Biden Falters, Trump Surges, Fani Willis Circus, US States Await SCOTUS Decision       DEFENDING KANSAS SAVING AMERICA   DONATE VOLUNTEER The Friday File A Weekly Publication       United States Supreme Court Hears Colorado Case with KSGOP-led Amicus Brief   The U.S. Supreme Court is poised for a landmark decision as it prepares to hear former President Donald Trump’s appeal to remain on the 2024 presidential primary ballot in Colorado, marking the justices’ most significant election case since Bush v. Gore in 2000. At the heart of the matter is whether the state of Colorado, or any other state or territory, has the legal right to remove a presidential candidate from a state's ballot thereby eliminating the candidates chances to win that state's delegates creating harm to voters in other states. This was the core of our Amicus Brief and this argument was referenced multiple times by Supreme Court Justices during oral arguments earlier this week. The case is expected to render an opinion from SCOTUS on interpretation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a provision aimed at preventing former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office again. The liberal Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that Trump incited the riot and is ineligible for the presidency, setting a precedent applied for the first time to a presidential candidate. Trump's lawyers argue against this interpretation, contending that the events of January 6 do not constitute insurrection and that Trump did not participate. They also challenge the applicability of Section 3 to presidential candidates without enabling legislation from Congress. The court's expedited handling of the case reflects its recognition of its importance. The outcome of the case holds significant implications for former President Trump’s re-election efforts. CLICK HERE to read the Kansas-led Amicus Brief to SCOTUS   The EPA Must Be Dismantled Permanently As a contractor and developer with firsthand experience navigating the regulatory landscape, I firmly advocate for the dismantling of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA's overreach and heavy-handed enforcement, particularly from agencies like the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, have been nothing short of detrimental to businesses and communities alike. The EPA's policies are often characterized by extremism, imposing punitive measures that are both nonsensical and costly to implement. Take, for instance, the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule—a glaring example of bureaucratic overreach. Its convoluted implementation and exorbitant fines for minor infractions illustrate the agency's disconnect from practicality and common sense. Their zealous overreach of EPA has also detrimentally impacted the agricultural sector putting our family-owned Kansas farmers and ranchers at great risk and expense. Furthermore, the EPA's enforcement priorities are misplaced, focusing on trivial matters like puddles in parking lots and rock road ditches in rural settings, and neglecting more pressing and legitimate environmental concerns. This misguided approach not only wastes resources but also fails to achieve meaningful outcomes. The fact is farmers, ranchers, and developers care every bit as much about the land and the environment because their livelihood depends on the land. By dismantling the EPA, we can alleviate the burden of unnecessary regulations on businesses and empower local communities to address environmental issues in a more pragmatic and effective manner. Instead of bureaucratic red tape, we need solutions that promote responsible stewardship of our natural resources while fostering economic growth and innovation. It's time to dismantle the EPA and replace it with a more streamlined and balanced approach to environmental regulation—one that prioritizes practicality, accountability, and the well-being of all stakeholders involved.   Presidential Preference Survey Please click HERE to let your opinion be know in the super-quick 30-second Presidential Preference Survey now!     JOIN THE 1776 CLUB TODAY! Joining the 1776 Club puts you in the elite “Card-Carrying Kansas Republican Patriot” category with fellow Republican supporters of KSGOP. This is a powerful way to take a stand against tyranny, socialism, and wokeism. And we all know America needs more of this Patriotism! Patriots believe in lower taxes, smaller government, and more freedom. We also believe in faith, family, and freedom. Take a stand today. Join us in our mission to save America and to be part of a brighter future for our kids and grandchildren. Join the 1776 Club CLICK HERE       Are You Register to Vote? Are Your Kids Registered? Are Your Friends Registered? Are Your Neighbors Registered? REGISTER TO VOTE NOW CLICK HERE Registration Deadline is Tuesday February 20, 2024 The importance of the 2024 elections in Kansas cannot be overstated. We must register every eligible voter, convince them to vote Republican, and make sure they get to the polls to get Kansas Republican candidates across the finish line and to get a Republican in the White House! Please join me in sharing this information with your friends, family, neighbors, and folks at church. Right now is the time to win the November elections! Let’s roll.     