| Part of a Painting |
I use Facebook for politic discussion, but I have a passion in my life that I think I will share on Facebook: painting. Perhaps it will help me broaden my circle of influence, if people like what I do.
This is part of a painting I did of someone's iris in their backyard. |
| Brett Rogers (Paint-Photos) | 2/28/2015 2:03:00 PM |
|
| How to Create a Revolution |
Slightly revised speaking schedule:
Feb 10: San Angelo, TX
Feb 12 (noon): Midland, TX
Feb 12 (evening): Cisco, TX
Feb 19 (noon): Cypress, TX
Feb 19 (evening): Bryan, TX
(The presentation is "How to Create a Revolution" and focuses on what the founders and others did to change the world. Our system of government allows us to "revolutionize" our representatives through peaceful voting. How do we do this successfully? That's what I'll answer with real examples and an easy plan.) |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/31/2015 5:42:00 PM |
|
| Value Accelerates |
In everything you do, work hard to create lasting value.
The more value others perceive in what you create, the faster the economy moves around you and the more reward you receive.
That might seem common sense, but it's' seldom taught in schools, and it's a foreign concept to the Left. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/31/2015 4:43:00 PM |
|
| The Early Voice Gets the Nominee |
I have a concern that I want to share with you, and it's about Texas' place in the presidential primary process.
If you combine the number of delegates we have and the Republican presence in the state, it's easy to make the case that no state should trump Texas in determining who our Republican presidential nominee should be. Agreed? (I hope so, because this is in our best interest.)
I reviewed the data from the Republican primaries going back to 1968. These are the non-incumbent years 1968, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2008, and 2012.
In every case, no Republican nominee emerged later in the primary/caucus process who didn't win one of the first three contests.
Said another way, the best the rest of the states can do is bless one of the winners of the first three primaries/caucuses.
The reason is that campaign workers go to the winning campaigns, money goes to the winning campaigns, and the media of course trumpets the winners for everyone - and everyone loves a winner.
The moral of this story is that Texas, even with its new Super Tuesday status, gets little say in the process.
The resolution to this, I think, is to create a statewide grassroots caucus that allows only registered Republicans to vote. This couldn't go through the GOP or they would get into trouble with the national party. It couldn't be done by the Secretary of State. This would have to be done independently, by we the people, who don't need permission or blessing to do this.
It would perhaps be too much effort this year. But it's worth considering how to do and how to make this happen. If Texas is to have a voice in the presidential nomination process, tens of thousands of Texans would need to turn out to do this, say, in November - a year prior to the general election.
I've attached the data to this post so you can see for yourself. The nominee always emerges out of the first three, and I believe that Texas must have a say in that.
http://www.earlyvotetexas.com/primaries.xls |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/31/2015 2:07:00 AM |
|
| Avoid the Moderate Loser |
On my mind with the news that Romney smartened up...
We're not in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or even any of the Super Tuesday states. There has to be a way to circumvent the primary / caucus process to deal us back in so that we don't get some moderate loser.
This circumvention can't come through the GOP - they play by their internal rules, which leaves Texas at the tail-end of the process.
So... brain is a-whir.
Any thoughts you want to throw in the hopper? |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/30/2015 5:40:00 PM |
|
| Not What We Ordered |
I told this story last night when I spoke... about a strange restaurant experience I had.
Upon hearing of these amazing steaks, I thought I would mosey in and try their cuisine, so I drove it, went it, and was seated. My waiter, dapper from head to toe, was a perfect gentleman in handing me my menu. I remarked that it was their reputation for steaks that led me to their establishment.
"Our steaks are exquisite."
"Well, that's settled - I'll have one."
"Excellent choice, sir."
And with that, he spun about and headed for the kitchen to place my order. I then watched him lean toward the expediter and I distinctly saw him mouth the words "HOT DOG."
Bewildered, I waited until he turned toward me and waved him to come see me. But instead, he furtively looked away and seemed to avoid me, trying to make busy in another part of the restaurant.
I got up, and casually walked to speak to him, and he actually started walking away from me. So we kind of slow participated in this slow chase through the seating area until I finally caught up to him.
"Excuse me. I'm the guy who ordered steak."
"Yes, sir. I remember you. Fine choice."
"Right, well, I watched you turn in my order to the kitchen and I could have sworn that I saw you say 'hot dog' as you did. You ordered me a steak, right?"
He paused and squared his shoulders. "You have to understand... steak can be very difficult to prepare. It takes longer than expected and..."
I stopped him. "Wait a second. You actually ordered me a hot dog?"
He smiled and put his hand on my shoulder. "All of our menu is wonderful and sometimes we have to make compromises. You know how it is."
"No, I don't. I know that when I place an order, and you tell me that I'm getting steak and then I get hot dog - what kind of place is this? Why did I come to eat here?"
He took me by the elbow and started to walk with me. "Please do have a seat. Your food will be out shortly."
Sure enough, a hot dog arrived a few minutes later. It remained on my plate, untouched. I was disgusted.
I later learned that I'm actually a co-owner of the restaurant. And so are you. We thought we would be served open carry in Texas, stoppage on late-term abortions, and other broken promises.
But thankfully, that means as co-owners together, we're also in charge of human resources.
Sometimes after the successful launch of a venture, the owners entrust it to those they believe capable of running it. But as often happens, the business falls into disrepair and the service suffers and the product becomes awful and the place is deeply in the red.
Time for us owners to roll up our sleeves and fix the place. It will be hard work and take time, but if we truly care about the place, we'll get it done.
P.S. Evidently while we were away, some fella named Obama got promoted to kitchen manager and all of the food being ordered and paid for by our patrons is getting served instead to random people out the back door. So in addition to replacing the almost all of the wait staff, we also need to stop him. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/30/2015 1:39:00 PM |
|
| Change Yourself |
I went to speak at the Waco Tea Party meeting tonight. Toby Marie Walker was very gracious as I arrived a little late. Some of my favorite people were there (Larry Smith, Lisa Dickison, Tom G Glass and Kathie Glass).
The discussion afterward was interesting. In a nutshell, there was a lot of different people telling others what they thought they should do.
The irony is that I have a quote on a slide at the beginning of my presentation from Tolstoy that says:
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."
Regardless of what you think others need to do, they certainly won't do it by being scolded into it.
In the book, "Influencer," it says, "Change things to make the right behaviors easier to enact."
For example, when people eat, they often fill their plate with food. If you want people to eat less, then use smaller plates.
