Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So I saw a rather shocking press release an hour
ago or so from my good friend and fellow leadership
program of the Rockies graduate Paul lundein State Senator Paul
lundein minority leader in the Colorado State Senate, meaning he
is the leader of Republicans in the state Senate. And well,
(00:24):
Paul joins us on the show because I'm a little
bit speechless. Although you only had a year to go
because you're term limited, But dude, what are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah? Absolutely, Ross, It's always good to be with you.
And what I'm doing is you correctly pointed out I'm
term limited. I only had a few more months to
go in any case, And what I'm doing is pressing forward.
I have the opportunity to open the aperture of the
fight that I've been fighting for freedom, common sense, conservatism,
(00:54):
and market principles instead of collectivist government control over our life.
I've done that as a legislator, and now I'm going
to do it as a president and CEO of a
policy foundation that has a couple advocacy arms, and We're
going to press the case on a bigger scale. I can,
as I said, open the aperture move from Colorado. I'll
(01:16):
stay in Colorado. I'll stay focused on Colorado. But I
can also now work to press forward the great common sense,
market oriented solutions that have made America spectacular. Exceptional is
the word I use, and we need to press those forward.
And that's what I'll be doing at the American Excellence
Foundation as president and CEO.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, the American I was wondering what the name was
American Excellence Foundation. So is this is this a new
organization being founded by you or because of you? Or
is this an existing thing? Tell us a little about
the organization.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
That's a great question. It's a little of both. It's
existed and it's done a little bit. But the idea
is I'm going to jump in the saddle, spur the steed,
and away we're going to go. We're going to really
lean in and move diligently. And it's critically important because
each year tens of billions of dollars are spent shaping
the perceptions people Americans have about the laws and policies
(02:17):
under which they live, and for decades, decades and decades,
the progressives and the progressive causes have had the lion's
share of that funding In the twenty twenty election cycle.
Of a two year cycle, thirty five billion dollars was
spent influencing the way people think about, the decisions they make,
(02:38):
the politics they play, and how they engage in that
Ninety one percent of that thirty five billion dollars was
spent by progressive causes, Earth First Justice, the George Soros crowd,
and others like it. My goal, my job is to
lean in and write or begin to write that imbalance.
It's a critically important role, and it's not oportunity for
(03:00):
me to do what I've been doing on a bigger
stage and hopefully in a more powerful way.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You know something that you understand better than most, You
understand much better than most. I understand a little better
than most, and I want listeners to understand is that
as a politician you have to spend a fair amount
of time raising money. You personally don't have to spend
as a politician as much time raising money as members
of the House of Representatives, the Federal House of Representatives do.
(03:28):
They're dialing for dollars like every every week. It's pretty nuts.
But as a as the president, if that's going to
be your title of a think president and CEO president
and CEO of think tanks are that's very very much
a fundraising job in addition to however much policy you
(03:48):
want to be involved with. But and I know you
as a thinker and a policy guy, but are you
ready to be out there like a as a at
least fifty percent of your job being raising money?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah? Absolutely. Let me take your question and adjust it
just a little bit. American Excellence Foundation is not a
think tank. It's a get it done tank. We are engaging,
We are convening legislators and helping educate them. We are,
in fact connecting and building relationships as we shape the
(04:22):
groundwork upon which policy is developed. One thing we're leaning
into right now, and I'll be leading as a former journalist,
I'm coming back to journalism in a meaningful way. The
legacy media in very significant ways has blown up its
credibility over the last number of months and years, and
a new media is beginning to arise, and we will
(04:43):
We have a policy platform. News is the name of
the organization already has a vertical that talks about energy
and the environment in a way that follows the facts
instead of the herd in a way that follows the
facts instead of the predominant narrative, and we are building
media that will tell the whole story so that people
(05:04):
can have the ability to make proper judgments. We'll lean
into and our audience will principally be policy makers. We've
just recently launched health platform dot News. It will do
the same thing, lean into an understanding of what is
health and all the aspects of it, again with the
idea of following the facts, not the herd, not the
(05:26):
narrative that the legacy media has become captive to.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Are you likely to restrict your activities to policy versus
getting involved in elections or primary elections or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Absolutely, my role, We'll move from elections, which I've participated
in obviously as the minority leader. I will move to
a policy and the precursor to policy. What's going on
in the general conversation with the public and with policy makers,
how do they understand the facts and the realities of
(06:03):
the circumstance, making sure that they have access to information
that previously has been absent. And I would argue leading
to some judgments that have been non beneficial, that have
been a threat to common sense, that have been a
threat to marketplace ideas that have been a threat to
innovation and the development that have been a threat to
(06:25):
the sorts of things that have made America exceptional. And
that's the lonely mind of a man or a woman
creating something new and innovative that may change the way
we live, the way we think, the way we work.
