Friendship & Miracles – A Night We Will Not Ever Forget

by Jacqueline Smith

(I wanted to post some pictures but that will have to be later.)

Yesterday, the campaign trail was loaded with stops.  Many had three stops to make.  It started with a nice breakfast at the Wasatch County Lincoln Day breakfast.  Aaron Gabrielson did a great job putting on a fabulous event.  I did not attend this event, because I wanted some shuteye, and it is not in the 1^st District.

We all met up in Duchesne for a nice meet and greet for a few hours.  Brooks Snow and his team, again, fed us lunch and we had a chance to get to know the good people in Roosevelt.

Then it was off to Vernal for the Uintah County Lincoln Day Dinner and VIP reception.  We were all following each other around the state.  Sean Reyes and I have been together for the last 4 days in a row.  You really get to know the other candidates when you are running for office.  Joni Crane put on a fabulous event.  The décor was beautiful, and you really could tell a woman’s touch was involved.  It was well organized and very well attended.  There were just too many people to meet.  I had been in heels all day, and I was wishing I could just put on my cowboy boots by that time.  Nevertheless, it was fun.

We were able to here from Senator Mike Lee, Governor Gary Herbert, Senator Orrin Hatch, and Representative Rob Bishop.  Then all of the candidates had an opportunity for a short 3-minute speech.  I had not prepared one before today, so this was a new adventure.  Everyone articulated their ideas and thoughts well.  It is amazing how much you can get out in 3 minutes, and how much is left untouched.  Hard to make a lasting first impression in 3 minutes, but it was a generous thing to do since there were so many candidates.

After the dinner, they had a great auction and Mike Lee did a little dance while holding up on the items for auction.  It was a fun time.

We mingled for a while after dinner, and then decided it was getting late.  We all had long drives home.  There were nine of us that decided to head over to a legendary spot in Uintah County known as “Skinwalker Ranch.”  It is one of those mythical places were people say paranormal activity occurs, and many are frightened by the stories surrounding the area.  We talked to a few locals, and they were fully convinced it was not a place they wanted to be.

So three cars, full of tired campaign staff and candidates headed to Skinwalker Ranch.  We loaded up on some caffeine and snacks at a gas station, and I felt like I was in high school on a dare.  It was fun.  Morgan Philpot, Toby Emory, and Keith Kudor were in one car.  Kara Harrison and Cindie Quintana were in another.  Cleve Smith (my husband), Kim Weis, and her daughter Cheyanne and I were in another car.

We stopped at the overlook to Skinwalker Ranch.  It was peaceful and absolutely beautiful.  The stars filled the sky with the blackness that surrounded this rural area of Utah.  It was breathtaking.

One of the rumors is that if you are caught on or near the ranch you will be chased off by dogs, or cars, or police will show up.  Sure enough, Officer Luecerno (I hope I remembered his name right.) came by.  We took him off guard because three cars in the middle of nowhere had stopped, and the people he pulls up to see are men and women in suits.  The officer mistook my husband for an FBI agent that works in the area.  He was great.  Talked to us about the rumors, and showed us where the boundaries to the ranch were.

It was a fairly uneventful trek, but we were so close we wanted to experience this part of the Uintah basin.  On the way home we did a three-way call so we could all chat for the hours we would spend driving.  Each of us shared different experiences we had in our lives, and we all grew closer as a group, laughing and talking.  We told them the tires were pretty bald on our vehicle, and since the snow was getting heavier, we were planning on going pretty slow.  No one said we were going to stick together, but we did, and I believe that was providential.

Then the calls began to drop frequently as our reception weakened about 20 miles before Daniels Summit.  Cleve and I talked about how so many of us believe we have been given a call to proclaim and protect liberty.

Then the unthinkable happened.  The car in front of us, holding Morgan Philpot, Keith Kudor and Toby Emory lost control and was gone from the side of the road.  Cleve said,  “They just wrecked.  They’ve gone over the edge.”

We pulled our car off the side of the road where we thought they had gone off.  Cleve said that his first thought was, “I just lost three friends.”  We could not see their lights anywhere.  I saw the cliff off to my left, and I immediately began praying aloud for God’s protection of these men.  I did not know how they could have survived the drop off.  Cleve and I were running as fast as we could.  We must have run about 100 yards before we got to where their vehicle was on its side down a 70-100 foot very steep decline.   Kara Harrison mentioned she had never seen a woman run so fast in the snow in a skirt. We shouted to them.  They shouted back that they were all okay.  It was an absolute miracle.  Divine Providence had definitely intervened.  They climbed the side with help of straps from someone who had stopped.  Another woman stopped and gave us a sleeping bag out of her car to wrap the guys in.  We were on the side of the road for hours waiting for police and an ambulence.  Keith seemed like he was in shock.  A few cuts.  Toby had a small cut on his head, and Morgan had bumped his shin and there was a huge knot on it.  But they walked away.  It was amazing.

