2012 Presidential Candidates The American Crossroad November 8th, 2012 After a bruising two-year battle (let’s face it, the presidential race effectively commenced immediately after the 2010 Congressional elections), an estimated cumulative $6 billion in campaign expenditures, dozens of Letterman’s Top Ten Lists, and several thousand hours’ worth of political ads (remember this ?), the 2012 United States Presidential Election finally concluded with President Barack Obama securing a second term in office. One more time, in case anyone missed it: $6,000,000,000. This is larger than the entire annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the 54 smallest economies in the world. It’s even larger than the 2011 GDP of the Principality of Monaco, where billionaires spend their summers watching $7 million F1 race cars zooming around town. It’s larger than the combined 2010 and 2011 GDP of the Cayman Islands. It’s larger than Grenada's last ten years’ GDP, where Clint Eastwood once famously led an American invasion force. Wait, that was Heartbreak Ridge . Was it worth it?

You bet. Every single cent was worth it, regardless of how one looks at it. We are, after all, speaking about electing the leader of the most powerful country in the entire recorded human history, either relative or absolute. However, President Obama’s victory doesn’t appear to be banishing the sense of uncertainty that is enveloping the nation. America appears to be more divided than ever in the backdrop of the most challenging economic climate in living memory. The $16 trillion albatross hanging around the country’s metaphorical neck only adds to the growing anxiety of the populace. Congress is still split between the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate. And to top it all off, perhaps the sight of what many consider as the most contentious, spiteful and fractious presidential election ever, between two equally forceful candidates, has led many Americans to look at the future with a little trepidation. There seems to be a growing culture of hatred in the national political discourse. Surely the country has never faced anything even remotely similar to this, right? Wrong. Compared to what the nation experienced in the third presidential election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, what we are seeing now is child’s play.

When George Washington indicated his preference for John Adams to be his Vice President in 1789, such was his stature, the Confederation Congress and state electors fell in line and voted accordingly, despite concerns over his volatile temperament. So when Washington declined to run for a third term in office, and spend his retirement in Mount Vernon, there was a scramble for the presidency. The most influential Federalist in Philadelphia, Alexander Hamilton, was fearful that Vice President Adams might decide to back off from running in favor of his good friend, the genius Thomas Jefferson. Everyone still remembered that Adams was the main reason why Jefferson was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence a decade earlier. After the death of his wife, Martha, Jefferson sought companionship with Adams and his wife, Abigail, and became a frequent guest at their home. Jefferson even developed a strong platonic friendship with Abigail Adams. In fact, Jefferson had a habit of buying presents for Abigail during his travels. Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams (Paris, Sep. 25, 1785) “Mr. Short's return the night before last availed me of your favour of Aug. 12. I immediately ordered the shoes you desired which will be ready tomorrow.

I am not certain whether this will be in time for the departure of Mr. Barclay or of Colo. Franks, for it is not yet decided which of them goes to London. I have also procured for you three plateaux de dessert with a silvered ballustrade round them, and four figures of Biscuit.” Hamilton and his allies, advocates of a strong, centralized federal Republic, were fearful of Jefferson’s populist, small and regionalized government concept. So Hamilton began a character assassination campaign against the popular and well respected Jefferson. Explosive stories about a colored harem in his Virginia estate became the talk of town, courtesy of widely distributed poison-pen letters. Jefferson's private statements about equal rights for the slaves drew gasps of horror. Most damaging though, was the allegation that he fathered a child with his black concubine, Sally Hemings. Adams, by virtue of his Vice Presidency and being the public face of the Federalist faction, took the blame for most of Hamilton’s machinations. Hamilton, who was holding a grudge against Jefferson for publicizing his affair with a married woman several year earlier, was hell bent on destroying Jefferson’s public standing and his friendship with Adams.

Even as their relationship deteriorated, Jefferson and Adams fully understood the role that Hamilton played. So much so, Jefferson referred to Hamilton as the devil several times in public, while Adams called him a ‘fiend’ in private. Nonetheless, their friendship waned, and both men ran for the presidency in 1796. Despite Jefferson’s early favorite status, he was ultimately defeated by Adams in the election. However, he received enough electoral votes to become Vice President. At the time, the person with the second highest Electoral College count is automatically appointed Vice President. And thus, the stage was set for a rematch in 1800. This time, Jefferson, aided by his right-hand man, James Madison (another future president), marshaled the Democratic-Republican Party (the granddaddy of the present Democratic and Republican Party), and went after Adams and Hamilton with a vengeance. Jefferson and his allies discreetly hired fugitive Scottish writer, James Callender, to write a whole series of poison-pen letters aimed at destroying the reputation of both Adams and Hamilton. Jefferson, at the time, was not aware that Callendar was also hired by Hamilton four years earlier, and was the one who broke the Sally Hemings story.

