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Freedom Force

2021-01-26T02:12:31Z

AmerICan:

The '''Freedom Force''' is an informal coalition of several Republican members of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] established in 2021. It was first coined by [[Maria Elvira Salazar]] of [[Florida]] and comprises Salazar, [[Carlos A. Giménez]], and [[Byron Donalds]] of Florida, [[Nicole Malliotakis]] of [[New York]], [[Michelle Steel]] of [[California]], [[Victoria Spartz]] of [[Indiana]], [[Burgess Owens]] of [[Utah]], and [[Stephanie Bice]] of [[Oklahoma]].

It has been described as a conservative alternative to the [[far-left]] group, The Squad, which was established by [[socialist]]s [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] (D-NY), [[Ilhan Omar]] (D-MN), [[Rashida Tlaib]] (D-MI), and [[Ayanna Pressley]] (D-MA).

Both the Freedom Force and The Squad began as groupings of then freshman class members. While all members of the Squad are under 50 years of age, members of the Freedom Force range from 40 to 69 years of age. In addition, while all members of the Squad represent safe, solidly Democrat congressional districts that have a Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI) score above D+20, members of the Freedom Force represent competitive districts, with each individual's 2020 race being decided by a few percentage points. Byron Donalds is the lone exception, who won his election with over 60% of the vote.

At the moment, the Freedom Force is majority-female by a 5 to 3 margin. It is also majority-minority, with three [[Hispanic|Hispanic Americans]] (Salazar, Gimenez, and Malliotakis), two [[African American]]s (Donalds and Owens), one Korean-American (Steel), one [[Ukrainian]] immigrant (Spartz), and the first [[Iranian]] member of Congress (Bice). Members of the Freedom Force denounce [[socialism]] and support small businesses. They also oppose the [[Green New Deal]] and oppose [[court-packing]].

[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Conservatism]]

Freedom Force

2021-01-21T03:14:13Z

AmerICan: Created page with "The '''Freedom Force''' is an informal coalition of several Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives established in 2021. It was first coined by Maria Elv..."

Mitt Romney

2020-06-29T03:43:29Z

AmerICan:

{{Officeholder
|name=Willard Mitt Romney
|image=MittPortrait.jpg‎
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=[[Ann Romney]]
|religion=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Utah
|terms=January 3, 2019 – present
|preceded=[[Orrin Hatch]]
|status=j
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=70th
|state=Massachusetts
|terms=January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007
|preceded=[[Jane Swift]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Deval Patrick]]
}}
}}
'''Willard Mitt Romney''', most popularly known as '''Mitt Romney''', (born March 12, 1947) is an [[establishment]], [[globalist]],<ref name="CFRneocon"/><ref>Bandow, Doug (January 10, 2019). [https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/mitt-romney-commander-of-the-fake-internationalists/ Mitt Romney, Commander of the Fake Internationalists]. ''The American Conservative''. Retrieved January 10, 2019.</ref> and [[RINO]]<ref>Adelmann, Bob (January 3, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/27862-sen-hatch-s-retirement-paves-way-for-romney-one-rino-replacing-another Sen. Hatch’s Retirement Paves Way for Romney: One RINO Replacing Another]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> American politician. He is also an [[Opposition to Christianity|anti-Christian]] [[bigot]]<ref name="ReligiousBigot"/><ref>Wood, Benjamin (May 29, 2018). [https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/05/30/watch-live-mitt-romney-debates-mike-kennedy-in-republican-primary-for-orrin-hatchs-senate-seat/ Rep. Mike Kennedy portrays Mitt Romney as flip-flopper and carpetbagger while Romney renews his ‘bigot’ criticism of pastor who received an apology from Kennedy]. ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. Retrieved June 28, 2018.</ref> and a serial [[liar]].<ref>Weaver, Al (May 29, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/mitt-romney-faces-down-2012-era-attacks-during-2018-utah-senate-debate Mitt Romney faces down 2012-era attacks during 2018 Utah Senate debate]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved June 28, 2018. See also:
*[https://twitter.com/philipaklein/status/1182346147169480704 Philip Klein]. ''Twitter''. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.</ref> He is a U.S. Senator of [[Utah]], a former governor of [[Massachusetts]], a U.S. businessman, and the [[2012 Republican Primary|Republican nominee]] for the [[Presidential Election 2012]], losing to the incumbent president [[Barack Obama]]. Romney has been observed to not hold any values, instead being an opportunist who takes whatever political position suits him best at the moment.<ref name="WhatIf">Antle III, W. James (January 3, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/what-if-likely-utah-senate-candidate-mitt-romney-had-never-run-in-massachusetts/article/2644787 What if likely Utah Senate candidate Mitt Romney had never run in Massachusetts?] ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref><ref name="OffTheRails"/><ref>Klein, Philip (January 2, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/reminder-mitt-romney-has-no-ideological-core-and-we-have-no-idea-what-kind-of-senator-he-would-be Reminder: Mitt Romney has no ideological core, and we have no idea what kind of senator he would be]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> He has voiced contradicting positions on topics as diverse as [[abortion]], [[Homosexual rights advocacy|homosexual "rights"]], [[illegal immigration]], [[gun control]] and even support for [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="WhatIf"/><ref name="Pandey"/><ref name="RollingStone"/><ref name="Backstabbing">Pollak, Joel B. (January 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/01/timeline-mitt-romney-history-of-backstabbing-donald-trump/ Timeline: Mitt Romney’s History of Backstabbing Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</ref><ref name="RipsEmbracing">Kurtz, Howard (January 3, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/op-ed-assault-romney-rips-trump-despite-embracing-him-at-times Op-ed assault: Romney rips Trump despite embracing him at times]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Thus, with good reason, [[conservative]]s see Romney's core beliefs as only marginally different from that of globalist Democrats such as Obama.<ref name="Eddlem2012">Eddlem, Thomas R. (August 9, 2012). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/12356-obama-v-romney-their-core-beliefs Obama v. Romney: Their Core Beliefs]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref><ref name="Richman2012">Richman, Sheldon (October 26, 2012). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/reviews/opinion/item/13404-americans-should-reject-obama-romeny-foreign-policy Americans Should Reject Obama-Romney Foreign Policy]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref>

Romney campaigned for the [[U.S. Senate]] seat from [[Utah]] by promising to support President [[Donald Trump]], but after Romney was elected he proceeded to do the opposite and even voted to remove Trump from office in the scam [[impeachment and removal|impeachment]] of him by [[Democrat]]s. Romney constantly engages in a never-ending series of scurrilous criticisms of Trump, much as fellow [[Mormon]] Senator [[Jeff Flake]] did until public disapproval of his positions forced him to forgo running for reelection.

Romney was defeated for the nomination for president in 2008 by [[John McCain]]. In 1994 – a year of landslide victories for Republicans – Mitt Romney came up short in challenging incumbent Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] of Massachusetts,<ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/romney/ Romney to the Rescue: Mitt Romney's Got the Right Stuff for 2008] Kessler, Ronald, newsmax.com archives, retrieved April 27, 2012.</ref> the same seat that Republican [[Scott Brown]] won after Kennedy died. In 2018, Romney ran for Utah's Senate seat when he could have run again for Massachusetts' seat—narrowing the GOP's opportunity to expand its Senate majority.<ref name="MA,UT2018"/>

Before entering politics Romney was a businessman in Boston, having served as CEO of [[Bain Capital]], a [[private equity]] firm known for taking over American companies, laying off employees,<ref name="InvestorsProfits">Kraychik, Robert (January 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2019/01/03/henry-olsen-mitt-romney-put-investors-profits-over-american-jobs/ Henry Olsen: Mitt Romney Put ‘Investors’ Profits’ over ‘American Jobs’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> and profiting from bankruptcy:<ref>https://thinkprogress.org/under-romney-bain-capital-made-millions-from-south-carolina-business-that-shut-down-laid-off-150-b855c39012ca/</ref>
{{cquote|Under Romney, “four of the 10 companies Bain acquired declared bankruptcy within a few years, shedding thousands of jobs.” But documents show that “Bain investors profited in eight of the 10 deals, including three of the four that ended in bankruptcy.” Indeed, the firm pointedly made higher profits “by firing workers, seeking government subsidies, and flipping companies quickly for large profits.”}}

Romney's political start began during the financially unsteady 2002 Winter Olympics. He gained popularity in Massachusetts, a state known for being extremely liberal, and was elected governor in 2002. As governor, he raised taxes several times. He unashamedly admits creating [[RomneyCare]], which is a complete disaster and forces everyone to buy health insurance and has resulted in long delays for obtaining medical services, such as an ordinary physical, in that state. [[Ted Kennedy]] and other [[liberals]] supported the bill. Romney declined to run for re-election and announced his candidacy for president.

During his campaign for the Republican nomination in 2008, Romney was widely but incorrectly supported as a staunch conservative and ran on his business experience in the private sector. Romney fought a rough battle against Senator [[John McCain]] in Florida, Michigan, and other key states, but large losses on the Super Tuesday primaries ended his campaign. Romney dropped out of the race and endorsed Senator [[John McCain]] on February 14, 2008. His name was circulated as a potential running mate for McCain as their relationship improved, though [[Sarah Palin]] eventually became the vice-president nominee.

Romney had supported many [[Liberal|left-wing]] positions: Romney had a pro-[[abortion]] record but has claimed to be "[[pro-life]]" since 2005; Romney acknowledges [[global warming]] but says that he doesn't know how much is due to human activity; Romney has been criticized for standing behind his 2005 [[RomneyCare|health care plan in Massachusetts]] whilst pledging to "replace" [[ObamaCare]] during his campaign for president in 2012. RomneyCare featured an '[[individual mandate]]' requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, and unlike Obamacare, featured socialized medicine as a backup for those who could not afford to pay. This plan is very similar to the 2010 ObamaCare bill that was adopted on a national level, and Obama claims Romney's people helped craft it. Romney, whom Democrats claim is a racist [[Nazi]] and compared him to [[Hitler]],<ref>https://upennstatesman.org/2018/11/06/a-fifty-year-history-of-democrats-crying-hitler/</ref><ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/16/nine_most_racist_moments_of_the_2012_election/</ref> attempted to regain their good graces by voting with their [[Deep State coup 2.0|impeachment scam]].

== Personal life ==
[[Image:MittRomneyYouth05.jpg|thumb|200px|Ann Lois Davies and Willard Mitt Romney]]
Romney is the scion of an old Mormon family. His grandparents were polygamists who fled the United States in the early 20th century when the Mormon Church repudiated polygamy; his father was born in Mexico. The Romneys returned to the U.S. in 1911 when a violent civil war broke out in Mexico.

Mitt Romney is a devout member of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] and spent time as a missionary during his youth converting Catholics and agnostics to Mormonism in France. In fact, his time as a student and missionary helped him defer from military service during the Vietnam draft,<ref>Michael Kranish, "The Making of Mitt Romney: Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other missionaries" June 24, 2007. The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/?page=1</ref> but he stated during interviews that "he had longed to join the soldiers in Vietnam and support the war effort." His father had stated in 1967 that he felt "brainwashed" by U.S. officials over the justification of the prolonged Vietnam war. This statement had been very costly in George Romney's 1968 campaign for president against Richard Nixon.

Romney married to his wife Ann, with whom he has five children.

Romney is the son of former [[Michigan]] governor and presidential candidate [[George Romney]], a "[[RINO|Rockefeller Republican]],"<ref>Lisa McGirr, ''Suburban Warriors''(2001) pp. 141, 222.</ref> who amassed a large fortune as an automobile industry magnate during World War II.  George Romney was popular among moderates during his presidential run and was well-equipped for victory; many of his political advisors had come from [[Nelson Rockefeller]]'s 1964 campaign.

==Business career==
From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of Bain & Company, Inc. a worldwide management consulting firm, and in 1984, Romney co-founded a spin-off called Bain Capital. He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as Staples, Brookstone, Domino's, Sealy Corporation and Sports Authority. Critics say he advised corporations to cut their U.S. taxes by reincorporating in Caribbean tax havens such as the Cayman Islands while maintaining their operations in the U.S. His business practices also resulted in the layoffs of many American workers.

==Record as Governor==
Romney served as governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), with a generally [[conservative]] record that included economic expansion. He balanced the budget every year of his administration without increasing taxes or increasing state dept. Romney turned a $3 billion budget deficit into a $500 million surplus by reducing government spending and added 80,000 new jobs by the end of his term. In 2004, 2005, and 2006 Governor Romney proposed cutting the state income tax from 5.3% to 5.0%.<ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/08/mitt_romneys_record_on_economi.php</ref> Although the Democratic supermajority in the state legislator refused to budge. Romney vetoed 844 pieces of legislation, with over 700 overridden.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Government_Reform.htm</ref> He vetoed an increase in the minimum wage, saying "there's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs." <ref>Telegram & Gazette, 08/01/06</ref> Under Governor Romney the state abolished a retroactive capital gains tax that would have forced nearly 50,000 taxpayers to pay additional taxes and fees.<ref>http://www.americansformitt.com/</ref> Massachusetts Citizens For Limited Taxation Executive Director Barbara Anderson praised Romney, saying "There was no one else out on the horizon and with the legislature almost entirely Democratic, we felt it was necessary to have a grown-up in the corner office. … And we were right to back him. He's been a really good friend to the taxpayers."

However, some of the actions Governor Romney took received criticisms from conservatives, such as supporting moderate fee increases and creating and the nation's first universal [[health care]] program. During his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney supported [[abortion]], his views evolved and would later take [[pro-life]] positions such as vetoing emergency contraception and vetoing [[stem-cell research]] that would allow cloning of human embryos. In 2006, Governor Romney testified before the [[United States]] [[Senate]] to support the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would limit marriage to one man and one woman. Additionally, Romney filed legislation to reinstate [[capital punishment]], but was defeated in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on a 99–53 vote.

Mitt Romney made no pardons as governor, "My conclusion was, if somebody has been convicted by a jury of their peers, and they’ve been prosecuted and the police were able to get the evidence necessary to put them behind bars, why in the world would I step in and reverse that sentence?" <ref>https://hotair.com/archives/2009/12/04/romney-on-huckabee-unlike-some-people-i-never-pardoned-anyone/</ref>

On [[Education]] Romney called for the privatization of the University of Massachusetts medical school.<ref>Telegram & Gazette, 02/27/03</ref> In 2004, he established the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which rewarded the top 25 percent of Massachusetts high school students with tuition-free scholarship to any Massachusetts public [[university]] or [[college]]. In August 2006, Governor Romney refused to allow former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, an outspoken opponent of the [[United States]] and [[Israel]], state police escorts during his speech at [[Harvard University]].<ref>https://www.nysun.com/editorials/khatemi-at-harvard/38903/</ref>

In December 2006, Romney signed a memorandum of agreement with the federal government that would allow state troopers to enforce federal immigration laws,<ref>http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=96543</ref> however, was revoked when Democrat Deval Patrick took office as Governor in January 2007.

== Political Views ==
Romney has flip-flopped his stated positions on many issues, including abortion, [[homosexual "rights"]], illegal immigration, gun control, as well as his opinion of Reagan and Trump.<ref name="WhatIf"/><ref name="Pandey"/><ref name="RollingStone">[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/mitt-romneys-biggest-flip-flops-20120801 Mitt Romney's Biggest Flip Flops]. ''RollingStone''. August 1, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> With good reason, [[conservative]]s see Romney's core beliefs as only marginally different from that of globalist Democrats such as Obama.<ref name="Eddlem2012"/> His foreign policy preferences also share numerous similarities with Obama's.<ref name="Richman2012"/>

One position that Romney has been consistent on, however, is his support for [[globalist]] policies, having been strongly influenced by [[neoconservatism]] and the [[Council on Foreign Relations]].<ref name="CFRneocon">Mass, Warren (September 25, 2012). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/12974-romney-foreign-policy-shows-strong-cfr-neo-con-influence Romney Foreign Policy Shows Strong CFR, Neo-con Influence]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref>

During his 2002 campaign to become the 70th governor of Massachusetts, Romney described his views as "moderate" and proclaimed that "my views are progressive".<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/romney-in-2002-my-views-are-progressive-2011-12 Romney In 2002: 'My Views Are Progressive'], "I think people recognize that I am not a partisan Republican. That I'm someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive."</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMcjJEXt9To Mitt Romney in Worcester 2002 "My views are progressive"]</ref> Romney has displayed [[liberal intolerance]], smearing conservative Christians as "religious bigots" for holding theological views based on clear biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.<ref name="ReligiousBigot">Multiple references:
*Conradis, Brandon (May 13, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/387530-romney-denounces-pastor-slated-to-speak-at-us-embassy-in-jerusalem Romney denounces pastor slated to speak at US embassy in Jerusalem]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
*Starnes, Todd (May 13, 2018). [https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/mitt-romney-calls-southern-baptist-pastor-robert-jeffress-a-religious-bigot/ Mitt Romney Calls Southern Baptist Pastor Robert Jeffress a “Religious Bigot”]. ''Todd Starnes''. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
*Starnes, Todd (May 14, 2018). [https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/bitter-mitt-romney-smears-evangelicals-by-attacking-jeffress/ Bitter Mitt Romney Smears Evangelicals by Attacking Jeffress]. ''Todd Starnes''. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
*Klukowski, Ken; Pollak, Joel (May 16, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/05/16/exclusive-evangelical-pastor-jeffress-prays-jerusalem-embassy-romney-attacks/ Exclusive — Evangelical Pastor Robert Jeffress Prays at Jerusalem Embassy; Romney Attacks]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2018.</ref>

===Abortion===
Currently, Romney claims to be pro-life, but his record is very spotty. At times he has claimed to be pro-[[infanticide]] and has also explicitly opposed common pro-life legislation and positions.
"I am [[pro-life]]. I believe that [[abortion]] is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." ([[Boston]] Globe, Mitt Romney Editorial, July 26, 2005)
<ref>[http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values America's Culture and Values] mittromney.com</ref>

Despite having a largely pro-life record as governor, in a 1994 debate with Senator [[Edward Kennedy]], Romney said that abortion should be legal, declaring that "regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal." "Many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion", Romney said. "It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that."<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/07/03/clarity_sought_on_romneys_abortion_stance/?page=2</ref>

In his campaign literature for the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, Romney expressed a willingness to defend that State's pro-abortion status quo.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20021218005104/www.romneyhealey.com/issues/4</ref> He stated in a live, televised debate:<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_w9pquznG4</ref>

{{cquote|"I've been very clear on that, I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard."}}

In May 2019, Romney publicly opposed an Alabama law that banned abortions in most cases.<ref>Frazin, Rachel (May 19, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/abortion/444453-romney-expresses-opposition-to-alabama-abortion-ban Romney expresses opposition to Alabama abortion ban]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref><ref>Beavers, David (May 19, 2019). [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/19/mitt-romney-alabama-abortion-law-1332867 Romney says he doesn't support Alabama abortion law]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref>

===Civil Unions===
Romney claimed to be opposed to the idea of [[same-sex "marriage"]], however, he has voiced explicit support for the [[homosexual agenda]]. He has advocated for domestic partnership benefits and equal rights for [[homosexuals]], which is same-sex "marriage" in everything but name and an easy stepping stone on the vile homosexual agenda path towards homosexual recruitment.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20021218005104/www.romneyhealey.com/issues/3</ref> He also supports adoption for homosexual couples.<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57432292-503544/romney-says-hes-fine-with-gay-couples-adopting-children/</ref> Eventually, in violation of the Massachusetts Constitution, he illegally imposed same-sex "marriage" on the state and he refused to remove pro-same-sex "marriage" liberal activist judges in the state from their offices or to back religious adoption charities that are opposed to homosexual adoptions.<ref>[https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen4/20a/Romney-book-to-GOP-Senate/index.html MassResistance sends copies of our Romney book to every GOP US Senator, Pres. Trump, VP Pence, and major media] at MassResistance</ref>

===Economic Agenda===
As President, Romney promised to pursue a conservative, pro-growth economic agenda. His number one economic priority would be to grow the economy — helping to create good jobs, raise incomes and preserve American strength. He says he would work to rein in excessive government spending and reform entitlements. To ensure America's continued economic growth, he promises to cut taxes — such as the Death Tax, savings taxes, corporate taxes and marginal tax rates. Despite these claims, he has supported the [[socialist|socialism]] agenda. He claimed credit for the government bailout of the union controlled car companies.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/07/romney-taking-credit-for-auto-industry-success/</ref> Also his [[RomneyCare]] law started the process of [[socialism|socializing]] medical care in [[Massachusetts]]. He continues to defend this law up to this day, undermining his commitment to repeal the similar and equally atrocious [[ObamaCare]].<ref>https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/romney-defends-romneycare_560953.html</ref>

Romney says he would also promote trade, bring market forces to bear in health care, pursue national tort and liability reform, eliminate excessive regulations that put a burden on our economy and strengthen American families.

===Immigration===
Romney supports higher immigration levels and has taken a soft stance on illegal immigration after his 2012 presidential campaign. For example, he endorsed the 2013 [[Gang of Eight]] [[amnesty]] bill. and voiced support for amnesty on other occasions.<ref name="7Highlights"/>

This is in strong contrast to Romney's stated positions while he was running for President (though he still called for more legal immigration):
<blockquote>Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Immigration</ref></blockquote>

In the 2012 presidential campaign, Romney voiced opposition to [[illegal immigration]] to attract conservative voters.<ref>[http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=91722 IowaPolitics.com: Romney Touts Strong Stance On Illegal Immigration]</ref> On May 24, 2007, Romney spoke about how he was tolerant about homosexuals and then he discussed the current illegal immigration bill before Congress:
<blockquote>He expressed less tolerance for illegal immigrants, and said he and President Bush have a difference of opinions on a bill that would provide a path toward legalization for an estimated 12 million people unlawfully in the country.

"He has his view, and other people have their views and I have my own," Romney said. "This is for all intents and purposes a form of amnesty in that everyone who is here illegally today will be able to stay under this bill."

The bill is unfair to people who are trying to come to the country legally, he said. People here illegally should be able to apply to come to the United States, but under the same terms as everyone else and behind those who have already applied.

"I don't think that we're going to round up 11 or 12 or however many million people and bus them out of the country. That's not what I'm talking about," Romney said. "Those who committed felonies, of course, would be deported. Those who require government assistance to stay here would surely need to get off government assistance and ultimately could not remain here on government assistance."<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May24/0,4670,RomneyGays,00.html</ref></blockquote>

===Stem Cell Research===
Mitt Romney supports the right of scientists to research on embryos created during fertility treatments. Critics consider this to be essentially infanticide.<ref>http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/11/romneys_stem_cell_view_may_upset_the_right/</ref>

===Foreign Relations===
During the [[Syrian Civil War]], Romney called for arming various rebel groups.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/08/romney-hope-is-not-strategy-in-middle-east/</ref> He also said that [[Russia]] is America's 'number one geopolitical foe'.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9168533/Mitt-Romney-Russia-is-Americas-number-one-geopolitical-foe.html</ref> Romney and [[Paul Ryan]] said that [[China]] is a cheater in global economy.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/13/romney-ryan-call-china-cheaters-in-global-economy-obama-soft-on-issue/</ref>

However, Romney has spoken highly of the [[European Union]] and has subtly criticized conservative [[Euroskeptic]]s.<ref name="ForeignCmte"/>

===Evolution===
Mitt Romney believes in [[evolution]] and opposes even [[Intelligent Design]].<ref>http://evolution.about.com/od/Overview/tp/2012-Gop-Presidential-Candidates-On-Evolution.htm</ref>

==2008 Presidential Campaign==
{{Main|Mitt Romney 2008 Presidential Campaign}}

[[Image:Dude and mitt romney.jpg|right|180px]] As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Romney campaigned nationwide for GOP gubernatorial candidates in 2006, building up a network of allies and supporters. While he did not run for reelection as governor, in 2004 Romney set up a federal political action committee (PAC) called the Commonwealth PAC, which raised $2.71 million during the 2006 election cycle. On January 3, 2007, his next-to-last day in office as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. He officially announced his candidacy for president a month later. Romney was the first candidate in either party to start running television and radio ads. The ads focused mainly on his record as governor, running the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, and his work as a very successful businessman. Romney's five sons had been actively campaigning for their father, traveling around in a campaign bus called the "Mitt Mobile, A Five Brothers Bus."

As a presidential candidate, Romney sought the support of the business community and social conservatives. He reversed moderate positions on abortion and gay rights to take a hardline conservative position on them, and on opposition to illegal immigrants. Opponents charged he changed too often. Romney was a leader in fund-raising, augmented by over $35 million from his own fortune. However he was little known outside of Massachusetts, so his strategy was to play for early wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, then "sling-shot" the momentum into national visibility. Romney won the Michigan primary on January 16, 2008, with 39% of the vote, edging out McCain with 30% and Huckabee with 16%. Romney was favored to win in the state of his birth, where his father, [[George Romney]] was governor from 1963–1969. After losing both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary (to Huckabee and McCain, respectively), Romney won a low-publicized Wyoming caucus. On January 19, Romney easily won the [[Nevada]] caucuses by 37 percentage points when there were seven candidates on the ballot, however, on that same day he placed a distant fourth in the [[South Carolina]] primary. After a disappointing performance on Super Tuesday, Romney announced the suspension of his campaign on Thursday 7 February. He expressed his wishes not to divide the Republican party and later endorsed Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]. Commentators correctly speculated on his chances for a return effort in 2012.

===Fundraising===
Mitt Romney had done well in fundraising. During his first fundraiser as a presidential candidate, he raised $6.5 million compared to the claimed original goal of only $1 million. During the first quarter, Romney raised more money than any other Republican presidential candidate with $23 million. However, a substantial portion of his funds ($17 million) came from his own personal wealth. [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/16/top_spender_romney_could_soon_run_short/]

==2012 Presidential campaign==
[[File:Adolf Romney.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Democrat hero Mitt Romney depicted as Adolf Romney.]]
In April 2011, Romney announced his candidacy for President of the United States for the 2012 election, running as a Republican.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/11/mitt-romney-president-candidate</ref> Romney was criticized throughout the primary season for being a Republican In Name Only due to his liberal views on social issues as governor and his flip-flops, as well as a controversial business record. His main competitors during the primaries were former conservative Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]], Pro-Life Senator [[Rick Santorum]], and libertarian Congressman [[Ron Paul]]. Romney ended up winning the vast majority of contests, though the race remained close in delegate count throughout. Romney together with Vice Presidential candidate [[Paul Ryan]] ran against President Barack Obama and Vice President [[Joe Biden]] in the election held on November 6, 2012. During the campaign, Romney was criticized for saying that the [[Romney's 47 percent comment|47% of Americans who do not pay income taxes consider themselves to be 'victims']].

Romney led Obama among many key segments of the electorate: "Romney leads [[Barack Obama|Obama]] 58%–34% among [[veteran]]s, who make up about 13% of the [[electorate]]" and influence many other voters.<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/05/gallup-romney-tops-obama-with-veterans/1</ref> 50–43%, in early May.<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls/226943-poll-romney-opens-up-big-lead-nationally</ref> Other polls show different results,<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html</ref> in swing states like Ohio,<ref>http://www.re
alclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/oh/ohio_romney_vs_obama-1860.html</ref> Virginia<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/va/virginia_romney_vs_obama-1774.html</ref> and Wisconsin.<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/wi/wisconsin_romney_vs_obama-1871.html</ref> Most national polls showed Obama with a lead over Romney later in the summer, but that lead evaporated after Obama's weak performance in the first debate. One national poll showed Romney with a 7-point lead over [[Obama]]. Romney then lost the second and third debates by emphasizing [[neocon]] rather than [[conservative]] positions, and Obama improved in some polls. By Election Day, however, the [[Gallup]] and [[Rasmussen]] polls showed Romney with a one-point lead.

According to [[CNN]], Romney won by a margin of 67–25% the first presidential debate against [[liberal]] incumbent [[Barack Obama]]. This debate had the largest television audience for a presidential debate since [[Ronald Reagan]]'s 1980 classic against [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/presidential-debate-drew-more-than-70-million-viewers/</ref>

Romney lost the election to Obama.

===Flip-flopping on the issues===
Prior to his campaign for president in 2012, Romney was criticized for flip-flopping on key social issues:

*Mitt Romney once changed his positions on gun control. He was originally for it, but recently joined the National Rifle Association, an organization opposed to it.

*Romney changed his position on immigration shortly before the [[2012 Presidential Election]]. He originally supported amnesty for certain illegals and moratoriums on criminal prosecution for drug dealing by illegal immigrants.

*Romney persistently flip-flopped on the issue of abortion, depending on which constituency he wanted to charm.<ref name="WhatIf"/>

Romney was defeated in the election. It is speculated that Romney's inability to connect with core conservatives and his history of flip-flopping on many issues (only a few years before his first candidacy for president) cost him the election.

==Anti-Trump activism==
{{See also|Opposition to Donald Trump}}
Romney joined the [[Never Trump movement]] during the 2016 presidential election, harshly insulting and criticizing GOP presidential candidate for his conservative America First positions and his anti-establishment posture.<ref name="Pandey">Pandey, Erica (January 2, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-mitt-romney-relationship-timeline-2521893434.html Timeline: Trump and Romney's tumultuous relationship]. ''Axios''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> This was despite him begging Trump for his endorsement in the previous election.<ref name="Pandey"/><ref name="Backstabbing"/> He called Trump "a fraud, a phony," and a lier, even though Romney himself flip-flopped on numerous political issues.<ref name="7Highlights">Mason, Ian (February 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/19/as-mitt-romney-sets-sights-on-the-senate-7-highlights-of-his-post-defeat-days/ As Mitt Romney Sets Sights on the Senate: 7 Highlights of His Post-Defeat Days]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 20, 2018.</ref> Romney also criticized Trump for not releasing his tax returns even though Trump defended Romney in 2012 for not releasing his own tax returns.<ref name="7Highlights"/> Romney did not vote for Trump on election day, 2016, instead writing in his wife's name.<ref>Thomsen, Jacqueline (May 30, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/390003-romney-reveals-he-wrote-in-wifes-name-for-president-in-2016 Romney reveals he wrote in wife's name for president in 2016]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 30, 2018.</ref><ref>Darrah, Nicole (May 30, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/30/mitt-romney-reveals-who-got-his-vote-in-2016-presidential-election.html Mitt Romney reveals who got his vote in 2016 presidential election]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 31, 2018.</ref>

After the election, Romney pretended his insults never took place and flattered the president-elect as he unsuccessfully tried to become Trump's Secretary of State.<ref name="Backstabbing"/><ref name="7Highlights"/><ref>Spiering, Charlie (November 30, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/11/30/mitt-romney-flip-flops-donald-trump-won-gives-hope-americas-future/ Mitt Romney Flip-Flops: Donald Trump Won, Gives Me Hope For America’s Future]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> However, with his efforts having failed, Romney reverted to the anti-Trump position he took in 2016, criticizing Trump for his politically incorrect comments as well as criticizing [[conservative]] [[Roy Moore]] in the general election against a [[far-left]] Democrat.<ref name="Pandey"/> In August 2017, Romney effectively endorsed the [[Antifa]], a violent left-wing hate group.<ref name="7Highlights"/>

In January 2018, Romney used [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Day]] to attack President Trump.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (January 15, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/15/mitt-romney-uses-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-bash-donald-trump/ Mitt Romney Uses Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Attack Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Chakraborty, Barnini (January 15, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/15/romney-takes-swipe-at-trump-over-s-hole-comments-race-relations.html Romney takes swipe at Trump over 's---hole' comments, race relations]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref> On July 1, 2018, Romney refused to endorse President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign when asked.<ref>Multiple references:
*Baker, Trent (July 1, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/07/01/romney-not-willing-to-say-he-endorses-trump-in-2020/ Romney ‘Not Willing to Say’ He Endorses Trump in 2020]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
*Chaitin, Daniel (July 1, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mitt-romney-too-early-to-say-if-ill-support-trump-in-2020 Mitt Romney: 'Too early' to say if I'll support Trump in 2020]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
*Anapol, Avery (July 2, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/395125-romney-too-early-to-say-whether-ill-support-trump-in-2020 Romney: ‘Too early’ to say whether I’ll support Trump in 2020]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 2, 2018.</ref> He criticized President Trump's trade policies and efforts to correct the mistakes of past government officials.<ref>Muñoz, Gabriella (July 6, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jul/6/mitt-romney-trade-wars-are-a-tax-on-americans/ Mitt Romney: 'Trade wars are a tax on Americans']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 6, 2018.</ref> Despite this, in October 2018, he claimed, despite the evidence, that he never led the NeverTrump movement.<ref>Samuels, Brett (October 14, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/411331-romney-defends-trumps-policies-as-effective-disputes-he-led-never-trumpRomney defends Trump’s policies as ‘effective,' disputes he led 'never Trump' movement]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 14, 2018.</ref><ref>O'Reilly, Andrew (October 14, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-denies-he-led-never-trump-movement-says-presidents-policies-pretty-effective Romney denies he led 'never Trump' movement, says president's policies 'pretty effective']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 14, 2018.</ref>

In November 2018, Romney attacked President Trump for criticizing the mainstream media for its bias against him.<ref>Chasmar, Jessica (November 1, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/1/mitt-romney-i-cannot-conceive-calling-cnn-enemy-pe/ Romney defends media, attacks Trump: 'I cannot conceive' of calling press enemies of the people]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 1, 2018.</ref> This came despite the fact that Romney himself was harshly attacked by the media when he ran against Obama in 2012.<ref>Dorman, Sam (April 20, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/after-mueller-report-journalists-issue-mea-culpas-on-romneys-russia-prediction Post-Mueller report, journalists rethink handling of Romney's 2012 Russia prediction]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref>

===U.S. Senate campaign===
While he could have run in Massachusetts, the state where he served as governor and where he could have worked to defeat far-left Democrat [[Elizabeth Warren]], Romney chose to run in the solid Republican state of [[Utah]], where him winning would not help the GOP agenda and would actually impede President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref name="MA,UT2018">Pollak, Joel B. (January 5, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/05/pollak-isnt-mitt-romney-running-senate-massachusetts/ Blue State Blues: Why Isn’t Mitt Romney Running for Senate in Massachusetts?]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> He was heavily favored by the [[mainstream media]] in Utah,<ref>[https://www.axios.com/utah-media-if-romney-runs-he-wins-2522067938.html Utah media: If Romney runs, he wins]. ''Axios''. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> and his opposition to President Trump was noted in the election.<ref>Kamisar, Ben; Hagen, Lisa (February 15, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373944-romneys-trump-feud-looms-over-utah-senate-race Romney’s Trump feud looms over Utah Senate race]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.</ref> Romney was endorsed by fellow globalist RINO [[Jeb Bush]].<ref>Beavers, Olivia (January 15, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/369049-jeb-bush-backs-romney-for-utah-senate-run Jeb Bush backs Romney for Utah Senate run]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Moran, Sean (January 15, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/15/jeb-backs-potential-mitt-romney-bid-for-u-s-senate-i-hope-he-runs/ Jeb! Backs Potential Mitt Romney Bid for U.S. Senate: ‘I Hope He Runs’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref>

Romney formally announced his campaign on February 16, 2018, doing so by video.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kamisar, Ben (February 16, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/374176-romney-officially-announces-utah-senate-bid Romney makes Utah Senate bid official]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
*[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/16/mitt-romney-announces-us-senate-run-in-utah.html Mitt Romney announces US Senate run in Utah]. ''Fox News''. February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
*Moran, Sean (February 16, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/16/mitt-romney-officially-running-u-s-senate/ Mitt Romney Announces His U.S. Senate Race]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.</ref> In his announcement video, Romney criticized the Trump Administration's immigration policies, stating that "Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world" but that "Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion."<ref>Multiple references:
*Lloyd, Bob (February 16, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-romney/former-u-s-presidential-candidate-romney-announces-utah-senate-bid-idUSKCN1G01FO Former U.S. presidential candidate Romney announces Utah Senate bid]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
*Persons, Sally (February 16, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/16/mitt-romney-officially-announces-senate-run-says-u/ Mitt Romney officially announces Senate run, says Utah ‘welcomes legal immigrants’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
*Reston, Maeve (February 16, 2018). [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/16/politics/mitt-romney-donald-trump-immigration/index.html Why Romney called out Trump on immigration]. ''CNN''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.</ref> The GOP establishment rallied around Romney's campaign, with U.S. House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]], an [[establishment]] Republican who was Romney's choice for vice president in 2012, celebrating the decision as "a terrific day for the United States Senate."<ref>Multiple references:
*Weaver, Al (February 16, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/paul-ryan-endorses-mitt-romney-a-terrific-day-for-the-united-states-senate/article/2649284 Paul Ryan endorses Mitt Romney: 'A terrific day for the United States Senate']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
*Moran, Sean (February 16, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/16/paul-ryan-couldnt-be-happier-that-mitt-romney-for-u-s-senate/ Paul Ryan ‘Couldn’t Be Happier’ Mitt Romney Is Running for U.S. Senate]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.</ref>

