True North

The scars born of neglect never fade, even after they’re fully healed.

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Scattered throughout the rows of upright stones within Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery, there are a handful of stones lying flat. Found in the shade of an ancient tree, bearing a scar that has forever altered its shape.

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Lives have been irreparably impacted. Families of fallen HEROES…
Negligence. Blatant disrespect. Did they not know that their INACTION would have such a lasting impact? If they did know… would they have even cared?

And yet, the scars remain. These lives, forever entangled. The future, directly connected to our PAST… life, rising up out of the grave.

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Was it a filibuster that caused all this? Maybe a failed reconciliation package? Another war… an economic downturn? Maybe we just FORGOT… maybe we just wanted to forget. Years of entanglements in deadly foreign wars… I guess Congress just wanted to spend more money on flappers and speakeasies that session… ‘Let the dead lie, we have elections to win.’

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But that could never happen TODAY. Our National Cemeteries are watched, manicured, and maintained. 24/7. 365. They are HONORED and respected. Proudly we remember… not like back THEN. They didn’t know what we know now… we’ve learned that lesson. We’ve seen the damage that can come… Korea… Vietnam… Afghanistan… Iraq…

Did we learn that lesson or did we simply forget? Our grandparents learned that lesson.
Unfortunately… it seems we did not.

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https://apnews.com/article/us-army-veteran-immigration-raid-53cb22251a01599a0c4d1a8d5650d050

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And now we’re raising our own generation of ignorance and neglect. Years from now, our grandchildren will inherit a more broken and chaotic world than the one that we were given. More corruption, less trust in institutions. More debt… more war. More working hours, less acknowledgement and compensation at the end of the day.

Will they re-elect those who allowed this to happen… just as WE have done? Or will they see it for what it is and deny them another term…

Every ACT.
Every ORDER.

Every unconstitutional endeavor can be UNDONE… just as it was created.

With the stroke of a PEN.

Our future is not set in stone. Our trajectory can STILL CHANGE, but that path is up to US. At the ballot box. In this moment, everything is still possible. From the most destructive outcome to the most fortunate. WE are in control. Our VOTE. Our INACTION will be rewarded accordingly.

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CLARITY… above all else. Because that’s the one thing none of us have. What is the Will of the American People? Did our LAST election demonstrate that… what about the one before that?

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Politicians and elected officials make pronouncements based on polling data and election outcomes. In the last two Presidential elections alone, the polls and the outcomes didn’t match up. But then again… I can find a set of data points that can justify pretty much anything I want them to.

The only definitive polling takes place when we cast our ballot on Election Day. And even then, elected officials are able to read the tea leaves however they want them to read.

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The subtlety and nuance go far beyond small business vs. big gov’t. The question of whether our federal government should even exist is now front and center in the conversation. So now we’re forced to pick a side in the fight… do we side with the National Weather Service or do we side with the tornadoes.

We can make America Great again without destroying everything that made us great in the first place.

I think of it like this…

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Every idea, every concept. It’s all right there. Just offscreen. What is allowed to PASS through the lens, the framing of the shot… that’s where we find the problem.

Is there something ELSE not being presented? Is there a BETTER WAY that we’ve missed… and that’s being generous. Is there something else that we’ve been denied access to… hidden behind some PAYWALL… available only for a select few to see.

Those concepts… those assets… they don’t just disappear. They’re still there, just offscreen. Waiting. For someday. When they are needed…

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‘With malice toward none and with charity for all…’ Yes, those are lofty rhetorical words, but they are also a prescription for our ills. We must repair that which is broken, but we must also seek to restore that which is good about this Nation. The path is not set in stone, but we all know the destination- a more perfect Union.

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Empires may rise and empires may fall. Our Constitution shall remain.

-JC

My Statement on No Labels Inability to Produce a Presidential Candidate

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/04/no-labels-no-presidential-ticket/

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In the interest of full disclosure… I took my shot. On behalf of the American People. My efforts, though diminished now compared to what they once were, have never fully stopped. I saw an opportunity to help and I spoke out, as I’ve done over the course of these last six years and as I will continue to do in the future.

For those who genuinely believe in reform, please weigh this against what representatives from No Labels are currently saying and draw your own conclusions. In my opinion… it seems like it was all just a ruse.

