Let me start by saying that this diary is directed, for the most part, toward those who have already voted in their primaries. For those of you who haven’t, I urge you to vote your conscience, but keep reading anyway. Once you’ve voted, come back and read this again. Further, I’m writing under the assumption that Governor Mitt Romney will become the GOP nominee, although he was not even on my short list this time around. I don’t need to hear about how Newt could still surge, or we could have a brokered convention, or how Ron Paul is the only true conservative that has ever been, or what might have been. This is about accepting reality.

Driving into work this morning (thankful I still have a job), I listened to Laura Ingraham’s interview with Mayor Giuliani. Laura posts audio of her interviews, although this one isn’t up yet. If and when it’s posted, I’ll update the link. She asked Rudy about his recent endorsement of Romney and how he could reconcile it with some of his earlier comments that were less than favorable toward the Governor. Rudy basically said in politics you have to get over the personal anger and the hurt feelings that happen in a campaign and move on toward what is good for the country. He said he understands how Gingrich and Santorum are feeling, but he’s confident they will rally behind Romney just as he is doing. What struck me most was his statement that he didn’t want to look back at the campaign and know that he didn’t do everything he could to defeat Obama.

It’s no secret I supported Cain, Gingrich, and a host of others ahead of Romney. I was disappointed, unenthused, and angry that others didn’t see Romney wasn’t the best choice. I committed to voting for him in the general, but good luck getting me to donate, work for his campaign or display a yard sign or bumper sticker. I was going to focus only on house and senate races. Rudy has changed my mind. I don’t want to look back on the summer of 2012 and realize that I didn’t do everything in my power to elect Mitt Romney and defeat Barack Obama.

For those of you who aren’t quite there yet, let’s assume you sit on your hands with your integrity and your principles, whining about how the GOP has lost its way and how you’ll vote for Romney in the general, but you won’t lift a finger to do anything else. After all, you’ve got integrity and principles (so have I). And Obama wins. We’ve already seen what he can do when the GOP controls only one-third of one-half of the government. Imagine Obama unfettered in his agenda to radically change this country through whatever means he can with the media on his side and the meme that he has a mandate to move forward. Under that scenario, I have a few questions for you.

When you can’t find a job or operate your small business because Obama continues to strangle capitalism with over-regulation and job killing policies, will your integrity and principles feed your family and keep you from losing your home?

When government run healthcare takes over, will they sooth your aching body when you’re sick or heal your kid’s broken arm*? Will they make you feel better as you wait a few months for a bureaucrat to okay your chemotherapy for the cancer that’s eating away your health? When that same bureaucrat decides your aging parent is too old for that heart transplant, will your integrity and principles take the place of Granny’s homemade cookies or Grandad’s hunting trip?

When gas prices continue to rise and you can’t take that vacation or the anniversary trip you planned (25 years in December), are you going to enjoy reminiscing over the photos of your integrity and principles?

When Obama raises your taxes and raids private pensions to redistribute your life’s earnings to those who need it more (in his opinion), will your integrity and principles provide for you during those retirement years**?

When Obama asks the UN permission to defend this country after another terrorist attack and is denied, will your integrity and principles make you feel safe the next time you travel, go to work (if you have a job), attend an event that draws a crowd?

When you are no longer permitted to home school your children or send them to a private religious school of your choice or question what’s being taught in public schools, and your integrity and principles are allowed to be taught only in your own home, if that, will that be enough to instill the values you hold so dear in your children? Will they be strong enough to carry on in a country that ridicules your old-fashioned, traditional beliefs and even threatens prosecution (hate crimes legislation)?

When Obama, the partial birth abortion supporter (Obama’sExtremism), signs the FOCA and increases funding to abortion mills like Planned Parenthood, will your integrity and principles block out the silent cries of the aborted babies?

When freedom of religion is watered down to freedom of worship (ReligiousFreedom), will they assure you that you can continue to follow the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20 GreatCommission) or will you teach in secret for fear of persecution?

When Obama appoints the most radical Supreme Court Justice in the history of the country, and then another, and maybe even another, and the court, led by Chief Justice Sotomayor or Kagan, destroys any semblance of interpreting the law and upholds every piece of liberal legislation that comes their way, will your integrity and principles comfort you as you tell your children and grandchildren about that wonderful country called America where we once lived?

So for the youngsters who may stumble across this and think I sound harsh (perhaps I am) and to those of you who vow to sit this one out because Mitt isn’t conservative enough for your tastes (mine, either), a cautionary piece of advice. Don’t. I’m not trying to destroy your idealism or question your integrity and principles. However, I wore the same rose-colored glasses once upon a time and voted for Jimmy Carter because I thought he was a good man. Like Mama says, if you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all, so I’ll keep silent on that matter, but there is no doubt that his policies were very, very bad. Nobody told me the reality of the situation, or perhaps I just wasn’t paying attention. I am now.

Any one of the scenarios above will hurt our country, and in turn, our lives. A couple of them seeing the light of day could take years to recover from. More than that – I really don’t want to think about. Despite the gloom and doom, I’m generally an optimistic, glass half-full kind of gal myself due to looking beyond this world, but like Rudy, I don’t want to look back at 2012 and realize I didn’t do everything within my power to protect this country from those whose policies will destroy her. So I’ve made my first donation to the Romney campaign (RomneyDonations), and God willing, I’ll be knocking on doors and getting a Romney yard sign and a bumper sticker or two in addition to helping with those house and senate races. Will you? It’s a simple yes or no question.