If people are reluctant to to help finance a campaign by donation, then you show them how it can be broken down into bite-sized chunks and invite them to partner with people they already know.
Change things to make the right behaviors easier to enact. Actions become practice, and practice becomes habit when you change it up to make it easier for people. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/30/2015 6:54:00 AM |
|
| Elections are the Only Means of Revolution |
The only way we'll fix all of this is through winning elections. That's all we have to fight this.
The culture we have today won't allow anything else.
The day that it's perfectly acceptable to have a duel of pistols in your front yard to settle a disagreement with your neighbor, you can imagine that other options are available to you, but this ain't 1776 any more and what was possible and acceptable then isn't now.
You signal to the rest of us that you're perfectly okay with the government as it is if you're not all in to win elections, because that is our only weapon in this fight for freedom. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/29/2015 4:24:00 PM |
|
| Find and Fund |
So many of you are setting aside money every month to help good candidates later. Literally hundreds of you, and I'm getting messages from people I've never met who want to know more about it - so thanks for getting the word out.
Just remember: having the money there won't help unless you have a good candidate to whom you can give it. In the next two months, urge good people with integrity and love for Texas to stand up and do the right thing - to run for office and serve the people by representing them.
Otherwise, you end up with Gio's and Dan Patrick's and Ratcliffe's - who run on campaign promises that they never intended to keep.
Our candidates must come from among us to be accountable to us.
#FindAndFund the challengers. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/29/2015 1:06:00 PM |
|
| Govern Government - Not People |
| Scott Ryan Presler made a great point in a comment: it's the government that needs to be meticulously managed and regulated - not We the People. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/28/2015 6:47:00 PM |
|
| Smile and Sell |
Want greater influence? People don't mind introducing you and your ideas to those they know when introducing you makes them look savvy for knowing you.
Smile and sell the freedom you want everyone to have. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/28/2015 3:31:00 PM |
|
| Don't Make a Politician Your Hero |
What do you think of this bill? I think it speaks to the danger of political celebrity and works to protect politicians from the anger of the people they represent.
If you read it, it says that if you interfere with a government official in any way from carrying out their job, you can be fined up to $5,000 and put in jail for at least six months up to five years.
Take a look...
"If any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together with the intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States, which are or shall be directed by proper authority, or to impede the operation of any law of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding a place or office in or under the government of the United States from undertaking, performing, or executing the trust or duty, they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars and imprisonment during a term not less than six months not exceeding five years."
What's more, it goes on... that if you write of say anything against the US government, you can be fined $2,000 and go to jail for up to two years.
"If any person shall write, print, utter, or publish any scandalous or malicious writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the president of the United States, with the intent to defame and bring them into disrepute, then such person shall receive a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars and by imprisonment not exceeding two years."
President John Adams signed that into law on July 14, 1798. One of the founders... and the law was handed to him by a bunch of elected representatives who also participated in the revolution.
John Adams was a very religious man. Well-educated. He certainly had the resume to become president. But he never should have been because he just loved big government and he had no problem signing this horrible law.
Do not look up to any politician. You give them power over you when you do and some of them will do despicable things with that power, like pass into law the Alien and Sedition Acts. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/28/2015 12:55:00 PM |
|
| To Avoid Ads |
Most people don't know it but being an activist is just a hobby for me. I make my living writing very complex web sites and engaging in strategic marketing/business development, so I'm a bit of a geek.
Seeing a couple of posts about peoples' frustrations with Facebook, for what it's worth, here's how I avoid ads and giving all of my private information to FB.
I use Chrome with AdBlock for Facebook. I don't use Chrome for anything else. (My normal browser is Opera, which allows me very explicitly to control content on it.)
Facebook doesn't have a clue what I browse otherwise. I also never told FB anything about me personally. It doesn't know who my family is, where I went to high school, etc. I don't use it on my phone except very occasionally and I always sign out after my brief session on it. I don't use messenger.
The email account I use for FB is used pretty exclusively for FB notifications.
So I basically made a silo and put FB in it. I'm not recommending everybody do this, but to protect my privacy and ensure that I at least felt in control of everything - including ads - that's how I did it.
If you're having problems getting overrun by ads on FB, you might try this approach. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/28/2015 6:21:00 AM |
|
| Love is Inconvenient |
| Fighting for freedom is never convenient. It's just necessary because you love your family far beyond the inconveniences required of you. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/27/2015 6:47:00 PM |
|
| I Samuel 8 |
If you haven't read I Samuel 8 in a while, you might want to revisit it. I am greatly bothered by people who look for some political savior to rise up from among us and fight our battles for us. There is a lot of lesson to be learned in this passage, so for what it's worth, here's my slight paraphrasing:
Israel gathered together and came to Samuel. They said to him, "Appoint a king to lead us, like the other nations have."
This bothered Samuel, so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen, they do not reject you, but they reject me as their king - like they always do, forsaking me and serving other gods. Listen to them, but warn them and let them know that here's what they give away..."
Samuel told those asking for a king, "This is what your king will claim as his right: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day."
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."
When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, "Fair enough - give them a king."
P.S. "King" is a function, not a just a title. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/27/2015 4:46:00 PM |
|
| Only Replacement |
The following headline is on Drudge. To anyone paying attention, this comes as no surprise.
There is no "holding their feet to the fire."
There is no "pressuring them to do the right thing."
There is only replacing as many as refuse to represent, and you cannot replace any of them if you don't #FindAndFund the replacement.
Calling them names changes nothing. Replacing them changes everything. So get busy about it, if you want to change the direction we're going.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/25/boehner-mcconnell-retreat-in-obama-amnesty-funding/ |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/27/2015 3:41:00 PM |
|
| Teach a Generation to be Free |
My friend, Jim Logan, shared something extraordinary that he worked on today. In it, he quotes John Jay, who said:
"Teach the rising generation to be free."
Which propels me to ask: I wonder how many parents will someday realize that they've misled their children by teaching them dependency? |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/27/2015 4:10:00 AM |
|
| Create Positive Word of Mouth |
American Sniper should inform you about a very simple fact.
Positive word of mouth can motivate the entire conservative base and beat the left by running rings around it.
Freedom... sell freedom. Celebrate the joy of smaller and smaller government.