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https://thehill.com/homenews/media/4576442-cnn-abby-phillip-no-labels/

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“Where does this money go now…” I don’t know, but I do know a sizable chunk of it will go toward helping establishment, party-affiliated candidates win their elections this fall. Our campaign finance laws ensure it will be so.

That seems to have been the point of the operation all along. To distract donors just long enough to ensure that there won’t be enough time to establish a viable alternative, and in the process kill two birds with one stone-

The two parties will now have more cash available this fall and independent parties will have less.

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On February 22, 2024, I sent the following email to Ben Chavis of No Labels, shortly after watching his interview on The Weekend on MSNBC.

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Dear sir,

I saw your interview last weekend on MSNBC, speaking about the efforts of your organization to gain ballot access in all fifty States. Sixteen was the number I believe you said. I was a bit surprised by that. At such a late date, I can’t help but wonder why, especially in this climate. It seems like it would be an easy task. A majority of voters now identify as independent, and they come from both parties. With all due respect sir… please allow me to offer a suggestion.

In this moment, I say there’s nothing more bipartisan than the desire to see structural change. Systemic reform. Not just bipartisan legislation, susceptible to the political whims of whomever holds the majority; I’m talking about Constitutional change. Enshrining every American Citizen’s right to vote. Now, and for all time.

The candidate that runs on a platform presenting a viable alternative to the Electoral College will win the presidency. That message will reengage voters who haven’t voted in decades. That goal will see bipartisan support. That effort will spark the imagination of every American Citizen and reignite the passions we hold for our democracy. Because it will ensure, at long last… that we all have a VOICE.

Every Citizen. Every Election.

Right now, conservatives are pushing for a Constitutional Convention. At one time Democrats were calling for the same, but now they want nothing to do with the idea. Therefore, they have no plan. If there is no solid pushback to the MAGA conservatives, they will have their way. Unopposed.

I don’t trust these partisan political actors to do what’s necessary to fix these problems. By nature of the system as it currently stands, their donors would never allow it. But, if they were presented with a viable solution… opinions could be swayed. An overwhelming show of support from the American People would force them to change their minds.

If your organization is still working to present a viable third party option on the ballot this fall, consider making a pivot. I believe, with the connections I’ve cultivated over the course of these last few years, we could still secure a spot on the ballot in those thirty-four remaining States. And, as Michael Steele so kindly pointed out, the territories as well.

Let The People decide… that’s how the experiment was designed to work.

Thank you for your consideration.

-JC

Elections Have Consequences.

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Haven’t you heard? It’s the economy stupid. Keep it simple… just stick to the messaging and say it over and over again. Never mind if it doesn’t resonate. Just look at the POLLS. Americans vote on Pocketbook Issues…

Pocketbook Issues.

The American People are well versed on Pocketbook Issues. We make do with what we have, or we go without… politics be damned.

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What happens when our Elected Officials put POLITICS above all else… officials who are willing to stoke the FIRES of their political base in order to hold the reins of power? The latest Speaker of the House has compared the reproductive liberty of women and girls to acts of genocide carried out by Nazis.

How does that statement help craft viable legislation… how does that statement help anyone at all?

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/22/speaker-mike-johnson-holocaust-abortion

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And what happens when his supporters are disappointed? What happens when he fails to deliver on those legislative goals?

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https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/25/trump-expressed-support-hanging-pence-capitol-riot-jan-6-00035117

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Our former Vice President stoked those fires for YEARS… as a former Representative… as a former Governor. His supporters saw his failure as a betrayal. Why would Speaker Johnson’s supporters not see his shortcomings the same way?

But that doesn’t matter right now, does it. There are ELECTIONS to win… and 2024 is just WEEKS away.

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Screenshot from American Voices, MSNBC. (11/25/2023)

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As Senator Tuberville said… it’s time to stop the farce and unite the party. It’s always good to have a PLAN.

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The fight is JUST when the fight is waged to protect other’s rights… the fight to strip others of their rights, is a fight being waged against every American Citizen.

The lines have been drawn… the battle rages on. They’ve staked their claim on CRT, abortion access, and transgender rights. They’ve shown themselves to be in favor of a theocratic state…

**Where the hell is the Democratic Party?**

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What happens when our Elected Officials put POLITICS above all else… officials who are willing to stoke the FIRES of their political base in order to hold on to the reins of power? The Speakership of our former Speaker of the House was highlighted by a desire for INCLUSION. Expanding access for all genders and races, by promoting EQUALITY in the eyes of the Law.