Adams, concerned with Jefferson’s growing popularity, pushed for the creation of a Grand Committee, a five-man body purported to “ adjudicate any disputes in the election of the president .” The move was interpreted by many as an overt attempt to prevent a Jefferson presidency. A year earlier, the Adams’ administration even engineered the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, which sought to suppress public criticisms of his administration, especially those made by Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party. During a fiery debate in Congress Hall, Vermont Representative Matthew Lyon, one of Jefferson’s strongest allies, spat tobacco juice in the face of the Federalist’ Connecticut Representative Roger Griswold. Griswold then picked up a cane and charged at Lyon, who quickly grabbed a pair of fire tongs from the fireplace to defend himself. They were of course separated. Over the next one year, Jefferson and Adams went after each other mercilessly, ridiculing one another at every opportunity (monarchist was an often used term), right up to Election Day. Jefferson, by virtue of his position as Vice President, was responsible for counting the Electoral College ballots received from the states.

With only Georgia to go, Jefferson was leading Adams by 69 to 65 votes. The four Georgia electors had voted in favor of Adams, which tied the contest. However, Jefferson realized that the Georgia electoral ballots did not fulfill the requirements laid out in the Constitution: Article II, Section 1. The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. Jefferson promptly awarded the ballots to himself, and with no opposition from any of the legislators present in Congress, declared victory. And thus ended the most acrimonious presidential campaign in the history of the United States. Amidst the resulting cries and criticisms, there were strong fears that the young nation would crumble under the weight of the unrelenting infighting.

But instead, the nation healed, and entered into a period of political and economic stability, as evidenced by the election of three consecutive two terms presidents (Jefferson, Madison and James Monroe). And Thomas Jefferson is now widely recognized as one of the greatest American Presidents ever. Have faith, electorates. These United States of America will emerge stronger from this. Note: Thirteen years later, Adams wrote a letter to Jefferson. “You and I ought to not die, before we have explained ourselves to each other.” And at the bottom of the letter, Abigail added a little note for her old friend. “I have been looking for some time for a space in my good Husbands Letters to add the regards of an old Friend, which are still cherished and preserved through all the changes and vicissitudes which have taken place since we first became acquainted, and will I trust remain as long as… A. Adams” Sadly, while they began to write to one another again, their friendship never really recovered. Note 2: On Tuesday night, President Obama and Gov. Romney spoke of each other during their respective speeches. President Obama's Victory Speech “I just spoke with Governor Romney, and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.

We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply, and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service, and that is the legacy that we honor and applaud tonight. In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.” Gov. Mitt Romney’s Concession Speech “I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters. This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.” More News and Editorials Republican National Leadership | GOP Reince Priebus Chairman Reince Priebus was elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee on January 14, 2011, and reelected on January 25, 2013 and on January 16, 2015. Priebus will become the longest serving chairman in modern history, serving a total of three terms.

In his first term as Chairman, Reince oversaw a dramatic turnaround of the RNC, rescuing its finances, rebuilding the operations and implementing the best ground game effort the RNC had ever organized. In his second term as Chairman, Reince made a commitment to taking the party’s message of freedom and economic opportunity to all states and all communities. By welcoming new voices and voters and harnessing the power of new technology, Reince led the RNC in building the infrastructure needed for a landslide GOP victory in the midterm elections. Chairman Priebus understands 2016 will bring new challenges, but he is determined to capitalize on the midterm successes while engineering new and innovative strategies to elect a Republican to the White House. A successful chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Reince created the framework that brought about one of the most historic election cycles Wisconsin has ever experienced. During Reince’s tenure, Republicans in Wisconsin not only defeated Russ Feingold by electing Ron Johnson to the Senate, but they also gained two additional U.S. House seats, won the Governor’s office, took back both the state Assembly and the state Senate, while defeating the leaders of both of those chambers. Reince has a long history in Republican politics as a grassroots volunteer.

He worked his way up through the ranks of the Republican Party of Wisconsin as 1st Congressional District Chairman, State Party Treasurer, First Vice Chair, and eventually State Party Chairman. In 2009, Reince served as General Counsel to the RNC, a role in which he volunteered his time to help manage the RNC’s most difficult challenges. Reinhold "Reince" Richard Priebus and his wife, Sally, have two young children, Jack and Grace. He was raised by his parents Richard and Dimitra (Roula) Priebus, an electrician and a real estate agent, respectively, in Kenosha Wisconsin. Reince is a lifelong Packers fan. Mitch McConnell Mitch McConnell is the Senate Republican Leader. First elected to that position unanimously by his colleagues in 2006, he is the 15th Senate Republican Leader and only the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the Senate. The first, Alben Barkley, led the Democrats from 1937 to 1949.

