https://redstate.com/author/briansikma/feedConservative News & Politicsen-usThu, 23 Apr 2026 19:54:25 -0400<![CDATA[Paul Nehlen is running for Congress in Wisconsin’s 1st District attempting to oust House Speaker Paul Ryan in the August primary. Central to Nehlen’s campaign platform is his opposition to current or proposed trade deals that, he argues, send U.S. jobs oversees for the benefit of crony capitalists and the coffers of political campaigns they support. But a review of Nehlen’s work history finds that the firebrand opponent of existing free trade deals actually managed a Chinese factory that exported its product to U.S. markets – products that were once made by American workers.]]>Wed, 13 Jul 2016 16:09:42 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Free Trade]]><![CDATA[Paul Nehlen]]><![CDATA[Paul Ryan]]><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2016/07/13/anti-trade-candidate-managed-chinese-factory-exported-goods-us-n60468<![CDATA[On Monday, RedState.com editor-in-chief Leon Wolf joined Michelle Litjens and I on AM620 WTMJ to talk about his thought-provoking essay on the cultural causes and pressures that gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement and led to the violent clash in Dallas late last week. Michelle, a former state representative, and I occasionally fill in for noted #NeverTrump talkshow host Charlie Sykes on Wisconsin&#8217;s largest AM talk station.]]>Tue, 12 Jul 2016 12:40:29 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Dallas]]><![CDATA[Milwaukee]]><![CDATA[radio]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2016/07/12/audio-leon-wolf-talks-dallas-shootings-milwaukee-radio-n60433<![CDATA[As darkness crept across Afghanistan on a late fall day in 2011, an F/A-18 Super Hornet flown by a U.S. Navy pilot released a single precision guided munition that killed a Taliban leader plotting to carry out attacks against U.S. ground forces. In the previous decade, F/A-18s flown by Navy and Marine aviators flew thousands of missions executing air strike after air strike in support of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. When President Barack Obama insisted on reducing the number of U.S. ground troops in the country, it was aircraft like the Super Hornet that served as a force multiplier allowing the U.S. to continue to keep insurgents at bay while protecting grunts on the ground. Fast forward to August of 2014, and a pair of F/A-18s flying from the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush became the first U.S. warplanes to attack ISIS. Since 2001, the F/A-18 has seen service in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and served as an important tool for both Republican and Democratic Presidents. More critically, the F/A-18’s ability to fulfill both air superiority and ground attack roles has meant that it could provide vital protection for U.S. troops waging war on the ground. It’s not an understatement to say that the F/A-18 has saved lives. But none of this would have been possible if Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) had gotten his way. Twice, in two successive sessions of Congress, the ultra-leftist Democrat introduced legislation to kill the F/A-18 Super Hornet. In 1997, Feingold introduced S.520 which demanded that the Secretary of Defense immediately halt the procurement program for the F/A-18 E and F variants, which were intended to replace outdated F-14 Tomcats which were more expensive to fly and were relics of the Cold War. “The Secretary of Defense shall terminate the F/A-18E/F aircraft program,” the legislation declared. Two years later, in 1999, Feingold introduced the exact same language in S.129. Additionally, Feingold twice introduced amendments on the floor of the Senate to limit how many F/A-18 Super Hornets the military could buy. Large, bipartisan majorities rejected the amendments each time. The Super Hornet is a modernized and larger version of its smaller predecessor, the F/A-18 Hornet. In the early 1990s the Navy, facing a shrinking post-Cold War budget, wanted to combine the functions of a fighter (the F-14) with an attack aircraft (A-6) and significantly upgrade the resulting plane to meet 21st Century threats. To make the savings possible, the Navy – along with its subordinate force the Marine Corps – needed to fund the development of, and ultimately buy, the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Within the decade the military was taking delivering of the new warplane and barely into the 21st Century it would become a workhorse in the skies above the Middle East. Why Feingold opposed the purchase of a cost-saving aircraft is unclear. According to Boeing, the current manufacturer of the Super Hornet, the plane “is the most cost-effective aircraft in the U.S. tactical aviation fleet, costing less per flight hour than any other tactical aircraft in U.S. forces inventory.” Further, upgrades to the