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InThisIssue…

3 NovemberinReview3 DecemberEvents4 GWRepublicansSupportthe

Troops

ConservativePerspective5 AMessagefromtheChairman,

BrandonHines6 SarahPalin’sGoingRogue:Book

Review,AlissaOrlando7 TheDangerof“PoliticallyCorrect”,

MichaelRusso8 TheWaronTerror:President

ObamaisFailingUs,AshleyColburn

GWCollegeRepublicansattheCR/CDfootballgame.

DebatersSamDewittandMosesWeisbergatourCR/CDEnergyDebate

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NOVEMBERinreview11/3 ElectionDay—VictorypartyinColumbianPlaza11/11 Veteran’sDay11/14 Triptogunrange11/16 CR/CDDebateonEnergyPolicy11/20 TriptoWalterReidHospital11/22 CR/CDfootballgame11/26 Thanksgiving11/30 SpecialElectionforPRDirector

DECEMBERevents12/8 CRChristmasEnd‐of‐SemesterPartyat

Tonic12/14 Goodluckonfinals!12/25 HaveaMerryChristmasandaHappyNew

Year!SeeyouintheSpring!

Alleventslistedaresubjecttochange.OtherCReventswillbeannouncedoverthelistserv.CRmembersmayattendourweeklyExecutiveBoardMeetingseveryMondayat9PMintheMarvinCenter

SophomoreSamDewittdebatesenergypolicy

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Thismonth,theGWCollegeRepublicansvisitedtheWalterReedHospital,amedicalcenterthatservesmorethan150,000activeandretiredmilitarypersonnel.WavingAmericanflagsandholdingup“SupporttheTroops”signs,membersralliedaroundthemedicalcentertoshowsupportforourwoundedsoldiers.

Inaddition,theGWCollegeRepublicansaresendingChristmascarepackagestoanengineeringunitinIraq(featuredbelow)toexpressourgratitudefortheirbraveservicetoourcountry.Tocontribute,contactCynthiaMeyeratCynthia@gwrepublicans.orgbeforeDecember11th,2009

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DearfriendsandfellowRepublicans,

IwasaskedrecentlywhatIwouldsaytoUniversityPresidentStevenKnappifIbumpedintohiminanelevator.WithoutmissingabeatIrepliedthatasithappensonjustsuchoccasions,Iinvitehimtooureventsandshamelesslyboastaboutoursuccess.But,asIreplied,theelevatorridetothesixthfloorofRiceHallisusuallynotlongenoughtotellhimaboutalltheincrediblethingstheGWCollegeRepublicansareaccomplishing.Fromthecampaigntrailtothespeakers,fromthepolicydebatestoWalterReedArmyMedicalHospitaltothankourtroops—notbad,notbadatall…ifIdosaysomyself.Weareaccomplishingwhatwesetouttodothisyear,andweshouldbeveryproudofourimpressiverecord.Butbeforewestoptobaskinourowngloryfortoolong,itisimportanttorememberthatwestillhaveanotherexcitingsemesterjustaroundthecornerthatwillrequirejustasmuchhardworkandtheenthusiasmofsupporterslikeyou.Afterall,GWisstillaliberalcampus,andtheworkofrepresentingandpromotingconservativeprinciplesintheDistrictofColumbiaisneverdone.JusttheotherdayintheCRofficeIwasmusingwithsomefriendsthatitseemedlikePresidentBush’seightyearsflewbyincomparisontothesnailspaceofPresidentObama’sfirstyear.Itseemslike2012can’tcomefastenough.Lately,itisthispunchdrunkmoodthatmanyRepublicansfindthemselvesin.BiggovernmentliberalsledbyPresidentObamaspentajaw‐dropping$3.5trillionjustthisyearalone.What’sevenmorestaggeringisthatthisliberalspendingspreehasstillnotyieldedthejobsoreconomicgrowthwewerepromised.

Banksarestillnotmakingloans,andGMstillisn’tprofitable.The“shovelreadyprojects”stillhaven’tstemmedthejobhemorrhaging.The“cashforclunkers”programstimulatedtheeconomyofJapan.Thisdismalreportcardissetagainstthebackdropofplansforevenmorespendingforhealthcarereformandacap‐and‐tradeenergypolicythatwillkilljobs.ItseemstheonlyplantheDemocratshadfortheeconomywastothrowtaxpayermoneyattheproblemwithasprinkleofsomeempty,haughtyObamarhetoric.Asbleakasthepresident’sstewardshipoftheeconomymaylook,itisnowherenearasbrightashisrapturouslysuccessfulworldwideapologytour.Afterall,thepresidentdidwintheNobelPeacePrizethisyear.Clearly,thosebowscertainlycountedforsomething,andbesides,asfarastheObamaadministrationisconcerned,“Americanexceptionalism”justisn’tinVogueanymore.But,wehavesomesignsofhope.BobMcDonnell’sspectacularvictoryinVirginia—a24‐pointturnaroundinjustoneyear—isasignthattheGOPmessageisjusttherightmedicineforAmericansrecoveringfromtheirObamahangover.(It’sok‐wedon’tknowwhatyouwerethinkingeither;noone’sperfect).VirginiavotersfoundacandidatetorallybehindinBobMcDonnell,andboydidwefindacandidatetogetexcitedaboutaswell.Istillfondlyremember

