Shockingly, Jimmy Kimmel makes the Oscar's political. Everything is political. We're in the midst of a mostly non-violent political and cultural civil war. And Constitutional Conservatism must win. Speaking to an Eagle Forum group today, and I'm going to share a little of what I'm going to say to them about winning the political fight we face. What happened to the art of persuasion? We need to be ambassadors for Constitutional Conservatism.

Trump to impose tariffs on imported steel (25%) and aluminum (10%). Tariffs used in US history as means to fund government, but now we rely on incomeFree markets vs protecting the American worker. Do free market principles different between local and international businesses? A trade war to result? Political ramifications of this. Appeal to Reagan Democrats / Blue Dog Democrats, who have essentially been abandoned by the Democrat Party. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf alerts illegal aliens in her city of an imminent ICE operation. Obstruction of justice? In some states, you can't flash your headlights at oncoming traffic to warn them of the presence of a patrol officer. She just alerted an entire city with impunity. Chuck Schumer opposes a Trump judiciary nominee because, wait for it, he's white. Superficial Left is at it again. Who is the Party who gave us 4 old white guys and a Clinton in 2016? This is so stupid. No time to talk about a few other issues I'd like to discuss.

Trump holds meeting with legislators to discuss what to do about school shooting/gun violence. Improve background check. Identify those with mental illness. Obama abused definition of mental illness. Genuine concern it can happen again. Raising minimum age someone can be a semi-automatic rifle? Assault weapons ban? "No one wants to take all your guns." Bet me they don't. It may not be something that is proposed in this legislation, but there are many folks - some serving as legislators - who absolutely think that should be the end game. Arming teachers? Why shouldn't an American with a legal permit to carry a lawfully obtained firearm not be able to exercise her God-given Second Amendment right just because she is a teacher? Red flag laws? Take the guns, then give due process? Personal liberty and our God-given rights should not be ignored in this debate. We are always our own first responder if we are attacked by a criminal or our government. And we're also our last line of defense. What's so wrong about empowering up to protect ourselves? Those who are in favor of equality should be in favor of using guns for defense because firearms are the great equalizer.

Donald Trump to run in 2020. Has to be surprising to some since he wasn't supposed to run in 2016, have a chance in winning the GOP nomination or win the White House. And, of course, he won the election because he colluded with Russia and needs to be impeached. The Conservative Heritage Foundation says Trump has enacted 64% of The Heritage Mandate For Leadership plan. More accomplished in first year than Conservative icon Ronald Reagan. Limited Government. Lowering taxes. Personal Liberty. Trump's approval at 50%. Democrats lead in general ballot poll by 16 points - but who knows because it's from CNN. Democrats have flipped 39 legislative seats since Trump was elected. What's going to happen in 2018? 2020? Be a conservative ambassador.

Roger Goodell to fine Jerry Jones? What about free speech? I guess it's ok to use speech to disrespect the military, flag & country. But don't use speech to criticize the Goodell Regime. Nikolas Cruz recently hired a lawyer to get his share of $800k inheritance. Does this have anything to do with the shooting? If so, will anyone seek to ban inheritances? Money? Slate article that seeks to explain why conservatives need guns psychologically. Such a great misunderstanding about conservatism. Conservatism doesn't oppose change; it opposes attempts to change truth.

Democrats release their memo, which supposedly completely rebuts Republican memo. I love these memos. How is it any different to communicate your talking points by memo versus press conference? Christopher Steele is a "trusted source?" Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel refuses to resign in spite of a litany of failures to recognize numerous warning signs of Nikolas Cruz. Says he's provided "amazing leadership." This school shooting illustrates numerous failures of government. What does it really mean to "arm our teachers?" Why shouldn't legal conceal carry permit holders be able to exercise their God-given Second Amendment right? MSNBC compares Trump's CPAC speech to Castro, Chavez, Ahmadinejad speeches. Total misrepresentation. Dictators don't take actions to limit government, reduce bureaucracy, cut taxes, empower people. Teen Vogue columnist Lauren Duca tweets that Billy Graham should "have fun in hell, b***h." The ever-so-tolerant far Left at it's finest.

CNN Gun/School Shooting Town Hall came unhinged. Dana Loesch called c**t, murderer. Calls to burn her. Couldn't leave venue without her personal security detail. CNN accused by student of scripting question. Ironically, if Trump tweets about this, he's the one who's accused of trying to undermine our democratic process. But who's really doing that? The Founders were unique in history by recognizing our rights came from God, not government. The God-given right to self-defense. Why wouldn't we have the right to protect ourselves from someone abusing their rights? We need to teach truth again. Not every evil act is committed by someone who is mentally ill. Many are committed because people choose evil. Or as Billy Graham said, we sin. Nancy Pelosi thinks the border wall will be ineffective, but also thinks mowing grass along the border will help reduce illegal immigration.

The great evangelist Billy Graham passed away yesterday. My humbling experience at Graham's 1999 Indianapolis Crusade. Incredible man who took the Gospel around the world. Dr. Graham said, “What causes all of this [evil, suffering, violence, Columbine shooting]?” It’s caused by a three-letter word: S-I-N.” Relevant words today. Sometimes we say "mental illness" when the real problem is evil caused by sin. CNN town hall on guns & school shootings. Scripted questions? Sheriff excoriates NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch for not wanting fewer weapons. Is that really the problem? Some on the Left say, "No one wants to take away your guns." Average, everyday Americans may not want to, but there absolutely are those calling for a complete ban on guns - and they have been for years. Rights are given by God, not by governments.

Still catching up on a few things that happened while I was out of town. Joy Behar says Vice President Pence is mentally ill because he says he hears from Jesus. Why can't God speak to those who want to hear from Him? Isn't creating something from nothing harder than communicating with people He already created? Other explanations for our existence leave much to be desired, too. Is Oprah delusional? #OneLess videos of people destroying their guns. Makes no sense. Guns are only dangerous if the person who has them decides to use them with bad intentions. I guess, if that's the case, it's good that these people are destroying their guns. Other analogies. Revolutionary War re-enactment group told to use sticks instead of guns. Finding a loophole in the Olympics.

Good to be back from my family vacation to Disney World. Hall of Presidents. Catching up on the Parkland shooting. Gun control debate. Second Amendment. Failure of Government. Prohibition. Mental illness. The way the media covers Trump's executive order that allows "mentally ill" Americans to legally own firearms illustrates some potential pitfalls. Christianity is a mental illness?