Chele Chiavacci Farley makes it official today with this statement.  Mrs. Farley is running, to represent us, in the US Senate.  Chele Chiavacci Farley was very well received when she spoke at our 51st Annual CPPAC this past Sunday and Monday.  Watch Mrs. Farley’s introductory campaign video here and follow her campaign at www.CheleFarleyForSenate.com. The NY Daily News ran this article in today’s paper and State of Politics ran this column.  

Wasn’t it impressive to hear our president say “we” in the State of the Union Address  and not the “I” we heard for the last 8 years.

David French opines  in National Review on what the New York Times got wrong on conscience.

This will get your blood boiling — All inmates in New York State prisons will get free tablets.  A Florida company will provide the inmates with tablets – sans internet – but with email to cleared family and educational information.  The article says “no state funds will go towards the tablets” after it just explained that the company has a contract with New York State.  Well, who pays the contractual arrangement – the men on mars?  Will government do anything possible to pull the wool over taxpayers’ eyes?  Stop with the misrepresentation…our tax dollars are being used!

The latest on the Joe Percoco  (Governor Andrew Cuomo’s aide) trial. 

If Unions are drafting and editing legislation, why are taxpayers paying city council members?  This is just one exposure, rest assured, if one digs there will be many found.    Ethics reform anyone? 

It looks like “the memo” will be released tomorrow.  Then again, it may not be. 

PolitiFact hired who as a fact-checker?  It was difficult to believe them before, now that they hired this person, one might as well never accept what they check. 

Maybe Congress should pass a new rule that requires smart phones to be left outside of the chambers.   

The Night the Democratic Party Committed Political Suicide. 

The President’s State of the Union Address can be read here. 

The Heritage Foundation did some fact checking of his speech; read their results here.  They also did an in-depth analysis of his proposals that you can read here.

It was disappointing to watch some members sitting stone faced when President Trump touted the lowest black unemployment rate ever and other accomplishments that make life better for Americans. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich also had some thoughts on the President’s address. 

Personally, his defense of American being dreamers too, is the line, I believe, will resonate, and be remembered.  This was also a quintessential moment of the President’s address.

Sadly, what will also be remembered is Congressman Gutierrez storming out and flaunting lawlessness in the Capitol.

This is not a solution, in fact, it only encourages drug addiction while sending the wrong message. 

Joseph Curl opines in the Washington Times on the unraveling of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. 

Sen. Schumer says the President’s address “stoked the fires of division”.  Didn’t he really mean Joseph Kennedy III speech stoked the fires of division!  Matt Vespa opines on the rising democratic star here. 

State Precluded From Spending $100 Million on Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income People.

Chairman Long had a few words to say about state judges interfering with law enforcement officials in courthouses.   

Sen. John DeFrancisco makes it official.  See what Chairman Mike Long had to say in this New York Times piece.   

In case you missed Chairman Long on Capital Tonight, you can watch it here – if you have a Spectrum News ID. 

I agree wholeheartedly with John Kelly!

The NY Post opines on the Joe Percoco trial.  Politico is covering the trial in depth. 

Maybe NYSUT needs a refresher course on math — where do they expect this money to come from when NY is already deeply in debt. 

The only-in-New-York law that’s death on affordable housing. 

Seriously, is anyone surprised that a memo that appears to fault the higher-ups in the FBI would  condemn the release of the memo in rare statement.  

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams. 

The 51st Conference was an upbeat success, thanks to everyone who attended and to our speakers who were certainly motivating during their presentations and mixing with the audience throughout the conference.  Two of our speakers, Corey Lewandowski and Larry Kudlow, were called to Washington, DC to meet with President Donald J. Trump to discuss tonight’s State of the Union Address.   While we may have been a little disappointed, we are proud that two of our featured speakers — and their expertise –were requested by President Trump.    

We are also very appreciative that Governor George E. Pataki stopped by at our luncheon and gave a rousing speech that really energized the troops. 