AMessagefromChairmanHines

6Governor‐electMcDonnelltearingoffhissuitjacketandproudlysportinghisstylishCRt‐shirtandworkingthecrowdinourpackedballroomforoveranhouratthekickoffrallyheheadlinedforusbackinSeptember.TheMcDonnellcampaignfocusedonthreeissues:creatingjobs,reforminggovernment,andmakingVirginiathenation’sleaderinenergyindependence.Bob’svisionforafreercommonwealththatsupportsbusinessfriendlypolicies,fiscalrestraintinRichmond,andideastoutilizeVirginia’srichnaturalresourcestolowerenergycostsandcreategreen‐jobs,wasthekindofresults‐orientedmessagevoterswerelookingfor,andthekindofideasthatRepublicanscanpointto

andbeproudof.Aswemoveforward,Ican’thelpbutfeeloneyearintoPresidentObama’stermthatweareall

inthistogether.Itreallyisn’tanoptiontohopethatwe’lljumpoutofbedtomorrowanditwillbeJanuary20th,2013.Soon,we’llgohomefortheholidaystobewithourfriendsandfamiliesandtheconversationsatthedinnertablewillturntothefamilyfriendthat’slostajob,orthefamilyrelativethat’sshippingofftoAfghanistan.Theseseriousissuesareremindersthatpoliticsisnota

spectatorsport.Wecan’tsitaroundandwastetimemusingoverwhothepresidentialcandidatesfor2012aregoingtobe.Weneedtotakeactionnow.LeaderslikeBobMcDonnellhavegivenushopethatwecanbeginthecomeback;thatourpartyhasthebestideastoensureafreer,strongerAmerica.But,fornow,IaskforyourcontinuedsupportoftheCollegeRepublicansaswecontinueinearnestthisspringtheworkofrepresentingandpromotingourcause.Iwishyou,andyourfamilyaveryblessedholidayseasonandahappy,healthy,andprosperousnewyear.

Yoursverytruly,

“LeaderslikeBobMcDonnellhavegivenushopethatwecanbeginthecomeback;thatourpartyhasthebestideastoensureafreer,strongerAmerica.”

WalkingaroundcampusholdingabookwithSarahPalinonthecoverdressedinacrispredsuitwhileshestaresserenelyintoanidyllicblueskyisquitetheconversationstarterhereatGW.PeoplestoppedmeattheStarbucksnexttoGelman,thetablesinMarvinacrossfromEnergyZone,andthebenchesinKogantoaskmeaboutthebook.SomewereincredulousIwastakingthetimetoreadit.Othersaskedifitwasincrediblyamusing.Oneguygavemeahighfive.Allofthisforcedmetoask—WhyisSarahPalin

SarahPalin’sGoingRogue:BookReviewAlissaOrlando

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suchaconversationstarter?Many,myselfincluded,expectedPalin’sautobiography,GoingRogue,tobeapersuasivepieceaboutwhysheshouldbetheGOPpresidentialnomineein2012.However,thisisfarfromthecase.Theonlytomentiontoherfuturepoliticalaspirationsareinthelastchapter,“TheWayForward”,whichislessthan20pageslong.Butshedoesquoteherfatherwhosays,“Sarah’snotretreating;she’sreloading!”Soifherautobiographywasn’tapitchforapresidentialnomination,whatwasthepurposeofGoingRogue?Inmyopinion,itwasachanceforhertotellherstory—withoutKatieCouricandtheliberalmediaeditingherwordstomakeherseemlikeafoolish,unintelligentCaribouBarbie.Pleasantly,GoingRogueismoreofapersonal,ratherthanapolitical,memoir.Shediscusseseverythingfromherearlychildhood—fromherschoolteacherfatherencouragedhertoreadinsteadofwatchingtelevision,tomeetingarebelliousToddinhighschool,topayingherownwaythroughcollege,tothetrialsandjoysofmarriageandmotherhood.Butwhatmakesthebooktrulyspecialisthesmalldetailssheprovidesthatofferintimateinsight