*I can just hear mommies and daddies telling little Johnnie or Susie not to worry. “You’ll get to see a doctor just as soon as Mr. Big Government says you can (of course, not the one they know and are comfortable with). In the meantime, we’ll just sit here with our integrity and principles.” Yep, that’ll make ‘em stop crying.

**Assuming you have a job from which you can retire. And assuming you are able to retire at all.

There’s been a lot of discussion during this primary season about the candidates and their speeches, records, electability, baggage, and so on. Upon reading a comment today from a Romney shill (who was ceremonially banned for the third time) that Newt is nothing more than a “talking head,” I recalled the Speaker’s comments in a speech he gave the night before the Alabama primary last week. You can listen to Newt’s speech as well as Senator Santorum’s Speeches (Video playlist is linked on the right of the page.) Though a transcript of the speeches is not available, parts of both have been summarized in my previous diary and the comments thereto AL Forum.

However, the purpose of this diary is to directly refute the talking head comment. To do that, I went back and listened specifically to Newt’s response to the question from Bill Armistead, AL-GOP State Chairman, who asked him to explain to Alabamians why he is the most conservative candidate in the race who can win. Forgive the paraphrasing, but here’s the gist of Newt’s comments which start around the 1:19 minute mark in the video linked above.

Look at Romney’s ratings when he left MA. Look at Santorum’s defeat in PA. Contrast with my [Newt's] record in the GOP. I helped create the GA GOP. I worked in the GA GOP when there was none. I ran for Congress and won in the middle of Watergate. I worked 16 years to help create a national majority for the GOP.

He went on to outline the following:

1980 – I helped design the first Capitol Steps event in history. We won 6 U.S. Senate seats by a combined margin of 75,000 votes. We won the Senate when nobody thought we could.

1984 – I helped design a campaign that set a record. We carried 49 states and picked up 33 House seats.

1988 – We were behind Dukakis 19 points in May. We designed a Reagan style campaign. We didn’t try to go to the middle. If George Bush had run as moderate, he’d have gotten beat. He ran as a Reagan conservative promising no new taxes and standing for national defense and attacking the Massachusetts liberalism of Dukakis. We switched 25% of the country. 1 in 4 voters during that campaign switched their view.

1994 – We designed and presented the Contract with America in a positive way to the American people. I would do the same this fall and offer paychecks rather than food stamps, the Constitution rather than Alinsky, $2.50 a gallon gas and drilling rather than algae. Real choices.

Since 1982, Speaker Gingrich has authored or co-authored 18 non-fiction books, 9 fiction books and produced 8 series and one film. His opponents like to point out that one of these, A Contract with the Earth, suggests that conservatives should embrace environmentalism, leaving one to assume that Newt himself embraced the liberal views of all things green. However, I recall that Newt pointed out in 2007 interview with salon.com (Interview):

One of the major reasons that Terry Maple and I wrote “A Contract With the Earth” was to reopen the debate, and to say that there are solutions which involve incentives, science and technology and markets. Entrepreneurs are potentially much more powerful and successful than regulatory and litigation solutions. We ought to be having a dialogue about which solution works better rather than being engaged in a purely partisan debate to see who can yell “anti-environmentalist” more.

It’s a fascinating interview which no doubt can be dissected down to Newt’s believes in global warming or remember Newt sat on a couch with Nancy for those who refuse to look at his entire record of achievements.

But back to the subject at hand, Newt’s accomplishments. Consider Newt’s other non-fiction books:

• The Government’s Role in Solving Societal Problems
• Window of Opportunity
• Contract with America (co-editor)
• Restoring the Dream
• Quotations from Speaker Newt
• To Renew America
• Lessons Learned The Hard Way
• Presidential Determination Regarding Certification of the Thirty-Two Major Illicit Narcotics Producing and Transit Countries
• Saving Lives and Saving Money
• Winning the Future
• Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation’s History and Future
• The Art of Transformation
• A Contract with the Earth
• Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works
• Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less: A Handbook for Slashing Gas Prices and Solving Our Energy Crisis
• 5 Principles for a Successful Life: From Our Family to Yours, with Jackie Gingrich Cushman
• To Save America: Stopping Obama’s Secular-Socialist Machine, with Joe DeSantis
• A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters

The vast majority, if not all, of Gingrich’s other books are textbook conservative. Read the reviews at amazon for yourself. Better yet, read the books.

After leaving Congress in 1999 (and yes, I know all about the “cloud” under which he left), Newt amassed a personal fortune writing books, giving speeches, and founding an empire of companies and nonprofits which he ultimately left in order to run for President. The cloud doesn’t appear to have been too big of an issue considering the invitations he received to speak and the number of groups which solicited his thoughts and advice on various matters.

From 2007 to 2011, Newt chaired the organization, American Solutions, which he founded for the purpose of engaging citizens and elected officials in a dialogue intended to propose solutions to problems affecting American society. It was one of the nation’s largest grassroots efforts with 3 main initiatives. “Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.” “Jobs Here. Jobs Now. Jobs First.” and “No More Obamacare.” Sounds pretty conservative to me. And yes, I’m going to use Wikipedia as a source for a good summary of AmericanSolutions.

