Clear, decisive ideological lines have been drawn across the American political landscape since the election of President Obama. Something about our current President has caused more public dissent and agitation than any election I can recall.

At first these lines in the sand knit themselves together with the organic yarn of concerned neighbors holding small rallies. Those modest but critical early efforts were the precursor to the now famous and very influential Tea Party movement.Numbers grew. There were town hall meetings repeated across the country which pitted concerned voters against their elected officials who lost their way in a manner reminiscent of an earlier, simpler time, and with just as much passion.

Still, against overwhelming opposition by the American people, health care reform was forced through, as was the government’s full and complete takeover of student loans, with much more damage on the way.These events follow the takeover of automotive companies, the banking industry and now, while government employees suffer from a 4% unemployment rate, the country is suffering a 17% unemployment rate.

The polls consistently and without exception show a level of anger among the electorate I have not previously witnessed. With respect to health care reform, even Bill and Hillary Clinton dropped the matter entirely and moved toward the political center when public opinion unequivocally showed that the American people did not want such legislation. During that time, the publics distaste for national health care was but a shadow of what it is today.

But that was over a decade ago. This current administration, operating on the simple and completely incorrect notion that well-educated acadmics know better than the average, unwashed citizen and, moreover, that this group of elite liberals must drag the unwashed masses kicking and screaming into the 21st century where government goes from being large to omnipotent, where the sheer force of a liberal agenda, finding itself in a brief pocket of time where they control the House, Senate and administration, can muscle through laws and mandates that, even on a cellular level, are antithetical to what has made this nation so great.

So what’s next for Conservatives? I am so impressed and full of pride at the work my fellow Patriots have done over the past year, and I want to suggest a few bullet points regarding where we need to go next.

1. Conservatives need to make the effort to read, listen to and support their fellow Patriots who are producing quality blog posts, internet radio broadcasts, etc. If you have a website or blog, you need to link to like-minded blogs and weave the stitch tighter. In short, support those among us who are trying to make a difference. Avail yourself of modern technology. Do your part and support those who are doing theirs.

2. Use Twitter to share important news of the day. Use Twitter to share links to the colums  written by your fellow Tweeps and Patriots. We must knit ourselves together, get to know one another better, and put the larger purpose above any single, personal goal.

3. We must win over, as much as possible, the opposing side. I was once a liberal, and thanks to people like you I was converted and have become a player in this fight to keep America’s core values in tact. So it can and must be done. Reach out to those who offer diametrically opposed viewpoints. Use a little humor and finesse. Preaching to the converted means you end up with the same number of intellectual soiders as when you began. 

4. Every Patriot should be emailing and calling their local representatives weekly. Make it routine. Place it high on your priority list. A constant onslaught of feedback from Conservatives to their representatives can go a long way.

5. Read the Bill of Rights, The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”. Know your argument better than your opposition knows theirs. Fight with facts, not insults. We all know that their prescription for change ends in bankruptcy and a failed nation. But if you do your reading you’ll be that much more convincing.

The current administration is on a spurious and anti-free-market End-Run, gearing up to pass as much partisan, socialistic legislation possible before the mid-term elections shift the political balance once again, preventing the further arrogant use of arcane legislative loop-holes. By knitting ourselves together tightly, interacting with each other beyond what we have done, supporting our fellow Patriots and their media efforts (blogs, websites, Internet radio programming),  we will have a tremendous impact.

What can You do? Subscribe, listen, write to those websites that are doing the heavy lifting. Keep in mind we are still a center-right country, and know that by building friendships, reaching out to the unconverted and staying on message will go a very long way to positioning ourselves for November.

Keep the faith.
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Lady Libertas would like to to take today, Easter Sunday and a Holy Week for the Jews, to reflect on American Exceptionalism and what it means to us in the weeks and months ahead.

There is no doubt that the past year has been a long one and alot of work.  The American People – tired of the expansion of overreach of the Federal Government with bailouts and policies causing taxpayer fatigue – came together in the past year under the Tea Party and other Conservative Activist banners like 912.

“Taxed Enough Already” is the modern day emanation of “Taxation with Representation”.  We are Americans first – we want limited government, lower taxes and the freedom of opportunity.  We like to wave flags, remember our Heritage as a Nation and honor Our Founders.

We believe that the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation are some of the most radical documents in the world.  We also believe that these documents have formed the base of the most Exceptional country in the world and they are as relevant today as when they were written.

Freedom is in our DNA.  Americans escaped the rule of a Tyrant to come to this dangerously beautiful land.

For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.  John Winthrop, “City Upon a Hill” speech, 1630

Americans built one of the most unique political systems in the world.  We fought the Empire of Great Britain and survived a Revolution to win.  To Win and To Succeed and become a Beacon of Freedom for the entire world.