Rob Anderson, the Utah GOP chairman, criticized Romney for choosing to run in Utah despite him and his children not living there, and he stated that Romney did not represent the state because of this.<ref>Multiple references:
*Delk, Josh (February 14, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373856-utah-gop-chairman-likens-romneys-expected-senate-run-to-hillary-clinton Utah GOP chairman takes a jab at Romney's ability to represent the state]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
*McLaughlin, Seth (February 14, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/14/utah-gop-chair-dings-anticipated-romney-senate-bid/ Utah GOP chair dings anticipated Romney Senate bid: Report]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
However, under heavy pressure, Anderson retracted his comments:
*Greenwood, Max (February 14, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373934-utah-gop-chairman-never-my-intent-to-disparage-romney Utah GOP chairman: 'Never my intent' to disparage Romney]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.</ref> Conservatives, including opposing candidate Larry Meyers, criticized Romney for flip-flopping positions and having liberal core values.<ref>Miller, S.A. (March 8, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/8/mitt-romney-under-attack-utah-liberal-massachusett/ How Mitt Romney is under attack in Utah for ‘liberal Massachusetts values’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 8, 2018.</ref> Romney's candidacy came about during a fight between the Republican establishment and conservatives over how the Utah Republican Party selects its nominee, with conservatives favoring a party convention over simply holding a primary where any candidate can run as a Republican with enough signatures.<ref>Leahy, Michael Patrick (March 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/19/gop-establishment-and-grassroots-in-bitter-utah-battle-as-mitt-romney-seeks-state-partys-u-s-senate-nomination/ GOP Establishment and Grassroots in Bitter Utah Battle as Mitt Romney Seeks State Party’s U.S. Senate Nomination]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 22, 2018.</ref>

Once again, Romney flipped on immigration, telling voters that his immigration stances were somehow tougher than those of President Trump's – however, he used the past tense to describe his views, as if he no longer held to them any longer,<ref>Multiple references:
*Spiering, Charlie (March 27, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-runs-as-immigration-hawk-daca-kids-shouldnt-all-be-allowed-to-stay-legally/ Mitt Romney Runs as Immigration Hawk: ‘DACA Kids Shouldn’t All Be Allowed to Stay Legally’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
*Shaw, Adam (March 27, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-says-is-more-conservative-on-immigration-than-trump.html Mitt Romney says he is more conservative on immigration than Trump]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> and despite claiming to have tough views, he opposed the Trump Administration's zero tolerance border policy because he thought it was too tough.<ref>Anapol, Avery (June 18, 2018). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/392826-mitt-romney-backs-laura-bush-op-ed-we-need-a-more-compassionate Romney backs Laura Bush on border: 'We need a more compassionate answer']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.</ref> He also voiced conservative views on ObamaCare and spending to his conservative audience during the GOP primary.<ref>Drucker, David M. (April 21, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mitt-romney-hammers-gop-vows-to-block-bloated-spending-and-repeal-obamacare-if-elected-to-senate Mitt Romney hammers GOP, vows to block bloated spending and repeal Obamacare if elected to Senate]. ''Washington Times''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.</ref> He claimed that he was not running to advance his career.<ref>Klein, Philip (April 23, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mitt-romney-in-his-fifth-campaign-since-1994-says-im-not-in-this-race-because-i-have-some-political-career-im-trying-to-foster Mitt Romney, in his fifth campaign since 1994, says 'I’m not in this race because I have some political career I’m trying to foster']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved April 23, 2018.</ref> However, in May 2018, Romney again criticized Trump.<ref>Sykes, Michael (May 29, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/trump-mitt-romney-criticism-role-model-8e4836ba-bfcd-4fb7-bcd1-17db50ea5647.html Mitt Romney doubles down on past Trump criticism]. ''Axios''. Retrieved May 29, 2018.</ref> Romney was reported to have been positioning himself to leave the GOP's [[establishment]] wing in the Senate and to counterbalance President Trump.<ref>Isenstadt, Alex (June 10, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/10/mitt-romney-senate-trump-635008 Romney looks to lead GOP’s establishment wing]. ''Politico''. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref> Romney refused to endorse President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref>Ayers, Emma (June 24, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mitt-romney-takes-stance-on-the-trump-agenda Mitt Romney takes stance on the 'Trump agenda']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref><ref>Shaw, Adam (June 23, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/23/romney-walks-fine-line-on-trump-amid-utah-primary-fight.html Romney walks fine line on Trump amid Utah primary fight]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref>

At the GOP convention, Romney was forced into a primary election after he failed to win over GOP delegates.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pollak, Joel B. (April 22, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/04/22/not-rominee-mitt-romney-2nd-utah-gop-convention-must-face-senate-primary/ Not the Rominee: Mitt Romney 2nd at Utah GOP Convention, Must Face Senate Primary]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
*Bowden, John (April 21, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/384301-romney-finishes-second-in-utah-gop-senate-primary Romney forced into GOP primary for Utah Senate nomination]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
*Calicchio, Dom (April 21, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/21/mitt-romney-faces-senate-runoff-in-utah-after-state-gop-convention-setback.html Mitt Romney faces Senate primary in Utah after state GOP convention setback]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
*Whitehurst, Lindsay; Hattem, Julian (April 22, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/22/mitt-romney-faces-republican-primary-utah-senate-c/ Mitt Romney forced into primary after losing nomination battle in Utah Senate bid]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 22, 2018.</ref> In the June 26 Republican senatorial primary, Romney faces the [[conservative]] state representative, Dr. Michael Stephen "Mike" Kennedy (born c. 1968), the son of a naturalized citizen. Kennedy practices medicine in Alpine in Utah County. Kennedy had narrowly won the party endorsement at the state convention. Kennedy criticized Romney for flip-flopping on the issues and for being a carpetbagger.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (June 5, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/05/mike-kennedy-mitt-romney-utah-senate-opponent/ Mike Kennedy Blasts Mitt Romney for Carpetbagging, Flip-Flopping]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref>

Romney and Kennedy appeared in a [[television]] debate on May 29, 2018. The two expressed agreement on a plethora of issues, including school safety, health care matters, and immigration. Both presented himself as a conservative. One dividing point was the Reverend [[Robert Jeffress]] of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist Church]] of [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], who at President Trump's invitation led a prayer at the dedication of the relocated U.S. Embassy in [[Jerusalem]]. Jeffress, who supported Romney for President in 2012, has been hostile toward Mormonism: he labeled the denomination "a cult" and questioned the integrity of Mormon founder [[Joseph Smith]]. Romney said that he regards Jeffress as a "religious bigot." Romney also noted that he carries Trump's endorsement though Kennedy in the debate repeatedly praised Trump's performance in office. Romney won the Republican primary on June 26, 2018.<ref>Boyle, Matthew (June 26, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/26/the-empire-strikes-back-establishment-rallies-to-romney-to-stop-trumps-winning-resistance-notches-win-in-new-york/ The Empire Strikes Back: Establishment Rallies to Romney to Stop Trump’s Winning, Resistance Notches Win in New York]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 28, 2018.</ref>

At the general election gubernatorial debate, Romney refused to directly answer questions on his past negative comments on Trump, even as he directly criticized the president's statements and policies.<ref>Re, Gregg (October 9, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-dodges-questions-on-past-trump-attacks-during-utah-senate-debate Romney dodges questions on past Trump attacks during Utah Senate debate]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 9, 2018.</ref>

===Senate tenure: opposing Trump===
Romney continued opposing President Trump after his election.<ref>War, Emily (May 20, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/the-new-mccain-romney-carves-out-role-as-gop-thorn-in-trumps-side The new McCain: Romney carves out role as GOP thorn in Trump's side]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved May 20, 2019.</ref> [[Establishment]] Republican House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]] stated that Romney saw himself "as a standard-bearer for our party" and a moral successor to globalist Republican [[John McCain]].<ref>Church, Nate (November 29, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/pre-viral/2018/11/29/ryan-romney-sees-himself-as-gop-standard-bearer/ Ryan: Romney Sees Himself as GOP ‘Standard-Bearer’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 29, 2018.</ref> Romney moved to take the place of anti-Trump Republicans McCain and [[Jeff Flake]].<ref>Morton, Victor; Miller, S.A. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/2/mitt-romney-ruffles-republicans-donald-trump-with-/ Mitt Romney seizes role vacated by anti-Trump Republicans McCain, Flake]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 21, 2019.</ref>

On January 1, 2019, Romney published an op-ed in ''The Washington Post''<ref>Buchanan, Patrick J. (January 4, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/reviews/opinion/item/31095-trump-and-the-post-whose-side-is-mitt-on Trump and The Post: Whose Side Is Mitt On?] ''The New American''. Retrieved January 4, 2019.</ref> in which he harshly attacked President Trump, claiming he did not have the "character" to be president – despite Romney's own flip-flopping and opportunism – and in the op-ed, he also subtly criticized [[America First]] immigration policies along with [[Right-wing populism|conservative European populists]] while showing support for the [[globalist]] European Union.<ref name="OffTheRails">Klein, Philip (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/where-mitt-romneys-attack-on-donald-trump-went-off-the-rails Where Mitt Romney's attack on Donald Trump went off the rails]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref><ref name="RipsEmbracing"/><ref name="ForeignCmte"/><ref>Multiple references:
*Kirkwood, R. Cort (January 2, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/31072-nevertrumper-romney-trump-is-racist-dishonest-destructive NeverTrumper Romney: Trump Is “Racist,” “Dishonest,” “Destructive”]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Darrah, Nicole (January 1, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/incoming-sen-romney-trump-hasnt-risen-to-the-mantle-of-presidency Incoming Sen. Romney: Trump hasn't 'risen to the mantle' of presidency]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Moons, Michelle (January 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/01/mitt-romney-slams-trumps-character-in-washington-post-op-ed/ Mitt Romney Slams Trump’s ‘Character’ in Washington Post Op-Ed]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Shepardson, David (January 1, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-romney/romney-attacks-trump-saying-he-causes-dismay-around-the-world-idUSKCN1OW02X Romney attacks Trump, saying he causes dismay around the world]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Siegel, Josh (January 1, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-defined-his-presidency-down-in-december-mitt-romney-says-in-op-ed Romney unloads on Trump, accuses him of ‘glaring’ shortfall in character]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Nicholas, Peter (January 1, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/mitt-romney-blasts-deep-descent-of-trump-presidency-11546399916 Mitt Romney Blasts ‘Deep Descent’ of Trump Presidency]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Rothschild, Neal (January 1, 2019). [https://www.axios.com/mitt-romney-criticize-donald-trump-washington-post-74fd1ad8-a8cb-458a-b582-019f26971c24.html Mitt Romney: Trump failing the U.S. as a world leader]. ''Axios''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
See also:
*Nolte, John (January 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/03/nolte-mitt-romney-is-an-idiot/ Nolte: Mitt Romney Is an Idiot]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
*Bruce, Tammy (January 3, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tammy-bruce-romneys-trump-attack-rings-especially-hollow-when-you-look-at-his-treatment-of-ric-grenell Tammy Bruce: Romney's Trump attack rings especially hollow when you look at his treatment of Ric Grenell]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> In a later interview, Romney stated he would not endorse Trump.<ref>Samuels, Brett (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423583-romney-says-he-wont-challenge-trump-in-2020 Romney says he won't challenge Trump in 2020 but doesn't endorse him]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> In response to Romney's attacks, President Trump noted Romney had failed in his presidential attempts while Trump won on his first try, and he urged Romney to work together with the GOP.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pollak, Joel B. (January 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/01/trump-campaign-manager-hits-back-at-jealous-mitt-romney-lacked-the-ability-to-save-this-nation/ Trump Campaign Manager Hits Back at ‘Jealous’ Mitt Romney: ‘Lacked the Ability to Save This Nation’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Spiering, Charlie (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/02/trump-mitt-romney-team-player-win/ Trump Responds to Mitt Romney Critique: ‘Be a Team Player and Win’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Darrah, Nicole (January 2, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/incoming-sen-romney-trump-hasnt-risen-to-the-mantle-of-presidency Trump fires back at Romney for scathing op-ed: 'I won big and he didn't']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
See also:
*Scarry, Eddie (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/trump-just-neutralized-whatever-threat-mitt-romney-tried-posing Trump just neutralized whatever threat Mitt Romney tried posing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> Trump also noted that Romney was being harsher on him than on Obama.<ref>Spiering, Charlie (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/02/donald-trump-mitt-romney-fights-me-more-than-he-did-barack-obama/ Donald Trump: Mitt Romney Fights Me More than He Did Barack Obama]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019. See also:
*Rogan, Tom (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mitt-romney-gives-barack-obama-a-foreign-policy-free-pass Mitt Romney gives Barack Obama a foreign policy free pass]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> [[Rand Paul]] also criticized Romney, describing him as a "Big Government [Republican] who never liked Reagan" and who "wants to signal how virtuous he is in comparison to the President."<ref>Multiple references:
*Moons, Michelle (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/02/rand-paul-hits-mitt-romney-big-government-republican-never-liked-reagan/ Rand Paul Hits Mitt Romney: ‘Big Government’ Republican Who ‘Never Liked Reagan’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Bowden, John (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423490-rand-paul-defends-trump-against-romney-op-ed-he-wants-to-signal-how-virtuous Rand Paul defends Trump against Romney op-ed: He 'wants to signal how virtuous he is']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Bedard, Paul (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/its-war-rand-paul-hits-big-government-romney-trump-an-actual-conservative It’s war: Rand Paul hits ‘Big Government’ Romney, calls Trump an ‘actual conservative’]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Miller, S.A. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/2/rand-paul-scolds-mitt-romney-anti-trump-screed-big/ Rand Paul scolds Mitt Romney for anti-Trump screed: 'Big mistake']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> Even members of the GOP establishment believed the op-ed was "all about self-promotion."<ref>Drucker, David M. (January 3, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/even-the-trump-hostile-gop-establishment-questions-romneys-presidential-tongue-lashing Even the Trump-hostile GOP establishment questions Romney's presidential tongue-lashing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Romney was defended by disgraced FBI Director [[James Comey]],<ref>Axelrod, Tal (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423620-comey-defends-romney-for-calling-out-trump Comey defends Romney for ‘calling out’ Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> and former left-wing Democrat Senator [[Harry Reid]] endorsed Romney for the GOP nomination in 2020.<ref>Spiering, Charlie (January 11, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/11/harry-reid-endorses-mitt-romney-for-2020-republican-nominee-for-president/ Harry Reid Endorses Mitt Romney for 2020 Republican Nominee for President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 11, 2019.</ref> The media, which had attacked him in 2012, came to adore him upon attacking Trump.<ref>Concha, Joe (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/423544-romney-attacks-trump-now-hes-a-media-darling Romney attacks Trump, now he's a media darling]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 21, 2019.</ref>

Upon assuming office, Romney was given seats in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, meaning that he was in a position to oppose and obstruct President Trump's [[America First]] foreign and immigration policies.<ref name="ForeignCmte">Carney, Jordain (January 3, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/423789-romney-gets-seat-on-foreign-relations-committee Romney gets seat on Foreign Relations committee]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Despite his anti-Trump comments, he joined the GOP Senate leadership.<ref>Ferrechio, Susan (January 15, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/despite-trump-slam-romney-named-to-senate-gop-leadership-team Despite Trump slam, Romney named to Senate GOP leadership team]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.</ref>

Romney continued flip-flopping, publicly opposing President Trump on several issues.<ref>Multiple references:
*Huston, Warner Todd (April 20, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/20/mike-huckabee-slams-mitt-romney-makes-me-sick-you-could-have-been-president/ Mike Huckabee Slams Mitt Romney: ‘Makes Me Sick’ You Could Have Been President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
*Frazin, Rachel (April 19, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/439809-mike-huckabee-blasts-mitt-romney-it-makes-me-sick-that-you-could-have-been Huckabee blasts Romney: 'Makes me sick' that you could have been president]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
*Casiano, Louis (April 20, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/huckabee-lashes-out-at-romney-makes-me-sick-how-disingenuous-you-were-to-trump Huckabee lashes out at Trump critic Romney: ‘Makes me sick’ you could have been POTUS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref><ref>Kuznicki, Jen (April 23, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/romney-the-pious/ Romney the Pious]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved April 23, 2019.</ref> On May 14, 2019, Romney voted against one of President Trump's federal court nominees simply because of comments made by that nominee about Obama.<ref>Axelrod, Tal (May 14, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/443703-romney-votes-against-trump-pick-over-comments-attacking-obama Romney votes against Trump pick over comments attacking Obama]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 14, 2019.</ref> On May 19, 2019, Romney described liberal-libertarian, [[anti-Trump]] representative [[Justin Amash]] as "courageous" for calling for President Trump's impeachment,<ref>Multiple references:
*Key, Pam (May 19, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/05/19/mitt-romney-justin-amashs-statement-on-impeachment-is-courageous/ Mitt Romney: Justin Amash’s Statement on Impeachment Is ‘Courageous’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
*Yilek, Caitlin (May 19, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/romney-unsure-hell-vote-for-trump-but-hes-against-impeachment Romney calls fellow Republican Amash 'courageous' for Trump impeachment push]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref> and Romney also attacked Trump's character.<ref>Multiple references:
*Key, Pam (May 19, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/05/19/mitt-romney-trump-has-distanced-himself-from-humility-honesty-integrity/ Mitt Romney: Trump Has Distanced Himself From ‘Humility,’ ‘Honesty, Integrity’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
*Frazin, Rachel (May 19, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/444442-romney-trump-has-distanced-himself-from-some-of-the-best-qualities-of-the Romney: Trump 'has distanced himself from some of the best qualities of the human character']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref>

Leading up to the 2020 Republican presidential primaries, Romney described [[William Weld]], a liberal Republican challenger to President Trump, as a "terrific guy."<ref>Moran, Sean (May 31, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/31/mitt-romney-trump-challenger-bill-weld-terrific-guy/ Mitt Romney: Trump Challenger Bill Weld a ‘Terrific Guy’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 31, 2019.</ref>

In his first speech on the Senate floor, Romney advocated for a globalist foreign policy in contrast to a patriotic "[[America First]]" policy.<ref>Carney, Jordain (June 4, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/446859-romney-united-states-cant-neglect-international-alliances Romney defends international alliances in first Senate floor speech]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 4, 2019.</ref> Romney defended Paul Ryan after the latter criticized President Trump,<ref>Bleau, Hannah (July 12, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/12/romney-opposes-trump-yet-again-goes-to-bat-for-paul-ryan/ Romney Opposes Trump Yet Again, Goes to Bat for Paul Ryan]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 12, 2019.</ref> and he criticized Trump for criticizing left-wing members of Congress for their unpatriotism.<ref>Caplan, Joshua (July 15, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/15/mitt-romney-trumps-go-back-comments-destructive-has-failed-badly-at-uniting-u-s/ Mitt Romney: Trump’s ‘Go Back’ Comments ‘Destructive,’ Has ‘Failed Badly’ at Uniting U.S.] ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 15, 2019.</ref>

On October 5, 2019, President Trump called for Romney's impeachment because of the latter's attacks on the president.<ref>Multiple references:
*Bowden, John (October 5, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/464511-trump-calls-for-romneys-impeachment Trump calls for Romney's impeachment]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
*Caplan, Joshua (October 5, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/05/donald-trump-calls-for-mitt-romney-to-be-impeached/ Donald Trump Calls for Mitt Romney to Be Impeached]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
See also:
*Spiering, Charlie (October 5, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/05/donald-trump-dumps-on-pompous-ass-mitt-romney/ Donald Trump Dumps on ‘Pompous Ass’ Mitt Romney]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
*Miller, S.A. (October 5, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/oct/5/donald-trump-blasts-mitt-romney-pompous-ass/ Trump blasts Mitt Romney: 'Pompous ass']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
*Whitehurst, Lindsay (October 6, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/oct/6/mitt-romney-reemerges-donald-trumps-chief-gop-crit/ 'Decisive role': Reluctant Romney reemerges as Trump's chief GOP critic]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved October 6, 2019.
*Nolte, John (October 7, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/07/nolte-if-mitt-romney-had-integrity-he-would-criticize-someone-other-than-trump/ Nolte: If Mitt Romney Had Integrity He Would Criticize Someone Other than Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 7, 2019.</ref>

In October 2019, Romney harshly attacked President Trump for going against neocon policies in Syria.<ref>Multiple references:
*Carney, Jordain (October 17, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/466345-romney-slams-ceasefire-deal-calls-trumps-syria-move-a-bloodstain-in-us Romney slams ceasefire deal, calls Trump's Syria move 'a bloodstain' in US history]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
*Moran, Sean (October 17, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/17/mitt-romney-abandoning-kurds-will-stand-as-bloodstain-in-u-s-history/ Mitt Romney: Abandoning Kurds ‘Will Stand’ as ‘Bloodstain’ in U.S. History]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
*Miles, Frank (October 20, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitt-romney-trump-race-kurds-syria Romney takes shots at Trump over race, says he's abandoning Kurds in Syria]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
See also:
*Pollak, Joel B. (October 17, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/10/17/mitt-romney-2007-kurdish-nationalism-could-destabilize-the-border-with-turkey/ Mitt Romney, 2007: ‘Kurdish Nationalism Could Destabilize the Border with Turkey’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.</ref>

A Rasmussen poll released in October 2019 found that 63% of likely Republican voters believed that the GOP should be more like President Trump than like Romney.<ref>Caplan, Joshua (October 23, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/23/63-of-likely-gop-voters-think-party-should-be-more-like-trump-than-mitt-romney/ 63% of Likely GOP Voters Think Party Should Be More Like Trump than Mitt Romney]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 23, 2019.</ref>

Before voting in the Democrat's [[impeachment sham]], Romney reiterated his faith in the Mormon God on the Senate floor.

==See also==
*[[Team Mitt]]
*[[Mitt Romney donor list]]
*[[Biden-Ukraine scandal]]

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnXvYxc-igs&t=907s Mitt Romney Has Always Been Awful | The Michael Knowles Show Ep. 491]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

{{2012 presidential candidates}}

{{Republican establishment}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romney, Mitt}}
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Governors]]
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:Establishment]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:2012 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Failed Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Utah]]
[[Category:Mormons]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:RINO Backers]]
[[Category:RINOs]]
[[Category:Globalists]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:DIANs]]

Mitt Romney

2020-06-29T03:43:09Z

AmerICan:

{{Officeholder
|name=Willard Mitt Romney
|image=MittPortrait.jpg‎
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=[[Ann Romney]]
|religion=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Utah
|terms=January 3, 2019 – present
|preceded=[[Orrin Hatch]]
|status=j
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=70th
|state=Massachusetts
|terms=January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007
|preceded=[[Jane Swift]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Deval Patrick]]
}}
}}
'''Willard Mitt Romney''', most popularly known as '''Mitt Romney''', (born March 12, 1947) is an [[establishment]], [[globalist]],<ref name="CFRneocon"/><ref>Bandow, Doug (January 10, 2019). [https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/mitt-romney-commander-of-the-fake-internationalists/ Mitt Romney, Commander of the Fake Internationalists]. ''The American Conservative''. Retrieved January 10, 2019.</ref> and [[RINO]]<ref>Adelmann, Bob (January 3, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/27862-sen-hatch-s-retirement-paves-way-for-romney-one-rino-replacing-another Sen. Hatch’s Retirement Paves Way for Romney: One RINO Replacing Another]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> American politician. He is also an [[Opposition to Christianity|anti-Christian]] [[bigot]]<ref name="ReligiousBigot"/><ref>Wood, Benjamin (May 29, 2018). [https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/05/30/watch-live-mitt-romney-debates-mike-kennedy-in-republican-primary-for-orrin-hatchs-senate-seat/ Rep. Mike Kennedy portrays Mitt Romney as flip-flopper and carpetbagger while Romney renews his ‘bigot’ criticism of pastor who received an apology from Kennedy]. ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. Retrieved June 28, 2018.</ref> and a serial [[liar]].<ref>Weaver, Al (May 29, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/mitt-romney-faces-down-2012-era-attacks-during-2018-utah-senate-debate Mitt Romney faces down 2012-era attacks during 2018 Utah Senate debate]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved June 28, 2018. See also:
*[https://twitter.com/philipaklein/status/1182346147169480704 Philip Klein]. ''Twitter''. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.</ref> He is a U.S. Senator of [[Utah]], a former governor of [[Massachusetts]], a U.S. businessman, and the [[2012 Republican Primary|Republican nominee]] for the [[Presidential Election 2012]], losing to the incumbent president [[Barack Obama]]. Romney has been observed to not hold any values, instead being an opportunist who takes whatever political position suits him best at the moment.<ref name="WhatIf">Antle III, W. James (January 3, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/what-if-likely-utah-senate-candidate-mitt-romney-had-never-run-in-massachusetts/article/2644787 What if likely Utah Senate candidate Mitt Romney had never run in Massachusetts?] ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref><ref name="OffTheRails"/><ref>Klein, Philip (January 2, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/reminder-mitt-romney-has-no-ideological-core-and-we-have-no-idea-what-kind-of-senator-he-would-be Reminder: Mitt Romney has no ideological core, and we have no idea what kind of senator he would be]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> He has voiced contradicting positions on topics as diverse as [[abortion]], [[Homosexual rights advocacy|homosexual "rights"]], [[illegal immigration]], [[gun control]] and even support for [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="WhatIf"/><ref name="Pandey"/><ref name="RollingStone"/><ref name="Backstabbing">Pollak, Joel B. (January 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/01/timeline-mitt-romney-history-of-backstabbing-donald-trump/ Timeline: Mitt Romney’s History of Backstabbing Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</ref><ref name="RipsEmbracing">Kurtz, Howard (January 3, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/op-ed-assault-romney-rips-trump-despite-embracing-him-at-times Op-ed assault: Romney rips Trump despite embracing him at times]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Thus, with good reason, [[conservative]]s see Romney's core beliefs as only marginally different from that of globalist Democrats such as Obama.<ref name="Eddlem2012">Eddlem, Thomas R. (August 9, 2012). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/12356-obama-v-romney-their-core-beliefs Obama v. Romney: Their Core Beliefs]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref><ref name="Richman2012">Richman, Sheldon (October 26, 2012). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/reviews/opinion/item/13404-americans-should-reject-obama-romeny-foreign-policy Americans Should Reject Obama-Romney Foreign Policy]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref>

Romney campaigned for the [[U.S. Senate]] seat from [[Utah]] by promising to support President [[Donald Trump]], but after Romney was elected he proceeded to do the opposite and even voted to remove Trump from office in the scam [[impeachment and removal|impeachment]] of him by [[Democrat]]s. Romney constantly engages in a never-ending series of scurrilous criticisms of Trump, much as fellow [[Mormon]] Senator [[Jeff Flake]] did until public disapproval of his positions forced him to forgo running for reelection.

Romney was defeated for the nomination for president in 2008 by [[John McCain]]. In 1994 – a year of landslide victories for Republicans – Mitt Romney came up short in challenging incumbent Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] of Massachusetts,<ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/romney/ Romney to the Rescue: Mitt Romney's Got the Right Stuff for 2008] Kessler, Ronald, newsmax.com archives, retrieved April 27, 2012.</ref> the same seat that Republican [[Scott Brown]] won after Kennedy died. In 2018, Romney ran for Utah's Senate seat when he could have run again for Massachusetts' seat—narrowing the GOP's opportunity to expand its Senate majority.<ref name="MA,UT2018"/>

Before entering politics Romney was a businessman in Boston, having served as CEO of [[Bain Capital]], a private equity firm known for taking over American companies, laying off employees,<ref name="InvestorsProfits">Kraychik, Robert (January 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2019/01/03/henry-olsen-mitt-romney-put-investors-profits-over-american-jobs/ Henry Olsen: Mitt Romney Put ‘Investors’ Profits’ over ‘American Jobs’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> and profiting from bankruptcy:<ref>https://thinkprogress.org/under-romney-bain-capital-made-millions-from-south-carolina-business-that-shut-down-laid-off-150-b855c39012ca/</ref>
{{cquote|Under Romney, “four of the 10 companies Bain acquired declared bankruptcy within a few years, shedding thousands of jobs.” But documents show that “Bain investors profited in eight of the 10 deals, including three of the four that ended in bankruptcy.” Indeed, the firm pointedly made higher profits “by firing workers, seeking government subsidies, and flipping companies quickly for large profits.”}}

Romney's political start began during the financially unsteady 2002 Winter Olympics. He gained popularity in Massachusetts, a state known for being extremely liberal, and was elected governor in 2002. As governor, he raised taxes several times. He unashamedly admits creating [[RomneyCare]], which is a complete disaster and forces everyone to buy health insurance and has resulted in long delays for obtaining medical services, such as an ordinary physical, in that state. [[Ted Kennedy]] and other [[liberals]] supported the bill. Romney declined to run for re-election and announced his candidacy for president.

During his campaign for the Republican nomination in 2008, Romney was widely but incorrectly supported as a staunch conservative and ran on his business experience in the private sector. Romney fought a rough battle against Senator [[John McCain]] in Florida, Michigan, and other key states, but large losses on the Super Tuesday primaries ended his campaign. Romney dropped out of the race and endorsed Senator [[John McCain]] on February 14, 2008. His name was circulated as a potential running mate for McCain as their relationship improved, though [[Sarah Palin]] eventually became the vice-president nominee.

Romney had supported many [[Liberal|left-wing]] positions: Romney had a pro-[[abortion]] record but has claimed to be "[[pro-life]]" since 2005; Romney acknowledges [[global warming]] but says that he doesn't know how much is due to human activity; Romney has been criticized for standing behind his 2005 [[RomneyCare|health care plan in Massachusetts]] whilst pledging to "replace" [[ObamaCare]] during his campaign for president in 2012. RomneyCare featured an '[[individual mandate]]' requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, and unlike Obamacare, featured socialized medicine as a backup for those who could not afford to pay. This plan is very similar to the 2010 ObamaCare bill that was adopted on a national level, and Obama claims Romney's people helped craft it. Romney, whom Democrats claim is a racist [[Nazi]] and compared him to [[Hitler]],<ref>https://upennstatesman.org/2018/11/06/a-fifty-year-history-of-democrats-crying-hitler/</ref><ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/16/nine_most_racist_moments_of_the_2012_election/</ref> attempted to regain their good graces by voting with their [[Deep State coup 2.0|impeachment scam]].

== Personal life ==
[[Image:MittRomneyYouth05.jpg|thumb|200px|Ann Lois Davies and Willard Mitt Romney]]
Romney is the scion of an old Mormon family. His grandparents were polygamists who fled the United States in the early 20th century when the Mormon Church repudiated polygamy; his father was born in Mexico. The Romneys returned to the U.S. in 1911 when a violent civil war broke out in Mexico.

Mitt Romney is a devout member of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] and spent time as a missionary during his youth converting Catholics and agnostics to Mormonism in France. In fact, his time as a student and missionary helped him defer from military service during the Vietnam draft,<ref>Michael Kranish, "The Making of Mitt Romney: Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other missionaries" June 24, 2007. The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/?page=1</ref> but he stated during interviews that "he had longed to join the soldiers in Vietnam and support the war effort." His father had stated in 1967 that he felt "brainwashed" by U.S. officials over the justification of the prolonged Vietnam war. This statement had been very costly in George Romney's 1968 campaign for president against Richard Nixon.

Romney married to his wife Ann, with whom he has five children.

Romney is the son of former [[Michigan]] governor and presidential candidate [[George Romney]], a "[[RINO|Rockefeller Republican]],"<ref>Lisa McGirr, ''Suburban Warriors''(2001) pp. 141, 222.</ref> who amassed a large fortune as an automobile industry magnate during World War II.  George Romney was popular among moderates during his presidential run and was well-equipped for victory; many of his political advisors had come from [[Nelson Rockefeller]]'s 1964 campaign.

==Business career==
From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of Bain & Company, Inc. a worldwide management consulting firm, and in 1984, Romney co-founded a spin-off called Bain Capital. He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as Staples, Brookstone, Domino's, Sealy Corporation and Sports Authority. Critics say he advised corporations to cut their U.S. taxes by reincorporating in Caribbean tax havens such as the Cayman Islands while maintaining their operations in the U.S. His business practices also resulted in the layoffs of many American workers.

==Record as Governor==
Romney served as governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), with a generally [[conservative]] record that included economic expansion. He balanced the budget every year of his administration without increasing taxes or increasing state dept. Romney turned a $3 billion budget deficit into a $500 million surplus by reducing government spending and added 80,000 new jobs by the end of his term. In 2004, 2005, and 2006 Governor Romney proposed cutting the state income tax from 5.3% to 5.0%.<ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/08/mitt_romneys_record_on_economi.php</ref> Although the Democratic supermajority in the state legislator refused to budge. Romney vetoed 844 pieces of legislation, with over 700 overridden.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Government_Reform.htm</ref> He vetoed an increase in the minimum wage, saying "there's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs." <ref>Telegram & Gazette, 08/01/06</ref> Under Governor Romney the state abolished a retroactive capital gains tax that would have forced nearly 50,000 taxpayers to pay additional taxes and fees.<ref>http://www.americansformitt.com/</ref> Massachusetts Citizens For Limited Taxation Executive Director Barbara Anderson praised Romney, saying "There was no one else out on the horizon and with the legislature almost entirely Democratic, we felt it was necessary to have a grown-up in the corner office. … And we were right to back him. He's been a really good friend to the taxpayers."

However, some of the actions Governor Romney took received criticisms from conservatives, such as supporting moderate fee increases and creating and the nation's first universal [[health care]] program. During his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney supported [[abortion]], his views evolved and would later take [[pro-life]] positions such as vetoing emergency contraception and vetoing [[stem-cell research]] that would allow cloning of human embryos. In 2006, Governor Romney testified before the [[United States]] [[Senate]] to support the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would limit marriage to one man and one woman. Additionally, Romney filed legislation to reinstate [[capital punishment]], but was defeated in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on a 99–53 vote.

Mitt Romney made no pardons as governor, "My conclusion was, if somebody has been convicted by a jury of their peers, and they’ve been prosecuted and the police were able to get the evidence necessary to put them behind bars, why in the world would I step in and reverse that sentence?" <ref>https://hotair.com/archives/2009/12/04/romney-on-huckabee-unlike-some-people-i-never-pardoned-anyone/</ref>

On [[Education]] Romney called for the privatization of the University of Massachusetts medical school.<ref>Telegram & Gazette, 02/27/03</ref> In 2004, he established the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which rewarded the top 25 percent of Massachusetts high school students with tuition-free scholarship to any Massachusetts public [[university]] or [[college]]. In August 2006, Governor Romney refused to allow former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, an outspoken opponent of the [[United States]] and [[Israel]], state police escorts during his speech at [[Harvard University]].<ref>https://www.nysun.com/editorials/khatemi-at-harvard/38903/</ref>

In December 2006, Romney signed a memorandum of agreement with the federal government that would allow state troopers to enforce federal immigration laws,<ref>http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=96543</ref> however, was revoked when Democrat Deval Patrick took office as Governor in January 2007.

== Political Views ==
Romney has flip-flopped his stated positions on many issues, including abortion, [[homosexual "rights"]], illegal immigration, gun control, as well as his opinion of Reagan and Trump.<ref name="WhatIf"/><ref name="Pandey"/><ref name="RollingStone">[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/mitt-romneys-biggest-flip-flops-20120801 Mitt Romney's Biggest Flip Flops]. ''RollingStone''. August 1, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> With good reason, [[conservative]]s see Romney's core beliefs as only marginally different from that of globalist Democrats such as Obama.<ref name="Eddlem2012"/> His foreign policy preferences also share numerous similarities with Obama's.<ref name="Richman2012"/>

One position that Romney has been consistent on, however, is his support for [[globalist]] policies, having been strongly influenced by [[neoconservatism]] and the [[Council on Foreign Relations]].<ref name="CFRneocon">Mass, Warren (September 25, 2012). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/12974-romney-foreign-policy-shows-strong-cfr-neo-con-influence Romney Foreign Policy Shows Strong CFR, Neo-con Influence]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref>

During his 2002 campaign to become the 70th governor of Massachusetts, Romney described his views as "moderate" and proclaimed that "my views are progressive".<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/romney-in-2002-my-views-are-progressive-2011-12 Romney In 2002: 'My Views Are Progressive'], "I think people recognize that I am not a partisan Republican. That I'm someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive."</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMcjJEXt9To Mitt Romney in Worcester 2002 "My views are progressive"]</ref> Romney has displayed [[liberal intolerance]], smearing conservative Christians as "religious bigots" for holding theological views based on clear biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.<ref name="ReligiousBigot">Multiple references:
*Conradis, Brandon (May 13, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/387530-romney-denounces-pastor-slated-to-speak-at-us-embassy-in-jerusalem Romney denounces pastor slated to speak at US embassy in Jerusalem]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
*Starnes, Todd (May 13, 2018). [https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/mitt-romney-calls-southern-baptist-pastor-robert-jeffress-a-religious-bigot/ Mitt Romney Calls Southern Baptist Pastor Robert Jeffress a “Religious Bigot”]. ''Todd Starnes''. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
*Starnes, Todd (May 14, 2018). [https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/bitter-mitt-romney-smears-evangelicals-by-attacking-jeffress/ Bitter Mitt Romney Smears Evangelicals by Attacking Jeffress]. ''Todd Starnes''. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
*Klukowski, Ken; Pollak, Joel (May 16, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/05/16/exclusive-evangelical-pastor-jeffress-prays-jerusalem-embassy-romney-attacks/ Exclusive — Evangelical Pastor Robert Jeffress Prays at Jerusalem Embassy; Romney Attacks]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2018.</ref>

===Abortion===
Currently, Romney claims to be pro-life, but his record is very spotty. At times he has claimed to be pro-[[infanticide]] and has also explicitly opposed common pro-life legislation and positions.
"I am [[pro-life]]. I believe that [[abortion]] is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." ([[Boston]] Globe, Mitt Romney Editorial, July 26, 2005)
<ref>[http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values America's Culture and Values] mittromney.com</ref>

Despite having a largely pro-life record as governor, in a 1994 debate with Senator [[Edward Kennedy]], Romney said that abortion should be legal, declaring that "regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal." "Many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion", Romney said. "It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that."<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/07/03/clarity_sought_on_romneys_abortion_stance/?page=2</ref>

In his campaign literature for the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, Romney expressed a willingness to defend that State's pro-abortion status quo.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20021218005104/www.romneyhealey.com/issues/4</ref> He stated in a live, televised debate:<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_w9pquznG4</ref>

{{cquote|"I've been very clear on that, I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard."}}

In May 2019, Romney publicly opposed an Alabama law that banned abortions in most cases.<ref>Frazin, Rachel (May 19, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/abortion/444453-romney-expresses-opposition-to-alabama-abortion-ban Romney expresses opposition to Alabama abortion ban]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref><ref>Beavers, David (May 19, 2019). [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/19/mitt-romney-alabama-abortion-law-1332867 Romney says he doesn't support Alabama abortion law]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref>

===Civil Unions===
Romney claimed to be opposed to the idea of [[same-sex "marriage"]], however, he has voiced explicit support for the [[homosexual agenda]]. He has advocated for domestic partnership benefits and equal rights for [[homosexuals]], which is same-sex "marriage" in everything but name and an easy stepping stone on the vile homosexual agenda path towards homosexual recruitment.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20021218005104/www.romneyhealey.com/issues/3</ref> He also supports adoption for homosexual couples.<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57432292-503544/romney-says-hes-fine-with-gay-couples-adopting-children/</ref> Eventually, in violation of the Massachusetts Constitution, he illegally imposed same-sex "marriage" on the state and he refused to remove pro-same-sex "marriage" liberal activist judges in the state from their offices or to back religious adoption charities that are opposed to homosexual adoptions.<ref>[https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen4/20a/Romney-book-to-GOP-Senate/index.html MassResistance sends copies of our Romney book to every GOP US Senator, Pres. Trump, VP Pence, and major media] at MassResistance</ref>

===Economic Agenda===
As President, Romney promised to pursue a conservative, pro-growth economic agenda. His number one economic priority would be to grow the economy — helping to create good jobs, raise incomes and preserve American strength. He says he would work to rein in excessive government spending and reform entitlements. To ensure America's continued economic growth, he promises to cut taxes — such as the Death Tax, savings taxes, corporate taxes and marginal tax rates. Despite these claims, he has supported the [[socialist|socialism]] agenda. He claimed credit for the government bailout of the union controlled car companies.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/07/romney-taking-credit-for-auto-industry-success/</ref> Also his [[RomneyCare]] law started the process of [[socialism|socializing]] medical care in [[Massachusetts]]. He continues to defend this law up to this day, undermining his commitment to repeal the similar and equally atrocious [[ObamaCare]].<ref>https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/romney-defends-romneycare_560953.html</ref>

Romney says he would also promote trade, bring market forces to bear in health care, pursue national tort and liability reform, eliminate excessive regulations that put a burden on our economy and strengthen American families.