Positive word of mouth coupled with monthly savings to pay for campaign marketing later = the very victory you seek. American Sniper reminds you that the majority of America wants to correct our current course. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/27/2015 3:54:00 AM |
|
| Work Together |
| Agreed, Scott. Fighting right now gets us nowhere. Working together to find more to vote with us gets us everywhere and is more likely to help us nominate a person of whom we're proud to put forward, at every level of office. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/27/2015 3:45:00 AM |
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| You Don't Educate Your Rep - You Replace Your Rep |
Had an interesting phone call today.
"Is this Brett - you worked with Dwayne Stovall?"
"Yep - that's me."
"Where does he stand on nullification?"
"I'm pretty sure that anytime Texas tells the federal government to fly a kite, he's all about it."
"Well, we need to educate people about nullification."
"You realize," I said, "that until the Texas state legislature grows a spine, nullification of anything will never happen - right?"
"That's why we need to educate them."
"That will never happen either with our current reps in office."
"What? Why do you say that?"
"Who's your state representative?" I asked. He told me. "How much did you contribute to his campaign to get him elected?"
"I didn't."
"Have you talked to him about nullification?"
"He won't take my phone calls."
"That's exactly my point. You didn't get him into office - those who paid for the marketing of his campaign got him into office, and that's not you, so he listens to those people, but not to you."
"Well, I voted for him."
"Of course you did - you're a Republican and he's a Republican, so he knows you'll vote for him."
"But he should listen..."
"Yep," I agreed. "He should. But he likely won't."
"So how do we get him educated about nullification?"
"You don't. You replace him. For example, who do you know who is resolute about standing for Texas in your district?"
"Well, I wouldn't bend."
"Great - then primary him and you represent your district."
"I don't think now is the right time for me."
"No, but it's probably the right time for Texas. Unless you don't think we need to support nullification now..."
"But if we educate the legislature -"
I cut him off. "Like I said - that won't happen. Let it go. If you don't replace him, you're stuck with a representative who won't take your phone calls. That's your choice."
I then explained the $25 a month plan and explained how that can work. I then asked him if he knew 350 patriots in his county.
"I do. Sure."
"Then raise $100K for the primary and find his replacement if it's not you. Can you afford $25 a month?"
"Well, sure."
"Can you find 349 others?"
"I guess."
"Then you know what to do. You have about two months to find someone."
"Shouldn't we educate the public about the nullification?"
At which point I sighed and wished him well with his agenda.
The first step is to find the challenger. The second is to fund them. The third is to enact the agenda through your representative. You can't take the third step without taking the first and second. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/26/2015 7:58:00 PM |
|
| Only Donation Will Give You Winning Candidates |
Saw this in a post:
"But as you well know, people who don't know better will vote for the name they recognize."
And I've heard this a lot in a campaign:
"You need to buy more TV and radio ads so that people know about [insert candidate name here]! They can't vote for him if they don't know who he is!"
Which is exactly why I've been trumpeting setting aside $25 a month. It's marketing money.
People will always say, "If you don't vote, you can't complain about who's in office."
More accurately, it's "If you don't pay for the campaign marketing, you can't complain about who's in office." |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/26/2015 2:32:00 PM |
|
| Are You Selling Freedom? |
Marketing: every contact and interaction you and your group have with the public.
So think that through... are you selling the freedom for which you work and its benefits to everyone else? |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/26/2015 1:02:00 PM |
|
| Successful Businesses Market Their Greatness, Not a Competitor's Lack of Value |
Think of the last time you saw a business advertise itself by shouting how much its competitor sucked and needed to close its doors...
And now you know why protests have a very narrow reach and limited effect. Only if the media is on your side and gives you free airtime will a protest make an impression, and since the media will never be on our side with sympathetic coverage, protests haven't made us more free.
We need to market and pull people to us by attraction, not protest. What are we offering to improve the lives of our friends, families, neighbors, co-workers, and others in our lives? Let's package what we're offering and sell it. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/26/2015 12:26:00 PM |
|
| Talk is Cheap |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/26/2015 12:13:00 PM |
|
| Sell the Improvement of Life |
If you didn't know that your fight for freedom made you a marketer, read this from the book, Guerrilla Marketing for Non-Profits:
"Changing the world comes with a lot of communication decisions. How will you get the word out about your ideas? How will you change the way people think, act, and believe? What can you do to attract more people to help you in your cause?
"There are hundreds of thousands of other organizations and businesses right now making their move to attract the eyes and ears of the people on planet earth, too. For-profit companies spend an average of $895 per year per capita on advertising to get the attention of the same people you want to reach.
"It may not be encouraging to know that you need to learn about marketing, but you may not have realized that that your decision to change the world is also a marketing decision. Take the time to master guerrilla marketing. Marketing is everyone's job in a non-profit. You need to coordinate your messages, programs, and strategies into a cohesive brand."
It's a worthwhile read. Consider that, so far, the tea party's marketing and brand management has not been "We care and can improve our way of life" but rather protests which shout "Government sucks." And while both are true, we will not attract more people to the cause until people think of the former much more than the latter about grassroots organizations. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/26/2015 12:10:00 PM |
|
| Don't Hillary |
to be 'hillary' (verb) \\hil-ree\\
: to refuse a pursuit of truth and freedom behind an air of indifference, as in "What difference does it make?" |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/25/2015 6:18:00 PM |
|
| Don't Work with Those Who Have Given Up |
Here on Facebook, I market ideas for people who will never give up fighting for their freedom.
Not really concerned with those who have given up. They choose not to be free. They choose to let people like Obama and Hillary and Jeb Bush climb into seats of power.
I look for those who will work together to ensure that happens less and less. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/25/2015 4:49:00 PM |
|
| Network to Find Patriots |
Monthly:
1. Set aside money to give to the right candidate later.
2. Take someone whom you don't know will vote with you to lunch or coffee.
Be a patriot. Don't be Hillary. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/25/2015 4:39:00 PM |
|
| Strive to Make a Difference |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/25/2015 4:23:00 PM |
|
| Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/24/2015 5:01:00 PM |
|
| Going to Waco |
FYI: Thursday, January 29th, 6:00 PM
I will be speaking at the Waco tea party meeting
West Waco Library
5301 Bosque Ave
Waco Texas |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/24/2015 4:28:00 AM |
|
| It Can Work |
I'm getting a lot of questions about the process of the $25 a month initiative and how it blends with Freedom Pools. If you've wondered about it, here's the flow of it:
1. During this time when you don't know what candidate you'll support, set aside $25 a month in a savings account or in a jar.
