. Kentucky’s resolution will advance to the Republican National Convention for consideration of inclusion in the party’s national platform.

Likewise, at the NRA seminar, people were perplexed that soldiers cannot carry a gun on military installations stateside; it makes our soldiers soft targets.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL

Bridget Bush | Women victims of 'Bathroom wars'

Safety cannot be a serious counterargument: Soldiers are professionally trained to handle firearms competently, and effectively. Their training is much more extensive than that required of a civilian to get a concealed carry license.

Not allowing soldiers to carry guns on American military installations makes about as much sense as prohibiting carpenters from carrying hammers on construction sites.

North approached the issue from his experience as a Marine officer charged with keeping his soldiers safe — wherever the location. We can no longer assume that military installations on U.S. soil are safe.

The issue has become more urgent as radical Islamists increasingly focus on American soldiers and their families here at home.

The FBI in March revealed that it has intelligence that ISIS is recruiting terrorists to attack American military — and/or their families — on U.S. soil, even at their homes. Service members and veterans were therefore urged to review their social media presence with that threat in mind. For 100 military families, the safety concern is not hypothetical: a group claiming ISIS affiliation released their names and addresses to the world via the internet.

The disclosure of the soldiers’ personal information must be viewed in the context of the attacks on U.S. military installations in America since 9/11.

The worst shooting at a U.S. military base on U S. soil occurred in 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas. The Obama administration persisted for some time in mischaracterizing the Fort Hood shooter as “workplace violence,” even though Major Nidal Hassan yelled “Allahu Akbar” during his killing spree. This act of terrorism resulted in 13 deaths and 30 injuries.

Hassan plainly did not obey the base’s gun-free zone policy. Tragically, his victims did.

Military bases are not the only place where our service men and women might benefit from a firearm. Last July, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez attacked two military installations in Chattanooga, Tenn. First, he conducted a drive-by shooting at a recruiting center. Then he went to a U.S. Navy Reserve center and resumed firing until a police officer killed him. Four marines died on the spot, Three people were injured, including a sailor who died the next day. The FBI eventually attributed the shootings to terrorist propaganda.

The door to the military facility in Tennessee proclaimed it a gun-free zone. It’s bad enough that we have left our men and women in uniform as sitting ducks. But to advertise that fact to those who would do them harm is absurd.  “Gun-free zone” on the door of a military installation is code-speak for a left-wing mindset that (1) hates guns and (2) exalts moral relativism posing as tolerance.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL

Bridget Bush | Political correctness hits Derby

The more honest sign would read something along the lines of: “Terrorists welcome. We’ve made your work easy by disarming your targets!”

North called for NRA lawyers, between now and the inauguration, to draft a policy to give American military personnel a concealed carry right for when they are back stateside. He acknowledged that the issue is complex, given the patchwork of state, local and federal regulations that apply to firearms. It is entirely appropriate for the federal government to preempt those state and local regulations that chip away at the second amendment.

As North put it, our service men and women have our backs; we should have theirs when they come home. Our military bravely put themselves in harm’s way to serve and protect our country and our constitutional rights. They are now terrorist targets as a result of that service. They protect us; let them protect themselves upon their return.

Bridget Bush is a Louisville attorney and founder of Elephants in the Bluegrass blog. Her column appears every third Wednesday in the Courier-Journal.

Bernie Sanders Demands KY Recanvass

That ole Bernie Sanders is not going gently into the good night. Now he has requested a recanvass of the Kentucky Democratic primary results.

This from Politico:

The request for a review of the total vote comes one week after Kentucky's Democratic primary contest where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed victory in the contest with a narrow lead of 1,924 votes over Sanders out of 454,573 total votes, according to the Associated Press.

Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Clinton supporter, called the race for Clinton on Tuesday night even though the Associated Press deemed the contest too close to call.

The Vermont senator's campaign will ask Grimes' office to review absentee ballots and the voting machines in all of Kentucky's 120 counties.

