Obama the Destroyer

Obama speechAfter the polls closed on election night 2008, I was answering the phone at the McCain/Palin national campaign office. A woman called to say she was “now glad to have a terminal disease because [she] won't live to see how Obama will destroy this great country.” The pain and rage and sorrow in her voice came through loud and clear.

Ma'am, whoever and wherever you are, I salute you.

Book coverMichael Zak, author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, also wrote the often-copied, never-cited 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far.

Posted at 11:27 AM | | Comments (10)

February 21, 2019

honoring David Tod, formidable War Governor of Ohio

Grand Old Partisan honors David Tod, born in Youngstown this day of 1805. He prospered as a lawyer in the coal and iron and railroad industries. This young Democrat won a state senate term, but lost twice for governor and... Read more →

Posted at 09:19 AM | | Comments (0)

February 20, 2019

cherishing the National Archives

Grand Old Partisan cherishes the National Archives. This day in 1933, President Herbert Hoover laid the cornerstone. It held a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a copy of the Constitution and an American flag. "This temple of our... Read more →

Posted at 12:07 AM | | Comments (0)

February 19, 2019

Today is the Tenth Anniversary of the Tea Party

Grand Old Partisan honors Rick Santelli. This day of 2009, the CNBC analyst denounced the ruinous Obama policy agenda. His epic words encouraged millions of Americans to organize the Tea Party movement: "The government is promoting bad behavior. We're thinking... Read more →

Posted at 12:02 AM | | Comments (0)

February 18, 2019

saluting William Calkins, patriotic soldier and Republican Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes William Calkins, born this day of 1842. During the Civil War, he served in the 14th Iowa Infantry and the 12th Indiana Cavalry. Settling down as a Hoosier, he was district attorney and then state representative.... Read more →

Posted at 11:17 AM | | Comments (0)

February 17, 2019

Hey, C-SPAN, Charles Sumner was a Republican!

Grand Old Partisan recalls a C-SPAN program this day eight years ago in which historian Beverly Palmer discussed the famous 19th century Senator, Charles Sumner. He is best known today for the vicious beating by a Democrat congressman angry with... Read more →

Posted at 11:09 AM | | Comments (0)

February 16, 2019

honoring William Scarborough, up from Slavery to Classical Scholar

"a tireless advocate for justice" Grand Old Partisan honors William Scarborough, born in Georgia this day of 1852. His father was a free black and his mother a slave. Though against the law, his neighbors taught him to read and... Read more →

Posted at 11:26 AM | | Comments (0)

February 15, 2019

honoring the other John Lynch

Grand Old Partisan honors John Lynch, born in Maine this day of 1825. He started his career as a merchandising clerk before editing the Portland Daily Press. In 1864, after a term in the state house, he won the first... Read more →

Posted at 12:06 AM | | Comments (0)

February 14, 2019

Arizona Statehood and the GOP

Grand Old Partisan commemorates one hundred seven years of Arizona statehood. This day in 1912, the ninth Republican president signed a proclamation admitting the 48th state to the Union: "I, William Howard Taft, president of the United States of America,... Read more →

Posted at 11:39 AM | | Comments (0)

February 13, 2019

revering Benjamin Hedrick, courageous antebellum North Carolina Republican

Grand Old Partisan reveres Benjamin Hedrick, born near Winston-Salem this day of 1827. He studied mathematics at the University of North Carolina and science at Harvard College. This promising scholar then returned home to teach at his alma mater. Angered... Read more →

Posted at 12:26 AM | | Comments (0)

February 12, 2019

honoring Abraham Lincoln, Republican

Grand Old Partisan honors Abraham Lincoln, born in Kentucky this day of 1809. He keynoted the Illinios GOP's founding convention. The GOP's 1860 national convention nominated him for the presidency. He was the first Republican elected President of the United... Read more →

Posted at 09:15 AM | | Comments (0)

February 11, 2019

saluting William Pile, Republican Soldier and Congressman and Governor and Ambassador

Grand Old Partisan salutes William Pile, born this day of 1829 to an Anglo father and a Choctaw mother. The family soon moved from Indianapolis to St. Louis. He studied theology and became a Methodist preacher. Outbreak of civil war,... Read more →

Posted at 09:05 AM | | Comments (0)

February 10, 2019

saluting Abner Harding, Courageous Republican Soldier and Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes Abner Harding, born in Connecticut this day of 1807. He passed the New York bar after graduating from Hamilton College. The ambitious attorney relocated to Illinois in 1838, broadening his career to farming and banking. Harding... Read more →