I had silently thanked the Lord when Morgan Philpot gathered everyone together and we formally thanked God for our protection.

Today I remembered a blog post I had done years ago.  Boyd K. Packer was speaking in Provo, and I remembered the words he spoke after receiving the Lifetime Freedom Award.  Here is an excerpt from this blog post…

…After receiving the award, President Packer spoke of the freedoms the nation enjoys today — freedoms that came at a price.

He reflected upon James Madison’s record of the Constitutional Convention, referencing the weeks of time and effort that had been exhausted creating the U.S. Constitution allowing the freedoms enjoyed today.

He then told a story about the day that the men were individually signing the Constitution. During the convention, President George Washington was sitting in a high-back chair that had a picture of a rising sun on the back. Benjamin Franklin said that he had been looking at the sun all during the convention. He said he was never sure if it was a rising sun or a setting sun. But, as the men came forward one by one to sign the document, Franklin said that day he had the confidence to know it was a rising sun.

“Now 12 wars later and all that has gone on, that sun is now obscured,” President Packer said. “We know that war can’t destroy it, but if it is destroyed it will be from within. And now we face a danger greater than any of the wars we have faced. To honor the Constitution and to honor freedom is a sacred duty for all of us.

“I invoke the blessing on you who are doing this sacred work that you will keep it up, and that in due time the challenges that we face now from within can be conquered so that this nation may remain free.”

Last night I experienced that blessing, and I believe this is a sacred work.  I believe this is much more than a political position for either Morgan Philpot or myself.  We were witnesses to yet another miracle of God in our lives.

http://www.jacquelinesmith2012.com

The Constitution Hanging by a Thread?

It has been a long time since I have posted anything.  However, today is the first day of a New Year.  We have so much to be grateful for in this country, but we also have much to be wary of as well.  Today, a bill (HR 1540) goes into effect.  This is the NDAA or National Defense Authorization Act.  This one bill is over 500 pages, and quietly passed into law.  Click here for a link to the bill.

This is anything but an exhaustive article, but I want to hit a few points, so take the time to read this briefly and then dig deep and find your own answers. 

Today, I would dare say, our Constitution hangs by a thread.  I am reminded of the phrase attributed to Martin Niemöller,

“First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.  Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.” 

This statement was first published in 1955 in a book called, They Thought They Were Free.  How many Americans watched the ball drop, celebrated with friends, played games and got drunk last night, and thought they were free?  I know that I enjoyed the night with family and friends alike.  However, I have no illusion that I am as free today as I was yesterday.  I still live in the greatest country on earth.  I still have more freedoms than most people have ever had, but they are dwindling quickly, and I am watching.

Image via Wikipedia

I belong to many different “groups” on Facebook.  There are many disccusions…usually trivial and meaningless, but sometimes the debates are very interesting.  I am saddened by the educational dead zone that exists.  Yes, many know some facts, and many know the rhetoric on the left and on the right, but many are blind to the duplication of history that is being performed right before their eyes.  At least, some of them.  They trust their government.  They trust that human nature “could never” do something like happened to the Jews during WWII.  But it has begun, in the same manner as it did then, and many other times in history.  You remember the saying, those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  One of our Utah Representatives, Rob Bishop, was a history teacher.  Has he forgotten the lessons he taught?  Because it appears he saw no problem with this bill. 

Let’s not repeat history, let’s make history.  Let’s be the first nation in the history of the world to not fall into tyranny, but liberate ourselves once again the individuals in America from a tyrannical Federal Government, that believe our rights as American citizens can be tossed aside for a little safety.  We do this not by violent measures, but by a strong state government that is unwilling to allow the Federal government to overreach its jurisdiction within our state.

I am not a Rachel Maddow fan, but this clip illustrates that this is not a left / right issue, but an issue of civil liberties that should alarm all of us.  It is not R’s vs. D’s.  It is us (the people) against the tyranny of a much-too-large Federal government and it’s overreaching powers and authority.  The blame I place is not on the Democrats, because the Republicans control the House.  It does not sit entirely on Obama’s shoulders, however, he signed it without a veto as he should have. 