===Immigration===
Romney supports higher immigration levels and has taken a soft stance on illegal immigration after his 2012 presidential campaign. For example, he endorsed the 2013 [[Gang of Eight]] [[amnesty]] bill. and voiced support for amnesty on other occasions.<ref name="7Highlights"/>

This is in strong contrast to Romney's stated positions while he was running for President (though he still called for more legal immigration):
<blockquote>Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America.<ref>http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Immigration</ref></blockquote>

In the 2012 presidential campaign, Romney voiced opposition to [[illegal immigration]] to attract conservative voters.<ref>[http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=91722 IowaPolitics.com: Romney Touts Strong Stance On Illegal Immigration]</ref> On May 24, 2007, Romney spoke about how he was tolerant about homosexuals and then he discussed the current illegal immigration bill before Congress:
<blockquote>He expressed less tolerance for illegal immigrants, and said he and President Bush have a difference of opinions on a bill that would provide a path toward legalization for an estimated 12 million people unlawfully in the country.

"He has his view, and other people have their views and I have my own," Romney said. "This is for all intents and purposes a form of amnesty in that everyone who is here illegally today will be able to stay under this bill."

The bill is unfair to people who are trying to come to the country legally, he said. People here illegally should be able to apply to come to the United States, but under the same terms as everyone else and behind those who have already applied.

"I don't think that we're going to round up 11 or 12 or however many million people and bus them out of the country. That's not what I'm talking about," Romney said. "Those who committed felonies, of course, would be deported. Those who require government assistance to stay here would surely need to get off government assistance and ultimately could not remain here on government assistance."<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May24/0,4670,RomneyGays,00.html</ref></blockquote>

===Stem Cell Research===
Mitt Romney supports the right of scientists to research on embryos created during fertility treatments. Critics consider this to be essentially infanticide.<ref>http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/11/romneys_stem_cell_view_may_upset_the_right/</ref>

===Foreign Relations===
During the [[Syrian Civil War]], Romney called for arming various rebel groups.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/08/romney-hope-is-not-strategy-in-middle-east/</ref> He also said that [[Russia]] is America's 'number one geopolitical foe'.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9168533/Mitt-Romney-Russia-is-Americas-number-one-geopolitical-foe.html</ref> Romney and [[Paul Ryan]] said that [[China]] is a cheater in global economy.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/13/romney-ryan-call-china-cheaters-in-global-economy-obama-soft-on-issue/</ref>

However, Romney has spoken highly of the [[European Union]] and has subtly criticized conservative [[Euroskeptic]]s.<ref name="ForeignCmte"/>

===Evolution===
Mitt Romney believes in [[evolution]] and opposes even [[Intelligent Design]].<ref>http://evolution.about.com/od/Overview/tp/2012-Gop-Presidential-Candidates-On-Evolution.htm</ref>

==2008 Presidential Campaign==
{{Main|Mitt Romney 2008 Presidential Campaign}}

[[Image:Dude and mitt romney.jpg|right|180px]] As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Romney campaigned nationwide for GOP gubernatorial candidates in 2006, building up a network of allies and supporters. While he did not run for reelection as governor, in 2004 Romney set up a federal political action committee (PAC) called the Commonwealth PAC, which raised $2.71 million during the 2006 election cycle. On January 3, 2007, his next-to-last day in office as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. He officially announced his candidacy for president a month later. Romney was the first candidate in either party to start running television and radio ads. The ads focused mainly on his record as governor, running the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, and his work as a very successful businessman. Romney's five sons had been actively campaigning for their father, traveling around in a campaign bus called the "Mitt Mobile, A Five Brothers Bus."

As a presidential candidate, Romney sought the support of the business community and social conservatives. He reversed moderate positions on abortion and gay rights to take a hardline conservative position on them, and on opposition to illegal immigrants. Opponents charged he changed too often. Romney was a leader in fund-raising, augmented by over $35 million from his own fortune. However he was little known outside of Massachusetts, so his strategy was to play for early wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, then "sling-shot" the momentum into national visibility. Romney won the Michigan primary on January 16, 2008, with 39% of the vote, edging out McCain with 30% and Huckabee with 16%. Romney was favored to win in the state of his birth, where his father, [[George Romney]] was governor from 1963–1969. After losing both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary (to Huckabee and McCain, respectively), Romney won a low-publicized Wyoming caucus. On January 19, Romney easily won the [[Nevada]] caucuses by 37 percentage points when there were seven candidates on the ballot, however, on that same day he placed a distant fourth in the [[South Carolina]] primary. After a disappointing performance on Super Tuesday, Romney announced the suspension of his campaign on Thursday 7 February. He expressed his wishes not to divide the Republican party and later endorsed Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]. Commentators correctly speculated on his chances for a return effort in 2012.

===Fundraising===
Mitt Romney had done well in fundraising. During his first fundraiser as a presidential candidate, he raised $6.5 million compared to the claimed original goal of only $1 million. During the first quarter, Romney raised more money than any other Republican presidential candidate with $23 million. However, a substantial portion of his funds ($17 million) came from his own personal wealth. [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/16/top_spender_romney_could_soon_run_short/]

==2012 Presidential campaign==
[[File:Adolf Romney.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Democrat hero Mitt Romney depicted as Adolf Romney.]]
In April 2011, Romney announced his candidacy for President of the United States for the 2012 election, running as a Republican.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/11/mitt-romney-president-candidate</ref> Romney was criticized throughout the primary season for being a Republican In Name Only due to his liberal views on social issues as governor and his flip-flops, as well as a controversial business record. His main competitors during the primaries were former conservative Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]], Pro-Life Senator [[Rick Santorum]], and libertarian Congressman [[Ron Paul]]. Romney ended up winning the vast majority of contests, though the race remained close in delegate count throughout. Romney together with Vice Presidential candidate [[Paul Ryan]] ran against President Barack Obama and Vice President [[Joe Biden]] in the election held on November 6, 2012. During the campaign, Romney was criticized for saying that the [[Romney's 47 percent comment|47% of Americans who do not pay income taxes consider themselves to be 'victims']].

Romney led Obama among many key segments of the electorate: "Romney leads [[Barack Obama|Obama]] 58%–34% among [[veteran]]s, who make up about 13% of the [[electorate]]" and influence many other voters.<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/05/gallup-romney-tops-obama-with-veterans/1</ref> 50–43%, in early May.<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls/226943-poll-romney-opens-up-big-lead-nationally</ref> Other polls show different results,<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html</ref> in swing states like Ohio,<ref>http://www.re
alclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/oh/ohio_romney_vs_obama-1860.html</ref> Virginia<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/va/virginia_romney_vs_obama-1774.html</ref> and Wisconsin.<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/wi/wisconsin_romney_vs_obama-1871.html</ref> Most national polls showed Obama with a lead over Romney later in the summer, but that lead evaporated after Obama's weak performance in the first debate. One national poll showed Romney with a 7-point lead over [[Obama]]. Romney then lost the second and third debates by emphasizing [[neocon]] rather than [[conservative]] positions, and Obama improved in some polls. By Election Day, however, the [[Gallup]] and [[Rasmussen]] polls showed Romney with a one-point lead.

According to [[CNN]], Romney won by a margin of 67–25% the first presidential debate against [[liberal]] incumbent [[Barack Obama]]. This debate had the largest television audience for a presidential debate since [[Ronald Reagan]]'s 1980 classic against [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/presidential-debate-drew-more-than-70-million-viewers/</ref>

Romney lost the election to Obama.

===Flip-flopping on the issues===
Prior to his campaign for president in 2012, Romney was criticized for flip-flopping on key social issues:

*Mitt Romney once changed his positions on gun control. He was originally for it, but recently joined the National Rifle Association, an organization opposed to it.

*Romney changed his position on immigration shortly before the [[2012 Presidential Election]]. He originally supported amnesty for certain illegals and moratoriums on criminal prosecution for drug dealing by illegal immigrants.

*Romney persistently flip-flopped on the issue of abortion, depending on which constituency he wanted to charm.<ref name="WhatIf"/>

Romney was defeated in the election. It is speculated that Romney's inability to connect with core conservatives and his history of flip-flopping on many issues (only a few years before his first candidacy for president) cost him the election.

==Anti-Trump activism==
{{See also|Opposition to Donald Trump}}
Romney joined the [[Never Trump movement]] during the 2016 presidential election, harshly insulting and criticizing GOP presidential candidate for his conservative America First positions and his anti-establishment posture.<ref name="Pandey">Pandey, Erica (January 2, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-mitt-romney-relationship-timeline-2521893434.html Timeline: Trump and Romney's tumultuous relationship]. ''Axios''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> This was despite him begging Trump for his endorsement in the previous election.<ref name="Pandey"/><ref name="Backstabbing"/> He called Trump "a fraud, a phony," and a lier, even though Romney himself flip-flopped on numerous political issues.<ref name="7Highlights">Mason, Ian (February 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/19/as-mitt-romney-sets-sights-on-the-senate-7-highlights-of-his-post-defeat-days/ As Mitt Romney Sets Sights on the Senate: 7 Highlights of His Post-Defeat Days]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 20, 2018.</ref> Romney also criticized Trump for not releasing his tax returns even though Trump defended Romney in 2012 for not releasing his own tax returns.<ref name="7Highlights"/> Romney did not vote for Trump on election day, 2016, instead writing in his wife's name.<ref>Thomsen, Jacqueline (May 30, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/390003-romney-reveals-he-wrote-in-wifes-name-for-president-in-2016 Romney reveals he wrote in wife's name for president in 2016]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 30, 2018.</ref><ref>Darrah, Nicole (May 30, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/30/mitt-romney-reveals-who-got-his-vote-in-2016-presidential-election.html Mitt Romney reveals who got his vote in 2016 presidential election]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 31, 2018.</ref>

After the election, Romney pretended his insults never took place and flattered the president-elect as he unsuccessfully tried to become Trump's Secretary of State.<ref name="Backstabbing"/><ref name="7Highlights"/><ref>Spiering, Charlie (November 30, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/11/30/mitt-romney-flip-flops-donald-trump-won-gives-hope-americas-future/ Mitt Romney Flip-Flops: Donald Trump Won, Gives Me Hope For America’s Future]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref> However, with his efforts having failed, Romney reverted to the anti-Trump position he took in 2016, criticizing Trump for his politically incorrect comments as well as criticizing [[conservative]] [[Roy Moore]] in the general election against a [[far-left]] Democrat.<ref name="Pandey"/> In August 2017, Romney effectively endorsed the [[Antifa]], a violent left-wing hate group.<ref name="7Highlights"/>

In January 2018, Romney used [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Day]] to attack President Trump.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (January 15, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/15/mitt-romney-uses-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-bash-donald-trump/ Mitt Romney Uses Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Attack Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Chakraborty, Barnini (January 15, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/15/romney-takes-swipe-at-trump-over-s-hole-comments-race-relations.html Romney takes swipe at Trump over 's---hole' comments, race relations]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref> On July 1, 2018, Romney refused to endorse President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign when asked.<ref>Multiple references:
*Baker, Trent (July 1, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/07/01/romney-not-willing-to-say-he-endorses-trump-in-2020/ Romney ‘Not Willing to Say’ He Endorses Trump in 2020]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
*Chaitin, Daniel (July 1, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mitt-romney-too-early-to-say-if-ill-support-trump-in-2020 Mitt Romney: 'Too early' to say if I'll support Trump in 2020]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
*Anapol, Avery (July 2, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/395125-romney-too-early-to-say-whether-ill-support-trump-in-2020 Romney: ‘Too early’ to say whether I’ll support Trump in 2020]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 2, 2018.</ref> He criticized President Trump's trade policies and efforts to correct the mistakes of past government officials.<ref>Muñoz, Gabriella (July 6, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jul/6/mitt-romney-trade-wars-are-a-tax-on-americans/ Mitt Romney: 'Trade wars are a tax on Americans']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 6, 2018.</ref> Despite this, in October 2018, he claimed, despite the evidence, that he never led the NeverTrump movement.<ref>Samuels, Brett (October 14, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/411331-romney-defends-trumps-policies-as-effective-disputes-he-led-never-trumpRomney defends Trump’s policies as ‘effective,' disputes he led 'never Trump' movement]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 14, 2018.</ref><ref>O'Reilly, Andrew (October 14, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-denies-he-led-never-trump-movement-says-presidents-policies-pretty-effective Romney denies he led 'never Trump' movement, says president's policies 'pretty effective']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 14, 2018.</ref>

In November 2018, Romney attacked President Trump for criticizing the mainstream media for its bias against him.<ref>Chasmar, Jessica (November 1, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/1/mitt-romney-i-cannot-conceive-calling-cnn-enemy-pe/ Romney defends media, attacks Trump: 'I cannot conceive' of calling press enemies of the people]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 1, 2018.</ref> This came despite the fact that Romney himself was harshly attacked by the media when he ran against Obama in 2012.<ref>Dorman, Sam (April 20, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/after-mueller-report-journalists-issue-mea-culpas-on-romneys-russia-prediction Post-Mueller report, journalists rethink handling of Romney's 2012 Russia prediction]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref>

===U.S. Senate campaign===
While he could have run in Massachusetts, the state where he served as governor and where he could have worked to defeat far-left Democrat [[Elizabeth Warren]], Romney chose to run in the solid Republican state of [[Utah]], where him winning would not help the GOP agenda and would actually impede President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref name="MA,UT2018">Pollak, Joel B. (January 5, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/05/pollak-isnt-mitt-romney-running-senate-massachusetts/ Blue State Blues: Why Isn’t Mitt Romney Running for Senate in Massachusetts?]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> He was heavily favored by the [[mainstream media]] in Utah,<ref>[https://www.axios.com/utah-media-if-romney-runs-he-wins-2522067938.html Utah media: If Romney runs, he wins]. ''Axios''. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> and his opposition to President Trump was noted in the election.<ref>Kamisar, Ben; Hagen, Lisa (February 15, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373944-romneys-trump-feud-looms-over-utah-senate-race Romney’s Trump feud looms over Utah Senate race]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.</ref> Romney was endorsed by fellow globalist RINO [[Jeb Bush]].<ref>Beavers, Olivia (January 15, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/369049-jeb-bush-backs-romney-for-utah-senate-run Jeb Bush backs Romney for Utah Senate run]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Moran, Sean (January 15, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/15/jeb-backs-potential-mitt-romney-bid-for-u-s-senate-i-hope-he-runs/ Jeb! Backs Potential Mitt Romney Bid for U.S. Senate: ‘I Hope He Runs’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref>

Romney formally announced his campaign on February 16, 2018, doing so by video.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kamisar, Ben (February 16, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/374176-romney-officially-announces-utah-senate-bid Romney makes Utah Senate bid official]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
*[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/16/mitt-romney-announces-us-senate-run-in-utah.html Mitt Romney announces US Senate run in Utah]. ''Fox News''. February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
*Moran, Sean (February 16, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/16/mitt-romney-officially-running-u-s-senate/ Mitt Romney Announces His U.S. Senate Race]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.</ref> In his announcement video, Romney criticized the Trump Administration's immigration policies, stating that "Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world" but that "Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion."<ref>Multiple references:
*Lloyd, Bob (February 16, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-romney/former-u-s-presidential-candidate-romney-announces-utah-senate-bid-idUSKCN1G01FO Former U.S. presidential candidate Romney announces Utah Senate bid]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
*Persons, Sally (February 16, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/16/mitt-romney-officially-announces-senate-run-says-u/ Mitt Romney officially announces Senate run, says Utah ‘welcomes legal immigrants’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
*Reston, Maeve (February 16, 2018). [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/16/politics/mitt-romney-donald-trump-immigration/index.html Why Romney called out Trump on immigration]. ''CNN''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.</ref> The GOP establishment rallied around Romney's campaign, with U.S. House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]], an [[establishment]] Republican who was Romney's choice for vice president in 2012, celebrating the decision as "a terrific day for the United States Senate."<ref>Multiple references:
*Weaver, Al (February 16, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/paul-ryan-endorses-mitt-romney-a-terrific-day-for-the-united-states-senate/article/2649284 Paul Ryan endorses Mitt Romney: 'A terrific day for the United States Senate']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
*Moran, Sean (February 16, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/16/paul-ryan-couldnt-be-happier-that-mitt-romney-for-u-s-senate/ Paul Ryan ‘Couldn’t Be Happier’ Mitt Romney Is Running for U.S. Senate]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 16, 2018.</ref>

Rob Anderson, the Utah GOP chairman, criticized Romney for choosing to run in Utah despite him and his children not living there, and he stated that Romney did not represent the state because of this.<ref>Multiple references:
*Delk, Josh (February 14, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373856-utah-gop-chairman-likens-romneys-expected-senate-run-to-hillary-clinton Utah GOP chairman takes a jab at Romney's ability to represent the state]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
*McLaughlin, Seth (February 14, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/14/utah-gop-chair-dings-anticipated-romney-senate-bid/ Utah GOP chair dings anticipated Romney Senate bid: Report]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
However, under heavy pressure, Anderson retracted his comments:
*Greenwood, Max (February 14, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/373934-utah-gop-chairman-never-my-intent-to-disparage-romney Utah GOP chairman: 'Never my intent' to disparage Romney]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2018.</ref> Conservatives, including opposing candidate Larry Meyers, criticized Romney for flip-flopping positions and having liberal core values.<ref>Miller, S.A. (March 8, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/8/mitt-romney-under-attack-utah-liberal-massachusett/ How Mitt Romney is under attack in Utah for ‘liberal Massachusetts values’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 8, 2018.</ref> Romney's candidacy came about during a fight between the Republican establishment and conservatives over how the Utah Republican Party selects its nominee, with conservatives favoring a party convention over simply holding a primary where any candidate can run as a Republican with enough signatures.<ref>Leahy, Michael Patrick (March 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/19/gop-establishment-and-grassroots-in-bitter-utah-battle-as-mitt-romney-seeks-state-partys-u-s-senate-nomination/ GOP Establishment and Grassroots in Bitter Utah Battle as Mitt Romney Seeks State Party’s U.S. Senate Nomination]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 22, 2018.</ref>

Once again, Romney flipped on immigration, telling voters that his immigration stances were somehow tougher than those of President Trump's – however, he used the past tense to describe his views, as if he no longer held to them any longer,<ref>Multiple references:
*Spiering, Charlie (March 27, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-runs-as-immigration-hawk-daca-kids-shouldnt-all-be-allowed-to-stay-legally/ Mitt Romney Runs as Immigration Hawk: ‘DACA Kids Shouldn’t All Be Allowed to Stay Legally’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
*Shaw, Adam (March 27, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/27/mitt-romney-says-is-more-conservative-on-immigration-than-trump.html Mitt Romney says he is more conservative on immigration than Trump]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> and despite claiming to have tough views, he opposed the Trump Administration's zero tolerance border policy because he thought it was too tough.<ref>Anapol, Avery (June 18, 2018). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/392826-mitt-romney-backs-laura-bush-op-ed-we-need-a-more-compassionate Romney backs Laura Bush on border: 'We need a more compassionate answer']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.</ref> He also voiced conservative views on ObamaCare and spending to his conservative audience during the GOP primary.<ref>Drucker, David M. (April 21, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mitt-romney-hammers-gop-vows-to-block-bloated-spending-and-repeal-obamacare-if-elected-to-senate Mitt Romney hammers GOP, vows to block bloated spending and repeal Obamacare if elected to Senate]. ''Washington Times''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.</ref> He claimed that he was not running to advance his career.<ref>Klein, Philip (April 23, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mitt-romney-in-his-fifth-campaign-since-1994-says-im-not-in-this-race-because-i-have-some-political-career-im-trying-to-foster Mitt Romney, in his fifth campaign since 1994, says 'I’m not in this race because I have some political career I’m trying to foster']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved April 23, 2018.</ref> However, in May 2018, Romney again criticized Trump.<ref>Sykes, Michael (May 29, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/trump-mitt-romney-criticism-role-model-8e4836ba-bfcd-4fb7-bcd1-17db50ea5647.html Mitt Romney doubles down on past Trump criticism]. ''Axios''. Retrieved May 29, 2018.</ref> Romney was reported to have been positioning himself to leave the GOP's [[establishment]] wing in the Senate and to counterbalance President Trump.<ref>Isenstadt, Alex (June 10, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/10/mitt-romney-senate-trump-635008 Romney looks to lead GOP’s establishment wing]. ''Politico''. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref> Romney refused to endorse President Trump's conservative agenda.<ref>Ayers, Emma (June 24, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mitt-romney-takes-stance-on-the-trump-agenda Mitt Romney takes stance on the 'Trump agenda']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref><ref>Shaw, Adam (June 23, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/23/romney-walks-fine-line-on-trump-amid-utah-primary-fight.html Romney walks fine line on Trump amid Utah primary fight]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref>

At the GOP convention, Romney was forced into a primary election after he failed to win over GOP delegates.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pollak, Joel B. (April 22, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/04/22/not-rominee-mitt-romney-2nd-utah-gop-convention-must-face-senate-primary/ Not the Rominee: Mitt Romney 2nd at Utah GOP Convention, Must Face Senate Primary]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
*Bowden, John (April 21, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/384301-romney-finishes-second-in-utah-gop-senate-primary Romney forced into GOP primary for Utah Senate nomination]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
*Calicchio, Dom (April 21, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/21/mitt-romney-faces-senate-runoff-in-utah-after-state-gop-convention-setback.html Mitt Romney faces Senate primary in Utah after state GOP convention setback]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
*Whitehurst, Lindsay; Hattem, Julian (April 22, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/22/mitt-romney-faces-republican-primary-utah-senate-c/ Mitt Romney forced into primary after losing nomination battle in Utah Senate bid]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 22, 2018.</ref> In the June 26 Republican senatorial primary, Romney faces the [[conservative]] state representative, Dr. Michael Stephen "Mike" Kennedy (born c. 1968), the son of a naturalized citizen. Kennedy practices medicine in Alpine in Utah County. Kennedy had narrowly won the party endorsement at the state convention. Kennedy criticized Romney for flip-flopping on the issues and for being a carpetbagger.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (June 5, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/05/mike-kennedy-mitt-romney-utah-senate-opponent/ Mike Kennedy Blasts Mitt Romney for Carpetbagging, Flip-Flopping]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref>

Romney and Kennedy appeared in a [[television]] debate on May 29, 2018. The two expressed agreement on a plethora of issues, including school safety, health care matters, and immigration. Both presented himself as a conservative. One dividing point was the Reverend [[Robert Jeffress]] of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist Church]] of [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], who at President Trump's invitation led a prayer at the dedication of the relocated U.S. Embassy in [[Jerusalem]]. Jeffress, who supported Romney for President in 2012, has been hostile toward Mormonism: he labeled the denomination "a cult" and questioned the integrity of Mormon founder [[Joseph Smith]]. Romney said that he regards Jeffress as a "religious bigot." Romney also noted that he carries Trump's endorsement though Kennedy in the debate repeatedly praised Trump's performance in office. Romney won the Republican primary on June 26, 2018.<ref>Boyle, Matthew (June 26, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/26/the-empire-strikes-back-establishment-rallies-to-romney-to-stop-trumps-winning-resistance-notches-win-in-new-york/ The Empire Strikes Back: Establishment Rallies to Romney to Stop Trump’s Winning, Resistance Notches Win in New York]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 28, 2018.</ref>

At the general election gubernatorial debate, Romney refused to directly answer questions on his past negative comments on Trump, even as he directly criticized the president's statements and policies.<ref>Re, Gregg (October 9, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/romney-dodges-questions-on-past-trump-attacks-during-utah-senate-debate Romney dodges questions on past Trump attacks during Utah Senate debate]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 9, 2018.</ref>

===Senate tenure: opposing Trump===
Romney continued opposing President Trump after his election.<ref>War, Emily (May 20, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/the-new-mccain-romney-carves-out-role-as-gop-thorn-in-trumps-side The new McCain: Romney carves out role as GOP thorn in Trump's side]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved May 20, 2019.</ref> [[Establishment]] Republican House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]] stated that Romney saw himself "as a standard-bearer for our party" and a moral successor to globalist Republican [[John McCain]].<ref>Church, Nate (November 29, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/pre-viral/2018/11/29/ryan-romney-sees-himself-as-gop-standard-bearer/ Ryan: Romney Sees Himself as GOP ‘Standard-Bearer’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 29, 2018.</ref> Romney moved to take the place of anti-Trump Republicans McCain and [[Jeff Flake]].<ref>Morton, Victor; Miller, S.A. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/2/mitt-romney-ruffles-republicans-donald-trump-with-/ Mitt Romney seizes role vacated by anti-Trump Republicans McCain, Flake]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 21, 2019.</ref>

On January 1, 2019, Romney published an op-ed in ''The Washington Post''<ref>Buchanan, Patrick J. (January 4, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/reviews/opinion/item/31095-trump-and-the-post-whose-side-is-mitt-on Trump and The Post: Whose Side Is Mitt On?] ''The New American''. Retrieved January 4, 2019.</ref> in which he harshly attacked President Trump, claiming he did not have the "character" to be president – despite Romney's own flip-flopping and opportunism – and in the op-ed, he also subtly criticized [[America First]] immigration policies along with [[Right-wing populism|conservative European populists]] while showing support for the [[globalist]] European Union.<ref name="OffTheRails">Klein, Philip (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/where-mitt-romneys-attack-on-donald-trump-went-off-the-rails Where Mitt Romney's attack on Donald Trump went off the rails]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref><ref name="RipsEmbracing"/><ref name="ForeignCmte"/><ref>Multiple references:
*Kirkwood, R. Cort (January 2, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/31072-nevertrumper-romney-trump-is-racist-dishonest-destructive NeverTrumper Romney: Trump Is “Racist,” “Dishonest,” “Destructive”]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Darrah, Nicole (January 1, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/incoming-sen-romney-trump-hasnt-risen-to-the-mantle-of-presidency Incoming Sen. Romney: Trump hasn't 'risen to the mantle' of presidency]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Moons, Michelle (January 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/01/mitt-romney-slams-trumps-character-in-washington-post-op-ed/ Mitt Romney Slams Trump’s ‘Character’ in Washington Post Op-Ed]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Shepardson, David (January 1, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-romney/romney-attacks-trump-saying-he-causes-dismay-around-the-world-idUSKCN1OW02X Romney attacks Trump, saying he causes dismay around the world]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Siegel, Josh (January 1, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-defined-his-presidency-down-in-december-mitt-romney-says-in-op-ed Romney unloads on Trump, accuses him of ‘glaring’ shortfall in character]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Nicholas, Peter (January 1, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/mitt-romney-blasts-deep-descent-of-trump-presidency-11546399916 Mitt Romney Blasts ‘Deep Descent’ of Trump Presidency]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Rothschild, Neal (January 1, 2019). [https://www.axios.com/mitt-romney-criticize-donald-trump-washington-post-74fd1ad8-a8cb-458a-b582-019f26971c24.html Mitt Romney: Trump failing the U.S. as a world leader]. ''Axios''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
See also:
*Nolte, John (January 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/03/nolte-mitt-romney-is-an-idiot/ Nolte: Mitt Romney Is an Idiot]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
*Bruce, Tammy (January 3, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tammy-bruce-romneys-trump-attack-rings-especially-hollow-when-you-look-at-his-treatment-of-ric-grenell Tammy Bruce: Romney's Trump attack rings especially hollow when you look at his treatment of Ric Grenell]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> In a later interview, Romney stated he would not endorse Trump.<ref>Samuels, Brett (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423583-romney-says-he-wont-challenge-trump-in-2020 Romney says he won't challenge Trump in 2020 but doesn't endorse him]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> In response to Romney's attacks, President Trump noted Romney had failed in his presidential attempts while Trump won on his first try, and he urged Romney to work together with the GOP.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pollak, Joel B. (January 1, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/01/trump-campaign-manager-hits-back-at-jealous-mitt-romney-lacked-the-ability-to-save-this-nation/ Trump Campaign Manager Hits Back at ‘Jealous’ Mitt Romney: ‘Lacked the Ability to Save This Nation’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
*Spiering, Charlie (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/02/trump-mitt-romney-team-player-win/ Trump Responds to Mitt Romney Critique: ‘Be a Team Player and Win’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Darrah, Nicole (January 2, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/incoming-sen-romney-trump-hasnt-risen-to-the-mantle-of-presidency Trump fires back at Romney for scathing op-ed: 'I won big and he didn't']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
See also:
*Scarry, Eddie (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/trump-just-neutralized-whatever-threat-mitt-romney-tried-posing Trump just neutralized whatever threat Mitt Romney tried posing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> Trump also noted that Romney was being harsher on him than on Obama.<ref>Spiering, Charlie (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/02/donald-trump-mitt-romney-fights-me-more-than-he-did-barack-obama/ Donald Trump: Mitt Romney Fights Me More than He Did Barack Obama]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019. See also:
*Rogan, Tom (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/mitt-romney-gives-barack-obama-a-foreign-policy-free-pass Mitt Romney gives Barack Obama a foreign policy free pass]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> [[Rand Paul]] also criticized Romney, describing him as a "Big Government [Republican] who never liked Reagan" and who "wants to signal how virtuous he is in comparison to the President."<ref>Multiple references:
*Moons, Michelle (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/02/rand-paul-hits-mitt-romney-big-government-republican-never-liked-reagan/ Rand Paul Hits Mitt Romney: ‘Big Government’ Republican Who ‘Never Liked Reagan’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Bowden, John (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423490-rand-paul-defends-trump-against-romney-op-ed-he-wants-to-signal-how-virtuous Rand Paul defends Trump against Romney op-ed: He 'wants to signal how virtuous he is']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Bedard, Paul (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/its-war-rand-paul-hits-big-government-romney-trump-an-actual-conservative It’s war: Rand Paul hits ‘Big Government’ Romney, calls Trump an ‘actual conservative’]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
*Miller, S.A. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/2/rand-paul-scolds-mitt-romney-anti-trump-screed-big/ Rand Paul scolds Mitt Romney for anti-Trump screed: 'Big mistake']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> Even members of the GOP establishment believed the op-ed was "all about self-promotion."<ref>Drucker, David M. (January 3, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/even-the-trump-hostile-gop-establishment-questions-romneys-presidential-tongue-lashing Even the Trump-hostile GOP establishment questions Romney's presidential tongue-lashing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Romney was defended by disgraced FBI Director [[James Comey]],<ref>Axelrod, Tal (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423620-comey-defends-romney-for-calling-out-trump Comey defends Romney for ‘calling out’ Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> and former left-wing Democrat Senator [[Harry Reid]] endorsed Romney for the GOP nomination in 2020.<ref>Spiering, Charlie (January 11, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/11/harry-reid-endorses-mitt-romney-for-2020-republican-nominee-for-president/ Harry Reid Endorses Mitt Romney for 2020 Republican Nominee for President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 11, 2019.</ref> The media, which had attacked him in 2012, came to adore him upon attacking Trump.<ref>Concha, Joe (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/423544-romney-attacks-trump-now-hes-a-media-darling Romney attacks Trump, now he's a media darling]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 21, 2019.</ref>

Upon assuming office, Romney was given seats in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, meaning that he was in a position to oppose and obstruct President Trump's [[America First]] foreign and immigration policies.<ref name="ForeignCmte">Carney, Jordain (January 3, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/423789-romney-gets-seat-on-foreign-relations-committee Romney gets seat on Foreign Relations committee]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Despite his anti-Trump comments, he joined the GOP Senate leadership.<ref>Ferrechio, Susan (January 15, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/despite-trump-slam-romney-named-to-senate-gop-leadership-team Despite Trump slam, Romney named to Senate GOP leadership team]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.</ref>

Romney continued flip-flopping, publicly opposing President Trump on several issues.<ref>Multiple references:
*Huston, Warner Todd (April 20, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/20/mike-huckabee-slams-mitt-romney-makes-me-sick-you-could-have-been-president/ Mike Huckabee Slams Mitt Romney: ‘Makes Me Sick’ You Could Have Been President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
*Frazin, Rachel (April 19, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/439809-mike-huckabee-blasts-mitt-romney-it-makes-me-sick-that-you-could-have-been Huckabee blasts Romney: 'Makes me sick' that you could have been president]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
*Casiano, Louis (April 20, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/huckabee-lashes-out-at-romney-makes-me-sick-how-disingenuous-you-were-to-trump Huckabee lashes out at Trump critic Romney: ‘Makes me sick’ you could have been POTUS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref><ref>Kuznicki, Jen (April 23, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/romney-the-pious/ Romney the Pious]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved April 23, 2019.</ref> On May 14, 2019, Romney voted against one of President Trump's federal court nominees simply because of comments made by that nominee about Obama.<ref>Axelrod, Tal (May 14, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/443703-romney-votes-against-trump-pick-over-comments-attacking-obama Romney votes against Trump pick over comments attacking Obama]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 14, 2019.</ref> On May 19, 2019, Romney described liberal-libertarian, [[anti-Trump]] representative [[Justin Amash]] as "courageous" for calling for President Trump's impeachment,<ref>Multiple references:
*Key, Pam (May 19, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/05/19/mitt-romney-justin-amashs-statement-on-impeachment-is-courageous/ Mitt Romney: Justin Amash’s Statement on Impeachment Is ‘Courageous’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
*Yilek, Caitlin (May 19, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/romney-unsure-hell-vote-for-trump-but-hes-against-impeachment Romney calls fellow Republican Amash 'courageous' for Trump impeachment push]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref> and Romney also attacked Trump's character.<ref>Multiple references:
*Key, Pam (May 19, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/05/19/mitt-romney-trump-has-distanced-himself-from-humility-honesty-integrity/ Mitt Romney: Trump Has Distanced Himself From ‘Humility,’ ‘Honesty, Integrity’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
*Frazin, Rachel (May 19, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/444442-romney-trump-has-distanced-himself-from-some-of-the-best-qualities-of-the Romney: Trump 'has distanced himself from some of the best qualities of the human character']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref>

Leading up to the 2020 Republican presidential primaries, Romney described [[William Weld]], a liberal Republican challenger to President Trump, as a "terrific guy."<ref>Moran, Sean (May 31, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/31/mitt-romney-trump-challenger-bill-weld-terrific-guy/ Mitt Romney: Trump Challenger Bill Weld a ‘Terrific Guy’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 31, 2019.</ref>

In his first speech on the Senate floor, Romney advocated for a globalist foreign policy in contrast to a patriotic "[[America First]]" policy.<ref>Carney, Jordain (June 4, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/446859-romney-united-states-cant-neglect-international-alliances Romney defends international alliances in first Senate floor speech]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 4, 2019.</ref> Romney defended Paul Ryan after the latter criticized President Trump,<ref>Bleau, Hannah (July 12, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/12/romney-opposes-trump-yet-again-goes-to-bat-for-paul-ryan/ Romney Opposes Trump Yet Again, Goes to Bat for Paul Ryan]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 12, 2019.</ref> and he criticized Trump for criticizing left-wing members of Congress for their unpatriotism.<ref>Caplan, Joshua (July 15, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/15/mitt-romney-trumps-go-back-comments-destructive-has-failed-badly-at-uniting-u-s/ Mitt Romney: Trump’s ‘Go Back’ Comments ‘Destructive,’ Has ‘Failed Badly’ at Uniting U.S.] ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 15, 2019.</ref>

On October 5, 2019, President Trump called for Romney's impeachment because of the latter's attacks on the president.<ref>Multiple references:
*Bowden, John (October 5, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/464511-trump-calls-for-romneys-impeachment Trump calls for Romney's impeachment]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
*Caplan, Joshua (October 5, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/05/donald-trump-calls-for-mitt-romney-to-be-impeached/ Donald Trump Calls for Mitt Romney to Be Impeached]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
See also:
*Spiering, Charlie (October 5, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/05/donald-trump-dumps-on-pompous-ass-mitt-romney/ Donald Trump Dumps on ‘Pompous Ass’ Mitt Romney]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
*Miller, S.A. (October 5, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/oct/5/donald-trump-blasts-mitt-romney-pompous-ass/ Trump blasts Mitt Romney: 'Pompous ass']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
*Whitehurst, Lindsay (October 6, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/oct/6/mitt-romney-reemerges-donald-trumps-chief-gop-crit/ 'Decisive role': Reluctant Romney reemerges as Trump's chief GOP critic]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved October 6, 2019.
*Nolte, John (October 7, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/07/nolte-if-mitt-romney-had-integrity-he-would-criticize-someone-other-than-trump/ Nolte: If Mitt Romney Had Integrity He Would Criticize Someone Other than Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 7, 2019.</ref>

In October 2019, Romney harshly attacked President Trump for going against neocon policies in Syria.<ref>Multiple references:
*Carney, Jordain (October 17, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/466345-romney-slams-ceasefire-deal-calls-trumps-syria-move-a-bloodstain-in-us Romney slams ceasefire deal, calls Trump's Syria move 'a bloodstain' in US history]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
*Moran, Sean (October 17, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/17/mitt-romney-abandoning-kurds-will-stand-as-bloodstain-in-u-s-history/ Mitt Romney: Abandoning Kurds ‘Will Stand’ as ‘Bloodstain’ in U.S. History]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
*Miles, Frank (October 20, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitt-romney-trump-race-kurds-syria Romney takes shots at Trump over race, says he's abandoning Kurds in Syria]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
See also:
*Pollak, Joel B. (October 17, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/10/17/mitt-romney-2007-kurdish-nationalism-could-destabilize-the-border-with-turkey/ Mitt Romney, 2007: ‘Kurdish Nationalism Could Destabilize the Border with Turkey’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.</ref>

A Rasmussen poll released in October 2019 found that 63% of likely Republican voters believed that the GOP should be more like President Trump than like Romney.<ref>Caplan, Joshua (October 23, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/23/63-of-likely-gop-voters-think-party-should-be-more-like-trump-than-mitt-romney/ 63% of Likely GOP Voters Think Party Should Be More Like Trump than Mitt Romney]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 23, 2019.</ref>

Before voting in the Democrat's [[impeachment sham]], Romney reiterated his faith in the Mormon God on the Senate floor.

