Tactical 16 Publishing
Meet Our Authors
Meet Our Authors
Tactical 16 Publishing is dedicated to serving active, inactive and retired United States military armed forces authors, along with their family members, military-affiliated writers and first responders. We serve those who have served our country.
Deborah Spencer
Author
The First Enterprize
A Legendary Little Ship
with a Storied Name
Spencer traces the full story of this historic ship from its conception and construction in 1799 to its ultimate demise in 1823, when she stranded and broke up on Little Curacao Island in the West Indies.
“History enthusiasts and those with a naval 
or military background are sure to be immersed in the untold story of this famous ship – a history that includes wars and conflicts in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean and colorful commanders,” said Spencer, a life-long history enthusiast. “I’ve combined a compelling narrative with ship images, battle scenes, portraits of captains and their commodores, along with maps to draw readers into the story.”
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“Deborah’s account is such a great read and fills a huge void in the historical record of a ship that is pivotal to our country’s story,” said Chris Schafer, CEO at Tactical 16 Publishing.
Spencer, who lives in Florida and is the chief technology officer at an advertising technology company, says she has always had a particular fascination for ships named Enterprise. She is originally from Huntsville, Alabama.
Ward Mayfield
Author
Lessons from Uncle Sam
Embark on a grueling journey alongside bomb disposal teams facing off with death on the battlefield.
In his debut book, Mayfield transports his audience from the comfort and safety of their lives to the raw and unpredictable cruelty of war, death, and destruction.
His story both enlightens and uplifts readers as he goes back to his time in war zones as a bomb disposal operator in a battle of wits with the enemy where losing could have meant death. He makes a conscious choice to move forward with his life in spite of the tragedies he has had to face.
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“This is my story of what it’s like to survive an explosion and go back to work the next day, over and over, until it physically became impossible to continue,” said Mayfield, who earned two Purple Heart medals, an Army Commendation for Valor, and a Bronze Star. “I had to come to grips with going from powerful, agile, and intelligent to slow and sometimes very weak and confused after so many IED hits. And now, I’m finally at ease, even proud of, the mess I am today because I earned my scars and lessons. I want my words to help others who suffer.”
Now retired and living in the greater Salt Lake City area in Utah, Mayfield continually looks for ways to serve others and give back in his community.
Spencer Emch
Author
Time of Flight
Go on an unforgettable journey of discovery with Spencer Emch as he deploys to Iraq.
In his debut book, Emch explores the full spectrum of human emotions servicemembers go through when they’re put into dangerous situations fraught with chaos and uncertainty.
“The good, the bad, the hilarious, and the surprising are all included in this war story of human experience and emotion,” said Emch, who served in the U.S. Army for 12 years as both a musician and an Apache helicopter pilot. “I lead readers on a journey from what seemed like safety from within the borders of an allied nation to the war-torn deserts of Iraq along a crescendo of combat missions.”
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Emch is currently flying helicopters and airplanes in Europe, where he lives with his wife and newborn son. When he isn’t flying, he is helping to develop the local music scene, surfing, or spending time in the mountains.
Michael McGarrey
Author
Life’s Memorable Moments
“Get ready to get a good laugh and a look into some of the events in my life that helped shape me,” said McGarrey, who was in the U.S. Army infantry for almost 8 years. “I want people to think of their own memorable moments after reading my book, and see that it’s the embarrassing and sometimes hard things that give us the best memories.”
McGarrey set out to write this book to reassure others that everyone has both bad and good things that happen to them over a lifetime. But, when you compare, the bad times usually make up only about one percent compared to the joyous moments, he says.
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“Michael’s book will definitely bring joy and encouragement to many readers with his feel-good series of stories,” said Chris Schafer, CEO at Tactical 16 Publishing. “He helps his audience see that it’s okay to laugh at yourself in a world often filled with negativity. This is one that will be hard to stop reading once you start!”
Lee Kelley
Author
Look To The Warriors
Lee Kelley’s self-help book draws upon the military’s most foundational lessons and mindsets to help readers apply these life-changing principles in their own lives.
“After serving in uniform for a decade, and now working closely with Veterans for the past 14 years, I’ve discovered some perspectives that I think will help readers create more inner peace, reduce stress, and sustain them through difficult times and the emotional wars we all fight,” said Kelley, an Army Veteran, author, executive coach and trainer.
