Formerly named E!! The True Conservative Story, this blog is wholly owned and operated by me, Elizabeth Crum.
It is not sanctioned by nor (necessarily) reflective of the views of my employer(s), associates, family, friends, fellow countrymen or neighboring homeowners association members.
For brevity’s sake, I sign everything and am often called “E”, a fact that inspired the original name (as a spoof on the Entertainment Network’s series The E! True Hollywood Story).
(At the time, I was really hoping E! would sue me and skyrocket E!! up the Google rankings, making me a household name — but alas, that did not occur. Instead, I had to get there the good, old-fashioned way: obsessively blogging and shamelessly self-promoting.)
STUFF I DO
– Publisher and editor of www.NevadaNewsBureau.com, a small, independent news service covering the Nevada statehouse and politics. (All opinions and commentary on this blog are my personal views and do not represent the views of the Nevada News Bureau.)
– Conservative political commentator and co-host of ”The Agenda” on KSNV-TV News 3 in Las Vegas (catch us between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m.)
– Occasional guest commentator on KNPR news radio, KXNT news/talk radio, PBS Las Vegas Channel 10′s long-running Nevada Week in Review and others.
– My work has been noted by or has appeared in National Review Online, Politico, U.S. News and World Report, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and many others.
– I Tweet a lot. You can follow me on Twitter by clicking here.
– My Facebook fan page (new! and in need of fans!!) is here.
STUFF
I’VE DONE
– 2010 political reporter for National Review Online for their Battle ’10 elections blog.
– Co-founder of RFCRadio.com (February 2009), which has now morphed into FTRRadio.com, an internet radio station and podcasting portal featuring original news and political talk from America’s libertarian and conservative grassroots. The station serves as both a training ground and platform for aspiring bloggers, radio personalities, pundits, podcasters and producers.
– Contributor, National Review Online‘s election prediction Symposium on 11/4/08. (What an honor. I was a great admirer of William F. Buckley, Jr. when he was still with us and was stricken at his passing on February 27, 2008.)
– Winner of the 2008 Sam Adams Alliance Golden Sammie award for “Blogivist of the Year” for the “Say Something, Do Something” spirit of this blog.
MY POLITICS
I am a student of American conservativism but tend (increasingly, it seems) to be libertarian in my views.
I believe government is necessary but am skeptical of the well-intentioned (and usually very expensive) intrusiveness of The Busybody State, aka Big Government.
I believe people can and should think and choose for themselves. I have very little tolerance for the benevolent tyranny of both the far left and far right.
This blog regularly blogs about and advocates for:
- The First Amendment
- Open, transparent government (contracts and checkbooks: online and searchable!!)
- Ditto, campaign money (full disclosure!!)
- Reducing waste, fraud, and corruption in government (we need more watchdogs!!)
- Competent non-partisan cost-benefit analysis of public policy
- Federal tax code simplification
- Free market policies with reasonable safeguards and regulations
- Easing referendum and initiative requirements to make it easier for citizens to put issues on the ballot
- Smart energy policy to include increased domestic oil drilling and refining, increased use of natural gas, the construction of nuclear energy and recycling plants and the development of “green” energy infrastructure inasmuch as it can be cost-effective
- Education reform including more local control, voucher-scholarship programs, more charter and empowerment schools, more public-private partnerships, and increased competition
- Health care reform including more privatization and public-private partnerships, provider choice across state lines, and fewer state and federal mandates
- Medicare and Social Security reform
- Tighter border security and strict immigration law enforcement along with a common sense solution for the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country already
- Protection of Second Amendment rights
- A lean, mean U.S. military that puts fear and trembling into the hearts of all who would do harm to American citizens
THE EARLY YEARS
Both my paternal and maternal families hail from Massachusetts, where I spent some summers as a kid, but I grew up (mostly) in St. Clair, Michigan.
I was the editor of both my high school and community college newspapers. I sued my college – with the help of the ACLU – and won an interesting freedom of press case in 1989.
Between my years in Michigan and Nevada, I lived in Massachusetts (2 years), Pennsylvania (3 years) and Florida (4 years).
In late 1998, I moved to Las Vegas. I now live in Henderson, NV where I plan to remain for the foreseeable future.
EDUCATION
I attended St. Clair Community College in Port Huron, MI from 1987 – 1989 with an emphasis in English & Journalism. I graduated from UNLV with a B.A. in English in the spring of 2010 after attending part-time for a number of years.
For my next academic endeavor, I am considering a Masters in Ethics and Public Policy or a Ph.D. in Political Philosophy.
RANDOM “E” FACTS
Birthplace: Rota, Spain
Favorite cities: Boston, Miami, San Diego & San Francisco
Favorite baseball team: Boston Red Sox and whoever’s playing the Yankees
Favorite state motto (New Hampshire): Live Free or Die
Peeps who most shaped my politics: my Mom and William F. Buckley, Jr.
Interests other than politics: literature; film; travel; food/cooking & wine; blues & rock and roll