intoherpersonalandprofessionallife.Apparently,sheusedpinkandgreenforhersignsinherWasillamayoralcampaignbecausenoonehadusedthosecolorsbefore.Apparently,whenshefoundoutherunbornsonTrighadDownsyndrome,thisunapologeticallypro‐lifewomanunderstoodwhyawomanmightconsideranabortion.Apparently,aconversationwithher

daughterBristolwhenpickingherupfromherbaristajobhelpedclarifySarah’seconomicpolicy.However,shedoestaketimetodiscussherpoliticalcareer.Shepaintsherselfinafavorablelightwhendescribinghersuccessattrimmingthebudget,reducingcorruption,andpromotingenergydevelopmentwhileservingasmayorofWasillaand

governorofAlaska.AlthoughshedoescriticizesomeoftheMcCaincampaign’sdecisionsandsomeofthecampaignstaff,specificallyseniorcampaignstrategistSteveSchmidt,sheneverwritesanillwordaboutherrunningmateJohnMcCain.GoingRogueindirectlyexplainswhySarahPalinissuchaconversationtopic.Shehasverystrongconvictions,bothpersonalandpolitical,andshe’snotafraidtoexpressanddefendthem.Eveniftheonlywaytodosoisbygoingrogue.

WhowouldhavethoughtthatthelargestArmyinstallationinthecontinentalU.S.wouldbevictimofsuchanactasmassmurder?ThetragedyofFortHoodwillberememberedforyearstocomeasamomentofshockandtragedyfortheArmyandthenation.Weagainhavetocometogripswiththethreatswefaceathome.However,thissamelessonisbeingoutrightignoredbytheObamaadministration,whichformallyseesthisasjustanothertragicshooting.AftertheFortHoodshooting,PresidentObamaimmediatelymadethestatementthatweoughttonot“jumptoconclusions”byblamingradicalIslam.

ThereisnodoubtthatthiswasaterroristactofjihadagainsttheUnitedStates.NidalHasanisatraitorandaterrorist.Itisthatsimple.Unfortunatelyforthe13victimsoftheFortHoodattacks,theArmyneveradmittedthisbeforehand.TheArmyandthemilitaryasawholehavebeentryingtobring“diversity”totheirranksforyears,butwhy?Andatwhatcost?TheArmyhasthroughitshistorybeenmoreacceptingofdiversitythanthecountryasawholeitsentireexistence.ThefirstcommanderofanAmericanArmy,GeorgeWashington,consideredhisblackassistanthisbestfriend.TheArmyenlistedblacksbeforethe

TheDangerof“PoliticallyCorrect”MichaelRusso

“[GoingRogue]wasachanceforhertotellherstory—withoutKatieCouricandtheliberalmediaeditingherwordstomakeherseemlikeafoolish,unintelligentCaribouBarbie.”

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WhenmostAmericansheartheword“terrorism,”imagesoftheTalibanandalQaedacometomind.ButtherealdangertoAmericancitizensandinnocentMiddleEasternciviliansisSyriaanditscontinuedsupportofterroristorganizations,suchasHezbollah,Hamas,FatahalIslam,andIslamicJihad.Recently,PresidentObamaannouncedthathewantedimprovedrelationswithSyria,andthatheis“goingtobeofferingahandoffriendship,”tothehostilecountry.Butthiscouldbetheworstforeignpolicydecisionofhispresidency.ThestructureoftheSovietUnionisamodelfortheBaa’thregime,whichistherulingArabSocialistregimeinSyria.Throughsupportingterroristorganizations,SyriahasconstantlybeenanavidaggressorofconflictsintheMiddleEast.Forexample,afterthe1982LebaneseWar,Hezbollah—supportedbySyria—bombedtheU.S.EmbassyinBeirutinretaliationforaidinginthepeaceprocessandsupportingdemocracyinMiddleEasterncountries.SyriawasalsoresponsiblefortheassassinationsofdemocraticLebaneseleadersKamalJumblattandRafikHariri.DeputySecretaryofStateRichardArmitagecalledHezbollahan“A‐teamofterrorists.”Hezbollahcontinuestodevastatemanyaspectsof

