April 1, 2025 • 31 mins
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Allen B. West is a Christian constitutional conservative, combat veteran, and former member of the US Congress. His life has been defined as one of service, sacrifice, and commitment to this Republic, the United States of America. He believes it will be conservative, free market policies, not politics that secures a sound economic future for Americans – with growth, opportunity and a return to the promise of the American dream for this generation and those to come. Lieutenant Colonel West has authored several books, including Guardian of the Republic: An American Ronin’s Journey of Faith, Family and Freedom.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to this episode of Conversations with
Great Thinkers, the podcast,where we explore the ideas,
experiences and philosophies ofsome of the most influential
minds of our time.
I'm your host, jim Lanchy, andtoday we're diving into a
conversation that is as timelyas it is thought-provoking.
Our guest today is a man whoselife has been defined by service
(00:34):
service to his country, hisfaith and his deeply held
principles.
He's a retired United StatesArmy Lieutenant Colonel, a
former US Congressman and afearless advocate for
conservative values.
He's also the author ofGuardians of the Republic and
(00:54):
American Ronin's Journey ofFaith, family and Freedom, a
book that is part memoir, partpolitical philosophy and a fully
unapologetic call to defendAmerican values.
Alan West has been a steadfastvoice in the national
conversation on faith, familyand freedom.
(01:16):
From his upbringing in amilitary household to his
leadership on the battlefieldand in politics, his story is
one of resilience, convictionand courage.
His views challenge a number ofconventional narratives, but
his willingness to speak bluntlyhas earned him both admiration
and respect.
(01:37):
Today we're going beyond theheadlines.
We'll explore what shaped hisworldview, his thoughts on the
future of conservatism and hisreflections on faith, leadership
and the America he believes in.
We'll ask the tough questionshow do conservative principles
truly serve all Americans?
What role should governmentplay in solving systemic issues?
(02:00):
And, lastly, what lessons canwe take from his journey?
So, whether you agree with himor not, I invite you to listen
closely, to engage, to questionand to think critically, because
that's what this podcast is allabout meaningful conversations
with great thinkers.
Without further ado, let'swelcome to the show, lieutenant
(02:23):
Colonel Alan West.
Colonel, how are you, sir?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I'm doing very well, sir.
Thanks so much for having me,and what an incredible intro.
I'm humbled.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Well, it's my privilege to be able to speak to
you today.
Let me start off with aquestion about your book
entitled Guardian of theRepublic, and you refer to
yourself as an American, ronin.
Could you elaborate on what thetitle means to you and how it
reflects your personalphilosophy?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Sure, you know, when you understand the samurai code.
And, of course, the Ronin was asamurai who had lost his master
and he still pledged theservice of his sword to
protecting the people, and Ithink that's kind of like what
happened with me.
Even though my father passedaway very early in my life I was
(03:14):
just 25 years of age when hepassed in 1986.
I was a young Army FirstLieutenant I still pledged my
life to live according to theprinciples and values upon which
he raised me, and he was aWorld War II veteran.
My godfather was a Tuskegeeairman by the name of William
Sticky Jackson, his best friend.
So you know, those thingscontinue on in your life, and so
(03:37):
I saw myself as this AmericanRonin, even though you're quote,
unquote your master, your rolemodel, the person that you
honored in life and that was mydad for me had passed away early
on.
I still continued on with thepath and, again, with those
things that he had inculcated inme.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Impressive.
Can you tell us a little bitabout how your own military
experience shaped yourperspective on America's role in
the world, particularlyregarding, perhaps, foreign
policy and national security?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, I'll tell you, I came in, I was commissioned in
1982, and I will never forget,as long as I lived, the very
first time that we were up there.
I was in an airborne unitstation in Italy, vicenza, italy
and we had this rotation wherewe would bring down the Berlin
Brigade and this was a time whenthe wall was still up and they
(04:28):
would go through our coldweather training up in the
Italian Dolomites, the, the Alps, and then we go up and do their
urban operations, militaryoperations in urban terrain,
which is this incredible mockcity that they have built up
there to help them train andprepare.
And so, while you're up therein West Berlin, you get the
(04:49):
opportunity one day to put onthat, you know, your dress,
green uniform at the time, spitshine jump boots and your maroon
paratrooper beret.
And you got on the bus and youwent through Checkpoint Charlie,
and a lot of people don'trecall Checkpoint Charlie, but
that's when you left Liberty andFreedom and you went on the
other side, to East Berlin.
And what I saw there in EastBerlin, when I saw the despair,
(05:12):
the despondency, when I saw the,you know, there were very ugly
cars, there were two types, twodoor and four door and I believe
, like three or four differentcolors, the potholes in the
streets and the emptiness of theshelves.
And I saw and understood thatthis is what I'm supposed to be
standing on freedom's rampartsto make sure it doesn't come
(05:33):
into my country.
It does not affect the peoplethat are our allies.
And so that, really, because ofmy bachelor's degree was in
political science from theUniversity of Tennessee, but now
I got a chance to see it.
I got a chance to see what thisother ideology was.
This other philosophy ofgovernance was about centralized
(05:53):
governmental control communism,socialism, marxism.
I decided I did not want tohave any part of that.
It made me just want to delvemore into understanding
constitutionalism,constitutional conservatism,
real and true liberalism basedupon John Locke and his two
treatises of governments,natural rights theory, as
(06:15):
opposed to what I saw there as ayoung man back in 1985.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
You certainly touched on a lot of issues that
resonate with some of thequestions I'd like to ask you a
little later in this interview,but I'm going to take you
backward just a little bitbecause I want to continue to
create the foundation for whoyou are and what you believe.
And in your book you emphasizethe importance of faith, family
and freedom In today'sincreasingly secular culture.
(06:43):
How do you believe, for example, that faith can still play a
guiding role in governance?
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Well, I will tell you that 2 Corinthians 3, verse 17
says that the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty.
When you look at that quotefrom Alexander Fraser Tytler
where he talks about the cycleof democracies, he says that the
thing that transitions peopleout of bondage is spiritual
faith, and spiritual faith leadsto courage.
(07:11):
That's what I see as part ofthe cycle of the United States
of America.
How was it that 13 littleragtag colonies and actually
just one little colony,massachusetts and the Sons of
Liberty, could take on thegreatest military power that the
world knew at the time, 250years ago?
