The Conservative Conscience with Daniel Horowitz

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we dissect why it’s not only immoral for conservatives to continue focusing on defending every dumb thing Republicans do (simply because the Democrats are “worse”), but also strategically dumb.  If we want to get Russia out of the news, the Trump administration and the conservative movement must focus on numerous policy issues that will place the media on defense and change the narrative to where we want the plays to go rather than going to where they are leading us.   

We explore some of the details on the Russia scandal and demonstrate why it’s better to focus on what we actually can defend and advocate for on key policy issues than very murky and troubling relationships.  Plus, focusing on solid conservative accomplishments is the best way to get Russia out of the headlines anyway.  We end with some quick updates on health care and immigration. 

Show links:

Andy McCarthy article on the difference between illegal and wrong

McConnell fighting conservatives in Alabama Senate race

Is Trump’s amnesty leading to a resurgence in border crossings?

Trump’s Secretary of State makes a mockery of his Warsaw speech  

Tillerson loves the Iran deal

President Trump gave a terrific speech in Warsaw, Poland on the shared values of Western Civilization and its clash with the Islamic world.  The problem is, much like with domestic policy, the specific policy outcomes and the personnel of this administration don’t match up with the rhetoric of the president himself.

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we develop a theme of how Trump’s conservative rhetoric is often voided out by policy outcomes from liberal advisors and cabinet members. Particularly as it relates to national security and understanding the clash of civilizations, Trump’s National Security Council, headed by H.R. McMaster, is rowing the boat in the exact opposite direction.  We discuss some of the specific policy dichotomies between the NSC staff and the president and how conservatives must not get distracted by rhetoric.  They must demand action, as Trump himself said during his Inaugural Address.

No issue embodies the departure of Trump from his Inaugural Address than his embrace of the ethanol lobby. We explain how Trump embracing the ethanol mandate is a colossal missed opportunity to harness his populist agenda in a way that helps consumers and improves free markets.  We also explain how Trump’s rhetoric and campaign promises on Obamacare deviated from his actions.  The moral of the story is, once Trump delivers a good speech, work for conservatives has only begun.    

Key Quotes:

“We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.  The time for empty talk is over.  Now arrives the hour of action.” ~ President Trump, Inaugural Address

Show links

Trump voids out populist message with love for ethanol parasites

Bannon back in the good graces of Trump, but for which issues?

Trump campaigned on full repeal of Obamacare

What is it we are celebrating this week?  How far have we deviated from our founding values expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

In this special episode of the Conservative Conscience, we break down six key principles referenced in the Declaration of Independence.  Anyone who fully understands the 201 words of the preamble should have no problems discerning the right course of action on almost every policy issue.  While the world around us has changed dramatically over the past 241 years, these foundational principles are self-evident truths that will never change.

Show links

John Adams essay on equality   

Calvin Coolidge’s epic July 4 speech in 1926

My July 4 manifesto on sovereignty

The real right to health care our founders believed in  

With the Supreme Court’s latest term behind us, we take stock of the state of affairs in what has become the nation’s most powerful branch of government.  Contrary to popular opinion on the right, this was a bad week at the court, on net.  And when coupled with other decisions this term, as well as the growing trend of sheer lunacy in the lower courts, we are about to face a torrent of bad decisions that will void out any point of winning elections. 

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we explain how the soft bigotry of low expectations among the conservative elite has allowed them to remain silent amidst the tyranny of the courts and instead grasp at straws to convince themselves we are winning in the courts.  In fact, between religious liberty, immigration, election maps, and the social fabric of this country, we are staring down the barrel of certain defeat at the courts unless we finally do what it takes to reform the system wholesale.  Roberts has become the new Kennedy and the lower courts are insufferable.  We will never win the existing judiciary game.   

Show links

Roberts joined ruling allowing failing cities to sue banks for their woes

SCOTUS: states could violate Second Amendment but can’t follow biology

Why the SCOTUS ruling on “travel ban” is not as good as it appears

No matter how liberal Republicans seem to become, no matter how profoundly they betray their campaign promises, so much of the conservative movement just doesn’t care.  It was bad enough until now, but with the ultimate betrayal of keeping, codifying, and bailing out Obamacare, this dynamic has reached a new low.

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we explain just how harmful the betrayal from Trump and Republicans has been to any effort to fulfill the core campaign promises.  Yet, because they are focused on nonsense or the binary idolatry of “at least they are not Democrats,” much of “conservative inc.” just doesn’t care.  Unless something changes quickly, we are headed for the nightmare scenario in which conservatives suffer all the liabilities of GOP control, but secure none of the benefits – all the while permanently shifting the body politic to the left. 

Further, we explore with great specificity why the GOP health care bill is worse than simply doing nothing and why it must be opposed at all costs. 

Show links

Conservatives must repeal and replace Republicans who have embraced Obamacare

Conservatives have made peace with Obamacare

This is not what Trump promised voters  

Despite the craziness of the GOP, they still managed to win the Georgia special election.  That is how badly swing voters still don’t want Pelosi’s policies.  So why won’t Republicans use this mandate to move in the opposite direction?

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we dissect the message from the recent slew of special elections and how it provides an opportunity for Republicans to energize their base by offering the country a new direction.  Yet, from Obamacare and immigration to fiscal policy, the courts, and foreign policy, Republicans are keeping the status quo. 