And that's something that has been clamped down on. The
progressive collectivist side of the world. Wants to make everything
(06:45):
controlled true government. They see government is the arbiter of
all that is good. That's a mistake, and that's a
way that leads us away from the great traditions of America.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So first I'll just say to listeners, you can understand why,
just based on what Paul just said, we'll be so
sad to not have him in the state legislature. He
was going to go anyway term limited. But Paul Lundine
just an absolute champion for clear thinking and principle, and
(07:17):
it's not going to be easy, Paul, to find another
Republican leader that can live up to your standards on
those things.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, you're very kind, you're too kind. In fact, we've
got a great team. There are many people that are
each putting their shoulder on the wheel and pushing us
forward together. This gives me an opportunity to have a
little bit bigger platform. I've have a little bit of
a bully pulpit as the minority leader, but my bully
pulpit gets a little bit bigger. And the platform on
which that bully pulpit sits, it's nationwide in nature until
(07:49):
it gives me the ability to expand and make these
arguments to a larger audience.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Okay, one more time. The organization's name, And does it
have a website.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
American Excellence Foundation. Yes, it does, a e f HQ
dot org. A e f HQ dot org is the
quickest way to get there.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
And are are you raising money already? And is it
a C three such that they're tax deductible tax deductible contribution?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Say C three, It is tax deductible. And no, I
have not raised a nickel. And that's part of why
I have to move on from the role of senator.
It would have been something that I wouldn't want to do.
I never want a since or a hint of impropriety.
I would not wanted to have. I would not have
wanted to raise money for something when I was still
(08:39):
a sitting senator for the state of Colorado. So when
I make this transition, then I will be able to
lean into that wheel and start raising money for these causes.
And anybody who hears my voice, likes that idea, wants
to join, please track me down through a e f
HQ dot org. I would love to talk with you.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I guess the folks who who hired you know they've
got They might not know it as well as well
as I know it, but they're very lucky to have you.
And we've been very lucky to have you in the
State Senate. And I guess we'll we'll continue being lucky
to have you with whatever you're going to exactly with
whatever you're going to do next, and we'll I think,
probably have you on the show quite a bit talking
(09:18):
about policy going forward.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I look forward to it. Love Colorado, staying in Colorado,
fighting for Colorado first, but going to fight for nationwide
arguments as well.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
State Senator for a little bit longer. Are you out now?
Are you officially done the day? Today?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Tonight? All right?
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Night tonight, State Senator for another twelve hours, Paul Lundin,
Thanks for everything, Paul, and we'll keep in touch.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Thank you Ross, Thank you to all your listeners.
So I saw a rather shocking press release an hour
ago or so from my good friend and fellow leadership
program of the Rockies graduate Paul lundein State Senator Paul
lundein minority leader in the Colorado State Senate, meaning he
is the leader of Republicans in the state Senate. And well,
(00:24):
Paul joins us on the show because I'm a little
bit speechless. Although you only had a year to go
because you're term limited, But dude, what are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah? Absolutely, Ross, It's always good to be with you.
And what I'm doing is you correctly pointed out I'm
term limited. I only had a few more months to
go in any case, And what I'm doing is pressing forward.
I have the opportunity to open the aperture of the
fight that I've been fighting for freedom, common sense, conservatism,
(00:54):
and market principles instead of collectivist government control over our life.
I've done that as a legislator, and now I'm going
to do it as a president and CEO of a
policy foundation that has a couple advocacy arms, and We're
going to press the case on a bigger scale. I can,
as I said, open the aperture move from Colorado. I'll
(01:16):
stay in Colorado. I'll stay focused on Colorado. But I
can also now work to press forward the great common sense,
market oriented solutions that have made America spectacular. Exceptional is
the word I use, and we need to press those forward.
And that's what I'll be doing at the American Excellence
Foundation as president and CEO.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, the American I was wondering what the name was
American Excellence Foundation. So is this is this a new
organization being founded by you or because of you? Or
is this an existing thing? Tell us a little about
the organization.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
That's a great question. It's a little of both. It's
existed and it's done a little bit. But the idea
is I'm going to jump in the saddle, spur the steed,
and away we're going to go. We're going to really
lean in and move diligently. And it's critically important because
each year tens of billions of dollars are spent shaping
the perceptions people Americans have about the laws and policies
(02:17):
under which they live, and for decades, decades and decades,
the progressives and the progressive causes have had the lion's
share of that funding In the twenty twenty election cycle.
Of a two year cycle, thirty five billion dollars was
spent influencing the way people think about, the decisions they make,
(02:38):
the politics they play, and how they engage in that
Ninety one percent of that thirty five billion dollars was
spent by progressive causes, Earth First Justice, the George Soros crowd,
and others like it. My goal, my job is to
lean in and write or begin to write that imbalance.
It's a critically important role, and it's not oportunity for
(03:00):
me to do what I've been doing on a bigger
stage and hopefully in a more powerful way.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You know something that you understand better than most, You
understand much better than most. I understand a little better
than most, and I want listeners to understand is that
as a politician you have to spend a fair amount
of time raising money. You personally don't have to spend
as a politician as much time raising money as members
of the House of Representatives, the Federal House of Representatives do.
