Jim Carter
President, Men’s Republican Club

Our club was officially chartered in April of 2003. Two years prior I stated this club with Lou Vlasho, a Naples Restauranteur, who had founded a similar club in Ohio, prior to moving to Naples.

Early in our discussion we we were joined by several others, including Wayne Smith who played a major role in developing our club. I had the honor of serving as our first President.

Through the years we’ve had our ups and downs. A core of dedicated members kept us active in Republican politics. In 2012 Charlie Sues asked me to rejoin the Board to fulfill an unexpired term of a member who left the area. We had about 35 members. I was asked to take over programming. Soon after our president resigned over a job conflict. I was elected President. The rest is history.

Over the last Eight years we’ve rebuilt the Board, expanded our scholarship program, developed the Annual Salute to Veterans into a major Naples event and brought national and international speakers to our membership. This Board is getting us through COVID-19 and will continue to provide the leadership that takes us forward into 2021.

Today we have over 120 members. Our membership includes many of our elected officials both local, state and newly elected congressman Byron Donald’s. We have provided a great deal of leadership to the CCREC and always have been a major forum for Republican candidates.

This meeting has particular significance as three (3) new members will be elected to your Board of Directors. We have five (5) candidates for Three (3) positions. All are very qualified to join the other six (6) in moving us forward.

You need to read the bios and be present to vote. These candidates are our future.

I know all of us stepping down have found this a very rewarding experience. Chad, John and I will continue to be involved and do everything we can to support our club. It will be my pleasure to introduce your new President and officers at the January meeting.

Jim Carter
President, Men’s Republican Club

One more time: President Trump Stands up for We The People.

The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsberg adds one more challenge to saving our Republic on November 3rd. She was a credible and respected jurist.

The late Anthony Scalia was a close friend and admired her for her knowledge while being on the opposite side of judicial cases brought to the Supreme Court.

President Trump has a list of nominees based on talent, proven success and understanding that the job of a Justice is to interpret the law not to try and rewrite it.

The Democrats criteria is gender and color driven vs qualifications. Well, what else is new? For them it’s always about power and control of our lives.

We know the media and all the chest thumpers will scream the appointment shouldn’t be made until after the November elections. If the Radical left didn’t control the Democratic Party and the voice wasn’t Alexandria Ocasio Cortez it might be a different story. Plus we remember what happened in the Justice Kavanaugh Senate hearings .

You can’t trust Democrats. The agenda is to finish what Obama started. FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE AMERICA FROM A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC TO A SOCIALIST NATION WITH A FOCUS ON ONE WORLDISM .

We are a sovereign nation and the radical left supported by billionaires like George Soros are doing every thing the can to destroy us.

President Trump needs to send his Supreme Court nominee to the Senate by the end of September. Let the process begin.

What will happen? The Blue states and WDC will see violence. The Drivers: Antifa. This isn’t a myth, it isn’t imaginary, it isn’t peaceful, it’s a TERRORIST organization.

There is another Democrat ally. Black lives matter global network foundation: shortened version BLM. This isn’t a grass roots organization. Funding comes through not for profit, tax exempt and political action groups who support far left Democrats. They have chapters in Boston, Chicago, WDC, Denver, Detroit, Los Angles, Lansing, Long Beach, Memphis, Nashville, NYC, Philadelphia, South Bend and Canada: Toronto and Vancouver.

Look at the geography and the on going riots. These same areas will be focal points as the Senate deals with vetting and appointing a Supreme Court Justice.

Hang on. It will be a rough ride.
Jim Carter

Jim Carter
President, Men’s Republican Club

Congratulations to those who either won re election or are first time office holders as a result of our Primary August 18.

Crystal Kinzel Clerk of Courts and Abe Skinner Property Appraiser. Incumbents with no opposition, Jennifer Edwards Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and our Tax collector elect, Rob Stoneburner.

Some of you face Democrats and/or independents in the November election including Commissioners Bill McDaniel, District 5 and Commission candidate Rick LoCastro District 1 have another lap to go. State House seat 80 winner Lauren Melo, State House seat 106 Bob Rommel, and State House seat 105 David Borrero face Democrats in the general election. We need to support them. to insure Republicans control the Florida legislature. Of the State House races, newcomer David Borrero faces the toughest competition in a heavier Democratic district.

The hotly contested race for Congressional seat 19 was won by Byron Donalds who gave up his Florida house seat 80 to run for Congress. We all know Byron will do a great job. A real plus to have our Congressman residing in Collier. Never forget, Collier County is a powerful Republican voting group.

Collier County School Board incumbents faced no opposition. Our member, Eric Carter, Vice Chair is good for another 4 years. Carter is a big supporter of our Salute to Veterans,we wish him well.