We had breaking news during our conference:  Carl Paladino said he would not run for governor  this year; Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb is said he would run on the Conservative Party line, if he was unable to get on the Republican line and  Senator John DeFrancisco  set the stage for his official announcement later today. Here is how Sen. DE Francisco’s local paper covered is presentation.   Joseph Holland was also a presenter, as well as others looking to possibly run and serve their country and state.  E. J. McMahon, always willing to share his knowledge, has his latest thoughts on SALT in the City Journal.

Why aren’t the two comptrollers’ — Scott Stringer (NYC) and Thomas DiNapoli (NYS) — auditing the MTA for ways to be more fiscally responsible?  The latest attempt to take even more of your money by Governor Andrew Cuomo is outrageous!

Is New York on Its Way to Legalizing Marijuana?  If anyone thinks that Gov. Cuomo’s included funding to conduct a study in conjunction with state agencies to look at the health, economic and criminal justice effects of legalizing marijuana, will stop the legalization of recreational marijuana must be partaking of pot presently. 

This is an excellent article  — When the Constitution is a “buzz-kill” that one should take the time to read – and use against those partaking of pot presently. 

Reprehensible! I do not understand how a woman who has carried a child to birth could have voted against this bill.  Actually, I do not understand how anyone could vote against this bill.  Democrats stopped the bill, are you proud of your party, Senator Schumer, and Senator Gillibrand?  It is time for New York to have a Senator that represents us.  

Senator Schumer and his democrats are willing to sell out Americans for a few more votes.

The problem with this is that Andrew McCabe keeps his pension.

State of the Union boycotts are divisive, dumb.  

Losing the love:  Obama’s presidential library ripped as ‘ugly waste of taxpayer resources’ by Chicagoans.  

We will not say, I told you so, but we did:  Cuomo’s casinos are now cannibals. 

Governor Cuomo may call a special election to fill 11 vacancies for April 24, 2018.

Be sure to watch Chairman Long on Capital Tonight this evening at 8:00 PM on Spectrum News, repeated at 11:30 PM.

President Trump delivered a rousing speech today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, declaring that America is once again “open for business” and that “America First does not mean America alone.” 

You can read the full text here. For the first question in our new Weekly Poll, I’ve highlighted what I think are some of the most powerful quotes from the President’s speech – which one is your favorite? I hope you’ll vote today.

I’m sure Trump campaign guru Corey Lewandowski will have plenty to say about this at our 51st Annual CPPAC, which gets underway on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, an estimated 3 million Americans are receiving bonuses thanks to the Trump tax cuts, and it’s no wonder that tax relief is gaining in popularity. But Nancy Pelosi, who of course cherishes her own vast fortune, continues to dismiss an extra $1,000 for hardworking Americans as mere “crumbs.” Liberals like Chuck Schumer are joining in on this spin, even though the Democrats once heralded an Obama-Era tax cut that gave workers… an extra $40 in their paychecks. 

Hopefully some of our Wrap-Up readers are the recipients of these bonuses, but I think we all know the value of a dollar. My second Weekly Poll question for you is this: What would you do with an extra $1,000? I look forward to seeing the answers. 

Speaking of Obama double standards… this week we saw another example of the media’s protection racket surrounding our 44th president, as a 2005 photo of a smiling Barack Obama with the loathsome Louis Farrakhan was released by a journalist who says he kept the image hidden until now because it might have hurt Obama’s political rise.  

Something else that was kept secret – the admitted bribing of Mayor Bill de Blasio. The briber is busted, but will the “bribee” ever face justice?

Time and again, the elites all look out for each other, as we saw in Obama’s protection of Hillary Clinton and in the simmering FBI scandal. There’s no accountability and increasingly, no trust. “What a mess,” as the New York Post succinctly puts it.

Bad news this week for New York Democrats seeking to restore Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker – one of their top recruits has bowed out of a closely-watched House race, and may undermine the party even more by taking on Andrew Cuomo. 

Despite the media’s gloom-and-doom narrative for conservatives in the 2018 elections, the midterm outlook might be better than you think for the GOP – and it might even be a good year for the Republican Senate Majority. 

What’s your early take on the 2018 midterm elections – do you foresee a Pelosi victory, conservative gains or the status quo? Tell me what you’re thinking right now – that’s the third and final question in our new Weekly Poll. 