==See also==
*[[Team Mitt]]
*[[Mitt Romney donor list]]
*[[Biden-Ukraine scandal]]

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnXvYxc-igs&t=907s Mitt Romney Has Always Been Awful | The Michael Knowles Show Ep. 491]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

{{2012 presidential candidates}}

{{Republican establishment}}

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Jennifer Rubin

2017-10-23T02:59:30Z

AmerICan:

'''Jennifer Rubin''' is a [[liberal]] columnist and a blogger for ''The Washington Post''.

Despite being a self-proclaimed conservative, she is known for her contempt for various conservative and [[Christian]] principles such as [[traditional marriage]], as well as evangelical Christians themselves. Rubin has also been vehemently contemptuous of conservative figures such as [[Jim DeMint]], [[Ted Cruz]], and [[Donald Trump]], even after the latter was elected U.S. President. In addition, she hates [[Fox News Channel]] for its conservative aspects, but apparently has no problem with the left-wing [[mainstream media]]. (see [[Token conservative]] for sources and a more detailed explanation). Rubin is also a staunch supporter of the abortion-performing organization [[Planned Parenthood]] and has called for high-ranking military veterans to be banned from serving in [[The White House]].

==See also==
*[[Token conservative]], for a slightly more detailed description of her, as well as a list of more people like her

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubin, Jennifer}}
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:RINOs]]
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Wayne Gilchrest

2017-03-18T12:10:36Z

AmerICan:

'''Wayne Thomas Gilchrest''' is a former [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the United States House of Representatives, who represented [[Maryland]]'s 1st congressional district since 1991. The district includes the entire Eastern Shore and a few suburbs of [[Baltimore]].

Gilchrest served in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. His tour of duty saw action during the invasion of the [[Dominican Republic]], and ultimately the [[Vietnam War]]. Gilchrest earned the rank of Sergeant in [[Vietnam]], where as a platoon leader, he was wounded in the chest. He was decorated with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal.

Gilchrest is known for being a [[liberal]] Republican. For example, he is in favor of [[abortion]], and in March 2007, he was one of two Republicans to vote for a bill that required President [[George W. Bush]] to withdraw U.S. troops from [[Iraq]] by September 1, 2008, regardless of the situation in Iraq at the time. In 2008, Gilchrest was defeated in the Republican primary by State Senator Andy Harris.

[[Category:Republican Party|Gilchrest, Wayne]]

J. K. Rowling

2017-01-24T18:12:30Z

AmerICan:

'''J. K. Rowling''' (full name Joanne Kathleen Rowling) is the [[author]] of the popular ''[[Harry Potter]]'' book series.

She was born on July 31, 1965, in Chipping Sodbury, [[England]].<ref>[http://www.biography.com/articles/J.K.-Rowling-40998 "J. K. Rowling Biography"], biography.com</ref> She has said that "the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into [her] head" while riding a train from [[Manchester]] to [[London]] in 1990.<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/biography.cfm J. K. Rowling Official Site], "Biography"</ref>

In 2008, Rowling gave the commencement address at [[Harvard University]].<ref>[http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination"], ''Harvard Magazine, June 5, 2008</ref>

Rowling is firmly [[liberal]] in her [[politics]], and despite being from the [[UK]], has supported both [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Obama]], stating "I want a [[Democrat]] in the [[White House]]. And it seems a pity that Clinton and Obama are rivals because both are extraordinary." <ref>http://hollowverse.com/j-k-rowling/</ref> Her books were written while she was a divorced single mother, living on [[welfare state|welfare]] benefits provided by the [[big government|government]], while she worked the minimum necessary to maintain her benefits.<ref>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jk-rowling-chats-jon-stewart-casual-vacancy-379302</ref> Rowling also worked for the [[Abortion|Pro-Choice]], [[Homosexual Agenda|Pro-Gay]], [[Antisemitism|Anti-Israel]] Human "Rights" organization [[Amnesty International]],<ref>http://www.jkrowling.com/en_GB/#/timeline/amnesty-international/</ref> and donated 1 million pounds (1.6 million dollars) to the No campaign when Scotland was thinking about leaving the UK.<ref>http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2014/09/19/early-results-suggest-scots-reject-independence-n1893900</ref> Being staunchly pro-abortion, she has attacked U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] for reinstating a ban on giving American taxpayer money to international groups that perform abortions.<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/315802-jk-rowling-slams-trump-for-reinstating-us-ban-on-funding</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowling, J.K.}}

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Essay:How Ronald Reagan won the Cold War

2017-01-22T22:08:38Z

AmerICan:

{{essay|AmerICan}}
[[Image:Aaag.jpg|right|thumb|300px|President Ronald Wilson Reagan]]

From [[Harry Truman]] to [[Jimmy Carter]], the policy when dealing with the [[Soviet Union]] was [[containment]]. Containment failed. The ultimate goal of the Soviet empire was a global [[Communism|communist]] revolution, therefore the Soviets could never have been contained. When [[Ronald Reagan]] came into office, he initiated a policy of confronting the Soviet Union, marking a sharp departure from the "détente" policy of the 1970s.

Reagan advocated a radical agenda: challenge the Soviets everywhere. Economically, politically, militarily, and especially psychologically. Not just coexist with the Soviets, but defeat them. His strategy for an endgame to the [[Cold War]] was that there would be no coexistence with the Soviets. From beginning to end, the goal was the destruction of the Soviet Union.

He realized that a planned economy could not compete against a market economy in a renewed arms race and so he made the Cold War hot in an economic and rhetorical sense. Reagan and his team devised a plan. The secret plan was to dismember the Soviet Union brick by brick. It would be coercive. Confront the Soviet head on to fight and win a protracted four part war.

The first part was a war of action. The Reagan administration used paramilitary ops, covert action, small unit combat, and simply taking the torch to the enemy. The instruments were anti-communist [[Nicaragua]]n freedom fighters, anti-communist [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] freedom fighters and anti-communist [[Poland|Polish]] freedom fighters.

The second part was a war of materiel. Reagan began a massive re-armament based on high-technology that obsoleted a generation of Soviet weaponry. Before Reagan took office, U.S. defense technology had fallen badly behind the Soviets during the Jimmy Carter administration. The defense upgrade would include a 600 ship [[United States Navy|Navy]], new [[United States Army|Army]] divisions, tanks, planes, and missiles. Under the orders of Reagan, Secretary of Defense [[Caspar Weinberger]] cleared out the Carter [[Department of Defense|Defense Department]], instilled an esprit de corps within the ranks, and rebuilt the military as an instrument for the Soviets to fear. The method was unpredictable. Incursions into [[Russia]]n airspace, sending B-52s in attack formation over the North Pole, disrupting naval exercises. The weapons build-up forced the Soviet Union to increase its military spending, freeing the [[CIA]] to inflict massive damage to the Soviets in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Central America]] without obvious U.S. involvement.

The third part of the plan was a war of ideas. Reagan recognized that mass communications was the new most important instrument. He used Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Marti; bombarding the captive nations with broadcasts, embedding coded messages for the leaders of resistance movements, secretly distributing [[Koran]]s and pamphlets and that detailed the ongoing Soviet abuse of [[Islam|Muslims]]. Reagan knew that the struggle against communism was not simply between two political ideologies, but it was fundamentally about core beliefs and values and faith in a higher power. So when he changed the radio stations and made them voices of advocacy, he also added religious programming. Particular the [[Catholic]] mass was provided to listeners in [[Poland]] and that was a very energizing and mobilizing influence in a country where Catholicism and resistance to communism worked well together. They were also providing information and spiritual food to Muslims in Soviet Central Asia. They were printing brochures and they were having radio programs that talked about the incompatibility between [[Islam]] and the forced militant [[atheism]] of communism.

The fourth and final part of the plan was a war of [[money]]. Reagan devised a plan to bankrupt the Soviet Union. He had always known that the Soviet economy was no more than the size of [[California]]'s and CIA analysis proved him right. Their 500 billion dollars paled in comparison to the 2.5 trillion dollars of the [[United States]]. Reagan used this discrepancy to America's advantage with economic warfare on a scale never seen before. One fought with a new weapon. Reagan made the dollar a weapon for the first time in Soviet history. The Soviet system had been in crisis since 1917, but they had always figured out a way in the [[Kremlin]] to have the West bail them out. Reagan saw to it that that was not going to happen this time. So it was a struggle about dollars and credits as much as it was about tanks and missiles. The means Reagan used was [[oil]] through a partnership with [[Saudi Arabia]]. The Soviet Union's hard currency came from a single source: its mineral wealth of [[oil]] and [[natural gas]]. Reagan secretly sent William Casey, the Director of Central Intelligence, to Riyadh to strong arm the Saudis into tripling oil production, cutting prices by fifty percent. Casey was successful and got the Saudis to go along. Reagan's objective was an economic boom in the West and a crippling blow to the struggling Soviet economy. The desperate Soviets needed hard cash, so they resorted to gas fields in western [[Siberia]]. There solution was a 4,000 mile pipeline connecting the fields to the markets in Western Europe. They believed the prize would be billions of cubic feet of gas flowing from Siberia and therefore tens of billions in hard currency flowing back to [[Moscow]].

This was an appropriate time to launch a more strategic initiative designed to go after the Soviet Union's domination of Western [[Europe]]'s natural gas markets and major American conglomerates really had no stomach for that at all. They were interested in profits regardless of what countries they were dealing with overseas. There was enormous pressure that was brought to bare by companies that were going to be damaged by Reagan's economic war against the Soviet empire. This economic warfare would be applied to wherever the Soviets struck.

The first of these was [[Poland]], which was the epicenter of the Soviet empire and they considered it the crossroads of Europe. It is where all the historic invasions of [[Russia]] had taken place. Tanks rolled onto the streets of Warsaw, road blocks where everywhere, 3.4 million telephones were rendered dead, 250 thousand military personnel were deployed. The Soviets determined that controlling and dominating Poland was vital to protecting the survival of the Soviet empire. Martial law was declared, the Solidarity organization was banned and Lech Wałęsa and five thousand activists were arrested. With the rise of Solidarity, for the first time in the Cold War there was a challenge to their authority in Poland. They installed a puppet government in the country. After the Soviets backed a coup in Poland and declared martial law, Reagan was furious and determined to see Solidarity succeed. The secret funding for Solidarity commenced. It payed for the tools of subversion: printing presses and radio transmitters. Reagan decided that the Soviet sponsorship of martial law in Poland needed to be responded to with economic sanctions. Reagan canceled trade agreements, made grain sales tougher, and restricted credit. The Europeans saw Reagan's tenacity and knew he would not give in. So they fell in line, tightening their lending to the regime in Moscow.

Reagan also went out of his way to deliver Western Europe from being a sitting duck to the Soviet missiles that were aimed directly toward it. One of Reagan's early and most important goals was to station missiles in Europe to provide a defense for the people of Western Europe. In the [[United Kingdom]], Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher]] mobilized Western Europe to deploy the new generation of nuclear weapons.

Reagan's game plan had been to only meet with the Soviets on his terms, when the power had shifted in America's favor. By the 1985, that was happening. In the Strategic Defense Initiative's embryonic stage, it had new partners: [[Japan]], [[Germany|West Germany,]] [[Italy]], [[Israel]], and the United Kingdom. In Poland, Solidarity had refused to surrender. In Nicaragua, the anti-communist freedom fighters fought on. In [[Africa]] and [[Southeast Asia]] anti-communist CIA covert operations were underway. In Afghanistan, the simple goal of making the Soviets retreat in disgrace was working. The Reagan war plan was now beginnng to converge; the military build-up, the covert actions, the economic sanctions, and the Strategic Defense Initiative.

The combined effects on the Soviet economy was costing the Soviet empire billions. The Soviets had increased defense spending by 45 percent, billions were lost in hard currency, billions more was spent on bolstering nervous third world communist dictators and all they had to show for it was dead young Russian and other Soviet citizens shipped home from the battlefields of Afghanistan. Reagan's leverage had worked and the Kremlin was now backed into a corner. After less than five years of Ronald Reagan, the hardliners of the Soviet leadership could no longer hide the economic damage of their rule. This gave the reformers an opening. [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] was elected by a one-vote majority in the [[politburo]] and that vote was by Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had met with Reagan six months earlier and told him that he knew that Reagan's goal was the destruction of the Soviet Union. The politburo went with a reformer such as Gorbachev because they knew the only way they could compete with the United States and meet the Reagan challenge is by changing. So Gorbachev was brought into power in response to Ronald Reagan. So Reagan was really responsible for bringing Gorbachev into power.

Eventually, the ten-year war in Afghanistan against Reagan-supported Afghan freedom fighters exhausted the resources and morale of the Soviet [[Socialism|socialist]] system. With more than 15,000 Soviet military personnel dead, the Soviets withdrew their forces in 1989 and admitted to a humiliating defeat. It was payback for the [[Vietnam War]]. Also in 1989, the Reagan-supported Polish Solidarity organization was legalized and allowed to participate in elections which sparked off a succession of peaceful anti-communist counter-revolutions in Central Europe and [[Eastern Europe]].

Take the fact that communism drives any country broke, add a Reagan-supported arms build up as well as a Reagan-supported second arms race in space, add a Reagan-supported Vietnam-like quagmire, and mix in Reagan-supported socio-political upheaval in Soviet satellite states. It was more than the Soviet system could take. Especially with a Reagan-supported reformer in charge of the Soviet Union.

And that is how Ronald Reagan won the Cold War.

-[[User:AmerICan|AmerICan]] 15:06, 12 March 2008 (EDT)

[[Category:Reagan Era]][[Category:Cold War]]

User:AmerICan

2016-01-21T01:38:54Z

AmerICan:

Template:User Ted Cruz

2016-01-21T01:38:38Z

AmerICan: Created page with "{{Userbox |border-c=#000 |border-s=1 |id-c=#fff |id-s=12 |id-fc=#000 |info-c=#ff0000 |info-s=8 |info-fc=#fff |id=50px |info=<center>This user supports [..."

{{Userbox |border-c=#000 |border-s=1 |id-c=#fff |id-s=12 |id-fc=#000 |info-c=#ff0000 |info-s=8 |info-fc=#fff |id=[[Image:Ted cruz.jpg|50px]] |info=<center>This user supports [[Ted Cruz]].</center>}}
[[Category:Userboxes]]

New York City

2016-01-19T15:44:46Z

AmerICan:

{{City
|picture =Liberty2.jpg
|picture2 =
|map =
|country =United States
|state =New York
|region =
|settled =1624
|charter =
|population =8,405,837
|area =6,720
|density =27,778.7
|mayor =Bill de Blasio
|demonym =New Yorker
}}

[[File:Nyc1.jpg|thumb|450px|the center of the metropolitan area, which stretches into Connecticut (to the northeast) and New Jersey (to the west)]]
'''New York City''', officially the '''City of New York''', is a city and metropolitan area in the state of [[New York]], located on the East coast of the [[United States of America]]. New York City is known best for the [[New York Stock Exchange]] and financial district, its [[liberal media]], its [[liberal]] [[Broadway]] shows, and its high cost of living. Shows broadcast from New York City include the David Letterman Show, the Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, and FoxNews; New York City is also where the major networks grew in influence: ABC, CBS, and NBC.

With a population of 19 million in the three-state metropolitan area (and 8,140,000 in the city as in 2005), it is the most populous urban area in the [[United States]]. The city is divided into five different counties, called boroughs. Manhattan is the financial, commercial, and tourist center. Brooklyn is the most populous of the boroughs, and suburban Queens is the largest in area. The other two boroughs are The Bronx, a downscale residential area, and suburban Staten Island. The modern city was formed in 1898 through a merger of the original New York City with Brooklyn.

New York City is the cultural capital of the world; it has global importance in fashion, finance, news, diplomacy, education, medicine and arts. The city is a world-class tourist destination. It contains many landmarks, including the [[Statue of Liberty]], [[Wall Street]], in Lower Manhattan, and many others. The city (along with its #2 rival Chicago) invented the skyscraper, and still has some of the tallest buildings in the world, like [[Empire State Building]]; the [[World Trade Center]] towers were destroyed by terrorists in the September 11, 2001 attacks. [[File:Gotham1.jpg|thumb|220px]]
==Transportation==
New York owes its success to its status as the major hub of world transportation by air and water. It grew because it has one of the world's finest natural harbors. It is ice-free year-round and deep enough to enable large ships to reach its piers regardless of the tide. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was established in 1921 by the two states in order to administer jointly the shared waterfront. Most traffic is now handled through containers. Three major airports serve the city: John F. Kennedy International Airport (for international travel) and La Guardia Airport (for domestic travel), as well as nearby Newark International Airport. All are operated by the Port Authority, which also runs the bridges and subways.

When [[Hurricane Irene]] was headed for the city in August 2011 following a harsh winter, the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) shut down all its commuter rail, subway and buses. This move was criticized by some as excessively cautious.

== History ==
The first Dutch settlers arrived on Manhattan in 1624, naming the town New Amsterdam. Indian claims were bought out for the equivalent of $24. The Dutch sent settlers up the Hudson River (which is easily navigable by sailing vessels) to Albany. The Dutch colony, named New Amsterdam, was run in autocratic fashion by Governor Peter Stuyvesant. It soon had a cosmopolitan flavor, with freedom of religion and numerous ethnic and religious groups; the Dutch brought slaves as house servants.<ref>Slavery was finally abolished in 1799.</ref> The city was captured in war by the British in 1664; they renamed both the city and the colony for the Duke of York (who later became King [[James II]]).
[[File:Nyc2.jpg|thumb|450px|Manhattan neighborhoods]]
The use of [[Ellis Island]] as the checkpoint for millions of European immigrants in the late 19th Century caused New York City's population to swell, as many settled in the city.

[[Image:800px-Times Square Panorama1.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Times Square.]]

== Politics ==

New York City is historically considered a [[liberal]] city, with the majority of the population voting Democratic. However, the mayor has recently been [[Republican]], in the case of [[Rudy Giuliani]] or independent in the case of the [[liberal]] [[Michael Bloomberg]]. [[Fox News Channel]] is based in NYC. Of the 13 congressional districts that include parts of New York City, only one is represented by a Republican (Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. of [[Staten Island]]).

== Culture ==
[[Image:Duke Ellington Statue.jpg|thumb|[[Duke Ellington]] Statue.]]
New York City is home to top-notch museums in [[art]], [[architecture]], photography, natural history, television, radio and technology, like: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Frick Collection, the National Design Museum, the Museum of Natural History,
and the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts. <ref>[http://www.ny.com/museums/mile.html Museums in New York City] </ref>

Featured cultural sites are:

•Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

•Carnegie Hall

•Radio City Music Hall

•Hayden Planetarium

•New York Aquarium

•The Morgan Library

•New York Public Library

•Rose Center for Earth and Space

•International Center of Photography

•Empire State Building Lobby Gallery

•SculptureCenter

•Museum of Biblical Art

•Staten Island Institute of Arts & Sciences

•Center for Architecture

•Studio Museum in Harlem

==Boroughs==

Each of New York City's [[borough]]s is [[coterminous]] with a [[county]] in the State of New York. The five boroughs are:
* [[Manhattan]] (New York County)
* [[Brooklyn]] (Kings County)
* [[Queens]] (Queens County)
* [[The Bronx]] (Bronx County)
* [[Staten Island]] (Richmond County)

Unlike the [[London]] boroughs, the boroughs of New York City do not operate as [[local government]]s. All of the non-Manhattan boroughs are sometimes referred to collectively as "the outer boroughs" as they are arranged in a sort of semicircle around Manhattan.

Many places have been proposed as "Sixth Boroughs," which can carry a different meaning depending on who is asked. Some areas often cited as "Sixth Boroughs" include:
* [[Hudson County]], [[New Jersey]]
* [[Nassau County]], [[Long Island]], [[New York]]
* [[Westchester County]], [[New York]]
* [[Newark]], [[New Jersey]]
* [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]

== See also ==
[[Image:NYC.jpg|thumb|400px|Historic Manhattan]]
* [[The Bronx]]
*[[Fiorello La Guardia]]
*[[Art cities]]
*[[Washington, D.C.]]
*[[New York Yankees]]
* [[Gun control]] -- New York, along with [[San Francisco values|San Francisco]], [[Washington D.C.]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[Chicago]], is known to be one of the top 5 cities with the most [[left-wing]] [[Second Amendment|Anti-Second Amendment]] laws.

== External links ==

*[http://www.ny.com/museums/museum.of.american.financial.history.html Museum of American Financial History.]
*[http://www.metmuseum.org/ The Met.]
*[http://www.nyc-arts.org/ NYC ARTS.]
*[http://www.nycwalk.com/rock.html A Walking Tour of Rockefeller Center's Public Art.]
==Further reading==
[[Image:Prometheus Fountain at the Rockefeller Center.jpg|thumb|240px|Prometheus Fountain at the Rockefeller Center.]]
* Burrows, Edwin G., and Mike Wallace. ''Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Gotham-History-York-City-1898/dp/0195140494/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262334804&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search], the best history; Pulitzer prize
* Caro, Robert. ''The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.'' (1973) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0394720245/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link excerpt and text search]
* Jackson, Kenneth, ed. ''The Encyclopedia of New York City'' (1995), the best reference book; 1350pp; [http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-New-York-City/dp/0300055366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240594479&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Jackson, Kenneth and Sam Roberts, eds. ''The Almanac of New York City'' (2008)
* Kessner, Thomas. ''Fiorello H. LaGuardia and the Making of Modern New York'' (1989) the most detailed standard scholarly biography
* Slayton, Robert A. ''Empire Statesman: The Rise and Redemption of Al Smith,'' (2001), 480pp, the standard scholarly biography; [http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Statesman-Rise-Redemption-Smith/dp/1416567771/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196822024&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]

==References==
*[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html Information Please - Top 50 Cities in the U.S.]
<references/>

[[Category:New York Cities and Towns]]
[[Category:New York City]]
[[category:Urban History]]
[[Category : Most Liberal American Cities]]

St. Louis

2016-01-19T15:41:59Z

AmerICan:

[[File:Gateway Arch.jpg|right|300px]]
'''St. Louis''' is a city in the state of [[Missouri]] and the only [[independent city]] in that state. Its estimated population as of 2006 was about 347,000.<ref>http://www.city-data.com/city/St.-Louis-Missouri.html</ref> It sits on the western bank of the [[Mississippi River]], and is famous for its Gateway Arch, which serves as a monument to American expansion westward. The city also hosted the 1904 World's Fair, where the ice cream cone was first introduced to the world.

Once a thriving metropolis on the banks of the Mississippi, St. Louis has decayed into a ghostly landscape of vacant houses, boarded-up storefronts, and abandoned factories. The Gateway City has become one of the most depopulated, deindustrialized, and [[segregation|segregated]] examples of American urban decay. The city's decay stems from multiple causes, ranging from private real estate [[zoning]] restrictions, poor local planning and zoning decisions, and [[Nanny state]] federal housing policies that led to a "white flight" of [[middle class]]es from the central city. A generation of [[liberal]] "urban renewal," aimed at eradicating blight, made it worse. The city's notorious high rise public housing units were finally dynamited.

==References==
<references/>

==Further reading==
* Gordon, Colin. '' Mapping Decline: St. Louis and the Fate of the American City'' (2009), 304pp

==See also==
* [[Ferguson, Missouri]]
* [[Washington University in St. Louis]]
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]]

[[Category:Missouri Cities and Towns]]
[[Category:Urban History]]
[[Category:Missouri]]
[[Category : Most Liberal American Cities]]

Jimmy LaSalvia

2016-01-19T03:29:27Z

AmerICan:

'''Jimmy LaSalvia''' is [[gay]] [[liberal]] columnist for [[far-left]] anti-military website [[Salon Media Group|Salon.com]] and political activist for the [[ACLU]].<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/26/aclu-launches-campaign-to-win-gop-support-for-gay-marriage/</ref> LaSalvia is one of the co-founders of [[GOProud]], a defunct [[Liberalism|socially liberal]] political organization that claimed to represent [[homosexual]] [[conservative]]s yet was nothing more than a group of gay [[Republican in name only|liberal Republicans]]. Despite initially claiming to be a [[Republican Party|Republican]], he has become very outspoken about his hatred for Republicans.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/is-prodigal-gop-inching-home/</ref> LaSalvia has compared [[Christian]] activist and [[family values]] advocate [[Tony Perkins]] to [[Ku Klux Klan]] leader [[David Duke]].<ref>https://twitter.com/JimmyLaSalvia/status/319895373881688065</ref> An ardently militant [[atheist]], he is staunchly opposed to [[faith-based initiative]]s<ref>http://reason.com/archives/2014/02/06/saying-goodbye-to-the-gop</ref> and has claimed that "religion has killed more than all diseases combined."<ref>https://twitter.com/JimmyLaSalvia/status/503196432443006976</ref> In December 2015, LaSalvia announced his support for [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jimmy-lasalvia-/hillary-clinton-president-_b_8698000.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:LaSalvia, Jimmy}}

[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Homosexuals]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]

Jimmy LaSalvia

2016-01-13T05:34:19Z

AmerICan:

'''Jimmy LaSalvia''' is [[gay]] [[liberal]] political activist for the [[ACLU]]<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/26/aclu-launches-campaign-to-win-gop-support-for-gay-marriage/</ref> and frequent guest on [[MSNBC]]. LaSalvia is one of the co-founders of [[GOProud]], a defunct [[Liberalism|socially liberal]] political organization that claimed to represent [[homosexual]] [[conservative]]s yet was nothing more than a group of gay [[Republican in name only|liberal Republicans]]. Despite initially claiming to be a [[Republican Party|Republican]], he has become very outspoken about his hatred for Republicans.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/is-prodigal-gop-inching-home/</ref> LaSalvia has compared [[Christian]] activist and [[family values]] advocate [[Tony Perkins]] to [[Ku Klux Klan]] leader [[David Duke]].<ref>https://twitter.com/JimmyLaSalvia/status/319895373881688065</ref> An ardently militant [[atheist]], he is staunchly opposed to [[faith-based initiative]]s<ref>http://reason.com/archives/2014/02/06/saying-goodbye-to-the-gop</ref> and has claimed that "religion has killed more than all diseases combined."<ref>https://twitter.com/JimmyLaSalvia/status/503196432443006976</ref> In December 2015, LaSalvia announced his support for [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jimmy-lasalvia-/hillary-clinton-president-_b_8698000.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:LaSalvia, Jimmy}}

[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Homosexuals]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]

Stewart Rhodes

2015-12-30T01:48:17Z

AmerICan:

'''Stewart Rhodes''' is the founder and main spokesman of the [[American]] [[Veteran]] [[Patriot]] organization called [[Oath Keepers]].

According to his website, he is an "Ex-[[paratrooper]], disabled vet, ex-[[firearm]]s instructor, former [[Ron Paul]] staffer, [[Yale]] Law grad/Research Scholar, [[Montana]] [[American Redoubt]] [[lawyer]] and president and founder of [[Oath Keepers]]. Stewart has written for [[Gerry Spence]]'s The Warrior, the Enemy at the Gate column for [[SWAT|S.W.A.T.]] Magazine, and is writing a book on the dangers of applying the laws of [[war]] to the [[American]] people in the "[[War on Terror]]".<ref>"This is Stewart's personal [[blog]] and does not necessarily represent the official stance of [[Oath Keepers]]" http://stewart-rhodes.blogspot.com Accessed December 26, 2014 </ref>

Oath Keepers' mission is to be veteran "[[American Patriots|Guardians]] of the [[Republic]]". They are a non-partisan organization of [[civil servant]]s and [[veteran]]s, any [[American]] who has taken an [[oath]]. Open membership to all, [[Citizen]] Associate Member, as long as you take an oath to defend the [[Constitution]]. The group is founded by and run by Stewart Rhodes, formerly a U.S. Army [[paratrooper]].

Their motto, "Not on our Watch."

{{cquote|To support and defend the [[Constitution]] against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us [[God]]." }}

==Quotes==
* "Not on our Watch."

==Incremental Gun-Grabbing of the Liberal Nanny State - Progressive Police State==
According to Stewart Rhodes, [[Leftist|progressive]] police [[statist]]s want to [[unconstitutional]]ly ban all firearms for citizen use.

Liberals and socialists support their [[Essay:Why_do_conservatives_own_firearms%3F#Criminals_by_Nature_Never_Follow_Laws|so-called "common sense" measures]] - a "good first step" of their leftist [[Nanny state]] leading to a progressive [[police state]]. To a conservative citizen-[[prepper]]-patriot [[Oath Keeper]] and to the [[Bill of Rights]], this is "[[Essay:Why_do_conservatives_own_firearms%3F#Incrementalism_of_the_Liberal_Nanny_State_-_Progressive_Police_State|death by a thousand paper cuts]]". (See [[List of celebrities against Second Amendment]])

Stewart Rhodes and most American conservatives support the ideals of the [[Second Amendment Foundation]] and this video, which is the formal response to [[Hollywood values|Hollywood]]'s [[Demand a Plan]] [[gun control|gun-grabbing]] propaganda video (see [[Essay:The Politically Corrected Firearms and Second Amendment Glossary]]). The video shows one of the main differences between liberal gun control Nanny states / progressive police states ([[Blue state]]s - see [[Essay:State Firearms Laws Ranking]]) and conservative and/or libertarian [[unalienable rights]] - [[Second Amendment]]-supporting "[[Essay:Free States Movement|free state]]s" (many [[Red state]]s - see [[Essay:Why do conservatives own firearms?]]).

This [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBelF4UddcY Equal Gun Rights Video] shows why many conservatives and libertarians "[[vote with your feet|vote with our feet]]" via strategic relocation to escape "progressive death spiral" states: <ref>As of February 10, 2015, there are 61,377 views on [[YouTube]] of [[Second Amendment Foundation]]'s ''Equal [[Gun rights|Gun rights]]'', Online. Published on Feb 24, 2013. [http://equalgunrights.com EqualGunRights.com] and [http://saf.org SAF.org]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBelF4UddcY Equal Gun Rights Video] on YouTube. Accessed February 10, 2015.</ref>

== See Also ==
* [[5 U.S.C. § 3331|Oath for federal officials]]
* [[28 U.S.C. § 453|Oath for federal judges]]
* [[Marriage]]
* [[Vow]]
* [[Oath Keepers]] - Support and defend the [[unalienable rights]] of [[America]]
* [[Fourth Amendment]]
* [[Police state]]s-[[Nanny state]]s violate the [[United States Constitution]]-[[Bill of Rights]] (especially [[Second Amendment]] and [[Fourth Amendment]]) and [[Citizen]]'s [[Unalienable rights]] by not upholding their oath to support and defend the [[Constitution]].