So I think that you know yourfaith and saying that Lord sets
(07:34):
us free, then we should be free,indeed in all aspects of our
lives, and I think that you know, having studied political
science.
That's exactly what John Lockewas talking about when he
brought about natural rightstheory, that you know your
rights do not come from man, donot come from government.
It is just natural that theycome.
(07:54):
That life, liberty and property.
Of course that's what he quoted.
Thomas Jefferson changed to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
But even Jefferson quoted himtalking about the laws of nature
and nature's God in thedocument that established the
United States of America, that'sthe Declaration of Independence
.
And so that makes Americaunique, because tell me any
(08:15):
other country where the rightsof the individual are defined in
our establishing document asbeing inherent to you or endowed
to you by the creator, god.
The Judeo-Christian faithheritage God.
So you know, this whole secularhumanism thing is very
dangerous, because basicallywhat it says is you know, forget
(08:36):
that God thing and forget thatinalienable rights thing.
You know, we man government,which is made up of men and
women, we are the ones thatdetermine your life, your
liberty, your property, yourpursuit of happiness, your buy
and your leave.
And so when you look at some ofthe grievances that Jefferson
(08:57):
talked about in the Declarationof Independence, a lot of those
grievances, a lot of thosethings usurpations of individual
rights, freedoms and libertiesare happening today.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Your answer makes me want to pursue that a little
deeper, but in a slightlydifferent vein, because you're
talking about values essentially.
Your book argues thatconservative principles align
deeply with historical values ofthe black community.
Principles align deeply withhistorical values of the black
(09:29):
community.
But because historically, blackvoters have leaned Democratic,
why do you think there's a gapbetween ideology, or ideology
and voting patterns?
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Well, I think that that I wouldn't say historically
, because if you go back andhistorically you look and study
that the very first members ofthe United States House and
Senate were Black Republicans.
I was the second BlackRepublican from the state of
Florida.
The very first one was Josiah TWalls, who served, I want to
(09:58):
say, 1871 or so 1873 to about1876.
So that relationship was there.
But what happened was with theNew Deal of Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, you know, put achicken in every pot.
And then of course the bigthing was the Great Society
(10:18):
programs of Lyndon B Johnson,which you know.
The welfare nanny state came inand what you saw from that point
on, you know late 60s, middle60s and so was the decimation of
those principles and values inthe black community individual,
responsibility, accountability,family.
All of a sudden you broke downthe family and even a liberal
(10:40):
Democrat, new York senator, bythe name of Daniel Patrick
Moynihan, wrote against some ofthe policies that Johnson was
bringing about and said how inthe long run it would have a
detrimental effect against theblack family.
And it absolutely has, I meanwhen you look at the lack of
fathers in the black community.
But what you did was youcreated a dependency society.
(11:02):
You think about Booker TWashington and his principles,
upon which he establishedTuskegee Normal Industrial
Institute, was education,entrepreneurship and
self-reliance.
Those are conservativeprinciples and values.
You think about FrederickDouglass?
These were men that were borninto slavery but they stood for
(11:23):
the principles and values ofindividual economic empowerment,
even in some of the darkesttimes and darkest days here in
America for Blacks.
So I think it's so importantand I think that in this last
election cycle we're starting tosee people wanting to go back
to those principles and valuesand reestablish them in the
(11:44):
community, because they kind ofrealize they've been sold a bad
bill of goods.
So it's not something that hasbeen historic, but it is
something that has beenmonumental and is something that
has really taken root over thelast 50 to 60 years and it's had
a horrible effect on the Blackcommunity and our urban centers,
effect on the black communityand our urban centers.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Perhaps in the same context, if I may, in addition
to yourself, who else do you seeas positive role models and
maybe what leadership do youbelieve is still missing?
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Well, you know, I can tell you who I don't see is
those positive role models.
I mean people like Al Sharptonand you know all the litany of
people that are, you know,brought out on some of these
leftist news media outlets.
But you're starting to see moreblack conservative voices take
root.
And again I go back and thinkabout Herman Cain, and Herman
(12:41):
Cain and I shared something.
We were both from Atlanta andboth went to inner city high
schools there.
I mean, what a great role model.
You think about someone like aStar Parker, who has started the
Center for Urban Renewal Cure,and look at her background and
her story.
So you're starting to see theseindividuals.
I mean Byron Donalds, who iscarrying on down there and is
(13:03):
going to be running for governorof Florida.
So you're starting to see moreindividuals that are stepping up
and being these voices.
And the thing that I like is alot of them are young people of
color and minorities that arestepping up, not just in the
black community, but also in theHispanic community as well, are
stepping up not just in theblack community, but also in the
(13:24):
Hispanic community as well.
So I believe that we're startingto go back and say we want to
reconnect with those principlesand values.
We don't want to be told that wehave to be a victim all the
time, Because I always havetaught people, my troops and my
daughters and my grandsons.
When they grow up, I'll tellthem the same thing In life, you
have two choices you can chooseto be a victor or you can
(13:45):
choose to be a victim, and thereare always people out there
that want to make you a victim,because then you are belongs to
them, You're subservient to them, You're a subject to them.
That's not the nature ofAmerica, that's not the nature
of what I grew up in in theblack community and, sir, you're
talking to a guy that was bornin a segregated hospital in 1961
in Atlanta, Georgia, but I grewup in a great neighborhood, the
(14:09):
neighborhood that produced DrMartin Luther King Jr.
I had that traditional nuclearblack family.
I had all the ingredients ofsuccess and you know, that's why
I am where I am today.
That's why I am where I amtoday.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
I am grateful to you for mentioning Herman Cain.
I had the opportunity to livein Atlanta, actually Sandy
Springs on the Chattahoochee fora few years and I met Herman
Cain on a number of occasions.
He was truly one of a kind, aremarkable man, just great to be
with.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Well, I will show you something and your viewers can
see this.
This is a note from Herman Cain.
I hosted him in my house andsadly this was two weeks before
he passed away.
But I would never forget, youknow, having Herman Cain in my
house and and and hosting himhere and the interesting thing
(15:04):
that when my wife was a businessprofessor, she was marketing
and finance professor at KansasState University she arranged
for Herman Cain to come speakthere at Kansas State University
.
So of course he immediatelyrecognized and remembered her.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, he was almost a Zig Ziglar-like figure, if
you're familiar with Zig Ziglar,oh, I am.