And have a great weekend!

DOJ office says it has found missing text messages of FBI officials. 

Ben Shapiro’s take on the ongoing saga is:  Mueller’s Investigation Targets Trump Over Supposed ‘Obstruction.’ This Could Be A Massive Constitutional Crisis In The Making.

Byron York has this to say in his opinion column in the Washington Examiner. 

This is how the NY Post editorial board assess the continuing saga: Bob Mueller’s elephant and the media blind men. 

Why we need to count citizens in the 2020 census…this explains why the democrats are being obstinate regarding illegal immigration and why they want to make it an issue in November.  New York has lost 1 million people since 2010…no wonder Governor Cuomo wants to give dreamers  free college…anything to lure people to New York instead of making New York business friendly.  A dysfunctional subway system does not help either.  

This Supreme Court Case Could Safeguard the Integrity of Our Elections. 

Immigration watchdog: We support compromise bill.

This is very disturbing.   Senate investigators’ have pinpointed the mail system as the weak leak in efforts to stem the opioids crisis and are looking for legislation to stem the tide. This is NOT how to stem the opioid crisis.  

Hypocrisy from none other than Nancy Pelosi, again.

Will Senator DeFranciso have something special to say when he addresses the 51st CPPAC?  Will you be there to hear what he says?  RSVP here.

File this under “ridiculous.”

Mayor de Blasio is back in the land of OZ.  How can he believe that NYCHA chair Shola Olatoye is a superb administrator?  The NY Post has it right in asking why she is still at the helm. 

George J. Marlin opines on Governor Cuomo’s delusional 2018 vision.

Corruption isn’t the only problem with Cuomo’s economy schemes. 

Really Governor?  Do you not have any compassion for the people who have to pay the bills you keep increasing?  Why is it that you believe that it is okay to just take our hard-earned money so you can feel good?   I have empathy for people who truly need help; but you should remember that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day—if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime. 

The Daily Signal has this advice for high tax states. 

Michael Goodwin isn’t the only one reaching this conclusion:  Evidence suggests a massive scandal is brewing at the FBI.  A former fed prosecutor is suspicious also.   Then there are these Congressmen.   PJ Media is covering this century’s Watergate  — actually it is much baser than Watergate  — also. Townhall.com has been at the forefront of coverage, but we see very little in the main stream media.   

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams.

David Keene’s latest column in the Washington Times reminds other journalists, rather strongly, that it’s wasn’t the Trump shutdown.   Good for Mr. Keene, but we all know, it will take a lot more than the improving economy to convince the main stream media. .

Rich Lowry opines in the NY Post on how Sen. Schumer listened to the resistance – and lost badly.  

 Guy Benson writes that left-wing activists are raging of Schumer’s negotiations. 

Sen. Schumer is taking his offer off the table; just like when a child looses and takes his things home. 

Is it possible that sly Sen. Schumer is still playing the chess game and is trying to feign his loss in order to have the bigger prize – the issue itself – for the November elections?   

Everyone involved in the immigration discussion should listen to the American people…or they may all be out of a job soon.  “A Harvard-Harris poll taken in the run-up to the shutdown found Americans strongly support granting citizenship rights to illegal immigrant Dreamers. But they also back Mr. Trump’s three demands for a border wall, limits to the chain of family migration and an end to the Diversity Visa Lottery.”  What progressives do not understand, is that immigrants who came to America in the past, did so, because they wanted to be Americans.  They learned in our language and embraced our customs.  Today, illegal immigrants, are not as willing to adopt American customs and want to change America.  Even naturalized citizens are beginning to resent that movement, so those who are destined to resolve the immigration issue should be familiar with how everyday citizens want it resolved.

In the last 9 years, taxpayers paid out $10 million for 88 abuse cases in state government.  Just think of the places that $10 million could have been put to use; subway system, education, law enforcement.

Is it possible that Obamacare is fueling the opioid epidemic?  

Robert Knight opines on the way back to religious liberty. 

The latest on the FBI and “The Memo” from Matt Vespa. 