===Related People===
* [[Kenneth Royce]] ([[Boston T. Party]]) of [[Free State Wyoming]] and author of ''[[Boston's Gun Bible]]''
* [[James Wesley Rawles]] of [[The Survival Blog]], [[New York Times]] best-selling author of [[How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It]], [[American Redoubt]] [[Idaho]]
* [[Mel Tappan]], "Grand-daddy" of the [[Preparedness]] movement, [[Oregon]]
* [[Jack Spirko]] of [[The Survival Podcast]], [[Texas]]
* [[M.D. Creekmore]] of [[TheSurvivalistBlog.net]], [[Kentucky]]
* [[John Jacob Schmidt]] - [[Radio Free Redoubt]], [[Idaho]]
* [[Alex Barron]] - [[Charles Carroll Society]], [[Idaho]]
* [[Ragnar Benson]] - Prolific [[:Category:Preparedness authors|Preparedness author]]
* [[Joel Skousen]] - author ''[[Strategic Relocation - North American Guide to Safe Places]]'' and [[World Affairs Brief]], [[Utah]]
* [[Alex Jones]] - [[InfoWars Nightly News]] and [[Prison Planet]], [[Texas]]
* [[Chuck Baldwin]] - [[Liberty Fellowship]], [[Montana]]
* [[Dave Duffy]] and [[Claire Wolfe]] of [[Backwoods Home Magazine]], [[Oregon]]
* [[Paul Wheaton]] - [[Permies.com]] [[Permaculture]], [[Montana]]
* [[Nutnfancy]] - Nutnfancy YouTube Firearms Channel, [[Utah]]
* [[Essay:List of celebrities who support the Second Amendment]] - usually [[Conservatives]] or [[Libertarians]]

----

===Related Movements and Organizations===
* [[Free State Wyoming]]
* [[Essay:Free States Movement|Free States Movement]]
* [[Vote with your feet]]
* [[Free State Project]]
{{Second Amendment groups}}

----
===Other Related Articles===
* [[Firearms]]
* [[Gun control]]:
** [[List of celebrities against Second Amendment]] - always [[Liberal]] [[Elitist]]s
** '''[[Big government | Big Government]]''': [[Liberal values|Liberal]] [[ObamaCare]]-[[Common Core]]-[[Social Security]] [[Welfare state]] leads to [[Nanny state]], leads to [[Gun control]], [[Militarization of police]], [[Asset forfeiture]] and Domestic [[mass surveillance]] of law-abiding [[citizen]]s via the '''[[Police state]]''': [[Globalist]]-[[United Nations]]-[[Statist]]-[[Socialist]]-[[National Socialist]]-[[Communist]]

* [[Second Amendment]] [[unalienable]] [[Gun rights]] versus [[Liberal]] [[Gun control]]
* [[Essay:Why do conservatives own firearms?]] -- According to [[Thomas Jefferson]] it is as the final deterrent against potential [[Tyranny]] of [[government]]

* [[Essay:Invest_in_tangibles#2._Defense_and_Security_.28.22Bullets.22.29|Invest in tangibles: Firearms]] - buy [[Precious metal]]s (that is [[Copper-jacketed lead]] and [[Firearms])
* [[Boston T. Party]]’s [[State Firearms Laws Ranking]]s from ''[[Boston's Gun Bible]]'' -- [[Vote with your Feet]]
* [[Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]]
** [[Essay:Jews and Gun Control - Fear of Freedom or Freedom from Fear]], [[Essay:Why Jews Hate Guns - Are they right]]
* ''[[You & the Police!]]'' by [[Boston T. Party]] a.k.a.[[Kenneth W. Royce]]
* ''[[One Nation, Under Surveillance - Privacy From the Watchful Eye]]'' by [[Boston T. Party]]

==External Links==
* [http://stewart-rhodes.blogspot.com Stewart Rhodes Personal Blog]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-WMHV9A80g Stewart Rhodes: #sheepdog vs #sheepdog Speech at the Lamp of Liberty National Press Club]<ref>The [[Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association]] ([[CSPOA]]) held a press conference at the National Press Club, in [[Washington DC]], on September 17th, 2014, the 227th anniversary of the signing of the [[United States Constitution]]. CSPOA is a national organization of [[Sheriff]]s, [[police]] officers, and [[politician|elected officials]], as well as private [[citizen]]s, whose mission is to equip sheriffs, [[peace officer]]s and public officials with the necessary information and public support to carry out their duties in accordance with their [[Oath]]s of Office. The morning press conference was conducted in conjunction with a presentation of the CSPOA Resolution to all five hundred thirty-five members of [[Congress]]. The Resolution concerns the dangerous overreach of rogue individuals within the [[Big government|Federal Government]] in the lives of [[American]]s, which is increasingly outside the limits of their authority under our Constitution. This event, which was by invitation only, is one of a series of gatherings under the banner of “Lighting the Lamp of Liberty”. Speakers that morning included [[Congressman]] [[Steve Stockman]] ([[Republic|R]]-[[Texas|TX]]); [[Larry Pratt]], President of [[Gun Owners of America]]; several [[constitutional]] [[attorney]]s and scholars; as well as Sheriff [[David A. Clark]] Jr., of [[Milwaukee]] County, [[Wisconsin]]. Clarke who has received national acclaim for supporting the [[Second Amendment|citizens’ right to keep and bear arms]], was the CSPOA Sheriff of the Year in 2013. He recently won re[[election]] in spite of a well-funded campaign against him by [[gun control|anti-gun]] [[:Category:Liberal Activists|liberal activist]] [[Michael Bloomberg]], former [[mayor]] of [[New York City]]. Topics covered include [[illegal immigration]], the crucial role of the county sheriff, [[property rights]], constitutional [[checks and balances]], and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-WMHV9A80g Accessed December 26, 2014</ref>
* [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Stewart+Rhodes search on [[Duck Duck Go]] [[Privacy]] search engine]
* [http://oathkeepers.org Official website]
* [https://plus.google.com/u/0/105704077843332512159/ Google+ page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/OathKeepersOK YouTube channel page]
* [http://www.facebook.com/groups/163945586998396 Facebook page]
* [https://twitter.com/#!/Oathkeepers Twitter page]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Stewart}}

[[Category : Oath Keepers]]
[[Category : Veterans]]
[[Category : Patriots]]
[[Category : Military]]
[[Category : Conservatives]]
[[Category : Conservative Authors]]
[[Category : Conservative Podcasters]]
[[Category : Conservative Bloggers]]
[[Category : Conservative Media]]
[[Category : Conservative Podcasters]]
[[Category : Libertarians]]
[[Category : Libertarian Bloggers]]
[[Category : Libertarian Podcasters]]
[[Category : Libertarian Media]]
[[Category : Libertarian Authors]]
[[Category : Bloggers]]
[[Category : Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category : Anti-Communism]]
[[Category : Montana]]
[[Category : American Redoubt]]
[[Category : Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category : People Associated with Firearms]]
[[Category : American Gun Rights Advocates]]
[[Category : Gun Writers]]
[[Category : Gun Bloggers]]
[[Category : Authors]]
[[Category : Survivalism]]
[[Category : Survivalists]]
[[Category : Preparedness Bloggers]]
[[Category : Preparedness Podcasters]]
[[Category : Christians]]

The Daily Beast

2015-12-30T01:45:58Z

AmerICan:

'''''The Daily Beast''''' is a [[liberal]] website run by [[Left-wing|far-left]] anti-[[Tea Party]] activist John Avlon.<ref>http://www.thewrap.com/daily-beast-hires-executive-editor-fill-role-vacated-tina-brown</ref> Founded by [[liberal media]] figure Tina Brown, the website has become infamous for its history of false reporting. On January 30, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' declared that former [[Massachusetts]] governor [[Mitt Romney]] had decided to run for the U.S. presidency in 2016. The website was left humiliated less than two hours later when Governor Romney announced that he had decided to not run for the presidency.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/01/30/after-mocking-drudge-daily-beast-gets-romney-news-horribly-terribly-wrong/</ref> On February 27, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' claimed that [[Wisconsin]] governor [[Scott Walker]]'s budget would cut sexual assault reporting from the state's universities. The next day, that claim was proven to be a lie and as a result the website retracted the claim, although the author of the claim refused to apologize.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/daily-beast-retracts-scott-walker-story-115618.html</ref> In the immediate aftermath of the San Bernardino terrorist attack, ''The Daily Beast'' falsely identified the brother of one of the terrorists as one of the perpetrators.<ref>http://www.ibtimes.com/worst-media-fails-2015-2241825</ref>

The executive editor of the website, Noah Shachtman, has claimed that anyone who stays at a hotel owned by [[Donald Trump]] or visits a resort owned by Trump is "supporting racism & neo-fascism."<ref>http://www.everyjoe.com/2015/11/23/politics/daily-beast-editor-says-anyone-who-does-business-with-trump-supports-racism/</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/ Official website]

[[Category:websites]]
[[Category:liberal Media]]

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

2015-12-25T03:31:22Z

AmerICan:

'''Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions''' are the triple threat, typically by [[liberal]] politicians and businesses, against the [[Israel|State of Israel]].

[[Category:Anti-Semitism]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Israel]]

The Daily Beast

2015-11-23T08:39:14Z

AmerICan:

'''''The Daily Beast''''' is a [[liberal]] website run by [[Left-wing|far-left]] anti-[[Tea Party]] activist John Avlon.<ref>http://www.thewrap.com/daily-beast-hires-executive-editor-fill-role-vacated-tina-brown</ref> Founded by [[liberal media]] figure Tina Brown, the website has become infamous for its history of false reporting. On January 30, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' declared that former [[Massachusetts]] governor [[Mitt Romney]] had decided to run for the U.S. presidency in 2016. The website was left humiliated less than two hours later when Governor Romney announced that he had decided to not run for the presidency.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/01/30/after-mocking-drudge-daily-beast-gets-romney-news-horribly-terribly-wrong/</ref> On February 27, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' claimed that [[Wisconsin]] governor [[Scott Walker]]'s budget would cut sexual assault reporting from the state's universities. The next day, that claim was proven to be a lie and as a result the website retracted the claim, although the author of the claim refused to apologize.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/daily-beast-retracts-scott-walker-story-115618.html</ref>

The executive editor of the website, Noah Shachtman, has claimed that anyone who stays at a hotel owned by [[Donald Trump]] or visits a resort owned by Trump is "supporting racism & neo-fascism."<ref>http://www.everyjoe.com/2015/11/23/politics/daily-beast-editor-says-anyone-who-does-business-with-trump-supports-racism/</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/ Official website]

[[Category:websites]]
[[Category:liberal Media]]

Lance Armstrong

2015-09-10T22:03:31Z

AmerICan:

[[Image:Lance armstrong.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Lance Armstrong]]
'''Lance Armstrong''' (b. 1971) is an [[American]] professional cyclist and [[atheist]] who was striped of seven [[Tour-de-France]] wins from 1999 to 2005 due to ''“the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen''.”<ref>[http://cyclinginvestigation.usada.org/# Statement From USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart Regarding The U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team Doping Conspiracy]</ref> The only American who won the Tour-de-France legitimately was Greg LeMond in 1986. Armstrong also competed in the [[Olympics]], in 1992, 1996, and 2000. In the 2000 Olympic games, held in Sydney, [[Australia]], he won a bronze medal,<ref>http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_805.htm</ref> which the International Olympic Committee may revoke and order him to return.<ref>http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Four+Athens+Olympic+medallists+stripped+awards/7656634/story.html</ref>

As a young man, Lance Armstrong reportedly overcame heart, lung and testicular [[cancer]].

Armstong is an agnostic having had poor experiences in his childhood from a step-father who claimed to be religious. Lance never became involved in organized religion, although he wears a crucifix to remind him of a fellow cancer patient.<ref>http://www.celebatheists.com/index.php?title=Lance_Armstrong</ref>

<blockquote>"I don't have anything against organized religion per se. We all need something in our lives. I personally just have not accepted that belief."</blockquote>

==Doping Allegations==

Throughout the latter half of his career Armstrong received negative media attention due to allegations of taking performance enhancing drugs.

In 2012, on the heels of an FDA investigation, Armstrong was stripped of all his titles on the grounds of his refusal to testify before the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). As the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on Oct 22, 2012 that it would not appeal the USADA's ruling to bar Lance Armstrong for life from Olympic sports for doping and for playing an instrumental role in the teamwide doping on his Tour de France-winning cycling squads, Armstrong now has formally lost the Tour titles he won from 1999-2005.

==After Retirement==

In October 2007 Lance made the news by supporting an Oregon cigarette tax that would use the proceeds to help fund health insurance for children. In Oregon he has a great deal of pull having just hosted a charity event that raised 2 million dollars.<ref>http://www.katu.com/news/10154261.html</ref>

In 2008 Armstrong announced that he would return to professional cycling and compete in the 2009 Giro d'Italia and the 2009 [[Tour-de-France]], as well as other races on the professional circuit.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080909</ref> For the 2009 season, he joined Team Astana. <ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3672089</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Armstrong, Lance}}

[[Category:Sportspeople]]
[[Category:Cycling]]
[[Category:Olympic Athletes]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

The Great Global Warming Swindle

2015-09-10T22:01:02Z

AmerICan: /* External links */

'''The Great Global Warming Swindle''' first broadcast in March 2007, is a science documentary film directed by Martin Durkin for the United Kingdom's Channel Four. This is not the first science documentary the filmmakers made. It says on their website "The thing they found most shocking when they started to make this one, was the weakness of the case for man made global warming, and the quantity and quality of the evidence which flatly contradicts it." <ref>[http://www.greatglobalwarmingswindle.com/ Official Website 'The Great Global Warming Swindle']</ref>

==Summary==
This science documentary challenges the [[Global Warming]] orthodoxy of 'consensus', used to discount further evidence, this theme is constant throughout and purports to expose scientists for their alleged alarmism.

==The science==
The way [[science]] functions in the real world is explained. The political bias of scientists, censorship within the scientific community, the failure of the peer review process and inflated conclusions from uncertain data. "The most highly qualified and respected scientists can be blind to obvious deficiencies in a theory, and will be dismissive of evidence when it undermines what they want to believe." Scientists are invoking the threat of climatic disaster to drive an anti-capitalist agenda.

==Positive reception==
Public service broadcaster Channel Four defended airing the film saying it was to show that the debate on climate change is not settled

The filmmakers have received thousands of emails from scientists and others expressing their support and encouragement. After the legal finding, the filmmakers were allowed to distribute their documentary by DVD.

==Negative reception==

Complaints came from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the former British government chief scientific adviser Sir David King, and MIT oceanographer Prof. Carl Wunsch. Also, Ofcom noted it received 265 complaints that the film had been factually misleading, one-sided, had omitted alternative views and broke Britain's broadcasting code.

Robert Watson, a former chairman of the IPCC was disappointed that the film had not been found to mislead viewers.

==Filmmakers statements==
“Everywhere you are told that man-made climate change is proved beyond doubt,” “But you are being told lies.”
“This is a story of how a theory about [[climate]] turned into a political ideology ... it is the story of the distortion of a whole area of science.”
“as the frenzy over man-made global warming grows shriller, many senior scientists say the actual scientific basis for the theory is crumbling.”

==Issues surrounding the film==

Britain’s independent [[media]] regulator, Ofcom has ruled that a documentary skeptical of global warming claims broke some broadcasting rules, but did not mislead or cause harm. <ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=32796 UK Broadcaster Scolded for Film on Global Warming ‘Swindle’] CNSNews.com, July 22, 2008</ref>

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-m09lKtYT4 The entire film 'Free' on YouTube]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT: Great Global Warming Swindle, The}}
[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:Global Warming]]
[[Category: Greatest Conservative Movies]]

Michael A. Monsoor

2015-09-09T22:33:36Z

AmerICan:

{{CPCN}}

'''Michael A. Monsoor''' was a [[United States Navy]] [[Naval Special Warfare|SEAL]] posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, for his actions during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. He was the third person to be awarded the medal for actions in [[Iraq]]; and the first member of the U.S. Navy.

Monsoor was born April 5, 1981 in Long Beach, [[California]] and grew up in Garden Grove, California, as the third of four children of George and Sally Monsoor. He attended Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School and Garden Grove High School where he played tight end on the Argonaut football team and graduated in 1999. Monsoor enlisted in the U.S. Navy March 21, 2001, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Upon graduation from basic training, he attended Quartermaster "A" School, and then transferred to Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy for a short period of time.

Petty Officer Monsoor entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, California, and subsequently graduated with Class 250 on Sept. 2, 2004 as one of the top performers in his class. After BUD/S, he completed advanced SEAL training courses including parachute training at Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, [[Georgia]], cold weather combat training in Kodiak, [[Alaska]], and six months of SEAL Qualification Training in Coronado, graduating in March 2005. The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to SEAL Team 3 Delta Platoon. He deployed with his platoon to Iraq in April 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was assigned to Task Unit Bravo in Ar Ramadi.

From April to September 29, 2006, Monsoor served as a heavy weapons machine gunner in Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3. During combat patrols he walked behind the platoon point man with his Mk 48 machine gun so that he could protect his platoon from a frontal enemy attack. Monsoor was also a SEAL communicator. On 15 operations, he carried a rucksack full of communications equipment in addition to his machine gun and full ammunition load-out. Collectively it weighed more than 100 pounds. He bore the weight without a single complaint, even in the midst of the 130 degree Western Iraqi summer.

Monsoor and his platoon operated in a highly contested part of Ramadi city called the Ma'laab district. During their deployment, Monsoor and his fellow SEALS came under enemy attack on 75 percent of their missions. On May 9, 2006 Monsoor rescued a SEAL who was shot in the leg. He ran out into the street with another SEAL, shot cover fire and dragged his comrade to safety while enemy bullets kicked up the concrete at their feet. For this brave action, he earned a Silver Star.

The enemy could not deter Monsoor and his SEAL platoon. They fought in 35 heated firefights; during these incidents Monsoor shot tens of thousands of 7.62 millimeter rounds to cover Delta Platoon's movement through streets that seemed to be paved with fire. In the Ma'laab district, Monsoor perfected his skills as an urban machine gunner. Once he and his men established a sniper overwatch position, he deftly transitioned to his role as a SEAL communicator calling in tank support and transmitting enemy situation reports to the 1-506 PIR Commander.

Delta Platoon executed a broad spectrum of combat operations in and around Ramadi. They patrolled bravely through the city streets engaging in firefights while on other occasions, they ambushed insurgent mortar teams near the banks of the Euphrates River. Monsoor and his fellow SEALs accounted for 84 enemy fighters killed in action and the detainment of numerous insurgents. Most notably, the Army Infantry, Navy SEAL and Iraqi Army combined force helped to pacify the most violent city in Al Anbar province setting conditions for the "Sunni Awakening."

Petty Officer Monsoor was subsequently awarded the Bronze Star as the Task Unit Ramadi, Iraq Combat Advisor from April to September 2006. His leadership, guidance and decisive actions during 11 different combat operations saved the lives of his teammates, other Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army soldiers.

On September 29, 2006, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army soldiers. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest before falling to the ground. Positioned next to the single exit, Monsoor was the only one who could have escaped harm. Instead, he dropped onto the grenade to shield the others from the blast. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. Because of Petty Officer Monsoor's actions, he saved the lives of his thee teammates and the Iraqi Army soldiers.

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously in a ceremony at the White House April 8, 2008 for his heroic actions ar Ar Ramadi.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monsoor, Michael A.}}
[[Category:United States Navy]]
[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]

101st Airborne Division

2015-09-09T22:22:05Z

AmerICan:

[[Image:101st airborne.jpg|thumb|right|Major General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] encouraging the men of the 101st Airborne Division]]
The '''101st Airborne Division''' is a division of the [[United States Army]] that provides forcible entry capability through heliborne 'air assault' operations. Capable of inserting a 4,000 soldier combined arms task force, 150-kilometers into enemy terrain in one lift, and possessing 281 helicopters, including three battalions of Apache attack helicopters, this division is the most versatile in the Army. For this reason, the 101st Airborne Division is the division most in demand by combatant commanders.

Based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the division is capable of inserting a 4,000 soldier combined arms task force, 150-kilometers into enemy terrain in one lift, and possessing 281 helicopters, including three battalions of Apache attack helicopters, this division is the most versatile in the Army. For this reason, the 101st Airborne Division is the division most in demand by combatant commanders.

The 101st stands as the Army's and world's only air assault division with unequaled strategic and tactical mobility. The 101st is unique in that it normally conducts operations 150 to 300 kilometers beyond the line of contact or forward-line-of-own-troops, requiring theater- and national-level intelligence support as a matter of course.

The 101st was formed on August 15th, 1942. The 101st played a key role in [[D-Day]] landings on June 6th, 1944. The night before the invasion they were dropped behind enemy lines. The planes carrying them were under heavy antiaircraft fire and took evasive action. Scattering much of the division all over [[Normandy]]. They caused havoc among the [[German]] ranks even though they were not formed up into their proper units and companies. After [[World War II]] the 101st Airborne Division was deactivated.

In 1956, the 101st was reactivated as a combat division. Lead elements of the division deployed to [[Vietnam]] in 1965, and were joined by the rest of the division in 1967. In 1968, the 101st was reorganized as an airmobile division. In 1973, after its return from Vietnam the 101st was designated an air assault division, and is the only air assault division in the U.S. Army.

In 1991, the 101st Airborne fought in the [[Desert Storm|Persian Gulf conflict]], conducting air assault operations deep into enemy territory. The 101st sustained no soldiers killed in action during the 100-hour war and captured thousands of enemy prisoners of war. The division served multiple deployments to [[Afghanistan]] for [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Iraq]] for [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].

==External links==
*[http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/101stairborne/index.html The Story of the 101st Airborne Division] (WWII book)

[[category:United States Army]]

Stewart Rhodes

2015-09-09T22:14:28Z

AmerICan:

'''Stewart Rhodes''' is the founder and main spokesman of the [[American]] [[Veteran]] [[Patriot]] organization called [[Oath Keepers]].

According to his website, he is an "Ex-[[paratrooper]], disabled vet, ex-[[firearm]]s instructor, former [[Ron Paul]] staffer, [[Yale]] Law grad/Research Scholar, [[Montana]] [[American Redoubt]] [[lawyer]] and president and founder of [[Oath Keepers]]. Stewart has written for [[Gerry Spence]]'s The Warrior, the Enemy at the Gate column for [[SWAT|S.W.A.T.]] Magazine, and is writing a book on the dangers of applying the laws of [[war]] to the [[American]] people in the "[[War on Terror]]".<ref>"This is Stewart's personal [[blog]] and does not necessarily represent the official stance of [[Oath Keepers]]" http://stewart-rhodes.blogspot.com Accessed December 26, 2014 </ref>

Oath Keepers' mission is to be veteran "[[American Patriots|Guardians]] of the [[Republic]]". They are a non-partisan organization of [[civil servant]]s and [[veteran]]s, any [[American]] who has taken an [[oath]]. Open membership to all, [[Citizen]] Associate Member, as long as you take an oath to defend the [[Constitution]]. The group is founded by and run by Stewart Rhodes, formerly a U.S. Army [[paratrooper]].

Their motto, "Not on our Watch."

{{cquote|To support and defend the [[Constitution]] against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us [[God]]." }}

==Quotes==
* "Not on our Watch."

===Incremental Gun-Grabbing of the Liberal Nanny State - Progressive Police State==
According to Stewart Rhodes, [[Leftist|progressive]] police [[statist]]s want to [[unconstitutional]]ly ban all firearms for citizen use.

Liberals and socialists support their [[Essay:Why_do_conservatives_own_firearms%3F#Criminals_by_Nature_Never_Follow_Laws|so-called "common sense" measures]] - a "good first step" of their leftist [[Nanny state]] leading to a progressive [[police state]]. To a conservative citizen-[[prepper]]-patriot [[Oath Keeper]] and to the [[Bill of Rights]], this is "[[Essay:Why_do_conservatives_own_firearms%3F#Incrementalism_of_the_Liberal_Nanny_State_-_Progressive_Police_State|death by a thousand paper cuts]]". (See [[List of celebrities against Second Amendment]])

Stewart Rhodes and most American conservatives support the ideals of the [[Second Amendment Foundation]] and this video, which is the formal response to [[Hollywood values|Hollywood]]'s [[Demand a Plan]] [[gun control|gun-grabbing]] propaganda video (see [[Essay:The Politically Corrected Firearms and Second Amendment Glossary]]). The video shows one of the main differences between liberal gun control Nanny states / progressive police states ([[Blue state]]s - see [[Essay:State Firearms Laws Ranking]]) and conservative and/or libertarian [[unalienable rights]] - [[Second Amendment]]-supporting "[[Essay:Free States Movement|free state]]s" (many [[Red state]]s - see [[Essay:Why do conservatives own firearms?]]).

This [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBelF4UddcY Equal Gun Rights Video] shows why many conservatives and libertarians "[[vote with your feet|vote with our feet]]" via strategic relocation to escape "progressive death spiral" states: <ref>As of February 10, 2015, there are 61,377 views on [[YouTube]] of [[Second Amendment Foundation]]'s ''Equal [[Gun rights|Gun rights]]'', Online. Published on Feb 24, 2013. [http://equalgunrights.com EqualGunRights.com] and [http://saf.org SAF.org]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBelF4UddcY Equal Gun Rights Video] on YouTube. Accessed February 10, 2015.</ref>

== See Also ==
* [[5 U.S.C. § 3331|Oath for federal officials]]
* [[28 U.S.C. § 453|Oath for federal judges]]
* [[Marriage]]
* [[Vow]]
* [[Oath Keepers]] - Support and defend the [[unalienable rights]] of [[America]]
* [[Fourth Amendment]]
* [[Police state]]s-[[Nanny state]]s violate the [[United States Constitution]]-[[Bill of Rights]] (especially [[Second Amendment]] and [[Fourth Amendment]]) and [[Citizen]]'s [[Unalienable rights]] by not upholding their oath to support and defend the [[Constitution]].

===Related People===
* [[Kenneth Royce]] ([[Boston T. Party]]) of [[Free State Wyoming]] and author of ''[[Boston's Gun Bible]]''
* [[James Wesley Rawles]] of [[The Survival Blog]], [[New York Times]] best-selling author of [[How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It]], [[American Redoubt]] [[Idaho]]
* [[Mel Tappan]], "Grand-daddy" of the [[Preparedness]] movement, [[Oregon]]
* [[Jack Spirko]] of [[The Survival Podcast]], [[Texas]]
* [[M.D. Creekmore]] of [[TheSurvivalistBlog.net]], [[Kentucky]]
* [[John Jacob Schmidt]] - [[Radio Free Redoubt]], [[Idaho]]
* [[Alex Barron]] - [[Charles Carroll Society]], [[Idaho]]
* [[Ragnar Benson]] - Prolific [[:Category:Preparedness authors|Preparedness author]]
* [[Joel Skousen]] - author ''[[Strategic Relocation - North American Guide to Safe Places]]'' and [[World Affairs Brief]], [[Utah]]
* [[Alex Jones]] - [[InfoWars Nightly News]] and [[Prison Planet]], [[Texas]]
* [[Chuck Baldwin]] - [[Liberty Fellowship]], [[Montana]]
* [[Dave Duffy]] and [[Claire Wolfe]] of [[Backwoods Home Magazine]], [[Oregon]]
* [[Paul Wheaton]] - [[Permies.com]] [[Permaculture]], [[Montana]]
* [[Nutnfancy]] - Nutnfancy YouTube Firearms Channel, [[Utah]]
* [[Essay:List of celebrities who support the Second Amendment]] - usually [[Conservatives]] or [[Libertarians]]

----

===Related Movements and Organizations===
* [[Free State Wyoming]]
* [[Essay:Free States Movement|Free States Movement]]
* [[Vote with your feet]]
* [[Free State Project]]
{{Second Amendment groups}}

----
===Other Related Articles===
* [[Firearms]]
* [[Gun control]]:
** [[List of celebrities against Second Amendment]] - always [[Liberal]] [[Elitist]]s
** '''[[Big government | Big Government]]''': [[Liberal values|Liberal]] [[ObamaCare]]-[[Common Core]]-[[Social Security]] [[Welfare state]] leads to [[Nanny state]], leads to [[Gun control]], [[Militarization of police]], [[Asset forfeiture]] and Domestic [[mass surveillance]] of law-abiding [[citizen]]s via the '''[[Police state]]''': [[Globalist]]-[[United Nations]]-[[Statist]]-[[Socialist]]-[[National Socialist]]-[[Communist]]

* [[Second Amendment]] [[unalienable]] [[Gun rights]] versus [[Liberal]] [[Gun control]]
* [[Essay:Why do conservatives own firearms?]] -- According to [[Thomas Jefferson]] it is as the final deterrent against potential [[Tyranny]] of [[government]]

* [[Essay:Invest_in_tangibles#2._Defense_and_Security_.28.22Bullets.22.29|Invest in tangibles: Firearms]] - buy [[Precious metal]]s (that is [[Copper-jacketed lead]] and [[Firearms])
* [[Boston T. Party]]’s [[State Firearms Laws Ranking]]s from ''[[Boston's Gun Bible]]'' -- [[Vote with your Feet]]
* [[Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]]
** [[Essay:Jews and Gun Control - Fear of Freedom or Freedom from Fear]], [[Essay:Why Jews Hate Guns - Are they right]]
* ''[[You & the Police!]]'' by [[Boston T. Party]] a.k.a.[[Kenneth W. Royce]]
* ''[[One Nation, Under Surveillance - Privacy From the Watchful Eye]]'' by [[Boston T. Party]]

==External Links==
* [http://stewart-rhodes.blogspot.com Stewart Rhodes Personal Blog]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-WMHV9A80g Stewart Rhodes: #sheepdog vs #sheepdog Speech at the Lamp of Liberty National Press Club]<ref>The [[Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association]] ([[CSPOA]]) held a press conference at the National Press Club, in [[Washington DC]], on September 17th, 2014, the 227th anniversary of the signing of the [[United States Constitution]]. CSPOA is a national organization of [[Sheriff]]s, [[police]] officers, and [[politician|elected officials]], as well as private [[citizen]]s, whose mission is to equip sheriffs, [[peace officer]]s and public officials with the necessary information and public support to carry out their duties in accordance with their [[Oath]]s of Office. The morning press conference was conducted in conjunction with a presentation of the CSPOA Resolution to all five hundred thirty-five members of [[Congress]]. The Resolution concerns the dangerous overreach of rogue individuals within the [[Big government|Federal Government]] in the lives of [[American]]s, which is increasingly outside the limits of their authority under our Constitution. This event, which was by invitation only, is one of a series of gatherings under the banner of “Lighting the Lamp of Liberty”. Speakers that morning included [[Congressman]] [[Steve Stockman]] ([[Republic|R]]-[[Texas|TX]]); [[Larry Pratt]], President of [[Gun Owners of America]]; several [[constitutional]] [[attorney]]s and scholars; as well as Sheriff [[David A. Clark]] Jr., of [[Milwaukee]] County, [[Wisconsin]]. Clarke who has received national acclaim for supporting the [[Second Amendment|citizens’ right to keep and bear arms]], was the CSPOA Sheriff of the Year in 2013. He recently won re[[election]] in spite of a well-funded campaign against him by [[gun control|anti-gun]] [[:Category:Liberal Activists|liberal activist]] [[Michael Bloomberg]], former [[mayor]] of [[New York City]]. Topics covered include [[illegal immigration]], the crucial role of the county sheriff, [[property rights]], constitutional [[checks and balances]], and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-WMHV9A80g Accessed December 26, 2014</ref>
* [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Stewart+Rhodes search on [[Duck Duck Go]] [[Privacy]] search engine]
* [http://oathkeepers.org Official website]
* [https://plus.google.com/u/0/105704077843332512159/ Google+ page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/OathKeepersOK YouTube channel page]
* [http://www.facebook.com/groups/163945586998396 Facebook page]
* [https://twitter.com/#!/Oathkeepers Twitter page]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Stewart}}

[[Category : Oath Keepers]]
[[Category : Veterans]]
[[Category : Patriots]]
[[Category : Military]]
[[Category : Conservatives]]
[[Category : Conservative Authors]]
[[Category : Conservative Podcasters]]
[[Category : Conservative Bloggers]]
[[Category : Conservative Media]]
[[Category : Conservative Podcasters]]
[[Category : Libertarians]]
[[Category : Libertarian Bloggers]]
[[Category : Libertarian Podcasters]]
[[Category : Libertarian Media]]
[[Category : Libertarian Authors]]
[[Category : Bloggers]]
[[Category : Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category : Anti-Communism]]
[[Category : Montana]]
[[Category : American Redoubt]]
[[Category : Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category : People Associated with Firearms]]
[[Category : American Gun Rights Advocates]]
[[Category : Gun Writers]]
[[Category : Gun Bloggers]]
[[Category : Authors]]
[[Category : Survivalism]]
[[Category : Survivalists]]
[[Category : Preparedness Bloggers]]
[[Category : Preparedness Podcasters]]
[[Category : Christians]]

Carrie Sheffield

2015-06-28T17:27:05Z

AmerICan: Created page with "'''Carrie Sheffield''' is an atheist writer and political analyst based in New York City. Sheffield is a former a reporter for the left-wing Politico. Despite her biz..."

'''Carrie Sheffield''' is an [[atheist]] writer and political analyst based in New York City. Sheffield is a former a reporter for the [[left-wing]] [[Politico]]. Despite her bizarre claim to be a [[conservative]], she is very outspoken about her hatred of religion and natural marriage. <ref>http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-06-17/mormon-lds-ex-mormon/55654242/1</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/03/06/what-young-republicans-want/young-conservatives-want-less-religious-arguments</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield, Carrie}}
[[Category: Authors]]
[[Category: Women]]
[[Category: Atheists]]
[[Category: RINOs]]
[[Category: Homosexual Agenda]]

Godless Conservative (Oxymoron)

2015-06-28T17:20:09Z

AmerICan:

"'''Godless Conservative'''" refers to faux [[conservative]]s who are [[atheists]]/[[agnosticism|agnostics]], or who believe in purging spirituality and all references to God from public life. Prominent examples include [[Jennifer Rubin]] and [[Heather Mac Donald]].

Historically, the [[secular]] [[religion]]s of atheism/agnosticism/[[evolutionism]] have not been commonly held by conservatives and their ethics and ideas concerning origins are not compatible with traditional/conservative religions (see: [[Atheism is a religion]]).<ref>Ruse, M., How evolution became a religion: creationists correct? National Post, pp. B1,B3,B7 May 13, 2000.</ref><ref>[http://creation.com/morality-and-ethics-questions-and-answers Morality and ethics] at [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref> So-called "godless conservatives" often reject various positions held by [[social conservatism|social conservatives]] (See also: [[Social effects of the theory of evolution]]).<ref>[http://creation.com/morality-and-ethics-questions-and-answers Morality and ethics] at [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref>

The atheist philosopher of science [[Michael Ruse]] said "[[Evolution]] is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."<ref>Ruse, M., How evolution became a religion: creationists correct? National Post, pp. B1,B3,B7 May 13, 2000.</ref> In the their [[Question evolution! campaign]], [[Creation Ministries International]] also points out that evolution is a religion.<ref>[http://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions for evolutionists]</ref> See also: [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]

==List of atheists who claim to be conservative==
* Jennifer Rubin, columnist and blogger
* Heather Mac Donald, commentator and journalist
* Charles C. W. Cooke, writer for National Review
* George Will, columnist and commentator
* Charles Krauthammer, columnist and commentator
* Walter K. Olson, tort reform advocate and author
* James Taranto, journalist and columnist
* Allahpundit, blogger
* Greg Gutfeld, commentator
* S.E. Cupp, commentator
* Amy Holmes, commentator
* Niall Ferguson, historian and columnist
* Carrie Sheffield, commentator and journalist

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:Atheism]]

Godless Conservative (Oxymoron)

2015-06-06T01:19:41Z

AmerICan:

User:AmerICan

2015-05-19T21:04:44Z

AmerICan: Replaced content with "{{Userboxtop}} {{User American}} {{User patriot}} {{User ronny}} {{User progun}} {{User Antihitler}} {{Userbox |#000068|#FFFFFF|45px|<center>This u..."

User:AmerICan

2015-05-19T21:04:18Z

AmerICan: sheepdog

{{Userboxtop}}
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{{Userbox |#000068|#FFFFFF|[[image:Userbaseball.jpg|45px]]|<center>This user watches baseball.</center>}}
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Most of the people in our society are sheep. We may be in the most violent times in history but, [in America,] violence is still remarkable rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without it's hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers and warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful. For now, though, citizens still need warriors to protect them from predators.

Then there are wolves - and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it's not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

Then there are sheepdogs. Chris Kyle was the ultimate sheepdog. He lived to protect the flock and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy and productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath: a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog. You will walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. You have chosen the Way of the Warrior.

Let me expand on the model of sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial; that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exist throughout their kids' schools. but many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Out children are [thousands] of times more likely to be seriously injured, by school violence than by school fires, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their children is just too hard to contemplate; so they choose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer he didn't go around armed at all. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white and go "Baaa". Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind the sheepdog. Sheep have two speeds. 'Graze' and 'stampede' and 98% of them are prey items for wolves. Sheepdogs are benign creatures, but they have a job. They have no choice but to do it.

But a sheepdog is a funny critter. He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, hunting for things that go 'bump' in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After 9/11 most Americans said "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes". The sheepdogs, the warriors, said "I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference".

Chris Kyle was the ULTIMATE sheep dog.

