Age.  Experience.  Accomplishment.

Blackhawk County GOP Meeting. Fantastic turnout last night at the Blackhawk County GOP Meeting. Chairman Mac McDonald and Scott Adkins are doing something right based on the attendance and enthusiasm of the group. The focus of my talk was career politicians and the culture of corruption in Washington DC.

Very little will change until we stop sending people to Washington who covet a career in politics. That’s why I support term limits of 6 years in the House and 6 years in the Senate. I believe the salary of Congressional members should be the national average wage: $41,673. To read more on my thoughts about reforming Congress, click here: click here.

Dubuque County GOP Meeting. Finally got the chance to speak to my hometown GOP Committee! It brought back memories when I was the Dubuque County GOP Chairman in 1995. I spoke about term limits, which I believe in. Heads were nodding when I spoke about career politicians becoming corrupt and rich on the taxpayers tab. I will limit myself to 3 terms in office. Will my opponent? I also spoke about raising my family, accomplishing things OUTSIDE of politics and then, and only then, running for office.

The people at the meeting seemed to agree that age, experience and accomplishment DO mean something.  I know I wasn't qualified to vote on laws that impact people's lives when I was 32 years old.

Jones County 9.12 Group. On Saturday morning I had the pleasure to speak to a really neat group of people who are in the Jones County 9.12 Group. If we had a group of folks like this in every county in the country we'd be better off. Prior to my speaking, the group was studying the book "The 5000 Year Leap" - I have read the book and would HIGHLY recommend it. My talk and the questions lasted about 70 minutes. Questions ranged from how effective is the United Nations (not very) to the Second Amendment (which I strongly defend) to how the Federal Reserve makes everything we have worked for worth less due to their easy money policies. I thoroughly enjoyed the group and am looking forward to returning.


Fayette County GOP Meeting. Very very enjoyable time spent in Fayette County Tuesday at a house party and a gathering on the Upper Iowa campus. Voters in attendance wanted to know if I supported term-limits? YES I support term limits. 50% of voters believe Washington politicians are corrupt - term limits will return citizen legislators to Congress to replace the professional, career politicians. The good folks in Fayette County want CHANGE, not tinkering around the edges.
 

Rod Blum #1 on American Conservative Radio Network

Rod Blum's guest spot on “The Exceptional Conservative Show”  Thursday, Jan. 26 was the highest rated show on the American Conservative Radio Network that week, according to host Ken McClenton.
"Rod: Thank you for the ratings! You are a very popular conservative. Just received numbers for the week and your show was number one! You most certainly will be on the air with me again. ... That was a wonderful interview and I wish you all the best in Iowa.  Ken" 
McClenton asked Rod about President Obama's State of the Union Address, as well as Bruce Braley's denial that taxpayer money pays for abortion under Obamacare. Rod had just finished meeting with people at the Clayton County GOP Central Committee meeting in Farmersburg. To listen to the archived program, just click here. 

Jones County GOP Meeting. Great turnout in Anamosa for the Jones County GOP meeting. It was good to see Chairman Curtis Stewart and the good Republicans from Jones County. Especially fun to chat with Max Dirks, who is one interesting person. The best reaction from the crowd came when I said that our federal "safety net" has turned into a hammock. We are now a country that has half the citizens in the wagon and the other half pulling the wagon. Personal responsibility needs to enter the national conversation. Great to be in Jones County again and looking forward to returning!

Clayton County GOP Meeting. We had a wonderful turnout Thursday night for the Clayton County GOP Central Committee meeting in Farmersburg. It was a pleasure to see Chairman Denny Hamann, Secretary/Treasurer Jillian Heavens, Lori Keppler from Keppler Custom Homes and all the rest of the good folks from Clayton County in attendance. I had a wonderful time speaking and answering questions from the crowd. The five pillars of my campaign resonated with the crowd:

     Personal Responsibility
     Limited Government
     Fiscal Common Sense
     Free Markets & Competition
     Sanctity of Life