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“Lee’s book opens so many unexpected doorways for readers into personal growth,” said Chris Schafer, CEO at Tactical 16 Publishing. “His affirmations and practical exercises at the end of each chapter reinforce his strong message and provide a roadmap to find the inner peace we all seek on our individual life journeys.”
Victor R. Morris
Author
Marsi Goes to Mars
In his debut book, “Marsi Goes to Mars“, Morris introduces young children to Marsi, a precocious young girl whose curiosity is sparked about Mars after learning about the Red Planet at school.
Kids will fall in love with Marsi’s bold and bubbly personality as she shares her adventures and discovers a lot about herself and Mars with her best friend, Marty, a spunky German Shepherd, by her side.
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Morris lives in London and recently graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He served in the U.S. Army for 7.5 years and has worked in more than 15 European countries.
James Dehner
Author
An Empty Shell
In his debut book, Dehner draws readers into his story as he talks about this guilt and feelings of loneliness, leading to self-isolation while serving and even when he returned home.
Dehner worked on his story for almost 40 years and recently finished it. He hopes that sharing his account and lessons learned can help former and current soldiers and their family members who have been hit hard by the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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Drafted in 1968, Dehner says his service in the Vietnam War deeply affected him and the way he lived for years afterward. Loss of friends and even the enemy resulted in him living with guilt-guilt of “being in one piece, the guilt of having done less than what I somehow thought other people might have expected of me.”
Now retired after a distinguished career as an executive in the railway industry and an entrepreneur, Dehner spends a lot of time woodcarving and building models in Texas with his wife and black lab by his side.
Jeff Clark
Author
Hear These Truths:
The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Leadership Algorithm
In his debut book, Jeff Clark outlines the crucial steps readers should take to design their own philosophy, or what he calls their algorithm, to rule the workplace and understand their leadership mission, vision, and goals.
“Approaching leadership without a strategy will bury you and slow your progress,” said Clark, a coach and mentor with certifications in Lean Six Sigma, technical training, and executive leadership. “The way an algorithm – a rule set for success – guides the content of a website, your school of thought on leading must do the same. It’s the ‘call to action.’”
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This plan covers: defining leadership; distinguishing between power and purpose; being a servant leader; making smart decisions with confidence; becoming empowered and empowering others; effectively communicating and listening; and, accountability and its importance for leaders and teams.
Skyla Pearson
Author
The Enlisted:
The Price of Service No One Tells You
In her debut book, The Enlisted, The Price of Service No One Tells You, Pearson sheds light on the tough realities she faced as a black, enlisted woman serving in the U.S. Navy, and draws attention to what other young women are sure to encounter.
Pearson’s book is drawn from a journal she kept during her five years of service in the U.S. Navy and from interviews with women and men who crossed her path during her tours in both Virginia, California, and on the open seas.
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“I want to start the controversial conversations that will lead to change,” said Pearson, who is currently a University of Alabama student. “I’m focused and determined to help at least one person see the full picture before making a multi-year commitment where the only thing that is truly certain is uncertainty itself.”
Walter Phillip "Phil" Jordan, Jr.
Author
Odds N Ends In Rhyme
Tactical 16 Publishing company is happy to release our latest book, Odds N Ends In 
Rhyne, by author Walter Phillip “Phil” Jordan, Jr. Phil wrote this collection of over 70 heartfelt poems to offer hope to thousands of veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
His extraordinary careers in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army during WWII create a backdrop that readers will find fascinating.
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“It’s an honor to have talked with Phil and to help his family realize Phil’s dream of bringing this historical treasure to publication and to honor this hero as well as the WWII generation”, said Chris Schafer, CEO of Tactical 16. “Helping veterans, first responders and their families and friends tell their stories and preserving history is one of our core missions and we take it very seriously.”
Sadly, Phil passed away shortly after contacting Tactical 16 Publishing. Before passing Phil asked that all proceeds from Odds N Ends In Rhyme be donated to Wounded Warrior Project.
Kim DeFiori
Author
Lessons from Thor
DeFiori began her military career after graduating from West Point in 2008 as a military police officer. She deployed shortly 
after to Afghanistan for a year, serving with military police and infantry companies. She was one of the first women to work alongside Afghan police day and night conducting raids with special operations units. She went on to serve as an aide-de-camp at the Pentagon.
