With the STORM network readying to launch, we are extremely excited to launch a new and powerful SMS recruitment system nationwide. Now signing up for your local CR chapter isn’t tied to a recruitment table or event, every CR across the country is empowered to sign up their friends and peers with nothing more then a smile and a cell phone.

If you have someone who wants to get signed up for College Republicans is as easy as texting CRNC Full Name Email (school email preferred)  and Zip to 30364

Chapters across the country have a great opportunity to find some new faces in new places (pardon the rhyme). Email this code out to your members and ask them to invite one student from a class they have to sign up using their cell phone.Then, on Feb 4th when Storm launches you’ll have a head start with some new, excited activists on campus.

Debuting at next weeks annual CPAC conference is the first live showing of the STORM action network.  STORM will take College Republicans to the next level in grassroots organizing and mobilizing.

We will be hosting a continuous drop-in workshop in a suite at the Omni Shoreham Hotel with food, drinks and prizes for all three days of the event!  In the CRNC suite you will be able to interact live with the technology and be among the first participate in launching the future of our organization.  Make sure to keep you eyes open at CPAC for this awesome opportunity! 

Even if you are not attending this years conference you too can be among the first in the nation to experience the STORM network.  Click here to become a first launch invitee!

Hits the high-notes, check it out.

I know I’ve posted about this a few times already (here, here, and here) but here’s another article (this one from RedState and in turn from the NYT) citing concerns about the Dems being able to pull together after this brutal primary.

An interesting fact noted in the article that I had not previously known (or thought about) is that GOP turnout was lower in the primaries of both Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. than in the contemporary Dem primaries, but we went on to win the White House both times. Constantly, I am asked if our party is “depressed” or “tired” and because of this lack of enthusiasm, if we are going to lose the WH. One of the many counters now is that your answer can be found in history…

I will leave most of the talking to an absolutely amazing article from the Washington Monthly, but with the recent Ted Kennedy endorsement I have to say my piece about all these comparisons between Barack Obama and JFK.

Sen. Barack Obama can give some rhetorically amazing (if unsubstantial) speeches, and he can say change as many times in our paragraph as anybody I know - but he is no revolutionary leader. As the article above (and below) explains, while many people claimed JFK to be too inexperienced for the presidency he actually had quite a resume by the time he sought the highest office in the land. He was a WWII hero, a well-traveled US Congressman, and an independent voice on matters of international diplomacy. Sen. Obama was born in Indonesia…yes, that’s it.

Read the whole article. 

I spoke at a panel hosted by Campus Progress this morning talking about the youth vote and what it means in 2008.  My fellow panelists from the CDA, Rock the Vote and CIRCLE had some interesting points, I thought it was a fun little session.  And while I don’t always agree with their politics, it was nice to hear what other groups are doing.  Rock the Vote is doing some interesting things online, CIRCLE is taking on a very interesting challenge in how to get accurate data from a difficult to reach demographic.  It was a very cordial, fun panel. Conversation focused on what issues and factors motivate young voters.  Hopefully, it will be made available online soon.  You can now watch it here.

The first standing ovation of the night come from the Republican side cheering President Bush’s steadfast commitment to make tax relief permanent. Funny that the Dems didn’t stand for that…could one say they are anti-tax relief? Would that really be a surprise?

Stumbled across this trailer for a new documentary on Former RNC Chairman (and former CRNC Executive Director) Lee Atwater.  Given the liberal bent in Hollywood, I somehow doubt that they are going to cast him in the best light, but his was certainly a career worth learning about. 

Anyone interested in learning more about Atwater should check out Bad Boy: The Life and Politics of Lee Atwater.

During the last Dem debate, I wrote a post about the potential long-term harm their vicious primary might have on the their prospects in coming elections.

Now, it seems that Stuart Rothenberg agrees:

 Could Democrats, who are unified in their dissatisfaction with George W. Bush and have been pleased with their presidential field, really become so divided that they give a surprising opening to the eventual Republican nominee? Yes.

The whole article is very interesting and details how the destructive politics of the Clinton Duo could impose some irreparable damage on the Democratic Party.

I’m in Chicago today, at the Hilton Towers, attending the ICRF convention. So far its been a fantastic event, good attendance, a great panel this morning, and a lot of interesting speakers this afternoon.

I just finished up my spiel, and despite some technical difficulty early on I think it was largely well received. Questions centered on the STORM network, and hopefully we’ll get some of these kids applying to be field reps in the fall. They have some great activists out here, its an exciting time to be an IL CR.

Update -

Elections have just wrapped up.  Congratulations are due to Meagan Szydloski, who led her slate to a unanimous victory.

The assembled delegates have new moved on to assembling their plan if action for the year ahead.