Sunday, January 22 –

2012 SFLA National Conference ~ 7:00 am (mass) to 9:00 pm ~ http://studentsforlife.org/conferenceschedule/

Monday, January 23 –

Pro-Life Rally ~ 12:00-1:00 pm ~ http://bit.ly/zg61HM

March for Life ~ 1:00-4:30 pm ~ http://bit.ly/zg61HM

National Pro-Life Youth Rally ~ Immediately following the March ~ http://bit.ly/Am3RTj

The caucus experience is undoubtedly a unique one. On top of Iowa’s satus as presidential election season kick-off, the early political battle with great implications calls for a different paradigm of preparation. Campaigns ought to identify probable caucus-goers, contact them multiple times for reminder purposes, and citizen leaders enlisted as precinct surrogates. The demand on candidates is much more significant than in the average primary contest. In fact, only fourteen states employ a caucus system.

Unlike primaries, voters cannot show up at the polls whenever they wish nor submit absentee ballots. Rather, a set time is scheduled – usually in the evening, say 7:00 pm – for all to gather and elect delegates. For this reason and others, including suspect weather conditions, turnout is often quite low.

To describe Romney’s current Iowa strategy as merely an updated version of the 2008 playbook would be a vast understatement. This time around the Hawkeye State circuit, Team Mitt has enacted a polar opposite approach. The former Governor of Massachusetts has not visited Iowa all that much prior to the homestretch and spent much less crucial cash. As well, campaign staff disclosed that out-of-state volunteers were not to serve in the role of caucus representatives. Iowans were primarily utilized to stump for Romney at the actual precinct meetings.

In a historically close outcome, Mitt Romney won the Caucuses over former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum by just eight votes. Ron Paul finished in third, Newt Gingrich fourth. Michele Bachmann announced today, hours after an awful Iowa performance, that she will suspend her presidential campaign.

I am very excited to take part in the political process at this crucial early contest. It appears that front-runner Mitt Romney and libertarian Ron Paul have an advantage over their counterparts, according to updated polling data. Rick Santorum, former U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania, has benefited from a late surge thanks primarliy to Evangelical Christians – a major Iowan voting bloc.

The Des Moines Register – Iowa’s largest newspaper – recently announced their endorsement of Mitt Romney.

While this important electoral test has accurately selected the eventual GOP nominee (i. e. Bob Dole and George W. Bush), top contenders have fallen short, namely Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Four years ago, up-and-coming candidate Mike Huckabee won the caucuses.

Have you ever wondered the difference between a caucus and a primary? The latter – Iowa’s standard since 1976 – stands out due to the requisite time commitment and forum-style nature. Precinct-level gatherings begin around 7:00 pm. A representative on behalf of each candidate is invited to address the precinct body prior to voting. Unlike at a primary, which almost always includes a one-and-done secret ballot, caucus participants may choose to support a candidate other than the one they originally backed at the start of the evening. For those whom work late, have small children, or are ill, the caucus may prove to be too much of a hassle. Unquestionably, and for multiple reasons, the hands-on approach is unique in its own right!

Just one-week later, on January 10, New Hampshire will hold the first of many primary battles. South Carolina and Florida follow soon thereafter. Michiganders will cast their ballots on February 28.

*Please check back soon for in-depth analysis and a first-hand look at the Iowa Caucuses!

Is it morning in Michigan again? Education reform advocates hope so.

President Ronald Reagan’s famous 1984 campaign advertisement touted a positive economic turnaround and an upbeat American morale. “[O]ur country is prouder and stronger and better,” narrated the Great Communicator. Given the recent recession and accompanied woes, another national jolt is in order.

In a much-anticipated move, this month the Michigan House of Representatives voted to lift the charter school cap. State Senators had initiated the process through the passage of a similar bill. The two chambers have reconciled the differences; it awaits the approval of Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI).

Incrementally, state-funded universities would have the authority to sponsor and approve more charters. The highlight of the legislative bundle, entitled the “parental empowerment package,” boasts an allowance of up to 300 charter schools in 2012 and an additional 200 the following year. Beginning in 2015, an unlimited amount will be allowed to prosper under state law.

Critics – including the Michigan Education Association, a liberal teachers union – claim that these alternative educational options perform worse than government-run entities and provide an avenue for profit.

But charter schools are held to a higher standard. If they fail to meet a set of stricter-than-average criteria, their charter is not renewed. Public schools can barely scrape by for years without any scrutiny, under-performing teachers are granted tenure, and families fall behind as a result. The statistics speak for themselves, especially for urban areas: charter school students have higher attendance, academic performance, and graduation rates than their public counterparts (2009 Education Report, Mackinac Center for Public Policy). It is as simple as that.