2. Urge as many people with integrity as you know to run for some level of office, even if it's precinct chair.
3. Grow your network to as close to 350 people as you can muster.
4. When a candidate does step forward, get with those doing this and see if they would like to present a simple agenda (2 or 3 items at most) to the candidate.
5. Have a single spokesperson for the group approach the candidate with the simple agenda and let the candidate know that a whole bunch of people want to contribute to the campaign, but only if the candidate agrees to the agenda and will issue a press release agreeing to the agenda when elected.
6. Upon issuance of the press release, get a copy into the hands of everyone in your group and have them individually and directly contribute to the candidate.
7. Continue to give your monthly contribution to the candidate until they win election.
8. You bring not only money to the candidate, but most importantly votes.
9. After election, if the candidate gets squishy on the agenda, get all of you up there with your press release and remind the representative that you brought them to office - you'll find their replacement too if they don't keep their word.
10. If they still break their word, publicly trounce them as a liar and let people know that you're looking for their replacement.
That's as close to a contract as we'll ever get with our elected reps, and that's why this will work. It has a historical basis and it's easy for us to do. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/23/2015 5:36:00 PM |
|
| Not My Leader |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/23/2015 1:54:00 PM |
|
| Lead Yourself |
Going forward, I intend to push back very hard anytime I hear someone refer to a politician as a leader. We don't elect leaders. I lead myself. It's my life, and I'll direct it as I choose. You're an adult - you lead yourself.
We choose a representative to represent us in government, but we certainly will never choose our leader. Even the president is not to be a leader, but is simply there to execute law issued by the will of the people.
We the people are the leader, and even that "government" is to be as small as possible. There are no political heroes except us. We don't need a Reagan. We need us and where necessary, representatives to represent us. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/23/2015 1:26:00 PM |
|
| RINO is a Lousy Argument |
| I'm done with the term "RINO." Too much baggage. I prefer "poor representative" or "lousy representative." Less argument, more truth, and it avoids party squabbling. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/23/2015 12:11:00 AM |
|
| Political Climate Change |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/22/2015 10:36:00 PM |
|
| On My List |
| I normally don't share what politicians post, but I'll make an exception in this case to make a point. Dave Brat only spent $100K to beat a multi-million $ funded incumbent. 1 in 3 Republican incumbents lost their primary in Texas in 2014. If a Texas Republican doesn't have this stance about Obamacare, they're on my list to replace. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/22/2015 4:34:00 PM |
|
| Replace Brady |
| I'm supporting Craig McMichael in the primary against Brady. I'll be setting aside $25 a month to help pay for the marketing of his successful campaign. If you live in Texas CD 8 or know someone who does, I encourage you to lend your support to a good man fighting for the people of Texas. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/22/2015 3:24:00 PM |
|
| 25 a Month Club |
| The $25 a Month Club - makes me love Texas all the more... |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/22/2015 4:48:00 AM |
|
| Study What Works |
A reminder... if what you're doing isn't working (i.e., you don't yet have the change you seek and it doesn't appear that you're rapidly getting closer to it), you should back up and study what has worked in similar circumstances and then do that.
I grew up in an America where we routinely went to the moon and the rest of the world could kiss our grits - we took care of business and did what it takes.
I still believe in that and will fight for it every day. There is no other way to live. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/21/2015 5:54:00 PM |
|
| Another Jar |
Another jar for money to give to a good candidate later. God bless you, Sue :)
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10205111959332026&set=a.1237172362846
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| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/21/2015 3:50:00 PM |
|
| Velocity of Money |
You might never have heard the phrase "velocity of money," but it's a description of how the economy works. The more attractive and popular a good or service is, the more money will naturally flow faster toward it.
Apple products? Great velocity of money with millions of easy sales where customers wait in line for the product to become available.
Chevy Volt? Do you even know anyone who owns one? And this despite many incentives to purchase one... they almost can't give it away.
If you like the idea of the free market, then you intuitively understand the "velocity of money." We expect business owners to pitch and position their products to attract greater and greater velocity of money, and you loathe the idea that someone would make you buy something - right?
There is no velocity of money toward mandatory purchases: driver's licenses, taxes, and Obamacare, for example.
Then you might understand my revulsion when I see our candidates and grassroots leaders badmouth voters who don't "get" what they're pitching and positioning to the electoral market. For whatever reason, when there is no natural attraction toward their campaign or political initiative it's because it lacks "velocity." Those pitching it haven't figured out how to tilt the landscape gravity of the market toward them yet.
Usually, I identify those who are stuck in this problem by their use of dismissive phrases like "sheeple."
So as a hint: posting pictures of aborted fetuses is not attractive. Protests are not attractive. Criticizing the voters who voted for a candidate who believes in big government is not attractive.
You might be right, but you won't gain the numbers you need to win - and worse, your "product" will likely fail in the electoral marketplace.
You don't get velocity by coercion. You get velocity by reducing the barriers to entry, by minimizing friction, and by making it fun and empowering. Apple doesn't browbeat its customers. It doesn't have to.
Reagan was the "happy warrior." He won, but only after losing a few times. It didn't deter him, and he kept improving his product along the way. So let's be like that. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/21/2015 3:08:00 PM |
|
| Terrible Clown |
 |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/21/2015 4:19:00 AM |
|
| Patriot Jars |
Rene Poe shared with me a picture of the $25 a month jars that her Hood County Tea Party made to present to its members.
That's how you do it.
Rene and other patriots like her who do this are my political heroes. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/20/2015 4:00:00 PM |
|
| What If |
The recovered counties are largely located in energy-rich areas and have small populations. Of the 65 recovered counties, 24 are in Texas and 16 are in North Dakota. The others are generally in the middle of the country, including nine in Minnesota and eight in Kansas.
So imagine if truly pro-growth policies were truly put into place - which is to say, imagine if the heavy hand of government was actually withdrawn from the businesses it burdens.
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/01/12/of-more-than-3000-u-s-counties-just-65-have-recovered-from-recession-naco-says/?mod=e2tw |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/20/2015 1:50:00 PM |
|
| Upcoming |
For what it's worth, here's my upcoming speaking schedule:
January 27: Burleson, TX (Maggie Clopton Wright)
February 10: San Angelo, TX (Chris Younts)
February 12: Cisco, TX (Ruth York)
February 19 (11 AM): Cypress, TX (Ann Pavalock)
February 19 (6:30 PM): Bryan, TX (Pamela A. Praesel)
The topic of all of these presentations is "How to Create a Revolution." I explain how a person can do two simple activities once per month and change every election in which they participate.