Senator Schumer’s shutdown surrenders.  Here is Guy Benson’s analysis of the last 60 hours that led Sen. Schumer to surrender to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.  The fact that the Associated Press and the New York Times rightly put the onus on Sen. Schumer may have helped him cave, that,  plus the numerous videos of Sen. Schumer singing a different tune in 2013 when the government shut down for 16 days. Or is it simply that he can read poll numbers.   Senator Schumer lost his first real chess game the to the chess master, hopefully the experience will force him to negotiate honestly with the master of negotiations.   

On another hopeful note, the “memo” is closer to being released.  This, however, is another indication that politics had a promenade role in the FBI investigation.  Fox News has more on this here.   With all of this being revealed, how can the College of William and Mary justify James Comey, who graduated from the public Virginia university in 1982 as a double major in chemistry and religion, as a professor of “ethical leadership’?   Should we worry about what kind of ethics, if any,  the students will learn?

Attorney General Jeff Sessions opines in the Washington Times on President Trump’s merit-based immigration system. 

Governor Cuomo:  Beware.  Aide’s corruption trial could sink Cuomo’s hopes for a 2020 White House run. 

The MTA needs an overhaul before the city funds subway fixes.

Nicole Gelinas is quite knowledgeable on transportation, and her latest column is 66% right.  The Good, the bad and the ugly is 2/3 correct, we do not see any good in congestion pricing.  Yes, NYC is almost impossible to drive in, but the $1.5 billion will never be raised (estimates to raise money are always inflated) and the cost to truckers alone will increase the costs of the goods being delivered.  Congestion pricing is not the answer to congestion in NYC, but it certainly is a way to drive businesses out of the city.  Does NYC really want to be the only city in America with congestion pricing? 

The Climate-Change Doomsday Just Got Canceled. 

Why Pro-Lifers Have Cause for Hope. 

One year into his administration, President Trump is the “Nobama,” methodically undoing the 44th president’s left-wing legacy. Elections do have consequences!

What word do you think best describes President Trump’s leadership in his first year in office? That’s the first question in our new Weekly Poll. 

One of the masterminds behind President Trump’s 2016 victory, Corey Lewandowski, will be joining us for our 51st Annual Conservative Party Political Action Conference (CPPAC), which starts January 28. I hope you’ll sign up and join us! 

President Trump is busy establishing a legacy of his own, especially in the realm of economic growth. Apple, hardly a conservative-aligned corporation, is the latest company to expand thanks to the Trump-GOP tax cuts. 

Compare that to the Cuomo legacy here in New York – punishing tax hikes, uncontrolled spending and economic suffering being felt across the state.

And while Andrew Cuomo champions the left’s radical abortion agenda, another Trump legacy already in the making is the advancement of the pro-life cause. His administration is moving to protect the pro-life consciences of health care workers, and he will be the first sitting President to address the annual March for Life (the real “march for women”) via live video feed. Now if our culture would just catch up and accept the science of when life begins. 

Here’s a simple yet important question: Why are you pro-life? That’s the second item in our new Weekly Poll. 

Now for a bombshell of a story that could break wide open any minute now: Will Congress #releasethememo? A new surveillance report is being described as “worse than Watergate” and could send people to jail – and all of this is on top of the Democrats’ Russian dossier scandal that just gets more and more outrageous. 

Republicans believe the American people should know what really happened, and I agree. If the memo is released, whose behavior do you think will be revealed as the MOST shameful? That’s the third and final question in our new Weekly Poll.

Have a great weekend! 

E. J. McMahon, always a favorite speaker at our annual convention, has an excellent column about Governor Cuomo’s big stealth tax hike on his NY Torch blog.  You can read it here. 

Bill Hammond, explains in his column in the NY Torch blog, how Governor Cuomo’s budget is going to increase the cost of your private health insurance to pay for government’s health insurance increased costs (partially due to the increased minimum wage).

There is good news in a new Marist Poll.  While 51% of the respondents called themselves pro-choice, 60 percent of them said they support limitations on abortions, such as backing a ban on the procedures after 20 weeks of pregnancy and opposing the use of tax dollars to pay for them.  Read more about the poll in the Daily Signal. 

