2015 is upon us so I wanted to take the time to recap some of our top stories in 2014 here at Caffeinated Thoughts. First, if you follow us on Facebook or Twitter or subscribe to our emails you already know the top 14 most read stories written in 2014 (with the exception of the #1 story which was written on 12/26/13) based on our Google Analytics info.
Top 14 Most Read Stories from 2014
- Planned Parenthood Cell Phone App to 12-Year-Olds: âHaving Sex Feels Goodâ (By Jenifer Bowern)
- Iowa Withdraws From Common Core Assessment Consortia (By Shane Vander Hart)
- (Video) The FAMiLY Leadership Summit Speeches
- A California Mom is âSuspendedâ From Sonâs School Over Testing Opt-Out Forms(By Shane Vander Hart)
- With Common Core Apparently Sex Sells (By Shane Vander Hart)
- The Obama Administration Seeks to Federalize Teacher Preparation (By Karen Schroeder)
- Supreme Court Declines Romeike v. Holder (By Shane Vander Hart)
- Common Core Proponents Attack HSLDA Documentary on Common Core (By Shane Vander Hart)
- In Spain, Fascism is the New Black (By John Gustavsson)
- Godâs Not Dead: A Hit and Miss Effort (By Adam Graham)
- Robert P. George: The Days of Socially Acceptable Christianity Are Over (By Shane Vander Hart)
- Of Squirrels and Men (By Matthew Ung)
- The Seven Last Words of Christ (By Shane Vander Hart)
- James Dobson to President Obama: I Will Not Bow to Your Wicked Regulations (By Shane Vander Hart)
Second, out of hundreds of articles published this year here are some of the highlights for each month in 2014 (and this is purely subjective on my part):
January 2014
- January seemed to be mostly about who wasnât running in Iowaâs 3rd Congressional District after Congressman Tom Latham announced he was retiring. Outgoing Secretary of State Matt Schultz talked with Caffeinated Thoughts about what motivated him to run.
- This is more of a low light. I donât try to make national news, but unfortunately I did for the wrong reasons. Looking back at this 11 months later I can tell you God is good and you find out who your friends are really quick. That, my friends, is all Iâm going to say about that. Iâve turned down several interview requests regarding this story and donât plan on mentioning it ever again after this. It happened so itâs worth mentioning here.
- Anytime Planned Parenthood closes clinics and lays off staff in Iowa itâs worth celebrating.
- My recap of Iowa Governor Terry Branstadâs Condition of the State address.
- The Republican National Committee provides candidates some guidance on the prolife issue.
February 2014
- Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) dings outgoing Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on his praise of Cuba.
- Another low light, the Texas Marriage Amendment was struck down by Federal court starting a long string of federal court rulings in favor of same-sex marriage.
- Marianette Miller-Meeks announced her 3rd campaign for Iowaâs 2nd Congressional District.
- Caffeinated Thoughts Radio is launched and we record our first show.
- The Common Core is debated in the Iowa House and Iowa House Democrats attack homschoolers.
March 2014
- I went to CPAC, my first time.
- Polk County Republican leadership hand-picked list of delegates for the district and state delegates. This was pared down significantly. Anita Morrill shares her experience as a delegate.
- A.J. Spiker resigns as Iowa GOP Chair.
- Iowa House passes review process for academic standards which the Iowa Senate promptly ignores.
- Eric Goranson dings The Des Moines Register for their abortion
advocacyreporting. - Nothing tells your sweetheart you love them ore than a coat hangar pendant.
- Fred Phelps is dead at age 84.
- Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) leads U.S. Senate fight against Common Core. (Iâm shocked this wasnât in our top 14, but it was well read.)
- Joni Ernst releases her classic first TV ad which I thought was brilliant and helped her (and I was right). She also snags an endorsement from Sarah Palin.
- Bruce Braleyâs fatal error â you donât attack Chuck Grassley or farmers which was a definite tipping point in the Iowa U.S. Senate race.
April 2014
- Common Core Claims its first victim in Wisconsin changing the tone of the debate there.
- The Tolerance Police: Do as we say, not as we do.
- One of the most *unique* political ads Iâve ever seen.
- Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg thinks his advocacy has earned him a place in heaven.
- Another low light: Now Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann does some major spin for Iowa Governor Terry Branstad on Common Core.
- Big changes in the Iowa GOP State Central Committee⊠Ron Paul supporters are tossed off.
- Sarah Palin stumps for Joni Ernst.
- Outside of his support for the Common Core, hereâs a big reason why Mark Jacobs lost the Iowa GOP Republican Primary for U.S. Senate.
May 2014
- Another celebration, Urbandale Planned Parenthood clinic stops doing webcam abortions.
- An example of the lunacy the Common Core has contributed to in Iowa surfaces.
- Bad news for Iowa Democrats, Mercy Medical Center lays employees off due to Obamacare.
- Low light: Gallup finds 55% of Americans support same-sex marriage. Ryan T. Anderson discusses how opponents should proceed when the battle seems lost.
June 2014
- Two more Planned Parenthood clinics close in Iowa!
- Joni Ernst wins the Iowa Republican U.S. Senate primary in convincing fashion with 56% of the vote in a five-way race.
- Low light: Planned Parenthood caught encouraging teens to experiment with BDSM.
- Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal tells Caffeinated Thoughts he is exploring a presidential run and that he plans to take action on Common Core in his state.
