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)

April 22, 2019

the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, thanks to Republican Presidents

Grand Old Partisan appreciates the Republican background of the annual White House egg roll. This day in 1878, President Rutherford Hayes instructed policemen to allow children onto the south lawn for egg rolling the day after Easter. This tradition has... Read more →

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Tags: Benjamin Harrison, Donald Trump, Dwight Eisenhower, Easter Egg Roll, George W. Bush, Herbert Hoover, Lou Hoover, Marine Band, Melania Trump, Nancy Reagan, Pat Nixon, President Trump, Ronald Reagan, Rutherford Hayes, South Lawn, Warren Harding, White House

April 21, 2019

commemorating the first Oregon Republican Party state convention

Grand Old Partisan commemorates the Oregon Republican Party's first convention after statehood. This day of 1859, fifty-three delegates gathered at the courthouse in Salem. They drafted an anti-slavery platform and nominated their candidate for Congress. State chairman William Matlock, a... Read more →

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April 20, 2019

cherishing Jewish American Heritage Month

Grand Old Partisan cherishes Republican respect for Judaism. This day of 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed the month of May to be Jewish American Heritage Month: "When the first Jewish settlers came to this land, they sought a place... Read more →

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April 19, 2019

saluting James Rollins, "Father of the University of Missouri"

Grand Old Partisan salutes James Rollins, born in Kentucky on April 19th 1812. Graduating from Indiana University, he relocated to Missouri and fought in the Blackhawk War. He then studied law at Transylvania University. The young attorney twice saved African-Americans... Read more →

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April 18, 2019

Republicans passed the first Anti-Lynching law

Grand Old Partisan highlights the nation's first anti-lynching legislation, signed this day of 1921 by Jacob Preus, the Republican Governor of Minnesota. Among its provisions was dismissal of police and local officials who failed to protect someone from being lynched.... Read more →

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April 17, 2019

my Human Events article about Republican civil rights achievements

Grand Old Partisan notes that, this day of 2012, Human Events published my article: Republicans passed the first Civil Rights Act, in 1866. Unfortunately for me, editors published it in their own name and later transferred it to another website.... Read more →

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April 16, 2019

saluting John Wilson, patriotic Ohio Republican Abolitionist and Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes John Wilson, born near Cincinnati this day of 1811. His general store was a station along the Underground Railroad. Outbreak of civil war, the abolitionist businessman invested all his funds in government bonds to support the... Read more →

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April 15, 2019

saluting Alice Banks — "a woman of great strength, a pioneer, a fighter, proud of being a Republican"

Grand Old Partisan salutes Alice Banks, beloved African-American Republican. She was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania this day of 1921. "Ever the pioneer, Mrs. Banks enlisted (as a corporal) in the US Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS) in 1942 and was... Read more →

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April 14, 2019

Republicans established the Pan American Union, precursor to the Organization of American States

Grand Old Partisan celebrates Republican contributions toward advancing regional solidarity within the Western Hemisphere. Secretary of State James Blaine, with permission from President Benjamin Harrison (R-IN), invited nations of the Americas to send representatives to a Pan-American Conference. This endeavor... Read more →

Posted at 12:01 PM | | Comments (0)

April 13, 2019

saluting Redfield Proctor Jr, sagacious Governor of Vermont

"The evils that exist in our government are more often the consequence of too hasty and too much legislation, than too little." — Governor Proctor's farewell address Grand Old Partisan salutes Redfield Proctor Jr, born this day of 1879. He... Read more →

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April 12, 2019

honoring Francis Blair, co-founder of both the Democratic and Republican parties

Grand Old Partisan honors Francis Blair, born this day of 1791. Early in childhood, the family relocated from Virginia to Kentucky. He became a prominent newspaper editor. His advocacy helped win the presidency for Andrew Jackson. In 1830, he established... Read more →

Posted at 04:44 AM | | Comments (0)

April 11, 2019

saluting William Purman, early Florida Republican Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes William Purman, born in Pennsylvania this day of 1840. During the Civil War, the young attorney served with the War Department. Restoration of peace found him deployed to Florida. Purman worked for the Freedman's Bureau, in... Read more →

Posted at 12:05 AM | | Comments (0)

April 10, 2019

saluting Alexander McDonald, the first Arkansas Republican Senator

Grand Old Partisan salutes Alexander McDonald, born in Pennsylvania this day of 1832. Age twenty-five, he moved to Kansas, managing a sawmill and working at a bank. Outbreak of civil war, he enlisted in a militia unit before acting as... Read more →

Posted at 12:13 AM | | Comments (0)

April 09, 2019

a Democrat President Vetoed the Civil Rights Act

Grand Old Partisan deplores Democrat depravity. Andrew Johnson, a Democrat President, vetoed many Republican legislative efforts to protect African-Americans from their Democrat oppressors. The GOP-controlled 39th Congress passed the 1866 Civil Rights Act into law, by voting on April 9... Read more →

Posted at 10:58 AM | | Comments (0)

April 08, 2019

saluting Henry Morey, valiant Ohio Republican Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes Henry Morey, born near Cincinnati this day of 1841. His abolitionist father sheltered escaping slaves. Outbreak of civil war, he left Miami University to enlist in the 20th Ohio Infantry. The courageous captain fought in the... Read more →

Posted at 10:26 AM | | Comments (0)

April 07, 2019

honoring John Gear, eminent Iowa Republican Statesman

"worthy of the highest tribute of public confidence and praise" Grand Old Partisan honors John Gear, born this day of 1825. He moved from New York to Illinois to Minnesota before settling in Iowa at age eighteen. Grocery wholesaler was... Read more →

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April 06, 2019

saluting Oliver Dickey, partiotic Pennsylvania Republican Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes Oliver Dickey, born this day of 1823. His father was a two-term Whig congressman. He attended Dickinson College and would be elected county attorney. Dickey was delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention. During the Civil... Read more →

Posted at 10:15 AM | | Comments (0)

April 05, 2019

African-Americans in the Union Military

Grand Old Partisan commends the Republican Party for removing barriers to racial inclusion. During the Civil War, 210,000 African-Americans enlisted in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. Most of these soldiers and sailors were emancipated slaves from the South.... Read more →

Posted at 09:49 AM | | Comments (0)

April 04, 2019

saluting Charles Devens, distinguished Union Army General and Republican Attorney General

Grand Old Partisan salutes Charles Devens, born in Massachusetts this day of 1820. He attended Boston Latin School and Harvard College and Harvard Law School. While a Whig state senator, he was named a federal marshal by President Zachary Taylor.... Read more →

Posted at 12:14 AM | | Comments (0)

April 03, 2019

saluting George Curry, early Republican New Mexico Governor and Congressman

Grand Old Partisan salutes George Curry, born in Louisiana this day of 1861. A flood destroyed the family farm, sending the twelve year-old on his own. He wandered through Kansas and Texas before settling in New Mexico. Age twenty-three, Curry... Read more →

Posted at 11:55 AM | | 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

  • IMG_4976
    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.