More good news, this from Secretary Betsy DeVos, on the federal level, Common Core is dead.  However, unfortunately, here in New York City, the city Department of Education is a cesspool of cronyism.

Congress is completely wrong on this.

Thank you Apple, and to all the other companies that are investing in America and Americans again.

File this under “Know what your children/grandchildren are reading.”

And file this under “A straight-talking assessment of what President Trump said about those other countries.”

European leaders, facing growing public unease, toughen up on immigration.

And then there is this, The Democrats’ Dilemma: Immigration and the Welfare State. 

The Dangerous Supreme Court Case Nobody Is Talking About. 

The NY Post editorial opines on Cory Booker’s latest sad stunt. 

Flashback:  Rev. Jesse Jackson thanks Donald J. Trump for a lifetime of service to African Americans.

The NY Post editorial board assesses the Governor’s proposed budget simply:  Cuomo’s $168B budget is pure fantasy.    Tom Precious, writes in the Buffalo News  that Cuomo’s budget raises $1 billion in new taxes to pay for spending plans..  Politico New York, isn’t quite as realistic, but does point out the non-budget items in the Governor’s proposal, including, but not limited to: “the extension of tuition assistance programs to undocumented immigrants, extending the statute of limitations for victims of child sex abuse, reduce the state’s use of cash bail and reduce the giving power of limited liability corporations.” 

The Conservative Party is calling for a constitutional amendment in its 2018 Legislative Program that would prohibit non-fiscal items/issues to be included in the budget.  Government is divided into three parts for a reason; to prevent any one part to become too powerful.  By allowing the NYS Budget to have non-fiscal items/issues continue to be embedded in the budget, the Legislature is diminishing its own importance and undermines the very reason for its existence. 

E. J. McMahon outlines the loose ends in the Governor’s budget proposal 

The Daily Signal has a short synopsis on Right-to-Work, rather timely considering today’s press release.

There is a snowflake in the US Senate and he wants to be the president.  Where is his outrage on this? 

Joseph Curl reminds us that we had to explain much worse to our children when Bill Clinton was president.  Here are Larry Horist’s thoughts on the President Trump’s “salty” language.   

City Journal explains how the times have changed since Lady Liberty welcomed immigrants to Ellis Island. 

You think Democrats want to fix immigration? Dream on!

Government out of control:  This Man Gave Free Haircuts to Veterans and Got Clobbered by Regulators. 

BREAKING: President Trump to Address March for Life. 

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams. 

Who knew when EZ Pass debuted in 1987 that by 2017 EZ Pass would be the only method of toll collection in New York City, and that it would be used to charge you for driving in certain parts of Manhattan?  Big Brother is alive and well, isn’t he, Governor Cuomo.

Here is CBS-TV report on the Governor’s “Congestion Pricing” his budget calls for with more details to follow later this week. The CBS-TV report leaves out how the Governor plans to raise $1 billion in fees and taxes.  Fortunately, the Buffalo News gives us some information on that. 

Governor Cuomo:  please explain this debacle in DeWitt.   And while you are at it, will your budget protect the public or your own ambitions? 

In the past, Governor Cuomo called marijuana a gateway drug; now it appears he is considering legalization.  Governor, your craving to be president clouds your ability to protect the public, rather than protecting the public, you enable their poor choices so you can achieve your aspirations.  A strong leader would not sell out for a few more votes or a few more budget dollars.  A true leader would not hide behind a panel assembled to give him cover to do what he plans on doing; a supercilious leader would.

The Buffalo News ran this Bob McCarthy column on Sunday:  Giambra’s road to GOP nod for governor runs through Conservative leader.

Jay Cost opines in National Review that the return of earmarks won’t solve congressional  irresponsibility. 

Robert Knight writes about the deceitful road to abortion. 

Who ‘Dreamers’ Really Are and Why They Cost $26B Over 10 Years.

Myron Magnet, City Journal’s editor-at-large, writes an excellent column:  Trump to PC: “No More”.

The Daily Signal advises how Congress can rein in out-of-control spending.