 

You can see how your House representatives voted click HERE.  Three of Utah’s representatives (Jim Mattheson –D , Rob Bishop –R , and Orrin Hatch of the Senate – R) decided your rights as an American citizen no longer deserved the protection granted in the Bill of Rights.  What does the Oath of Office mean to people?  Does it mean anything?  Do they understand they are not there to protect us from would-be crimes, but to protect our rights and liberties?  How long will the people of Utah allow their representatives to disregard their oath?   We have many Republicans running against Jim Mattheson in the 4th district including two of my favorites, Carl Wimmer and Mia Love.  We have a few candidates considering Orrin Hatch be “called home” namely Dan Liljenquist and Chris Herrod.  Also, Tim Aalders has talked about running, but is not official as of late.  But who is challenging Rob Bishop?  No one!  Really?  He goes unchallenged, and that causes me to believe Utah is fast asleep at the wheel, or they think Rob unbeatable.

Montana is doing something about this, and I hope Utah will join in the fight with them.  It’s time to re-call these men for violating their oath.  See the Montana article HERE.  But in order to be like Montana, we will need a very strong governor that will push hard against the Federal government. So far, Gary Herbert hasn’t been that guy.  Our individual liberty demands that our state sovereignty be strengthened.  We have a few candidates that have stepped up to run against Utah’s governor, namely Morgan Philpot and Ken Sumsion.

I’ve had people say to me, “Come on this will never affect YOU.”  Well, this bill, hasn’t had time yet, but it’s predecessor, The Patriot Act already has.  Rachel Maddow brings up the movie “The Minority Report.”  Please read my post on that subject here called Guilty until Proven Innocent.  For I have felt the sting of The Patriot Act myself, and wonder what would possess my Federal Government to suddenly see me, a mother of five, as a terrorist?  And yet, I was questioned because of the Patriot Act as if I was one.  If I have no right to trial, no right to a lawyer, no right to even know my charges, then what hope would I ever have of liberty or freedom in this once great country? 

Do you see how slippery the slope is when we trade essential liberty for a little temporary safety?  In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “we will have neither, and deserve neither.”

Other articles you may like peruse from Forbes and the ACLU and a few that talk about why this is a very real threat: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/12/05/the-national-defense-authorization-act-is-the-greatest-threat-to-civil-liberties-americans-face/?mid=569

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/president-obama-signs-indefinite-detention-law

http://theintelhub.com/2011/12/17/crushing-the-disinformation-surrounding-indefinite-detention-of-americans-under-the-ndaa/

http://www.infowars.com/president-obamas-ndaa-signing-statement-i-have-the-power-to-detain-americans-but-i-wont/

http://www.naturalnews.com/034538_NDAA_American_citizens_indefinite_detainment.html?mid=56

Since this was published, Ron Paul has asked for section 1021 to be repealed….

The Hatch Machine vs. ?

Opinion Piece

The long arm of the paid Hatch-brigade has sunk to a new low.  Since the exit of Jason Chaffetz as a possible candidate to unseat Hatch, there are many in the liberty movement desperately searching for not only a better candidate than Hatch, which isn’t hard, but one that could knock him off his 36-year throne.  http://www.dethronehatch.com/

I am one of those people exploring ALL my options.  My brother-in-law, set up an informal meeting with Neil Walter.  You might remember him from the convention race with Morgan Philpot for Congressional Seat 2.  He hasn’t said he’s running, and was only looking at options today in a breakfast meeting with a few activists that want Hatch out.

I put a note out for people to meet with Neil, and asked that they RSVP.  I was a few minutes late since I was driving from the Park City area.  When I walked in, they were just starting the discussion.  I looked up and across the table was Christy Achziger.  I like Christy, but this stunned me.  She hadn’t RSVP’d of course.   Word was she was working for Hatch.  I could not believe the nerve.  Now, she is free to work for anyone she wants, but as a paid staffer, it’s like the opposing team’s quarterback coming to your team meeting and acting like it’s no big deal to just open your playbook.  I asked her promptly if she was working for Hatch.  She replied in the affirmative.  I invited her to leave.  She didn’t, until another gentleman pulled her aside and explained why it would be uncomfortable, and we could not speak openly with her there.  The bad manners displayed by the Hatch campaign staff needs to be understood as marching orders from their boss.  Hatch will do anything to keep himself relevant, and sadly he is making some really nice people, look really bad in the process.

Hatch has also managed to get our “trusted” news source of Fox News to suddenly have a love-fest with the senator.  With Sarah Palin, Gretta van (whats-her-name), and Sean Hannity all falling into step.  I am now convinced principles don’t matter to most people, only what is in their best interest and the tug of the almighty (quickly losing value) dollar.

