First, to my almost saintly, wonderful, patient, funny, and very handsome husband, Mark Murrell, you are the main source of my strength, and I realize I’m the main source that zaps most of yours. I love you and appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. To my son, Jason, from the day you were born, I became a better person and am constantly trying to make the world a better place for you. I love and respect you beyond all reason. To my mom (and Texas PolitiChick), Lou Ellen Brown, and my father, Gene Brown, thank you for raising me with a rock-solid, unshakable foundation. To my writer-author-columnist crazy kook sister, Lisa Brown, who is my best friend in the entire world and the funniest human being in the history of the world (and who will be the next Erma Bombeck), you give me such inspiration. My nephew Zachary Zanardi reminds me that the word impossible isn’t a word used in our family. The Bledsoes and the McConnells, have been continuously supportive of my political career. I am forever grateful to my dear “rabbi” and “twin sister” Beverly Zaslow; to Mimi who I adore; my little bro Jamie Glazov and his Glazov Gang; my awesome friends Tim and Rowena Donnelly and AlfonZo and Carrie Rachel; my inspiring Cali-Israeli friend Lela Gilbert; brilliant author Evan Sayet (who calls my husband The Obstacle despite their great friendship); my Rage Against the Media friends Karen Siegemund and Marc Langsam (thank you for all the photos, Marc!); Ari David for all things Twitter; Dwight Schultz, Nick Adams in Australia, Jim & Mary Reilly, Basil Hoffman, Chele Stanton for the Touchstone bling, Patty Smith. Thank you to my Freedom Fighter friends Louie Gohmert, Nonie Darwish, Robert Spencer, Frank Gaffney, Daniel Greenfield; you have taught me so much. To Mark Isler and his ultra-cool mother, Ruth, and the Dennis Prager team; a special thank you to Rick Amato and Sutton Porter for having such belief in my abilities; Tamara Colbert, one of my role models; Liberty Alliance; Luke and JoAnne Livingston; Toots Sweet for creating our PolitiChicks theme song. I’m indebted to Jim Cross with RedWhiteBlueNews.com for giving me my first writing job. I’m grateful to editors John Ransom, Mike Opelka, and Jenny Jones (formerly of Patriot Update and PolitiChicks) for allowing me the privilege to write for them. My heartfelt thanks to Jason Browning for going above and beyond for PolitiChicks (in addition to your Gina duties). Thank you everyone at WND Books, especially Joseph Farah and Geoffrey Stone, and to our literary agent Jim Hart. To my friends and family in Hughes Springs, Texas, thank you for keeping me grounded. And of course I’m so thankful for my wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, and world-saving PolitiChicks coanchors Morgan Brittany and Dr. Gina Loudon whom I love and adore more than they could possibly know.
Thanks to our PolitiChicks Uber-friends/fans – there are too many to mention but an extra virtual hug for Robert Patrick, Tom Lehner, Gary Rumer, Skip Press, David Poindexter, DJ Ford, Tito Pineta, Pastor Jack Martin, Rob Hart, Michael Keller, Mitchell Lamm, Sean O’Reilly & the Fox Five Fan Page.
Last but not least, a very gratitude-filled thank-you to all our current PolitiChick National writers: Tina Drake, Lainie Sloane, Patti Terrell, Brenda Collins Morris, Abigail Adams, Barbara Cook, Michelle Moons, Lydia Goodman, Lisa Payne-Naeger, Sonya Sasser, Lou Ellen Brown, Jin Ah Jin, Michele Holt, Elizabeth Vale, Courtenay Turner, Liz Harrison, Lori Branham Bennett, Ruthie Thompson, Julia Gregory Seay, Carolyn Elkins, Leslie Dein-hammer, Katie Abercrombie, Julie Klose, Sandra Coburn, Elisha Todd, Margie Mars, BurkaChick, Karin Piper, Dr. Jacqueline Lang, Candace Hardin, Maureen Mullins, Pamela Anne, Resa Kirkland, Macey France, Anita Gunn, Shannon Grady, Jenny Kefauver, Kristen Snow-White, Laura Rambeau Lee, Alyssa Krumm, Danielle Saul, Kathryn Porter, Latisha Grady and the hundreds of former PolitiChicks writers who have come and gone through the years.
I never realized that writing a book was such a tremendous undertaking. Even though this was a collaborative effort with my two incredible coauthors it gave me a greater respect for people who put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard!).
I have so many people that I would like to thank for helping me along the way in this effort. Mainly I would like to express my gratitude to Ann-Marie Murrell and Dr. Gina Loudon who are joining me on this journey. They are two of the most genuine, loving, generous, and, may I add, classy, ladies that I have ever had the pleasure to work with and call friends. I could never have done any of this without either one of you.