aircraft mean it is projected to be in service until 2040, making it a relative bargain in the ever expensive world of warplane development. Feingold’s subsequent opposition to the war in Iraq hardly offers any justification for his ardent opposition to an airplane the Clinton administration wanted for its cost savings and multi-role capabilities. As the long-time Democratic Senator runs to regain his old seat from Wisconsin this year, national security will be – and has been – a topic of debate. Explaining to Wisconsin voters why he opposed a warplane that has kept American fighting men and women safe will be a lot more difficult than offering vague pronouncements about American policy. Voters understand the difference between opposing various wars and opposing the tools that keep American service members safe and allow them to do their job and come home. The latter is hard to justify.]]>Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:04:48 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Russ Feingold]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2016/04/11/sen-feingolds-war-fa-18-super-hornet-n58246<![CDATA[A pair of Milwaukee television stations have told two Wisconsin pro-life organizations they can&#8217;t buy airtime during select news programming because the advertisement they want to air is not approved by station management. Fox6 and WISN have both declined to air an advertisement sponsored by Wisconsin Family Action and Pro-Life Wisconsin even though the ad is very similar to other political and issue ads run by other organizations. The topic of the ad is AB 305, a measure that seeks to stop aborted fetal body parts from being used in scientific and medical research in Wisconsin.]]>Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:17:07 -0500<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Abortion]]><![CDATA[Milwaukee]]><![CDATA[Pro-Life]]><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2016/01/04/milwaukee-tv-stations-refuse-air-pro-life-ad-n55801<![CDATA[Cold temperatures mocked climate change activists across the United States over the Thanksgiving Day weekend as marches and local demonstrators bundled up against the chill to warn of the dangers of a warming global climate. &#8220;Dress for the weather, could be cold and windy,&#8221; one Dubuque, Iowa organizer warned would-be marchers ahead of a demonstration there. Climate action events across the country come ahead of a UN-organized climate change conference in Paris, France where world leaders discuss the need for a binding agreement to battle warm weather.]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2015 13:10:26 -0500<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Climate Change]]><![CDATA[global warming]]><![CDATA[Paris]]><![CDATA[United Nations]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/11/30/cold-temps-mock-climate-change-protests-around-us-n55292<![CDATA[Ahead of their short legislative session starting in January, some top Republican lawmakers in Indiana are floating a plan to make college free for some Hoosier students. Faced with the need to recruit teachers for Indiana public schools, Speaker Brian Bosma (R) is proposing that the state pay for 100% of college tuition if students choose to become teachers for at least five years after college. The plan would pay for tuition to not only state schools but also more expensive private universities.]]>Fri, 20 Nov 2015 12:15:13 -0500<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]><![CDATA[higher education]]><![CDATA[Indiana]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/11/20/ind-republicans-take-page-obama-higher-ed-playbook-n55182<![CDATA[[mc_name name=&#8217;Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)&#8217; chamber=&#8217;senate&#8217; mcid=&#8217;P000603&#8242; ] (R-KY) had a great night in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Going into the fourth GOP presidential debate, the libertarian Republican faced skepticism from several quarters about his ability to stand out in a crowded field that still hasn&#8217;t winnowed itself since the departure of Gov. Scott Walker. Paul&#8217;s debate performance was aggressive, he had passion, and he drove the discussion at several points.]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:13:20 -0500<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Marco Rubio]]><![CDATA[Rand Paul]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/11/11/rand-paul-can-fiscal-defense-hawk-n55044<![CDATA[An Environmental Protection Agency water regulation change heavily backed by President Barack Obama was proposed as legislation in 2009 by then-Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold (D). After the proposal died in Congress and Feingold received the boot from voters in 2010, the Obama Administration EPA moved ahead with implementing the change anyway using the regulatory power of the federal government. The change, now known as the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, dramatically expands the reach of federal environmental regulators when it comes to waterways and activities that occur on or near those waterways.]]