If you follow me, you know that the two activities are:
1) Save money each month to give to a good candidate later
2) Talk to one person you know each month whom you don't know will vote
Over a year, you will give more than you normally do and talk to more people than you normally do. For every nine voters, had a tenth voter joined them and voted Republican in 2008 and 2012, Obama wouldn't be president. Five states would have swung Republican and the electoral college numbers would have been different.
If you know a group where I might be welcome to discuss this, let me know. I'm happy to travel wherever I'm invited. My goal is to get as many people doing this as possible. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/20/2015 1:31:00 PM |
|
| Having the Best Time |
What if the way you presented your fight for freedom felt something like this to the people who met you? |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/17/2015 8:23:00 PM |
|
| Market to Those Who Need You |
If you look at the cost/benefit ratio of this, you'll likely find it greater in cost than benefit.
Think of it a bit like looking for a job. You spruce up your resume, dress up in your best outfit, primp appropriately, and then show up early to sit up straight in the lobby so that your first impression is positive and memorable.
You're advocating freedom, fer cryin' out loud. There's no reason that people should walk away with a negative first impression about someone selling freedom.
Whether you like it or not, you're in the business of marketing. You either market to a select few who already agree with you, or you market to a large audience waiting for someone to lead them. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/17/2015 6:28:00 PM |
|
| Positive Coalition is Greater Than Protest |
This is the town in which I live. I'm creating a list of every street name and dividing it up into weeks so that those who join with me can connect with every voter. We'll invite those we meet who want to come along and push for smaller government with us.
Some people spend a lot of time on protests. Protests have limited value. I think it's much more powerful and longer lasting to create a positive coalition.
Aim your energy in the direction that will be the most effective in achieving the ends you seek. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/17/2015 4:27:00 PM |
|
| Freedom is Won Outdoors |
Freedom is won outdoors. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/16/2015 8:03:00 PM |
|
| Do You Have a Jar? |
This morning, I met for coffee with Diane Leaverton, Craig Roberts, and Carol Dean - who brought her Save Money Save Texas jar with her.
Many, many people are adopting this very simple approach to fundraising - setting aside money every month to give to a good candidate later. The 2016 primary is already underway and we have no time to waste as the incumbents who need to be challenged are already racing around the track.
God bless you, Carol, for your willingness to do the right thing.
We also discussed our efforts to attractively reach more and more people in the cause of smaller government. Great meeting, great ideas and initiative, and I know that we will have tremendous impact on the upcoming election. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/16/2015 5:44:00 PM |
|
| Complaining Never Leads to Achievement |
In west Texas is the beautiful Guadalupe Peak, at left. I've driven that highway. It's beautiful. You can stand at the edge of the picturesque lake below it and it seems forever away.
If the key to your freedom were at the top of that peak, would you make that trek to obtain it?
If you go to Google and search, you can find endless pictures of people who climbed a mountain and took the picture of their achievement.
Fighting for your freedom may seem like a distant peak, but that journey starts with the first step and the end result is worth every step along the way.
Achievement never takes place via pessimism and complaining. You just suit up and start toward your goal and make it happen - and you do it because when it comes to freedom, there is no other option for you and your family. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/16/2015 6:03:00 AM |
|
| Missed |
I just learned that my fellow patriot and friend Dave Mundy died.
I got to know Dave on the campaign trail when I was working for Dwayne Stovall. Dave was running for a Texas education position and a hell of a good man. He ran the Gonzales Cannon, a conservative newspaper.
I am really saddened by this... totally not fair. He will be missed by many... |
| Brett Rogers (Personal) | 1/15/2015 8:40:00 PM |
|
| Freedom Doesn't Happen by Itself |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/15/2015 6:22:00 PM |
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| Political Pow-Wow |
If you live in the League City/Dickinson/Alvin area, Friday morning at 9:30 AM some of us are getting together to discuss the next steps of reaching out in our communities to find more people. Please feel free to join us if you're available.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Fresh+Market/@29.538434,-95.148099,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x75ebf1488f9a5638 |
| Brett Rogers (Personal) | 1/15/2015 2:23:00 PM |
|
| Kick Your Own Ass |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/15/2015 2:19:00 PM |
|
| Prepare to Win |
I am an avid reader. The smartest people have written books that allow me to know their expertise and experience.
I chose to showcase these books out of my library to highlight a key point: if you're tired of failing, study what works to help move you forward. I've read these books shown below, but I frequently thumb through them to rekindle my thinking and catalyze new thoughts.
All of us want influence with others. In politics, you want it with your representatives and with your fellow voters. Your representative likely has a personal agenda from which they cannot be dissuaded.
So you turn to angle for influence among voters and among those within your circle.
The second picture, from Gitomer's "Little Green Book of Getting Your Way." It says:
"Your friendliness combined with the passion and conviction of your self-belief allows your presentation to be positively received."
Friendly and confident always opens doors.
If there was one book I would recommend to candidates before running for office, it's that one. His Little Red Book of Selling is also a gem.
Battle preparation for winning... because there is no second place when it comes to freedom. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/15/2015 6:47:00 AM |
|
| No Patriot Quits Fighting |
I win this war when I convince the other side that fighting is pointless. - says every elitist in power about you.
Remember: there are far more of you than them. They're trying to get you to quit.
No patriot quits fighting. Give me liberty or give me death - right? |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/14/2015 5:07:00 PM |
|
| 1 Out of 450 |
#AreYouOne? |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
|
| How |
I believe that half of the people you want ousted in the Texas legislature can be replaced in 2016.
Would you like that? Would you be willing to do what it takes to do that?
Fact: 1 in 3 Republican challengers who ran in the primary in 2014 beat the incumbent.
Fact: 350 people in a representative's district of 160,000 is about 1 in 450.
Fact: If a person sets aside $25 a month, they'll save $300 in a year. If 350 do this, it raises over $100K.
That's how this happens. That beats Straus' money from the Leadership Fund. That's what Dave Brat used to defeat Eric Cantor. Powerful incumbents can be beaten. Provide the challengers with ample money for marketing and they can win. If 1 in 3 won without adequate funding, winning half these races with proper funding will work.
The 2016 primary is already underway. I'm very optimistic - if you act. If you tell everyone about this simple, doable plan, this can happen.
