Brian Halladay.com

It’s not often you encounter someone in politics that you feel is truly sincere when they discuss limited government, fiscal restraint and accountability.  However, one such person is Morgan Philpot. Morgan is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat here in Utah.

If I could choose someone to be my mentor in politics Morgan would be my 1st choice. He represents to me how someone good can be involved in politics, and use his influence for positive change.

Morgan Philpot is no rookie to politics.  He has served four years as a state legislator, and just recently as the Vice-Chair of the Utah Republican Party. What amazes me though, is that his experience hasn’t turned him into a politician, but a true statesman. Morgan understands that we want someone in Washington to represent us, not lobbyists or special interest groups. Morgan will represent and listen to the people.

Morgan Philpot’s home page has a great quote by George Washington, “Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair.”  Morgan can definitely raise that standard.

Without hesitation I endorse Morgan Philpot.  I ask that you give him your sincere consideration.

I would like to share a few observations I had at the Utah county convention last Saturday. 

1. Senator Bob Bennett is not popular. This was particularly evident when State Senate Valentine publicly stated he endorsed Bob Bennett and noticeable booing followed.
2. At county conventions the rules DO matter. The whole who is the parliamentarian for the day issue could (and should) have been avoided.
3. It is NOT a good idea to have someone who supports Bob Bennett endorse you in your nomination speech. I think County Commissioner Steve White may have learned this the hard way.
4. Utah County Delegates were energized. With over 94% attendance it’s hard to dispute people are engaged and willing to do what it takes to be represented on a national AND state level.
5. Yelling into the microphone doesn’t guarantee a vote. Even in a straw poll.
6. Congressman Jason Chaffetz IS popular. Let’s face it, we’re in Utah County, if possible Utah County would elect him in 2012 over Romney. Cot or not.
7. Mike Lee DOES have momentum. There is a pretty significant difference between the straw poll results of 41% for Mike Lee and the next candidates at 22%. Hopefully it’s called victory on May 8th.

What did you think?

It appears that Mitt Romney will be coming to Utah on May 8^th to introduce Bob Bennett at the state convention. This isn’t a surprise. Mitt Romney endorsed Bob Bennett back in April of 2009, claiming that Bob Bennett is a conservative giant. Really? I guess TARP, and the support of the nomination of Obama’s czar Cass Sunstein are conservative too! I beg to differ. 

There are some stark similarities between Obamacare, Romneycare and Bennettcare. All three healthcare plans mandate individuals purchase healthcare. All three plans take away our ability to choose if we want healthcare or not. All three plans take away our freedoms. Whether it’s Obama, Romney or Bennett, we know an individual mandate when we see it. Delegates won’t be suckered! 

We won’t be fooled come May 8^th. We won’t forget who is trying to limit our choices. We are sick of politics as usual. We are sick of politicians who try to rationalize TARP, and continue to do so.

I don’t care if your name is Romney or Bennett.  I’m a state delegate because I love America, and want someone in the Senate that will defend the Constitution, not just rhetoric.

It will be interesting to see which candidates try to buy votes at convention. Who will try to buy parking spaces, provide free lunch? My votes won’t be bought. My votes won’t be manipulated. My votes WILL be earned. And when Mitt Romney gets up to introduce Bob Bennett? I think Mitt will be in for a rude awakening….and wish he had never shown up.

I have been asked by many of you who I support for U.S. Senate. I have researched the candidates, attended multiple events, and after serious consideration, I have reached the following decision.

I support Mike Lee for US Senate. 

We are at a pivotal time in our country where we need civil, patriotic citizens who are willing to put their personal lives on hold and uphold their oath of office. That means defending and honoring the constitution of our Country. Mike will do it. 

Our current budget is out of control, and the incumbents have allowed it to happen. Utah is the best managed state in the nation primarily because of a mandated balanced budget. We need the same thing for our country. Mike advocates it. 

When our founding fathers disagreed on the contents of the Constitution they worked it out, without attacking each others character. To get out of the current mess we’re in we need someone who will represent us with civility, even when in disagreement with others. Mike has shown he can do it.

Worried that he’s an attorney? I’m not. 35 of the 55 framers of the Constitution were too. Mike is a constitutional attorney. Mike understands the Constitution, and how it was formed.

We need answers to solve the problems we have, not just rhetoric. Mike has identified significant problems and proposed solutions. Mike has a plan.

When our Constitution is being attacked by politicians and lobbyists who think that government is the answer, I want Mike there to defend it.

Mike is the best candidate for US Senate. These are just a few of the many reasons I support Mike for US Senate. To find out more visit Mike Lee for US Senate in 2010.

Respectfully,

Brian Halladay 

Let’s UNITE!