Let me ask if we can go inagain a slightly different
direction.
Sure, throughout your book youwarn against the dangers of big
government and again I want togive you a moment to pause and
reflect.
But what is your assessment ofthe current trends in the
(15:39):
Republican Party and thedirection that it's going?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
I think that the Republican Party is being
challenged, and there are somepeople within the Republican
Party.
You know I'll put it this waybeing a progressive has nothing
to do with R&D.
It has everything to do withwhether or not you believe that
the individual is subservient togovernment, and you have many
(16:05):
people up there in Washington DCand also in some of our state
capitals, and even localgovernments, that believe in
such, and I believe that thattrend is really being shaken and
that foundation has a crack init, and so I see a Republican
Party that is not so much aboutparty, it's about people looking
(16:27):
at their lives and saying youknow the principles and values
that I thought I believed in inall these years.
I don't now, and it's a cleardelineation and it comes back,
like I said, to do you believe,as Jefferson laid out in the
Declaration of Independence,that the individual is sovereign
over government here in theUnited States of America, and
(16:48):
the individual is sovereignbecause their rights come from a
sovereign God, or do youbelieve that the individual is
subservient to government?
Remember that Jefferson talkedabout government exists based
upon the consent of the governed.
We have gotten so far away fromthat and understanding that.
But I see more people goingback, reading and connecting
(17:08):
with our founding documents andquestioning things and saying I
don't like that direction.
And I believe that there's agreat opportunity for the
Republican Party to once againreestablish itself as the party
of America, because that is whatvalues and principles are all
about, as opposed to some of thereally absurd, you know asinine
(17:31):
things that the Democrat Partyis trended to, because again
it's a progressive, socialist,marxist, you know, almost
communist type of perspective.
And what's so funny to me isthat I remember once upon a time
there was a Democrat presidentby the name of Bill Clinton that
said in his State of the Unionaddress the era of big
(17:53):
government is over.
But I mean, if he was to try tosay something like that today,
which I doubt he would he'd betarred and feathered and run
away.
So I think that this, what yousee happening now, is a
philosophical separation, it isa principle separation, it's a
value separation.
It is not just about twopolitical parties.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
I know that you've already been kind enough to
touch on progressivism, but inGuardian of the Republic you do
critique progressivism as beingreally harmful to American
values, at least as I understandwhat you've written.
Are there any other argumentsthat you want to sketch out for
our listeners?
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Well, it's very good, because the left has always
been quite adept at, you know,taking language that seems very
attractive.
And so when you say, you know,being a progressive, well, who
would not want to be aprogressive?
What's the opposite ofprogressive?
Being a regressive?
Well, I don't want to beregressive, but really that was
(18:53):
the mentality of the Eastern,well, the European.
You know communists who wantedto bring this philosophy to the
United States of America and say, well, we can't just come out
and tell people we're communists, well, let's say we're
progressive.
And so when you go back and youlook at the very first
progressive presidentialadministration this country saw,
and that was Woodrow Wilsonwe're still dealing with a lot
(19:16):
of things that came out of theWilson administration today,
because we thought it would beabsolutely fine.
I mean, consider this.
I mean once upon a time wedidn't have a personal income
tax in the United States ofAmerica.
Everything was aconsumption-based tax.
And all of a sudden we createthis thing called an income tax.
We say it's going to betemporary, we say it's not going
(19:36):
to go above, maybe 6% to 8%.
Now look at where the personalincome tax is.
And so, even here in a statelike Texas, which everyone says
is this great, you know, bastionof conservatism we tax people
on their property.
Well, that's a completeviolation of John Locke and his
natural rights theory.
He said because you're an alienfor rights of life living in
(19:57):
property, why would you want totax people's property?
So, even here in Texas, if youpay off your home, pay off the
land, you still have to pay thegovernment a property tax.
Or else, guess what, they comein and they take it away from
you.
So basically, you're rentingyour property away from the
state of Texas.
So again we have had Republicangovernors, republican House,
(20:20):
republican Senate.
People keep saying let's getrid of the property tax, let's
go to something different.
It's still there.
So that's why I say that thisprogressivism issue is not about
a political party.
It's about the relationshipbetween the individual and the
institution of government.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
In response to your comment, as someone who also
lives in Texas, I can tell youthat, since I just received my
assessment, for tax, that rentjust went up considerably.
Yeah, Sir, you served inCongress and I think it's safe
to say when you were there itwas somewhat divisive, but
perhaps it's even more divisivenow, Far more.
(21:01):
My question is do you thinkthat bipartisanship is still
possible, or is it simply toodeep?
Speaker 2 (21:08):
No, I think that the chasm has grown far, wide, deep,
or whatever you want to call it, because we're talking about
two different philosophies ofgovernance and if you just go
and recall President Trump'srecent address to the joint
session of Congress, that showsyou how deep, far and wide this
(21:29):
chasm is.
It's not just about the policydifferences.
You know you can differ on theeconomy and things of this
nature, but it's a visceralhatred that is out there right
now.
That is out there right now.
You know I was in theCongressional Prayer Caucus and
you know we had Democrat membersand we would sit down and do
(21:51):
our Bible study and things ofthis nature.
I don't know if that'ssomething that is happening
right now.
You don't have thoseconservative Democrats, the blue
dog Democrats, and you know Isaw many of those individuals
get run away Dan Bourne ofOklahoma, heath Shuler from
North Carolina, who was a formerUniversity of Tennessee
quarterback.
Sylvester Reyes from El Paso.
He was replaced by RobertFrancis O'Rourke, known by the
(22:13):
fake Hispanic nickname of Beto,and so this is what I've seen
happen on the other side, withthe Democrat Party, and that's
why this chasm has opened up somuch.
But you know, even still hereon the Republican side, what I
see happening are more veteransrunning.
I mean I believe you have aboutfive or six Navy SEALs, I mean
(22:36):
all-time high members ofCongress.
Now you have people that aremore so of a conservative, or
some people even call thepopulism, as opposed to what we
knew, of a kind of a blue bloodelitist GOP establishment, which
is kind of the dying breed, andI think that's part of that
(22:57):
transition to that shift thatyou see in the Republican Party.
So when you have people on theDemocrat side who say that
illegally coming into the UnitedStates of America is not a
crime, that's RepresentativeJasmine Crockett who is right
here in Dallas.