(03:28):
They're dialing for dollars like every every week. It's pretty nuts.
But as a as the president, if that's going to
be your title of a think president and CEO president
and CEO of think tanks are that's very very much
a fundraising job in addition to however much policy you
(03:48):
want to be involved with. But and I know you
as a thinker and a policy guy, but are you
ready to be out there like a as a at
least fifty percent of your job being raising money?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah? Absolutely. Let me take your question and adjust it
just a little bit. American Excellence Foundation is not a
think tank. It's a get it done tank. We are engaging,
We are convening legislators and helping educate them. We are,
in fact connecting and building relationships as we shape the
(04:22):
groundwork upon which policy is developed. One thing we're leaning
into right now, and I'll be leading as a former journalist,
I'm coming back to journalism in a meaningful way. The
legacy media in very significant ways has blown up its
credibility over the last number of months and years, and
a new media is beginning to arise, and we will
(04:43):
We have a policy platform. News is the name of
the organization already has a vertical that talks about energy
and the environment in a way that follows the facts
instead of the herd in a way that follows the
facts instead of the predominant narrative, and we are building
media that will tell the whole story so that people
(05:04):
can have the ability to make proper judgments. We'll lean
into and our audience will principally be policy makers. We've
just recently launched health platform dot News. It will do
the same thing, lean into an understanding of what is
health and all the aspects of it, again with the
idea of following the facts, not the herd, not the
(05:26):
narrative that the legacy media has become captive to.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Are you likely to restrict your activities to policy versus
getting involved in elections or primary elections or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Absolutely, my role, We'll move from elections, which I've participated
in obviously as the minority leader. I will move to
a policy and the precursor to policy. What's going on
in the general conversation with the public and with policy makers,
how do they understand the facts and the realities of
(06:03):
the circumstance, making sure that they have access to information
that previously has been absent. And I would argue leading
to some judgments that have been non beneficial, that have
been a threat to common sense, that have been a
threat to marketplace ideas that have been a threat to
innovation and the development that have been a threat to
(06:25):
the sorts of things that have made America exceptional. And
that's the lonely mind of a man or a woman
creating something new and innovative that may change the way
we live, the way we think, the way we work.
And that's something that has been clamped down on. The
progressive collectivist side of the world. Wants to make everything
(06:45):
controlled true government. They see government is the arbiter of
all that is good. That's a mistake, and that's a
way that leads us away from the great traditions of America.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So first I'll just say to listeners, you can understand why,
just based on what Paul just said, we'll be so
sad to not have him in the state legislature. He
was going to go anyway term limited. But Paul Lundine
just an absolute champion for clear thinking and principle, and
(07:17):
it's not going to be easy, Paul, to find another
Republican leader that can live up to your standards on
those things.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, you're very kind, you're too kind. In fact, we've
got a great team. There are many people that are
each putting their shoulder on the wheel and pushing us
forward together. This gives me an opportunity to have a
little bit bigger platform. I've have a little bit of
a bully pulpit as the minority leader, but my bully
pulpit gets a little bit bigger. And the platform on
which that bully pulpit sits, it's nationwide in nature until
(07:49):
it gives me the ability to expand and make these
arguments to a larger audience.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Okay, one more time. The organization's name, And does it
have a website.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
American Excellence Foundation. Yes, it does, a e f HQ
dot org. A e f HQ dot org is the
quickest way to get there.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
And are are you raising money already? And is it
a C three such that they're tax deductible tax deductible contribution?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Say C three, It is tax deductible. And no, I
have not raised a nickel. And that's part of why
I have to move on from the role of senator.
It would have been something that I wouldn't want to do.
I never want a since or a hint of impropriety.
I would not wanted to have. I would not have
wanted to raise money for something when I was still
(08:39):
a sitting senator for the state of Colorado. So when
I make this transition, then I will be able to
lean into that wheel and start raising money for these causes.
And anybody who hears my voice, likes that idea, wants
to join, please track me down through a e f
HQ dot org. I would love to talk with you.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I guess the folks who who hired you know they've
got They might not know it as well as well
as I know it, but they're very lucky to have you.
And we've been very lucky to have you in the
State Senate. And I guess we'll we'll continue being lucky
to have you with whatever you're going to exactly with
whatever you're going to do next, and we'll I think,
probably have you on the show quite a bit talking
(09:18):
about policy going forward.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I look forward to it. Love Colorado, staying in Colorado,
fighting for Colorado first, but going to fight for nationwide
arguments as well.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
State Senator for a little bit longer. Are you out now?
Are you officially done the day? Today?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Tonight? All right?
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Night tonight, State Senator for another twelve hours, Paul Lundin,
Thanks for everything, Paul, and we'll keep in touch.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Thank you Ross, Thank you to all your listeners.
The Ross Kaminsky Show News
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