Within two hours of our meeting, someone from the Hatch office had called Neil and set up an appointment for him to meet with Senator Hatch.  One by one Hatch will attempt to convince his opponents to drop out of the race.

I am looking for the man or woman with the guts and drive to stand this goliath in the face and say, “Give it your best shot.”  If you have skeletons in your closet, lead with them.  He’s got them, too.  If you think he can dig up dirt on you from a soiled past and that isn’t who you are now, lead with it.  People understand.  They aren’t perfect either, but don’t let this man bully you into not running.  RUN.

We’ve done our homework Mr. Hatch, and you can be beat.  It isn’t just the liberty movement that is tired of you.  It’s many of the delegates and general populace within the Republican party right here in Utah.  It’s old school Republicans that are your age, and young fresh-faced voters, that have had the same Senator in office their entire lives.  What do you call a six-term senator?  You call him home.  Enough already.

Þ   You are a six-term senator, and that bothers me.

Þ   You started the Department of Education, and that bothers me.

Þ   You crafted legislation on Medicare Part-D (the largest entitlement the country had ever seen until Obamacare), and that bothers me.

Þ   You voted for TARP, and that bothers me.

Þ   You claim to have written the Patriot Act, and that bothers me.

Þ   You continue to give more power to the regulating bodies like the FDA and the USDA, and that bothers me.

I could go on and on.  These things bother me.  As a voter do they bother you?  Take a good look at the Hatch voting record.  I’ve provided some links for you to visit.

http://www.hatchrecord.com/index.php/the-truth/

http://www.michaeljolley.net/hatch-vs-bennett.html

If we want to change Washington, we must first change ourselves.  For me, I’m changing myself into a concerned citizen that is paying attention and will no longer let the power-hungry stay in power.

I won’t be scared into believing your stories about Olympia Snowe.  She probably uses Hatch as her number one reason to be re-elected.  Those of you in DC use this strategy with each other against the people, and then you get to DC and shake hands and laugh at the American people who have been “had” again.  You sit in your DC bubble, with a cushy job, with cushy retirement, and cushy medical care, all on the backs of the tax-payers, while you listen to yourselves pontificate at Senate hearings that mean nothing and accomplish nothing other than feed your egos.

Our founding fathers never wanted career politicians.  We need to renew that belief.  We need people who won’t play the seniority game in Washington.  We don’t need any more games in Washington.  We need people who aren’t afraid of losing their “power,” and actually would rather not have it, but believe it belongs to the people.  We need people that will not make compromises that go against their principles for the sake of getting along, but instead hold their ground, for the people of our great nation, and restore our country to it’s founding principles.  We need individuals of integrity, wisdom and virtue.

We are waiting …..where are you?

Related articles

• Hatch not ruling out 2018 run (hollyonthehill.wordpress.com)
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz won’t take on Sen. Orrin Hatch (sfgate.com)

The World is Run by Those Who Show Up

A Message to Unaffiliated Voters

 

Are you a stay-at-home-Republican during the Primary voting, or an unaffiliated voter that ends up voting Republican most of the time?  Then, this article is for you.

Who is really in charge in this world?  Is there any difference if I participate?  If you believe that your vote does not matter, think again.  Here are just two stories from this year’s Republican convention on May 8, 2010.

Morgan just as they announced his win at Convention

Morgan Philpot —  Morgan avoided a primary by getting his 60% of delegates by … yes … just one vote.

Jon at his Convention Speech

Jon Hellander – Jon missed avoiding a primary by … just one vote.

Both of these candidates were supported by a wonderful grassroots effort.

The convention system is closed to only those who are allowed to vote as delegates.  Those delegates were elected in their neighborhood meetings, sometimes called mass meetings and caucus meetings.  The people that showed up made all the difference in who was elected to represent their neighborhood at the convention.

Now the primary is here.  Tuesday, June 22, we have a choice in Utah between Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater.  Are you going to sit on the sidelines and let others decide who will get that seat?  In addition, statewide there are many other races, including the race between Jon Hellander and Mel Brown for the House Seat in District 53.

Primary races usually have low voter turnout.  This is crazy.  This is where the real decisions are made.  You can choose the candidate that most reflects your values, or just wait, and hold your nose in November and end up voting for the lesser of two evils.  This year will be different in the Senate race, because the aristocracy has ended with Bennett being eliminated by the delegates.  However, not every race had eight people running. 