Due to the comments I have had regarding my speech at the Utah Republican Assembly Nominating Convention February 20th Utah Republicans tackle distrust, \”demonsheep\”  , I posted my speech below. If you were there you know that I’m not much of a public speaker, but I think the message is important. 

I am one of the organizers of Utah Rising, which is an alliance of the URA, 912, Tea Party, and other conservative groups statewide. Limited government, fiscal responsibility and individual freedoms are what we stand for.  

Without fail, every time I meet with a group of like-minded conservatives it gives me hope. Hope for my kids’ future. Hope that America is good. Another thing that gave me hope was Scott Brown’s success in Massachusetts. Unlike some I don’t believe it was primarily due to Mitt Romney, or the Republican Party. I know it wasn’t. It was due to ordinary people, like you and me who got involved, who donated money, knocked on doors, sacrificed time, and told their neighbors to do the same. 

 Now, in Utah, we have a chance to ride the wave that the people in Massachusetts rode. United, as conservatives, we can elect someone in office that represents our principles, someone for limited government, individual liberty and fiscal responsibility. We can do it, but it takes all of us 

 After today’s vote, some will be encouraged and some will be disappointed. But regardless of URA’s endorsement, Newt Gingrich’s endorsement, Eagle Forums Endorsement, or Freedom Works endorsement, the real endorsement comes from you. 

 You have a choice how much impact you want to have. You can either have your republican candidate picked for you and vote in the November election or you can become a state delegate on March 23^rd with 3200 other people in Utah and vote for your republican candidate. 

If you can’t commit to be a state delegate you must support a conservative in your precinct that can. To learn more visit utahrising.com.  

But that’s not all. Once voted as delegates we have an important responsibility. We must decide who to vote for. Some of you may have already decided, but for those that haven’t I need to introduce you to someone.  

It gives me no pleasure to introduce you to someone who is devious, full of hypocrisy, lies, evil, treacherous, nasty, ugly, turncoat, pompous, prideful, distasteful, and has bad breath. Let me unveil: Demonsheep! 

Look into my eyes and tell me you won't vote 4 me! I dare you.

 Maybe you have seen demonsheep in a campaign ad in California. I think demonsheep has some characteristics that can help us identify who we don’t want to represent us here in Utah. Here are the low five attributes of demonsheep.  

1. Demonsheep used to be a sheep, until it fell to the dark side. It ran on the conservative platform.
2. Demonsheep attempts to deceive, and will lie. Sometimes they like to express it as “changing their mind”.
3. Demonsheep calls the other sheep names, rather than talk on substance, it attacks character.
4. Demonsheep is a Fiscal Conservative in Name Only. It wants you to believe they are conservative, but their vote shows otherwise.
5. Demonsheep make excuses for their actions. They never own up.  

Will you cast YOUR vote for demonsheep?   

Become a state delegate, defeat demonsheep and be part of the movement of Utahns that are rising up in defense of our liberty, rights and freedom. Get involved. Take Action. Let’s Unite! Thanks for your time. Defeating Bob Bennett it is looking more likely

Looks like Avatar remained #1 at the box office last week again. I figured I’d go see it with my wife. Before you read any further, this blog may contain spoilers, or not. I’m not a professional movie reviewer, so don’t ask me what a spoiler is, just be warned. 

We went to the show 30 min beforehand, and it was packed, probably because it was a Saturday night, but I didn’t expect it to be packed that early. Oh yeah, the show was in 3-D, let’s not forget that. As we put on our nerdy looking 3-D glasses my wife informed me that the reason we were watching all the cartoon 3-D previews was because our eyes had to adjust so we could be ready for the full effect of Avatar. We won’t mention the other previews. Let’s just say Alice in Wonderland looked like a movie to give kids confusing nightmares that will haunt them for life more than entertain them.  

Ok. So, back to the movie. I really hadn’t seen any previews of it beforehand, so I had no expectation, but let’s go to the reasons this movie was useless.

Sigourney Weaver – Let’s face it, if you want a tree hugging green movie she has to have a leading role. Remember Planet Earth, Wall E  and the gorilla movie? The gorilla movie goes something like this: She finds gorillas, wants to study them, and then basically tries to speak Gorillian with them. Avatar has pretty much the same plot. Just add some cool computer graphics and change the gorillas to Avatars (in 3-D). She even speaks Avatarian.  

Another tree hugging movie – the big bad company was trying to excavate this rare mineral that just happened to be right under the big tree where the Avatars lived. Avatar-land was so peaceful. Everyone lived in harmony with the big tree. We’re talking Circle of Life peaceful. Gorilla life peaceful.  Then once the big bad company came they killed the tree. HOW COULD THEY!! ? Not the big tree! Gag.