Senator McConnell previously served, again by the unanimous vote of his colleagues, as the Republican Leader in the 110th, 111th and 112th Congresses and the Majority Whip in the 108th and 109th Congresses. McConnell also served in leadership as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 1998 and 2000 election cycles. First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell made history that year as the only Republican challenger in the country to defeat a Democrat incumbent and as the first Republican to win a statewide Kentucky race since 1968. McConnell’s victory in 2008 is also one for the record books: On November 4, he won nearly a million votes, the most ever received by a Kentuckian in a statewide race. Senator McConnell graduated with honors from the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences, where he served as student body president. He also is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was elected president of the Student Bar Association.

McConnell worked as an intern on Capitol Hill for Senator John Sherman Cooper before serving as chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook and as deputy assistant attorney general to President Gerald Ford. Before his election to the U.S. Senate, he served as judge-executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky, from 1978 until he commenced his Senate term on January 3, 1985. McConnell currently serves as a senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture and Rules Committees. Married to Elaine L. Chao, who served as President George W. Bush’s U.S. Secretary of Labor and is a former president of the United Way of America and director of the Peace Corps, he is the proud father of three daughters. John Cornyn In 2008, Texans overwhelmingly re-elected Senator John Cornyn to represent them for a second six-year term in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Cornyn was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and previously served in Texas as a district judge, a member of the Texas Supreme Court, and as Texas Attorney General. During his first term in the U.S. Senate, Sen.

Cornyn distinguished himself as a leader in the Senate on a variety of issues important to Texans and has earned a national reputation as an articulate and powerful voice for conservative values in Washington. Sen. Cornyn is committed to bolstering our national defense, repairing our broken immigration system and securing our borders, boosting access to more affordable health care, improving educational opportunities for all Texans, strengthening the economy and expanding job opportunities, keeping taxes low, and reducing spending. He has been a tireless advocate for Texas military personnel, veterans and their families, and believes we must ensure they are provided with the best possible support, care and benefits. Throughout his career in public service, Sen. Cornyn has been a champion of open government. In 2007, years of hard work yielded the OPEN Government Act, our nation’s most sweeping reform of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in a decade. The legislation expanded transparency by closing loopholes in the FOIA, helping requestors obtain timely responses and ensuring agencies have strong incentives to act on requests. Sen. Cornyn served as a member of the Deputy Whip team after just one year in office, and has been a member of the Republican Senate leadership since 2006.

He has served as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2010 and 2012 election cycles. In 2012, Senate Republicans elected him to serve as Minority Whip for the 113th Congress. National Journal recently ranked Sen. Cornyn as the second-most conservative member of the Senate. While in the Senate, Sen. Cornyn has received various awards and recognitions, including the 2005 Border Texan of the Year Award; the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s Children’s Champion Award; the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award; the Texas Association of Business’s (TAB) Fighter for Free Enterprise Award; the National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business Award; the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leader’s (CONLAMIC) Latino Leadership Award; the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce’s (TAMACC) International Leadership Legislative Award; the Children at Risk Founders Award; and the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) Crime Fighter Award, among others. Sen.

Cornyn currently sits on the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. For more information about Sen. Cornyn's committee assignments, and links to the committee websites, click here. In addition to his legislative committees, Sen. Cornyn is the chairman of the Senate India Caucus and of the Senate RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Caucus. He is Co-chairman of the Texas Caucus on Shale Oil & Gas. He is also a member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, Aerospace Caucus, Air Force Caucus, Army Caucus, Charter Schools Caucus, Community College Caucus, Hispanic-Serving Institution Caucus, International Narcotics Control Caucus, National Guard Caucus, Natural Gas Caucus, Recycling Caucus, Reserve Caucus, Sportsman's Caucus, Taiwan Caucus, USO Caucus, the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade, and the President’s Export Council. Sen. Cornyn was born in Houston on February 2, 1952, and was raised in San Antonio. He is the son of John and Gale Cornyn, both native Texans. His father, a B-17 pilot in World War II, served for 31 years in the U.S.