In the opinion of the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, “SB 618 raises academic standards for all charter public schools by strengthening accountability on academic performance; fiscal management; and transparency for schools, operators and authorizers.” They added that “[f]or the first time in state law, this bill will require demonstrated improved academic achievement for all groups of students as the most important factor for charter contract renewal.”

State Representative Tom McMillin (R-MI), Chairman of the House Education Committee, released a statement after the successful effort in Lansing: “Michigan’s children should not have to wait for adults in government to remove limits on their future. By phasing out this arbitrary, outdated cap today, thousands of students currently on charter school waiting lists were given real hope for a better tomorrow” (HuffPost Detroit, 12/14/11).

Senate Bill 618 passed almost entirely along party lines, 20-18 in the originating chamber and 58-49 in the House. Republicans, whom have majorities in both chambers for the first time since 2006, were able to usher in commonsense education reform despite Democrat pushback. Left-wing petty political tactics notwithstanding, status quo reluctance to innovation in the classroom is no more.

Under the new legislative measure, many more students will now have the opportunity to obtain a specialized education. The free-market approach is a proven solution to such complicated and important issues as education.  Successful charter schools that meet tough requirements shall flourish far into the future, while the unsuccessful fade away. By offering a chance for outside-the-box thinking to shine, children receive the attention they deserve.

Is the sun rising on Michigan’s future? Time will tell. A giant step in the right direction, though, makes for a beautiful scene.

National School Choice Week (NSCW), scheduled for January 22-28, is an initiative intended to spark conversation and brainstorm ideas for expanding opportunities for America’s kids. Everyone can make a genuine difference toward our future today. Visit www.SchoolChoiceWeek.com for further information including details on how to get involved.

Nicholas Kowalski writes for NSCW, maintains an active Twitter handle (@NKowalski), and can be reached via NicholasKowalski.com. 

With a decisive victory on Christmas Eve, the Detroit Lions secured a spot in the National Football League (NFL) playoffs for the first time this century.

The team hailing from the Motor City has failed to qualify for a postseason appearance eleven seasons in-a-row. That season, the Lions’ mediocre 8-8 record led to a lopsided loss against the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round. Detroit will boast a winning 2011 campaign, having won ten games with one week still to play.

On Sunday, the Lions will travel to historic and frigid Lambeau Field to take on divisional rival Green Bay. Led by Most Valuable Player-caliber quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are hungry for a second-straight Super Bowl title. The NFC North champions have notched the top overall seed – and a coveted opening round bye – throughout the single-elimination Conference tournament. With these honors and lofty guarantees in perspective, it seems that the Packers lack any incentive for going all-out this weekend.

Detroit, on the converse, possesses a bit to play for, specifically a chance to compete against a perceived weaker opponent. If the Lions (10-5) finish ahead of the Atlanta Falcons (9-5), they will face the winner of the Dallas-New York Giants matchup. If not, however, San Francisco or New Orleans awaits. The Lions have fallen to the 49ers and Saints – and beaten the Cowboys – earlier this season.

A few starters have particular reason to rejoice. Reliable kicker Jason Hanson, dubbed the ‘losing-est’ athlete due to his lengthy career in Motown, is the only holdover from the ’99 playoff (and ’00 near-playoff) squad. Veteran offensive linemen Jeff Backus, a former Michigan Wolverine, and Dominic Raiola have waited their entire career for the opportunity to play meaningful games. Raiola spoke his mind: “This is what every professional football player plays for, and I’ve never gotten a chance to do it” (Associated Press).

Aside from the elongated playoff drought, longtime family owner William Clay Ford, Sr.’s club has begun to place a lackluster past behind. In 2008, the franchise lost every game – an embarrassing feat unlikely to be mirrored. Speaking of failure, the Lions have not won a postseason game in nearly two decades.

Some ugly streaks have been put to rest by this powerful offensive squad. Winning on the road, let alone playing well, seemed like an unbearable task for the Lions not too long ago. From 2007 to December 2010, the Lions were winless away from home, racking up a League-record twenty-six straight road losses. To date, an impressive five of Detroit’s victories have come as visitors. Prior to the Lions’ October 10 triumph over the Chicago Bears, which attracted an impressive 16.4 million viewers, they had not appeared on ESPN’s Monday Night Football since being shutout 35-0 in 2001.

Unfortunately, third-year head coach Jim Schwartz and company has continued their losing ways on Turkey Day. Green Bay knocked off the hometown crew, 27-15, to mark Detroit’s eighth consecutive setback in the annual holiday dual. A Honolulu blue-and-silver Thanksgiving W is certainly on the distant radar.

This revamped Lions team – highlighted by ferocious key individuals in QB Matthew Stafford, all-Pro WR Calvin Johnson, and talented-yet-tempered DT Ndamukong Suh – is poised for January action. While their opponent and accompanying locale remain a mystery, the Saturday afternoon atmosphere at Ford Field surely acknowledged the looming scenario. Detroiters, diehard (and bandwagon!) fans alike welcome the postseason with open arms.