Since Speaker Gingrich threw his hat back into the proverbial political arena, he continues to articulate the 3 basic tenets of conservatism (fiscal, social and strong defense). He offers real and practical solutions to the problems we are facing as outlined at Newt’s Solutions.

This diary is not about Newt’s baggage, political or personal. You may not agree with his policies or solutions. You may abhor his failures. You may not like or support Newt. What I suggest you cannot do is ignore his accomplishments which is what this diary is all about. In that regard, please tell me what have you done for me, conservatism and the GOP lately? Better still, what has your candidate done lately or in the last 34 years like Newt?

Thanks again to my understanding husband who I stood up for dinner via text so I could spend the evening with Newt, Rick and close to 2,000 conservatives, tea partiers and GOPer’s, plus a handful of SCUM (so-called unbiased media – H/T funwithknives). One of the perks of working in downtown Birmingham is that I didn’t have to fight for a parking spot to attend the forum tonight since my monthly space was only a couple of blocks from the historic Alabama Theatre. I didn’t even have to stand in line for a ticket. Just walked over from work and took my seat as the Chairman of the AL-GOP, Bill Armistead, introduced the first candidate. As planned, each candidate spoke about 25 minutes, followed by one question each from 3 chosen panelists and Chairman Armistead. The first question had to do with turning the country back toward God (from a teenager), the second about preventing special interest groups/unions from influencing D.C. and any bids for jobs (from a woman), and the third about military intervention and defense (from a veteran). The Chairman asked each candidate to explain why he is the best conservative in the race who can beat Obama.

There were definitely more than a few Santorum fans in attendance. And the Senator didn’t disappoint them, or me for that matter. Being a regular at redstate, how could I not be aware of his, shall we say, tendencies toward big government solutions and his inclination to be a team player, both of which are a big turn off for me. Not that I don’t enjoy team sports, but in politics, I prefer a fighter who will go into the ring ready to deliver a knock out. However, I’ve never gotten the angry, whiny vibe from him that others have. The man I heard tonight is one who loves his God, his family and his country. When he said he got in the race because he wanted to be able to tell his children he did everything he could to protect their freedoms, I believe him. No doubt about it in my mind. He would fight to protect religious freedom for all of us. And frankly, I think it’s likely he’s learned a lesson or two about some of his not so conservative votes. The Senator drew solid rounds of cheers and chants, and it was clear he received a very warm reception. I was moved by his earnestness and would be proud to cast my vote for him if he wins the primary. The money quote for Senator Santorum tonight was (and I hope I get this right because I didn’t take any notes), “If you can’t say what you believe, why speak?” Hopefully, a video of the full speech will turn up tomorrow. If it does, I’ll update with a link because it’s definitely worth the few minutes it takes to watch, whether you’ve already voted or not. However, Newt was better.

Anyone who read my diary My Political Romance With Newt knows I committed to vote for Newt after hearing him speak last Saturday night. I heard most of the same speech tonight, but he was even better tonight. I know he was preachin’ to the choir, but Newt got standing ovations with more than one money quote. He made his case by outlining the stark contrast between himself and Obama. The largest round of applause was when Newt said he would never apologize for defending America. The crowd roared when he laid out his plans for Day One of a Newt presidency (eliminate the czars, reinstate Mexico City policy, approve Keystone, restore conscience clauses for healthcare workers, move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and withdraw Holder’s lawsuits on states). See Newt’s Day One Plan. He challenged Obama to 7 Lincoln Douglass style debates with no moderators and no timekeeper. He offered to meet Obama to discuss algae vs. $2.50 a gallon gasoline at any oil rig, gas station or even on a college campus where Obama would feel more comfortable. He spoke of the culture war and attacks on Christianity from liberals and the media, specifically mentioning the new show, GCB airing on ABC. And Cold Warrior, he came close to taking your advice. He remarked that even if elected, doing what needs to be done would require all of us to get involved and stay involved. One of Newt’s staffers has my business card. If he follows up per our discussion, I’ll be suggesting that he advise Newt to endorse the Precinct Project.

Unfortunately, Senator Santorum had another event to attend, so he left immediately after his speech. Newt and Calista stayed and greeted supporters, shook hands, autographed signs (including mine) and took photos. One of my pet peeves is a weak handshake. I’m happy to report that Newt and Calista each met my standard with a firm handshake.

Interesting to note that neither Santorum nor Gingrich used a teleprompter.

al.com reported these comments from fellow attendees:

Tom Rogers of Calera came out of today’s forum just as he went in.

“I came in believing that Santorum best spoke to my issues, best expressed how I want the president to feel about freedom, about a faith in God you don’t hide in public life and about the life of the unborn,” Rogers said. “I leave tonight comfortable with Sen. Santorum and I’ll vote for him.”

Kitty Lester came into tonight leaning toward Gingrich but having not ruled out Santorum. She ruled him out after tonight’s performance by Gingrich.