Kudos to Mitch

The Weekly Standard has a nice column on Mitch amcConnell's quick opposition to Merrick Garland.  Read it here: http://www.weeklystandard.com/unheralded-triumph/article/2002478

Don't Forget to Vote, Kentucky

That presidential caucus we had a few months -- that did not include any of the down-ballot races.
So don't forget to go to your usual polling place before six o'clock to vote for Sen. Rand Paul

For State Rep. (District 3), I voted for Jason Nemes. All three gentlemen who are running in the Republican primary in this district are good guys.  I just feel Jason would give us the best shot of putting a change agent in Frankfort.  I can foresee Jason becoming a real leader in Frankfort.

A Call For Conservaties to be of Good Courage

NRO has a great read from David French this morning. I will remember these words the next time a hater writes to complain about a post here or my Courier-Journal column. It's a reminder that when we fail to speak up, we are complicit in the decline:

This is how culture wars are lost: through the slow accumulation of individually defensible but collectively unjustifiable decisions not to resist. It’s the decision that objecting during diversity training simply isn’t worth the hassle. It’s the decision not to say anything when you see a colleague or fellow student facing persecution because of their beliefs. It’s a life habit of always taking the path of least resistance, keeping your head down, and doing your best to preserve your own family and career. The small fights don’t matter anyway, right?

. . .

The contrast with the Left is profound. For progressives, no issue is too small to address and there is no such thing as just letting an injustice pass. The result is an unrelenting, grinding, one-way campaign of social change, conducted with an air of moral superiority and cultural condescension. It remains daunting right up until enough people put aside their cowardice and reasonable resistance prevails

. . .

All the while, respectable people are aghast, still oblivious to the fact that their own timidity created the world we inhabit. So, sure, sit quietly in the face of indoctrination and intimidation. But know this: Unless you enter the fray, our cultural conflict will likely have a depressing result. Heads they win; tails you lose.

Cruz Pounding KY Airwaves to Reach IN

Kentucky and Indiana have some overlapping media markets, so even though the Kentucky caucus has come and gone, the political ads continue.

I'm hearing lots of radio spots for Ted Cruz. I'm also hearing attack ads against Cruz that seem to be coming  from a Super PAC.

But I am not hearing any ads from Trump. Back in March right before the Kentucky caucus, there were a few upbeat ads with Ivanka campaigning for her father, but nothing since (at least on the stations I tune into).

The Trump campaign's internal numbers must show him far enough ahead that he has no need to advertise.

That means this hideous primary season may end tomorrow night. Couldn't come a minute too soon.

Kentucky GOP Convention a Model of Efficiency

This was my first Kentucky Republican Convention, and I'd highly recommend it to Republicans here who want to get more involved. It's a great cross-section of people of different backgrounds and ages who come together because of our love for liberty and our abhorrence of big government.

In contrast to many other states, our convention is well-run and efficient -- something conservatives value. State Chair Mac Brown, presiding over his first convention, managed to both keep the trains running on time and deal respectfully with malcontents and the inevitable snafus that happen in an undertaking this large.

The most tedious aspect was ascertaining the credentials of the approximately 500 state delegates, county by county. But one fact emerged from that process that we need to redress:  sadly, there are still many counties in Kentucky that had no Republican representation whatsoever. Not a single delegate.

It's true that in our recent caucus, the party could not hold a caucus in 10 of the 120 counties due to lack of volunteers in that county. That we could hold caucuses in 110 counties is itself a remarkable feat. This dovetails with Senate Leader Mitch McConnell winning reelection by carrying some counties in Eastern Kentucky that he has never before carried -- a bucket list item for him. Most of these counties similarly voted for Gov. Matt Bevin.

For this change in voting patterns in Eastern Kentucky, we can thank President Barack Obama and his war on coal. He has been the best thing to ever happen to the Republican Party of Kentucky.  Indeed, our registration has outpaced Democrats by a 13 to 1 margin during the Obama years.

Despite that improvement, some counties in Eastern Kentucky still do not have a GOP grassroots presence. But there are conservatives in those counties who voted Republican. Not many, but some.

And to those voters, there is an opportunity to get involved in the state party. Yesterday, for example, they could have been state delegates; that provides a chance to vote on the Kentucky Republican Party's platform as well as the delegates who will represent us at the national convention.

The party is welcoming to first-time voters, as my son and his friend both experienced as delegates. So to those high school seniors in Eastern Kentucky who want a path to prosperity and want to help change the direction of the Commonwealth and the nation, the Republican party is a place that will welcome your ideas and energy.