Conservative Forum

HE Brings Conservatives Together Across Atlantic

Two former officeholders from different countries who have known triumph and defeat came together-with a little help from HUMAN EVENTS.

Former Rep. (1994-96) Steve Stockman (R.-Tex.), who recently joined the Arlington, Va.-based Leadership Institute, held a meeting with Simeon Saxe Coburg Gotha, until recently prime minister of Bulgaria. But he is bestknown throughout the world as Simeon II, the last king of Bulgaria until the Communists enslaved his country in 1946 and oversaw a nationwide plebiscite in which more than 95% of the voters chose to abolish the 1,300-yearold monarchy.

The vote, widely regarded as a fraud, forced child-monarch Simeon and his mother and sister into decades of exile. Over the years, he earned a master's degree in business, mastered eight languages and became a highly successful international investment banker. Greeted by more than 1 million Bulgarians when he returned to his native country after the fall of the Communist regime, Simeon eventually formed his own political party and, in 2001, became prime minister after the new "Movement for Simeon II" won a majority in parliamentary elections. Earlier this year, Simeon and his movement placed second in elections, so he left the premiership.

Like Simeon, Stockman is someone who overcame adversity to achieve political success against the odds. A one-time homeless man who got his life in order through Christian faith and conservative politics, Stockman made it to Congress on his third try in 1994. His election made national news because he unseated one of the most powerful House Democrats, Judiciary Chairman Jack Brooks (Tex.). After two years and an unyielding conservative voting record, Stockman was defeated for a second term. However, he remains a popular figure among Lone Star State conservatives.

Earlier this month, when Stockman told HUMAN EVENTS' John Gizzi (see "Politics 2005," September 19) he was going to visit a friend in Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria), Gizzi recalled to him how he interviewed the former king over breakfast during Simeon's '02 trip to Washington. Following the recent defeat of his movement, Simeon corresponded with Gizzi. When Stockman said he wanted to meet Simeon, an e-mail to Simeon's office and a telephone call by Stockman upon arriving in Bulgaria made possible the session between the former congressman and the former king-two leaders who have tasted the ups-and-downs of politics and have not let the downs discourage their political passions.

Center for Military Readiness To Honor Two Editors at HE

The Center for Military Readiness will present its Spotlight Award to HUMAN EVENTS Editor in Chief Thomas S. Winter and Editor Terence P. Jeffrey in recognition of the newsweekly's coverage of military personnel issues in the past year. They will receive the honor at the 10th annual CMR Celebration Reception in Washington, D.C., October 13.

The center's president, Elaine Donnelly, a contributing editor to HUMAN EVENTS, praised HUMAN EVENTS' coverage of efforts by the Department of the Army to order female soldiers into land combat support units that are required to be all-male.

"CMR appreciated the support of Terry Jeffrey and Tom Winter of HUMAN EVENTS in helping us to inform the nation about a troubling situation created by Army officials who are circumventing the law and Defense Department policy on women in land combat," Donnelly said. "This exposure helped to create support for legislation to codify current regulations on women in land combat, which passed the full House Armed Services Committee on May 18."

Rep. John McHugh (R.-N.Y.) will be honored with the group's Sentinel Award. McHugh is chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. He resisted the Pentagon's decision on women in combat.

Previous winners of the Spotlight Award, which recognizes journalistic efforts in support of America's armed forces, have included the Washington Times, National Review Online and George Neumayr of the American Spectator.

Michael Reagan to Headline YAF Leadership Conference

Seats are running out for the Young America's Foundation 2005 West Coast Leadership Conference, which takes place November 11-12 in Santa Barbara, Calif. The conference sold out in 2004, bringing together more than 800 conservative college students.

Speakers this year include radio talkshow hosts Michael Reagan and Mark Larson. Young America's Foundation President Ron Robinson, American Enterprise Institute fellow Steven Hayward and retired Lt. Col. Scott Rutter, winner of the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for Valor for his leadership during Operation Desert Storm.

The conference is a perfect opportunity to meet like-minded conservative students, hear the ideas that are often omitted from college classrooms and learn the secrets of successful campus activism, including tips on enhancing membership in your club and drawing the largest crowds to events.

Students can register for only $25, which includes meals, tuition, supplies and hotel accommodations. For more information or to register, visit www.YAF.org or call 1-888-USA-1776 or e-mail Michelle@ReaganRanch.org.

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Oct 3, 2005
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