I don't know if you can havebipartisanship with someone like
(23:18):
that.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
I'm going to ask if you can draw on one of your own
personal experiences.
You mentioned that leaders mustbe willing to stand firm even
when it's unpopular.
Are there any moments from yourcareer, whether in Congress or
out of Congress, when you took astand that cost you politically
but was the right decision?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Well, I mean, I only served one term in Congress and
I think it's because, you know,not only did I challenge the
Democrat Party, I challenged myown party, when, you know,
speaker Boehner at the time saidthat you know we had to get
behind, you know, PresidentObama, and continue to provide
resources and help the rebels inLibya.
(24:02):
You know, I said, sir, I mean,I don't think we should be
helping these non-state,non-uniform belligerents there.
And, furthermore, I think thatPresident Obama has, you know,
gone outside of his purview withthe War Powers Act.
And how funny it was that youhad this staunch, young
conservative freshman member ofCongress joining with Dennis
(24:23):
Kucinich who is, you know, veryto the left in the Democrat
Party because of that issuethere, and there were several
other things that you know.
I said that you know I couldnot go along with.
My yes is a yes, my no is a no.
And the next thing, you know, Imean, there were only two black
Republican members of Congressat that time when I was there,
(24:45):
2011, 2013, tim Scott and myself.
Well, republicans redistrictedme out of the district that I
won back for them, and it was ashock to so many people to
include Rush Limbaugh, whoreally went nuts because I was
his congressional representative.
Palm Beach Island was in thedistrict that I represented, but
my mom taught me something thatyou know will always resonate
(25:09):
with me.
She said a man must stand forsomething or else he'll fall for
anything.
And that's what you have to do,that's what you have to be.
And some people will say, well,you're too intransigent, you're
too highly principled.
I said, well, weren't thefounding fathers?
I mean, is that what we want?
I mean, we wouldn't have acountry if they didn't stand up
(25:30):
against.
What they saw was the perceivedtyranny that Jefferson listed,
and they were willing to fightthe greatest power that the
world knew at that time overthat.
So I think there are times, asWilliam Barrett Travis did at
the Alamo on the 5th of March1836, you've got to draw a line
in the sand.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Yeah, I don't want to go too far down memory lane
because there are some thingsthat I want to cover before our
time is up, but anyone who wasaround at the time will recall
that it was really remarkablethat they used redistricting to
influence or affect yourelection negatively.
It was really quite something.
Going back to your book, whichI really recommend that our
(26:11):
listeners go back and look at it, it's extremely well written
and really insightful.
But if you could add one morechapter to your book today,
given everything that'shappening in America right now,
what would it be about?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Probably I would call it the third great awakening,
because that's what I seehappening.
I mean, I have never seen atime in our history where people
are really studying theConstitution and that's just
such a beautiful thing, thatfolks are attuned to our rule of
law, that people arechallenging, and especially
young people.
I have the pleasure and honorof being one of the speakers for
(26:52):
the Young America's Foundation.
As a matter of fact, I'll beheading out to Santa Barbara,
california, out there at theReagan Ranch Center, to speak to
middle and high schoolers.
This is the dream.
We have to be able to pass thattorch of liberty and freedom on
to that next generation.
So I would probably write achapter about the third great
(27:14):
awakening and how we must makesure that we pass that torch of
liberty on to subsequentgenerations.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
How about the public figure or the public persona of
Alan West?
What do you think is thebiggest misconception that
people have about you and whatwould you say to challenge that
perception?
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Well, you know, my dad taught me you never read
your own press and never drinkyour own tub water.
So I mean, you know, I don'tcare.
I mean you really don't know Idon't care.
I mean you really don't,because, look, the most
important thing and this againis something that I tried to
teach, you know, young soldiersand officers and my daughters is
(27:54):
that at the end of the day, youhave to be able to look at
yourself in the mirror and stillrecognize the person that you
saw in the morning.
That's the key.
And so, you know, I don't readthe accolades, I don't read the
detractions, because I just wantto stay true north.
And the most important thingfor me, when it comes back to my
(28:15):
faith, you know, I want to hear.
One day, after I pass throughthis life, I want to hear my
Lord say well done thy good andfaithful servant.
That's the most important thingfor me.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Those of us who have had the privilege of meeting you
know that you're a man oftremendous faith.
But if I can impose on you inone sentence, is there some way
that you can define yourultimate mission in life?
Speaker 2 (28:39):
My ultimate mission in life is to serve God and
country, to be a good father,husband, granddad, that's it and
to leave a legacy of libertyand freedom to make sure that
that's protected for mysubsequent generation.
You know, when you become agrandparent, you understand it.
(29:00):
It's different because reallywhat you're looking at is your
legacy and those grandkids.
And so my oldest is three, myyoungest grandson is one.
Every moment that I'm with them, it's just how can I impart
something to them.
You know, last night, justsitting with my oldest grandson
(29:22):
and we got the old school abacus.
I mean, I don't know a lot ofpeople that have that, but just
sitting down there with him andcounting from one to 100, that's
what's so important.
And being that positive malerole model in his life so that
he doesn't have to look anywhereelse other than his dad and his
granddad.
(29:42):
So that would be it for me.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
With you.
He's going to have an extremelypositive role model and I can
attest to everything you justsaid as the grandfather of eight
grandchildren, the oldest ofwhom is?
Graduating from college, theyoungest of whom is coming out
of kindergarten this year.
So, Colonel West, where can ourlisteners find more of your
work and how can they getinvolved with the causes that
(30:05):
you think are really important?
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Sure, Well, I'm the executive director of the
American Constitutional RightsUnion and you can follow me
there at the ACRU dot org.
I have a sub stack page thatyou can follow.
I have a podcast calledSteadfast and Loyal.
I'm the chairman of the DallasCounty Republican Party and you
can check us out at dallasgoporg, and I'm out there on all the
(30:30):
social media platforms, exceptfor that TikTok thing, because
I'm not supporting communistChina.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
All right, this is almost an impossible question to
ask you with all that you'vejust shared with us, but what's
next for you?
Another book, or politicalambitions or something else?
I hope the president has yourphone number on speed dial.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well, I don't know.
Look, you know, I live my lifebased upon Proverbs 3, 5 through
6.
And it says trust in the Lordwith all thy heart, lean not
upon your own understanding, andall your ways acknowledge him
and he will guide your path.