TheWaronTerror:PresidentObamaisFailingUsAshleyColburn

14thAmendmentpassed,anditwasdesegregatedoveradecadebeforetheCivilRightsAct.WhyisitnowthattheArmymustbeattackedbysomeasnotdiverseenough?Yes,themajorityoftheofficercoreiswhite,andtheenlistedrankshavelargeamountsofminorities,butshouldthekeypositionsoftheArmybeallottedonanAffirmativeactionbasis?No.Andshouldpoliticalpressurebeappliedtomaketheofficercoremorediverse?Absolutelynot.Minoritiesshouldbeencouragedtoenlist,asshouldallAmericans,andtheyshouldreceiveevenmoreencouragementtobecomeanofficerinanalreadyshorthandedmilitaryofficercorps.However,DemocratCharlieRangeladvocatesbringingbackthedrafttomakethemilitarymore“representativeofthepeople.”Whysubjectourmilitarytopoliticalcorrectness?Thisisournationalsecurityatrisk.ThecaseofMajorHasanisstunning.TherewereclearsignspriortotheFortHoodincidentthatdemonstratedhisradicalism,anti‐Americanism,andpro‐terroristsentiments.TheArmymissed,orevenignoredthesewarningsduetopressurefromtheLefttobemorediverse.TheArmy’sleadershipfounditselfinapositionofhavingtoinvestigateaMuslimofficer.Buttheydecidednottosothattheycouldavoidanyaccusationsofracialorreligionbasedprofiling.TheArmyandtheotherArmedServiceshavebowedtoperceivedpressurefortheappearanceofdiversity.Hasanisnottheonlycasewherepressureforpoliticalcorrectnessinfluencedthemilitary.ArecentexampleofthisiswasColorGuardthatappearedattheWorldSeriesatYankeestadium.Itwasreportedtohavehadseveralmembersreplacedforthegamesoitwouldnotbeallwhiteandallmale.Therearedangerousconsequencestosuccumbingtopoliticalcorrectnessinoursociety—andespeciallyinourmilitary.Hasan’speerswarnedtheArmyofhisradicalbeliefs—includinghissympathizingwithterroristsinGazaandtheWestBank,andhisopenhatredforthewarinAfghanistan.Realistically,iftheArmy

hadpursuedthesereportstheywouldhavefacedamadfuryofcondemnationfromgroupsliketheACLUandeventheObamaAdministration(whichstillwillnotcalltheFort

HoodAttacksanactofterror).PresidentObamahasputthemilitaryandtheintelligencecommunityintothestickypositionofhavingtocompromiseoursecurityforthesakeofpoliticalcorrectness.UnlessherecognizesthattheWaronTerrordoesinfactexist,andthatthereare

individualsinthisworldwhohavedeclaredaviolentwarontheWest,thenwecanexpect

“Therearedangerousconsequencestosuccumbingtopoliticalcorrectnessinoursociety—andespeciallyinourmilitary.”

9Lebanesesociety,suchasabusinghumanrights,illegallywire‐tapping,torturingtheLebanese,andkidnappingpoliticiansandoutspokenactivists.IthasmethodicallydestroyedLebanon'sdemocraticinstitutions,whichhavebeensabotagedasaresultfromtheirtamperinginLebanon’sparliamentaryelections.IthasannihilatedLebanon’sindependentmedia,thejudiciarysystem,schools,andlaborunions.TheU.S.hastriedtoinitiateapeaceprocesswithSyria,butSyriahasalwaysrefused.Syria’sinvolvementandsupportofinterrorismhascontributedtothedestructionoftheIsraeli‐Palestinianpeaceprocess.Notonlydotheyfundtheseorganizations,buttheyalsoallowtheircountrytobeabasecampforterrorists.Forexample,Damascus,thecapitalofSyria,currentlyallowstheterroristgroupIslamicJihadtostationitsheadquartersthereundisturbed.SyriahasprovidedassistanceandsheltertotheKurdistanWorkers’Party,whichhasoperatedagainstTurkey,anAmericanally,

sincethe1990s.Also,SyriacontinuestotransferRussianweaponsfromIrantoHezbollah.SowhywouldPresidentObamawanttobefriendSyria—aviscous,violent,andanti‐AmericancountrythatperpetuallydestroysthepossibilityofMiddleEastdemocracy?PresidentObamacannotusesoftpowerpolicyifhewantstoprotecttheUnitedStatesandthevulnerablecountriesthatsurroundSyria.Republicanshavealwaysbeenthepartythatstandsfordemocraticsovereigntyandinternationalliberty.ItisuptoRepublicanstoinfluenceourcurrentandfutureforeignpolicy.PresidentObamacannotwintheWaronTerrorifheisafraidtouseforceandwantstonegotiatewithterrorists.IthasbeentoughforRepublicanstoinfluenceAmericanlawmakinginaDemocrat‐controlledCongressandWhiteHouse.Itisuptous,thefuturepoliticalleaders,tosupportRepublicanleadersastheystandstrongagainstterrorismandpromotedemocracyintheMiddleEast.

Photocredit:GWHatchet

CollegeRepublicanJorgeGadala‐MariashootingwiththeGWCollegeRepublicans.

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