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“Kim’s debut book is so heartfelt and encouraging,” said Chris Schafer, CEO at Tactical 16. “She talks about her difficult journey and close relationship with Thor, her precocious furry friend, in a fun and meaningful way. You’re sure to fall in love with Thor and learn from both Kim and him as the story progresses. This book is so well done and motivational!” DeFiori calls Maryland home and recently started Badges United Foundation, a non-profit, to help first responders who have PTSD.
Annette Whittenberger
Author
The Wall Between Two Lives: A True Story of Finding Purpose
Annette commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army as a Chemical Officer from the ROTC Program at Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ). She has a B.A. in Psychology from Arizona State University and an M.S. in Environmental Management from Webster University.
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She retired and decided to become an Accidental Entrepreneur to be able to make up for lost time with her children and use her voice to share her story about real life after the Army and living with mental illness. Since her retirement she has relocated from Fort Polk, LA to Fairfax , VA to support her husband’s military career.
In her debut book, The Wall Between Two Lives, Whittenberger, who is a retired and disabled Army veteran, mother, and military spouse, reflects back on her life’s journey and traumas she has faced – a sexual assault, a devastating car accident, and military-related incidents – that all led to debilitating PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Click here to buy The Wall Between Two Lives, now.
Danny Bryant
Author - Vengeance Walking - The Lake of Ten Thousand Souls
Danny Bryant is a disabled veteran suffering from injuries sustained during combat including traumatic brain injuries 
(TBI’s) and severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He has more than fifteen years of military experience ranging from anti-terrorism, nuclear biological chemical (NBC), extensive medical and weapons. Danny is a member of the Masonic Knights Templar.
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Danny enjoys woodworking and fishing and lives in Colorado with his wife and family.
In his debut book, Bryant builds a fictional story based on actual events that occurred in El Salvador. The smallest and most densely populated of the seven Central American countries faced deep division and civil war from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. The war pitted a left-wing insurgency against the U.S.-backed Salvadoran Armed Forces.
Andrew Och
Author - Unusual for Their Time
Andrew Och is the author of Unusual for Their Time: On the Road with America’s 
First Ladies (Volume One & Volume Two). He is an award-winning television and multimedia producer who has traveled the world with his pen, paper, and camera. A Radio/Television and Film graduate from the University of Maryland, Andrew started his production career in music – recording and touring with his band in the 80s & 90s.
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Andrew spent over a year traveling to nearly every location that helped tell the stories of every First Lady of the United States of America for the C-SPAN series – “First Ladies: Influence and Image.” He covered Martha Washington through Michelle Obama and visited with people and places all across the country. From Colonial Williamsburg to Stanford University, he was given an ALL ACCESS – BACKSTAGE PASS to some of the nation’s most treasured collections and historical landmarks. He spent time in libraries and museums – homes and schools – birthplaces and cemeteries – train stations and churches. No stone was left unturned, nor door left unlocked, in his unique and historical journey to learn everything he could about these women before, during and after their time in the White House. His research and travels continue with current First Lady Melania Trump.
Historians, archivists, educators, and enthusiasts agree – Och’s books, First Ladies Man project, and travels put him in a small and rare group of people. He is responsible for one of the most vast and complete collections of material and information about this unique sorority of women ever assembled. He IS the First Ladies Man, and he is excited to share the stories of his adventures.
Chris Hernandez
Author - Safe From the War
Chris Hernandez is a 23 year police officer, former Marine and and retired National Guard soldier with over 25 years of military service. He is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and also served 18 months as a United Nations police officer in Kosovo.
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Chris says, “In the military I’ve never been a special anything; I’m just a regular Joe, and I write about regular Joes. My novels stick as close to reality as possible”.
Click here to buy Safe From the War now.
David W. Peters
Author - Death Letter
David W. Peters served as an enlisted Marine and Army Chaplain, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq in 2005-2006. His experiences in Iraq and the founding of the EVF is told by NPR’s John Burnett. His 
books, Death Letter: God, Sex, and War and Post-Traumatic God: How the Church Cares For People Who Have Been to Hell and Back, vividly describe his own path to healing after war, a path he regularly invites his fellow veterans to consider.
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David blogs for the Huffington Post, Oxford University Press, and hosts two podcasts, the Dear Padre Podcast and a serial story, The Ermenfrid Penitential.
At present, David serves as the Prior of the Hospitallers of St. Martin, a Christian Community for veterans ministry, and the Associate Rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX.
In 2017, David was named one of five Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) 2017 Fellows and he is using his grant to travel around the country offering healing services for veterans.
