To stop Donald Trump, vote Ted Cruz

For months, we ignored him.  We dreamed, assumed, and hoped that he would fade away.  We restlessly rested on the uncertain assumption that people wouldn’t actually pull the lever for that guy.

As I write this, I am waiting for the final results from the Super Tuesday primary.  While we don’t know all the results yet, one thing’s for sure: yes, people are actually pulling the lever for Donald Trump.

I could go into the many reasons that I believe we must stop Mr. Trump, but that’s not the purpose of this letter.  Suffice it to say that I do not intend to support a man who says Planned Parenthood does “wonderful things,” who has switched wives almost as many times as he’s switched political parties, who profits off immorality, who has been funding the radical left for longer than many of us have been fighting it, and who claims to be a “strong Christian” while saying that he has never seen a need to ask God for forgiveness.

I believe Ted Cruz is the candidate best positioned to stop Mr. Trump’s path to the Republican nomination. Here’s why.

• Ted Cruz wins in Cruz vs. Trump head-to-head polling.  Marco Rubio, on the other hand, not only loses to Donald Trump in head-to-head polls, but is currently polling 20 points behind Mr. Trump in Rubio’s own home state of Florida.  Ted Cruz is our best chance to beat Trump as the field continues to narrow.
• Ted Cruz has the best campaign team of any Republican running.  This is accepted as fact among political operatives and reporters: no candidate has put together a better strategy and ground game than the Ted Cruz campaign has.  This matters, because when there is an opening to step forward, put the brakes on the so-called “Trump train,” and jump into the driver’s seat of the GOP nomination battle, the campaign has to be ready to capitalize and build momentum.  Ted Cruz’s team is battle-tested and ready to do whatever it takes to beat Donald Trump.
• Ted Cruz is the only candidate who has beaten Donald Trump in multiple states.  While I was pleased to see that both Marco Rubio (first place) and Ted Cruz (second place) beat Mr. Trump in Minnesota, it is unfortunately too little, too late for Marco Rubio.  Ted Cruz has now beaten Donald Trump in four states: Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, and Minnesota, while Marco Rubio’s Minnesota victory was the first time (out of 17 elections so far) that he has topped Mr. Trump.
• Among the non-Trump candidates, Ted Cruz has a strong delegate advantage.  While the delegate counts have not been finalized, it appears that Mr. Trump will end the night with under 300 delegates, Ted Cruz with over 200, and Marco Rubio with less than 100 delegates.  1237 delegates are needed to secure the nomination, and Ted Cruz is best positioned to build on his existing base to reach this number as he continues to challenge Mr. Trump.

Join our team and cast your vote for Ted Cruz.  Together, we can unite for a stronger, safer America.  Together, we can overcome the politics of divisiveness and bitterness.  Together, we can once again make it Morning in America.

Featured photo by Gage Skimore. 

Cruz and the Courts

One of the most important things the next President will do is nominate replacements for 1-4 Supreme Court Justices (most people guess it will be two or three), as well as various lower court positions.  Presidents, policies, and laws can change rather quickly, but judges are appointed for life.  We’ve seen their impact in countless ways, most notably in 43 years of legalized murder of unborn children as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.

That’s one of the main reasons I’m supporting Ted Cruz for President.

In 1995, Ted Cruz was a clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  In 1996, he clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  Even with only these two clerkships, his inside experience with the courts in general and the Supreme Court in particular surpasses that of any other presidential candidate — with the possible future exception of Hillary Clinton, who is still under investigation by the FBI.

But that’s not all.

In 2003, then-Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbott appointed Cruz as the Solicitor General of Texas, and by the end of his tenure in 2008, he had personally argued nine cases before the Supreme Court.  The majority of these were religious liberty and constitutional law cases—Cruz’s specialty.  He defended the constitutionality of a Ten Commandments memorial on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol, successfully.  He filed an amicus brief on behalf on 31 states in the Heller case, arguing against Washington DC’s ban on handguns as a violation of the Second Amendment.  And he successfully defended U.S. sovereignty from the ever-encroaching bounds of international courts in the Medellin vs. Texas case.

Ted Cruz has unmatched experience on the inside (as a clerk) and the outside (as Texas Solicitor General) of the Supreme Court, and this will be invaluable in choosing the nation’s next Supreme Court Justices.  This is one of the main reasons I will be casting my vote for Ted Cruz for President, and I hope you will join me!