Posted at 10:51 AM | | Comments (0)

February 09, 2019

saluting Henry Worthington, Nevada's First Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes Henry Worthington, born in Maryland this day of 1828. He relocated to California after studying law. Early during the Civil War, this patriotic Republican served a state house term, voicing support for African-American rights, and was... Read more →

Posted at 11:12 AM | | Comments (0)

February 08, 2019

saluting Abraham Galloway, from escaped slave to Republican legislator

Grand Old Partisan salutes Abraham Galloway, born into slavery this day of 1837. His master apprenticed him to a bricklayer, in return for his pay. Age twenty, he escaped from North Carolina aboard a ship to Philadelphia. Galloway returned home... Read more →

Posted at 10:16 AM | | Comments (0)

February 07, 2019

honoring John Trimble, patriotic Tennessee Unionist

Grand Old Partisan honors John Trimble, born near Knoxville this day of 1812. He attended the University of Nashville and studied law. He served two terms in the state house and two in the state senate. [Union-controlled Nashville] [Union troops... Read more →

Posted at 12:03 AM | | Comments (0)

February 06, 2019

honoring William Evarts, eminent Republican Statesman

Grand Old Partisan honors Williams Evarts, born in Boston this day of 1818. He attended Yale College and Harvard Law School. His legal career began as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. A prestigious Manhattan firm hired him when the Whig administration... Read more →

Posted at 10:30 AM | | Comments (0)

February 05, 2019

Republican Senator vs. Democrat Racism

Grand Old Partisan highlights a classic Republican refutation of Democrat racism. Today in 1868, Senator Lot Morrill had Slavery Party opponents scurrying: "This idea of race in the Government of the United States is an absurdity. There is no such... Read more →

Posted at 10:08 AM | | Comments (0)

February 04, 2019

saluting Halbert Paine, founder of the National Weather Service

"We swear to stand around that flag in battle’s wildest storm." Grand Old Partisan salutes Halbert Paine, born in Ohio this day of 1826. He studied law after graduating from Western Reserve College. He relocated to Milwaukee in 1857 and... Read more →

Posted at 10:29 AM | | Comments (0)

February 03, 2019

lauding Samuel Hooper, early Massachusetts Republican Congressman

"kind, genial, benevolent, faithful, industrious, and vigilant" Grand Old Partisan lauds Samuel Hooper, born in Massachusetts this day of 1808. As a youth, he sailed to the Caribbean, Russia, and Spain for his merchant father. In his thirties, he engaged... Read more →

Posted at 08:32 AM | | Comments (0)

February 02, 2019

saluting Knute Nelson, from Republican immigrant and Union soldier to Minnesota Governor and Senator

Grand Old Partisan salutes Knute Nelson, born in Norway this day of 1843. Immigrating with his mother at age six, he first worked as a household servant and a paper boy and then became a schoolteacher. His first political speech... Read more →

Posted at 12:21 PM | | Comments (0)

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each day, a video celebrating Republican heroes and heroics
My father, of blessed memory, wrote a book now available on Kindle: Soldier Boy: a Memoir of Life and Death and Survival during WWII

Back to Basics for the Republican Party

  • "We need to promote Back to Basics for the Republican Party to every single proud Republican!!!!"
  • "Every precinct committeeman, every candidate and every teacher with a Republican affiliation should read this book and pass it on to another."
  • "Michael Zak takes a novel approach to the culture wars by boldly boasting the historical record of the Republican Party. Rather then sheepishly bow to the Democrat's ongoing myths (and frequently, outright lies) about the GOP, he brings the history and heroes of the Republican Party into the fray."
  • “Why is it that we Republicans are so easily outmaneuvered by Democrats?
    Why do Republicans so readily fight among themselves?
    Why is it so difficult for Republicans to advance their policy agenda?
    Here's why."
    Back to Basics for the Republican Party
  • “The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the finite to the infinite.”
    Abraham Lincoln
  • “The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing.”
    Ronald Reagan