The music was uninspiring – when I come out of a movie with a good score I have it in my head, like Batman Begins. Avatar had no musical theme. James Horner must not have found Avatar-land that inspiring, can’t say I blame him. This was definitely not a Braveheart soundtrack (which he wrote), which I may add is absolutely amazing.

Language, Smoking – Let me get this straight. I’m not supposed to kill trees but it’s ok to smoke around people? What happened to second-hand smoke? Now the language, it just felt like every misstep was a swear word. If I’m in Avatar-land why does there need to be swearing? And why are all the Avatars half naked? Three reasons why my kids won’t see it. Disgusting.  

The technology was amazing, and it was a tad entertaining. Seems like good movies are a rarity though, and this wasn’t a good movie. Maybe we should have seen Blind Side instead, even though it will be hitting the dollar movies soon, or better yet, stayed home, popped popcorn, and watched Batman Begins….again.

With Democare likely being voted on tomorrow, it is apparent that bribes, backroom deals, and compromising are the norm for Congress. I’m not so naïve to think that this has never happened before, but I don’t think it’s happened on such a large scale, with so much at stake. Americans are being forced to pay for abortions, regardless of religious belief, and being forced to buy health insurance or face stiff fines and jail time. Unconstitutional? Yes, but if they vote on the constitutionality it won’t matter, because most in Congress believe the Constitution is a set of guidelines, not actual law.

Today is December 23^rd. Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the LDS Church was born 204 years ago, December 23, 1805. When Joseph was 14, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to him and instructed him not to join any of the churches at that time. He later was visited by angels and the Spirit which gave him instructions to establish Christ’s Church in these Latter Days.

From the time Joseph received the first vision to his martyrdom Joseph received persistent persecution. When he told others about the visitation he had received he got laughed at. As he got older the persecutions became more severe. Mobs tarred and feathered him, wrongfully imprisoned him, and ultimately killed him while he was in prison. Throughout his life, despite all his persecution, Joseph never denied what he knew was true. He never compromised his beliefs, but stayed true to those things he knew were right.

Though people may not be trying to tar and feather us or kill us, today we face similar battles. Compromising has become the norm. Compromising beliefs. Compromising what we know to be right. Some rationalize and justify their actions by thinking if they don’t compromise a more negative result occurs. I believe that compromising sometimes IS a negative result, especially if ones morals, integrity, or beliefs are involved. None of us are perfect, but we can strive to be more like Christ. Through Christ’s atonement we can repent of our sins, and resolve to be immovable in doing what’s right, and not allow pressure to cave us.

So this Wednesday the 23^rd and Friday the 25th let’s resolve not to compromise what we know is right. On the 24^th, as healthcare likely passes and our elected leaders sell out our country for a pot of porridge, let’s resolve to be more like Jesus and Joseph and hold steadfast in our beliefs and not compromise that which is right.

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas!

Ok…so I was listening to Morgan Philpot today encouraging us conservatives to start blogging. Be careful what you ask for Morgan! I have seriously considered blogging for a few months, but what do you blog about? And how could one possibly blog as well as Connors Conundrums or Holly on the Hill? I don’t think it is possible, but I determined if something I write may help someone else then I’d give it a shot. 

What to write? Possible topics: The State budget? Diet coke? Health care? Diet coke? Newcastle scholarships? Diet coke? Food tax increases? Diet coke? Ethics reform? Diet coke? Or the Pleasant Grove High School Christmas Concert I attended? (FYI, I’m a huge diet coke fan.)

Concert wins. My family (which consists of my wife and 3 kids) went to the PGHS concert tonight. It had been a long time since I had attended a high school concert. A REAL long time. We got there a few minutes before the concert began, and it was packed. So, after a few songs my 6 yr old son couldn’t take it any longer. The snoring ensued. Nothing woke him up. Not even the choir singing one feet behind us. Yeah. He was gone, all while the choir was singing their hearts out. Then the drums started pounding…more snoring. The choir really was amazing. I love Christmas music. They even had snow come down while singing “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas!” Yeah…I know…maybe not a new trick…but I still thought it was cool.

Sometimes, like my son at the concert we choose just not to listen, we tune out. Ignorance is bliss, right? But can we miss the choir? You bet. We are a time when we can’t afford not to listen. We need to wake up. We need to wake up to a remembrance of our duty to God, our family, and our nation. First we need to wake up ourselves. Then we need to wake our family up. After that, we need to wake our neighbors and friends up. In that order. If we can’t start waking up and upholding our duties we will continue to lose our freedoms. Spiritual AND physical freedoms.

Let’s wake up. We can do it. Don’t lose hope. Have faith. In the meantime, I’ll let my 6 year old keep snoring…for a while, and maybe I’ll try this blogging thing again.