In addition, I thank Sean Hannity, who was the first to give me the opportunity to voice my conservative views to a national audience, and Gary Sinise, who had the vision to create FOA for like-minded thinkers in Hollywood.
Thanks to Jay Hoffman, Beverly Zaslow, Al Han, Michael Finch, and the always entertaining Evan Sayet! Jason Browning has gone above and beyond the call of duty organizing the impossible. Thank you, Mel Flynn and Mark Vafiades from Hollywood Congress of Republicans and Mark Isler (and his beautiful mother), for having me as a recurring radio guest on his show, and thanks to the incomparable Jamie Glazov for allowing me to join him as part of The Glazov Gang. Many thanks to Mike Opelka who has known me since the early days, and to my new friends Rick Amato and Sutton Porter from The Rick Amato Show.
I deeply appreciate the opportunity that John Ransom and Michael Shaus gave me to write columns for Townhall Finance and to Liberty Alliance for adding me as a PolitiChick. Thanks as well to everyone at WND Books for their hard work in publishing our book.
Thank you to my friend the Honorable Judge James Rogan who took my calls during the Clinton impeachment hearings. A huge thank you and shout out to Governor Sarah Palin who is on the front lines and voicing her support to all of us standing behind her.
I am especially grateful to my dear friend on the front lines, Larry Klayman. I am so glad that we met during the Judicial Watch years. I also cannot forget the incredible Andrew Breitbart who gave all of us the strength to make our voices heard. He was and is a force that will never be forgotten.
A special thank-you to my dear friend Chele Stanton who made all of us look so incredibly glamorous with her Touchstone Jewelry. And I particularly thank three dear friends who have always believed in me through good times and bad: Cynthia and Charles McDonald have always been there for me and patiently listen to me vent, and Laurie Atlas Seiden, who although she lives across the country from me, still has always been there for me.
Finally, I thank my wonderful husband, Jack Gill, who has been by my side for thirty-three years. He is the best support system I could have and has encouraged me to take risks in my life when I was afraid. I know that no matter what happens, he will always be there. To my children, Katie and Cody, whom I love more than life itself and each day make me so proud, I love you and thank you for your support.
One final thank-you goes out to my father-in-law, the late Major General Sloan (Sandy) R. Gill, USAF (Ret). Sandy inspired me with our talks on Sunday nights, and his encouragement, passion, and incredible service to this country has enabled me to find my voice. Rest assured Sandy, I and millions of Americans like me will continue to keep fighting for the freedom and glory of this incredible country that we all love.
To the single best person I have ever known, my sweet John, thank you for being the strong, steady, solid voice of reason and love in my life all the time. Thank you for your unmatched wisdom, your unmitigated patience, and forbearing love. Thank you for believing in me and always being my refuge in the storms of life. Thank you for the dream-come-true life we live, that you worked so hard to achieve, and for always giving me the wings I need to chase my dreams. Most of all, thank you for giving me our five precious babies that make every moment amazing. N&F, MSJM <3.
Lyda, Lily Love, Jack (Tade), Samuel Christian, and BooceBooce “Bo” Loudon: You are my treasure. My greatest accomplishment, my greatest refinement, my greatest loves, my greatest pride, my greatest challenge, my greatest humility, and my greatest purpose. I live every day for your future, and I love you USAMBEA. I always will. God willing, you will have a free America to one day know the love that I knew the moment I looked in your eyes and knew I had to fight for you. You are my world, and the reason I live and breathe. Being your mama is the greatest honor of my lifetime.
Chupi (Producer Jason Browning): Thank you for teaching me that every day is the best day of my life! Thank you for pushing me, believing in me, challenging me, adventuring with me, fighting for me, being behind the scenes making it all come together, for picking up the pieces, making it all right, making it better. You made the phrase “everyone needs their own Jason” famous, and it is never lost on me how much you sacrifice – how big the work, how little the thanks, and how unbelievably competent, brilliant, and wonderful you are. MSH 15, or bust!
To my mom, your faith inspires me, your love emboldens me, and your strength in the face of challenges makes me feel invincible. Thanks to Dale for being your rock so that you can be mine. I love you, ONPN. To my dad, who taught me the most, even if it isn’t what he meant to teach me. I know you will never read this, but I want to say it anyway. I am thankful to God for you in my life, and it is my prayer that you can know Him and feel how He has always loved you, used you so mightily, and forgiven you so greatly. I love you, Daddy.
To my sisters: 1) My Smexi, Michelle Huffman – Thank you for reminding me what is good when I lose sight of it all too often. Thank you for loving all my curves and edges and the constant reminders of your love. You are a present I can’t wait to open each day! 2) Angela Delay – my Dancin’ Queen and my tambourine! I have had more laughs and more fun with you than anyone alive; I am blessed to have you, and I love you. 3) To my sister who gave me the gift of life in my son Samuel and to all of those women out there who choose life – what women really do want: #AdoptionNotAbortion.