Speech Raves

  • "Your words at the Lincoln Day dinner were truly inspiring. Thank you so much for your dedicated work and contributions to our Party."
  • "Your book is outstanding, and it's nice to have the information come alive during your presentation. You are at once informative and motivating. We've got to get back to basics -- as you say."
  • "Thank you for speaking at the luncheon. I've already received many favorable comments. You're absolutely right that the Republican leadership should know our party's history."
  • "Thanks for all that you do for the Republican Party and our Nation."
  • “Your speech was great and just what some of us depressed Republicans needed. The GOP has taken its eye off of the major issue: freedom v. socialism. You spoke to the core of that issue.”
  • “Thank you so much for speaking at the state convention. We received wonderful feedback from everyone in attendance. Everyone was impressed with the depth and breadth of your knowledge, as well as your clear speaking style and sense of humor. You made an outstanding presentation, and we are deeply grateful to you for your efforts.”
  • “You have a great vision and hope for the Party, and I think you are embarking on important work.”
  • “Thank you so much for speaking at our event. You are offering a tremendous service not only to Republicans, but also to the United States and the world.”
  • Click here for more audience feedback.
grand_old_partisan@hotmail.com
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About

grand_old_partisan@hotmail.com

I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission.

A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it.

Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Women’s Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy.

event photos

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    Michael Zak is a popular speaker to conservative organizations around the nation -- thirty states so far. His message is that Republicans would benefit tremendously from appreciating the heritage of our Grand Old Party.

Book Reviews

  • "Your book is a national treasure.
    I'm always recommending it to people."
  • "Thank you, Michael!!! Every person who calls himself a Republican, and every person who just wants to know the truth. should know your book!!!"
  • "If you're a Republican and love history, this book by my friend Michael Zak is a must read. And if you happen to be looking for a Lincoln/Reagan Day dinner speaker, I highly recommend him."
  • great information on our rich heritage
    "Get a copy of Michael Zak's book, Back to Basics for the Republican Party"
  • "I recommend Back to Basics for the Republican Party to everyone who wants to be educated on the true history of the GOP and America!!!!
  • Phenomenal history
    Anyone who liked the Lincoln movie will love this book. This book is perhaps the best kept secret in all political and history books in America. It is something every politico should read. It puts things into historical perspective like few other books I've read. It challenges conventional through thorough documented history. This is a must read for any student of American history and political science. One regret is that I read the book more than a decade after it was published. It truly is something you feel you missed out on. It is also a book that leaves you wanting to learn more about certain individuals such as Thaddeus Stevens. It's an incredible body of work."
  • "Thank you for writing your book. I am two chapters into it, and find it fascinating and motivating. This may be a very significant contribution to the rise of the GOP in the coming years."
  • "I am a believer in pro-free market and pro-constitutional rights who recently purchased your book Back to Basics for the Republican Party and have not been able to put it down. It is simply amazing you composed a book in 2003 that hits home on the most serious of topics we face today. I completely agree that we must educate and focus on the original plan as laid out by the founders of our party if we are ever to move forward in a positive direction."
  • Praise from Alaska
    "I purchased your book at our Juneau, Alaska Republican Women's Luncheon last month principally because the title intrigued me. I just finished it, reading the last chapter three times. I wanted to burn the wisdom presented into my brain. Thank you again for all your hard work to research and write your book. Thank you for all you are doing to educate Americans on the incredible truth of the founding of our great country.""Thank you for doing all the research to write this book. As a History/American Studies major, I THOUGHT I knew the difference between Republicans and Democrats, the roles of Lincoln and Stevens and Sumner and Reagan, and the history of our country from the revolutionary war through the civil war. Boy, was I soooo wrong."
  • Read it and MEMORIZE it!
    "My copy is dog-eared with notes and underlined parts.   “Back to Basics for the Republican Party has been tremendously helpful setting mis-educated Democrats straight on history!"
  • It's a fantatic buy!
    “Back to Basics for the Republican Party is very informative and gives you an insight into the history of the party from the early days to the modern day presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. What the author has done is provide a balanced view, giving the reader a fascinating 150-year journey of the Republicans. This book is a REAL political page turner which will open minds to a wealth of knowledge and history which most are not even aware of.
  • “Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan.”
  • “This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!”
  • “Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before.”
  • "one of the best books I ever read"
  • “Your book, Back to Basics for the Republican Party, is most timely during this 2010 pre-election period. It is a message that needs to be emphasized to all grassroots activists. From the precinct, county, district and national levels your respected views need to be heard and read on how to take back our country.”
  • from the first page: “Democrats control most of the media, but they also write most of the history books, thereby controlling what even Republican activists think they know about our Party's glorious heritage.”
  • Click here for more book reviews.