If you want to read more about why I support Ted Cruz for President, check out The Case For Cruz here.

The case for Cruz

At the peak of the 2016 race, there were 22 candidates running for President.  It’s taken a while to narrow down my choices, but I’ve finally boarded the Cruz ship.

So, why Ted Cruz?

Ted Cruz is a consistent, principled conservative.  He has a proven record of supporting conservative principles and not backing down when the fight gets tough.  When he says he’ll do something, you can count on it.  He’s not afraid to tell the truth, no matter who he’s talking to (think Mitch McConnell).  When it comes to the issues, Ted Cruz stands firmly atop my list of candidates.

Ted Cruz is one of the most experienced candidates in the race. He’s worked in one capacity or another in all three branches of the federal government, whether as a Supreme Court clerk, as a Bush administration official, or now as a U.S. Senator. His time as Solicitor General of Texas gives him valuable experience defending the Constitution before the highest court in the land, and also is a state-level position, giving him a deeper first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by the states. This is a key point to remember when thinking about 10th Amendment issues.

Ted Cruz is a skilled communicator. The GOP has not done a good job of communicating their message to everyday Americans like myself.  In fact, this was one of the reasons cited by former Senator Rick Santorum, Dr. Michael Farris, and others when they endorsed him for Senate in 2012.  We have a presidential field this cycle with several excellent communicators running, and it would be a mistake not to pick one of them (or two!).

Now that we have established his values/principles and his qualifications/experience, as well as noted his excellent communication skills, we move to the next area of consideration for me: does the candidate have what it takes to win.  Ted Cruz has a clear path to victory and the money to make it work, which is more than can be said of the overwhelming majority of the candidates in the race.

In conclusion, this is a relatively rare opportunity for conservatives to unite behind a strong principled conservative with a proven record — I would argue the strongest and most principled conservative in the race — who is among the frontrunners of the Presidential race.  Let’s make the most of it.

(featured photo by Gage Skidmore)

Jackson, Michigan – Mayor & City Council races

As a preface to the post, I’ll note that I am working with/assisting several of the candidates that I am recommending.  However, let’s be clear: I’d never accept a job or volunteer position in support of a candidate who I would not be willing to (a) vote for and (b) be able to wholeheartedly recommend that others support as well.

For Mayor of Jackson: Bill Jors

Born, raised, and now with a long career in Jackson, Bill knows the community and knows what it will take to get Jackson back on the right track.  More at www.billjorsformayor.com.

For City Council, 6th Ward: Jeff Feahr

Jeff’s slogan says it all: “We Must Make Changes!”  It’s time for a change on City Council, and electing the incumbent in the 6th Ward will just bring more of the same.  For more info, email jeff6thward{at}yahoo.com.

For City Council, 4th Ward: Craig Pappin

An attorney and military law enforcement specialist, Craig would bring a unique background to City Council.  A small business owner, he also has a solid understanding of the challenges facing businesses in the city.  Visit his website: www.CraigPappin.org.

On the 2nd Ward City Council, the jury is still out.  However, based on what I’ve heard from the candidates at the Chamber of Commerce debate and from talking to folks around town, I lean toward Kim Jacquish.

Justice Kelly resigning from MI Supreme Court effective October 1

The Detroit News reports that Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary Beth Kelly will be resigning from the state’s highest court to return to private practice on October 1.  It is reported she will be working for the Bodman law firm in Detroit.  Governor Rick Snyder will be be appointing Justice Kelly’s replacement.

While Justice Kelly did join the liberal dissent in a recent case involving Right-To-Work in Michigan, when looking at decisions made by the Court she is undoubtedly a part of the 5-member Rule of Law majority on the seven-member Court.

Justice Kelly was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2010, following over a decade of service of the Wayne County Circuit Court.

 

Originally posted at www.freedomsdefenders.com/blog/supreme-court-shake-up-justice-kelly-to-step-down-from-michigans-highest-court. Used by permission.

Just for fun…

A word cloud for Peter For Michigan blog posts.

 

HTML5 Word Cloud of Peter For Michigan

Is There Hope for America?