What then is the American, this new man?…He is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He has become an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all races are melted into a new race of man, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. Americans are the western pilgrims. (from “Letter III,” 1782 by J. Hector St. John De Crevecoeur)

Americans have formed a culture that makes us Unique and identifiable as “American” everywhere we go.  The Values and Spirit upon which America were founded still hold firm today.

• “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Declaration of Independence
• “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington
• “I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson

We are Americans not Socialists.  We have an American Work Ethic not a Socialist work ethic.

We are unique and NOT WILLING to be absorbed into the cattle call of Socialism.  Nor are we willing to have our  government violate the Will of the People to advance an agenda that undermines American values and the American way of life “for our own good”.

Freedom is the Freedom of Opportunity.  The opportunity to make what you will of your life and success to be as you define it and achieve it.

Freedom is not the government mandating a redistribution of wealth, introducing Socialist ideals and expanding government into every nook and cranny of the American people’s lives.

Today, we break bread with our families and friends.  We meditate on Renewal and Resurrection.  We rally because tomorrow is a New Day … Our Day.

Leave behind the accusations and lies of the past week.  Forge your anger into chains of determination.

We are Americans.  We are Exceptional.  We are here to take our country back.

Lady Libertas wishes all of you a Blessed Easter Sunday and Holy Week.  Hug your families tight – We fight for them!

Spread Liberty.  Remember in November.  We begin again!

See the land, her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose.
Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,
Burst at last from winter snows.
Earth with heaven above rejoices…  ~Charles Kingsley

Ted Poe (R-Texas), attempts to defend the ideals and intent of the United States Constitution despite the rhetoric.

Liberals have long since learned that debating Conservatives can be a challenging endeavor, since Conservatives have a penchant for fortifying their arguments with facts, statistics, history and other elements that create convincing and thoughtful arguments.

Not to worry. The following are several tips Liberals can use right away to begin defeating Conservatives in every debate, every time.

Lib Tip # 1: Drop the Race Card: The moment your Conservative opponent begins crafting a cogent, air-tight argument buttressed in fact, drop the race card. This technique is designed to stifle further discussion, impugns your opponent and puts him on the defensive. Often, this is enough of a distraction to direct attention away from your lack of qualitative, quantitative evidence.

Lib Tip # 2: Impugn the Source: When debating a Conservative, content is less important than character. When your Conservative opponent states a compelling argument, do not address the argument and instead attack the Conservative personally. Since we are all sinners, it shouldn’t take long to find something wrong with your opponent. Use it.

Lib Tip # 3: Social Justice Trumps Logic: Argue every issue from a “Social Justice” or “Moral” high-ground. The Conservative will attempt to show that your ideas are unworkable, unsustainable or downright illogical. Don’t worry about any of that. Just stay on message by arguing from the moral, social justice perspective.

Lib Tip # 4: Exploit the Weakest Link: Define your opponent by his weakest link. If 10,000 Tea Partiers hold a rally, and one guy has a placard that is inappropriate, that is all you need to characterize the entire group as radical, racist militants. See how that works? It’s simple and fun and, most importantly, deflects all those awkward facts and articulate points away from the discussion and leaves the Conservative in a defensive mode.

Lib Tip # 5: Use “New Speak”: If health care is not a right according to the Constitution, and you want it to be a right, claim it is and then raise your voice. Raising your voice is always the best course of action in lieu of a good argument. Redefine words to suit your needs, and always be on guard for any stray, powerful fact or statistic the Conservative may use to support their position.

Lib Tip # 6: State the Opposite of what you believe: If you are in favor of taking money from producers and giving it to non-producers, that’s fine, but make sure your wording is a bit more obtuse than that. Try saying you are in favor of moral and social justice, and characterize everyone who earns a good living as somehow having won the lottery in life, and all those who want as being desperately hard-working folks who have an almost allergic reaction to hand-outs. Never imply or point out in any way that people can change their situation simply by making better decisions.

Lib Tip # 7: Define America by it’s Errors, not its Successes: Taking a cue from Lib Tip # 4, it is important to characterize America by it’s errors in judgement and misdeeds. It is critical that you completely overlook the good things America has done, and the manner in which it has beaten back one dictatorship after another. In fact, you must go to some lengths to divert people from the notion that without America, the world would be a far more dangerous, hostile, sad place. So talk about Indians and Slaves.

Lib Tip # 8: Blame talk radio and FOX news for fanning hate and racism: Avoid at all costs the fact that both talk radio and FOX news stand in defiant refutation of an otherwise fully agreeable media that presents only one template, a liberal template. Also, attempt to divert attention should someone ask why Conservative Talk Radio and FOX news is growing  exponentially, while traditional, liberal media is closing offices, thinning their employees and running deficits like, you know, the government.

