Ottawa County Republicans' Newsletter
December 15, 2024 5:2
Editor's Preamble:
"Hello Ottawa County Republicans! It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Or, should we say the most wonderful time of the decade?! Let's not squabble. It's most wonderful time of the year AND decade!
OCRP News
The OCRP held County Convention, on November 21, 2024 to elect New Executive Committee...
The OCRP is Grateful for Volunteers and Seeks to Unite Behind Shared Values and the America First Movement...
The OCRP Warns Michigan Residents of Upcoming Dangerous Lame-Duck Session in Lansing and What Can Be Done to Stop It...
*Perhaps you've heard about the egregious bills the Democrats are passing out of Lansing with a two-vote majority? They've brought over TWO HUNDRED bills for the eight days of session between the first week of December through December 20th. We've been working overtime to alert the Public to the situation. ---Unfortunately, they have passed more gun "reform" as well as giving driver's licenses to Illegals, and also bills that legalize prostitution. *There do seem to be a few vulnerable Democrats who have refused up until now, to vote to abolish the electoral college, yet the Democratic Party in Michigan is emboldened after everything they passed on Friday. *Please make your voice heard by leaving a message at the number publicized on our flier above.
If you have a subscription with the Detroit News, there is an excellent Opinion Editorial on the subject here, where the editorialist calls this "The Californication of Michigan."
The OCRP Holds Formation Meeting to Elect Officers to Serve Two-Year Term...
The OCRP in Top 5 Most Active Counties Nationally for Trump in September; *The OCRP was in the Top Two Most Active in State...
Trump's campaign strategy combined with the grassroots force of our local Party helped win him Michigan!
Area News
New Board Keeps Republicans in Majority on Board of Commissioners...
National Culture/Education
In looking ahead to the new year, here is something for Parents to share with their kids!
Parents, Are you familiar with PragerU? Many years ago, PragerU felt they could do something for Millennials and Generation Z by meeting them right where they are, on social media platforms through short educational videos. PragerU is an educational movement that feels strongly about the lack of History and Civics being taught in our schools and moved to create an education platform that fills in the gaps.
And wow, has PragerU ever become a movement! In 2024 alone, PragerU videos have been viewed by almost 60 million people. On YouTube, more than 60% of their video views are from young Americans under 35. And these videos are not just being watched; they’re changing minds. In fact, in their recent survey, 70% of viewers reported changing their stance on an important issue after watching.
Here is a sample of one of our recent favorites of PragerU videos
We encourage you to sign up to have free education delivered to your inbox and if you approve, encourage your kids to sign up as well!
Sign up HERE
Local Culture
In the era of post DEI, the religion's followers are the last to know that Corporate America has turned away from it. In their last gasps to keep it alive beyond probability, Restoring Ottawa has an excellent piece on why they don't see the writing on the wall.
Religion of Wokeism: I am diversity-please include me...
The Ottawa County Taxpayers have decided they are done funding DEI locally. We trust our elected officials will represent the People and accept this.
Also in Local Culture...
GVSU Brave Booth
Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea Leaves Lasting Impression with GVSU Students During the General Election...
Health
Congressional Committee Condemns (Nearly) Every Feature of the Covid Response...
This is an interesting piece! *When you scroll to the bottom, it shows a version of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic's Report in a Flipbook format.
However, if you are not interested in reading all 557 pages of the above Congressional Committee Report on the CDC and NIH's Covid response, here is the gist of it. The Committee has found the following highlighted policies as abject failures.
Ahhhhhh. Yes of course, but then we KNEW THAT these policies were a disaster all that way back in March of 2020. We aren't normally sarcastic here at the Newsletter yet on this occasion we'd like to say that this is a great big, "We told you so." *We are absolutely grateful for the Congressional Committee's work, yet are not surprised by the results.
Not So Old News
Speaking of We-Told-So's, we have a special segment for you in Not-So-Old News this month. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, professor of health policy at Stanford University, as the Director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) for his new administration.
*Because of this historic and glorious news [a "glorious" pick, given this is Dr. Fauci's previous position], we went back again to read The Great Barrington Declaration. It is surprising that the Declaration was considered controversial in October of 2020 when Dr.Bhattacharya, along with doctors Martin Kulldorff, Harvard, and Sunetra Gupta, Oxford, hosted The Great Barrington Accord and first published the Declaration after their historic meeting in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. As we look back with hindsight and wisdom, these seem like obvious conclusions that the Accord came to. Since Dr. Bhattacharya has been nominated to head the NIH, it seems only fitting to take a review of his wisdom from four years ago. It's fascinating and not-so-old news!
The Great Barrington Declaration
Volunteer Highlight
Geri McCaleb
Precinct Delegate, Executive Committee Member and the Former Mayor of Grand Haven
Geri Mc Caleb is a unique human being. Aside from her vast experience in the Republican Party, as well as her experience in local Government, she is also an excellent writer and columnist. She is so much so, that up until recently, she was a Community Columnist for the Grand Haven Tribune, who published her column at least once per month.