We also delve into the details of the horrendous Obamacare bailout bill that is making Jonathan Gruber proud.

There are also some issues going on in the courts that are killing our sovereignty.  

Key quotes:

During his inaugural address, Trump inveighed against do-nothing politicians who are all talk and no action. Trump said: “We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action. Do not allow anyone to tell you that it cannot be done.”

I couldn’t agree more, Mr. President.  So why is there all talk and no action except for the actions that contradict your rhetoric? 

Show links

Trump supports comprehensive immigration reform

The GOP bill to make Obamacare great again

GA-6 win is not a mandate to be liberal idiots  

How is it that so many supposed conservatives are so credulous in the face of policy betrayals by Trump and Republicans that they fall for every distraction?  Sadly, this reveals a more uncomfortable reality that the modern conservative movement and conservative media don’t really stand for anything.  And as Alexander Hamilton warned, "Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we discuss the true consequences of Trump’s amnesty and how it violates the foundation of his campaign promise.  We also observe how the silence of conservative media is appalling and how there is no movement to demand that Republicans utilize their control of government for specific policy victories. In that light, we also lay out some opportunities for conservatives in the upcoming markup of the annual defense bill, an opportunity that will likely be lost on this fledgling movement. 

Finally, we tackle the concerns with Trump’s foreign policy and his further involvement in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, and Somalia, in complete violation of his campaign promises.  Yet, conservatives don’t seem to stand for anything other than not being the Democrats…even if we ironically adopt their policies!  

Show links

Trump admin not even cooperating with investigations of Obama era

Earth to conservatives: Trump granted executive amnesty

A smart GOP would push right to carry legislation now

Time to jump ship from phony Obamacare repeal  

The entire conservative media is focused on the endless rage against the liberal media and accusing them of fomenting violence.  But we all forget what we are even fighting for.  As we chronicle throughout the podcast and in our writings, there are a number of liberal policy outcomes emanating from this GOP Congress and administration, yet we are fighting over a bunch of nothing. 

The best way to fight back against the media?  Let’s actually enact the agenda for which they supposedly hate us!  Let’s start by pursuing a pro-gun agenda and immediately enacting a right-to-carry bill.  Stay in for the August recess and overwhelm the Left and the media with one policy victory after another.  This will have the effect of electrifying our base so that the Left is not the only side with intensity for the mid-term elections.  

We need more winning and less whining.

Show links

Our troops forced to undergo transgender sensitivity training…under GOP control!

My list of dos and donts in the Middle East

Distraction, distractions, distractions.  By refusing to use the bully pulpit to promote a robust and bold conservative agenda, the Trump administration and much of the “conservative” movement is falling into the media trap.  We are focusing on what the media wants to discuss.  Why, instead, is nobody focusing on the fact that Trump is continuing the illegal amnesty of Obama?  Why is nobody focusing on the dozens of agenda items we’ve laid out at Conservative Review to drive the narrative and force the media to focus on what we think is important rather than us focusing on what they think is important?

In this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we focus on a number of forgotten issues – from the Saudi Arms deal and Trump’s amnesty to the crazy courts, Hezbollah operatives on our shores, and the GOP making Obamacare great again.    

Show links

Trump admin taking in Australia’s rejected refugees

9 issues Trump could focus on to deflect from Comey and Russia…if he actually cared

Betrayal! Trump grants amnesty to 125,000 illegals in 3 months

Feds bust Hezbollah sleeper cell on our soil, yet nobody seems to care  

Forget about Sanctuary Cities – the courts have created a sanctuary Nation

While every Clickservative is focused solely on Comey and Russia, we stand at a crossroads on so many issues.  From the debt ceiling, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, foreign policy opportunities, Israel policy, budget betrayals, immigration, judicial reform, etc – there is no time to be wasted on nonsense.  Conservatives can raise their voices and demand change while the president is on the fence and we can seize these amazing opportunities. On the other hand, we can get distracted by nonsense and watch the shallow-state losers in this administration lead the president astray on every critical issue.  The choice is ours.  

Specifically, in this episode of the Conservative Conscience, we delve into three issues in depth – Dodd-Frank repeal, the debt ceiling, and how to use the Arab schism with Qatar, Iran, and the Muslim Brotherhood to our advantage. 

As of now, we are getting all the liabilities of cozying up to the Saudis (getting ensnared in Yemen, getting caught in Syria, the disastrous arms deal, throwing Israel under the bus), but not getting the benefits (going after the Muslim Brotherhood, abrogating the Iran deal, and stop fighting for Iran in Iraq). This is the difference between allying with one of your enemies against another (bad) and playing them both against each other for our benefit (good).

The lesson from all of this is that true conservatives have so much to talk about and run on in a principled and resonate fashion. We don’t need to focus on the media or what the media is focusing on all day.  And if conservatives would actually give such advice to the president, it would have a self-fulfilling effect of bailing him out of the media’s narratives and changing the discussion to substance over style, which always benefits our side.     

Show links

Republicans have nothing to run on but the media

Secretary Kelly says he wont deport “Dreamers”!

The moral case for a cool off of immigration from the Middle East

The importance of the debt ceiling and why Trump must reverse course, show leadership

The courts are destroying Republican electoral viability and nobody is paying attention

The importance of repealing Dodd-Frank