“Sen. Santorum was fine in what he said. Didn’t say a thing I disagreed with,” Lester said. “But, did you hear Newt? Did you hear that fight in him? He’s ready to debate Obama right now, tonight and beat him. Really, I didn’t see a lot of difference between Santorum or Newt but there was a difference and it was Newt is ready to fight, fight and fight. … He has my vote.”

Jon Drake of Prattville, just north of Montgomery, drove up for the forum undecided. He left wearing a Newt button.

“Santorum was really good but Newt rules,” said Drake. “I want the guy who takes on the president to be just as convinced as Obama is that he’s right. We need passion and Newt has it.”

I personally spoke to several folks who moved into Newt’s camp after hearing him. I hope they convince their families and friends to do the same.

Vote Newt 2012! I am!

P.S. The poor volunteers at Romney’s table looked lonely. Looked like they were having a lot of trouble giving his signs away. There were several Paul supporters, including the one lone loon voice who yelled “Ron Paul” at one point which I promptly booed.

Not long after the primary season started to get interesting, I wrote a diary about my political relationship with Newt called Second Dates. At the time, I wasn’t sure if there was enough chemistry between us to go on a second date, i.e., for me to actually consider voting for Newt again*. He had, after all, flirted with Nancy, so I had a difficult time remembering what we ever had in common in the first place.

But I’m a forgiving person, so as with other relationships in my life when I’ve been disappointed, I decided to give the Speaker a second chance. But only so far as to keep an open mind. I wasn’t about to commit, because unlike the first vote* I cast for Newt in East Cobb (Georgia) when he had no real competition, there were others vying for my attention. Good candidates for whom I would have been proud to cast a vote. Candidates with great records and little or no baggage. Candidates to whom I willingly donated my hard-earned money. But those candidates are no longer in the race, and others chose not to run at all. What’s a girl to do?

So I listened. And I read. I did my own research and vetting. I considered his baggage. I talked to others who were also taking another look at Newt. I recalled those early days in Georgia and remembered why I supported Newt. I listened to his interviews as he explained his vision for the country. I watched him eviscerate the SCUM (so-called unbiased media – H/T funwithknives). I even dreamed of a Newt vs. Obama debate moderated by Erick and Moe with questions coming from redstate regulars. (It’s my dream so I get to pick the questions. Sorry to those who didn’t make the cut.) I checked out his website NEWT and considered his big solutions. And tonight I attended a rally and listened to him deliver a rousing speech to an enthusiastic crowd. All the old feelings came rushing back, and I slapped on a Newt sticker and came home with a yard sign.

But back to the rally. Since I had already dragged my long-suffering husband to a rally earlier in the day for Senator Scott BEASON who is challenging incumbent Spencer Spender Bachus, I couldn’t convince him to hit another one, so I lit out on my own. The event was held at The Winfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama, which is adjacent to The Riverchase Galleria. Now, going anywhere remotely close to the Galleria at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night is not my idea of fun. Getting there is generally a pain because of traffic. And the mall is a haven for teens on the weekend. So I was pleasantly surprised to find a crowd of around 350 according to a local report at al.com, but what’s more important is who was there. Families, young professionals, students, fellow tea partiers, fellow GOP party members, babies, baby boomers, blacks, whites, and, gasp, other women who had also decided to give Newt a second chance. So much for thinking women won’t vote for Newt. Apparently, thinking women more interested in their country than Newt’s personal life are quite willing to vote for Newt. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge the battery in my camera (and I haven’t learned how to use the camera in my new cell phone), so I didn’t get any pictures, but here’s one from the aforementioned local report.

(From al.com.)

It must be true that the camera adds 10 pounds, because I heard more than one person comment that Newt looks slimmer and better in person. But that’s beside the point. Lookers are a dime a dozen. In politics, it’s the brains, baby. Now, just so there’s no confusion, as I said in my other diary about Newt, I am a happily married woman. Heading toward that silver anniversary in fact with a man that I adore. But in the 2012 political arena, Newt’s my man. Especially if he can get gas prices down to $2.50 a gallon which was the focus of his speech tonight as he told us about what’s happening in North Dakota. Steve Maley, have you been talking to Newt? Seems you’re on the same page. See ObamaEnergyPromises&EmptyRhetoric. Newt told us about the 3 things a President could do to, you know, energize an energy policy and bring down those gas prices. One – approve Keystone. Two – open up drilling in Texas and Louisiana per Governor Perry’s and Governor Jindal’s requests. Three – end the ban on oil shale in the West.

As for the competition, Newt gave Senator Santorum his due with regard to welfare reform and other conservative measures passed back in the ’90′s, but reminded us that he was the one who led the way. Further, that although he respected Senator Santorum and thought him a good man, the Senator lost his way and went on to vote for tax increases, Sarbanes Oxley and other measures that weren’t so conservative. He poked a little fun at Mitt who told an Alabama crowd earlier in the week that he had finally tried grits. Newt needed to say no more than, “As a Georgian I understand grits. I understand cheese grits. Perhaps you get some sense from what Gov. Romney said that he’s not a fit as the southern candidate in this race.” He was speaking to the choir. He also got a big endorsement today from Ray Scott, founder of Bassmaster. If you haven’t seen Newt out of his coat and tie, take a look Newt&RayScott.

