The GOP’s Missing Electoral Link

David Horowitz was one of the founders of the New Left in the 1960s and an editor of its largest magazine, Ramparts. He is the author, with Peter Collier, of three best selling dynastic biographies: The Rockefellers: An American Dynasty (1976); The Kennedys: An American Dream (1984); and The Fords: An American Epic (1987). Looking back in anger at their days in the New Left, he and Collier wrote Destructive Generation (1989), a chronicle of their second thoughts about the 60s that has been compared to Whittaker Chambers’ Witness and other classic works documenting a break from totalitarianism. Horowitz examined this subject more closely in Radical Son (1996), a memoir tracing his odyssey from “red-diaper baby” to conservative activist that George Gilder described as “the first great autobiography of his generation.” His latest book is Take No Prisoners: The Battle Plan for Defeating the Left (Regnery Publishing).

To order David Horowitz’s new book, Take No Prisoners, click here.

This article is reprinted from Redstate.com.

Paul Ryan is a smart man, and probably represents the mainstream thinking of the Republican Party, though like every ambitious politician he likes to position himself as a critic of the crowd. But in a recent interview with Matthew Continetti, Ryan started out well by complaining about the GOP consultant class. “The consultant class always says play it safe, choose a risk-averse strategy. I don’t think we have the luxury of doing that.” But then when called on to provide a non-risk averse strategy, he comes up with this: “We need to treat people like adults by offering them alternatives.” But what Republican consultant would tell his candidate not to offer alternative policies and ideas? There is none.

Every Republican thinks that offering a positive vision and new policies is the key to winning elections. Of course sometimes, as in the midterms this fall, the Democrats have screwed up so big that they are practically handing Republicans a victory. Just don’t count on it for 2016. In fact, Ryan embraces the conventional GOP wisdom:

“The only way we beat an Obama third term is to offer a spirited alternative and bring it up to a crescendo where we’re really giving the country a very clear choice of policies and ideas.”

I wouldn’t bet on it. You can’t give the country a clear choice of policies and ideas when the Democrats are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to label you racists, sexists, homophobes enemies of the poor, selfish and uncaring. If Republicans are to win national elections they have to come up with an answer to these attacks. And the only answer is a counter-attack. I’ve laid out the basis for an effective counter-attack in my new book Take No Prisoners: The Battle Plan For Defeating the Left (Regnery 2014). But I’m not holding my breath that Republicans will embrace the strategy I recommend. More likely they will go into the next national election like crash-dummies as they usually do.

When you examine the Democrat attacks they are all moral indictments: racist, uncaring, anti-woman, selfish. In contrast, Republicans criticize Democrats for having unworkable policies. Who do you think is going to win this debate? If a voter thinks someone is a racist, how seriously are they going to take his policy ideas? The same reaction awaits candidates who are seen as selfish defenders of the greedy rich, namely, Republicans.

What’s the Republican counter-attack? There is none. But here’s how to think of one: Democrat policies are not merely wrong-headed, they’re destructive. Democrats control every major city in America – Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New York, Minneapolis, Milwaukee – and I could go on and on. They’ve controlled these cities for 50 to 100 years. Everything that is wrong with the inner cities of America, every policy that adversely affects the impoverished minorities who live there, Democrats are responsible for.

Democrat policies, for example, have trapped millions of poor African American and Hispanic children in schools that don’t teach them, year in and year out, because they’re run for the benefit of the leftwing teacher unions and the Democratic Party. Democrats will fight to the death to keep these children from getting scholarships known as “vouchers” that would allow them to find private schools that would teach them. Yet Democrats, including the president himself, send their own children to private schools. How racist is that? Yet when did you ever hear a Republican call a Democrat a racist over this atrocity?

Consider the consequences of Democratic misrule: millions of poor African American and Hispanic children who will never be educated and never get a shot at the American dream. Instead they will be condemned to lives of poverty and crime. The Democratic colony of Chicago is a war zone. Who is responsible for all the lost young African American lives in Chicago? But Republicans are too polite to mention it.

In Ferguson, Missouri we have witnessed the month long spectacle of a Democratic lynch mob led by one of the nation’s leading racists, Al Sharpton, who just happens to be the President’s adviser on race. Rev. Sharpton has been mightily abetted by the Democratic Attorney General of the United States, who is conducting a witch-hunt against the Ferguson police force. The Democratic Party is the party of racism, but Republicans are too timid to mention it.