Air Force and, later, taught at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. A graduate of Trinity University and St. Mary’s School of Law, both in San Antonio, Sen. Cornyn also earned a Masters of Law from the University of Virginia Law School in 1995. He was named the St. Mary’s Distinguished Law School Graduate in 1994 and a Trinity University Distinguished Alumnus in 2001. Sen. Cornyn is married to Sandy, his wife of 34 years. They have two daughters. John Thune John Thune grew up in Murdo, South Dakota. His interest in politics was sparked at a young age after making five of six free throws during a freshman high school basketball game. He was later greeted by a spectator who said, “I noticed you missed one.” That spectator happened to be well-known sports enthusiast and South Dakota U.S. Representative Jim Abdnor. The introduction was the start of a friendship that ignited John’s career in public service. John received his undergraduate degree at Biola University and his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota.

Upon completion of his Master’s Degree in 1984, he married Kimberley Weems, a native of Doland, South Dakota. John’s attraction to public service took him to Washington, D.C. to work for that sports enthusiast and then-U.S. Senator Jim Abdnor. He then served at the Small Business Administration under an appointment from President Ronald Reagan. In 1989, John and his family returned to South Dakota, where he served as the Executive Director of the South Dakota Republican Party. In 1991, Governor George S. Mickelson appointed him the State Railroad Director, a position he held until 1993, when he became Executive Director of the South Dakota Municipal League. In 1996, with a shoestring budget and the support of family and friends, John won his first term as South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives. John was reelected to a second term by the largest margin in South Dakota history. He returned again to Washington in 2001 to serve his third term in the House. John then honored his 1996 campaign pledge to serve only three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

After a narrow loss in a U.S. Senate race in 2002, he won his current U.S. Senate seat in 2004, when he made history by defeating a sitting U.S. Senate party leader for the first time in 52 years. In 2010, John was elected to serve a second term in the U.S. Senate in a rare unopposed race. He was only the third Republican and the only South Dakotan to run unopposed for the U.S. Senate since direct elections were created in 1913. For the 113th Congress, Senator Thune serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Finance Committee. Thune, who is the senior most Republican on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, serves as Ranking Member. Thune also served in Republican leadership as Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2009 – 2011 and now serves as the Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the number three position in Senate Republican leadership.

John and his wife Kimberley live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and have two grown daughters, Brittany and Larissa. In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his family, pheasant hunting, and running. John Barrasso Senator John Barrasso was sworn in to the United States Senate in 2007 having represented the people of Natrona County in the Wyoming State Senate. Barrasso was then elected to the United States Senate on November 4, 2008 and reelected in 2012 to his first full term. Barrasso is known by many as Wyoming’s Doctor. He has a long and recognized career in both medicine and public service. During 24 years as an orthopedic surgeon in Casper, Barrasso served as President of the Wyoming Medical Society and was named Wyoming Physician of the Year. He also served as medical director of the Wyoming Health Fairs, bringing low-cost health screening exams to people all around the Cowboy State. Barrasso is known throughout Wyoming for his health messages. His public service announcements have been on TV, radio and in numerous newspapers for more than 20 years.

Barrasso has also hosted Wyoming’s efforts on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. Senator Barrasso serves on the Republican leadership team as the Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. He also serves as Chairman of the Senate Western Caucus. Senator Barrasso serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Indian Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A strong advocate for the people of Wyoming, Senator Barrasso works hard to ensure that Wyoming’s voice is heard. Barrasso has three children – Peter, Emma and Hadley. He and his wife Bobbi live in Casper. Paul Ryan RYAN, Paul, a Representative from Wisconsin; born in Janesville, Rock County, Wis., January 29, 1970; graduated from Joseph A.

Craig High School, Janesville, Wis.; B.A., Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1992; construction business; staff, United States Senator Robert Kasten of Wisconsin, 1992; staff assistant, Empower America, 1993-1995; staff, United States Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, 1995-1997; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Sixth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1999-present); chair, Committee on the Budget (One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses); chair, Committee on Ways and Means (One Hundred Fourteenth Congress); unsuccessful Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2012. Kevin McCarthy Congressman Kevin McCarthy proudly serves California’s 23rd district and is currently the Majority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kevin was first elected to Congress in 2006 and is a native of Bakersfield and a fourth-generation Kern County resident.

The grandson of a cattle rancher and the son of a firefighter, Kevin grew up a working-class family and is committed to preserving and promoting the American dream for hardworking Americans. In Washington, Kevin fights every day for the constituents of California’s 23rd District and for the future of America with the simple promise: to have the courage to lead with the wisdom to listen. At the age of 21, Kevin started his own small business, Kevin O’s Deli, from the ground up. As he worked hard, hired employees, and enjoyed success in his community, he soon learned—as all small business owners do—that the margins are thin, the hours are long, and that often Sacramento and Washington are obstacles, not aids, to success. The redundant and frivolous rules along with tedious paperwork and overburdening taxes compelled Kevin to enter public service. He sold his business to put himself through college and graduate school at California State University, Bakersfield. While at school, he interned for Congressman Bill Thomas and later became a member of Congressman Thomas’s staff.

