Updated below.
Just in time for the RPV convention I’ve been invited to contribute to Too Conservative.
I’m an infamous bullet point fiend, so here we go:
- 37 year old staunch conservative living in Ashburn, Virginia with a wife, 3 kids
- Originally from California but I’ve lived now a dozen years in Virginia: first in Fairfax and then Loudoun County
- Professionally trained as an Internet strategist having spent the bulk of my career helping Fortune 500 companies integrate emerging technologies into their businesses.
- Last year I left the corporate world to apply these same skills to my first love, politics.
- I have worked with a number of clients as an independent consultant including the Heritage foundation, the Lighted Candle Society, and Chuck DeVore.
- Assemblyman DeVore of California is my main client. We are currently running an Internet centric campaign against Barbara Boxer. A David and Goliath scenario to be sure but that’s what the Internet is good at!
- I’ve been blogging and writing about politics since 2004 at various sites including Right Side Redux, Townhall.com. American Thinker, Race42012.com, Culture11.com and others.
- I’m the co-founder of MyManMitt.com, one of the more popular blogs in support of Mitt Romney. I worked as an unpaid fundraiser for the Romney campaign helping to raise over $180,000 with my blogging peers.
- I’m a deep technologist and anxious to get the GOP back on it’s feet in a big way.
I’ve watched in dismay the diminishing returns for conservatives in Virginia. But, like others, I sense a sea change afoot. I’ll be in Richmond on bloggers row with my camera in hand for some on the ground reporting. Stay tuned…
UPDATED: I can see that this post won’t survive the night until I put some meat on my conservative credentials. Back to the bullet points:
- 3 legs for me. I adhere to three legs of Reagan’s conservative stool: fiscal conservative, social conservative, and foreign policy conservative. (This was recently re-popularized by Romney)
- Fiscal policy. I was for the TARP plan (initially) but totally against the bailout, stimulus and budget. In my opinion you must be THIS TALL to ride the conservative train. This is the one (and perhaps only) litmus test we should apply these days for conservative credentials. Specter wasn’t pushed out for his liberal social views, he left after we turned up the heat for his “I’m with Obama” choices on the stimulus package. Fiscal conservatism is our trump card as I see it. Everything else can take a back burner right now in my mind. Bush’s declaration: “I had to abandon free market principles to save the free market” is his gravestone epitaph in my mind.
- Social Conservatism. That being said I am a social conservative, devout Mormon, pro-life, anti gay-marriage right winger. Fiscal policy may be front and center but we ignore these at our peril. However, I’m also a strong states right advocate. I’m pro-life with the goal of defeating Roe vs. Wade and returning rights to the states. I’m anti-gay marriage but I argue with legal reasoning and not inserting religion into the debate. I’m also strong anti-pornography and consider this vice to be a major factor eating at American culture. I’m strongly against illegal immigration but I’m not an exportation freak. I’m anti-national health care but I still think we need to do something to repair health insurance.
- Foreign Policy. I am an unwavering supporter of the war on terror. I think the war on terror and in Iraq are easily defended even though blunders certainly occurred (the biggest blunder being the lack of an articulate defense by the Bush Administration). I am proudly pro-Israel and I take a particular interest in Eastern Europe (I speak fluent Russian and Polish).
- Background and Credentials. I’m a convert to Conservatism even though politics runs in my blood. My father served as President Nixon’s appointment Secretary for a few years and I have relatives who have served in office. I cut my conservative teeth on Gingrich’s infamous University of Georgia lectures over C-Span while studying at BYU. I subscribed to the Washington Times (in Utah) and received the papers three days late (this was circa 1994). I ran part of the campaign for Tom Draschil (note the spelling) who ran against Chris Cannon in the Republican Primary in Utah’s third district (1996). Shortly afterward I moved to the DC area and worked for Aristotle Publishing (one of the biggest campaign technology vendors) before leaving to work in the private sector. Since that time I’ve helped run numerous campaigns and served as an RPV delegate some years ago. Most technophile conservatives would vouchsafe for me.
- Favorite Conservative Books. Russel Kirk, The Conservative Mind; Thomas Sowell, the Vision of the Anointed; Mark Steyn, America Alone (required reading I think); Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged & The Fountainhead; Lee Harris, Civilization and It’s Enemies; David Horowitz, Radical Son; Tofflers, Revolutionary Wealth; Rober Kaplan, Imperial Grunts, Lawrence Wright, The Looming Tower; Jonah Goldberg, Liberal Facism; Thomas Sowell, Economic Facts and Falacies; Dinesh D’Souza, Illiberal Education & The End of Racism; Douglas Feith, War and Decision; and several others.
- Blogs & Personalities. I listen to Rush occasionally and Hannity but I follow Hugh Hewitt very closely and I like Glenn Beck a lot. I read the Corner, Powerline Blog, Drudge, and a bunch of RSS feeds.
- Other I twitter (A LOT, in fact I won the award for best political use of Twitter in January). I’m known for my witty YouTube videos and mash-ups and I’m currently being sued by Don Henley
I hope this helps fill it out a bit
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May 26th by admin
Welcome aboard, matey!