Mary Katharine Ham

2015-05-08T15:37:25Z

AmerICan:

[[Image:Mary Katharine Ham.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mary Katharine Ham]]
'''Mary Katharine Ham''' is a [[Blog|blogger]], [[Internet]] [[Journalism|journalist]] and columnist for the website Townhall.com, where she is also the managing editor. She also appears on the Wednesday edition of ''[[Bill O'Reilly|The O'Reilly Factor]]'' as the show's Internet expert for the "Policing the Net" segment. She holds [[conservative|right of center]] positions on [[financial]] and [[National security|national security]] issues.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0607/4287.html</ref> In May 2015, it was revealed by homosexual political commentator Guy Benson that Ham is a supporter of [[Gay marriage|gay "marriage"]] despite her claims of being a conservative.<ref>http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/a-fox-news-contributor-on-being-gay-the-gop-and-religious-li#.hp1kZ5E3b7</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.townhall.com/blog/MaryKatharineHam Mary Katharine Ham's blog]
*[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MaryKatharineHam Mary Katharine Ham's columns and biography]
*[http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=mkhammer Mary Katharine Ham's YouTube channel]

[[Category:Journalists|Ham, Mary Katharine]]
[[Category:Conservatives|Ham, Mary Katharine]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda|Ham, Mary Katharine]]

User:AmerICan

2015-03-23T07:06:28Z

AmerICan:

The Daily Beast

2015-02-28T21:43:15Z

AmerICan:

'''''The Daily Beast''''' is a [[liberal]] website run by [[Left-wing|far-left]] anti-[[Tea Party]] activist John Avlon.<ref>http://www.thewrap.com/daily-beast-hires-executive-editor-fill-role-vacated-tina-brown</ref> Founded by [[liberal media]] figure Tina Brown, the website has become infamous for its history of false reporting. On January 30, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' declared that former [[Massachusetts]] governor [[Mitt Romney]] had decided to run for the U.S. presidency in 2016. The website was left humiliated less than two hours later when Governor Romney announced that he had decided to not run for the presidency.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/01/30/after-mocking-drudge-daily-beast-gets-romney-news-horribly-terribly-wrong/</ref> On February 27, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' claimed that [[Wisconsin]] governor [[Scott Walker]]'s budget would cut sexual assault reporting from the state's universities. The next day, that claim was proven to be a lie and as a result the website retracted the claim, although the author of the claim refused to apologize.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/daily-beast-retracts-scott-walker-story-115618.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/ Official website]

[[Category:websites]]
[[Category:liberal Media]]

The Daily Beast

2015-02-28T21:42:40Z

AmerICan:

'''''The Daily Beast''''' is a [[liberal]] website run by [[Left-wing|far-left]] anti-[[Tea Party]] activist John Avlon.<ref>http://www.thewrap.com/daily-beast-hires-executive-editor-fill-role-vacated-tina-brown</ref> Founded by [[liberal media]] figure Tina Brown, the website has become infamous for its history of false reporting. On January 30, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' declared that former [[Massachusetts]] governor [[Mitt Romney]] had decided to run for the U.S. presidency in 2016. The website was left humiliated less than two hours later when Governor Romney announced that he had decided to not run for the presidency.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/01/30/after-mocking-drudge-daily-beast-gets-romney-news-horribly-terribly-wrong/</ref> On February 27, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' claimed that [[Wisconsin]] governor [[Scott Walker]]'s budget would cut sexual assault reporting from the state's universities. The next day, that claim was proven to be a lie and as a result the website retracted the claim, although author of the claim refused to apologize.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/daily-beast-retracts-scott-walker-story-115618.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/ Official website]

[[Category:websites]]
[[Category:liberal Media]]

The Daily Beast

2015-02-28T21:41:43Z

AmerICan:

'''''The Daily Beast''''' is a [[liberal]] website run by [[Left-wing|far-left]] anti-[[Tea Party]] activist John Avlon.<ref>http://www.thewrap.com/daily-beast-hires-executive-editor-fill-role-vacated-tina-brown</ref> Founded by [[liberal media]] figure Tina Brown, the website has become infamous for its history of false reporting. On January 30, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' declared that former [[Massachusetts]] governor [[Mitt Romney]] had decided to run for the U.S. presidency in 2016. The website was left humiliated when less than two hours later, Governor Romney announced that he had decided to not run for the presidency.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/01/30/after-mocking-drudge-daily-beast-gets-romney-news-horribly-terribly-wrong/</ref> On February 27, 2015, ''The Daily Beast'' claimed that [[Wisconsin]] governor [[Scott Walker]]'s budget would cut sexual assault reporting from the state's universities. The next day, that claim was proven to be a lie and as a result the website retracted the claim, although author of the claim refused to apologize.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/daily-beast-retracts-scott-walker-story-115618.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/ Official website]

[[Category:websites]]
[[Category:liberal Media]]

The Daily Beast

2015-02-28T21:40:04Z

AmerICan:

User:AmerICan

2015-02-21T08:01:47Z

AmerICan:

User:AmerICan

2015-02-21T08:00:43Z

AmerICan: 8 most biased

Christopher Barron

2015-01-27T07:25:01Z

AmerICan:

'''Christopher Barron''' is one of the founders of [[GOProud]], a defunct [[Liberalism|socially liberal]] political organization that claimed to represent [[homosexual]] [[conservative]]s yet was nothing more than a group of gay [[Republican in name only|liberal Republicans]]

Barron previously served as the national political director for the [[Log Cabin Republicans]], where was instrumental in the organization's September 2004 decision to not endorse [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]]'s re-election.<ref>http://www.theeagleonline.com/scene/story/log-cabin-republicans-director-fights-for-gay-rights/</ref> He later worked for [[Planned Parenthood]], the largest abortion provider in the United States.<ref>http://www.covenantnews.com/newswire/archives/016371.html</ref> In a 2004 interview, Barron revealed that in 2003 he submitted a written testimonial praising [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] presidential candidate [[John Edwards]] on a web site and that he supported Edwards' 1998 U.S. Senate campaign.<ref>http://www.theeagleonline.com/scene/story/log-cabin-republicans-director-fights-for-gay-rights/</ref> He also headed up volunteer efforts for the John Edwards for President campaign for the Washington, D.C. area.<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1252226/posts</ref>

A self-proclaimed [[libertarian]]<ref>https://twitter.com/ChrisRBarron/status/329250454783537152</ref>, Barron has described the conservative movement as "tone deaf" for not believing that [[basketball]] player Jason Collins is a hero for being a homosexual.<ref>https://twitter.com/ChrisRBarron/status/328921845569028097</ref> He endorsed [[Libertarian Party]] presidential candidate [[Gary Johnson]] for the 2012 U.S. presidential election.<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/20/3068272/</ref> Being a social liberal, in 2011 and 2012 Barron was vocal in his opposition to conservative presidential candidate [[Rick Santorum]].<ref>http://twitter.com/#!/ChrisRBarron/status/171350129088012288</ref><ref>http://twitter.com/#!/ChrisRBarron/status/170540940094734336</ref><ref>http://twitter.com/#!/ChrisRBarron/status/170235393046888448</ref><ref>http://therealredbarron.com/2012/02/11/the-rise-of-santorum-or-hiring-a-plumber-to-fix-your-car/</ref><ref>http://therealredbarron.com/2012/02/16/fatal-flaw-in-the-santorum-strategy-few-amish-vote/</ref> Other conservatives he has attacked include [[Jim DeMint]], [[Jim Jordan]] and conservative lawyer [[Cleta Mitchell]].<ref>http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=5987</ref> Barron is also staunchly opposed to the [[Tea Party Movement]].<ref>https://twitter.com/ChrisRBarron/status/418040537006882819</ref> In the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial election, he supported anti-gun rights and pro-abortion extremist Terry McAuliffe, who is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/the-1-issue-that-will-kill-the-gop/</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Homosexuals]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]
[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]

Cable News Network

2014-12-31T20:24:27Z

AmerICan:

[[Image:LOGOCNN.png|right|200px]]
The '''Cable News Network''' (CNN) is a [[liberal]], [[secular]] 24-hour cable [[news]] channel in the [[United States]]. First started in 1980 by [[Ted Turner]], it is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, which is owned by TimeWarner.

From its origin as a cable-only service, CNN now broadcasts worldwide by satellite, with programs presented from studios in several countries in addition to their headquarters in Atlanta. Some regions receive locally produced opt-outs (under the name "CNN International"), and there are also broadcasts in [[Spanish]], [[German]], [[Italian]], [[Croatian]], [[Japanese]], [[Turkish]] and [[Gaelic]].

Where [[Fox News]] has succeeded, CNN has watched the steady fall in ratings.

==History==
CNN is owned by media mogul Ted Turner and made its debut in 1980 as the first US 24-hour news network. <ref>http://www.turner.com/about/corporate_history.html</ref>
During its early years it struggled to achieve the success and credibility of older news agencies, such as the [[BBC]]. However it achieved a great deal of recognition during its coverage of the first Gulf War during which it was the only news agency reporting during the initial night of the war. These events led to a movie, ''Live from Baghdad'', which portrays the events. In September 2010, head of its U.S. network Jon Klein was fired. <ref>http://writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/Coursetexts/gulf-war-arnett.html</ref>

==Ratings and reception==
Although CNN was once the dominant network on cable news and one of the highest rated channels on cable television, this is no longer the case. In overall ratings, CNN is usually third place behind [[Fox News Channel]] and [[MSNBC]]. However, the network occasionally receives lower ratings than HLN, placing it at fourth place in cable news.<ref>http://www.mediaite.com/tv/friday-cable-ratings-cnn-fails-to-break-66k-in-demo-from-5-10pm</ref>

By February 2014, CNN's average number of total viewers during the day from Monday to Sunday was 307,000 with 96,000 in the key 25 to 54 viewing demographic.<ref>http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/february-2014-ratings-cnn-down-in-total-day-primetime_b214931</ref> In 2013, the network fell to a 20-year low in primetime ratings and experienced its second-lowest year ever in the 25 to 54 viewing demographic. That year, CNN also experienced its lowest total-day audience since 1992, and its lowest total-day 25 to 54 audience since 2000.<ref>http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-zucker-cnn-ratings-2014-1</ref> 2014 closed out with CNN having all-time ratings lows. In primetime, the network suffered its worst-rated year in total viewers and its second-lowest in the 25 to 54 viewing demographic. In total day, CNN received its worst-rated year in the key demographic.<ref>http://deadline.com/2014/12/cable-news-ratings-fox-news-channel-wins-13th-consecutive-year-1201338131/</ref>

==Bias==
[[Conservative media]] critics, amongst other groups, rightly accuse CNN of promoting the [[Liberalism | liberal agenda]] with slant reporting, <ref>http://newsbusters.org/taxonomy/term/13</ref> mock and insult members of the [[Tea Party Movement]]. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.tv/update-chicago-tea-party-crowd-confronts-cnn-reporter-after-hostile-interview/ UPDATE: CHICAGO TEA PARTY CROWD CONFRONTS CNN REPORTER AFTER HOSTILE INTERVIEW, Breitbart.tv, April 15, 2009]</ref> Their coverage of the US Election of 2012 has also made alarm bells ring in the minds of true journalists. CNN has support the far-left [[Occupy Wall Street]] movement.<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/14/opinion/rushkoff-occupy-debt/index.html</ref> [[Van Jones]] is also a contributor on CNN. On October 2013 CNN mocked veterans as "Tea Party Crazies".<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/10/13/CNN-derides-million-vet-march</ref>

==News Anchors==
*[[Larry King]]
*[[Anderson Cooper]]
*[[Erica Hill]]
*[[Paula Zahn]]
*[[Fareed Zakaria]]

==See also==
*[[Seven Natural Wonders of the World]]

== References ==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.cnn.com/ CNN official site]

{{liberalism}}

[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]
[[Category:Liberal News Organizations]]

Cable News Network

2014-12-30T21:39:49Z

AmerICan:

Bill de Blasio

2014-12-23T05:42:43Z

AmerICan: Created page with "'''Bill de Blasio''' (born Warren Wilhelm, Jr.; May 8, 1961) is the 109th and current mayor of New York City. Ardently far-left, he is known for his contempt for [[Police|police ..."

'''Bill de Blasio''' (born Warren Wilhelm, Jr.; May 8, 1961) is the 109th and current mayor of New York City. Ardently far-left, he is known for his contempt for [[Police|police officers]].

==See also==
* [[Liberal elite]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:de Blasio, Bill}}
[[Category:United States Mayors]]
[[Category:Liberals]]

Michael Bloomberg

2014-12-23T05:33:36Z

AmerICan: not relevant for beginning of article

{{Officeholder
|name=Michael Bloomberg
|image=Bloomberg.jpg
|office=Mayor
|party=[[Democrat]] (until 2001) [[Republican]] (2001-2007) [[Independent]] (2007-Present)
|spouse=Susan Brown (div.)
|religion=Jewish
|offices=
{{Officeholder/mayor
|number=108th
|city=New York City
|terms=January 1, 2002-December 31, 2013
|preceded=[[Rudolph Giuliani]]
|succeeded=[[Bill de Blasio]]
|former=n
}}
}}

'''Michael Rubens Bloomberg''' (born February 14, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts<ref>http://www.mikebloomberg.com/en/about_mike_bloomberg</ref>), an [[elitist]] [[New York City]]-[[liberal]] [[gun control|gun grabbing]] American [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[billionaire]] [[politician]], is the founder and primary owner of Bloomberg, L.P., which licenses computer systems for real-time stock quotes to Wall Street and has news-related businesses. He served as mayor of [[New York City]] for three terms, 2002 to 2013. Even though he was a life-long registered [[Democrat]], Michael Bloomberg successfully ran for mayor as a [[Republican]] in 2001 due in large part to the support of popular outgoing mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]], and was reelected in 2005. He ran for a third term in 2009 as an independent, spending a record-breaking sum—the equivalent of $174.53 per vote (more than ten times his competitor).<ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/11/28/2009-11-28_mayor_bloomberg_spends_102m_to_win_third_term__or_175_per_vote_.html</ref> Michael Bloomberg is also one of the richest people in the world according to ''Forbes'' magazine, with an estimated net worth of $17 billion. Michael Bloomberg is divorced and has 2 children.

Bloomberg dropped his Republican Party affiliation on June 19, 2007, stating "I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city."<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11203856</ref> Bloomberg is traditionally known as a fiscal [[conservative]] with social liberal tendencies. He was frequently mentioned as a possible independent candidate for the [[2008 Presidential Election]].

==Education==
Michael Bloomberg holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. In 2001, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism established the Bloomberg Chair in Journalism with a gift of $1.5 million from Bloomberg L.P.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/01/05/bloomberg.html</ref>

==Political views and Mayoralty==
Bloomberg enforced a strengthened cell-phone ban in city schools. Under Mayor Bloomberg, the high school graduation rate in New York City went up 18%. He supports [[abortion]] rights and [[same-sex marriage]]. Bloomberg was also the most prominent Republican to oppose President [[George W. Bush]]'s nomination to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] of Chief Justice [[John Roberts]].

Bloomberg is a supporter of illegal immigration, saying that [[New York City]] would "collapse" if they didn't have illegal aliens.{{fact}}

Bloomberg took office as mayor in January 2002, just four months after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Upon taking office, he inherited the largest fiscal crisis in recent New York history. Giuliani spent lavishly during his final year in office, increasing capital spending by 60%. Not anticipating the [[dot-com bubble]] burst and the unforeseen attacks of September 11th, Giuliani left office passing on a $4 billion city budget gap, where city law mandates a balanced budget.<ref>http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_05/b3768089.htm</ref> A large portion of New York City's budget are fixed costs. This created a predicament for the fiscally conservative new mayor. Bloomberg made some very unpopular budget cuts in the portions of the budget under his control, even closing many redundant fire-houses, a subject of severe public outcry so soon after September 11th. These cuts however, had only marginal effect on the city's budget gap, which was ultimately addressed with the largest property tax increase in the city's history. Later in his second term, Bloomberg lowered property taxes, but not enough to completely remove the increases of his first term. Bloomberg effectively used tax breaks as an incentive to lure companies to the city. When Bloomberg first took office, the city's budget crisis brought threats from Albany that the state may step in and take over the city's finances. By June 2007 S&P (Standard and Poor's) raised New York City's bond rating to AA, the highest bond rating in the city's history.<ref>http://home2.nyc.gov:80/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fhome2.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2007a%2Fpr174-07.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1</ref>

Bloomberg was criticized by [[libertarian]]s for pushing for New York City's unprecedented ban on trans fats on restaurants.

Although he has remained mostly silent on foreign policy, Bloomberg was a supporter of the [[War in Iraq]]. In March, 2007, during a news conference in Staten Island, he said about legislation proposed in Congress calling for a clear timetable for troop withdrawal, "we ask our young men and women to go over and to fight, and if you have a deadline knowing they're pulling out, how can you expect them to defend this country? How can you expect them to go out and put their lives at risk? I just think that's untenable and that this is not a responsible piece of legislation. It is totally separate of how we're conducting the war. It's totally separate of whether we should have been there. The issue that you asked about is plain and simple: Should the Congress pass a law forcing the president to withdraw troops at a given point in time? I think that is not something that is in the country's interest or in the military's interest."

==2008 Presidential Election==
Though Bloomberg suggested that he might run for President in 2008, he never did.

==Mayors Against Illegal Guns==
See main article: [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns]] and [[American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention]]

Bloomberg has been criticized by the [[NRA]], [[Gun Owners of America]], [[Second Amendment Foundation]] and other [[Second Amendment]] advocates for his position on [[handguns]], having co-founded the [[liberal]] [[gun control]] [[propaganda]] organization, "[[Mayors Against Illegal Guns]]" ([[MAIG]]). His [[gun control]] policies and [[executive orders]] continued those implemented by his predecessor [[Rudolph Giuliani]].

[[New York City]] crime statistics for 2007 were the lowest ever recorded for the City. As of December 2007, compared to 2001 figures (the year before Bloomberg took office), shootings were down 11%, murder was down 25%, auto theft was down 55% and major crime overall was down 26%. Of course, neither Bloomberg nor [[MAIG]] can reasonably claim his policies were responsible for the decrease.<ref>http://www.nyc.gov:80/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%3A80%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2007b%2Fpr473-07.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1</ref>

==See also==
* [[Gun control]]
* [[Elitist]]
* "[[Stop and frisk]]"
* [[Chuck Schumer]]
* [[Anthony Weiner]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/54/biz_06rich400_Michael-Rubens-Bloomberg_C610.html The 400 Richest Americans], ''Forbes magazine'', September 21, 2006.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloomberg, Michael}}
[[Category:United States Mayors]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:New York City]]
[[Category:Third Party Politicians]]
[[Category:Liberal Media]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

Charlton Heston

2014-12-23T05:26:03Z

AmerICan:

[[Image:Charlton Heston Civil Rights March 1963.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Charlton Heston at the 1963 Civil Rights March.]]
'''Charlton Heston''' (October 4, 1923 - April 5, 2008) was a famous [[Hollywood]] actor known for playing larger than life roles including [[Moses]], [[Michaelangelo]], [[Marc Antony]], [[John the Baptist]], and [[Andrew Jackson]] and, most of all, his [[Academy Award]]-winning performance in the [[Christian]] tale of ''Ben Hur''. Later in life he channeled his passion for the [[Second Amendment]] of the [[Constitution]] and became an ardent supporter of the [[National Rifle Association]], even serving as its president from 1998 to 2001.

He was born John Charlton Carter in Illinois. Following his parents' divorce and his mother's subsequent marriage to a Mr. Heston, Charlton's surname was changed. During [[World War II]], he served in the [[United States Army Air Forces]] as a [[B-25 Mitchell]] aerial gunner assigned to the 77th Bombardment Squadron.

A strapping man with chiseled features, he is best remembered for his portrayals of [[Moses]] in ''The Ten Commandments'', Taylor in the 1968 version of ''Planet of the Apes'', and Rodrigo in ''El Cid''. His movie ''[[Ben Hur]]'' is also a classic. Heston used the influence he had developed as a well known actor to help others and champion causes for American liberty. He was President of the [[Screen Actors' Guild]] from 1966 to 1971 and the president of the [[National Rifle Association]] from 1998 to 2001 as well as being an early supporter of the [[civil rights movement]] where he walked with [[Martin Luther King]]. He even once picketed outside a movie theater in 1961 that was showing a film of his that had just come out, but would not allow blacks into the theater. Heston did not like the form that ongoing [[affirmative action]] took in later years believing that removed the equality that was being sought. Political pundits bring up the idea that Heston changed his political views, but Heston himself spoke admiringly about his early civil rights support throughout his life and even after his political positions were categorized by others as turning conservative. The difficulty was in the pundits who could not grasp that having a deep desire to see black people treated as equals wasn't the same as believing in the ongoing entitlement programs in affirmative action.

Making a moving public speech to America in 2002 that he had been diagnosed with symptoms related to [[Alzheimer's disease]], he was seldom seen in public after that. When George Clooney heard of it, he took the opportunity to make a public joke at Heston's expense. When called to task for his statement, Clooney defended it because he said Charlton Heston deserved it. Heston, ever the gentlemen, did not respond in kind, but simply said that George should be careful since he had just as much chance to come down with the disease as anyone else.<ref> http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/dpatton/2008/dp_04072.shtml |Charlton Heston Made History</ref>

Married to Lydia Clarke (born 1923) for 64 years, he died of [[pneumonia]] in Los Angeles, aged 84. Heston is survived by her, their son and their adopted daughter.

His autobiography ''In the Arena'' was written in 1995 in which he discussed his views on all of his major movies as well as stances he took on issues important to him throughout his life.

In 2003 Charlton Heston was award the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by [[George W. Bush|President Bush]], the highest award available to a civilian.

==Selected Films==

*''The Ten Commandments'' (1956)
*''Touch of Evil'' (1958)
*''Ben-Hur'' (1959)
*''El Cid'' (1961)
*''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (1965)
*''Planet of the Apes'' (1968)
*''Beneath the Planet of the Apes''
*''[[I Am Legend|The Omega Man]]'' (1971)
*''Antony and Cleopatra'' (1972)
*''Soylent Green'' (1973)
*''Tombstone'' (1993)
*''Armageddon'' (1998)
*''Any Given Sunday'' (1999)
*''Planet of the Apes'' (2001)

==Quote==
* "There's no such thing as a good gun. There's no such thing as a bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guys." <ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/4/28/125004.shtml Charlton Heston's Quotable Quotes, newsMax, April 23, 2003]</ref>
* "Political correctness is just tyranny with manners." <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=d4V7PLG7yxAC&pg=PA478&dq=Political+correctness+is+just+tyranny+with+manners&ei=XrCbS-66FIvAywS9nvTiCg&cd=1 The Big Curmudgeon: 2,500 Irreverently Outrageous Quotations from World ...‎ - Page 478, By Jon Winokur 2007]</ref>

==References==
<References/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000032/ Internet Movie Database]
*[http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/dpatton/2008/dp_04072.shtml Fitting Summary of Life Achievements]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heston, Charlton}}

[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Reagan Era]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category:United States Veterans]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]

{{Conservatism}}

Omar Bradley

2014-12-23T05:25:19Z

AmerICan:

'''Omar Nelson Bradley''' (1893-1981) was a military officer in the [[United States Army]], serving as a top commander in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany in [[World War II]] under General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. After the war Bradley headed the Veteran's Administration and served as the chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (1949-53) during the [[Korean War]].

His great mistake was the failure to close the "Falaise Gap" in August, 1944.
[[Image:Bradley.jpg|thumb|290px|''Time'' Dec. 4, 1944]]
==Early years==
Omar Nelson Bradley was born-literally in a log cabin-near Clark, Missouri, on 12 February 1893, the only surviving child of schoolteacher John Smith Bradley and Sarah Elizabeth Bradley, née Hubbard. The environment of Bradley's youth in rural Missouri was impoverished, but he received a good secondary education, becoming a star player on the Moberly High School baseball team. Hunting to supplement the family income, he also became a crack shot. He went to work for the Wabash Railroad after high school graduation in order to earn enough money for college. However he received an appointment to the Military Academy at West Point in the fall of 1911.

Some men had difficulty adapting to the demanding curriculum and strict military life at West Point, but Bradley confessed that the discipline, the rigors of a code of conduct centering on honor and duty, the structured society, and the opportunities for athletics greatly appealed to him. An enthusiasm for sports took time away from academics, but Bradley still managed to finish a respectable 44th in his graduating class of 164. He lettered both in football and in baseball, and later he commented on the importance of sports in teaching the art of group cooperation.

Bradley graduated in 1912 and joined the 14th Infantry Regiment's third battalion at Fort George Wright, near Spokane, Washington, where he was exposed to the old Regular Army life that was shortly to disappear forever. Under the tutorship of Edwin Forrest Harding, another second lieutenant who was six years his senior, Bradley began a lifelong habit of studying his profession. Harding was a natural schoolmaster who led a small group of lieutenants through weekly tactical exercises that broadened into discussions of military history and current operations in Europe. Few people had a greater influence on Bradley than Harding, who convinced him that an officer had to begin studying at the very start of his career and continue to study regularly if he hoped to master his profession.

International crises soon put Lieutenant Bradley's developing military skills to their first, rather modest test. When the civil war in Mexico spilled over the border into the United States, American regulars under the command of Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing marched into Mexico in pursuit of the rebel commander, Pancho Villa. Because of the possibility of actual war with Mexico, the War Department called up the Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico National Guard and ordered more Regular Army units to the border. Among them was the 14th Infantry, which went into camp at Douglas, Arizona. Although Bradley saw no action on the Mexican border, he learned a good deal about handling troops in field conditions, conducting long motor marches, and maintaining discipline, morale, and training in unfavorable circumstances. In the midst of the crisis, Congress passed the National Defense Act of 1916, doubling the authorized size of the Regular Army and increasing the number of infantry regiments to sixty-five. As a consequence of the expansion, Bradley found himself promoted to first lieutenant seventeen months after graduating from West Point. The crisis with Mexico passed, but Bradley and his regiment remained in the Southwest until after the United States declared war on the German Empire.

==The interwar years==
The 14th Infantry was stationed at Yuma, Arizona, when the United States formally entered World War I. Almost immediately, Bradley was promoted to captain as the Army began to mobilize. However, rather than moving to Europe, his regiment received orders to return to the Pacific Northwest, where it would police the copper mines in Montana. Throughout the next year, Bradley desperately tried to have himself assigned to a unit bound for the fighting in France, but to no avail.

Bradley was promoted to major in August 1918, and shortly thereafter he received the much-desired orders to prepare for duty overseas. The 14th Infantry, with Bradley in command of its second battalion, became part of the new 19th Infantry Division, which was organizing at Camp Dodge, near Des Moines, Iowa. But the great influenza epidemic of 1918, coupled with the armistice in November, ensured that the division would never go overseas. With the war over, the Army rapidly demobilized and a frustrated Bradley never saw the battlefields of the Western Front. He was then posted to South Dakota State College, where he remained a year as an assistant professor of military science, reverting to his permanent grade of captain.

In September 1920 Bradley began a four-year tour of duty as an instructor of mathematics at West Point, while Douglas MacArthur was serving as superintendent. Aside from the rigor of studying mathematics, which Bradley believed stimulated one's powers of reasoning, he devoted his time at the Military Academy to the study of military history. He was especially interested in the campaigns of William T. Sherman, whom he considered a master of the war of movement. By the time he was ordered to attend the advanced course at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in the fall of 1924, following a spring promotion to major, he had concluded that many of the men who had fought in France had been misled by the experience of that static war; for Bradley, Sherman's campaigns were more relevant to any future war than the battle reports of the American Expeditionary Forces.

Since the curriculum at Fort Benning stressed open warfare, it gave Bradley the opportunity to become a specialist in tactics and terrain and the problems of fire and movement. He graduated second in his class, behind Leonard T. Gerow, another officer with whom he was to serve years hence, and ahead of officers who had combat experience in World War I. It was at Fort Benning that Bradley concluded that his tactical judgment was as good as that of men tested in battle. His Infantry School experience was crucial; as he later explained, "the confidence I needed had been restored; I never suffered a faint heart again."

When his tour at Fort Benning ended, Bradley was assigned to the 27th Infantry of the Hawaiian Division. There he met [[George S. Patton]], Jr., the division G-2, whose future would be intertwined with his for many years. Following a stint with the Hawaiian National Guard, Bradley returned to the United States in 1928 as a student at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The premier school for professional soldiers, Leavenworth was the eye of the needle through which any officer who hoped for success in the Army had to pass. Bradley was somewhat critical of the predictable and unimaginative instruction he received there, as he was of the hoary "school solutions" the faculty presented. Still, he judged that his year in Kansas stimulated his thinking about tactical problems and, voicing a conclusion shared by many of his peers, believed the real importance of the Command and General Staff School was that it gave his entire generation of officers a common tactical language and technique for problem solving.

More important than Leavenworth, however, was Bradley's next assignment as an instructor at the Infantry School in 1929. The assistant commandant was [[George C. Marshall]], who was determined to streamline and simplify tactical command procedures. Under Marshall's guidance, instructors encouraged student officers to think creatively about tactical problems and simplify doctrine so that it was meaningful for citizen-soldiers rather than just for an Army composed of professionals. Bradley judged that no one had ever had a more profound influence on him, either personally or professionally, than Marshall. Once having given a man a job, Marshall did not interfere, as long as the officer performed as he expected. Impressed with the results of Marshall's methods, Bradley adopted an identical hands-off style of command. Bradley's four-year Infantry School assignment also brought another intangible benefit. During this tour Bradley associated with a hand-picked company of "Marshall men," some of whom, including Forrest Harding, he had known before. Others, both faculty and students, and including such men as Joseph Stilwell, Charles Lanham, [[Walter Bedell Smith]], Harold Bull, Matthew Ridgway, and J. Lawton Collins, were to hold important assignments in a very few years. Marshall's personal teaching, in part through the informal seminars he conducted for his staff, and the stimulating company of a group of officers devoted to the study of their profession rounded out Bradley's tactical education. Crucial to Bradley's future in the Army was the fact that he had made a favorable impression on Marshall.

Bradley graduated from the Army War College in 1934 and returned to West Point to serve in the Tactical Department. At Fort Benning he had taught and associated with men who would lead divisions and corps during World War II. At West Point he trained cadets - including [[William C. Westmoreland]], [[Creighton W. Abrams]], Jr., Bruce Palmer, Jr., John L. Throckmorton, and Andrew J. Goodpaster, Jr. - who would command battalions in that war and lead the Army in the decades of the 1960s and 1970s. Bradley was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1936. When he left West Point in the summer of 1938 for duty on the War Department General Staff, he had spent some sixteen years in Army schools as student and teacher.

After a brief period in the G-1, the Army staff's manpower and personnel office, Bradley became assistant secretary of the General Staff in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff. At times inundated by the flood of paper, he and Orlando Ward, later assisted by Bedell Smith, filtered the mass of information directed at the Chief of Staff, framing problem areas and recommending solutions. In February 1941, as the Army was expanding in anticipation of war with the Axis Powers, Marshall promoted Bradley from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general, skipping the rank of colonel, and sent him to Fort Benning to command the Infantry School.

At Fort Benning Bradley supported the formation and training of tank forces, especially the new 2d Armored Division, then commanded by George S. Patton, Jr. He also promoted the growth and development of the new airborne forces, which would play a critical role in the coming war. His most important contribution to the Army, however, was the development of an officer candidate school (OCS) model that would serve as a prototype for similar schools across the Army. When war came, the OCS system would turn out the thousands of lieutenants needed to lead the platoons of an Army that eventually fielded eighty-nine divisions. The Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning alone would produce some 45,000 officers. When the United States formally entered World War II on 8 December 1941, Bradley, at Marshall's suggestion, was preparing a hand-picked successor to take command at Fort Benning. Marshall had bigger challenges in mind for Bradley as the Army prepared for combat.

==World War II==
Two months after [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], Bradley took command of the 82d Infantry Division. The unit had compiled a distinguished combat record in World War I, but it had been reactivated with draftees leavened by only a small Regular Army cadre. The new commander saw to it that incoming drafts of soldiers were welcomed with military bands; when they were marched directly to their cantonments, they found uniforms, equipment, and a hot meal waiting for them. Such practices did much to boost the morale of often bewildered inductees. Disturbed by the poor physical condition of the new soldiers, Bradley instituted a rigorous physical training program to supplement a tough military training schedule. He also invited [[Alvin York]], [[Medal of Honor]] winner and the most famous alumnus of the division, to visit his troops. Based on York's remark that most of his own combat shooting had been done at very short range, Bradley adjusted the division's marksmanship program to include a combat course in firing at targets only twenty-five to fifty meters away. Bradley looked forward to taking the 82d Division to Europe or the Pacific, but barely four months later he received orders from General Marshall to take command of the 28th Infantry Division, a National Guard unit that Marshall believed needed help badly. Bradley turned over the 82d to Matthew Ridgway and went to Camp Livingston, Louisiana, to address the problems of the Keystone Division.

Among the first steps he took was the reassignment of junior officers who were over age and unable to cope with field conditions; roughly 20 percent of all National Guard first lieutenants in 1941 were forty or older. The more senior officers who lacked the knowledge or skills for battalion and regimental command also found themselves transferred. He also reassigned officers and sergeants within the division to eliminate the "home-townism" peculiar to 1930s National Guard units, a system that hampered proper discipline. But the worst problems of the 28th Division were not of its own making. The division had been repeatedly levied for officers and noncommissioned officers; over 1,600 had gone to OCS or aviation training since the division was mobilized. Bradley put a stop to this drain in manpower and obtained new drafts from OCS to replace the losses. He then began a systematic training program that included the intense physical conditioning he had found necessary in the 82d. He also led the division through increasingly more complex tactical exercises at the battalion and regimental level, culminating in amphibious assault training on the Florida coast.

Long experience gained from Army schools and from training recruits in World War I had much to do with Bradley's ability to turn the 82d and 28th into well-trained combat divisions. But he also clearly understood that citizen-soldiers were not professionals and that the Army could not treat them as such. He adopted George Marshall's view that doctrine had to be simplified for execution by soldiers and leaders who had no previous military experience. Indeed, his successes in 1942 owed much to an understanding of the discipline and training needs of citizen-soldiers that derived from Marshall's guidance at the Infantry School a decade earlier.

===North Africa campaign===
In February 1943 General Marshall, having previously remarked that Bradley had been requested for corps command five or six times, ordered him to Austin, Texas, to take over X Corps. Before Bradley assumed that command, however, the orders were countermanded and he found himself en route to North Africa to work for his classmate Eisenhower, whom he had occasionally seen but with whom he had not served since graduation from West Point.

Bradley arrived in North Africa in the aftermath of the Kasserine Pass debacle. He found a much-chastened Eisenhower worrying about the failure of American units to perform well against their more experienced German opponents. The local British commander had been especially harsh in assessing the initial combat performance of the Americans. Bradley's assignment was to serve as Eisenhower's eyes and ears, reporting on the situation on the Tunisian front and the means that might be used to correct the problems that were by then evident to everyone.

One of his first important decisions was to advise Eisenhower to relieve Maj. Gen. Lloyd Fredendall from command of II Corps, whose troops had demonstrated a particularly poor performance at Kasserine. Eisenhower had been reluctant to take such drastic action despite the recommendations of key subordinates, but he finally acted after consulting with Bradley. When Eisenhower assigned George Patton to replace Fredendall, he also asked Bradley to become the corps deputy commanding general. Bradley then succeeded to command of the corps on 15 April when Patton left to continue his interrupted planning for landings on Sicily. Although Patton had restored discipline and confidence to II Corps, it still lacked the prowess of British units. Bradley's task throughout the remainder of the North African campaign was to convince both his men and the British that the American soldier was as good as any and that American leaders were as tactically adept as their Allied and Axis counterparts.

During the final battles of April and May 1943 he achieved his goal. The II Corps attacked northward toward Bizerte, avoiding obvious routes of approach and using infantry to attack German defenders on the high ground before bringing up the armor. The 34th Infantry Division, maligned by the British as a unit with poor fighting qualities, fought the crucial battle and dislodged the Germans from strong defensive positions astride Hill 609, the highest terrain in the corps sector. With tanks in the assault role, the 34th Division infantry cleared the obstacle, allowing Bradley to send the 1st Armored Division through to victory. American troops entered Bizerte on 7 May, and two days later more than 40,000 German troops surrendered to II Corps.

===Sicily campaign===
The fighting in North Africa was over, and the U.S. Army, as Bradley put it, had "learned to crawl, to walk-then run." He then immediately went to Algiers to help plan the invasion of Sicily, the next objective in the Allied timetable approved at the [[Casablanca Conference]]. Capture of Sicily would, the Allied leaders hoped, knock Italy out of the war and clear the central Mediterranean of Axis forces. It might also divert German forces from the Eastern Front, thereby partially satisfying [[Josef Stalin]]'s continuing demands that the western Allies open a second front against the Germans.

Under command of George Patton's Seventh Army, Bradley's corps was in the vanguard of the [[Operation Husky]] assault, and it moved inland against negligible resistance. The Germans and Italians were not surprised by the landings, however, and hard fighting began the second day and characterized the remainder of the 38-day campaign. By 16 August 1943, British and American forces held Sicily.

The conquest of Sicily ultimately persuaded Italy to withdraw from the war, but the Allied operation was less than a complete success. Advancing from the south of Sicily along two axes of approach in a classic pincer converging on the port of Messina, the Allies allowed the German units to escape across the narrow straits to the Italian mainland. Bickering between American and British commanders also continued. On the positive side, American troops had learned a lot more about fighting. They had conducted their first opposed amphibious landings and airborne assaults, brought four new divisions successfully into battle, and taken a field army into war for the first time. It was during the fighting in Sicily that war correspondent Ernie Pyle "discovered" Bradley and established his reputation as the "soldier's general." Whatever its defects, the battle for Sicily was an important step in preparing Bradley for his next job. Shortly after the fighting ended, Eisenhower told him that he would command an army and then activate an army group in the forthcoming landings in France.

===Normandy campaign===
Bradley traveled to the United States to select the staff for his new command, the First U.S. Army, then stationed at Governor's Island, New York. The headquarters deployed to England in October 1943, and Bradley took on the dual task of First Army commander and acting commander of the skeletal 1st U.S. Army Group (subsequently redesignated the 12th Army Group). Eisenhower, appointed as Supreme Allied Commander for the invasion of Europe, arrived in England in January 1944. Shortly thereafter he confirmed that Bradley would command the American army group when it was activated. But until the landings were secure, all American ground forces in northern France would be under the temporary command of General Sir [[Bernard L. Montgomery]], who also commanded the British and Canadian ground contingents.

For [[Operation Overlord]], the assault on the Normandy beaches, the First Army was assigned three corps. The V Corps was commanded by Leonard T. Gerow, whom Bradley had known since his advanced course days at Fort Benning, and VII Corps was led by J. Lawton Collins, a division commander who had proved himself in the Pacific and a man whom Bradley had known during his teaching tour at Benning. The XIX Corps, under command of Charles H. Corlett, would follow the other corps ashore to establish the beachhead. Almost alone among the senior Allied commanders, Bradley believed in the value of airborne landings both to limit enemy access to the coast from inland and to spread confusion in the German defenses. He therefore fought to have the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions dropped behind UTAH Beach on D-Day.

During the months before the invasion, Bradley supervised the refinement of assault plans and troop training. He and his corps commanders finally decided that the assaults would be led by the 29th Infantry Division and elements of the experienced 1st Infantry Division on OMAHA Beach, and by the 4th Infantry Division on UTAH. Both assault forces would be supported by the new duplex drive M4 tank, a Sherman tank fitted with flotation skirts and propellers, which could be launched from landing craft and swim ashore. Bradley decided American units would not use other specialized tanks, including the "flail" tanks that cleared minefields and tanks with flamethrowers, because they required specialized training and an extensive separate supply and maintenance organization. Some have contended that this decision to keep a lean supply system cost the lives of many soldiers who died from mines and booby traps on the Normandy beaches and during the subsequent breakout.

On the morning of 6 June 1944, Bradley was aboard the cruiser USS ''Augusta'', his headquarters for the invasion. He received word that the Germans had moved the 352d Infantry Division into the area for training, an unfortunate event that lengthened the odds against V Corps. However, he did not change his battle plans. At 0630 American troops and their Allies assaulted the Normandy beaches. Meeting only light resistance, the 4th Infantry Division suffered very few casualties and quickly secured UTAH Beach. The VII Corps pushed six miles inland by the end of D-Day.