In 2000, he won his first public election as Trustee to the Kern Community College District and then, in 2002, he was elected to represent the 32nd Assembly District in the California State Assembly. As a freshman legislator, he was selected unanimously by his Republican colleagues to serve as the Assembly Republican Leader, becoming the first freshman legislator and the first legislator from Kern County to assume this top post in the California Legislature. Kevin worked with his colleagues in the Assembly and Senate and with the Governor to reduce California’s budget deficit, overhaul the state workers’ compensation system, and enhance California’s business climate to create more opportunities for California workers and businesses. After he was elected to Congress in 2006, Kevin quickly became Chief Deputy Whip and later served as Majority Whip. In 2014, he was elected Majority Leader of the House, where he now leads Congress in fighting for individual liberty, an efficient and effective government, free markets, and a vibrant civil society.

Since Kevin was elected to Congress, he and his Republican colleagues have blocked the largest tax increase in American history, cut out-of-control government spending, passed bills to create jobs, promoted North American energy independence, and fought to free Americans from the meddlesome influence of Washington in health care and beyond. Kevin will continue to fight for a strong, fiscally responsible, and free America where every person has the ability to achieve the American dream. When Kevin is not in Washington working for the constituents of California’s 23rd District and for the future of America, he is home in Bakersfield with his wife Judy and two children Connor and Meghan. Steve Scalise Congressman Steve Scalise proudly serves his colleagues as House Majority Whip and represents the First Congressional District of Louisiana, which stretches from the culturally distinct New Orleans suburbs to the vibrant bayous and wetlands abundant in natural resources. During the 113th Congress, he served as chairman for the Republican Study Committee, the conservative House caucus. Scalise is a strong conservative leader who upholds the Constitution, advocating for the principles of fiscal discipline, lower taxes, an all-of-the-above national energy strategy, a robust national defense, and conservative values.

Through his previous experiences as House Deputy Whip and RSC Chairman, Scalise developed a proven formula to pass effective legislation that unites his colleagues. As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of more than 170 conservative members in the House, he coalesced Members around a unified vision. During his time as chairman, Scalise championed a free-market, patient-centered Obamacare alternative that gained the support of 130 HouseMembers. He also introduced legislation that promotes job creation and economic growth, established an RSC national defense working group, released a conservative budget that would balance in four years, and crafted bills that protect constitutionally-guaranteed rights, like freedom of speech, from unelected Washington bureaucrats. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Scalise has emerged as one of the leaders in Congress in pushing for a strong national energy strategy that increases the supply of American oil and natural gas to lower gas prices at the pump while reducing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Through his post on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Scalise has fought against the government takeover of health care, took on Al Gore over the “Cap and Trade” energy tax, and held the Obama Administration accountable for their taxpayer funded green energy loans to failing companies like Solyndra. Scalise is committed to maintaining an open line of communication with his constituents to better serve them in Congress. Scalise holds regular town hall meetings in every parish of the First Congressional District to meet with local residents and hear their concerns. Congressman Scalise is a graduate of Louisiana State University. He received his B.S. in Computer Science in 1989 with a minor in Political Science. Scalise is a former systems engineer. The Congressman’s commitment to service began early as he was twice elected Speaker of LSU’s Student Government Association. He was a member of the Louisiana House and the Louisiana Senate from 1996 to 2008. During that period, he was elected Chairman of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Scalise serves the needs of the residences of his District which includes all or parts of Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, St. Bernard, St.

Tammany, Tangipahoa and Terrebonne Parishes. Scalise is married to the former Jennifer Letulle. He is the proud father of two children, Madison and Harrison. He and his family reside in Jefferson, Louisiana. Cathy McMorris Rodgers Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is Eastern Washington’s chief advocate in Congress and one of the rising stars in American politics. Since first being elected to the House in 2004, she has earned the trust of her constituents and praise on Capitol Hill for her hard work, conservative principles, bipartisan outreach, and leadership. She is currently serving as the Chair of the House Republican Conference, a position making her the fourth highest-ranking Republican, and the highest ranking female Republican in the House of Representatives. As someone who grew up on a family farm, worked at a small business, and later became a wife and mom, Cathy McMorris Rodgers has lived the American Dream, and she sees her chief goal in Congress as rebuilding that Dream for our children and grandchildren. WI - Wisconsin Republican Party & State Leadership Leadership | GOP Brad Courtney Brad Courtney was elected as the State Chairman from Wisconsin in February of 2011.