As ever on national security, Democrats have disarmed us in the face of the Islamic crusade against the West, the greatest threat we have ever faced as a nation; they have attacked our borders so that we can’t prevent terrorists and criminals from crossing them; they have forced our retreat from Iraq and the Middle East creating a vacuum that has been filled by the armies of ISIS and other well-armed barbarians who have sworn to kill us. Democrats have betrayed our country and the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Syrians and Libyans slaughtered by the terrorist armies their policies have unleashed. Yet where is the Republican voice using the language appropriate to these betrayals?

Yet it is precisely this moral language that Republicans must use to push back the Democrat slanderers who have been so effective in winning elections. Barack Obama is the most incompetent, anti-American, leftwing radical ever nominated by a major political party. Democrats did that. Hold them responsible.

Whatever words Republicans finally use, they have to 1) Get used to the fact that politics is a no-holds-barred street fight and nice guys finish last; 2) Get used to the fact that they are going to have to actually attack Democrats and make it hurt: and 3) Frame their attacks as a moral indictment – or else they will be pulverized by the moral indictments framed by their opponents.

This is my advice. My bet: Paul Ryan and the Republican Party will ignore it.

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Don’t miss David Horowitz discussing The Black Book of the American Left in The Glazov Gang’s two-part video series below:

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Investigation underway into cause of blaze at two cottages in Yarm

An investigation is under way after a fire ripped through two cottages.

Firefighters battled a blaze at Holmewood River Lodge Accommodation in Aislaby, Yarm, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Two lodges were destroyed in the incident and an investigation between fire officers and Cleveland Police has been launched to establish a cause.

Fire crews from Yarm and Thornaby were called to the scene of the blaze off Aislaby Road at 1.20am.

It took the firefighters more than two hours to extinguish the flames.

A Cleveland Fire Brigade spokeswoman said the initial report was to a caravan or lodge on fire but on arrival it was discovered two timber frame cottages were alight.

“Both were destroyed by fire,” she said.

She added a investigation is now underway to establish a cause but would not confirm what is suspected to have caused the blaze.

Holmewood River Lodge Accommodation comprises seven timber buildings on the banks of the River Tees near Yarm. They are in “permanent, full time residential use” according to a planning application submitted to Stockton Council in June.

Rugby round-up: Boro defeat prevents clean sweep of Teesside victories

Six of Teesside’s rugby sides tasted victory in what was an exhilarating second weekend of the league campaign.

Billingham, Stockton, Acklam, Redcar and Yarm each made it two wins from two, while Guisborough recovered from their opening day misery.

But Middlesbrough were beaten 23-10 by Doncaster Phoenix in what was a clash of the Yorkshire One heavyweights at Acklam Park.

The visitors opened the scoring on 15 minutes through Josh Walker, but their lead was short-lived as Boro prop Josh Lynas powered over.

Winger Rhys Kilbride edged his side in front with a fine solo try, but Phoenix breached Boro’s defence moments before half-time to make it 10-10.

Boro were frequently penalised by referee George Shield in the second half, and two unanswered Phoenix tries handed the visitors victory.

Elsewhere, in National Three North Billingham made it two wins from two after earning a 34-20 win at Burnage. Trailing 7-3 at the break, Billingham turned on the style with three quick-fire tries aided by the boot of Peter Evans.

In Durham and North One Guisborough picked up their first win of the season with a 34-20 success over Medics, while Stockton continue to impress as they edged to a 20-17 win at Durham City.

Stockton applied all the early pressure in the early exchanges at Hollow Drift but were unable to turn it into points, but the power of their pack prevailed. When flanker Martin Dixon was shown a yellow card the hosts clawed their way back to 17-17.

However, with the full 15 back on the field fly-half Jeremy Good held his nerve to notch a late winning drop goal.

Redcar played out the game of the day in Durham and North Two with an enthralling 38-37 win at Hartlepool BBOB.

The Seasiders headed up the A19 with a heavily-depleted side but started brightly with Danny Addison and Danny McIlvenny both crashing over.