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https://time.com/collection/time100-summit-2023/6274249/nancy-pelosi-4/

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-equal-rights-amendment-biden-action-20220926-jyyi6vhuj5ayhjtffu4muukna4-story.html

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/30/us/tara-reade-russia.html

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And what happens when her supporters are disappointed? What happens when her party fails to deliver on those legislative goals?

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https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/michigan-hillary-clinton-trump-232547

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They’ll leave the top of the ticket BLANK. That’s IF they even bother to show up at all. What good does it do us if they secure the House and the Senate if they can’t deliver the White House? With no LEADERSHIP at the top of the ticket, there is no MAJORITY, let alone a Supermajority.

Historically speaking, the only remedy for Elected Officials who will not do as the voters have directed, is to vote them OUT.

Three election cycles.

Equality has BEEN on the ballot since 2018… yet Democrats still show no desire to get it done in 2024.

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The fight is JUST when the fight is waged to protect other’s rights… the fight to strip others of their rights, is a fight being waged against every American Citizen.

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And Women are the MAJORITY.

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But that doesn’t matter right now, does it. There are ELECTIONS to win… and 2024 is just WEEKS away.

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Screenshot from Deadline: White House, MSNBC. (11/22/2023)

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The lines have been drawn… the battle rages on. But haven’t you heard? It’s the ECONOMY stupid. Keep it simple… just stick to the messaging.

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Screenshot from All In w/ Chris Hayes, MSNBC. (11/10/2023)

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Just say it over and over again. Never mind if it doesn’t resonate. Just look at the POLLS.

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Screenshot from Morning Joe, MSNBC. (11/23/2023)

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The American People vote on Pocketbook Issues…

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https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/politics/voting-rights-act-supreme-court-thomas-gorsuch/index.html

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/senate-voting-legislation-filibuster/index.html

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Pocketbook Issues.

The American People are well versed on Pocketbook Issues… we make do with what we have, or we go without.

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https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/

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Politics be damned.

-JC

For Whom The Bell Tolls

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The problem of the public’s perception of our current economic environment, lies in the fact that the underlying problems STILL EXIST… the vulnerability hasn’t been properly addressed.

The supply chain issues… the inflation and the response… why were these issues not anticipated? The pandemic raged for YEARS. Those problems were allowed to happen due to inaction. The suffering born of that inaction was cause by our Elected Officials, specifically the current Administration.

The polls show it… the American People want somebody else.
The American People don’t want Joe Biden.
The American People don’t want Donald Trump.
How do you combat that kind of thinking?

You engage. You call on everyone to jump into the mix and demand a worthy primary challenge. The BEST IDEAS always rise to the top.

But that’s NOT the strategy currently being embraced.

Donald Trump and the Republican Party have already said they don’t want a primary. Joe Biden has already said he doesn’t want a primary… and now? We’re going to have at least THREE Democrats on the ballot this fall and at least TWO Republicans.

In a country with only TWO major political parties, we’re going to have upwards of TEN CANDIDATES running for President…

Who’s fault is that?

Joe Biden had the chance to quell the unrest. He could have called for the fight, and demonstrated to his party that he was ready for re-election by knocking down every candidate BEFORE the general election.

Now, he’s split his own support. He’s spent all his political capital and has nothing to show for it. The VOTERS have carried all the weight, while he just signs the checks.

His ego and overconfidence has put our democratic process in jeopardy; and now, whomever wins in 2024 will do so with a MINORITY of support from the American People.

Joe Biden can win with less than 50% of the vote.
Donald Trump can win with less than 50% of the vote.
Robert Kennedy Jr. can win with less than 50% of the vote.
Cornell West can win with less than 50% of the vote.

Joe Biden has done more to advance the cause of Donald J. Trump than has Donald J. Trump. Joe Biden is Trump’s BIGGEST SUPPORTER right now… because Donald J. Trump doesn’t need to gain the support of the MAJORITY to win re-election.

All he has to do is hold on to his 46%.