The national debt is over eighteen trillion dollars.  Christian bakers and florists are being told they must violate their conscience or face thousands of dollars in government fines.  Despite the fact that they hold the majority, Republican leadership in Congress still seems to bow to the Democrats during most of the crucial battles.  An ever-growing army of unelected and unaccountable government departments and agencies continue to erode our freedom and our Constitution.  China celebrates our skyrocketing debt (OK, maybe The Onion isn’t the most reliable source… but really, this article seems like it might just be legit?).  And speaking of debt, if you’re not in despair already, just watch the national debt clock for a few minutes.Needless to say, it’s easy to become depressed about the state of our nation and fearful of what the future might hold.  Even for optimists like myself, questions linger… with the long downward spiral we’ve been caught in for years, can we ever fully recover?  Is there any hope?

For me, the answer is a resounding yes!  There is hope.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7 (ESV)

I have hope because I know that my God — the one true God — is in control and I know that what He does is just and right.  The Founding Fathers recognized this truth, as evidenced by Benjamin Franklin’s call to open the meetings of the Constitutional Convention with prayer:

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth–that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” – Benjamin Franklin

If God is on our side — or more accurately, if we are on God’s side — nothing can prevent us from accomplishing his purposes.  Indeed, God will make even the hardest times and most trying situations work together for good for them that love him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).God has a plan.  While I may not know what exactly his plan holds for America, I do know that His plan is perfect, right, and just.  And that, my friends, gives me hope.

(Originally posted at www.freedomsdefenders.com/blog/is-there-hope-for-america. Used with permission.)

MIGOP 2015 Convention Results

Results from the Michigan Republican Party’s 2015 State Convention, held in Lansing on February 20-21, 2015:

CHAIR: Ronna Romney McDaniel

CO-CHAIR: Jeff Sakwa

ADMINISTRATIVE VICE CHAIR: David Wolkinson (after a run-off vote between Wolkinson and Dr. Joseph Guzman)

COALITIONS VICE CHAIR: Adi Sathi

ETHNIC VICE CHAIR: Darwin Jiles Jr.

GRASSROOTS VICE CHAIR: Wendy Day

OUTREACH VICE CHAIR: Kelly Mitchell

YOUTH VICE CHAIR: Michael Banerian

For MIGOP Administrative Vice Chair: Dr. Joseph Guzman

Looking at the three candidates for Administrative Vice Chair of the Michigan Republican Party, one stands out: Dr. Joseph Guzman.

Dr. Guzman is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University.  His public service roles range from school board member to working in the Pentagon.  He has been very active in Republican politics, with roles ranging from “Yard-Sign Champ” to hosting Presidential campaign fundraisers.  Dr. Guzman mentions that he has organized and sponsored multiple conferences — a major part of the Administrative Vice Chair role is overseeing the MIGOP State Conventions.

Joseph Guzman is a strong conservative and an advocate for the Republican platform as well.  You can read his responses to the Platform Republican Caucus Questionnaire, as well as the responses of the other candidates, by clicking here.

Dr. Guzman has the experience and knowledge to continue building on the successes of the MIGOP in the 2014 cycle and work with Republicans across the state to ensure that Michigan helps elect a Republican President in 2016. I have nothing against Dave Wolkinson, the current Admin Vice Chair, and look forward to his leadership if he is re-elected. However, I believe Dr. Guzman is uniquely qualified for the position of Administrative Vice Chair for this cycle, and hope that delegates to State Convention will elect him on Saturday.  You can learn more and read his plan at www.guzman4michigan.com.

 

Michigan GOP Convention Races

There are three candidates for MIGOP Chair, listed below in alphabetical order:

Kim Shmina – www.kimshmina.com

Norm Hughes – www.normforchair.com

Ronna Romney McDaniel – www.ronnaforchair.com

Candidates in other races are listed below:

Adi Sathi for Coalitions Vice Chair – facebook.com/AdiSathiForMIGOPViceChair

Wendy Day for Grassroots Vice Chair – www.forabetterday.com

Darwin Jiles Jr. for Ethnic Vice Chair – facebook.com/jiles4GOPethnicvicechair

Linda Tarver for Ethnic Vice Chair – www.lindaleetarver.com

Dr. Joseph Guzman for Administrative Vice Chair – www.guzmanformichigan.com

Chris Arndt for Administrative Vice Chair – facebook.com/ChrisArndtMIGOP

David Wolkinson for Administrative Vice Chair – N/A

Michael Banerian for Youth Vice Chair – facebook.com/MikeforYouthChair

If you know of any other candidates, please send me a message!