McIlvenny notched his second before half-time and Brad Stovell also touched down to give Redcar a 24-13 lead at the break.

With BBOB drawing to within one point, Redcar found another gear with Gareth Edwards and Addison both adding further tries to edge the epic encounter.

Acklam beat Bishop Auckland 27-10 after a dominant first-half display. Pedro Roberts and Jack Grabham both touched down while Danny Ashton added the extras to take a 15-0 lead into half-time.

Steve Chambers scored straight from the restart to extend Acklam’s lead, before Danny Haggarth’s late try ended the hosts’ valiant second half comeback and earned Acklam a bonus point win.

Meanwhile in Durham and North Three Yarm made it two wins from two with a 22-10 bonus point victory over Newton Aycliffe.

Abandoned van overturned on A66 near South Bank may have been involved in high-speed pursuit

Detectives are hunting for the occupants of an overturned vehicle which was found abandoned.

The Vauxhall Vivaro was found on the eastbound carriageway of the A66 near South Bank at 11.45pm on Friday.

Witnesses said that two occupants of the van were spotted leaving the scene prior to the arrival of the police. One of the occupants may have been injured in the collision.

Following an initial investigation, police believe that the Vivaro may have been involved in a high-speed pursuit with another vehicle prior to the incident.

Cleveland Police’s Collision Investigation Unit has examined the scene and police are conducting a number of inquiries in the local area, including viewing CCTV.

The eastbound carriageway was closed while police investigated the scene and recovered the vehicle.

Detective Inspector Matt Murphy-King said: “A team of detectives have been dedicated to the investigation to find out the circumstances of the collision.

“We are conducting a number of lines of inquiry in the local area.

“I’m appealing for anyone with information to come forward, no matter how brief the information is as it could assist in determining what has happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sunday Sun reveals the impact to the lives of pensioners ripped off by jailed conmen

Devasted after being duped by callous conmen one tragic pensioner never recovered and died, while another tried to take his own life.

A gang who travelled the North fleecing elderly and vulnerable victims are now behind bars after being caught out by detectives.

But today as the heartless tricksters begin their sentences the Sunday Sun can reveal the true impact of their crimes, as families of their victims open up.

Using the business name Efficient Wall Coating (EWC), the men flogged bogus damp-proofing and wall-coating schemes to vulnerable householders aged between 65 and 92,

They would often convince the elderly victims, which included a retired surveyor, that they could save them money on their heating bills by applying a unique black paint to their brickwork which would keep heat in the property.

Now two of the gang, Gary Russell and Dean Thoms, have been jailed after pleading guilty to fraud.

Aaron Hylton, 26, of Whinney Banks, Middlesbough, and Russell’s partner, Donna Warren, both received suspended sentences for assisting in the scam.

Police say one of the gang’s victims, in his 80s attempted to commit suicide when he fell victim to the plot, while another - a retired pilot, who had memory issues, handed over £20,000 to the men.

And loved ones of the duped pensioners say their family members were never the same again after the scams.

Lynn Humphreys, whose 86-year-old dad Thomas Jackson died after he was conned, said: “If they left him then he would have been OK. I know he would have. He worked hard all his life. It was for him to enjoy not for people like that.”

And David Francis, whose 93-year-old aunt was targeted, said: “She was likely keen to have the company and was wooed by the men. She has been very upset and embarrassed that this turn of events took place and that she allowed herself to be taken advantage of by these crooks.”

The gang were brought to the attention of officers in August last year as two members carried out work on an elderly woman’s home in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The men ran off when a vigilant builder confronted them and called the police. They were later stopped and arrested.

Officers from the North East Regional Special Operations Unit identified the gang had carried out work in Whitby and Scarborough, in North Yorkshire, Stockton, Durham, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, when they found documents relating to other “clients”.

DC Steve Barrow from the North East Regional Specialised Operations Unit said: “The work done by these fraudsters was grossly exaggerated, not warranted and in some cases not even carried out.

“The impact of their crimes on the lives of their victims was huge.

“I hope that this police investigation and its successful result will send a message out to those who prey on the vulnerable that we will do everything in our power to track them down.”

Further documents recovered from the EWC business address, in Stockton, helped police identify 38 addresses visited by the company.

