Who Am I?
I was a Republican my entire life – until the Bush years. I’d been a member of the Young Republicans, College Republicans, etc. I’d even worked on Reagan’s National Campaign and Transition teams; but somewhere along the line – George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Trump – the Republican Party changed from what I’d grown up in, and I suppose I’d changed as well; in a genuine sense, grown up. This blog is an extension of who I am, politically speaking. Politically, as Ronald Reagan described himself, I’m an FDR Democrat.
I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I’m sure some will say, how can I be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Democrat? I answer that question, as did the former Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the late Harry Reid, “I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it.”
I spent 27 years serving the United States and upholding my oath to preserve and protect the Constitution as a member of the United States Army, both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer, having served in the Active Army, the Army Reserves, and the National Guard. When I joined the Army, my Dad said, “Butch, you’re going to think the Army has the corner on idiots. But, you’ll find there are idiots everywhere.” I’ve served in diverse places and in various positions; I’ve served with some idiots, but mostly it’s been my great pleasure – and blessing – to serve with some of the best men and women I know; I’m thankful for both the experience and the opportunity to serve my country.
I’ve worked as both a broadcast and print journalist and spent 20 years as a middle and high school teacher teaching Aviation History, Civics, U.S. History, World History, Government, Economics, Journalism, Health, American Literature, British Literature, and World Literature. I’ve coached both football and girl’s softball. I’ve fought many battles against administrators and fellow teachers who were clueless and didn’t seem to care much about the students. I’ve filed Title IX suits – and won – against a school district that thought Title IX was more of a guideline than a law (they were found to have violated the law on some 24 counts) and another which thought it was OK to victim shame mid-school girls who had been sexually harassed. I also once filed – and won – a USERA complaint against a rather obtuse high school principal who fired me because of my service in the Army – the US Department of Labor found the individual had not just violated but “willfully” violated USERA. I am generally peaceful, but I will stand up and fight for things I believe in or against bullies. A friend once compared me to Don Quixote with a little Ulysses threw in. I always liked that description.
I’m a card-carrying member of the ACLU and the NAACP. I’ve stood for civil rights on many occasions; to me, discrimination is wrong. There is nothing more to say; it’s wrong.
I know thousands of blogs deal with American politics, but this is my space where I can comment on what I’m seeing and thinking. I Hope those who find themselves here will enjoy what they read and maybe look at things differently.
The Liberty Tree 
glv
July 30, 2011 at 20:59
I used to be a Republican. Voted twice for Reagan, too. Maybe you should start up a 12-step program.
jake12
August 8, 2011 at 11:30
That might be the most fascinating and engaging “About Me” page I’ve read yet.
frogcycle
October 22, 2011 at 06:18
Glad to meet you. I, too, grew up a Republican. I “saw the light” during Reagan.
glv
October 22, 2011 at 17:56
It really is a good and well-written “about me” page. Thanks!
progress2conserve
January 11, 2012 at 07:53
Nice blog – shows a lot of hard work. Your tagline “Dissent Gave Birth to this Nation,” caught my eye as I was looking for motivations behind the George Morris/Gabby Giffords story.
And it’s funny. I grew up as a liberal Democrat – and now I find myself trending toward Libertarian/independent. But you are correct – it is hard to find honest dissent on issues, anymore.
We’re all too quick to retreat into anger, acrimony, and “talking points.”
Don’t know why the Republicans and the news media are so determined to anoint Romney so early. I think they are afraid of some of the legitimate issues that Ron Paul is trying to raise.
One of my big worries is that this country’s LEGAL immigration policies are going to allow too much population growth going forward – perhaps beyond the capacity of the country to govern itself, or eventually even to feed itself.
Illegal immigration, and the rights of the undocumented – is a small potatoes problem, compared to overall population growth.
Thanks for trying to work on the problems, anyway.
Carry on.
Epstiles Of Love Minitries
April 26, 2012 at 20:18
I considered becoming Republican as I stand with God on all things. it was the lying, deception and their hatred that redirected me. Since Nixon the middle class has been under financial attack. I find that right wing Christians are not Christian at all, but a bunch of self-righteous bigots, sorry no offence. As a true Christian I know that God tells us to take care of the poor, the orphan and the widow. That we are indeed our brother’s keeper.
They want to get rid of the department of education to eliminate public school all together. (well we know how they feel about the uneducated-slaves minded. We will have to pat for public schools when they throw it down to the states, if you don’t pay, no school for children and parental arrests, for the parents, (they may never come out of prison, because they become free labor)or you have to Home School with the curriculum they say and nothing more so you cannot compete against their children (wealthy 1%) our children will be educated just enough to work at slave wages, no health care plan, dental plan or retirement plan (saves wealthy business owners millions, but the middle class will HAVE TO FOOT THE WHOLE BILL THEMSELVES! Deregulate wall street and do away with the SEC, where will you invest your money then? Banks are robbing their customers with a silicon chip. = Bernie Madoffs will run rampant. Kill the EPA and they can dump, feed you swill land inferior contaminated meats and produce, and you have no where to turn, Minorities have been demonized in the news to better implement “stand your ground laws s they can murder at will and get away with it, The GOP has began to strip voting rights across this nation and are now more invasive into our lives and daily decisions then at any time in recent history, A vote for the GOP is a vote for feudalism. They will be the feudal lords and the middle class the serfs.
nobody
November 1, 2012 at 21:09
Epistles: you described the Democrats, not Republicans…you have reality completely backwards.