Newt also spoke eloquently of our God-given rights. Lovingly about this great country of ours and his vision of the future for us, our children and our grandchildren. Fearfully of what another 4 years of Obama would bring. Promisingly of jobs and paychecks. And I believed every single word. As I shook Newt’s hand, I told him I’d been privileged to vote for him and help send him to Congress when I lived in Georgia, and that I’d be proud to vote for him for President. On Tuesday, March 13, 2012, in the Alabama primary, I plan to do just that.

Any other time, I’d have wrapped this up by now, but a couple of other interesting things happened at the rally, one as I arrived and the other as I was leaving. Almost immediately upon arrival, a young man with a clipboard and a name tag that said “Scott Reagan” approached and asked if I would be in charge of putting up a couple of signs at my voting precinct on Monday night. He looked familiar, and I asked if he had attended RSG03 in Charleston. He confirmed that indeed he had. Small world.

After the speech and just as I grabbed my yard sign and started out, a woman with a microphone said she was taking comments from the crowd and asked if I would chat with her a few minutes. She said she was with NPR, but I failed to get her name. I was nervous, so my recall is not word for word, but here’s a recap. She asked if I was a Newt supporter before hearing the speech, and I told her yes. She asked what had most caught my attention, to which I replied Newt’s energy policy which is an actual policy that would help the country in contrast to Obama’s green energy policy which is to subsidize companies like Solyndra that have gone bankrupt. What I found odd was her comment that Newt didn’t have much to say about Romney and Santorum. Okay, I confess. It’s on tape somewhere anyway. I took my shot at Romney. I told her Newt didn’t have to go around bashing the other candidates because he has a positive plan to offer. A direction in which to take our country that I think resonates with voters.

In the “Jobs” diary here, NightTwister posted a comment about Newt Gingrich’s website which offers “solutions” rather than “issues” as is done at the sites for other candidates.

A while back in one of Erick’s Horserace diaries, I described each candidate in terms of a courtship. My take on Newt was,

Gingrich is the old boyfriend you’re still fond of, but there’s just no chemistry left.

There’s no denying Mr. Gingrich has some baggage (don’t they all?), namely his personal life and that little matter of his endorsing Dede Scozzafava. But never say never like I did when I asked his PAC to stop calling me and removed myself from his mailing list shortly after he asked Dede out. Can you say walk back?

After taking a look at Newt’s website, I have to admit that I felt something akin to the Chrissy Matthews tingle. Strictly in political terms, mind you. I’m a happily married woman.

Take a look for yourself at what President Gingrich would do on his first day. From here

The first four Executive Orders President Newt Gingrich will sign are…

1. Eliminate the thirty-nine White House “Czar” positions created during the current administration. The president does not have the authority to appoint bureaucrats to power who are not accountable to the Congress.

2. “Mexico City Policy” of Respect for Life. Reauthorize President Ronald Reagan’s policy – also known as the “Mexico City Policy”— to stop tax payer dollars from being used to fund or promote abortions in foreign countries.

3. Restore conscience clause protections for Healthcare Workers. No American working in a medical environment should be forced to perform any procedure that he or she finds morally or ethically objectionable based on religious teaching. This protection should include, but not be limited to abortion. Existing conscience clause protections need to be strengthened.

4. Respect Each Sovereign Nation’s Choice of its Capital. Each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own Capital. Accordingly, the U.S. State Department should be instructed to respect the choice of each sovereign nation and place the American embassy in their Capital. (Israel is the only country the United States discriminates against in this regard. The people of Israel have designated Jerusalem as their capital. Yet the United States retains its embassy in Tel Aviv.)

He promises that more solutions, based on user submissions, are “coming soon.”

And this is just on his first day. Gingrich proposes common sense, conservative solutions for Jobs and the Economy, National Security, Energy, Healthcare, and Protecting Life and Religious Liberty.

Throughout this nominating process, my support has waivered among Perry, Cain, Bachmann, and Gingrich, with a little Santorum thrown in for good measure. Romney has slightly more support than do Huntsman, Johnson and Paul. Call me fickle if you want, but those sweet whisperings of conservative policies in my ear combined with the no nonsense debate performances are forcing me to reconsider my on again, off again relationship with Gingrich. Cain/Gingrich? Gingrich/Cain? At this point, I could get on board either train.

And for the record, I’m still interested in Perry, but I feel a little taken for granted with the attitude of where else will I go if the Cain Train derails but to Perry. I certainly didn’t expect to ever answer that with Gingrich, but I’m surely enjoying having them vie for my attention.

Back in April, schools in the small town of Hackleburg, Alabama (population about 1,400), as well as those in neighboring counties, were destroyed by massive, deadly tornadoes. While the schools are being rebuilt, students are in portable classrooms, leaving county officials and parents worried about their safety if, and most likely when, another tornado hits. Not to worry, FEMA to the rescue.

As John Roberts at Fox News reported, FEMA has offered to help these small counties in Alabama with small budgets by ponying up 75% of the cost to build storm shelters (@ $500K a pop each). Here’s the kicker:

Under FEMA regulations, the tornado shelters are considered “temporary” — only necessary while the schools are being repaired and the students are in the trailers. When the schools are rebuilt or repaired, FEMA rules state that the federal government has to get rid of the shelters.