Right now Donald Trump may be the single greatest threat to Our Constitution, but Joe Biden comes in a very close SECOND. I suppose… that’s just how the Electoral College works.

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So, here we are… at the cusp… on the brink. He’s said so HIMSELF that he’s ready to terminate the Constitution. He’s ready to turn the DOJ into HIS servant… and what’s the message from our President?

**‘Look at everything I’ve done for you, you stupid bastards.’**

It’s all the VOTER’S FAULT… they just don’t understand. He’s already told us HIMSELF that he doesn’t want anything to change. Everything’s going exactly how he wants it… HIS party is in control and there’s NO COMPETITION to stop him.

The voters will ‘come home’ this fall… and why wouldn’t they? Judge him by the alternative, not the Almighty, right? Well, last I checked… The Almighty isn’t on the ballot this fall.

Arrogance, Ego, Apathy, and Inaction. The Four Horsemen of our Constitutional Apocalypse.

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But our future is not yet set in stone… we don’t need to go down this path yet again. We’ve already learned this lesson in 2016. FOUR YEARS of degradation to the structural norms of our institutions has shown us where the vulnerabilities lie… we all know what the problem IS.

And so do our enemies… the people who seek to tear it all down.

They’re working OVERTIME, trying to undo this Union. Joe Biden and the Democratic Party should be doing the SAME… yet they are not.

Never underestimate the Will of the American People.

Never underestimate the ability of the Democratic Party to snatch DEFEAT from the jaws of VICTORY.

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I see a future, in which the American People decide who will be our President… not the DONORS.

I see a future, in which Elected Officials don’t need to cater to Dark Money interests; because they won’t need to FUNDRAISE in order to seek re-election.

I see a future in which every Citizen of this Land, in every State and in every city, decides who will be on the ballot each election.

Not just a MINORITY… but the MAJORITY.

Every Citizen. Every election.

More participation equals BETTER GOVERNANCE.

And that’s the problem… every candidate on the ballot this fall wants more of the same. There is no vision. There is no path toward a better future.

That needs to change.

-JC

The Power of Peace

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The current proposal to develop nuclear power in the Middle East is a threat to the National Security of the United States.

Due to the continued instability and regime changes, it would be a threat to the security of everyone who lives in that region.

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Putting aside the fact that spent nuclear fuel is key in producing nuclear weapons, more nuclear waste will be produced and there is no plan to store it.

That waste will be highly radioactive for tens of thousands of years… and cost TRILLIONS of dollars to maintain properly.

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“The EPA’s order, which caps decades of bureaucratic delay, intense debates and public protests, is expected to take fewer than five years and cost those responsible for the site an estimated $205 million.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2018/09/27/epa-orders-extensive-cleanup-radioactive-waste-site-near-st-louis/

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But that’s Hanford… it’s almost 100 years old.
Surely things have gotten better since then?

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https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-decommissioning/#:~:text=The%20decommissioning%20of%20Fukushima%20Daiichi,companies%20and%20new%20electricity%20providers.

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Even if everything goes well, the price to build those nuclear power plants outweighs any potential gains.

And those returns won’t be realized for DECADES to come… that’s only IF everything goes well.

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“72% of the cost increase was due to indirect costs, indicating a large increase in expensive professionals such as engineers and managers.”

https://progress.institute/nuclear-power-plant-construction-costs/

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TRANSLATION: The people who keep these plants operating SAFELY.

Lax regulations and a changing climate puts everyone’s lives in jeopardy.

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“Nuclear power plants in Washington were canceled after estimated construction costs increased from $4.1 billion to over $24 billion… and two South Carolina reactors were canceled after costs rose from $9.8 billion to $25 billion.”

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36 nuclear power plants at $25 billion each… that’s $900 billion.

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“For Gulf Arab rulers who fear that Washington is not a reliable long-term guardian, nuclear power generation may offer an alternate path to maintaining a US strategic interest in securing their regimes.”

https://thebulletin.org/2020/03/for-uae-the-political-perks-of-nuclear-power-eclipse-economics/

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Building nuclear power plants isn’t the way to do that. Maintaining peace and security, for your nation and your neighbors, will do that.

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Our National Security… in fact, the security of the entire WORLD depends on our listening to wise counsel.

Who should be advising us on what our nuclear strategies should be… and who shouldn’t.

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