While a lot of attention is paid to the above races , let’s not forget those who serve on other various important district boards or councils. I don’t know all of these positions but congratulations to all who won.

Two very supportive MRC club members won and are or will be serving on Mosquito Control Districts. Sandra Buxton and Bob Burland of the Hilton team..

Within the CCREC we had competiton for State Committee races. A great debt of thanks to the incumbents who lost. Dough Rankin has served us well for a number of years . A dedicated Republican who will continue to work hard to get Republicans elected. The same would describe Jan Face Glassman. She is tireless in her efforts and has always given her best to serve our party. Her contacts have brought a number of prominent Republicans to speak at our Lincoln/Regan Day dinners. We owe them both a great deal of gratitude for there service.

Our new representatives bring a great deal of talent to the job. Alfie Oakes of Oakes farms, hit the spotlight when he spoke out publicly about Black Lives Matter and had his multi million dollar contract with Lee County school district cancelled. He is suing them.

Oakes is a very successful business business man and brings new energy to our party. Joann DeBartolo is the President of the Patriots for Trump Club. She has brought and continues to bring major Trump supporters to speak at their meetings. She is well connected to the Trump campaign.

Some of our precinct’s had competiton. Whether you won or lost we need to commit to Re electing Republicans at every level of Government.

It takes hard work and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Either we save this Republic or we cascade into the hell of Socialism. So no matter what happened in the primary let’s get it together.

The true mark of winner is to be a bigger person than just winning your election. If you defeated an incumbent, reach out and make it a smooth transition.

Campaigns gets ugly. It’s a fact of life. I don’t condone it but reality is pick up the pieces and move on. Just think if winners and losers took the best of each, everybody wins.

On to VICTORY in November.

Is Free Speech Dead In America?

Jim Carter
President, Men’s Republican Club

Maybe not but it’s certainly on  life supports! Today, at best , it’s controlled speech driven by fear and repercussions.

Looking back, universities and colleges have produced a number of limited thinkers. The right to question or express different points of view have been smothered by the domination of far left professors and gutless administrators who cow tow to these very vocal groups.

Of course tenure perpetuates this dysfunctional environment. A balance of guest speakers covering the entire political spectrum or astute legal or business leaders is discouraged. If one is announced, student protests led by a minority raise havoc and destruction!

Dressed in black and wearing hoods they become a disruptive element inflicting physical destruction and harm to those who oppose. University police are ordered to stand down. Sound familiar?

Speaking your mind as a conservative will most likely cost you your job. Those on the left, no matter how prejudice the statement, are explained away. Harvard recently terminated two professors for commenting on people of color while another  of color made headlines that white people are not important. Her comment was explained away as not the “official “ position of the university. She was “ taken” out of context. Really! Still at Harvard. Dah!!

The National media is controlled by six conglomerates. All are left of center. If you work for one of these groups and write anything not following the script you are forced to resign. Pick any day and  channel surf the news. It’s all out of the same playbook. Managed News! Only a couple of exceptions: Newsmax and some times Fox.

Social Media: The greatest violator of  free speech. They enjoy protection under the law because they are Public Billboards. Not to be censored unless it’s pornographic or advocating the physical over throw of the Government .

Instead of a free flow of information they are controlling it. It’s called censorship.

It’s done through the manipulation of apps. They can influence the outcome of any election. Why isn’t there public out rage? It’s fear. Speak up and you are verbally attacked. Sometimes it becomes physical.

Many people will not participate in telephone surveys, written surveys or talk to reporters. If you own a fire arm , you won’t discuss it. Most of us have become guarded when talking in groups.

While we have individual levels of fear, the fact remains, it influences us and our willingness to  speak out on defending and protecting our Constitutional Republic.

Cities like Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington are run by flower children Mayors and elected by regressive’s believe in selective protection of there  populations. How dare anyone speak out about their inept polices which encourages certain elements to takeover portions of there cities. They don’t like Federal agencies such as ICE and Homeland security operating in these cities.

Never mind those employees are residents like anybody else.

Wheeler, mayor, of Portland is a classic dolt who wants you to never to speak out on his bazar policies of selective protection. Free speech is not welcome in his city.

These are just a few examples. The question is: Are you willing to exercise your right to Free Speech? The option is: keep you mouth shut. Live and let live. Don’t rock the boat. This to will pass.

Never discuss politics.  And one day you will hear sirens, boots in the street, pounding on your door and feel the cold sweat on your forehead——-Will we become Germany, Italy of the 30’s , Stalin’s Russia \? Today’s China? You decide!