And so I just again want to bea humble servant to God and
country, and I'll always bewilling and able to answer that
(31:13):
call.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Colonel West.
I can't think of a better placeto end this interview, but
right here.
Thank you so much.
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
My pleasure, Jim.
Welcome to this episode of Conversations with
Great Thinkers, the podcast,where we explore the ideas,
experiences and philosophies ofsome of the most influential
minds of our time.
I'm your host, jim Lanchy, andtoday we're diving into a
conversation that is as timelyas it is thought-provoking.
Our guest today is a man whoselife has been defined by service
(00:34):
service to his country, hisfaith and his deeply held
principles.
He's a retired United StatesArmy Lieutenant Colonel, a
former US Congressman and afearless advocate for
conservative values.
He's also the author ofGuardians of the Republic and
(00:54):
American Ronin's Journey ofFaith, family and Freedom, a
book that is part memoir, partpolitical philosophy and a fully
unapologetic call to defendAmerican values.
Alan West has been a steadfastvoice in the national
conversation on faith, familyand freedom.
(01:16):
From his upbringing in amilitary household to his
leadership on the battlefieldand in politics, his story is
one of resilience, convictionand courage.
His views challenge a number ofconventional narratives, but
his willingness to speak bluntlyhas earned him both admiration
and respect.
(01:37):
Today we're going beyond theheadlines.
We'll explore what shaped hisworldview, his thoughts on the
future of conservatism and hisreflections on faith, leadership
and the America he believes in.
We'll ask the tough questionshow do conservative principles
truly serve all Americans?
What role should governmentplay in solving systemic issues?
(02:00):
And, lastly, what lessons canwe take from his journey?
So, whether you agree with himor not, I invite you to listen
closely, to engage, to questionand to think critically, because
that's what this podcast is allabout meaningful conversations
with great thinkers.
Without further ado, let'swelcome to the show, lieutenant
(02:23):
Colonel Alan West.
Colonel, how are you, sir?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I'm doing very well, sir.
Thanks so much for having me,and what an incredible intro.
I'm humbled.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Well, it's my privilege to be able to speak to
you today.
Let me start off with aquestion about your book
entitled Guardian of theRepublic, and you refer to
yourself as an American, ronin.
Could you elaborate on what thetitle means to you and how it
reflects your personalphilosophy?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Sure, you know, when you understand the samurai code.
And, of course, the Ronin was asamurai who had lost his master
and he still pledged theservice of his sword to
protecting the people, and Ithink that's kind of like what
happened with me.
Even though my father passedaway very early in my life I was
(03:14):
just 25 years of age when hepassed in 1986.
I was a young Army FirstLieutenant I still pledged my
life to live according to theprinciples and values upon which
he raised me, and he was aWorld War II veteran.
My godfather was a Tuskegeeairman by the name of William
Sticky Jackson, his best friend.
So you know, those thingscontinue on in your life, and so
(03:37):
I saw myself as this AmericanRonin, even though you're quote,
unquote your master, your rolemodel, the person that you
honored in life and that was mydad for me had passed away early
on.
I still continued on with thepath and, again, with those
things that he had inculcated inme.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Impressive.
Can you tell us a little bitabout how your own military
experience shaped yourperspective on America's role in
the world, particularlyregarding, perhaps, foreign
policy and national security?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, I'll tell you, I came in, I was commissioned in
1982, and I will never forget,as long as I lived, the very
first time that we were up there.
I was in an airborne unitstation in Italy, vicenza, italy
and we had this rotation wherewe would bring down the Berlin
Brigade and this was a time whenthe wall was still up and they
(04:28):
would go through our coldweather training up in the
Italian Dolomites, the, the Alps, and then we go up and do their
urban operations, militaryoperations in urban terrain,
which is this incredible mockcity that they have built up
there to help them train andprepare.
And so, while you're up therein West Berlin, you get the
(04:49):
opportunity one day to put onthat, you know, your dress,
green uniform at the time, spitshine jump boots and your maroon
paratrooper beret.
And you got on the bus and youwent through Checkpoint Charlie,
and a lot of people don'trecall Checkpoint Charlie, but
that's when you left Liberty andFreedom and you went on the
other side, to East Berlin.
And what I saw there in EastBerlin, when I saw the despair,
(05:12):
the despondency, when I saw the,you know, there were very ugly
cars, there were two types, twodoor and four door and I believe
, like three or four differentcolors, the potholes in the
streets and the emptiness of theshelves.
And I saw and understood thatthis is what I'm supposed to be
standing on freedom's rampartsto make sure it doesn't come
(05:33):
into my country.
It does not affect the peoplethat are our allies.
And so that, really, because ofmy bachelor's degree was in
political science from theUniversity of Tennessee, but now
I got a chance to see it.
I got a chance to see what thisother ideology was.
This other philosophy ofgovernance was about centralized
(05:53):
governmental control communism,socialism, marxism.
I decided I did not want tohave any part of that.
It made me just want to delvemore into understanding
constitutionalism,constitutional conservatism,
real and true liberalism basedupon John Locke and his two
treatises of governments,natural rights theory, as
(06:15):
opposed to what I saw there as ayoung man back in 1985.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
You certainly touched on a lot of issues that
resonate with some of thequestions I'd like to ask you a
little later in this interview,but I'm going to take you
backward just a little bitbecause I want to continue to
create the foundation for whoyou are and what you believe.
And in your book you emphasizethe importance of faith, family
and freedom In today'sincreasingly secular culture.
(06:43):
How do you believe, for example, that faith can still play a
guiding role in governance?
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Well, I will tell you that 2 Corinthians 3, verse 17
says that the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty.
When you look at that quotefrom Alexander Fraser Tytler
where he talks about the cycleof democracies, he says that the
thing that transitions peopleout of bondage is spiritual
faith, and spiritual faith leadsto courage.
(07:11):
That's what I see as part ofthe cycle of the United States
of America.
How was it that 13 littleragtag colonies and actually
just one little colony,massachusetts and the Sons of
Liberty, could take on thegreatest military power that the
world knew at the time, 250years ago?
So I think that you know yourfaith and saying that Lord sets
(07:34):
us free, then we should be free,indeed in all aspects of our
lives, and I think that you know, having studied political
science.
That's exactly what John Lockewas talking about when he
brought about natural rightstheory, that you know your
rights do not come from man, donot come from government.