That can happen three ways:

1) The schools can buy the shelter from FEMA (about $375,000);

2) The schools can find a buyer;

3) If neither 1) nor 2) is feasible, FEMA will give the schools more taxpayer money to demolish the shelter and haul away the debris.

(emphasis mine)

Did you get that? They will build storm shelters, and then tear them down. In a town that lost almost everything, including 18 of their loved ones.

This so throughly boggles my mind, that I’m left speechless (which doesn’t happen often), so here’s the rest of the story without further comment, as well as the video of Robert’s report*.

Neither school district figures it could find an outside buyer either, and even if they could, they don’t know how they could dismantle and move shelters that have been built as permanent structures tough enough to handle 250 mph winds.

For them, that means there’s no option left but to take the money from FEMA to tear down the shelter and haul away the rubble. The superintendents figure that cost would be more than $100,000.

“I don’t like to use words like insane or crazy, but that’s what it is,” Warren said of the FEMA rule. “The FEMA regulations make about as much sense to me as the Navy building a new ship — taking it out in the middle of the Atlantic and sinking it.”

New Alabama building codes require new schools to have a safe room inside. Because DeKalb county’s Plainview High School is simply being repaired, it will be left with no tornado shelter when the FEMA structure is gone.

Schools in Hackleburg, where 18 people died in the April storms, are being rebuilt from the ground up so they will have integrated safe rooms. Still, Hollingsworth says there is plenty of need for the tornado shelter in the community.

“I think it’s insane — it’s new territory,” he said. “We are going to have a facility here that I think the entire community — not just our school — can use and we all paid for that. So it makes no sense to tear it down. None at all.”

Alabama Reps. Robert Aderholt and Spencer Bachus have stepped in to try to change the policy. Bachus went all the way to the top, writing a letter to President Obama declaring the regulation “short-sighted and indefensible.”

“We have limited resources,” Bachus said. “But it’s totally absurd to take a perfectly good shelter and destroy it. Use taxpayer money to build it, then use taxpayer money to destroy it.”

FEMA is not backing away from its regulations, saying in a statement to Fox News: “We continue to evaluate all the options available to FEMA and the school district to ensure that each community is provided every federal resource that they are eligible for under the law while remaining proper stewards of the taxpayers’ dollar.”

The counties are very appreciative that FEMA stepped in to fill a void in safety for so many hundreds of children. But the policy that will leave them no choice but to tear down the shelter is nothing less than absurd to school officials.

“It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense from a taxpayer standpoint to see your tax dollars wasted,” Hollingsworth said.

“We think this is just a terrible waste of taxpayer dollars,” Warren said. “No wonder people are skeptical of government when they see waste like this.”

FEMA

*I can’t get the video or link to the video to post. Maybe a mod can help?

UPDATED October 5, 2011
The good citizens of Alabama can rest a little easier knowing that our congressman have worked diligently to get FEMA to back down from its guidelines that required the new storm shelters to be torn down. Although there is no final agreement yet, FEMA officials have apparently been convinced that tearing down the shelters would not have been in the best interest of Alabama’s citizens, or taxpayers in general.

WASHINGTON (October 5) – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4) and Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6) said today they have been informed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it will not force the demolition of emergency storm shelters at schools in Alabama.

FEMA officials told Congressmen Aderholt and Bachus that they have developed a plan for school administrators that will enable them to acquire the structures and keep them open to protect students and citizens in the community. FEMA is contacting the schools to discuss details of the proposal, but the congressmen said they have been assured by representatives of FEMA Director Craig Fugate that there is no threat of storm shelters being torn down or moved.

Full report here

Where to start as I wrap up my account of my “first” redstate gathering? Right where I left off in Day Two am. As I stood in line with the new friends, all of us fanning ourselves in the heat (Charleston in August! Really?), I could feel the excitement in the air, and it was easy to get caught up in it all. Press and scary looking security detail were everywhere. George Will breezed by. Not to say we actually felt a breeze. Did I mention it was hot? Just to say that Will looked in a hurry and wasn’t stopping to chat with anyone. Certainly not us Hobbit looking conservatives. By the way, I was representin’ the Hobbits the entire weekend by wearing a jute ribbon held together with a U.S. Flag pin (see picture in previous diary). Homemade and cost around $.35. I’m thinking about selling them at our next tea party. But back to the redstate party.

We scored some seats on the front row near the door through which Perry and family would enter and made another new friend, this one from Texas. She said she had been urging Perry to run for months. Having already heard some of the attacks on Perry, I asked her about the comparisons to the last President from the Lone Star State. She was pretty emphatic in her assertion that Perry is no George Bush. Before you could say Perry for President, the man himself entered the room to the refrain of Brooks & Dunn’s Hard Workin’ Man. Great campaign song. Easy to understand the lyrics, at least for 50% of the country.

<a href=”“>Oh, snap!