He enjoys long-distance running, walking, and bicycling around Austin, reading novels, and extra-dark chocolate. He is married to Sarah Bancroft and has three sons.
Click here to buy Death Letter now.
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JP Lane
Author - Walking Again
Justin “JP” Lane joined the U.S. Army in 2008 at the age of 20 years old. Like most young men after watching the Twin Towers 
fall in 2001, JP knew he wanted to join the military when he was old enough to do so. As a combat engineer, he was deployed to Afghanistan as a Specialist with the 428th Engineer Company in October 2010 to search for IED’s (Improvised Explosive Device). On July 2nd, 2011, his RG31 truck was penetrated by a 200lb IED while on a mission.
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He was in a coma for 6 weeks, having 26 injuries and 28 surgeries – changing his life forever. JP is a double amputee and the doctors told him he wasn’t going to do many things like use prosthetics because his legs were so badly damaged or speak properly again because of a tracheotomy. He has proven them wrong.
JP will tell you he joined the Army to serve and protect the American people, and by the grace of God, he still does. He promotes post-traumatic growth to combat wounded veterans and others across the country, helping them build a mindset to ‘never give up, never surrender’.
JP is an inspirational speaker and performer of music. His journey of faith, determination, and love of life is inspiring.
Julia A. Maki
Author - What They Don't Teach You in Deer River
Julia A. Maki grew up in Deer River, Minnesota and enlisted in the Navy as an Aviation Warfare Systems Operator aboard P-3Cs. After the Navy, Julia settled in Maryland with her husband where they both ended up working for the Department of Defense as civilians. They have three children together, which initially inspired her to write children’s books about the military.
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Her first book, My Mom Hunts Submarines, was Julia’s way of telling her children about what she did while in the Navy with the underlying message, “You can do anything!” Her second book, All Hands on Deck! Dad’s Coming Home!, was inspired by her sister’s job in the Navy aboard the USS Stennis. It is a book for children that have parents that are deployed in the military.
Still My Dad was written for children with parents that are wounded veterans, but can be enjoyed by anyone facing a disability. From the Sky was inspired by the amazing things she saw while flying all over the world. Finally, her memoir, What They Don’t Teach You in Deer River, is a collection of funny stories and life lessons from her time as a young aircrewman in the Navy.
Julia is now in the DC Air National Guard. When she is not writing, raising a family, or working, she finds her passion in volunteering for organizations supporting veterans.
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Julia’s latest book, Guardians, is a must read for anyone wanting to hear a personal perspective on what it was like to be on duty in the streets of DC during the civil unrest. Unlike what we saw on the news each day there’s no agenda except to tell her story. There was a lot of ugly out there, but Julia also chose to share the many examples of the good.
Julia does an amazing job describing her conflicting emotions throughout the whole ordeal. She always tries to find the good in a situation and thanks to her self-admitted awkwardness there’s some humor in the situations too.
Having a front row seat to something for this history books. I’m glad she shared her experience with the world.
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Justin Jordan
Author - And Then I Cried
At 19 Justin left Henderson, KY and enlisted in the United States Air Force, during his 20 years of service he held a variety of different jobs, everything from 
Cook to Combat Readiness Instructor. His most taxing job, however, would be when he was assigned as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Mortuary Affairs.
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For nearly 6 years he spent his time, performing human remains inspections, uniforming the deceased, organizing military escorts, arranging for burial with honors and consoling grieving families. Justin also managed Combat Mortuary Operations at two separate deployed locations.
In late 2012 Justin decided to share his story in the book, And Then I Cried, Stories of a Mortuary NCO. His hope was that his story could help others struggling with PTSD. He is also an accomplished artist and his works can be seen hanging on the walls of the Pentagon in the Healing Arts Display. In 2013 Justin was Medically Retired from the Air Force with 20 years of service.
After retirement, Justin continued his advocacy and worked with The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program where he managed the Ambassador Program. He was responsible for teaching seriously injured or ill Airman how to tell and share their stories of recovery with audience’s worldwide, during his tenure there he trained over 55 Warriors and briefed over 30,000 Airman ranging from Airman to Four Star General.
Justin now works at Warriors Heart the country’s only dual diagnosis drug and alcohol treatment center that works exclusively with Military, Veterans and First Responders suffering from chemical dependency and psychological injuries such as PTSD and TBI.
Justin has been featured on CMT’s “I Love Kellie Pickler” and has been a guest on over 200 radio shows nationwide. In 2015, he was awarded the American Solider Networks Hero Service Award for his work helping veterans in need.