It is just natural that theycome.
(07:54):
That life, liberty and property.
Of course that's what he quoted.
Thomas Jefferson changed to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
But even Jefferson quoted himtalking about the laws of nature
and nature's God in thedocument that established the
United States of America, that'sthe Declaration of Independence
.
And so that makes Americaunique, because tell me any
(08:15):
other country where the rightsof the individual are defined in
our establishing document asbeing inherent to you or endowed
to you by the creator, god.
The Judeo-Christian faithheritage God.
So you know, this whole secularhumanism thing is very
dangerous, because basicallywhat it says is you know, forget
(08:36):
that God thing and forget thatinalienable rights thing.
You know, we man government,which is made up of men and
women, we are the ones thatdetermine your life, your
liberty, your property, yourpursuit of happiness, your buy
and your leave.
And so when you look at some ofthe grievances that Jefferson
(08:57):
talked about in the Declarationof Independence, a lot of those
grievances, a lot of thosethings usurpations of individual
rights, freedoms and libertiesare happening today.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Your answer makes me want to pursue that a little
deeper, but in a slightlydifferent vein, because you're
talking about values essentially.
Your book argues thatconservative principles align
deeply with historical values ofthe black community.
Principles align deeply withhistorical values of the black
(09:29):
community.
But because historically, blackvoters have leaned Democratic,
why do you think there's a gapbetween ideology, or ideology
and voting patterns?
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Well, I think that that I wouldn't say historically
, because if you go back andhistorically you look and study
that the very first members ofthe United States House and
Senate were Black Republicans.
I was the second BlackRepublican from the state of
Florida.
The very first one was Josiah TWalls, who served, I want to
(09:58):
say, 1871 or so 1873 to about1876.
So that relationship was there.
But what happened was with theNew Deal of Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, you know, put achicken in every pot.
And then of course the bigthing was the Great Society
(10:18):
programs of Lyndon B Johnson,which you know.
The welfare nanny state came inand what you saw from that point
on, you know late 60s, middle60s and so was the decimation of
those principles and values inthe black community individual,
responsibility, accountability,family.
All of a sudden you broke downthe family and even a liberal
(10:40):
Democrat, new York senator, bythe name of Daniel Patrick
Moynihan, wrote against some ofthe policies that Johnson was
bringing about and said how inthe long run it would have a
detrimental effect against theblack family.
And it absolutely has, I meanwhen you look at the lack of
fathers in the black community.
But what you did was youcreated a dependency society.
(11:02):
You think about Booker TWashington and his principles,
upon which he establishedTuskegee Normal Industrial
Institute, was education,entrepreneurship and
self-reliance.
Those are conservativeprinciples and values.
You think about FrederickDouglass?
These were men that were borninto slavery but they stood for
(11:23):
the principles and values ofindividual economic empowerment,
even in some of the darkesttimes and darkest days here in
America for Blacks.
So I think it's so importantand I think that in this last
election cycle we're starting tosee people wanting to go back
to those principles and valuesand reestablish them in the
(11:44):
community, because they kind ofrealize they've been sold a bad
bill of goods.
So it's not something that hasbeen historic, but it is
something that has beenmonumental and is something that
has really taken root over thelast 50 to 60 years and it's had
a horrible effect on the Blackcommunity and our urban centers,
effect on the black communityand our urban centers.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Perhaps in the same context, if I may, in addition
to yourself, who else do you seeas positive role models and
maybe what leadership do youbelieve is still missing?
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Well, you know, I can tell you who I don't see is
those positive role models.
I mean people like Al Sharptonand you know all the litany of
people that are, you know,brought out on some of these
leftist news media outlets.
But you're starting to see moreblack conservative voices take
root.
And again I go back and thinkabout Herman Cain, and Herman
(12:41):
Cain and I shared something.
We were both from Atlanta andboth went to inner city high
schools there.
I mean, what a great role model.
You think about someone like aStar Parker, who has started the
Center for Urban Renewal Cure,and look at her background and
her story.
So you're starting to see theseindividuals.
I mean Byron Donalds, who iscarrying on down there and is
(13:03):
going to be running for governorof Florida.
So you're starting to see moreindividuals that are stepping up
and being these voices.
And the thing that I like is alot of them are young people of
color and minorities that arestepping up, not just in the
black community, but also in theHispanic community as well, are
stepping up not just in theblack community, but also in the
(13:24):
Hispanic community as well.
So I believe that we're startingto go back and say we want to
reconnect with those principlesand values.
We don't want to be told that wehave to be a victim all the
time, Because I always havetaught people, my troops and my
daughters and my grandsons.
When they grow up, I'll tellthem the same thing In life, you
have two choices you can chooseto be a victor or you can
(13:45):
choose to be a victim, and thereare always people out there
that want to make you a victim,because then you are belongs to
them, You're subservient to them, You're a subject to them.
That's not the nature ofAmerica, that's not the nature
of what I grew up in in theblack community and, sir, you're
talking to a guy that was bornin a segregated hospital in 1961
in Atlanta, Georgia, but I grewup in a great neighborhood, the
(14:09):
neighborhood that produced DrMartin Luther King Jr.
I had that traditional nuclearblack family.
I had all the ingredients ofsuccess and you know, that's why
I am where I am today.
That's why I am where I amtoday.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
I am grateful to you for mentioning Herman Cain.
I had the opportunity to livein Atlanta, actually Sandy
Springs on the Chattahoochee fora few years and I met Herman
Cain on a number of occasions.
He was truly one of a kind, aremarkable man, just great to be
with.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Well, I will show you something and your viewers can
see this.
This is a note from Herman Cain.
I hosted him in my house andsadly this was two weeks before
he passed away.
But I would never forget, youknow, having Herman Cain in my
house and and and hosting himhere and the interesting thing
(15:04):
that when my wife was a businessprofessor, she was marketing
and finance professor at KansasState University she arranged
for Herman Cain to come speakthere at Kansas State University
.
So of course he immediatelyrecognized and remembered her.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, he was almost a Zig Ziglar-like figure, if
you're familiar with Zig Ziglar,oh, I am.
Let me ask if we can go inagain a slightly different
direction.
Sure, throughout your book youwarn against the dangers of big
government and again I want togive you a moment to pause and
reflect.