On OMAHA Beach the situation was a nightmare. The German regiment there, reinforced by troops from the division that had unexpectedly arrived, occupied terrain favorable for defense and put up a stiff resistance. Landing craft launched most of the amphibious tanks too far out from the shore, where most foundered and sank. The aerial bombardment was almost completely ineffective in suppressing German defenses, and many of the assault troops were put ashore at the wrong places. For several hours the situation appeared to be a disaster in the making. Casualties were heavy, particularly among the demolition engineers assigned to clear the beach obstacles for following assault waves. The infantry, pinned down on the tide line, was also hard hit. In the end good leadership and naval gunfire resolved the situation. Determined and courageous American commanders led their men in desperate local fights against the German position and slowly established a foothold. U.S. Navy destroyers, ignoring the hazards, navigated close inshore and fired directly into German strong-points. When Gerow finally established communications with Bradley, his first message was "Thank God for the U.S. Navy!"

Hamstrung by scanty communications with the troops ashore, Bradley quietly worried over what appeared to be a developing catastrophe. For a time he considered evacuating the troops and sending follow-on assaults to UTAH or the British beaches. At last, in the early afternoon, Gerow reported that his men were beginning to reach the bluffs above the beach. By evening the crisis was past, and V Corps had 35,000 soldiers ashore on a beach five and a half miles long and a mile and a half across at its widest point. At a cost of around 2,500 casualties, the Allies had established themselves firmly on the Normandy coast. On 9 June Bradley moved First Army headquarters ashore.

British and American forces repelled German counterattacks against the beachhead throughout the first half of June, including an assault by the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division designed to pierce the junction between the U.S. V and VII Corps. Using information code-named ULTRA (from the Ultra Secret classification assigned to the sophisticated code-breaking process), Bradley shifted the newly arrived 2d Armored Division to crush the German attack. Meanwhile, follow-on forces were steadily landing on the invasion beaches, and the Allied lodgment became secure. Over the following month Bradley sent VII Corps to capture the port of Cherbourg and expanded the beachhead into the hedgerow country behind the coast, preparing for the breakout envisioned in the Overlord plans.

The first attempts at breaking out of the lodgment failed in the face of heavy German opposition. Bradley then conceived a plan for a one-corps attack centering on St. Lo, using heavy air support. [[Operation Cobra]] began on 25 July with a saturation bombing attack that fell on both American and German positions. Collins' VII Corps nonetheless assaulted on schedule. After pushing through the German lines, he committed two armored divisions to exploit the breakthrough. On Collins' right flank, Troy Middleton, commanding VIII Corps, likewise released an armored division after his infantry broke through the initial German resistance. In a 35-mile advance, the American armor reached Avranches and began a rout of the Germans that lasted just over a month, by which time the Allies had closed on the German frontier.

With the breakout, Eisenhower activated Third U.S. Army with [[George Patton]] in command. Bradley turned First Army over to Courtney Hodges and activated 12th Army Group, which on 1 August assumed command of 21 divisions comprising some 903,000 men. No officer in the U.S. Army had any practical experience with the operations of an army group-few had even served in a division before World War II. Bradley finally decided to model his command technique on that of Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, the British general with whom he had served in the Mediterranean. Instead of providing only broad operational direction, as the vague prewar American doctrine foresaw for army group commanders, Bradley planned to exercise close control of his armies. He decided to assign broad missions to his principal subordinates and then carefully monitor operations, intervening on a selective basis when he thought necessary.
===Falaise Gap===
Bradley on August 13, 1944, unexpectedly halted the advance of Patton's XV Corps, stopping it 25 miles from its juncture with Canadian forces moving south. <ref> The Canadian forces were part of British General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's 21 Army Group. At this point Montgomery was Bradley's superior. </REF> The Allies thereby failed to close the Argentan-Falaise pocket containing the almost-surrounded German forces. About 240,000 German troops (and 30,000 vehicles) escaped through the gap, avoiding encirclement and almost certain destruction. Bradley, over-cautious, had assumed that incorrectly the Germans had already mostly escaped, and feared a German counterattack against overextended Americans. Bradley later admitted a mistake had been made, but blamed his superior Montgomery, as did Eisenhower, for moving the Canadians too slowly. Bradley underestimated the effectiveness of the Allied air forces in stopping all German movements during the daytime, thus making a counterattack highly risky for them. The opportunity existed because Hitler had refused to allow his army to escape until August 16.<ref> Blumenson, (1960) esp pp 407-13</ref> In broader perspective, Bradley, with Montgomery. had in 10 weeks destroyed the powerful German armies holding strong defensive positions and pushed the enemy back into Germany.

In practical terms, the battle determined the future course of the war. Hard fighting in Normandy, followed by the pursuit across France through the end of September 1944, wounded or killed more than 500,000 Germans and destroyed many divisions. The famous 12th SS (Hitlerjugend) Division, for example, literally dissolved as a fighting formation. Taken together, Normandy, the Falaise pocket, and the retreat across the Seine reduced the German Army to an infantry force with limited tactical mobility. German equipment losses were staggering: some 15,000 vehicles were destroyed or abandoned. Less than 120 of more than 1,000 tanks and assault guns committed to battle in Normandy remained operational in September. Few panzer divisions could muster more than a dozen tanks.

The Allied armies were quick to exploit German weaknesses, closing to the borders of Germany by the fall. Assigning Hodges and Patton the mission of pursuing the retreating enemy, Bradley gave both commanders wide latitude of action and turned his attention to the growing problem of supplying forces that daily moved farther away from the invasion beaches. But neither he nor Eisenhower could significantly improve the logistical situation until the Allies captured usable ports. By September the 12th Army Group was running out of supplies and encountering stronger German resistance along the Siegfried Line. With priority given to [[Operation Market-Garden]], an attempt to capture Arnhem and a bridge over the [[Rhine River]], large-scale American movement essentially halted and First and Third Armies continued only limited offensives.

===Battle of the Bulge===
On 16 December 1944, the Germans attacked in the Ardennes, an area that Bradley had left thinly garrisoned as a calculated risk. Eisenhower quickly determined to convert the attack into an opportunity to break the back of the German Army. Bradley, agreeing with Eisenhower's assessment, reorganized his forces to meet the threat and exploit the situation. He directed Patton to reorient his attack to the north, with the aim of relieving American forces besieged in Belgium. In what was probably his most impressive performance, Patton marched his divisions almost one hundred miles in bad weather in two days to attack the German left flank and link up with the 101st Airborne Division at [[Bastogne]].

Meanwhile, First and Ninth Armies fought tenaciously to contain the German attack, turning the Ardennes offensive into an unmitigated catastrophe for the German Army. German losses were not substantially higher than American losses in the fighting, but the battle cost the Germans the bulk of their skilled troops, eradicated their operational reserve, and destroyed great quantities of modem equipment. The [[Battle of the Bulge]] made the great victories of 1945 possible because it eliminated the German Army's ability to resist the final offensives into its homeland. In January 1945, having defeated the German winter attacks, Bradley began a series of continuous offensives that smashed through the Siegfried Line, crossed the Rhine, crushed the remains of the German forces in the Ruhr, and finally met the Soviets on the Elbe River.

Since September 1944, and even earlier, the Allied commanders had debated the best way to end the war militarily. Eisenhower, in consultation with Bradley and Montgomery well before D-Day, had stipulated that the main Allied objective in Germany was the Ruhr valley, Germany's industrial heartland. A threat to that critical area would oblige the Germans to commit their remaining ground forces for its defense. In general terms, Eisenhower and his senior commanders envisioned an encirclement of the Ruhr that would capture the German industrial base and the bulk of the German Army at the same time, thus bringing the war to a close. The means of doing this remained controversial. Montgomery favored a single "knife-like thrust" from the north, under his command, to which all Allied resources would be committed. However, that concept, as embodied in Operation Market-Garden, proved unsuccessful. In contrast, Bradley supported Eisenhower's determination to pursue a broad-front attack that was as important for domestic political reasons as for military ones. Once at the Rhine, chance presented him with the opportunity for improvisation.

The retreating Germans had methodically destroyed Rhine River bridges to strengthen the defensive value of their natural barrier. The 9th Armored Division, under the command of Bradley's classmate John Leonard, captured intact the Ludendorff railway bridge at Remagen on 7 March. The structure had been rigged for demolition with explosives, but inexplicably had not been destroyed in a timely manner. Informed of that stroke of luck, Bradley ordered First Army commander Courtney Hodges to push as many forces as possible across to the east bank of the Rhine and secure the bridgehead. He then obtained Eisenhower's approval to put as many as five divisions into an attack.

Bradley saw the possibility of now striking at the Ruhr from the south, up the valley from Frankfurt, rather than from the British sector in the north. By 16 March he had pushed two corps over to the east bank of the Rhine and kept them moving toward the main north-south autobahn. At the same time he ordered Patton to seek a Rhine crossing in the vicinity of Oppenheim and then to drive north toward Giessen, where he was to link up with First Army. Patton crossed the Rhine with little difficulty on 23 March and immediately began his attack to the north. By 28 March First Army had driven from the Remagen bridgehead through the Lahn valley and beyond Giessen to Marburg, where its III Corps met XII Corps of Patton's Third Army.

The stage was set for the final campaign of the war in Europe. Bradley planned to swing his Ninth Army south and First Army north in a double envelopment that would encircle the Ruhr and meet in the vicinity of Kassel. Once that was accomplished, he intended to detail some units to mop up the Ruhr and then attack with Ninth, First, and Third Armies from Kassel toward Leipzig and Dresden, halting at the Elbe River where American forces were to meet the Soviets. The operation developed very much as Bradley planned, with the pincers closing around the Ruhr on 1 April. By 12-13 April American units had reached the Elbe River. Bradley's troops had captured in excess of 315,000 prisoners, more than had been taken at Stalingrad or in Tunisia. In a final offensive Bradley sent Patton's Third Army to attack along the Danube into [[Bavaria]], [[Austria]], and [[Czechoslovakia]], cementing the Allied success.

At the end of operations in Europe, Bradley's 12th Army Group was the largest ever commanded by an American general. It consisted of Lt. Gen. Courtney Hodges' First, General George Patton's Third, Lt. Gen. William Simpson's Ninth, and Lt. Gen. Leonard Gerow's Fifteenth Armies, a force comprising 12 corps, 48 divisions, and 1.3 million men. From the time of the TORCH landings in North Africa through the end of the war, Bradley was indispensable to Eisenhower, who greatly valued his perennial calm, understated professionalism, and sound advice. Since 1943 he had been intimately involved in every crucial decision that determined the outcome of the war in Europe. The Supreme Commander saw Bradley as "the master tactician of our forces," and at the end of the war he predicted that Bradley would eventually be recognized as "America's foremost battle leader."

==Postwar Service==
Months before the end of the war in Europe, Bradley had asked General Marshall to keep him in mind for an eventual command in the Pacific. Once Germany capitulated, it became evident that General [[Douglas MacArthur]] did not require another army group commander for his planned assault on the Japanese home islands. Bradley was still in Germany when news of the Japanese surrender reached him. President [[Harry S. Truman]], it turned out, had other plans for Bradley. On 15 August 1945, he appointed him to direct the [[Veterans Administration]] (VA).

Somewhat unwillingly, Bradley accepted the job and began to modernize and restructure that antiquated organization to meet the challenges that it would soon face. Before the end of the war the VA was responsible for some 5 million veterans, with a few pensions still going to cases arising from the War of 1812. By 1946 almost 17 million veterans were on its rolls. Bradley completely rebuilt the organization on a regional basis and insisted on basing his decisions on the needs of the veteran, rather than on the political considerations that had so often governed in the past in such matters as the location of VA hospitals. With the help of Maj. Gen. Paul R. Hawley, Eisenhower's theater surgeon, he completely overhauled a medical care system that Hawley had described as medieval. He also revised and extended the educational benefits of the G.I. Bill, arranged for jobs and job training programs for men whose only experience had been as members of the armed forces, established a program of loans for veterans, and administered a staggering growth in veterans insurance and disability pensions. Bradley was unable to accomplish everything he had hoped to do in his two-year tenure, but in the assessment of the press, he transformed "the medical service of the Veterans Administration from a national scandal to a model establishment."

On 7 February 1948, Bradley succeeded Eisenhower as Army Chief of Staff and became immersed in a series of problems arising from demobilization of the Army, reform of its General Staff organization, and the unification of the armed services. In the international crises which followed-notably the hardening of relations with the Soviets-Bradley fought for both sufficient budgets and modernization investments to meet the requirements imposed by the Truman Doctrine and containment. The results were mixed. Congress rejected Army proposals for universal military training, and the idea of bringing the National Guard under direct Army control foundered on the shoals of political interest. Bradley did, however, gain presidential support to extend the Selective Service System, and in 1949 he managed to secure an increase in military pay that brought it into line with equivalent civilian pay scales for the first time since well before World War II.

After eighteen months Bradley turned over the job of Army Chief of Staff to J. Lawton Collins to accept another appointment. On 16 August 1949, he became the first Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (JCS), and on 22 September 1950 the 81st Congress officially promoted him to [[General of the Army]] with five stars. He was the last officer in the American defense establishment to be promoted to that rank, and the only one since World War II.

Bradley served two terms as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Those four years were exceptionally difficult ones. Major disagreements between the Navy and the Air Force over roles and missions had begun while Bradley was Army Chief of Staff and continued into his tour as JCS Chairman. When debates over nuclear deterrence and the value of conventional forces further exacerbated service differences, Bradley played an important role as a mediator. Internationally, he was involved in the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the rearming of western Europe. He became the first Chairman of the Military Committee of NATO on 5 October 1949, serving in that post through 1950 and remaining as the U.S. representative to the NATO Military Committee until August 1953. A constant adviser to President Truman through the Korean War, Bradley worked both to contain the conflict in Asia and to maintain a credible deterrent against the anticipated Soviet attack in Europe.

==After the Army==
On 15 August 1953, Bradley left active service. In the twenty-eight years before his death in 1981, he occupied himself in industry and was periodically consulted by civilian and military leaders. He retained an active interest in the Army, spoke at its schools, and frequently visited units and met with soldiers of all ranks.

A quiet but distinguished member of a distinguished class of West Point graduates, Bradley typified a remarkable generation of Army officers. Disheartened by a perceived lack of success in 1918, he pursued his duty throughout some of the Army's most difficult years. The fact that war coincided with Bradley's own professional maturity brought him promotion as the first general officer in his class; George Marshall's confidence assured him a chance to show his mettle.

There is no standard against which to compare Bradley as an army group commander. During the fighting in Europe, his calm and effective presence was important in times of crisis, as was his deft touch in handling subordinates. It is difficult, for example, to imagine Patton without Bradley, who exploited the talents of that, volatile commander as well as any man could have done. Finally, it was his superb wartime record, combined with his reputation for fairness and honesty, that made him effective in what was probably his most difficult job, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General of the Army Omar N. Bradley died on 8 April 1981, just a few minutes after receiving an award from the National Institute of Social Sciences. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery on 14 April 1981 with full military honors, as the nation mourned the passing of this great and noble warrior.
==Bibliography==
* Martin Blumenson. "General Bradley's Decision At Argentan (13 August 1944)," in ''Command Decisions," (1960) [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/70-7_17.htm online edition]
* Martin Blumenson. ''The battle of the generals: the untold story of the Falaise Pocket, the campaign that should have won World War II'' (1993)
* Bradley, Omar N. and Blair, Clay. ''Title: A General's Life: An Autobiography.'' 1983. 752 pp.
* D'Este, Carlo. ''Patton: A Genius for War'' (1995)
* Russell F. Weigley. ''Eisenhower's Lieutenants: The Campaign of France and Germany 1944-1945'' (1981)
====notes====
<references/>

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[[Category:World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]

Andrew Jackson

2014-12-23T05:24:55Z

AmerICan:

{{President
|image=Andrew-jackson.jpg
|seq=7
|term_start=March 4, 1829
|term_end=March 4, 1837<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/7th-us-president-andrew-jackson.htm</ref>
|party=Democratic
|vp=John C. Calhoun
|vp_dates=1829-1832
|2vp=None
|2vp_dates=1832-1833
|3vp=Martin Van Buren
|3vp_dates=1833-1837
|previous=John Quincy Adams
|next=Martin van Buren
|birth_date=March 15, 1767
|birth_place=Lancaster County, South Carolina
|death_date=June 8, 1845
|death_place=Nashville, Tennessee
|spouse=Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson
|religion=[[Presbyterian]]
}}

'''Andrew Jackson''' was the 7th [[President of the United States of America]], elected as a hero after his military triumphs over the Creek Indians of the Southeast and the British at New Orleans in 1815. As President (1829-1837), he destroyed the Bank of the United States, relocated the remaining southeastern Indians, and built a new political coalition, the Democratic party. A self-made man, Indian fighter, war hero and a fighter (and duelist) who believed in action instead of words, he was the iconic Western folk hero. Nicknamed "Old Hickory" by his admirers, he typified popular democracy in the "Jacksonian Age" of the 1830s and 1840s, and became the leader of [[Jacksonian Democracy]] during the [[Second Party System]]. He was the founder of the [[Democratic Party]] and its hero because of his strong use of the federal government to bash conservatives and banks; the poor farmers and workers loved him because he embodied their hopes and fears, their passions and prejudices, their insight and ignorance, better than anyone. However liberals lost faith in Jackson when his harsh Indian policies became a negative in the 1960s. Jackson was a political enemy of the Evangelical Protestants of the day, who denounced his policies and supported the opposition [[Whig Party]].

==Career==
Born near the North/South Carolina border, Jackson studied law in Salisbury, North Carolina before moving to Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson was the first president who was not born in [[Virginia]] or [[Massachusetts]]. He fought at an early age in the battle of Stone Ferry during the [[American Revolution]] in 1780. As a teenaged volunteer in a local militia, Jackson refused an order by a British officer to polish his boots, and the officer angrily drew his sword and slashed Jackson across his hand and head with it, and imprisoned him. For the rest of his life Jackson loathed the British.

===Tennessee Frontier===
Jackson, John Sevier, and their allies were rich frontier lawyers and businessmen who used their vast land holdings to establish themselves as a political power in Tennessee. They allied themselves with the Jeffersonian Republicans, of the "Old Republican" faction that opposed strong national government. However, [[Thomas Jefferson]] and his circle strongly disliked and distrusted Jackson.

Serving a term in the Senate, he alarmed Jefferson but otherwise made little mark.
===Soldier===
Jackson sought election as major general of the Tennessee militia partly to escape the circuit riding required while he was a superior court judge. As a military commander he proved himself a master tactician, a brilliant organizer, and effective motivator of men. He won all his major battles, including the decisive defeat of the cream of the British regular army.

[[File:Aj-map1812.jpg|thumb|350px|Jackson's campaigns]]

Jackson led two great victories in the [[War of 1812]]--the first against the "Red Stick" Creek Indian forces that had raided, raped and killed American settlers and assimilated Indians in what is now Alabama. Indians seldom fought pitched battles; they preferred the ambush. Jackson, aided by Cherokee allies, trapped the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in Alabama in March 1814, and killed over 800 enemy; the rest fled to Spanish Florida. (See [[Creek War]].)

Jackson led a contingent of Tennessee and Kentucky militia who routed over 2,000 British troops in the [[Battle of New Orleans]] in Jan. 1815. The defeat ended British plans to turn the Mississippi Valley into a pro-British Indian nation. It was a great victory for Jackson and became source of enormous pride to all Americans.<ref> The battle happened after the peace treaty was signed, but before it was ratified and went into effect.</ref>

===Religion===
Jackson attended a Presbyterian church from time to time, and his wife was a devout Baptist. Jackson had little sympathy for religion in the political sphere, unlike many of his opponents (the Anti-Masons and [[Whigs]]), who were building political coalitions using religious voting blocs during the [[Second Great Awakening]]. For example,Jackson insisted that the mail be delivered on Sundays, much to the anger of the evangelicals.<ref>Adam Jortner, "Cholera, Christ, and Jackson: The Epidemic of 1832 and the Origins of Christian Politics in Antebellum America," ''Journal of the Early Republic,'' Volume 27, Number 2, Summer 2007, pp. 233-264 in [[Project MUSE]]</ref>

==Presidential campaigns==
His military success gave him tremendous popularity with the common man, and he ran for President in the [[United States presidential election, 1824|1824 Presidential Election]]. He won a plurality of the votes but no one got a majority and the election went into the House of Representatives, where they chose [[John Quincy Adams]] instead. At the next [[United States presidential election, 1828|Presidential Election in 1828]] Jackson defeated John Quincy Adams, and then Jackson won reelection in the [[United States presidential election, 1832|1832 Presidential Election]]. Jackson survived an assassination attempt in January 1835 when a deranged man fired two pistols at him at point blank range in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.<ref>[http://www.americanheritage.com/people/articles/web/20070130-richard-lawrence-andrew-jackson-assassination-warren-r-davis.shtml Trying to Assassinate President Jackson]</ref>

Although Jackson won the 1828 election against incumbent [[John Quincy Adams]] by capturing almost 56% of the popular vote, the campaign was marked by anti-Jackson rhetoric that centered on Rachel Jackson's previous marriage to Lewis Robards and the allegedly "illicit union to Jackson"--that is, bigamy. Jackson's supporters portrayed the Robards matter as a minor legal misunderstanding. Adams's supporters saw the incident as no less than long-term adultery by Andrew Jackson and portrayed Rachel Jackson as an immoral woman, implying the political dilemma that 'a vote for Jackson was a vote for sin.' The controversy paralleled a critical development in American politics. Expansion in voter participation, the growth of state political organizations, party loyalty, and the development of local campaign papers all led to the wide dissemination of scandal and fed 'the hunger of sensationalism.' To offset this, Jackson's supporters portrayed him as a brave soldier endowed with the virtues of manhood and the frontier spirit, placing him outside the usual social constraints.<ref> Norma Basch, "Marriage, Morals, and Politics in the Election of 1828." ''Journal of American History'' 1993 80(3): 890-918 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2080408 in JSTOR]</ref>

==Banks==
Jackson was firmly opposed to a [[national bank]], and fought to dismantle the Second Bank of the United States. He vetoed Congress's bill to renew its charter, and began withdrawing money from it. He issued the [[Specie Circular]] in July 1836, which required land bought from the government to be paid for in [[specie]] (actual gold or silver coins), instead of bank notes. Most historians link this to the [[Panic of 1837]], which broke out weeks after after Jackson had left office and ruined the presidency of his successor, fellow Democrat [[Martin Van Buren]].

===Indian Removal===
Jackson, with the backing of Southern politicians, sought to abrogate the standing treaties with the [[Chickasaw]], [[Cherokee]], [[Seminole]], [[Creek]], and [[Choctaw]] nations by evicting them from the land they lived on and relocating them to Indian territory (in present-day [[Oklahoma]]). The idea was roundly decried as illegal and inhumane by evangelical Protestants, who had missionaries to the tribes, and by Whigs. Advocates of forced removal, mostly Democrats from the South, called removal a 'humane' and 'compassionate' move to assist a 'dying people.' The debate surrounding removal quickly became a North-South issue with Southern politicians calling their Northern counterparts 'demagogues' who sought 'to weaken the South' by allowing Indians to remain. In 1830, the resolution was approved by Congress and, assisted by Georgia state officials, Jackson began the process of evicting Native Americans. By 1835 the Cherokee, the last remaining Indian nation in the South, had signed the removal treaty and relocated to Oklahoma.<ref>Michael Morris, "Georgia and the Conversation over Indian Removal," ''Georgia Historical Quarterly'' 2007 91(4): 403-423, in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

Cave (2003) argues Jackson acted illegally in pressuring Indians to move west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 called for voluntary removal and included safeguards for Indian rights, but Jackson ignored and distorted the act to suit his purposes. The newly formed Whig Party actively opposed Jackson's policies, and congressional legislation dealing with Indian removal was hotly debated and passed only by narrow margins. Had Jackson followed the legal dictates of the 1830 act, he probably would not have achieved Indian removal, says Cave. However Remini (2001) argued that the worst Jackson could be accused of was carrying out what most southern whites wanted at the time.<ref>Robert Remini, ''Andrew Jackson and his Indian Wars'' (2001)</ref>

===Democracy===
see [[Jacksonian Democracy]]

Jackson thought the voice of the people was supreme law. Although a man of powerful prejudices and passions, he identified with the voice of the people, and thought his election as president gave him the unique power to express that voice. His opponents misunderstood the voice and lacked the legitimate national base in any case. Thus Jackson denounced anyone who crossed him an enemy of the sovereign people. To fulfill this voice of the people in the political arena, he thought that the preservation of states' rights was an indispensable precondition to the achievement of people-oriented democracy. Although Jackson's record was erratic, when his presidency was done, federal authority was vastly weaker, and the states, for practical purposes, were much stronger than before, though as the Nullification crisis proved, he would not tolerate defiance.

==Retirement and death==
[[File:0307131322.jpg|right|thumb|The Hermitage]]
After honoring the precedent of [[George Washington]] to resign after serving two terms as President, Jackson then supported and advised many future candidates, most notably [[James K. Polk]].

Jackson died on June 8, 1845.

Since 1928, Jackson's picture has appeared on the United States $20 bill - somewhat ironic given that Jackson opposed paper money, wanting the country to use [[specie]] (gold and silver) instead.
{{Clear}}

==Quotes==
* Referring to the Bible: “That book, Sir, is the Rock upon which our republic rests.”
==Further reading==
===Biographies===
* Brands, H. W. ''Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times'' (2005), scholarly biography emphasizing military career [http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Jackson-His-Life-Times/dp/1400030722/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258870084&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Brustein, Andrew. ''The Passions of Andrew Jackson''. (2003). [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=180461058379340 online review by Donald B. Cole]
* Hofstadter, Richard. ''The American Political Tradition'' (1948), chapter on Jackson. [http://www.humanitiesebook.org/ online in ACLS e-books]
* James, Marquis. ''The Life of Andrew Jackson'' (1938). Combines two books: ''The Border Captain'' and ''Andrew Jackson: Portrait of a President''; Pulitzer Prize for Biography; old fashioned action-packed narrative
* Meacham, Jon. ''American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House'' (2009), [http://www.amazon.com/American-Lion-Andrew-Jackson-Notable/dp/0812973461/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258870084&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Parton, James. ''Life of Andrew Jackson'' (1860). [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC01632322&id=t-rhrBzV8rEC&printsec=titlepage Volume I], [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC01632322&id=M9gNJq_KnC8C&printsec=titlepage Volume III].
* Remini, Robert V. ''The Life of Andrew Jackson''. Abridgment of Remini's 3-volume standard scholarly biography, (1998)
** ''Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Empire, 1767-1821'' (1977); ''Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Freedom, 1822-1832'' (1981); ''Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845'' (1984)
* Wilentz, Sean. ''Andrew Jackson'' (2005) short biography, stressing Indian removal and slavery issues [http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Jackson-Sean-Wilentz/dp/0805069259/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258870084&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]

==Specialized Studies==
* Doutrich, Paul E. ''Shapers of the Great Debate on Jacksonian Democracy: A Biographical Dictionary.'' (2004). 360 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/Shapers-Great-Debate-Jacksonian-Democracy/dp/0313315760 online edition]
* Gammon, Samuel Rhea. ''The Presidential Campaign of 1832'' (1922) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-presidential-campaign-of-1832-by-samuel-rhea-gammon.jsp online edition]
* Feller, Daniel. "The Bank War," in Julian E. Zelizer, ed. ''The American Congress'' (2004), pp 93-111.
* Hammond, Bray. "Jackson, Biddle, and the Bank of the United States," ''The Journal of Economic History'', Vol. 7, No. 1 (May, 1947), pp. 1-23 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0507%28194705%297%3A1%3C1%3AJBATBO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6 at JSTOR]
* Hammond, Bray. ''Banks and Politics in America from the Revolution to the Civil War'' (1957). Pulitzer prize winner; the standard history. Pro-Bank
* Hammond, Bray. "The Second Bank of the United States. ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society,'' New Ser., Vol. 43, No. 1 (1953), pp. 80-85 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0065-9746(1953)2%3A43%3A1%3C80%3ATSBOTU%3E2.0.CO%3B2-C in JSTOR]
* Howe, Daniel Walker. ''What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848'' (2007), outstanding survey of the era by conservative historian who dislikes Jackson; Pulitzer prize. [http://www.amazon.com/What-Hath-God-Wrought-Transformation/dp/0195392434/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258870831&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Latner Richard B. ''The Presidency of Andrew Jackson: White House Politics, 1820-1837'' (1979), standard survey.
* Magliocca, Gerard N. ''Andrew Jackson and the Constitution: The Rise and Fall of Generational Regimes,'' (2007); 216 pages
* Ogg, Frederic Austin ; ''The Reign of Andrew Jackson: A Chronicle of the Frontier in Politics'' 1919. [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13009 short survey online at Gutenberg]
* Patterson, Benton Rain. ''The Generals: Andrew Jackson, Sir Edward Pakenham, and the Road to the Battle of New Orleans.'' (2005). 288 pp.
* Ratner, Lorman A. ''Andrew Jackson and His Tennessee Lieutenants: A Study in Political Culture'' (1997) [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=28026037 online edition]
* Remini Robert V. ''Andrew Jackson and the Bank War: A Study in the Growth of Presidential Power'' (1967). Pro-Jackson.
* Schlesinger, Arthur M. Jr. ''The Age of Jackson''. (1945). Winner of the [[Pulitzer Prize for History]]. history of ideas of the era; strongly pro-Jackson, who is seen as an anti-business model for [[FDR]]
* Sellers, Charles. ''The Market Revolution: Jacksonian America, 1815-1846.'' (1991) influential liberal interpretation; anti-business; refuted by Howe (2007) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=59690282 online edition]
* Syrett, Harold C. ''Andrew Jackson: His Contribution to the American Tradition'' (1953) [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=978507 online edition]

===Indian Wars and Removal===
* Buchanan, John. ''Jackson's Way: Andrew Jackson and the People of the Western Waters.'' (2001). 434 pp. [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=183801009567545 online review]
* Cave, Alfred A. "Abuse of Power: Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act of 1830." ''Historian'' 2003 65(6): 1330-1353. Issn: 0018-2370 Fulltext: online at Swetswise, Ingenta and Ebsco
* O'Brien, Sean Michael. ''In Bitterness and in Tears: Andrew Jackson's Destruction of the Creeks and Seminoles.'' (2003). 254 pp.
* Remini, Robert V.. ''The Legacy of Andrew Jackson: Essays on Democracy, Indian Removal, and Slavery'' (1988)
* Remini, Robert V. ''Andrew Jackson and his Indian Wars'' (2001)
* Remini, Robert V. "Andrew Jackson Versus the Cherokee Nation." ''American History'' 2001 36(3): 48-56. Issn: 1076-8866 Fulltext: in Ebsco
* Rowland, Dunbar. ''Andrew Jackson's Campaign against the British, or, the Mississippi Territory in the War of 1812, concerning the Military Operations of the Americans, Creek Indians, British, and Spanish, 1813-1815'' (1926) [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77351727 online edition]
* Satz, Ronald N. American Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era.'' (1975)
* Wallace, Anthony F.C. ''The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians'' (1993)

===Primary sources===
* Bassett John Spencer, ed. ''Correspondence of Andrew Jackson'' Vols. 1-6. (1926).
* Smith Sam B., and Harriet Chappell Owsley, eds. ''Papers of Andrew Jackson'' . Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, Vol. 1, 1980; Moser Harold D., Sharon MacPherson, and Charles F. Bryan Jr., eds. ''The Papers of Andrew Jackson''. Vols. 2-6. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2002; the latest vol 6 goes to 1828.
* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/jackpap.htm online speeches and presidential messages]

===Historiography===
* Bugg Jr., James L. ed. ''Jacksonian Democracy: Myth or Reality?.'' (1962) debates among historians [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=875714 online edition]
* Cave, Alfred A. ''Jacksonian Democracy and the Historians,'' U, of Florida Press, 1970
* Sellers, Jr. Charles Grier. "Andrew Jackson versus the Historians," ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 44, No. 4. (Mar., 1958), pp. 615-634. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0161-391X%28195803%2944%3A4%3C615%3AAJVTH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y in JSTOR]
* Taylor, George Rogers, ed. ''Jackson Versus Biddle: The Struggle over the Second Bank of the United States'' (1949), excerpts from primary and secondary sources [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=960190 online edition]
* Ward, John William. ''Andrew Jackson, Symbol for an Age'' (1962) how writers saw him [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98819205 online edition]

== See also ==
*[[Gallery of American Heroes]]

== References ==
<references/>

{{USPresidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Andrew}}

[[Category:War of 1812]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]
[[Category:Florida Governors]]
[[Category:American war heroes]]
[[Category:Western United States]]
[[Category:Early National U.S.]]
[[Category:Republicanism]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]
[[Category:Indian Wars]]
[[category:Jacksonian Democracy]]
[[Category:Irish-Americans]]
[[Category:Democratic Governors]]

Michael Behenna

2014-12-23T05:24:11Z

AmerICan:

'''Michael Behenna''' is a [[U.S. Army]] soldier who was charged with premeditated murder and convicted of unpremeditated murder of a suspected [[Al-Qaida]] associate Ali Mansur.<ref>[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20100107_12_0_WSIGOA274140 "Edmond parents urge clemency for son's 20-year sentence"]. ''Tulsa World''. January 7, 2010.</ref> He has begun serving his sentence at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.<ref>[http://www.koco.com/news/22178097/detail.html "Oklahoma Soldier Imprisoned In Detainee's Death"]. ''KOCO 5''. January 7, 2010.</ref> He has been in military prison since March of 2009. Radio talk show host [[Michael Savage]] has stated that "someone in the military brass...definitely a vendetta from somewhere." Behenna's mother is a U.S. federal attorney, which Savage also suspects may be a factor in the unusual charges made and actions taken against her son. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dq4XtAzoNM&annotation_id=annotation_849287&feature=iv Michael Savage Youtube Clip January 15, 2010]</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://defendmichael.wordpress.com/ Michael Behenna Defense Fund]
*[http://jaglaw.wordpress.com/category/michael-behenna/ JAG Law Blog: LT Behenna’s ongoing defense.] Sept. 2009.
*[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-killing13-02_kojrglnc,0,560310.photo Behenna's fallen friends]. ''LA Times'' Photo.
*[http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.5206/pub_detail.asp "1st Lt. Michael Behenna: Now is the Time for Justice"]. Ros Prynn. ''Family Security Matters''. January 8, 2010.

*[http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=11766214 "Mother of Edmond Soldier Convicted of Murder Makes Appeal"]. Kirsten McIntyre, ''NEWS 9''. January 4, 2010.
*[http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x546158715/Edmond-mother-to-testify-in-soldier-sons-hearing "Edmond mother to testify in soldier son's hearing"]. Mark Schlachtenhaufen. ''Edmondsun.com''. January 4, 2010.
*[http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/13/world/fg-iraq-killing13 LA Times article]. September 13, 2009.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Behenna, Michael}}
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]

Black Soldiers in the Civil War

2014-12-23T05:23:18Z

AmerICan:

[[Image:Carney-notation.JPG|thumb|300px|Sergeant William H. Carney, a black soldier in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the battle to take Fort Wagner, outside of Charleston Horbor, South Carolina, in July 1863]]
:''"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship."''
:[[Frederick Douglass]]

The issues of emancipation and military service were intertwined from the onset of the [[American Civil War]]. News from Fort Sumter set off a rush by free black men to enlist in U.S. military units. They were turned away, however, because a Federal law dating from 1792 barred Negroes from bearing arms for the U.S. army (although they had served in the [[American Revolution]] and in the [[War of 1812]]). In Boston disappointed would-be volunteers met and passed a resolution requesting that the Government modify its laws to permit their enlistment.

The Lincoln administration wrestled with the idea of authorizing the recruitment of black troops, concerned that such a move would prompt the border states to secede. When Gen. [[John C. Frémont]] in [[Missouri]] and Gen. David Hunter in [[South Carolina]] issued proclamations that emancipated slaves in their military regions and permitted them to enlist, their superiors sternly revoked their orders. By mid-1862, however, the escalating number of former slaves (called ''contrabands''), the declining number of white volunteers, and the increasingly pressing personnel needs of the Union Army pushed the Government into reconsidering the ban.

As a result, on July 17, 1862, Congress passed the [[Second Confiscation and Militia Act]], freeing slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army. Two days later, slavery was abolished in the territories of the United States, and on July 22 President Lincoln presented the preliminary draft of the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] to his Cabinet. After the Union Army turned back Lee's first invasion of the North at the [[Battle of Antietam]] in [[Maryland]], and the Emancipation Proclamation was subsequently announced, black recruitment was pursued in earnest. Volunteers from South Carolina, [[Tennessee]], and [[Massachusetts]] filled the first authorized black regiments. Recruitment was slow until black leaders such as Frederick Douglass encouraged black men to become soldiers to ensure eventual full citizenship (Two of Douglass's own sons contributed to the war effort). Volunteers began to respond, and in May 1863 the Government established the [[Bureau of Colored Troops]] to manage the burgeoning numbers of black soldiers.

By the end of the Civil War, roughly 179,000 black men (10% of the Union Army) served as soldiers in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 served in the Navy. Nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the war—30,000 of infection or disease. Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, as well. Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause. There were nearly 80 black commissioned officers. Black women, who could not formally join the Army, nonetheless served as nurses, spies, and scouts, the most famous being [[Harriet Tubman]], who scouted for the 2d South Carolina Volunteers.

Because of prejudice against them, black units were not used in combat as extensively as they might have been. Nevertheless, the soldiers served with distinction in a number of battles. Black infantrymen fought gallantly at [[Milliken's Bend]] and Port Hudson, Louisiana; [[Petersburg]], [[Virginia]]; and [[Nashville]], Tennessee. The July 1863 assault on [[Fort Wagner]], South Carolina, in which the [[54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers]] lost two-thirds of their officers and half of their troops, was memorably dramatized in the 1989 film ''Glory''. By war's end, 16 black soldiers had been awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for their valor.