Field is Set for Kansas Presidential Preference Primary The filing deadline for the Kansas Presidential Preference Primary was January 19, 2024 at 12 noon and four Republicans have successfully qualified. Their names will appear on the election day ballot on March 19, 2024. It is recommended you check out their campaign websites before Election Day to make an informed decision. You may register to vote by clicking the button below. The candidates names and their websites are listed below. Ryan L. Binkley [link removed] Ron DeSantis [link removed] Nikki R. Haley [link removed] Donald J. Trump [link removed] REGISTER TO VOTE!     JCRP to Host “A Grand Ol’ Party” with Headliner and Rock’n Roll Legend Ted Nugent It's the 170th anniversary of the GOP, and we are celebrating with an American legend and a Kansas legend! Ted Nugent will be the keynote speaker and MAYBE he will play the National Anthem! Phill Kline will make opening remarks regarding his work on election law. There are still some sponsorship opportunities available and they come with VIP perks! Bonus: Leadership Institute will offer training before the event, there will be an after party with auction, music, and games, and Phill Kline will speak the following morning in-depth on election law at the JCRP office. We are also working on a surprise guest! Get your tickets HERE before it sells out!     Sign the KSGOP Petition Tell Ultra-Liberal Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to support Texas and Secure Our Southern Border   Sign the petition now! CLICK HERE Send a strong and bold message to ultra-liberal Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to support Texas’ efforts to secure our southern border. Kansas should be supporting the state of Texas’ efforts to secure our southern border since Joe Biden & Company have abdicated their constitutional responsibility. There is nothing controversial about securing and defending our border, but Laura Kelly continues doddering instead of engaging as most Kansans’ would prefer. Every State is a Border State Laura Kelly claims to be “middle of the road,” but that statement doesn't apply to “middle of the border”. Governor Kelly’s silence on this issue is both stunning and shameful. So why is ultra-liberal Kansas Governor Kelly so quiet? That's an excellent question. Tell her to get busy Saving America right now. Sign the petition now! CLICK HERE   In Case You Forgot Polling, 78% of Americans think Biden is too old (and feeble) to serve as Commander in Chief. This is a weekly reminder that Joe Biden, President of the United States, and his son, Hunter Biden, are liars and kingpins in a crime syndicate ring. The Biden family has betrayed America, committing the crime of treason. They must be held accountable. Impeach Biden Now #NeverForget     The handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal under Joe Biden was widely criticized for its chaotic execution, erasing decades of women rights progress, leaving a global feeling of disillusionment and raising significant concerns about the disastrous impact on regional stability and global security. Joe Biden and all Democrats have proven beyond any doubt they have no business running America. KSGOP Donate Now CLICK HERE       Republicans Impeach Mayorkas in Historic Vote House Republicans narrowly secured a historic vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, bouncing back after a previous failed attempt. Mayorkas becomes the first Cabinet official impeached since the 1870s, marking a significant moment, especially considering last week's failure when three GOP members sided with Democrats, citing concerns of impeachment power abuse. The articles of impeachment are unlikely to progress in the Democrat-led Senate. The Department of Homeland Security criticized the vote, labeling it as baseless and lacking constitutional grounds. Despite this, Tuesday's 214-213 vote signifies a recovery for Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced challenges within his own party, notably from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Johnson emphasized the constitutional duty to impeach Mayorkas. However, the narrow majority, coupled with a potential further reduction after a vote in New York, posed challenges. Additionally, inclement weather threatened Capitol attendance. The return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, absent during the previous vote due to cancer treatment, played a crucial role. Republican leadership had anticipated victory last week but were surprised by Rep. Al Green's dramatic return from surgery, which tipped the vote. Although obstacles were fewer in the second vote, three Republican colleagues maintained their opposition. Despite losing support from Reps. Gallagher, Buck, and McClintock, Republicans succeeded in securing the impeachment vote.     