But what is your assessment ofthe current trends in the
(15:39):
Republican Party and thedirection that it's going?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
I think that the Republican Party is being
challenged, and there are somepeople within the Republican
Party.
You know I'll put it this waybeing a progressive has nothing
to do with R&D.
It has everything to do withwhether or not you believe that
the individual is subservient togovernment, and you have many
(16:05):
people up there in Washington DCand also in some of our state
capitals, and even localgovernments, that believe in
such, and I believe that thattrend is really being shaken and
that foundation has a crack init, and so I see a Republican
Party that is not so much aboutparty, it's about people looking
(16:27):
at their lives and saying youknow the principles and values
that I thought I believed in inall these years.
I don't now, and it's a cleardelineation and it comes back,
like I said, to do you believe,as Jefferson laid out in the
Declaration of Independence,that the individual is sovereign
over government here in theUnited States of America, and
(16:48):
the individual is sovereignbecause their rights come from a
sovereign God, or do youbelieve that the individual is
subservient to government?
Remember that Jefferson talkedabout government exists based
upon the consent of the governed.
We have gotten so far away fromthat and understanding that.
But I see more people goingback, reading and connecting
(17:08):
with our founding documents andquestioning things and saying I
don't like that direction.
And I believe that there's agreat opportunity for the
Republican Party to once againreestablish itself as the party
of America, because that is whatvalues and principles are all
about, as opposed to some of thereally absurd, you know asinine
(17:31):
things that the Democrat Partyis trended to, because again
it's a progressive, socialist,marxist, you know, almost
communist type of perspective.
And what's so funny to me isthat I remember once upon a time
there was a Democrat presidentby the name of Bill Clinton that
said in his State of the Unionaddress the era of big
(17:53):
government is over.
But I mean, if he was to try tosay something like that today,
which I doubt he would he'd betarred and feathered and run
away.
So I think that this, what yousee happening now, is a
philosophical separation, it isa principle separation, it's a
value separation.
It is not just about twopolitical parties.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
I know that you've already been kind enough to
touch on progressivism, but inGuardian of the Republic you do
critique progressivism as beingreally harmful to American
values, at least as I understandwhat you've written.
Are there any other argumentsthat you want to sketch out for
our listeners?
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Well, it's very good, because the left has always
been quite adept at, you know,taking language that seems very
attractive.
And so when you say, you know,being a progressive, well, who
would not want to be aprogressive?
What's the opposite ofprogressive?
Being a regressive?
Well, I don't want to beregressive, but really that was
(18:53):
the mentality of the Eastern,well, the European.
You know communists who wantedto bring this philosophy to the
United States of America and say, well, we can't just come out
and tell people we're communists, well, let's say we're
progressive.
And so when you go back and youlook at the very first
progressive presidentialadministration this country saw,
and that was Woodrow Wilsonwe're still dealing with a lot
(19:16):
of things that came out of theWilson administration today,
because we thought it would beabsolutely fine.
I mean, consider this.
I mean once upon a time wedidn't have a personal income
tax in the United States ofAmerica.
Everything was aconsumption-based tax.
And all of a sudden we createthis thing called an income tax.
We say it's going to betemporary, we say it's not going
(19:36):
to go above, maybe 6% to 8%.
Now look at where the personalincome tax is.
And so, even here in a statelike Texas, which everyone says
is this great, you know, bastionof conservatism we tax people
on their property.
Well, that's a completeviolation of John Locke and his
natural rights theory.
He said because you're an alienfor rights of life living in
(19:57):
property, why would you want totax people's property?
So, even here in Texas, if youpay off your home, pay off the
land, you still have to pay thegovernment a property tax.
Or else, guess what, they comein and they take it away from
you.
So basically, you're rentingyour property away from the
state of Texas.
So again we have had Republicangovernors, republican House,
(20:20):
republican Senate.
People keep saying let's getrid of the property tax, let's
go to something different.
It's still there.
So that's why I say that thisprogressivism issue is not about
a political party.
It's about the relationshipbetween the individual and the
institution of government.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
In response to your comment, as someone who also
lives in Texas, I can tell youthat, since I just received my
assessment, for tax, that rentjust went up considerably.
Yeah, Sir, you served inCongress and I think it's safe
to say when you were there itwas somewhat divisive, but
perhaps it's even more divisivenow, Far more.
(21:01):
My question is do you thinkthat bipartisanship is still
possible, or is it simply toodeep?
Speaker 2 (21:08):
No, I think that the chasm has grown far, wide, deep,
or whatever you want to call it, because we're talking about
two different philosophies ofgovernance and if you just go
and recall President Trump'srecent address to the joint
session of Congress, that showsyou how deep, far and wide this
(21:29):
chasm is.
It's not just about the policydifferences.
You know you can differ on theeconomy and things of this
nature, but it's a visceralhatred that is out there right
now.
That is out there right now.
You know I was in theCongressional Prayer Caucus and
you know we had Democrat membersand we would sit down and do
(21:51):
our Bible study and things ofthis nature.
I don't know if that'ssomething that is happening
right now.
You don't have thoseconservative Democrats, the blue
dog Democrats, and you know Isaw many of those individuals
get run away Dan Bourne ofOklahoma, heath Shuler from
North Carolina, who was a formerUniversity of Tennessee
quarterback.
Sylvester Reyes from El Paso.
He was replaced by RobertFrancis O'Rourke, known by the
(22:13):
fake Hispanic nickname of Beto,and so this is what I've seen
happen on the other side, withthe Democrat Party, and that's
why this chasm has opened up somuch.
But you know, even still hereon the Republican side, what I
see happening are more veteransrunning.
I mean I believe you have aboutfive or six Navy SEALs, I mean
(22:36):
all-time high members ofCongress.
Now you have people that aremore so of a conservative, or
some people even call thepopulism, as opposed to what we
knew, of a kind of a blue bloodelitist GOP establishment, which
is kind of the dying breed, andI think that's part of that
(22:57):
transition to that shift thatyou see in the Republican Party.
So when you have people on theDemocrat side who say that
illegally coming into the UnitedStates of America is not a
crime, that's RepresentativeJasmine Crockett who is right
here in Dallas.
I don't know if you can havebipartisanship with someone like
(23:18):
that.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
I'm going to ask if you can draw on one of your own
personal experiences.
You mentioned that leaders mustbe willing to stand firm even
when it's unpopular.