In addition to the perils of war faced by all Civil War soldiers, black soldiers faced additional problems stemming from racial prejudice. Racial discrimination was prevalent even in the North, and discriminatory practices permeated the U.S. military. Segregated units were formed with black enlisted men and typically commanded by white officers and black noncommissioned officers. The 54th Massachusetts was commanded by [[Robert Gould Shaw]] and the 1st South Carolina by Thomas Wentworth Higginson — both white. Black soldiers were initially paid $10 per month from which $3 was automatically deducted for clothing, resulting in a net pay of $7. In contrast, white soldiers received $13 per month from which no clothing allowance was drawn. In June 1864 Congress granted equal pay to the U.S. Colored Troops and made the action retroactive. Black soldiers received the same rations and supplies. In addition, they received comparable medical care.

The black troops, however, faced greater peril than white troops when captured by the Confederate Army. In 1863 the Confederate Congress threatened to punish severely officers of black troops and to enslave black soldiers. As a result, President Lincoln issued [[General Order 233]], threatening reprisal on Confederate prisoners of war for any mistreatment of black troops. Although the threat generally restrained the Confederates, black captives were typically treated more harshly than white captives. In perhaps the most heinous known example of abuse, Confederate soldiers shot to death black Union soldiers captured at the [[Fort Pillow]], Tennessee, engagement of 1864. Confederate General [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] witnessed the massacre and did nothing to stop it.

==See also==
*[[Creation of the U.S. Colored Troops (1863)]]

----
{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/]}}

[[Category:American Civil War]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]
[[Category:Black History]]
[[Category:United States History]]
[[Category:Reconstruction]]

Douglas MacArthur

2014-12-23T05:23:04Z

AmerICan:

{{Military bio
| image =[[Image:Macarthur1.jpg|300px]]
| name =Douglas MacArthur
| birth =January 26, 1880 Fort Dodge, [[Arkansas]]
| parents =Arthur MacArthur Mary Pinkney Hardy
| religion =Christian, non-denominational
| spouse =Louise Cromwell Brooks (divorced, 1928) Jean Marie Faircloth
| children =Arthur MacArthur IV
| death =April 5, 1964 Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C.
| burial =MacArthur Memorial Norfolk, Virginia
| education =United States Military Academy West Point, New York
| branch =United States Army
| years =1903–1951
| rank =General of the Army
| commands =United Nations Command (Korean War) Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers Southwest Pacific Area U.S. Army Forces Far East Philippine Department Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Philippine Division Superintendent, West Point 42nd Division 84th Infantry Brigade
| battles =[[Mexican Revolution]] [[World War I]] [[World War II]] [[Korean War]]
| postmilitary =Remington Rand Corporation Chairman of the Board
}}
General '''Douglas MacArthur''' was one of the great military strategists in [[World War II]], and responsible for governing and rebuilding [[Japan]] during the [[Allied]] occupation. A career military officer, he spent his entire adult life in the military.

The son of the senior U.S. Army general, MacArthur graduated first in his class at West Point in 1903. After earning a chestful of medals for bravery in Mexico and the Western Front in World War I, his meteoric career included a stint as superintendent at West Point in the 1920s, where he promoted athletics and modernized the curriculum. He served two terms as the Army's chief-of-staff under Presidents Herbert Hoover (a pacifist) and Franklin Roosevelt (a Navy man). in the 1930s. He retired in 1937, then set out to create a new army for the Philippines, which was in transition to independence. He was recalled to active duty in mid-1941 as war with Japan loomed. Driven out of the Philippines in 1942, he assumed command in Australia of the Southwest Pacific Theater. He battled the Japanese through New Guinea and the Philippines, and was in charge of the invasion of Japan scheduled for late 1945. Instead, he received Japan's surrender in a dramatic ceremony aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. As supreme commander of the forces occupying Japan, he democratized and reformed Japan, rebuilding the nation and creating a lasting friendship between the former enemies. Unexpectedly given command of United Nations forces at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, he landed troops at Inchon in a daring amphibious assault that led to a routing of the invading enemy. Ordered to unify Korea, his advance was halted by Communist China in a bitterly cold contest that saw the Americans and their allies retreat. In the wake of bitter disagreements with President Harry Truman about American strategy, he was recalled, his celebrated career abruptly ended. He is considered a hero by conservatives, and a dangerous enemy by liberals.
==Early life==
Douglas MacArthur was the third son of Arthur MacArthur, a senior officer in the U.S. Army and winner of the [[Medal of Honor]] for actions at Missionary Ridge during the [[American Civil War]]. His oldest brother, Arthur III (1876-1923), had a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy, seeing action in the [[Spanish-American War]] of 1898, the [[Boxer Rebellion]], and the First World War. Second son Malcolm was born in 1878, and died at the age of five, which left a mark that Douglas could never forget. "His premature death left a gap in my life which has never been filled," he would write some forty years later. [http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0126.html]

Douglas was born into the Army at Fort Dodge, [[Arkansas]] on January 26, 1880, in a section of the base armory that had been converted to a hospital. His mother, Mary Pinkney Hardy MacArthur, who was affectionately called "Pinky", was a proper Southern lady who was not used to hot and dusty western outposts as a place to raise a family; nevertheless she did, and seeing places like New Mexico's Fort Selden made a great impression on young Douglas. "My first memory was the sound of bugles," Douglas wrote in his ''Reminiscences.'' "It was here I learned to ride and shoot even before I could read or write - indeed, almost before I could walk or talk."

The Army had given Arthur MacArthur many orders over the years, and when Douglas turned six the next set of orders took the family to Ft. Leavenworth, [[Kansas]], where life in civilization could be re-introduced. Three years after that, they were ordered to Washington, where his father was assigned to the War Department, and Douglas got to know his grandfather, Judge Arthur MacArthur. These early years were important in young Douglas' life, for from his grandfather he learned a MacArthur was a gentleman and a scholar, and from his parents he learned a MacArthur was in command. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/peopleevents/pandeAMEX96.html]

==The Army==
Douglas was an average student, but his own intellect was revealed when the family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1893. The West Texas Military Academy was his school, and he thrived on the combination of academics, religion, military discipline and social graces that were purely Victorian. His excellent record there, the top scores on the qualifying exam, and his family's political connections allowed Douglas in 1898 to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Four years later General Arthur MacArthur returned from the Philippines where he was involved with the Spanish defeat and service as military governor, and looked on proudly as his son - with one of the highest and finest records in Academy history - graduated first of his class of 1903. MacArthur would be one of the few theater commanders in [[World War 2]] who was primarily educated in the nineteenth century.<ref>William M. Leary, ''MacArthur and the American Century: A Reader'', p. 471</ref>

His first assignment was to the [[Philippines]], which soon developed into a love for that country. Soon after, he would accompany his father and mother on an extended tour of the Asia rim, visiting eleven countries, and treated like royalty in each. He had developed a theory by then, in fact he was convinced, that America's future lay with Asia.

His next assignments included service to [[Theodore Roosevelt]] as an aide, and engineering assignment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then transfer to the War Department where he worked for Chief of Staff General Leonard Wood, who was himself once a protégé to his father. The working relationship was good, and Douglas was promoted to major in 1915. He became the Army's first public relations officer the following year, being credited with selling the Selective Service Act of 1917 to the American people, just as the country moved closer to involvement in the war in Europe. Hugh L. Scott, the Army's Chief of Staff at the time, would note MacArthur's zeal at doing his job. "Major MacArthur is a...high-minded, conscientious and unusually efficient officer, well fitted for positions requiring diplomacy and high-grade intelligence" (Manchester, pg. 89).

It was the [[World War I|First World War]] which gave Douglas MacArthur a taste of fame that he could add to his already excellent record. Promoted to colonel, he took individual National Guard units and created the Rainbow Division out of them, taking it through [[France]] and into the thickest of fighting, and combining a romantic flamboyance with bravery. But when it was threatened that his division would be split up and spread out to augment other divisions, MacArthur cabled members of Congress to prevent it, unfortunately creating resentment within General [[John J. Pershing]]'s staff at circumventing the chain of command. Nevertheless, MacArthur became the most decorated American soldier of the war, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal by Pershing, who remarked that he didn't like MacArthur's attitude regarding the chain of command while pinning the medal on his chest (Manchester, pp. 97-105).

MacArthur was next assigned to the post of Superintendent of West Point, where he dragged the moribund Academy into the 20th century; he had just come out of a very savage, yet very modern war, and he wanted West Point to produce officers capable of leading men into such a war. And he also got married, to Louise Cromwell Brooks, a flapper and heiress. But his West Point job was ended soon after, when Chief of Staff Pershing - who, during the war had an affair with Louise - ordered MacArthur to the Philippines. Although disappointed at the orders, yet glad to be back in his beloved islands, Louise was not happy, as she was used to the glamour and sophistication of the big American and European cities; the end result was the marriage began to go sour, which got worse after their return to the States in 1925. Louise would file for divorce in 1928, and Douglas would return again to the Philippines.

His stay in the Philippines this time would last two years, but he had renewed a friendship with Manuel Quezon, whom he had known since 1903, and was then country's leading political figure. Together they had worked on a bid to make MacArthur governor of the Philippines, but that attempt failed. However, in 1930, President Hoover offered MacArthur the Army's top command: Chief of Staff, and he headed back to Washington. The country was by then deep in the Great Depression, and MacArthur's warnings of a weak defense in the face of spreading fascism went unheeded among Americans whose only thought was getting a job. Although ably leading the Army during this period, troop strength fell to an all-time low, and his reputation was severely damaged when, in 1932, he visibly led a unit of the Army against thousands of impoverished former soldiers (the [[Bonus March]]) who had camped out in the capitol demanding Congress distribute millions of dollars in bonuses that were promised to them for enlisting during the First World War.

==World War II==
In 1935 Manuel Quezon was president of the newly-created Philippine Commonwealth, and invited MacArthur to return to [[Manila]] as head of the American military mission charged with preparing the islands for full independence by 1946. On the way to Manila, he had a stop in Tennessee and met Jean Marie Faircloth of Murfreesboro, falling in love almost immediately, and getting married soon after that; Jean would be instrumental in filling the void when his mother passed away soon after their arrival in the Philippines. And at age 58, Arthur IV was born, making MacArthur an attentive and doting father. These years in the Philippines would prove the happiest of his life, even as they were slowly overshadowed by an expanding, and aggressive, Japan. Money, troops and material from the States would not come in time when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941; when the Japanese made a simultaneous strike on the Philippines, MacArthur's air force was knocked out, and his army left to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula in tatters. He would sit at his command post on the nearby island of Corregidor, nearly helpless as everything around him crumbled.
[[Image:Surrender at tokyo bay.jpg|thumb|200px|left|MacArthur at Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945.]]
He had intended to fight alongside his men, but President Franklin Roosevelt wouldn't allow it. A direct order from him had MacArthur and his family placed onboard a small PT boat, where he met up with a larger transport to Australia, and from there he began the plans to retake the Pacific from the Japanese, vowing "I shall return" to the Filipino people, a remark which became synonymous with the war effort. MacArthur's war was then a two-front war, as he fought the Japanese forces on one side, and the United States Navy on the other. But his plan, which called for "island hopping" - bypassing Japanese-held islands in favor of those strategically placed for use by American forces - prevailed, as well as his intent to liberate the Philippines as part of it. By October, 1944 America's most famous general made his dramatic landing at Leyte; the remainder of the islands were fully liberated within months. On September 2, 1945, onboard USS ''Missouri'' in Tokyo Bay, he presided over the Japanese surrender, ending World War II. His last remarks on ending the war were simple. "Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed".<ref>http://www.freedomdocuments.com/macarthur.html</ref>

In part of a radio address after the ceremony, MacArthur stated to a world audience,
{{cquote|Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won....

As I look back upon the long, tortuous trail from those grim days of Bataan and Corregidor, when an entire world lived in fear, when democracy was on the defensive everywhere, when modern civilization trembled in the balance, I thank a merciful God that he has given us the faith, the courage and the power from which to mold victory. We have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no turning back. We must go forward to preserve in peace what we won in war...

Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. We have had our last chance. If we do not now devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural development of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.<ref>[http://bjmi.us/usa/macarthur-speeches.html Memorable Speeches of Gen. Douglas MacArthur]</ref>}}

==Governing Japan==
MacArthur, by then one of the leading figures in military history, determined to rebuild Japan as an example of democracy, and in so doing made his greatest contribution. During the next several years he initiated polices for occupation (he stipulated that revengeful soldiers would get five years in prison if they so much as slapped a Japanese citizen), wrote and implemented a constitution, and charted a course for Japan which led it to become an economic and industrial colossus by the 1970's. His rule of Japan is considered fair and progressive, and MacArthur claimed, a greater source of satisfaction to him than his military successes.

==Korea==
[[Image:MacArthur (B).jpg|thumb|200px| A 1973 [[portraits|portrait]] of MacArthur]]
The [[Korean War]] broke out in June of 1950, when the communist North invaded South Korea. Placed in command of United Nations forces, MacArthur executed a brilliant maneuver by invading the port of Inchon behind North Korean lines, and driving the communists back north. Soon after this triumph, bickering would come between himself and President [[Harry Truman]] over how the war was to be fought, and engaging [[China]], as MacArthur believed should happen, or in keeping it a limited war and China out of it, as Truman dictated. The bickering came to a head on April 11, 1951, when Truman, citing his role as Commander in Chief, relieved MacArthur of command, resulting in a firestorm of controversy. He was given a hero's welcome on his return, and the issue over his firing died away quickly after an address to a joint session of Congress, in which he announced his retirement with grace, stating "old soldiers never die, they just fade away," and like the old soldier in that refrain, MacArthur promised to fade away.

==Last years==
MacArthur lived quietly in New York, coming out into the spotlight on various occasions, such as attending graduations at West Point; once he was placed on the Republican ticket for president in 1952 (his former aide, General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] would get the job). He passed away on April 5, 1964, at Walter Reed Army Hospital near Washington, having lived his entire life, from cradle to grave, in the United States Army. He was buried in the rotunda of the former city hall of Norfolk, [[Virginia]], which had earlier become the MacArthur Memorial. His wife Jean passed away January 22, 2000, and is buried with him.

:''I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away." And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good bye.'' From his Farewell to Congress, April 19, 1951.

==Quotes==
[[File:MacArthur statue in Jayu Park South Korea.jpg|thumb|Gen. MacArthur statue in Jayu Park, Incheon, [[South Korea]].]]
MacArthur was unusually literate and eloquent, and his faith, character, experience and wisdom helped to make his speeches among the most stirring of the twentieth century. MacArthur was also uncommonly (for a general) interested and vocal about domestic policies, as seen in his speeches, which were mostly all were written by him. It was said that few knew history as he did-that he could discuss the lives of famous men as if he personally knew them.<ref>http://www.belcherfoundation.org/macarthur.htm</ref>

Quotes attributed<ref>http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/douglas_macarthur.html</ref><ref>http://www.military-quotes.com/Macarthur.htm</ref><ref>Douglas MacArthur, ''General MacArthur: wisdom and visions'', complied by Colonel Edward T. Imparato (USAF Ret.)</ref> to MacArthur include:

* Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

* Never give an order that can't be obeyed.

* It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.

* ...once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision.<ref>Address to Congress, Apr. 19, 1951</ref>

* In no other profession are the penalties for employing untrained personnel so appalling or so irrevocable as in the military.

* The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It's the age-old struggle: the roar of the crowd on the one side, and the voice of your conscience on the other.

* In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield.<ref>Sylvanus Thayer Award acceptance speech, 09-12-1952</ref>

* It was close; but that's the way it is in war. You win or lose, live or die — and the difference is just an eyelash.<ref>After flying over Japanese held territory to reach Australia, 1942-03-17</ref>

* ...the enduring fortitude, the patriotic selfabnegation, and the unsurpassed military genius of the American soldier of the World War will stand forth in undimmed luster; in his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave all that mortality can give. He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man; he has written his own history, and written it in red on his enemy's breast. But when I think of his patience under adversity, of his courage under fire, and of his modesty in victory I am filled with an emotion I cannot express.<ref>Address to the annual reunion of MacArthur's Rainbow Division in Washington on July 14, 1935</ref>

* No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.<ref>http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quotes_by/general+douglas+macarthur</ref>

* In war there is no substitute for victory. There are some who for varying reasons would appease Red China. They are blind to history's clear lesson, for history teaches with unmistakable emphasis that appeasement but begets new and bloodier wars.

* There is not one incident in the history of humanity in which defeatism led to peace which was anything other than a complete fraud.

* Whether in chains or in laurels, liberty knows nothing but victories.

* Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.

* We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction.

* The United States is a pre-eminently [[Christian]] and conservative nation. It is far less militaristic than most nations. It is not especially open to the charge of imperialism. Yet one would fancy that Americans were the most brutally blood-thirsty people in the world to judge by the frantic efforts that are being made to disarm them both physically and morally...The effect of all this unabashed and unsound propaganda is not so much to convert America to a holy horror of war as it is to confuse the public mind and lead to muddled thinking in international affairs.<ref>Address to the annual reunion of MacArthur's Rainbow Division in Washington on July 14, 1935</ref>

* In the last 3,400 years only 268 -- less than 1 in 13 -- have been free from wars.

* I have known war as few men now living know it. Its very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as a means of settling international disputes.

* The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.

* Could I have but a line a century hence crediting a contribution to the advance of peace, I would yield every honor which has been accorded by war.<ref>William M Leary, ''Macarthur and the American Century: A Reader'' (2001)</ref>

* A better world shall emerge based on faith and understanding.

* Talk of imminent threat to our national security through the application of external force is pure nonsense. Our threat is from the insidious forces working from within which have already so drastically altered the character of our free institutions — those institutions we proudly called the American way of life. <ref>Speech in Lansing, Michigan, May 15, 1951</ref>

* It [socialism] discourages development of moral forces which would preserve inviolate our representative form of government, answerable to the will of the electorate.<ref>Opening Centennial celebration, Seattle Wash, 11-13-1951</ref>

* Are we going to squander our limited resources to the point of our own inevitable exhaustion, or adopt commonsense policies of frugality which will insure financial stability in our time and a worthwhile heritage in that of our progeny?

* Are we going to continue to permit the pressure of alien doctrines to strongly influence the orientation of foreign and domestic policy, or regain trust in our own traditions, experience and free institutions, and the wisdom of our own people?

* In short, is American life of the future to be characterized by freedom or by servitude, strength or weakness? The answer must be clear and unequivocal if we are to avoid the pitfalls toward which we are heading with such certainly. In many respects it is not to be found in any dogma of political philosophy, but in those immutable precepts which underlie the [[Ten Commandments]].

* These pressures have already caused us to depart sharply from the course so long held toward national strength and moral greatness. Our economic statute built under the incentive of free enterprise is imperiled by our drift through the back door of confiscatory taxation toward socialism.

* It is a singular habit in this country to raise high the military when war threatens, but to ignore security needs in the pleasanter times of peace.<ref>Cleveland OH, 09-06-1951</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=sfJEP29EXXMC&pg=PA45&dq=general+douglas+macarthur+quotes&ei=dX0pS9CKJ4zIyQTKpdymCw&cd=9#v=onepage&q=&f=false Douglas MacArthur, Edward T. Imparato (USAF Ret.), ''General MacArthur: wisdom and visions'', pp. 43-45]</ref>

* Are we going to preserve the religious base to our origin, our growth and our progress, or yield to the devious assaults of atheistic or other anti-religious forces?<ref>Cleveland OH, 09-06-1951</ref><ref>ibid. p. 125]</ref>

* The people have it in their hands to restore morality, wisdom and direction to of our foreign and domestic affairs, and regain the religious base which in times past assured general integrity in public and private life.<ref>Opening, Centennial celebration, Seattle Wash, 11-13-1951</ref><ref>ibid p. 125</ref>

* ...The spiritual impulse is strong in many American hearts and constitutes a rugged bulwark in the defense of religious morality against the advance of any atheistic immorality.<ref>Salvation army, Waldorf-Astora hotel, New york, NY, 12-12-1951</ref><ref>ibid p. 127</ref>

* Our great strength rests in those high-minded Americans whose faith in God and love of country transcends all selfishness and self-serving instincts.<ref>ibid p. 127</ref>

*There are those who seek to convert us to a form of socialistic endeavor leading directly to the path of Communist slavery.<ref>ibid p. 130</ref>

* There can be no compromise with atheistic Communism - no half-way in the preservation of freedom and religion.<ref>Massachusetts legislature, Boston, 7-25-1951</ref><ref>ibid p. 128</ref>

* We all dream of of the day when human conduct will be governed by the Decalogue and the Sermon and the Mount.<ref>Veterans of the Rainbow (42nd) Infantry Div. WW1, Wash. DC. 7-14-1935</ref><ref>ibid p. 128</ref>

* History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed in to political and economic decline.<ref>America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations</ref>

* I promise to keep on living as though I expected to live forever. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.

* I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within. <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=F-ILUHbWtncC&pg=PA175&dq=I+am+concerned+for+the+security+of+our+great+Nation%3B+not+so+much+because+of+any+threat+from+without,+but+because+of+the+insidious+forces+working+from+within.&ei=SKjPS6WRC4T6zATDtLDOCQ&cd=2 General MacArthur Speeches and Reports 1908-1964‎ - Page 175, Edward T. Imparato]</ref>

==Further reading==
===Biographies===
* Buhite, Russell D. ''Douglas MacArthur: Statecraft and Stagecraft in America's East Asian Policy'' (Biographies in American Foreign Policy) (2008), 188pp; by leading diplomatic historian
* Frank, Richard B. ''MacArthur'' (2009), short summary by leading military historian
* James, D. Clayton. ''The Years of MacArthur, ''The Years of MacArthur Volume I, 1880–1941'' (1970); the standard scholarly biography
** James, D. Clayton. ''The Years of MacArthur, 1941-1945: Vol 2.'' (1975). 939 pp.
** James, D. Clayton. ''The Years of MacArthur. Vol. 3: Triumph and Disaster, 1945-1964'' (1985). 848 pp.
* Leary, William M., ed. ''MacArthur and the American Century: A Reader.'' (2001). 522 pp.; articles by scholars
* MacArthur, Douglas. ''Reminisceses'' (1964), good autobiography; primnary source [http://www.amazon.com/Reminiscences-Douglas-MacArthur/dp/1557504830/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261032050&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]
* Manchester, William. ''American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur, 1880-1964'' (1978). 793 pp. lively popular biography that like the general himself is noble and ignoble, inspiring and outrageous, arrogant and flamboyant, imperious, and apocalyptic
* Perret, Geoffrey. ''Old Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur.'' (1996). 663 pp. good popular biography; shows the gerneral's extraordinary self-discipline and implacable, inexhaustible willpower
* Petillo, Carol Morris. ''Douglas MacArthur: The Philippine Years.'' (1981). 301 pp.
* Schaller, Michael. ''Douglas MacArthur: The Far Eastern General'' (1989). 320 pp. attack from New Left
===MacArthur's people and campaigns===
* Chwialkowski, Paul. ''In Caesar's Shadow: The Life of General Robert Eichelberger'' (1993). 227 pp.
* Leary, William M., ed. ''We Shall Return! MacArthur's Commanders and the Defeat of Japan'' (1988). 305 pp.
* Rogers, Paul P. ''The Good Years: MacArthur and Sutherland. Vol. 1'' (1990). 380 pp.; ''The Bitter Years: MacArthur and Sutherland Vol. 2.'' (1990). 348 pp. the gernal's powerful chief of staff
* Taaffe, Stephen R. ''MacArthur's Jungle War: The 1944 New Guinea Campaign'' (1998). 312 pp.
===Postwar Japan===
* Cohen, Theodore. ''Remaking Japan: The American Occupation as New Deal.'' (1987). 533 pp.
* Finn, Richard B. ''Winners in Peace: MacArthur, Yoshida, and Postwar Japan.'' (1992). 413 pp.
* Harvey, Robert. ''American Shogun: General MacArthur, Emperor Hirohito and the Drama of Modern Japan'' (2007)

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/peopleevents/pandeAMEX96.html PBS ''The American Experience'' bio]
*[http://faculty.washington.edu/kendo/macarthur.html Washington University's bio on MacArthur]
*[http://www.macarthurmemorial.org/ MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk, Virginia]
*[http://vvl.lib.msu.edu/record.cfm?recordid=4345 Complete audio file of Japanese Surrender onboard USS ''Missouri'', Sept. 2, 1945, from Vincent Voice Library, Michigan State University]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0126.html Obituary of MacArthur.]
*[http://www.medalofhonor.com/DouglasMacArthur.htm Medal of Honor]
*[http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurfarewelladdress.htm Complete text and audio of his Farewell to Congress, April 19, 1951.]
*[http://korea50.army.mil/history/biographies/macarthur.shtml Douglas MacArthur] The Department of Defense, 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration.

{{DEFAULTSORT:MacArthur, Douglas}}
[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:World War II Commanders]]
[[Category:World War II]]
[[Category:Japanese History]]
[[Category:American war heroes]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]
[[category:United States Army]]
[[category:New Deal]]

Stanley McChrystal

2014-12-23T05:22:54Z

AmerICan:

[[File:Stanley mcchrystal.jpg|Left|thumb|200px|Stanley McChrystal]]'''General Stanley A. McChrystal''', USA (born August 14, 1954) is a retired 4-star American general and former Commander for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander for U.S. forces in [[Afghanistan]]. Appointed in June 2009, McChrystal was recalled by President [[Obama]] after the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine published slightly unflattering comments by McChrystal about Obama. McChrystal then resigned, probably at Obama's insistence.

His report to Washington of Aug. 30, 2009, set the parameters for the American debate on the [[Afghanistan War]]. He warned of failure unless his forces were greatly enlarged, and were more focused on protecting the civilian population. He considered the civilian government of Afghanistan a hindrance more than a help.

==Career==
A 1976 graduate of West Point, he has held many commands and is known as a scholar-warrior.

After graduating from [[West Point]] in 1976, McChrystal worked on a U.N. Command Support Group in [[South Korea]], and later served as an Army briefer and commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment in [[Saudi Arabia]] during the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]]. In 2001, he was appointed chief of staff of military operations in Afghanistan. He led the Army's Delta Force, which is credited for the December 2003 capture of [[Saddam Hussein]].

In 2003-2008 McChrystal headed the super-secret "Joint Special Operations Command" in the Pentagon. He took over an insular, shadowy commando force with a reputation for spurning partnerships with other military and intelligence organizations. He managed to build close relationships with the C.I.A. and the F.B.I. He won praise from C.I.A. officers, many of whom had stormy relationships with commanders running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His command is credited for the death of [[Al-Qaeda]] leader [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]].

Before McChrystal's appointment to ISAF in June 2009, command was held by Gen. David D. McKiernan, who was forced out by the Obama Administration, which demanded a new look at policy options.
[[File:Mcchrystal.jpg|thumb|250px|His 2009 Report warns the U.S. and NATO are losing in Afghanistan]]

==2009 Report==
:''see [[Afghanistan War]]''

McChrystal reports to General [[David Petraeus]], head of Central Command.

In August 2009, McChrystal reported on the dire conditions in Afghanistan to Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]]. He asked for 30,000-40,000 additional troops, warning that "Although considerable effort and sacrifice have resulted in some progress, many indicators suggest the overall effort is deteriorating" and added that there is "the urgent need for a significant change to our strategy." <ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/21/mcchrystal-warns-failure-afghan-war/</ref>

McChrystal said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. McChrystal alerted Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref> Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR200909200920.html ''Washington Post'' Sept 21, 2009] </ref>
American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President Bush in 2006 and reappointed by President Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. [[File:Afg-2009.jpg|thumb|350px|Obama plan to add 30,000 troops in early 2010]] Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a counterinsurgency strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin. Liberals thought Obama and Gates were making a big mistake--heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals. Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18 month deadline.

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]
By spring 2010 McChrystal will have over 100,000 American troops and some 30,000 or more NATO troops under his command in Afghanistan, exactly in line with his Aug. 2009 request.<ref> Richard A. Oppel, "Most New U.S. Forces for Afghanistan Will Be Sent to Taliban Stronghold in South," [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/world/asia/03deployment.html?scp=3&sq=&st=nyt ''New York Times'' Dec. 2, 2009]</ref>

==Controversy==

In June 2010, McChrystal was summoned to the White House to explain biting and unflattering remarks he made to a freelance writer about President [[Barack Obama]] and others in the Obama administration. In the Rolling Stone article, titled "The Runaway General," McChrystal described Obama during their first meeting as "uncomfortable and intimidated." <ref>http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/22/the-rolling-stone-article-as-bad-as-advertised/</ref> National Security Adviser [[Jim Jones]] was described by a McChrystal aide as a "clown" stuck in 1985. Others aides joked about Vice President [[Joe Biden]]’s last name as sounding like "Bite me" since Biden opposed the surge. <ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38837.html#ixzz0razXNkpe</ref>

Despite his criticisms of the Obama Administration, McChrystal is actually a political and social [[liberal]] who voted for Obama. In fact, he is so left-wing that he banned the [[Fox News Channel]] from the television sets in his headquarters.<ref>http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/06/liberal-stanley-mcchrystal-banned-fox-news-from-his-headquarters.html</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.nato.int/isaf/structure/bio/comisaf/mcchrystal.html NATO profile]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092100110.html?hpid=topnews "COMISAF Initial Assessment" (McChrystal Report)Aug. 30, 2009]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/asia/13commander.html?hp Elizabeth Bumiller and Mark Mazzetti, "A General Steps From the Shadows," ''New York Times,'' May 12, 2009]

{{DEFAULTSORT:McChrystal, Stanley A.}}
[[category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Terrorism]]
[[category:Obama Presidency]]
[[Category:Afghanistan War]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]

Norman Schwarzkopf

2014-12-23T05:22:47Z

AmerICan:

[[File:NormanSchwarzkopf.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]

General '''H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.''' (August 22, 1934 – December 27, 2012) was the Commander of the U.S. Central Command that delivered a decisive victory over [[Saddam Hussein]]'s Iraq in the first Gulf War, [[Operation Desert Storm]]. In a little over 7 months he liberated [[Kuwait]] as mandated by [[U.N.]] resolution 678. His giant personality at public press conferences earned Schwarzkopf the nickname Stormin' Norman. He preferred to be known as "the Bear," a nickname given to him by his troops. <ref>[http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-source-retired-gen-norman-schwarzkopf-dies AP SOURCE: RETIRED GEN. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF DIES]</ref>

Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, [[New Jersey]] and followed in the footsteps of his father by attending [[West Point]]. He had a masters degree from the [[University of Southern California]].

He served in the [[Vietnam War]] and also played a major role in the invasion of [[Grenada]]. Schwarzkopf moved in ranks from Second Lieutenant, Captain to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces Alaska, Commander of the 1st Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division, Brigadier General of the U.S. Pacific Command, Major General, Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant General, Commanding General of I Corps at Ft. Lewis, General of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, Army Chief of Staff, General appointed Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Central Command.

He retired after the [[Gulf War]] and kept a low profile. Schwarzkopf died on December 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida at age 78 due to complications from pneumonia and is survived by his wife, Brenda, and three children, Cynthia, Jessica and Christian.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:United States Armed Forces]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

Colin Powell

2014-12-23T05:22:30Z

AmerICan:

{{Officeholder
|name=Colin Powell
|image=Colin_Powell.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Alma Vivian Johnson Powell
|religion=[[Episcopalian]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=State
|state=United States
|number=65th
|deputy=n
|president=[[George W. Bush]]
|terms=January 20, 2001-January 26, 2005
|preceded=[[Madeleine Albright]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Condoleezza Rice]]
}}
}}
'''General Colin Luther Powell''', United States Army (Ret.) (born April 5, 1937) was the 65th [[United States]] [[Secretary of State]] (2001-2005) under President [[George W. Bush]] and is a [[liberal]] member of the [[Republican Party]]. As a General in the [[United States Army]], Powell also served as [[National Security Advisor]] (1987–1989), and as Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (1989–1993) he became the highest ranking African American government official in the history of the United States.

==Military career==
While at City College Powell joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and later described it as one of the happiest experiences of his life: finding something he loved and could do well, he had "found himself." After graduating from City College in June 1958, he was granted a commission as an Army Second Lieutenant. Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held a variety of command and staff positions and later served as a General. During his military career Powell received the [[Purple Heart]], [[Bronze Star]] and the [[Soldiers Medal]].

==Presidential appointments==
At the age of 49, Powell became President [[Ronald Reagan]]'s National Security Advisor, serving from 1987 to 1989. He retained his Army commission (he was a Lieutenant General at the time of his nomination) while serving as National Security Advisor. After his tenure, Powell was promoted to 4-star General under President [[George H.W. Bush]].

From 1989 to 1993, General Powell served as chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], the highest [[military]] position in the Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including the invasion of [[Panama]] in 1989 to remove General [[Manuel Noriega]] from power in 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]]. During these events, Powell earned his nickname, "the reluctant warrior". After the end of Persian Gulf War, Colin Powell outlined his vision for efficient and decisive military action. His plan is now referred to as the [[Powell Doctrine]]. The Doctrine expresses that military action should be used only as a last resort and only if there is a clear risk to national security by the intended target; the force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy; there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public; and there must be a clear exit strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged.

[[Image:20010912-4-1.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Secretary of State Colin Powell, [[Vice President of the United States of America|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hugh Shelton, President George W. Bush talks with the press about the previous day's terrorist attacks during a cabinet meeting Sept. 12, 2001. White House photo by Tina Hager. ]] Later as Secretary of State in the Bush [[administration]], Powell was tremendously popular among the American people. After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Powell's job became of critical importance in managing America's relationships with foreign countries in order to secure a stable coalition in the [[War on Terrorism]]. Powell is best known in the international community for testifying to the [[United Nations]] in 2003 about the specifics of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program and for failing to generate international support for United States' [[foreign policy]] in George W. Bush's first term.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/17/1047749726236.html Failure of US diplomacy may claim Powell's scalp</ref> After Powell left the [[National Security Council]], the fortunes for the United States markedly improved in diplomacy (with countries like [[France]]<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501691.html?hpid=sec-world Washington Post - Rice Breaks Ice With France's New Leaders]</ref>) and in the [[Iraq War]] after the [[troop surge]] was implemented in George W. Bush's second term. In 2008, he endorsed [[Barack Obama]], who had opposed the surge in 2007.

==Political views==
Colin Powell is a [[liberal]] or moderate Republican who is [[pro-choice]] regarding [[abortion]], supports [[affirmative action]] and "reasonable" [[gun control]]. Although Powell was against [[gay]] marriage at the time (now he's supportvie of it<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76687.html</ref>), he helped craft the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in the United States military, along with [[Bill Clinton]]. He has also been critical of the current policy in Iraq. In 2005, Powell telephoned two Senator's, [[Lincoln Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]] and [[Chuck Hagel]] of [[Nebraska]] (also liberal Republicans) asking them to oppose the nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the [[United Nations]]. In September 2005, Powell criticized the government's response to [[Hurricane Katrina]]. He also opposed [[Guantanamo Bay]] and stripping [[Geneva Convention]] protections from captured terrorists. Powell was mentioned as a potential running mate for [[John McCain]]<ref>http://www.aarpmagazine.org/people/colin_powell.html</ref>, but said he was no longer interested in elected office.

Powell has expressed support for homosexuals serving in the military,<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/powell-favors-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/?_r=0</ref> and for phony same-sex unions as well.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/colin-powell-expresses-support-gay-marriage/story?id=16416112.</ref>

==Obama endorsement==
On 19 October 2008, Powell endorsed Barack Obama for President. Powell said that Obama was a "transformational figure coming into the world stage" <ref>http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/19/colin-powell-endorses-obama/</ref> and expressed disappointment in what he called the "negative tone" of McCain's campaign, as well as in McCain's choice of [[Sarah Palin]] as the Republican vice presidential nominee <ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/19/colin-powell-endorses-barack-obama-for-presiden-1/</ref> saying that she lacked experience even as he was supporting a candidate with one year of experience in the Senate before running for President. Powell went on to criticize other Republicans for what he claims is insistence on their part that Obama is a Muslim stating, "I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the Republican Party say... such things as 'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim'. Well the correct answer is, 'He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian, he's always been a Christian'. But the really right answer is, 'What if he is?' Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is 'No', that's not America."<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7678788.stm</ref> A month prior, Powell had said that the thought of an African American President was 'electrifying'. In his speech backing Obama, he also said he did not want to see the appointment of Conservative [[Supreme Court]] Justices.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27265369/</ref> Along with Palin, he's also been critical of other influential people in the Republican Party, such as radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]], who he claims engages in an "ugly" kind of politics, commentator [[Ann Coulter]], Congresswoman [[Michele Bachmann]], who's statement that Obama might hold anti-American views influenced his decision to endorse the [[Illinois]] Senator, those who doubt the authenticity of Obama's birth certificate, and various members of the Bush administration, including former Vice-President [[Dick Cheney]] and former Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]], whose conflicts with him, it's believed, caused him to resign his position.

==Family and personal information==
Powell has been married to Alma Vivian Johnson since 1962. They have one child, a son, Michael (1963). The Powells are [[Episcopalians]]. One of Colin Powell's hobbies is restoring classic automobiles.<ref>http://www.4driversonly.com/50226711/colin_powell_drives_a_66_volvo.php</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Colin}}
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Reagan Era]]
[[Category:Black History]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Secretaries of State]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:RINOs]]