A surveyor visited a sample of 12 homes and concluded the repairs were either unnecessary, not of a professional standard, or were not carried out at all.

Some required further work to remedy EWC’s work.

EWC netted £43,890 from the dozen residents affected, but stood to gain £78,000 once outstanding payments were made.

The business con was started by Russell and Hylton before Hylton left.

At a hearing at Durham Crown Court on Friday Russell, 36, of Staindale Gardens, Stockton-on-Tees, was given three years six months for his role in the scam after admitting 12 counts of fraud and two of money laundering.

Thoms, 33, of Brettenham Avenue, Middlesbrough, admitted nine fraud charges and two money laundering offences and was sentenced to 27 months.

Hylton, 26, of Stoneyhurst Avenue, Middlesbrough, admitted four fraud charges and was given a 15 month sentence, suspended for two years, during which he must perform 240 hours’ unpaid work, and pay £3,000 compensation.

Warren, 29, of Culross Grove, Stockton-on-Tees, received a three-month sentence, suspended for a year, after admitting one money laundering offence.

DC Barrow added: “I would urge anyone who has suspicions about the legitimacy of people carrying out work on the properties of neighbours they feel may be the prey of criminals to get in touch with the police by calling 101.”

Stress hastened the death of former lollypop man

Thomas Jackson

The daughter of former lollypop man Thomas Jackson said her dad would still be alive today if it wasn’t for the gang of conmen.

They told the grandad-of-two, 86, they would enhance his bungalow on Catcote Road, in Hartlepool. Retired builder Mr Jackson, who worked as a lollypop man for Brierton Community School, died in February this year and his daughter Lynn Humphreys vowed to get justice.

“He trusted everyone that came to the door, which was part of the problem really,” said Lynn, a mum-of-two. “These guys were asking for money up front as they were saying they needed the cash to get the supplies. He had to dip into his savings just to be able to live.”

Lynn, 56, said her dad’s health deteriorated rapidly over the last year of his life.

“His health was deteriorating dramatically. He was getting ill. If they left him then he would have been OK. I know he would have.”

She warned: “Anybody, young or old just read up on people who come to the door step and don’t answer the door if you can.”

Lonely widow was taken advantage of by cruel conmen

Margaret Street, who was fleeced by conmen

The family of lonely widow Margaret Street say the bogus handymen took her out for lunch before fleecing her out of £6,000 for ‘roof repairs’.

The 93-year-old former boarding school matron, who has lived in Barnard Castle, County Durham, for around 40 years lost her husband David around 20 years ago.

A vigilant builder reported the conmen to the police after spotting their truck outside her home.

Margaret’s nephew David Francis, of Los Angeles in the USA, said: “Only by this chance observance were they even suspected.

“Margaret’s memory has not been good so it appears they would keep visiting and have her pay them over and over.”

Charity football match held for Stokesley man who died suddenly when visiting friends

A charity football match was held in memory of a much-loved “amazing young man”.

Callum Scott was a month away from his 27th birthday when he died suddenly when visiting friends in London in August 2011.

His passing has left a big gap in the lives of his parents, Brenda and Keith, brother Matthew, 33, and sisters, Clare, 40, and Leanne, 39, and his many friends.

But every year they all get together to celebrate his life in a special football match.

They divide the money raised between two charities - Alzheimer’s UK and Diabetes UK. Diabetes is a condition which has affected several members of the Scott family including Leanne while Brenda’s mother has Alzheimer’s and she and Callum were particularly close.

“It would have been his 30th birthday on Friday so we had a quiet day but today is our big celebration of his life, for his 30th birthday,” said Brenda, a retired lecturer, from Newby near Stokesley.

“Callum played football, he was a really good sportsman and was very adventurous.

“He went travelling for 18 months and his sister, Clare, actually followed his route after he died and now lives in Fiji.

“He was so popular and had friends all over the country. The month after he died his friends held the first match for his 27th birthday and it was such a success.

“It’s amazing but they all cared so much about him.

“The matches have been a great way for all of Callum’s friends to keep in touch and see each other.”

Keith and his brother, Rob, joined Callum’s friends in 15 teams for the charity match held at Goals on Stockton Road in Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The matches have raised about £12,000 so far which has been split between the two charities and they expect to raise an extra £1,200 from the weekend.