He has served as a delegate on the Platform Committee and the Rules Committee for previous Republican National Conventions. Currently, Mr. Courtney is the chairman of the Sensenbrenner Committee Fifth District Republican Party and is the Co-owner and President of Courtney Industrial Battery. Mr. Courtney has been very active in politics and previously served as the Finance Chairman for Scott Walker for County Executive and as a senior advisor to the 2010 Scott Walker for Governor campaign. He has served the Republican Party of Wisconsin as the first vice chairman, the convention chairman, the candidate campaign chairman, the district leadership chairman, and as a member of the state executive committee. He has also served as the chairman and vice chairman of the North Shore Republican Club. National Committeewoman Mary F Buestrin Mary Buestrin was elected to the Republican National Committee as National Committeewoman for Wisconsin in 1992. She recently served as the Co-Chairman of the 2012 Republican National Convention and has attended nine conventions, eight of those as a delegate. She also served on the RNC 2012 Convention Site Selection Committee. She currently serves as RNC Vice-Chairman from the Midwestern Region.

Presently, Buestrin serves on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and the Republican Party of Ozaukee County. She previously served four years as President of the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women. She has been involved with federal, state and local Republican campaigns since 1960. She has served as the State Grassroots Chairman for the State Steering Committee of Wisconsin Bush/Cheney, the State Committee for McCain/Palin, the Transition Team for Governor Scott McCallum, the Electoral College, and the Presidential Preference Committee, among other political activities. Mrs. Buestrin has been very active in civic and community activities. She is an Ordained Elder at Crossroads Presbyterian Church, is a charter board member and current member of the Board of Directors of the Mequon Community Foundation. She is immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Home. She also was a long-time member of the Board of Curators of the Wisconsin Historical Society and served as Co-Chairman of their History Makers fundraising events and served as the Co-Chairman of the History Eveandand.

National Committeeman National Committeeman, Republican Party of Wisconsin, 2007 – Present Founder & Partner, King Capital, LLC, 2006 – Present Board of Directors, First Community Bank, Milton, WI, 2001 – Present Board of Directors, National BSA, 2009 – Present Republican Party of Wisconsin, 1978 – Present Delegate, Republican Party of Wisconsin State Conventions, 1978 – Present First Congressional District Caucus’, 1978 – Present Boy Scouts of America, 1976 – Present Society of Former Special Agents, FBI, Inc., 1971 – Present PREVIOUS President, Milton Industrial and Economic Corporation, 1990 – 2006 Chairman, Milton Historical Society development Committee, 2001 – 2002 U.S. Senate Candidate, 1988 National Advisory Council on Rural Development, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, 1987-1988 Wisconsin Presidential Elector, 1984 Chairman, Industrial Development Committee, Milton, Wisconsin, 1984-1988 Federal Judicial Nominating Committee, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1982-1985 District 15 Supervisor, Walworth County, 1981-1985 Chairman, 1st Congressional District GOP, 1981-1988 Chairman, Walworth County Republican Party, 1979-1981, 1993-1996 RNC ACTIVITY RNC Temporary Delegate Selection Committee, 2009 RNC, Resolutions Committee, 2009 Scott Walker Scott Walker was sworn in as governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011. Walker began his career working for IBM in Milwaukee. He was elected to the state assembly in 1993, where he was a member of several committees including the Assembly Committee on Health and the Assembly Committee on Census and Redistricting, and chaired the Committee on Corrections and the Courts.

In 2002, he was elected county executive of Milwaukee. For the next eight years, Walker focused on reducing the county's debt and, despite failing national and state economies, Milwaukee County recorded a budget surplus in 2009. He was reelected to the position in 2008. On his first day in office, Walker called the state legislature into a special session on job creation. Since that day, he proposed and enacted reform legislation calling for a transformation of the Department of Commerce into a public-private entity named the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. This new organization is aimed at promoting Wisconsin as a beacon for economic opportunity while keeping in place proper government oversight. While in high school, Walker achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was also selected to attend the American Legion’s Badger Boys State Program in Ripon. There, he was selected as one of two representatives to Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. The experience opened Walker’s eyes to public service. Walker attended Marquette University. He and his wife, Tonette, have two sons.

Ron Johnson JOHNSON, Ron, a Senator from Wisconsin; born on April 8, 1955, in Mankato, Minn.; graduated University of Minnestota, B.S., 1977; studied business administration, University of Minnesota, 1977-1979; plastics manufacturing company owner and founder; accountant; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2010 for the term ending January 3, 2017; chair, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (One Hundred Fourteenth Congress).