- Low light: The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. decide they know best and vote to overrule God on marriage.
- David Young wins Republican nomination in Iowa 3rd Congressional District race during a special nominating convention edging out Brad Zaun. A Caffeinated Thoughts poll of delegates accurately predicted this outcome.
- A change in leadership in the Republican Party of Iowa Danny Carroll is ousted as Iowa GOP State Chair and replaced by Jeff Kaufmann.
- The Supreme Court rules in favor of religious liberty and tells the Obama administration they could not compel âclosely-heldâ corporations who hold religious exemptions to opt-out of the Obamacare mandate that they cover contraceptives.
July 2014
- Cedar Rapids Planned Parenthood discontinues webcam abortions.
- The climate change debate is settled? Not quite.
- No action from the Iowa Department of Education on Governor Branstadâs executive order on Common Core after nine months. (I need to follow-up on this story.)
- Are young evangelicals abandoning the churchâs teaching on sex? A new study shows nope.
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker joins the Common Core repeal chorus.
- President Obama appoints a religious freedom ambassador who doesnât believe in it at home.
- Liberals freak out over Governor Branstadâs Pray 7:14 proclamation and participation.
August 2014
- Iowa withdraws from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.
- Social conservatives get a sneak peak at a potential 2016 line-up at the 2014 FAMiLY Leadership Summit in Ames.
- A district court judge upholds the Iowa Board of Medicineâs ban on webcam abortions.
- Texas Governor Rick Perry may end up being the first person to use an indictment as a launching pad for presidential campaign.
- I write an open letter to former Governor Mike Huckabee about Common Core.
- Low light: Former Iowa State Senator Kent Sorenson pleads guilty to concealing campaign expenditures.
September 2014
- Low light: Planned Parenthoodâs former sex ed site now owned by a pornographer, Iowa schools still send their kids there.
- Indiana Governor Mike Pence comes to Iowa to hide out from press and general public.
- Low light: President Obama becomes Islamâs apologist-in-chief.
- Iowa Democrat darling Staci Appel proves that she is out-of-her depth in Iowaâs 3rd Congressional District debate. Her statement about terrorist passports is likely a turning point in this race.
- Low light: The GAO reports that Obamacare does in fact pay for abortions.
- Low light: The Iowa Supreme Court places a stay on Iowaâs webcam abortion ban.
- We held our first ever Caffeinated Thoughts Briefing!
- Ernst holds her own in first debate with Bruce Braley.
- Low light: The Sandy Hook Advisory Committee recommended tighter restrictions on homeschooling.
October 2014
- President Obama â hey my policies are on the ballot. Thank you Mr. President.
- Low light: The Supreme Court paves the way for same sex marriage in 11 states.
- We launch our first Caffeinated Thought of the Day as a part of our Caffeinated Thoughts Radio podcast (sorry weâre taking a break this week).
- Another debate, another disaster for Staci Appel.
- Who is received the most PAC money? Hint it wasnât Republicans.
- Mitt Romney comes to Iowa to stump for Joni Ernst.
- The marriage rate in the U.S. drops to a new low.
- Low light: Doug Butzier, Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate, dies in plane crash.
- Iowa GOP significantly shrinks the early voting gap cutting it to 170 ballots at one point.
- Low light: Houston city attorneys subpoena five pastors due to their opposition of a non-discrimination ordinance pushed by cityâs lesbian mayor.
- Bruce Braley stumbles in final Iowa U.S. Senate debate.
- Caffeinated Thoughts encourages readers to participate in Operation Christmas Child.
- Ben Carson has (grassroots) game in Iowa for 2016.
- Michael Reagan touts unity at the Iowa GOP Reagan Dinner.
- Joni Ernst skips out the Des Moines Register blowing
liberalsmainstream journalistsâ minds everywhere. - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie headlines Branstad Birthday Bash.
- Speaker of the House John Boehner stumps for David Young.
November 2014
- Joni Ernst, David Young and Rod Blum ride the Republican wave on election night.
- Unfortunately the Republican wave stopped at the Iowa Senate.
- The Republican wave was brought to you by Christian conservatives. You are welcome.
- The news from the same sex marriage debate isnât all bad.
- Yeah, I fancy myself an author now⊠of a essay in a book, not the entire book itself.
- Common Core will be a litmus test in 2016.
- Low light: President Obama uses that phone and pen to offer executive amnesty.
- Ben Carson introduces himself to Iowa conservatives.
- Gun sales increase, violent crime sinks⊠go figure.
- Low light: State Representative Dwayne Alons loses his battle with cancer.
December 2014
- I discuss a movement of pastors who are pledging to disengage from state-sanctioned marriages.
- Arne Duncan tramples all over state sovereignty in education. In other news, the sky is blue.
- 2012 Iowa Caucus winner Rick Santorum discusses a prospective 2016 campaign.
- We are launching a formal endorsement process.
- Governor Branstad decides school boards are incapable of deciding their own start date.
- Ames Straw Poll debate rekindles, and Congressman Steve King weighs in.
- Jeb Bush is officially unofficially campaigning for 2016 and the Iowa GOP establishment loves it.
- Bobby Jindal states that GOP establishment and insiders should not pick the nominee.
- Joni Ernst meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a recent trip to Israel.
- Mark Costello will replace Joni Ernst in the Iowa Senate.
Itâs been a busy year. Thanks for sticking it out with us!