Nicholas Kowalski writes for The Other Side blog, maintains an active Twitter handle (@NKowalski), and launched NicholasKowalski.com.

In Michigan, there is a battle brewing for the Republican nomination for U. S. Senate. Pete Hoekstra, who has spent eighteen (18) years in Congress, is the perceived favorite. However, a genuine conservative activist has come forward. While incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) awaits a challenger, a fed-up public will have to sort out the vast differences between the competing GOP contenders. 

As a long-time advocate of educational improvement in practice, Durant co-founded Detroit’s Cornerstone Schools. The private-independent and charter system experiment has had great success, opening doors for more than 1,400 inner-city students a year at last check. Stephen Henderson, Detroit Free Press editorial page editor, applauded the candidate for his effective work: “The charter movement, the number of independent schools cropping up around the city — it all really started with Durant and Cornerstone” (Detroit Free Press, 8/25/11).

Detroiters involved in the education reform movement – including the plethora of thankful families – are well aware of Durant and his myriad contributions to moving the Motor City forward. For the past two decades, 95% of its students have graduated, compared to a worst-in-the-nation 25% rate for Detroit Public Schools. Mayor Dave Bing had nothing but praise for the alternative academic start-up, stating that “When a child attends Cornerstone Schools they are entering a learning community that brings together children, parents, teachers and partners all working toward a single goal — the success of our children” (CornerstoneSchools.org).

Amongst a long list of accomplishments, Durant served as Vice President of Hillsdale College where he started Imprimis: a conservative intellectual publication with over two million subscribers. From 1995-99, upon state-wide election, he served as President of the Michigan Board of Education. Durant has also sat on educational boards for University of Detroit Jesuit (2001-10) and the Skillman Foundation’s Excellent Schools Detroit initiative.

Any doubt surrounding Durant’s fundraising abilities can be put to rest. Having just formally announced his candidacy, third-quarter reports confirm the campaign raised an impressive $750,000 in a span of three weeks. To boot, a few years back, Durant co-hosted The Turning Point Invitational with golf legend Arnold Palmer. The highly successful event brought in over $6 million for charitable organizations like Cornerstone Schools (GoldDigestPlanner.com). Given Hoekstra’s financial woes in his failed 2010 gubernatorial bid, Durant is in prime position to make the leap to front-runner status.

Of course key votes cannot be cast, necessary funds cannot be collected, and elections cannot be won without a top campaign team. Accordingly, Durant has tapped political guru Dick Wadhams as his chief advisor. The Colorado GOP Chairman boasts a near-perfect record in high-stakes electoral contests. Notably, Wadhams is responsible for Senator John Thune’s (R-SD) 2004 upset victory.

It is time Michiganders are represented by an individual with a proven track record of making a difference. A pair of Washington insiders – Stabenow, whose approval numbers remain dangerously low and are steadily sinking, and the aforementioned Hoekstra – symbolizes all that is wrong with status quo politics. As Tea Party rallies and the mid-term cycle made crystal clear, the current climate filled with a clarion call for real change suits the conservative underdog well.  Clark Durant is the right man for the job.

Nicholas Kowalski (@NKowalski) is a blogger for National School Choice Week (NSCW).  The upcoming event is slated for January 22-28, 2012. Learn more at www.SchoolChoiceWeek.com.

On Tuesday, September 20, on the eve of Mahmoud Abbas’ United Nations statehood pitch, members of MSU Campus Conservatives – in partnership with Christians United for Israel (CUFI) – stood in defense of Israel and its right to exist. The afternoon demonstration lasted for two-and-a-half hours at a high-traffic location at Michigan State University.

Students held up signs reading “We Support Israel”, “Stand with Israel”, and “Pro-Israel Pro-Peace”. Israeli flags and a CUFI banner were displayed. Informative literature was distributed to interested passersby.

The range of student participants was wide-reaching. In fact, having been inspired by the eye-catching gathering, a Jewish student decided to drop what he was doing and joined the awareness effort. “This kind of activism makes a real difference,” said MSU student Jordan Zammit, of Arab descent. “People pay attention to this activity. They can relate to our important message.”

The peaceful rally was not without its detractors, however. First, a young gentleman approached the student supporters and began quizzing them on various subjects, including the geography of the Israeli state and biblical interpretation. The verbal altercation ended eventually. But a second disruption caused more of a stir. As the video clip below shows, a Palestinian advocate put forth her beliefs in a shouting manner. She called the students “ignorant”, among other choice words, and spat in their direction prior to departing. See for yourself:

Nicholas Kowalski writes for The Other Side blog. Questions? Comments? He can be reached via email (Nicholas.Kowalski@rocketmail.com) and Twitter (@NKowalski).