Congressman Glenn Grothman GROTHMAN, Glenn, a Representative from Wisconsin; born in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wis., July 3, 1955; graduated from Homestead High School, Mequon, Wisconsin, 1973; B.B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis., 1978; J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis., 1983; lawyer, private practice; member of the Wisconsin state assembly, 1993-2004; member of the Wisconsin state senate, 2004-2014; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress (January 3, 2015-present). F. Sensenbrenner Jr.

SENSENBRENNER, Frank James, Jr., a Representative from Wisconsin; born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., June 14, 1943; graduated from Milwaukee Country Day School, 1961; A.B., Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 1965; J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wis., 1968; staff, United States Representative J. Arthur Younger of California, 1965; lawyer, private practice; member of the Wisconsin state assembly, 1969-1975; member of the Wisconsin state senate, 1975-1979, assistant minority leader, 1977-1979; delegate, Wisconsin state Republican conventions, 1965-2009; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-sixth and to the nineteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-present); one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1989 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against Walter L.

Nixon, judge of the United States District Court for the District Court of Mississippi; one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1998 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of President William Jefferson Clinton; one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 2009 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of Samuel B. Kent, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 2010 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; chair, Committee on Science (One Hundred Fifth and One Hundred Sixth Congresses); chair, Committee on the Judiciary (One Hundred Seventh through the One Hundred Ninth Congresses). Paul Ryan RYAN, Paul, a Representative from Wisconsin; born in Janesville, Rock County, Wis., January 29, 1970; graduated from Joseph A.

Craig High School, Janesville, Wis.; B.A., Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1992; construction business; staff, United States Senator Robert Kasten of Wisconsin, 1992; staff assistant, Empower America, 1993-1995; staff, United States Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, 1995-1997; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Sixth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1999-present); chair, Committee on the Budget (One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses); chair, Committee on Ways and Means (One Hundred Fourteenth Congress); unsuccessful Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2012.

2012 Democratic Presidential Candidates The American Crossroad November 8th, 2012 After a bruising two-year battle (let’s face it, the presidential race effectively commenced immediately after the 2010 Congressional elections), an estimated cumulative $6 billion in campaign expenditures, dozens of Letterman’s Top Ten Lists, and several thousand hours’ worth of political ads (remember this ?), the 2012 United States Presidential Election finally concluded with President Barack Obama securing a second term in office. One more time, in case anyone missed it: $6,000,000,000. This is larger than the entire annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the 54 smallest economies in the world. It’s even larger than the 2011 GDP of the Principality of Monaco, where billionaires spend their summers watching $7 million F1 race cars zooming around town. It’s larger than the combined 2010 and 2011 GDP of the Cayman Islands. It’s larger than Grenada's last ten years’ GDP, where Clint Eastwood once famously led an American invasion force. Wait, that was Heartbreak Ridge . Was it worth it?

You bet. Every single cent was worth it, regardless of how one looks at it. We are, after all, speaking about electing the leader of the most powerful country in the entire recorded human history, either relative or absolute. However, President Obama’s victory doesn’t appear to be banishing the sense of uncertainty that is enveloping the nation. America appears to be more divided than ever in the backdrop of the most challenging economic climate in living memory. The $16 trillion albatross hanging around the country’s metaphorical neck only adds to the growing anxiety of the populace. Congress is still split between the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate. And to top it all off, perhaps the sight of what many consider as the most contentious, spiteful and fractious presidential election ever, between two equally forceful candidates, has led many Americans to look at the future with a little trepidation. There seems to be a growing culture of hatred in the national political discourse. Surely the country has never faced anything even remotely similar to this, right? Wrong. Compared to what the nation experienced in the third presidential election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, what we are seeing now is child’s play.

When George Washington indicated his preference for John Adams to be his Vice President in 1789, such was his stature, the Confederation Congress and state electors fell in line and voted accordingly, despite concerns over his volatile temperament. So when Washington declined to run for a third term in office, and spend his retirement in Mount Vernon, there was a scramble for the presidency. The most influential Federalist in Philadelphia, Alexander Hamilton, was fearful that Vice President Adams might decide to back off from running in favor of his good friend, the genius Thomas Jefferson. Everyone still remembered that Adams was the main reason why Jefferson was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence a decade earlier. After the death of his wife, Martha, Jefferson sought companionship with Adams and his wife, Abigail, and became a frequent guest at their home. Jefferson even developed a strong platonic friendship with Abigail Adams. In fact, Jefferson had a habit of buying presents for Abigail during his travels. Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams (Paris, Sep. 25, 1785) “Mr. Short's return the night before last availed me of your favour of Aug. 12. I immediately ordered the shoes you desired which will be ready tomorrow.