President’s Day February 19, 2024 Abraham Lincoln Patriot, Republican, and Sixteenth President of the United States On February 12, 1809, Nancy Hanks Lincoln welcomed her second child, Abraham, into the world. Abraham Lincoln went on to serve as the sixteenth president of the United States, leading the nation from March 1861 until his tragic assassination in April 1865, just over a month into his second term. Throughout his presidency, Lincoln steered the country through the turmoil of the Civil War, steadfastly upholding the ideals of American democracy, which he regarded as humanity's greatest aspiration. In his iconic Gettysburg Address of November 1863, Lincoln eloquently reminded his audience of the nation's founding principles, emphasizing the equality of all individuals as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Despite prevailing views, particularly among wealthy enslavers, advocating for the subjugation of certain groups, Lincoln staunchly defended the notion of universal equality. He cautioned against the dangerous logic used to justify inequality, emphasizing the inherent peril of abandoning the principle of equality before the law. Lincoln's deep contemplation on the concept of equality is evident in his examination of various arguments and scenarios, including those based on race, intellect, and self-interest. He astutely observed that relinquishing the principle of equality would inevitably lead to the legitimization of hierarchical systems of governance, where some individuals wield power over others based on arbitrary distinctions. During his 1860 campaign, Lincoln revealed the profound influence of literature on his thinking, including "Capt. Riley’s Narrative," which depicted the enslavement of white men in Africa. This exposure further informed Lincoln's understanding of the complexities surrounding equality and human dignity. Amid the Civil War's tumult, Lincoln issued a fervent call for Americans to grasp the significance of their struggle, emphasizing the imperative of preserving a nation founded on the principles of freedom and self-governance. He expressed concerns about the nation's ability to endure in the face of challenges to the fundamental principle of equality, as exemplified by the Confederacy's assertion of the superiority of one race over others. Ultimately, Lincoln's enduring legacy lies in his unwavering commitment to the principle that all individuals are created equal. His words continue to resonate, serving as a reminder of the ongoing struggle to uphold these ideals and ensure that government remains of the people, by the people, and for the people. Photo of Abraham Lincoln by Alexander Gardner November 8, 1863 “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Saturday, March 4, 1865     Get the Friday File CLICK HERE Was your Friday File email newsletter forwarded to you? If so, we owe someone a big thank you for sharing and we want you to get your own FREE Friday File email every week by clicking HERE. Friday File Sign Up CLICK HERE     2024 February 19 Presidents’ Day February 20 Last Day to Register to Vote or Update Address for 3/19/24 Presidential Preference Primary March 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins March 17 St. Patrick’s Day March 19 Kansas Presidential Preference Primary Election March 24 Palm Sunday March 29 Good Friday March 30 Holy Saturday March 31 Easter April 15 Tax Day April 23 - 30 Passover May 2 National Day of Prayer May 12 Mother’s Day May 18 National Armed Forces Day May 27 Memorial Day June 3 12 noon Candidate Filing Deadline June 6 D-Day June 14 Flag Day Juneteenth National Freedom Day June 16 Father’s Day July 4 USA Independence Day July 16 Deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information to participate in the 2024 primary election. July 17 First day of advance voting. Advance ballots by mail sent. In-person advance voting may begin. Note: Check with your county election officer for specific times and locations. July 30 Last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot. August 5 In-person advance voting ends at 12:00 p.m. August 6 PRIMARY ELECTION All advance ballots by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, August 9, 2024. October 15 Deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information to participate in the 2024 general election. October 16 First day of advance voting. Advance ballots by mail are transmitted. In-person advance voting may begin. Check with your county election officer for specific times and locations. October 29 Last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot. November 3 Daylight Savings Time Ends November 4 In-person advance voting ends at 12:00 p.m. November 5 GENERAL ELECTION November 28 Thanksgiving Day December 24 Christmas Eve December 25 Christmas Day December 31 New Years Eve   “Together, we will lead the Republican party back to the White House and we will lead our country back to safety, prosperity and peace.” ~ Donald Trump 45th President of the United States   ABOUT US | NEWS | TAKE ACTION | STORE   The KSGOP Friday File Newsletter is published weekly and has a circulation of nearly 30,000. Paid for by the Kansas Republican Party, Inc. Mike Brown, Chairman Alan Townsend, Treasurer     Kansas Republican Party | P.O. Box 14004, Lenexa, KS 66285 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!