I thank my current and former editors, agents, partners, publishers, colleagues and stylists: Andrew Breitbart, who believed in me first and named me “Troublemaker.” Michael Walsh, Nicole Challans, John Ransom, Ola Hawatmeh, Tamara Colbert, Phillip Dennis, Bob Unruh, Dr. Dathan Paterno, Neil Cavuto, Bev Zaslow, Chelsea Schilling, Joseph & EF Farah, Geoffrey Stone, Jim Hart, Garth Kant, Laura Scotti & Don Crawford, Shante Schwartz, Diana Flegal, Lee Davis, Michael Hart, Bob Dutko, Brandon & Jared Villorani, Ray Lucia, Jr., and the Lucia family.
I’m grateful to my fellow warriors who inspire me, push me, have my back, hold me accountable, laugh with me, and make the battle worthwhile: my pastor and solid faith rock Jim Garlow, my Big Bro and close friend DJ Ford, The Adamses, Vicki Ambrose, Jen AmericanGirl, Chris Babb, Frankie Baird, Caroline Batycki, Scott Beason, Belle OftheBall, Tom Bendure, Tim Boren, April Braswell, Santiago Cano, Candace Chambers, Jamey Clements, Morgan Cody, Victoria Coley, Bert Collins, Jeff Coulter, Linda Judson Creviston, Dark Horse on the Roof, Kira Davis, Martha Doiran, Tim and Rowena Donnelly, Wayne Dupree, Sarah Dykes, Cam Edwards, Michael Elmore, Feisty Floridian, Deanna Frankowski, Melanie Reed Freeman, Dr. Gary, Ali Claire Genis, Xander Gibb, Ryan Girdusky, Joe Dan Gorman, Katherine Elizabeth Grantham, Cameron Gray, Sarah Greek, Zan Green, Dr. Isaiah Hankel, Rob Hart, Kevin Huffman, Rusty Humphries, Dr. Jim, Farida Joaquin, Jim Jorgensen, Michael Keller, Jeff Klein, Kelly Komadoski, Andrew Langer, Steven Laboe, Mitchell Lamb, Marc Langsam, Terri LaPoint, Carole Levine, Mikey Lawrence, Tom Lehner, Trish Lester, Luke & Jo Anne Livingston, Angela Love, Steven Maikoski, Fingers Malloy, Isabel Matos, Marybeth Meek, Rabbi Chaim Mentz, Penny Nance, James Nathaniel, SSgt. Robert Norton III, Dr. Gina McNelley, Joe Messina, Shane Mincer, Zel Mitzel, Michelle Moons, Mary Moran, Mark Murrell, Sly Ocana, Sean O’Reilly, Kim Paris, Skip Palmer, Robert Patrick, Gregg Phillips, Katrina Pierson, Tito Pineta, David Poindexter, Keely Prohaska, Serafin Quintanar, AlfonZo & Carrie Rachel, Jeff and Ann Reed, Dran Reese, Richie Rich, Brian Rightof-Center, Stacey CW Roberts, Jes Romero, Karin Rosarne, Lila Rose, Gary Rumer, Sal Russo, Paula Sanning, Rick Sarmiento, Wayne Sasser, Randy Schaffer, Thomas Schmitz, Suzanne Sharer, Lavon Doris Shockley, Chris Skates, Lainie & Shannon Sloane, Tom Size-more, Brian Smith, Deno Smith, Deauna Stafford, David Stephens, Christopher Stewart, Cathy Ellis Stone, Brian Stumpe, Rick Suryk, Courtenay Turner, Cyndi Brinkerhoff Uhlenhoff, Jack Watts, Jackie Wellfonder, Ruth Weiss, David Weissman, CJ Wheeler, Scott Wilke, Tollie Williams, Woody & Donna Woodrum, Glyn Wright, Bev Zaslow, Lisa Zimmerman, Gene Smith of Hoover Tactical Firearms in Birmingham, Alabama, and whomever I have forgotten on this list – you know who you are, and I thank you. To Father of heroic Benghazi SEAL Ty Woods Charles Woods and all our military heroes, we will never forget!
To my enemies, because I have learned so much from you.
To my audience whom I have to thank for everything. To my friends in the Show-Me State who will always be deep in my heart, and my Sweet Home Alabama, that I love so much. #RollTide
To the two most amazing women in media that grace the planet today, and my partners, for whom I am eternally grateful, Ann-Marie Murrell and Morgan Brittany. You are what this world needs. Shine!
To God, because You are my All.