I am not certain whether this will be in time for the departure of Mr. Barclay or of Colo. Franks, for it is not yet decided which of them goes to London. I have also procured for you three plateaux de dessert with a silvered ballustrade round them, and four figures of Biscuit.” Hamilton and his allies, advocates of a strong, centralized federal Republic, were fearful of Jefferson’s populist, small and regionalized government concept. So Hamilton began a character assassination campaign against the popular and well respected Jefferson. Explosive stories about a colored harem in his Virginia estate became the talk of town, courtesy of widely distributed poison-pen letters. Jefferson's private statements about equal rights for the slaves drew gasps of horror. Most damaging though, was the allegation that he fathered a child with his black concubine, Sally Hemings. Adams, by virtue of his Vice Presidency and being the public face of the Federalist faction, took the blame for most of Hamilton’s machinations. Hamilton, who was holding a grudge against Jefferson for publicizing his affair with a married woman several year earlier, was hell bent on destroying Jefferson’s public standing and his friendship with Adams.

Even as their relationship deteriorated, Jefferson and Adams fully understood the role that Hamilton played. So much so, Jefferson referred to Hamilton as the devil several times in public, while Adams called him a ‘fiend’ in private. Nonetheless, their friendship waned, and both men ran for the presidency in 1796. Despite Jefferson’s early favorite status, he was ultimately defeated by Adams in the election. However, he received enough electoral votes to become Vice President. At the time, the person with the second highest Electoral College count is automatically appointed Vice President. And thus, the stage was set for a rematch in 1800. This time, Jefferson, aided by his right-hand man, James Madison (another future president), marshaled the Democratic-Republican Party (the granddaddy of the present Democratic and Republican Party), and went after Adams and Hamilton with a vengeance. Jefferson and his allies discreetly hired fugitive Scottish writer, James Callender, to write a whole series of poison-pen letters aimed at destroying the reputation of both Adams and Hamilton. Jefferson, at the time, was not aware that Callendar was also hired by Hamilton four years earlier, and was the one who broke the Sally Hemings story.

Adams, concerned with Jefferson’s growing popularity, pushed for the creation of a Grand Committee, a five-man body purported to “ adjudicate any disputes in the election of the president .” The move was interpreted by many as an overt attempt to prevent a Jefferson presidency. A year earlier, the Adams’ administration even engineered the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, which sought to suppress public criticisms of his administration, especially those made by Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party. During a fiery debate in Congress Hall, Vermont Representative Matthew Lyon, one of Jefferson’s strongest allies, spat tobacco juice in the face of the Federalist’ Connecticut Representative Roger Griswold. Griswold then picked up a cane and charged at Lyon, who quickly grabbed a pair of fire tongs from the fireplace to defend himself. They were of course separated. Over the next one year, Jefferson and Adams went after each other mercilessly, ridiculing one another at every opportunity (monarchist was an often used term), right up to Election Day. Jefferson, by virtue of his position as Vice President, was responsible for counting the Electoral College ballots received from the states.

With only Georgia to go, Jefferson was leading Adams by 69 to 65 votes. The four Georgia electors had voted in favor of Adams, which tied the contest. However, Jefferson realized that the Georgia electoral ballots did not fulfill the requirements laid out in the Constitution: Article II, Section 1. The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. Jefferson promptly awarded the ballots to himself, and with no opposition from any of the legislators present in Congress, declared victory. And thus ended the most acrimonious presidential campaign in the history of the United States. Amidst the resulting cries and criticisms, there were strong fears that the young nation would crumble under the weight of the unrelenting infighting.

But instead, the nation healed, and entered into a period of political and economic stability, as evidenced by the election of three consecutive two terms presidents (Jefferson, Madison and James Monroe). And Thomas Jefferson is now widely recognized as one of the greatest American Presidents ever. Have faith, electorates. These United States of America will emerge stronger from this. Note: Thirteen years later, Adams wrote a letter to Jefferson. “You and I ought to not die, before we have explained ourselves to each other.” And at the bottom of the letter, Abigail added a little note for her old friend. “I have been looking for some time for a space in my good Husbands Letters to add the regards of an old Friend, which are still cherished and preserved through all the changes and vicissitudes which have taken place since we first became acquainted, and will I trust remain as long as… A. Adams” Sadly, while they began to write to one another again, their friendship never really recovered. Note 2: On Tuesday night, President Obama and Gov. Romney spoke of each other during their respective speeches. President Obama's Victory Speech “I just spoke with Governor Romney, and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.

We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply, and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service, and that is the legacy that we honor and applaud tonight. In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.” Gov. Mitt Romney’s Concession Speech “I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters. This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.” More News and Editorials

Question: Who was appointed US Republican Party nominee for Vice President of the United States Jan 2012?
Answer: Paul Ryan