Lib Tip # 9: Government is Good: Insist that a massive expansion of government is a good thing. Assert that it is our patriotic duty to pay ever more in taxes so that a centralized government comprised of east and west coast Liberal elites can decide what is best for the unwashed masses, since it would be sheer lunacy to allow individuals the right to make decisions for themselves. If you run into problems, see Tips 1-8.

Lib Tip # 10: Assign Blame away from Yourself: Always assign blame to the other guy, preferably a Conservative. This may require rewriting history so that people may one day believe that Reagan did NOT usher in 25 years of prosperity, or it may require still more retooling of the content of public school text books. But over time we’ll get there.

Remember: The ends justify the means. No matter how cruel and violating the means may be, if it results in a mediocre society where all citizens ultimately suck off the the government for their most meager needs, it will all be worthwhile.

There is of course the small matter of where all the money for all these programs will come from. Right now, they come from spirited entrepreneurs, dreamers with drive and other people whose passion poses a direct threat to the new world we want to usher in.

But first things first. Learn the ten tips to squelch free speech, hurt your opponent with the intellectual equivelant of a kick to the groin and avoid facts, statistics and studies altogether, as those will get you in trouble.

Good luck Liberals! Battle on and remember what Dennis Prager said: The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen. Oh wait, no. You don’t want to remember that. My bad. Here, try this: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Yeah, that’s the one. Whew!

Staff Writer

Podcasting has quickly grown to become a highly competitive info-market. Busy people want information, but need it on demand, on their terms, and podcast listener-ship has grown exponentially due to advances in do-it-yourself technology and enormous access provided by iTunes and others.

At the top of the podcast kingdom are a couple hundred top-rated shows that are largely re-broadcasts of already popular radio programs, such as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and others. There are also a handful of podcasts that reached the top without any name notoriety, but by simply producing a great show and having it catch on.

One such podcast that hopes to fall into the latter group is The Persistent Conservative. Having published its first show on November 11, 2009, it’s still new and much of its popularity is due to word of mouth from a core group of conservative fans on Twitter.

After a painfully boring, tedious learning curve in how to podcast correctly, Collin Buck and Scot Cerullo managed to find the right software, microphones and working knowledge to put together and publish a decidedly right of center political program that differs from other shows in many ways.

“The idea was to put together a weekly show that was irreverent, informative, almost like a magazine, with content juxtaposed to itself,” Co-Founder Scot Cerullo said. “Recording a funny skit back-to-back with thoughtful content, along with a variety of other entertaining elements, satire and music has been our goal.”

The podcast, which began with two subscribers, Scot and Collin, has grown on average by over 150 new subscribers per month through the iTunes portal and their website, also of the same name, and with conservative fans on Twitter and numerous Google searches, continues gaining strength.

One of the mainstays of the weekly podcast is a segment titled Green Tip of the Week, in which Collin and Scot spoof the political left with “letters” written by listeners, exclaiming how they are attempting to reduce their carbon footprint, make better use of green energy, but always with a politically incorrect solution, and always designed to point out the “lunacy of the left”.

Another show element that sets The Persistent Conservative apart from some of its competitors is Collin Buck’s impressions of Arnold Swartzenager, Bill Cosby, Obama, Sean Connery and many other characters, who are written into loosely-followed scripts that create caricatures and over-the-top scenarios that have met with considerable approval from listeners.

“We want to deliver a message, and to do so we have to keep our audience interested and entertained,” Scot said.” “So the first rule of thumb we follow is not taking ourselves too seriously.”

No one has accused the creative duo of taking themselves too seriously. In one recent episode, they were bragging about their new tinfoil hats and in another how they had recently made upgrades to what they call the “Liberal Defense Grid”, a supposed electronic smart fence that protects “Cabin 1″ from stray liberals who per chance wander onto the property. (Cabin 1, for the uninitiated, is the location from which the podcast is supposedly recorded. It is claimed to be a real cabin set deep in the farmland of Upstate New York).

Both Scot and Collin are intent on growing the show to professional standards, and to keep it fresh with new ideas, new content and input from listeners. “We want to be responsive to what our audience is saying,” Collin said. “We want to appeal to a large demographic but also pay tribute to the guy in the back of the room with some one-off humor and occasional references that only a true political wonk would get.”

The art of  “old-style radio” may well be coming full circle in this podcast effort, with the use of sounds, humor, acting, skits, along with good, solid content. If you are interested in checking out this new kind of political show, you can subscribe free at iTunes. Just type in “The Persistent Conservative” in the search box, click subscribe, and that’s it.

*Editor’s Note: Collin Buck is an award-winning sales trainer, possesses a Mensa-level IQ and has a photographic memory. Scot Cerullo is an award-winning sleight-of-hand magician, former delegate in the 1984 election cycle, and likes shiny things.