"I believe the only thing that could turn around this government spending and mounting debt would be if the people rose up." - Jim DeMint

This quote, from the man who delivered Senate seats for Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and other strong elected officials, perfectly embodies what we need in order to win in 2014. After comparing the results of the 2010 and 2012 elections respectively, it's clear-- we need a Tea Party revival.

The enormous movement we saw in 2010 gave us Senators such as Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Pat Toomey, and more; it was an immense undertaking, but thousands of people across the country were mobilized after watching the signing of ObamaCare into law. It took an event that disastrous to energize a movement called the Tea Party.

Well, folks, we have our 2012 event to match ObamaCare: The re-election of its instigator.

Why be thankful?  I could find a million reasons to be angry or ungrateful, that's easy most days when life and stress get the best of us, but tonight I am looking for the million reasons to consider why I should be thankful.

I got out of bed this morning and with a few age appropriate aches and pains I walked across the room and started my day.  There are some who cannot do what I perhaps take for granted most days.

I am thankful today in no particular order for:

- family and friends who love me

- a meal tonight and a roof over my head

- the ability to smile today

- something to look forward to tomorrow, and the next day

- laughter more than once today

- more than one conversation with someone special today

- being able to tell someone something nice today

- living in the greatest country on earth

- doing something for someone else today to help them

- having a great faith in God

- for having an entire holiday to celebrate all the reasons to be thankful

- the men and women who serve each day so that I live in freedom

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  Wishing you a million reasons to be thankful…

Often before writing on a subject I open the dictionary (these days the app on my iPhone) and I read the definition of a key word.  Not because I do not know the definition of the word, but because I want to see how a conceptual word or term has been standardized.  Words have a way of meaning different things to different people especially when our emotions and our politics are involved in defining a word.

I looked up conservative today, you know the noun that we use to define ourselves as in I am a Conservative, and here are some of the definitions I found:

1. a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas

2. resistant to change

3. unimaginatively conventional

I must admit at first I felt insulted by being defined this way.  I thought perhaps being conservative was dull and lacked vision.  Then I realized I use this term to define my concept of government and how I expect those in office to govern.  I am not unimaginative and conventional in every aspect of my life, that would be dull.  Reluctant to change, that I will accept because as conservatives we are reluctant to change.

We like things the way they are (were) because conservatives don't see an issue with limited government or a constitution that protects us from a change in how we as a people are governed.  Let me put this in women's terms (don't start the feminist stuff, remember I am resistant to new ideas).  A new style of shoes comes out, and while they look smart and savvy, they are uncomfortable and you can't wear them very long so essentially the new unconventional shoes do not serve the purpose.  Are you going to change?  I guess some will and endure the pain because it looks good, sounds good even though the shoes really do not work or serve their purpose well.

A conservative however, is not going to wear those new style shoes.  We have shoes that fit and work well, so why change styles?  We do acknowledge our friends who are not conservative may indeed find that change and a new style of shoes are perfect for their feet.  They will endure anything to create change, even standing for hours in line at the polls to vote with painful feet.

What we as conservatives need to send is a clear message about just how uncomfortable those new shoes will be on their feet.  Now remember those shoes look savvy and they appear to provide everything you want and need in a shoe.  So choose your message wisely when you try to stop your friends from buying into change.  They see a better choice, and you must be sure to engage them in why you choose not to change.  If your message is unreasonable and filled with insults, then you will probably not be effective.  You will get the boot and they still buy the shoes.

As conservatives we suffered great loss in the 2012 election cycle and how we work and message our politics in the future will need to be evaluated on every level.  I personally will work harder, not fight harder.  This is not a concession, but rather a strategy because I am not changing my principles or beliefs.  I am not changing what I think is best for our country, no not in the least.  I will however acknowledge we may be at a tipping point and the only way to overcome is to reverse the numbers.  How we message and how we learn to integrate those who differ in their beliefs will be a monumental task for conservatives.  It will require new ideas and some (ugh here it comes) change in how we get out the vote if we are to be effective.

Buckle up or lace up your shoes, we have a long walk ahead.

Where are we going?   After our loss on Tuesday, is the GOP going to water down its message and cave in to the pressure of transforming into a more "inclusive" party?  I personally hope that's not the case.

People and pundits from both parties seem to have come to the conclusion that the GOP is just outdated and needs to catch up with the times.  However, they're missing a key part of conservatism: ‘Our message is timeless.’  It lasted from the Revolution in the eighteenth century up to today; and it hasn't changed.  The root of what we are fighting for has remained the same since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The ways we spread the message and specific causes we fight for may change over time, but the heart of the message is still the one the founders had in 1776.