It's up to you. But if you do nothing to #FindAndFund the challengers, then you'll be exactly where you've been. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/14/2015 1:19:00 PM |
|
| King Saul Wasn't God's Choice |
I made this point at the conference over the weekend, but a couple of other conversations prompt me to put it here.
King Saul was the request of the people, but not of God. George Washington thankfully resisted the request of the people to be king and chose instead to be a term-limited president.
Some look again for heroes like a Reagan or an early version of Gingrich to emerge, but aren't we to have a government of the people?
Freedom requires that we not look for human leaders, but rather short-term, temporary representatives with limited powers.
We can never attain freedom if we wait for a leader, so let's change our expectations.
You're the leader you've been waiting for, and the change you seek starts with you. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/14/2015 12:25:00 AM |
|
| Fund Those Who Fight for You |
One last thing about the speaker's race, specifically regarding the 19 who represented you today.
I guarantee you that Straus is already looking for their primary challengers. He may or may not find them. Regardless, you better be ready to fund the re-election campaigns of the 19 who did right by you, or you will send the message that you do not in fact have the back of those who listen to you. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/13/2015 10:26:00 PM |
|
| Protests Don't Move the Needle |
Okay - now that THAT's out of the way, here's what you need to know.
If you want representatives to represent you, then YOU have to find those people and YOU have to fund the marketing of their campaign. It's that simple.
If you can't find anyone willing to run, then maybe YOU need to consider running.
The bottom line:
Protests don't move the needle.
Phone calls don't move the needle.
Emails, letters, postcards, blah blah blah... none of it changes their minds. The one who's not representing you is not the one who will come around to representing you.
No one expected Scott Turner to win. Some of you might have wished that you rep would represent, but your rep made a judgment call today, whatever it was that prompted that decision.
There is one way to hold someone accountable - you remove them from office by replacing them with someone of your choice.
Ain't no whining... just lots of work ahead. So roll up your sleeves and find those who will work alongside you and get busy. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/13/2015 8:59:00 PM |
|
| Embarrassing |
So I guess Joe Straus is single-handedly responsible for the Texas Miracle?
That's an embarrassing assertion from those who spoke for Straus today. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/13/2015 7:49:00 PM |
|
| Who to Primary |
Once again, regardless of what happens in the speaker race today, you will have a better idea who to primary.
#FindAndFund the challengers. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/13/2015 2:44:00 PM |
|
| Network for Liberty |
Regardless of party, if you're for smaller government, let's work together.
If you live near Dickinson/League City/Alvin, I know that there are a number of us interested in growing our numbers.
Toward that end, let me know your willingness and your availability and I'll work to coordinate a couple of informal get-togethers over coffee/lunch to see what works for everyone. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/13/2015 12:14:00 PM |
|
| Exit - Stage Left |
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| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/12/2015 9:34:00 PM |
|
| What Role Will You Serve? |
I could be coy and say "If America and Texas were under attack right now, and it needed people to defend it, would you?" But I won't because if you're reading this, you know that right now a relative handful of elitists attack our way of life, our property, our rights, and the future of our children.
Throughout history, when a way of life was threatened, people set aside their lives to commit to saving it for their families.
They might have played the role of soldiers, willing to sacrfice their lives.
Or they might have been Rosie the Riveter. Or Harriet Tubman, coordinating freedom for hundreds while risking her own life.
You are in a war. Right now.
You didn't ask for it. You didn't seek it. You don't want it, even as you read this. But you are in it.
So the question is, "What role will you serve, if you choose to fight?"
I said recently that I was thinking a lot about how to find candidates for office.
Ours is a system of peaceful elections. You might suggest that elections are riddled with fraud and somehow rigged. I would reply that 1 in 3 Texas House Republicans lost their primary in 2014. The very moneyed and powerful Eric Cantor lost.
If you choose to wage war in peaceful elections, and win, then you only have a few roles from which to choose that have any effectiveness.
- Candidate, the most powerful and effective role
- Fundraiser, which helps market the candidate's campaign
- Networker, reaching out beyond your normal circle to find more and more voters
It's relatively easy to find networkers, and somewhat easy to find those willing to set aside money monthly to help good candidates later. But none of it means anything if there are relatively few candidates who step forward.
If you're reading this far in, then you know that this battle is underway. You would be the reluctant warrior for Texas and for the people - but this is a time of need like never before in your lifetime. And isn't that the type of candidate that we want?
Will you serve the fight as a candidate?
What office you choose is irrelevant... but that you choose one is everything. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/12/2015 8:06:00 PM |
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| You're Not Compassionate When You Spend Oither Peoples' Money |
Reality Public Service Announcement: making promises with other people's money doesn't make you generous or compassionate.
Beware of Texas reps who promise to bring home the bacon... (*pro tip* that largesse is never for anyone you know)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obamas-free-tuition-math-doesnt-add-up/article/2558466 |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/11/2015 10:43:00 PM |
|
| Cold Fries for You |
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| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/10/2015 11:00:00 PM |
|
| Farm Team |
Last night, I had the pleasure of sitting with Heidi Hansing, Tanya Robertson, H Scott Apley, and Dwayne Stovall discussing how to find candidates - creating a farm team, if you will.
In Texas, of the 28 primary challengers who went up against those in the Texas House, 9 succeeded. That's a 1 in 3 shot. With some early and strong organization and with solid fundraising (savemoneysavetexas.com), a candidate truly has good odds.
Jeff Sadighi and Joe Evans and I discussed this a little bit as well. It's an area to which I want to devote a lot of thought. We need candidates who can step forward and who know how to stand strong for Texas and not for their burgeoning political career. We need people who want to repeal laws more than create laws.
I wish I could be there with everyone today at the Tea Party Patriots in TX training, but my client load is too great and requires my Saturday. I would have continued the conversations with these patriots. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/10/2015 2:15:00 PM |
|
| How to Beat Bad Incumbents |
I'm very optimistic that all of this can be fixed, but that's because I've taken the time to look at how to beat bad incumbents.
Want to learn for yourself? Start here:
http://ballotpedia.org/Incumbents_defeated_in_2014%27s_state_legislative_elections |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/9/2015 4:46:00 PM |
|
| Be Like Them |
Every rep should be like these guys. Every rep.
http://bridenstine.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-bridenstine-and-massie-demand-action |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/9/2015 9:44:00 AM |
|
| Postcards Finally |
They're in - the 5,000 postcards I ordered to walk throughout my community. If you live near Dickinson and want to help get these to every house in the next six months, let me know.
