NEWS AND OPINION:
Debate? What debate? The moment the GOP presidential hopefuls left the storied stage in Cleveland, they were back on the campaign trail. Ten, in fact, have headed to Georgia for the annual RedState Gathering now underway in a swank Atlanta hotel, complete with local traffic tie-ups, entourages and the following motto: “The next president will be here.” This three-day grass-roots event opens with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and has all the bells and whistles — from conservative luminaries like Jim DeMint, Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Nikki Haley to provocative forums and a straw poll with 25 candidates to chose from. Donald Trump himself will host a Saturday night tailgate party at the College Football Hall of Fame. Jeb Bush; Govs. Scott Walker, Chris Christie and Bobby Jindal; Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz; plus Carly Fiorina, Rick Perry and Mike Huckabee are among the 2015 crowd who will all have their say by the time the event ends Sunday morning.
“I think the candidates need to be able to give us their 20/20 vision — knowing we don’t need a blamefest or 50-point policy plan to do it. Republicans running in 2016 need to spend less time blaming Barack Obama and more time telling the public how the country will look in 2020. They should avoid the platitudes and instead paint the picture,” says Erick Erickson, founder of RedState.com and the man behind it all. “The first task of any Republican presidential candidates must be to convince the American people that they, not government, control their destiny. The candidate must, in order to do that, really believe that our best days are ahead of us.”
Over 800 attendees and 150 credentialed journalists will be on hand to witness all this. Find a live video feed here beginning Friday: RedStateGathering.com.
THE PRESIDENT TAKES A VACATION
Yes, it’s that time: President Obama gets to take a vacation. He and his family depart the nation’s capital aboard Air Force One on Friday. Their destination: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and a change in ride, as they then travel via Marine One to Martha’s Vineyard for their annual getaway. This is the third year the family will stay in the same fabulous 7,000-square-foot private home in Chillmark — through Sunday, Aug. 23.
Interestingly enough, the property is actually for sale, with an asking price of $22.5 million. See details in “Weekend Real Estate” near the column’s end.
TED TAKES THE BUS
Hillary Rodham Clinton had the much ballyhooed Scooby Van to ferry her through Iowa. Gov. Scott Walker chose a behemoth Winnebago for his grass-roots ride. Now Sen. Ted Cruz joins the gas-powered gaggle with his ambitious Cruz Country Bus Tour, which departed from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on Friday for many destinations indeed. “Ted will crisscross the South, visiting seven states in seven days,” his strategists say.
Mr. Cruz and company roll into Atlanta for the aforementioned RedState gathering early Saturday afternoon — but they will be in two other towns by nightfall. It’s that kind of cruise. By Sunday, the candidate arrives in Alabama. On Monday he’ll be in Tennessee; Tuesday, it’s Mississippi; Wednesday, it’s Arkansas; and Thursday, Oklahoma. A total of 23 towns are involved, with stops as varied as a biscuits-and-gravy breakfast in Chattanooga to a meet and greet at Fat Daddy’s Bar-B-Que in Russellville. That is in Arkansas, and their motto is “We put meat on your buns.”
Mr. Cruz has also picked up the endorsement of Media Research Center founder Brent Bozell, who explains his rationale: “We need a courageous conservative who tells the truth and does what he promises. We need to nominate an inspiring leader who has proven he is willing to take on the Washington Cartel and buck the political establishment of both parties. We need a leader who will win, and reignite the promise of America.”
BEN GOES FOR THE FAMILY
Following his appearance at the GOP debate, Ben Carson is off to Iowa for what can only be described as a heartfelt — but succinctly branded — series of events. Beginning Saturday, the “Ben Carson Family Festival” will be staged in Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, complete with much food, a “festive family atmosphere” and performances by Christian singer Mary Rice Hopkins.
WASHINGTON GOES TO THE MOVIES
An unusual phenomenon: A Hollywood movie premiers in the nation’s capital this weekend. “The Algerian” is a political thriller tracing the life of Ali, a member of a terrorist sleeper cell as he awaits orders to attack America. Then a funny thing happens: “Upon his arrival in Los Angeles, the Algerian meets people he’s never met before and all of them — American Muslims, Jews, women and Marines — are different than he’s imagined them. Their impact on him and his mission are what the film is all about,” notes Washington Times opinion editor David Keene, who has seen an early cut of the film. “The best line in the film from one of his new friends and fellow immigrants is ’I love this country and so do you. You just don’t know it yet.’”
Find more on this independent project by director Giovanni Zelko here: TheAlgerianMovie.com.
ONE FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis reveal that the noteworthy George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, has now been designated a national historic landmark. They note that the towering structure “stands among the most architecturally significant projects to honor George Washington and one of the boldest private efforts to memorialize him. The Grand Lodges of the states and territories, which usually operate independently, joined forces to build this national memorial. This eclectic building combines neoclassical architecture common to American memorials and civic buildings with a modern skyscraper design.”
And how. The site’s official history notes that “the concept of a colossal building as a memorial ’lighthouse’ to Washington” was the original intent. Its cornerstone was laid in 1923, the building was dedicated in 1932, and completed in 1970.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: Snail Road Estate. Contemporary home on 9.5 acres near Chillmark Pond, Martha’s Vineyard. Six bedrooms, seven marble baths, dining room, great room, study, chef’s kitchen, two-bedroom guest cottage overlooking Atlantic Ocean. Floor-to-ceiling windows, custom millwork and cabinetwork, skylights, oak and heated limestone floors, private decks, three fireplaces, including poured concrete fireplace; infinity pool, half basketball court and gym, screened porch, outdoor terraces, three private beaches.
Priced at $22.5 million through WallaceMV.com. Enter link ID 28958 in search function.
POLL DU JOUR
• 49 percent of Americans favor removing the Confederate flag from public buildings; 38 percent of Republicans, 52 percent of independents and 69 percent of independents agree.
• 43 percent oppose the idea; 50 percent of Republicans, 43 percent of independents and 28 percent of independents agree.
• 44 percent say race relations are “getting worse” in the U.S.; 61 percent of Republicans, 47 percent of independents and 34 percent of independents agree.
• 37 percent say they are “staying the same”; 25 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 41 percent of independents agree.
• 18 percent say race relations are “getting better”; 10 percent of Republicans, 15 percent of independents and 23 percent of independents agree.
Source: A McClatchy/Marist Poll of 1,249 U.S. adults conducted July 22-28 and released Thursday.
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• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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