>Wed, 04 Nov 2015 15:54:21 -0500<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[EPA]]><![CDATA[Ron Johnson]]><![CDATA[Russ Feingold]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/11/04/sen-russ-feingold-laid-groundwork-controversial-obama-epa-water-rule-n54926<![CDATA[Washington insiders are more than a little peeved at Congressional conservatives who have rejected the status quo and pushed House and Senate Republicans to govern according to their campaign promises. One man who wants to continue that shakeup is Jim Banks, an Indiana state senator and Afghan War veteran with an impressive resume and record of conservative accomplishment. Running in Indiana&#8217;s 3rd Congressional District to replace incumbent [mc_name name=&#8217;Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)&#8217; chamber=&#8217;house&#8217; mcid=&#8217;S001188&#8242; ], who is running for the GOP nomination in Indiana&#8217;s open U.S. Senate race, Banks is facing a challenge from three other Republicans, all of whom can afford to self-fund, but none of whom have a consistent conservative record.]]>Mon, 02 Nov 2015 14:58:28 -0500<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Congress]]><![CDATA[Jim Banks]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/11/02/banks-poised-join-new-generation-congressional-conservatives-n54876<![CDATA[The superintendent of Aubrey Independent School District in Aubrey, Texas has circulated a letter to district parents warning them that the district is increasing security at schools because a veteran &#8211; and father of two district students &#8211; went public with a story about the school&#8217;s attempt to prevent his daughters from wearing Air Force hoodies to school.]]>Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:53:24 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Air Force]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/10/15/tx-superintendent-suggests-veteran-cause-violence-school-n54622<![CDATA[General Electric announced on Monday that it is closing its long-time Waukesha, Wisconsin plant and moving the operation to a yet-to-be-named and yet-to-be-built facility in Canada because Congress hasn&#8217;t reauthorized the controversial Export-Import Bank. The Ex-Im Bank, as it&#8217;s called for short, is backed by the federal government and previously underwrote business deals for large American corporations. The bank&#8217;s charter expired at the end of June and Republicans skeptical of providing welfare to corporations have prevented its reauthorization.]]>Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:29:06 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Export-Import Bank]]><![CDATA[waukesha]]><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/09/29/general-electrics-political-deceit-export-import-bank-n54358<![CDATA[The dean of the University of Wisconsin&#8217;s School of Medicine and Public Health declared in a state legislative hearing on Tuesday that his school needs women to keep getting abortions in order to provide a steady stream of aborted fetal body parts and tissue for use in scientific and medical experiments. Also on Tuesday, Media Trackers released information showing University of Wisconsin researchers using fetal tissue acquired from a supplier with ties to Planned Parenthood in various experiments and research projects.]]>Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:35:28 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Abortion]]><![CDATA[Scott Walker]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/08/11/video-university-wisconsin-claims-abortions-provide-fetal-tissue-needed-experiments-n53667<![CDATA[From day one of his administration, Gov. Scott Walker (R) has demonstrated a commitment to stewarding taxpayer dollars in a way that prevents them from providing support to Planned Parenthood, the nation&#8217;s largest abortion provider. As a presidential candidate touring the nation, Walker has used his campaign to call for the federal defunding of Planned Parenthood amidst a national debate over the organization&#8217;s morally perverse ethics, revealed in shocking videos.]]>Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:26:27 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Scott Walker]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/08/04/gov-scott-walkers-big-opportunity-defund-planned-parenthood-n53587<![CDATA[The same day four U.S. Marines were killed in an act of radical Islamic terrorism in Tennessee, a St. Paul, Minnesota councilman decided to compare U.S. Army pilots to the al Qaeda hijackers of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. For some reason, the councilman&#8217;s comments went unnoticed &#8211; though not unquoted &#8211; by local media. Perhaps it is because Dave Thune, the official, has a colorful history.]]