Lew
December 28, 2018 at 21:34
Dude that’s quite a rant, but not close to being true. The Bible says YOU are to care for all those things yourself. Jesus never once stated government taxes should go for every program not listed in the Constitution. Sorta like all you listed
Then you talk about Ron Paul who is completely against govt funding on I dare say all you list.
Bennyhana
May 2, 2012 at 11:33
Can those of us looking for various forms of guidance contact you via E-mail, sir?
Linc
June 18, 2012 at 20:48
Epistles of Love, I agree with your post with the caveat: all of those things are already happening in America. Social Mobility in America is at a near standstill. As a black man, I’m sure I’m preaching to choir about that subject to you. Black unemployment is at record highs. The prison system has become a big business and it’s storage space for minorities and the poor that got left behind. The EPA has been boggled with legal assault and red tape for years. The Public School system has been contracting for 30 years and steadily losing pace with the rest of the world. The SEC has been in bed with Wall Street institutions for decades.
I’m not a Republican, but I do know their talking points and a lot of them have some validity. The republicans are more interested in Global Military/Financial Empire than representing their constituents. The democrats always give voice to socializing this or that, but the corporate masters and the banking demi-gods buy them out before any real change in the corrupt system is meted out. We look much like Rome did before Caesar took the reigns. Soon the serfs will be screaming for a King who can change things with the click of a finger.
I hate to simplify and lump the parties all together, but I’m going to anyhow. Republican = Right Wing, Democrat = Left Wing. Both parties are wingnut parties who want more and more and more control over the peasants. The parties are at war with the constitution and have been ever since it was signed.
That is the natural state of any ruling body: they reach for all the fruit until all the juice is squashed out on the ground. The real story of America is we are supposed to evolve away from central control to individuality and self sufficience, to say no to imperialism, to say I will, with my own hands pull up my neighbors and teach them to fish, to say I am a free man, to say I can grow my own food and I can pay my own way, to say no man or group of men is smart enough to manage the comings and goings of 300 million people.
Susan Erin
August 25, 2012 at 18:43
I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I believe you have a right to believe what you want but you had better take a good look at the shape this country is in and not let your hope for change dictate what you know in your heart as true. You may realize you might not have any religious freedom in the future. Our rights for free speech is already being censored. I hope you realize that a big government doesn’t help grow jobs and it doesn’t get us over a recession.If you studied history you will know that our forefathers founded this country on the rights of the constitution. You should also be aware of the that the current administration is being financed by some not so repectible people just like the ones that supported him in the 1st bib for the white house.
Dean Hansen
August 27, 2012 at 14:34
Well, this is awesome. 😉 Thank you for this link. Never was a republican. Never was a Mormon until ten years ago. Never spent a minute in the military. I do carry a NAACP card. I am part of gay rights, women’s rights, and equality at all times. I believe in reparations for African Americans. I believe in equality that is why I am a liberal. I believe that we should help others. That is why I am a liberal. I believe that people should be given opportunities instead of giving money to big businesses who already have money. That is why I am a liberal. I believe in owning my own body, and will do with it as I please. That is why I am a liberal. I believe the highest paid and lowest paid person in a job should be no more than 10%. I believe people should have freedom to choose not suppression, that is why I am a liberal.
rebecca2000
September 4, 2012 at 18:07
You know, I know lot of LDS Democrats. Lovely blog.
Miss Quoted
May 27, 2015 at 12:52
I live in “Happy Valley” Utah. I would LOVE to meet some of those LDS Democrats….
Lihann Jones
October 11, 2012 at 21:18
Well, I’ve never been a Republican, but I was Mormon for over 10 years. I served a mission on Temple Square. I only ever met one Democrat while I was in the Church — she was the kindest, fairest person I’ve ever met. She was married with three kids (and I’m sure her daughter will be president of the United States someday) but because she was the only woman under 50 with short hair she was labeled a Lesbian and marginalized in the ward. After all the early mornings in seminary and all of the youth conferances and firesides and church meetings, that one Young Women’s adviser taught me more about compassion and fairness than the church ever did.
I’m glad there are still a few Democrats in the church. I had begun to think they had completely abandoned ship. Thank you for your Blog and the “about me” page. You sound like an interesting and thoughtful person.
Dan
November 29, 2013 at 16:38
It is fascinating that you proclaim to stand up against bullies, but you stand behind the greatest bully of them all…government intervention.
Jim
January 29, 2014 at 10:32
I meant to register republican as it was my family’s party. But it was during the runnup to the 72 campaign and I could not stand what Nixon was doing in regard to Watergate. I have never regretted my decision since.
JOSEPH BENWAY
July 17, 2014 at 04:11
RIGHT OUT THE BOX IT’S CLEAR YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THE 3/5THS RULE WAS BENEFICIAL TO THE SLAVES. YOU CANT CALL YOURSELF A CONSERVATIVE AND NOT HAVE SOME CLUE ABOUT THIS BUT YOU CAN QUALIFY AS A RINO.
Phil Bundy
July 17, 2014 at 07:33
What’s clear is you failed to read my entire posting, and that you don’t have a clue about what slavery was like in this country. No one who is a serious student of American history holds on to the antiquated idea that the 3/5’s rule was beneficial to anyone except for Southern slave owners. As I’m not a conservative however, I take it as a great compliment to not be considered one.