Are there any moments from yourcareer, whether in Congress or
out of Congress, when you took astand that cost you politically
but was the right decision?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Well, I mean, I only served one term in Congress and
I think it's because, you know,not only did I challenge the
Democrat Party, I challenged myown party, when, you know,
speaker Boehner at the time saidthat you know we had to get
behind, you know, PresidentObama, and continue to provide
resources and help the rebels inLibya.
(24:02):
You know, I said, sir, I mean,I don't think we should be
helping these non-state,non-uniform belligerents there.
And, furthermore, I think thatPresident Obama has, you know,
gone outside of his purview withthe War Powers Act.
And how funny it was that youhad this staunch, young
conservative freshman member ofCongress joining with Dennis
(24:23):
Kucinich who is, you know, veryto the left in the Democrat
Party because of that issuethere, and there were several
other things that you know.
I said that you know I couldnot go along with.
My yes is a yes, my no is a no.
And the next thing, you know, Imean, there were only two black
Republican members of Congressat that time when I was there,
(24:45):
2011, 2013, tim Scott and myself.
Well, republicans redistrictedme out of the district that I
won back for them, and it was ashock to so many people to
include Rush Limbaugh, whoreally went nuts because I was
his congressional representative.
Palm Beach Island was in thedistrict that I represented, but
my mom taught me something thatyou know will always resonate
(25:09):
with me.
She said a man must stand forsomething or else he'll fall for
anything.
And that's what you have to do,that's what you have to be.
And some people will say, well,you're too intransigent, you're
too highly principled.
I said, well, weren't thefounding fathers?
I mean, is that what we want?
I mean, we wouldn't have acountry if they didn't stand up
(25:30):
against.
What they saw was the perceivedtyranny that Jefferson listed,
and they were willing to fightthe greatest power that the
world knew at that time overthat.
So I think there are times, asWilliam Barrett Travis did at
the Alamo on the 5th of March1836, you've got to draw a line
in the sand.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Yeah, I don't want to go too far down memory lane
because there are some thingsthat I want to cover before our
time is up, but anyone who wasaround at the time will recall
that it was really remarkablethat they used redistricting to
influence or affect yourelection negatively.
It was really quite something.
Going back to your book, whichI really recommend that our
(26:11):
listeners go back and look at it, it's extremely well written
and really insightful.
But if you could add one morechapter to your book today,
given everything that'shappening in America right now,
what would it be about?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Probably I would call it the third great awakening,
because that's what I seehappening.
I mean, I have never seen atime in our history where people
are really studying theConstitution and that's just
such a beautiful thing, thatfolks are attuned to our rule of
law, that people arechallenging, and especially
young people.
I have the pleasure and honorof being one of the speakers for
(26:52):
the Young America's Foundation.
As a matter of fact, I'll beheading out to Santa Barbara,
california, out there at theReagan Ranch Center, to speak to
middle and high schoolers.
This is the dream.
We have to be able to pass thattorch of liberty and freedom on
to that next generation.
So I would probably write achapter about the third great
(27:14):
awakening and how we must makesure that we pass that torch of
liberty on to subsequentgenerations.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
How about the public figure or the public persona of
Alan West?
What do you think is thebiggest misconception that
people have about you and whatwould you say to challenge that
perception?
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Well, you know, my dad taught me you never read
your own press and never drinkyour own tub water.
So I mean, you know, I don'tcare.
I mean you really don't know Idon't care.
I mean you really don't,because, look, the most
important thing and this againis something that I tried to
teach, you know, young soldiersand officers and my daughters is
(27:54):
that at the end of the day, youhave to be able to look at
yourself in the mirror and stillrecognize the person that you
saw in the morning.
That's the key.
And so, you know, I don't readthe accolades, I don't read the
detractions, because I just wantto stay true north.
And the most important thingfor me, when it comes back to my
(28:15):
faith, you know, I want to hear.
One day, after I pass throughthis life, I want to hear my
Lord say well done thy good andfaithful servant.
That's the most important thingfor me.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Those of us who have had the privilege of meeting you
know that you're a man oftremendous faith.
But if I can impose on you inone sentence, is there some way
that you can define yourultimate mission in life?
Speaker 2 (28:39):
My ultimate mission in life is to serve God and
country, to be a good father,husband, granddad, that's it and
to leave a legacy of libertyand freedom to make sure that
that's protected for mysubsequent generation.
You know, when you become agrandparent, you understand it.
(29:00):
It's different because reallywhat you're looking at is your
legacy and those grandkids.
And so my oldest is three, myyoungest grandson is one.
Every moment that I'm with them, it's just how can I impart
something to them.
You know, last night, justsitting with my oldest grandson
(29:22):
and we got the old school abacus.
I mean, I don't know a lot ofpeople that have that, but just
sitting down there with him andcounting from one to 100, that's
what's so important.
And being that positive malerole model in his life so that
he doesn't have to look anywhereelse other than his dad and his
granddad.
(29:42):
So that would be it for me.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
With you.
He's going to have an extremelypositive role model and I can
attest to everything you justsaid as the grandfather of eight
grandchildren, the oldest ofwhom is?
Graduating from college, theyoungest of whom is coming out
of kindergarten this year.
So, Colonel West, where can ourlisteners find more of your
work and how can they getinvolved with the causes that
(30:05):
you think are really important?
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Sure, Well, I'm the executive director of the
American Constitutional RightsUnion and you can follow me
there at the ACRU dot org.
I have a sub stack page thatyou can follow.
I have a podcast calledSteadfast and Loyal.
I'm the chairman of the DallasCounty Republican Party and you
can check us out at dallasgoporg, and I'm out there on all the
(30:30):
social media platforms, exceptfor that TikTok thing, because
I'm not supporting communistChina.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
All right, this is almost an impossible question to
ask you with all that you'vejust shared with us, but what's
next for you?
Another book, or politicalambitions or something else?
I hope the president has yourphone number on speed dial.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well, I don't know.
Look, you know, I live my lifebased upon Proverbs 3, 5 through
6.
And it says trust in the Lordwith all thy heart, lean not
upon your own understanding, andall your ways acknowledge him
and he will guide your path.
And so I just again want to bea humble servant to God and
country, and I'll always bewilling and able to answer that
(31:13):
call.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Colonel West.
I can't think of a better placeto end this interview, but
right here.
Thank you so much.
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
My pleasure, Jim.
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