I challenge every grassroots group in the state to make a similar commitment to reach out door-to-door to everyone in your community before summer is over. You need more people to get behind the right candidates this fall.
Also, to candidates - I challenge you to knock on more doors than me and raise more money than I do this year. My goal is to find 350 people in my city who are willing to save $25 a month to give to a good candidate later. I'm not running for office - you are. So best my effort. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/8/2015 6:28:00 PM |
|
| Depends on How You See It |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/8/2015 11:31:00 AM |
|
| Speaking Schedule |
For what it's worth, my upcoming speaking schedule:
January 27 - Burleson, Texas
February 10 - San Angelo, Texas
February 12 - Cisco, Texas
April 16-ish - Cypress, Texas |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/8/2015 10:27:00 AM |
|
| The Measure |
My friend, Alma Hobbs, said: the people who aren't actively fighting are those who haven't been hurt by the government yet.
I agree. And I say: your effectiveness is measured by your willingness to reach out and talk face-to-face to at least one new person each month and your willingness to set aside money every month to help good candidates win election.
That's a small bit of commitment to fight for your life and the lives of those you love compared to what the founders were willing to give. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/8/2015 10:07:00 AM |
|
| Viva the Frenchman |
He said: "I would rather die standing than live kneeling."
There are a lot of Texans being shown up by a Frenchman.
http://dailycaller.com/2015/01/07/this-is-why-jihadis-massacred-writers-and-cartoonists-at-a-french-humor-magazine/ |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/7/2015 5:19:00 PM |
|
| TEXIT Requires Ballot Revolution First |
I spoke last night to a group of people who want to pursue Texas independence. That's on many minds today.
No matter what path you take to arrive there, you need the majority of Texans behind the movement. Doing it with violence won't accomplish that.
That leaves ballots. And I will tell you, there is no representative in the Texas legislature who will write that bill. They see it as political suicide. Straus would never allow it to come for a vote if it was written.
So if that's your goal, the only way to get that done is to put representatives in the legislature. You find and fund those who don't give a crap about committee assignments and who have the spine to take a stand for what they believe.
So imagine for a moment... what if ten people across the state were running for office who had the chief plank of Texas independence... those people would draw a lot of attention and a lot of money.
If independence is your goal, that's the fastest and surest way to get there. And everything I've been talking about will accomplish that.
So in short - you find and fund the candidates you want for office. That is our path to freedom, whether in the union or out. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/7/2015 2:26:00 PM |
|
| Always Fighting |
I have not yet begun to fight.
The Boehners and the Obamas of the world may put me on a rack, make my life even more uncomfortable, threaten me, ignore me...
But I am in a fight for my children and for their children. Nobody fucks with my family.
Give me liberty, or I will spend my every energy taking it from your selfish hands.
And for those of you who read this, don't you dare quit. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/7/2015 2:09:00 PM |
|
| Get Rid of the Cabal |
I looked it up. Congressman Randy Weber was in fact a sponsor.
More reasons to get rid of Boehner and to primary those who support him. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/6/2015 3:52:00 PM |
|
| Never the LP |
I read a lot of people talking third party. I'll be blunt.
I work hard and devote a lot of time to get people to see that saving money every month to market and elect the right candidates for office is smart and right.
I work harder yet to motivate them to list out and talk to people inside and outside of their sphere of influence to bring more voters with them.
The Republican party establishment could be easily overtaken if these two steps were employed. We have examples from history where these two steps work.
If you are unwilling to take these simple steps within an existing party, then understand that you overload by multiples the work required to get a third party marketed, trusted, on the ballot, candidates recruited for it, and voters to vote for it.
People are, by nature, lazy. They want to do as little work as possible to get the maximum benefit from it. That's how we got in this mess - we outsourced our liberty to politicians we didn't vigilantly oversee. Now we're paying the piper for being idiots.
Fair enough. But if you think a third party is a solution, then I don't think you've really thought this through or you just think that you want to make fighting for your freedom harder than it already is.
One other thing...
I've worked enough within the Libertarian party to know that unless you find endless idle debate fascinating and motivating, the LP is no home to someone seeking real change. They've been on the ballot in Texas since 1982 and just prior to the election, the LP held a grand total of 4 offices - one mayor and three city council positions. These offices represented less than 8,000 people in a state of over 26 million. Bewilderingly, the LP exerts extraordinary effort to do nothing at all to win an election. Winning election is just not their focus. The exception was Kathie Glass, and for her effort, her own party actually undervoted her.
I'll consider an LP candidate as a viable alternative when I see an LP candidate outwork me in my own activist efforts, but as a party it's no alternative and suffers just as much from fiefdom tyranny as our speaker races. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/6/2015 9:11:00 AM |
|
| Vote Louie |
Is your Representative still on the fence? |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/5/2015 9:01:00 PM |
|
| Champions Do What It Takes to Win |
By tomorrow night, your representatives will let you know whether they actually represent you or not.
If they choose not to represent you, then you will determine whether or not they remain in office as your representative.
If you want them replaced with someone who will actually represent you, then you have to find and fund the challenger so that the challenger wins.
There's a theme here... you have tremendous power. You determine, you decide, you find, and you fund.
Or you don't. Which is your choice then to opt out of victory.
Win? Lose? You decide. You can either be a victim or a champion. That's your choice, and champions do what it takes to win. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/5/2015 5:12:00 PM |
|
| It's Up to You |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/5/2015 9:22:00 AM |
|
| Passionate Base |
Gohmert, Bridenstine, Massie, Brat, Yoho, Gosar, and King. That's seven.
Also, I just looked at the Fire Boehner feed also known as Twitter.com. Never seen it so monolithic in an issue. The base is incredibly passionate about this. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/5/2015 4:03:00 AM |
|
| No Vote for Boehner |
I think this is going to happen.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/01/04/steve-king-i-will-not-vote-for-boehner-as-speaker/ |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/5/2015 3:19:00 AM |
|
| No Labels |
The moderates for bigger government are getting more organized. "No Labels" is John Huntsman's group. His director for the group is a former Clinton staffer, Nancy Jacobson.
I post their monthly report below because the grassroots in Texas needs to be at least this organized, and while it's slowly coming together, it's not as cohesive and targeted as this fledgling group - which is one of many working for influence in DC. We have a lot of work ahead. We don't have time to wait.