Governor Rick Perry’s announcement speech was everything a conservative could have asked for, starting with the “Howdy” and the moment of silence to remember our Navy Seals. His personal story is not unlike that of many conservatives I know around the same age. Hard-working parents who sacrificed for their children, often a dad or mom or both who served the country. Perry spoke of his love of family, God and freedom. This was not a speech of details, although it included a pretty good outline of do’s and don’ts (do create jobs; don’t go socialist), but there was no doubt about the conservative direction in which Perry wants to lead the country. Now, to be honest, I haven’t made up my mind who I will vote for in the Alabama primary, but I can tell you that based on Perry’s speech and everything I’ve read in the last few days (thank you izoneguy), coupled with what I’ve learned from folks I know in Texas, he’s at the top of my list. I encourage you to watch his speech. As Hard Workin’ Man blasted the room again, Perry exited stage left, shaking hands down the line. (One of my all-time pet peeves is a weak handshake. Thankfully, the Governor’s was firm and steady.) And it was time for my moment. As we shook hands, like any good Alabama fan would do (especially considering the 2009 BSC AL vs. TX game because even though Perry is an Aggie, he is from Texas), I had to give a shout out to my home state and to my fellow redstate friends from Alabama (RepairManJack) in the best way possible, so in my best southern drawl with a smile on my face, I said, “Roll Tide, Governor!” (He laughed.)

<a href=”“>Roll Tide!

Now, at any other run of the mill political conference, you might think it was time to pack it in and head home, but not at redstate. There was more. Much more. Like the conversation with Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring and Max Pappas on the Balanced Budget Amendment. They hammered home the point that it’s imperative to pay attention to any and every BBA that’s introduced. Sure, the Dems may get on board with a BBA, but we must be vigilant in making sure that if we pass any BBA, it must be one with teeth.

I spent the next couple of hours listening to the candidates. Do yourselves a favor and take the time to listen to Don Stenberg, Ted Cruz, Adam Hasner, Michael Williams, and Richard Mourdock. Talk about diversity. Stenberg is a mid-westerner, Cruz is a Cuban who says y’all, Hasner was born to liberal, Jewish school teachers in Brooklyn but found his conservative roots through Reagan, Williams is a larger than life black conservative who worked the crowd like a preacher at a revival, and Mourdock who has a wicked sense of humor. But more important than their diversity is their commonality. They are all conservatives at heart, with conservative records, and they are proud of who they are. When they are elected in November, 2012, I’m going to be proud to say that I helped. Did I mention there wasn’t a teleprompter in sight?

Next up was the conversation with Ben Domenech, Josh Trevino and Erick Erickson. Isn’t is amazing what a couple of guys with a dream can accomplish? It’s always fun to put a face with the names, and this was no exception. Egos must have been checked at the door because each of them was quick to give the others credit. And then they called in the cavalry – the front pagers who volunteer their time and talents. That pesky group of non-unionized workers who demand little but the opportunity to have their voices heard, who inform us, who entertain us, who encourage us, who represent us, who make us think, who debate us, and yes, who ban trolls and Luap Nor supporters. I think what surprised me most of all was how young they all seemed. I’ve commented elsewhere that redstate is my political family. It was fun to actually meet some of my political relatives like Tabitha Hale, a warm, engaging young woman whose prayers I felt when she wrote about the tornadoes in my home state a few weeks ago. Moe Lane, who is surely one of a kind. Aaron Gardner who, as I said before, had a smile on his face every time I saw him. And Erick, who holds the line and who took a couple of minutes out of his non-stop schedule to sign my copy of Red State Uprising. “To rightwingmom52. Keep fighting the good fight. Erick Erickson” Yes, I was a little star struck, but what’s not to love about a group of fun-loving conservatives? Beats Hollywood any day of the week.

What better way to end the day than dinner and a movie? My new friends and I ended up sharing a table with a couple from Perry, Georgia. Having lived in Atlanta and then Macon for a while, I traded a few stories about my time there, but mostly we all talked about the various events of redstate and how we all plan to come back next year. We heard a few comments from Stephen Bannon, the director of The Undefeated. Then a few comments from Jamie Radtke, a tea party candidate running against George Allen, for Senator in Virginia. I can add little to Ben Howe’s review “Palin” other than to say I agree with him 100%. Throughout the movie, I was alternately moved to anger, tears, and pride. Anger at the vicious, vile attacks on Sarah and her family. Tears by her passionate speeches about America’s greatness. Pride because Sarah takes the punches for me and gives it right back to those who would destroy us. The crowd embraced Sarah all over again as evidenced by the applause throughout and the standing ovation at the end. I mentioned earlier that I had found another reason to be grateful to Andrew Breitbart. It’s because he, in his own unique way, put to words what I had thought time and time again about those who stood by and watched the media and the liberals and the ignorant villify Sarah and did nothing. Policies and record aside, what I had have in common with Sarah Palin is a love of my family, my freedom and my country. Every attack on her is an attack on me and every other conservative woman out there, and I agree with Breitbart that those who stood by and refused to defend Palin, the woman, are eunuchs, to use his words. Thank you Mr. Breitbart for taking on the bullies and chauvinists, and thank you, Mr. Bannon, for reminding us what the truth is about Sarah Palin.

And with that, RSG03 was over. I said goodbye to my new friends with promises to stay in touch (which we’ve already done through emails and Facebook). The last 36 hours had been a whirlwind of activity, and despite the late hour, I was wide awake, so I started reading my new copy of Senator DeMint’s book, The Great American Awakening. Eye-opening but I finally got some sleep!