What does “staunch conservative” mean?
Sorry, had to ask.
A definition of “staunch” ? – I’ll reveal my true colors piecemeal here as we continue our conversation. I will say this, edmundburkenator, I just started Kirk’s The Conservative Mind for a third time around now. Big fan of Burke.
What does “staunch conservative” mean?
Sorry, had to ask.
- edmundburkenator
It means Staunch Conservative.
Welcome back. Where have you been ? A temporary Hopey Changey coma ?
“Big fan of Burke.”
- Justin Hart
Justin don’t be fooled. Some are not what they appear. My friend EB is about as far from Burke as one can get. In his world our new president is the true conservative, the rest of us are posers. A very thoughtful fellow, yet a resident of the that parallel universe we keep hearing about, at least politically speaking that is.
Welcome! I hope you really are a conservative.
Just don’t be another ultra moderate like Loudoun Insider. We don’t need any more of them.
Stick it, Ryan. I am plenty conservative on plenty of issues, I’m just not a blind lemming follower. Get over it.
You mean you just foolow yourself?
Ryan, I mean I’m not a cookie cutter by the book “conservative” who only thinks how Rush Limbaugh tells me to think. I don’t follow anyone blindly.
Welcome aboard, Justin! I look forward to reading your pieces over time.
G, you missed me?
Justin, G would have you believe that every “convservative” believes what he believes — which never changes, no matter what the circumstances.
Ryan’s flavor of conservative begins with Genesis and ends with a Rapture.
Welcome.
justin,
welcome aboard. hope you really are a staunch conservative.
he’s better looking than the guy at NLS.
There are plenty of people claiming to be “staunch conservatives” here who are neither “staunch” nor very “conservative” in any meaningful sense of the word. And reading Kirk isn’t a conservative credential (though it couldn’t hurt). By that standard, I must be a Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist because, after all, I read them in college. Which raises other disturbing possibilities, because I also read Nixon….
Justin,
Welcome to Too Conservative. Specifically, welcome to the Loudoun blog world.
If you want the straight inside scoop on Loudoun Insider just give me a ring, I’ll fill you in.
Other than that, I welcome a new voice for debate. Foundational thinkers provide great venues for the ability for bloggers to exercise their 1st Amendment Rights. Without much other than your introduction I look forward to you being that foundation. A refreshing change is needed here at Too Conservative.
All the best.
Good to see you here, Justin!
The MyManMitt site was great – I can attest to the money you raised for him through your blogger connections.
Look forward to your comments here – and the discussions that will follow.
So are you going to be the Mullins right hand man for New Media?
Ok… I filled in the details above… enjoy.
As an emeritus member of the team, I welcome you. I must say, however, although I admire your reading list and wish more folks would follow your lead, virtually nothing you listed defines you as a political conservative in a Kirk-ian (Russell, not Captain James) way. Too many words applied to a very simple concept. The concept is that government is always a threat to human liberty and has to be contained. Liberty can take many forms – economic, entrepreneurial, artistic, etc. Fiscal conservatism is one means to limit government, but it is not an end in itself for conservatives. I do not believe there really is such a thing as a “conservative” foreign policy. In foreign policy, the labels are ill-fitting enough so as to be useless. The best foreign policy is the one that advances America’s security and economic interests.
Justin,
Steyn is a first rate conservative thinker. Have you read ‘The Road to Serfdom’ by Hayek?
Scout,
I would think it is safe to say that our foreign policy has not been ‘conservative’ for the past 20 years.
Justin, pay no mind to BlackOut. You’re not his type of political persuasion anyway. BlackOut, you know no more about the inside scoop on me than anyone else. And the world of TC goes way beyond Loudoun politics. I am the only one of three, now four, who gives a damn about it.
Back to the topic – the update is great and looks to be pretty darn conservative to me. But of course as soon as you go against the “conservative” group think you will be branded a heretic!
LI,
Heretic brings up such narty connotations … burning at the stake, public beheading etc. Kind of like what happened to Frederick.
not narty, nasty
Black Out / Loudoun Insider – for all I know, either one of you could be my neighbor or worse, my wife
Justin, another conservative voice in the blogosphere is welcomed. We look forward to seeing you on bloggers row this weekend at the Virginia Republican Convention in Richmond.
Ahh… thanks for the list Justin.
Agree with (as usual) NoVa Scout. Your list is hardly small “c” conservative. You seem to be another “movement” conservative (a oxymoron). Maybe you even hope for a “conservative revolution” (Burke would likely not approve).
Ryan, are Mormons Christians? You have the “Big Book of Who is a Christian and Who Isn’t” the last time I looked.
IMHO Mormons are Christian but Ryan is certainly entitled to his opinion… but I can tell you unequivocally that most Mormons are conservative:
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article3282.html
Justin, more likely your neighbor than your wife.