Their report:
I wanted to give a progress report on our work this past month:
National Strategic Agenda: We are in full swing in having ready a prototype of the National Strategic Agenda for the end of January. We have been meeting regularly with Deloitte (our intellectual partner) to discuss ideas for education, energy, tax reform, immigration, budget, jobs, entitlements, regulatory reform and health reform. Once we have the "straw man" prototype, we will solicit and welcome comments, ideas and critiques.
Only four of the 71 Congressional Problem Solvers who got our seal of approval lost their elections! We awarded our seals to members running for Congress who believe in the process to create a National Strategic Agenda and the four specific goals of the agenda:
- Create 25 million new jobs over the next 10 years
- Balance the federal budget by 2030
- Secure Medicare and Social Security for another 75 years
- Make America energy secure by 2024
Following Election Day, we were thrilled to welcome Senator Joe Lieberman as new co-chair with Governor Huntsman of No Labels.
We had some terrific meetings in Iowa and New Hampshire as we look to get the National Strategic Agenda concept into the conversation for 2016. We are building terrific leadership in these two states and already have more than 100 leaders getting to work there.
This past December kicked off the first of its kind "Problem Solvers" strategy meeting on the National Strategic Agenda. We were joined by 35 Congressional Problem Solvers and 40 key leaders in the Capitol city. Our next meeting will be in January and focus on tax reform and infrastructure. We held our initial meeting at the Republican Club and will host the January meeting at the Democratic Club. We will rotate monthly between the two clubs.
We hosted a Problem Solver Congressional staff happy hour this month. We are creating lasting friendships between the Republican and Democratic staff that is essential in making the legislative process work.
We were invited to the freshman orientation at Harvard and were successful in recruiting many new members into the problem solving circle.
No Labels radio on Sirius P.O.T.U.S. XM continues to be a great platform for bringing national leaders together to discuss issues of the day under the problem solving mantle with Governor Huntsman. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/4/2015 7:32:00 PM |
|
| You're My Hero |
I don't have any political heroes except for those of you who are saving $25 a month to help the right candidates get into office. You're my political heroes.
Politicians? When I have more liberty as a result of their actions, I'll nod in their direction, but I know that politics is power and that power corrupts and that it's only a matter of time before they lose their bearing because they are frail human beings like the rest of us.
Be careful with people who adopt political heroes. They tend to adopt a scorched earth policy when you don't like their political hero.
Embrace We the People as your political heroes. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/4/2015 3:59:00 PM |
|
| Replacement is the Only Option |
The whole Boehner thing serves us a reminder. You see, in the past week, I've seen a bunch of people post about voting out Boehner - which is all fine and dandy but can't happen until someone actually steps up to replace him.
You can't throw the bums out until you've got better people to replace the bums.
Louie Gohmert has stepped into the race, which is great because Gohmert would certainly do a much better job at steering the House than Boehner... no question about that. But if Gohmert hadn't stepped up, it would all be moot.
Is your representative a bum? If so, you'd best get busy finding and funding that replacement, otherwise any energy you spend complaining about what a bum your rep is, well, that's just wasted energy. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/4/2015 2:25:00 PM |
|
| Gohmert for Speaker |
It's about damn time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WIJr-1ZJ5s |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/4/2015 1:23:00 PM |
|
| Voting for Speaker Defines You |
What's wrong with the Republican party?
You need look no further than this: 60% of Republicans want Boehner out as speaker and TWO - count 'em, and not of them from Texas - just two Republican Congressmen side with the majority of Republican voters. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/3/2015 11:18:00 PM |
|
| C'mon Texas |
Hmm... my jealousy mounts.
Kentucky's Congressman Thomas Massie comes out against Boehner as well.
Texas Reps? Crickets. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/3/2015 11:06:00 PM |
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| Texas? |
The only disappointment about Congressman Jim Bridenstine coming out against Boehner is that it took a representative from Oklahoma to do this, and not someone from Texas.
But if any of the representatives from Texas feel like channeling their inner William Barret Travis to fight the right fight, then please... do the right thing - and quickly. |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/3/2015 2:28:00 PM |
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| Big Bark, Little Bite |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/3/2015 1:59:00 PM |
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| 11th Commandment |
I don't believe that the people who cite Reagan's 11th Commandment - to not speak ill of a fellow Republican - know its origin or the context in which it was used.
First, it didn't start with Reagan. California Republican Party chair Gaylord Parkinson started it to prevent liberal Republicans from attacking Reagan for his conservatism.
Got that? It was to keep the moderates from calling conservatives extremists, and this was before Reagan's run for the presidency.
On the campaign trail, Reagan himself didn't abide by it.
For example, during the North Carolina swing in his bid for the White House in 1976, Reagan accused Ford of presiding over the decline of our military. "Mr. Ford and Dr. Kissinger ask us to trust their leadership. Well, I find that more and more difficult to do." He asserted that Ford had "neither the vision nor the leadership necessary to halt and reverse the diplomatic and military decline of the United States."
Did he speak ill of Ford? He sure did. He accused Ford of essentially being a moderate.
So the next time someone asserts that you can't criticize another Republican because of Reagan's 11th Commandment, remember that they're likely the ones who are quickest to criticize people like Ted Cruz who are actually fighting.
Every politician regardless of political stripe is worthy of criticism when they ignore the people and strengthen the hand of an already too powerful government. The 11th Commandment didn't begin to protect all Republicans. It got its start to protect conservatives from moderates.
Chew on that. |
| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/3/2015 12:35:00 PM |
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| Suspicious |
| Is there a list of suspicious groups in Texas, such as Texas Alliance for Life and Texas Association of Business? |
| Brett Rogers (Political) | 1/2/2015 10:11:00 PM |
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| The Long View |
The Texas primary is March 8, 2016. That is just over 14 months away.
Every grassroots leader in the state of Texas needs to be encouraging their people to set aside money every month to give to good candidates later. If there are 50 people in the group, then they ought to have a goal of doubling their numbers in the next six months and raising $300 per person. Everything we do must either bring more people or more money - or better yet, both.
And every person thinking about running for election needs to make that decision and get organizing for victory right now. The incumbent is already running and already organizing for victory and has more money raised than their opponent.
There is no time to waste. |
| Brett Rogers (Professional) | 1/2/2015 1:10:00 PM |
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| Lovely |
Outside my oldest son's apartment in Iowa, I saw a pile of wet leaves left over from autumn.
Lovely... |
| Brett Rogers (Personal) | 1/2/2015 5:11:00 AM |
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| Crave Freedom |
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| Brett Rogers (Provocative) | 1/2/2015 4:44:00 AM |
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