My last day in Charleston, Sunday morning, started the same as my first day. Alone with my thoughts. Normally, I would be at worship, but the timing of services and my flight home and the distance of church from the airport wouldn’t permit, so I grabbed my vanilla latte and walked across to the park to read my Bible for a while. The days leading up to RSG03 were nothing if not depressing. The deaths of the Navy Seals (watch the moving interview with the family of TN native, Aaron Vaughn here), the downgrade, the stock market fall, etc., but I was done being Debbie Downer. I turned to Psalm 25 and read, “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul, O my God, I trust in thee; let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.” Then to Psalm 95, “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.” Finally to Psalm 100, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” My generation had gone to sleep, thinking that the greatest country on earth could withstand anything, but I’ve learned that she cannot withstand her citizens lack of awareness of those who would destroy her or lack of participation in the process through which we maintain our liberties. I sit idly no longer. I am engaged in the process, and I expect to be in the fight for a good bit longer. I am joyful in knowing that I am we are not alone. I entitled this series “A Weekend of Firsts” because for the first time in a long time, I have a renewed sense of hope for my country and her future. We have a lot of bright, young stars out there who are armed and ready for the fight, figuratively speaking, of course. Plus we have the truth on our side. And we have redstate to help us get it out there. Now, when can I register for RSG04? I’m ready for seconds.

Promoted by Jeff.

Okay, I have to admit I’ve been a little full of myself today what with the promotion of my first redstate diary, A Weekend of Firsts, Day One, to the front page. A very unexpected first, but very much appreciated (thank you, Jeff and to everyone else for all the kind comments). But I’ve come back down to earth, and we’re off to Day Two which started with a vanilla latte and the most important meal of the day – breakfast with Erick Erickson, Moe Lane, Brian Simpson, and Meredith from Big TV.

My newfound friends from yesterday weren’t heading over until later, so once again, I was on my own. And once again, I summoned up the nerve to sit down at a table where I didn’t recognize a soul. My entry into the conversation came when Meredith introduced herself as working with Big TV. I had finished Breitbart’s book, Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World, during my flight to Charleston.  I will forever be grateful to Breitbart for his work in exposing the liberal media and liberal Hollywood, and I asked Meredith to pass that message along to him. Later, at this very gathering, I would find another reason to be grateful, but we’ll save that one for now.  Anxious to get to the first training session, I focused on eating and almost didn’t even notice that the guy who had just sat down in the empty chair to my right was Erick. Stay and schmooze or training sessions? I opted for training.

And we were off with Drew Ryun of American Majority, who was all about the Social Networking. He implored us to Twitter, Re-Tweet, blog, Facebook, Tag, link, sign up for Google Alerts, and kept talking about something called Google Juice (first time I’d ever heard of it). Was this the new term for drinking the Kool-Aid? No. A quick google of “Google Juice” reveals that it is,  in essence, “The value that Google gives to your site, for having a priceless link from a good site. The value adds up for each link, and you get better search rankings!” My understanding of this was kinda like trying to explain to my 80 year old mom this morning what a blog is and why I was so excited about it. But like my mom, I got that it’s a good thing. Hey, I got over my fear of HTML. I’ll figure it out or find someone who can. We learned about the “wikis” and the “pedias” – Ballotpedia here, Judgepedia here and Sunshine Review here. Useful resources in the war against big government!

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Promoted from the diaries by Jeff. It’s people and experiences like this that make RedState what it is.

First, I’m not a writer by nature, and if I inherited any creative genes, I can’t find them (I even have trouble drawing a stick man). Also, this is my first time using word press and writing a diary off the top of my head, so it could turn out badly for both writer and reader. I have a couple of other diaries started that I keep tweaking and trying to improve and actually finish. But I’m going to give it go and just share my thoughts in a sort of stream of consciousness way.

I’ve been home just a few hours from attending Redstate Gathering #3, and my head is still spinning from the excitement and copious amounts of coffee and sweet tea. The RSG03 agenda was non-stop, and I loved every minute of it. There were training sessions, speeches from candidates for U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, photos with Governor Nikki Haley, Erick and new friends, new contacts for my address book. Oh, and there was that little thing Erick wrote about where Governor Rick Perry announced he is running for POTUS. That was surely a first for me, and I’m guessing a few others as well. Exciting stuff happens at redstate. There’s a mountain of material to review, organize and share with others which I sincerely hope will motivate them to get involved (this is my shout out to CW), but let me back up a little and start with my first first.

The first RS person I met live, up close and in person was Aaron Gardner, who graciously let me hitch a ride to the airport with him and a couple of other guys (Brian and was it Mike? will have to forgive me that my knack for remembering names has severely waned with age). I’m not exactly shy by nature, but this was another first – going to an event all by my lonesome, knowing absolutely nobody other than those whom I’d come to think of as friends but didn’t have a clue what they looked like. I’m just not used to walking up to strangers and asking if I can share their shuttle, but I had to get out of my comfort zone, so I did just that. I introduced myself as rightwingmom52, but added that my close friends call me “Mel” (short for Melody). I saw Aaron several times during the weekend, always with a smile on his face and ready with a “Hi, Mel. Having a good time?” Made me feel right at home, among friends if you will.

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