Human opinions about who is Christian and who is not are generally worthless. None of us is in a very good position to decide these things. There has never been any doubt in my mind, however, that, to the extent generalizations are ever useful, LDS (Mormons) are some of the best, most decent, most reliable folks in the world and that they know their way around the New Testament and its teachings as well as (probably better) than any group of Christians in other denominations. Other than competitive pressure for butts in the pews and coins in the plates, I have no idea why some Christian preachers go out of their way to denigrate Mormonism. They’ve done a lot of good in the world.
I am looking forward to reading your posts. I especially like the idea of full-spectrum conservatism.
Justin – welcome to the mayhem. With respect to your conservative bonafides, let’s cut to the chase with this simple question:
Gin Martini or Vodka Martini?
Ben – You obviously missed my teetotaling reference to my Mormon faith above… so I’m going to say: lemonade, please.
Welcome, Justin.
If you read WAAAYYY back on this blog, you’ll understand the Dover reference above. Dover IS a teetotaller.
“Ryan, are Mormons Christians? You have the “Big Book of Who is a Christian and Who Isn’t” the last time I looked.”
- edmundburkenator
I already answered that question. You just want to pick a fight.
“Human opinions about who is Christian and who is not are generally worthless.” – NoVA Scout
Amen.
But, Biblical facts are not worthless. The Bible is the ultimate authority. Rev 22:18 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:”
The LDS and the Mormon church (yes they are two different things) have added MANY wierd things to the Bible. (poligamy, being baptized for deceased relatives, becoming gods…)
In a previous thread I made this statement: “Although Mormons are not Christians they are great political allies” and might I add some of the most moral people on the planet.
Welcome Justin. I am not the Loudoun Lady that runs the blog linked here, I think she may have stolen my name.
I visit this site often and like Mitt Romney. It will be interesting to see how things play out for 2012, and in the meantime hear another perspective here on TC.
Hummm. Hey Ben Dover, I guess we’ll have to find some other credibility token, as I really don’t think lemonade cuts it.
Maybe we can go to favorite touring bike for our Mormon friends. Schwinn or Giant?
Ryan: Polygamy is not an unknown element of the Bible.
#33 – Justin – Fair enough. But I hope that your stated preference for lemonade versus Mike’s Hard Lemonade is motivated by religious convictions and not by some kind of left-wing, namby-pamby nonsense. Also, I’m hoping that while you can’t drink coffee or tea, or smoke an occassional cigar – that you don’t object to those who do.
BlackOut – you forgot Raleigh.
Ah, so true Sir Dover.
But I didnt’ want to confuse the issue with the great Sir Walter Raleigh. The astute source of knowledge, Wikipedia, noted several disturbing facts about SWR that kept the renowned Raleigh bike out of the sphere of choices.
– Raleigh developed a hatred of Catholicism and proved himself quick to express it.
–He is credited with having planted the first potatoes in Ireland [citation needed], but it is far more likely that the plant arrived in Ireland through trade with the Spanish. <ya right, he’s a liar, or at least lied to his wiki biographer)
–Raleigh was secretly married to Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton.
–His son Carew was conceived and born while Raleigh was legally “dead” and imprisoned in the Tower of London
–Raleigh was beheaded at Whitehall on 29 October 1618. “Let us dispatch”, he asked his executioner. “At this hour my ague comes upon me. I would not have my enemies think I quaked from fear.”
–his head was embalmed and presented to his wife. She died 29 years later and it was returned to Raleigh’s tomb after her death.
Anyway, good idea Sir Dover, but I am inclined to leave the Raleigh reference off for now.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Raleigh
Ah, so true Sir Dover.
But I didnt’ want to confuse the issue with the great Sir Walter Raleigh. The astute source of knowledge, Wikipedia, noted several disturbing facts about SWR that kept the renowned Raleigh bike out of the sphere of choices.
– Raleigh developed a hatred of Catholicism and proved himself quick to express it. (now that may go over at the Tabernacle, but not in greater Loudoun)
–He is credited with having planted the first potatoes in Ireland [citation needed], but it is far more likely that the plant arrived in Ireland through trade with the Spanish. (ya right, he’s a liar, or at least lied to his wiki biographer)
–Raleigh was secretly married to Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton. (this could be offensive to mormons, why hide it)
–His son Carew was conceived and born while Raleigh was legally “dead” and imprisoned in the Tower of London (now that is bizarre, I am not sure what to say about that)
–Raleigh was beheaded at Whitehall on 29 October 1618. “Let us dispatch”, he asked his executioner. “At this hour my ague comes upon me. I would not have my enemies think I quaked from fear.” (maybe he was a Quaker and all this is moot)
–his head was embalmed and presented to his wife. She died 29 years later and it was returned to Raleigh’s tomb after her death. <oh my, who needs head ever night for 29 years)
Anyway, good idea Sir Dover, but I am inclined to leave the Raleigh reference off for now.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Raleigh
TC moderator, please delete my post of 8:59 and then this one.
For some reason this blog application does not accept symbols accurately.
Ryan: Polygamy is not an unknown element of the Bible.
- NoVA Scout
Yes. In the Old Testament. It was as wrong then as it is now. Christians say 1man+1women=Marriage. Why? Because God said in Gen 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Any deviation from this is, was, and will be, wrong.