Justin has only one wish, if his work inspires you, do something about it, live beyond PTSD, live with purpose and find your voice.
Matt Richardson
Author - Tomorrow's Yesterdays
Richardson is a captain in the U.S. Air Force and a 2012 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA). He currently works with cadets in the honor department at the USAFA. He was born in Eureka, Calif., but calls Adair Village, Ore. his home.
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Otis McGregor
Author - Enable Your Team's Success
Otis McGregor has provided executive level training, business development support and guidance to clients since starting his 
company, LTO Enterprises, LLC, nine years ago. His processes and techniques are based on over 30 years of military, commercial and coaching success.
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After retiring from the military, he helped both large and small firms build their companies and led multi- million-dollar programs for the government. He has been a certified professional coach and project trainer since 2017.
Click here to buy Enable Your Team’s Success now.
Scott J. Casey
Author - Ghostkeepers
Scott Casey is a ten-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. He is a veteran’s advocate and performs speaking engagements about PTSD. He has worked for the past six years with, and is now the President of, Military Minds Inc., a global, not-for-profit organization which assists veterans, first responders and their families dealing with homecoming and PTSD.
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He lives near Kamloops, B.C. where he enjoys fishing, riding his motorcycle, and shooting sports.
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Tom Petitmermet
Author - Pretzel 06
48 years ago, Tom Petitmermet was assigned as a FAC in Southeast Asia. This book tries to recall the many “war stories” that occurred during that one-year tour and attempts to answer the question from his grandchildren; “What did you do in the war Grandpa?”
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Therese Agnes Hughes
Author - In A Heart Beat
In her debut book, In a Heartbeat, Hughes features 113 women veterans serving in all of the U.S. military branches from WWII to more recent times, weaving a memorable story through moving photos and quotes. Hughes, a long-time advocate of women’s issues, particularly our national population of women veterans, has spent many years passionately fighting for increased healthcare access for women.
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Jon Hinderliter
Author - The Death of Content as King
Jon Hinderliter is the Director of Marketing and Communications for University College at Washington University in St. Louis where he manages integrated marketing strategies to help adult learners experience the impact of earning a world-class education.
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Jon is a veteran, who retired in 2018 after 20 years from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve with four years of active duty service after 9/11.Read More
Judy Littlefield
Author - The Other Man Down: A Mother's Journey After the ‘American Sniper’ Tragedy
Littlefield’s account begins in 2013 after her son, Chad Littlefield, and his friend former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle were gunned down by Eddie Ray Routh at a Texas shooting range. Kyle was well known for his autobiography and film, “American Sniper.” Chad raised in a small town, was a husband, father, and American patriot.Read more
Leah Anaya
Author - Policeman Daddy
Leah Anaya currently works as a staff writer at Law Enforcement Today and is a peer advocate and peer spousal support advocate for the Wounded Blue and Serve and Protect, two non-profit first-responder organizations serving police officers, their families, and police departments nationwide.
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Bruce Lauer
Author - Million Dollar Bronze Star: A Soldier’s Story of Corruption and Debauchery in Vietnam
Bruce Lauer currently serves as vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, a global real estate firm. He has also served in many 
leadership roles throughout Florida, including adjunct professor at the Florida International University in Miami, a board member and secretary for Morton Plant Mease Hospital Foundation, and a board of directors’ member for the Outback Bowl.
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Carl Higbie
Author
Crisis of Culture
The Political Battlefield of the New Civil War
In today’s political and media environment, people are more divided than ever. I am certainly not innocent of past divisive rhetoric and am willing to own that. This is my call to rationalize our differences and discuss them by removing emotion.
Have we as a people changed that much? Has the flow of information from which we form our opinions changed? What happened in the last two years that lead to this all-out social war? It wasn’t Trump; he was a symptom of a larger issue. The division was already there, lurking under the surface from the Obama era, following one of the most divisive administrations this country has ever seen.
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The people screaming the loudest are liberal groups who got their way for 8 years. They didn’t riot or attack people in mobs when the progressive agenda was being steamrolled over America, but when Trump won the election, all bets were off. The people that were sold a bill of goods, by a party no longer in power, suffered a mental breakdown.
This book removes emotion from our ideologies and weighs facts and reason against many political divides for and against both sides. I rationalize the issues conservatives can come together on, win on, and separate voting with our hearts versus voting with our brains.
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