Who decides this?  The Republicans.  Who does this affect?  Everyone.  Republicans typically win many races in rural areas, and historically throughout Utah.  Jim Matheson (D) has been an anomaly for this state.  I think that seat will end up Republican this year… GO MORGAN!

Here is my challenge.  Let your voice be heard.  You can sit back and choose between a Democrat and a Republican on the November ballot, or you can get out there, vote in the primary, and help determine WHICH Republican is actually on the ballot in November.

If you are Democrat, vote in the Democrat primary.  If you are a Republican or Conservative that is Unaffiliated, COME JOIN US.  You don’t have to live for the party.  You don’t have to be married to it.  I will always vote my conscience, as I hope you will as well.  Study the candidates.  See how they have voted if they have been in office before.  Get their report cards from the conservative groups that put them out, and make an educated decision.  Utah Grass Roots 2010 Report Card and Utah Tax Payers Association,    

You can vote easily at the polls, by changing affiliation.  Is it fair to have the Republicans continue to put forward someone who does not reflect YOUR VIEWS, because you are unaffiliated.  HELP US!

Choose a great candidate.  Your voice matters.  It is critical to our cause of liberty, and it’s not fair that you have been left high and dry by only having the candidate the few Republicans wanted.  Your right to be unaffiliated is wonderful, and I respect that.  However, the world is run by those that show up, and waiting until November just will not be enough anymore.

For more information on the Jon Hellander vs. Mel Brown campaign (click link to see previous article), please visit their websites.  www.hellander.com  or www.voteformelbrown.com. 

For more information on the Mike Lee vs. Tim Bridgewater campaign, please visit their websites at www.mikelee2010.com or www.timbridgewater.com.

Morgan Philpot’s Words of Wisdom

 

As many of you know, Morgan Philpot resigned as Vice-Chairman of the Utah Republican Party.  He is currently running for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District and if chosen by the Republican party delegates will face incumbent Jim Mattheson.  I ran across words from him that I think we should all consider.  This was taken from the Utah GOP Blog at http://utahgop.wordpress.com/   To find out more about becoming a delegate on March 23 in Utah, please contact us.

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Vice-chair’s Message:

These days I see and hear a great deal of political discontent. It is not simply a product of Democrat control of Congress and the White House – many members of our own party are not happy with the Republican message and agenda on a local and national scale. The State Party leadership team is aware of this, and we are doing something about it by focusing on principles and returning to our roots.

Believe it or not, I can empathize with this discontent and believe it may even be merited. Let me explain:

Hugh Nibley, speaking on the Second Law of Thermodynamics (the law of entropy) stated, “Everything runs down.” Similarly, biologist Lyall Watson said, “[l]eft to itself everything tends to become more and more disorderly.”

I believe that our party and especially our government should be critically analyzed for the same inevitable trend. As systemic integrity and order decreases, aggregation of power and patronage increases. Systemic integrity is vital to the proper check and balance of power, especially in a constitutional and free society where sovereignty rests in people.

Today we are charged as individuals and party members with a responsibility to rein in partisan and governmental processes where almost every person, faction, and politician seems to be “walking in their own path,” or seeking their own power. I believe all should strive to maintain the maxim of power, with its requisite agency and accountability, in the lowest common denominator – the people.

If left for too long, compromise and decay in systemic integrity – without proper renewal and attention – can lead to critical failure. Long term and systemic compromise and decay in our political systems at home in Utah and abroad in America is one big reason why we are seeing turbulence and political discontent today. Many feel that with this systemic corruption has come aggregation of power and influence. This reality gives rise to the great responsibility that is laid at our feet as free men and women; to renew the system.

How then do we renew the system? I believe the answer lies in active political participation at a local level wherein we seek to maintain our party and governmental systems in a manner that is rooted in a loyalty and devotion to the Providentially designed Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”

The Constitution is our great guide; it was the pattern upon which our own party’s governing documents were created. Within its words are systems and patterns of government that – if followed – prevent the second law of thermodynamics from taking effect.

As Vice-chair I invite you to join with me in seeking to critically analyze and review our party structure and integrity. Review the party bylaws and constitution. Examine them with the Constitution as your light and guide. Find out who your local partisan leaders are. Find out who represents you on your county or state central committee. Find out who your legislative district leaders are. These are the individuals charged with governing our party and maintaining our governing documents. They are accountable to you. Lend them your assistance and advice, your research and admonitions. Together we can renew the American system of government starting right here at home. By doing so, others will join us in our cause, which has been and should always be the great cause of Liberty.

Morgan Philpot