>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 20:19:24 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Minnesota]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/07/17/minnesota-local-official-compares-army-pilots-911-hijackers-n53405<![CDATA[Not all political manifestos are worth reading; most frankly aren&#8217;t worth picking up. Candidates vying for high office peddle books penned by ghost writers to capture some cash and, more importantly, media attention. But whatever the motive behind the publishing or quality of the writing, one would hope that bestseller lists would accurately reflect when a book written by a politician is garnering some noteworthy sales.]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2015 20:56:16 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[new york times]]><![CDATA[Ted Cruz]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/07/09/new-york-times-war-ted-cruz-n53326<![CDATA[Alas, writing for Vox while claiming to be a &#8220;wonk&#8221; or pundit doesn&#8217;t mean you actually contribute meaningful and worthwhile things to the public discussion. Dylan Matthews is a self-absorbed blogger who, fortunately, has all the wisdom the Founding Fathers lacked and has studied the issues of history and constitutional government so deeply and broadly that he can making sweeping proclamations about the folly of such things as the Constitution and the American Revolution.]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:41:32 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Electoral College]]><![CDATA[James Madison]]><![CDATA[Vox]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/07/09/vox-pundit-american-revolution-bad-abolish-senate-constitution-n53323<![CDATA[If TIME Magazine&#8217;s Mark Thompson has his way, the media-driven outcry over public displays of the Confederate Flag will eventually force the U.S. Army to start changing the names of some of its most venerable posts that dot the American south. There is no room for any individual or institution &#8211; including the U.S. Army &#8211; to defend the evils of slavery or the reprehensible actions of those who promote racism. But naming Army installations for officers who fought for the Confederacy is hardly an endorsement of the darkest aspects of that period of American history.]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:10:51 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[TIME Magazine]]><![CDATA[US Army]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/06/25/time-magazine-army-embraces-confederacy-fort-names-n53218<![CDATA[Just weeks after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan, Jim Banks, a state senator and U.S. Navy officer, is poised to announce his candidacy for Congress in Indiana&#8217;s 3rd Congressional District. The seat, which is strongly Republican, is currently held by [mc_name name=&#8217;Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)&#8217; chamber=&#8217;house&#8217; mcid=&#8217;S001188&#8242; ], who earned props here on RedState for standing up to House GOP leadership in 2013 and opposing the farm bill, and was the most conservative GOP member of Congress to run for majority whip in the wake of [mc_name name=&#8217;Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)&#8217; chamber=&#8217;house&#8217; mcid=&#8217;C001046&#8242; ]&#8217;s historic defeat in 2014.]]>Mon, 11 May 2015 13:46:00 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[Jim Banks]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/05/11/indianas-conservative-senator-afghan-war-vet-run-congress-n52789<![CDATA[Does it count as domestic spying or government data-gathering if a private contractor does it?]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2015 20:50:30 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[data collection]]><![CDATA[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]]><![CDATA[Obama administration]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/04/02/obama-admin-wants-photos-license-plates-track-illegals-n52434<![CDATA[Indiana Republicans, hoping to shutdown the national firestorm of controversy over their state&#8217;s newly enacted Religious Freedom Restoration Act, are moving to amend the law. But here&#8217;s the problem: their proposed &#8220;fix&#8221; plays right into the arguments of the law&#8217;s opponents. While some Indiana Republicans haven&#8217;t articulated a strong defense of the RFRA, the professionally outraged opponents of the law haven&#8217;t exactly leveled substantive criticisms.]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2015 16:02:00 -0400<![CDATA[briansikma]]><![CDATA[First Amendment]]><![CDATA[Indiana]]>https://redstate.com/briansikma/2015/04/02/hey-indiana-gop-cant-fix-rfra-n52431