This is a time where we can all agree that the recent election results were a repudiation of many things, not the least of which is a biased media that favors Democrats and constantly tilts the truth. The American people have grown tired of media falsehoods, so much so that they are in the process of embracing newer forms of media, such as podcasts and social influencers in recent years, instead of traditional media.
However, Geri's column had always been representative of a reasonable, conservative view in the Grand Haven Tribune. Her articles have been informative and factual, sharing a different perspective with the public than what is the more typical outcome of the Tribune's messaging.
On October 10, 2024, Geri submitted her monthly column and for the first time ever, received back a dispute, explaining that they refused to publish her piece this time. Her piece focuses on Title IX, which we know was a hot topic this past election cycle as well as rightfully criticizes VP Harris' inability to put forward an articulate message. The Tribune cited these as some of their reasons to reject the piece.
So, we would like you to take the Op-Ed challenge: read Geri's piece and see if you can figure out why a Newspaper...during an election cycle ...wouldn't want the Grand Haven citizenry to read this as an alternative view:
*Geri is clear to point out on her personal Facebook page that the Tribune's refusal to publish is of course their right. However, since the time of the Tribune's refusal to publish her piece, Geri has resigned as a Community Columnist to the Grand Haven Tribune because she will no longer associate herself with a publication that won't tell the public more than a single point of view.
We are grateful for her dedication and attention to the OCRP and very much appreciate her contributions on the Executive Committee. Geri loves the Grand Haven community and always seeks to grow the area for her Republican values.
Thank you Geri, for standing with your values for journalistic integrity. Here at the OCRP, we believe you have an important voice and we hope the Tribune will consider changing their ways.
This is Geri on the left in the above picture, celebrating at the people's Press Conference we held back in July! Geri is a delight and value to our greater community and the local Party. Thank you for serving Ottawa County Geri!
Business Spotlight
Doggie Detailing and Resort
What do dogs have to do with politics?? This is an excellent question! *The OCRP recommends this business owned by constitutional conservatives in our community who loves your animal as much as you do and offers the very best service for your pets in the County. It offers Daycare, Overnight Care and also offers Spa services. They also have all of these services for cats as well.
Also, see more information on their Facebook Page here. *Even if you don't have a dog (go to their Facebook page anyway. It will make your day!)
PHONE: 616-846-5576
EMAIL: [email protected]
ADDRESS: 13894 Farm Drive, Grand Haven, MI 49417
WEBSITE: Www.doggiedetailingresort.com
Kids Kolumn
Here's a new Coloring Page for younger kids so you can get some wrapping and baking done!
For a printable PDF, click HERE
Holiday History
Christmas Day, 1776, was the first Christmas after the United States of America signed the Declaration of Independence. As a Party, we remain committed to securing liberty here in Ottawa County, so that our children and grandchildren can continue to raise their families in a secure and steadfast environment committed to Constitutional rights and values. Given this, we find the News of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware on Christmas Day in 1776 an important Historical Christmas story.
Crossing of the Delaware on Christmas Day, 1776...
Our thanks to MountVernon.org for the simple summary, written by Cody Lass of Texas Tech University.
Upcoming Events
It is convention season and so while our Delegates will be busy in the New Year with County and State Conventions, it will be a little while before we have Public events. But please stay tuned to our calendar as we will post Public events there as we have them.
Also, please follow us on social media where you can be apprised of events when we post them Live in the new year.
Elephant Fare
Darlene Dykstra Healthy Cranberry Snowballs
Ingredients:
Cranberries in a bag at room temperature
Orange juice or orange carbonated soda, or wine to soak them in.
Powdered sugar: As much as you'd like.
Directions
1. Wash berries.
Place them in a bowl and pour in orange juice (or any flavored carbonated juice or wine) over them.
2. Stir them and then cover them and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
3. Later, drain in a colander, shake, and then place in a bowl.
4. Dump a very generous amount of confectioners sugar over them, cover and shake vigorously until well coated.
5. Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spread berries in single layer on sheet. 6. Place in a preheated oven at 200* for 10 mins.
7. Remove from oven, carefully place in a bowl, then refrigerate a couple of hours.
Serve at a Party or give as gift! Beautiful, tasty, and even a little bit healthy which is more than we can say for most Christmas treats!
SHOP
--Also, stickers are 1 for $3 or 2 for $5 on our Shop Page. These look great on your stuff! Shipping is included:-)
Die Cut, Waterproof and UVA protected Sticker! Visit our Shop page to get yours now! Measures 4 x 3.48
Taken in West Olive, December 2024
Please help us preserve liberty in Ottawa County by making a donation of any size here. Thank you!
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