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Jesse Cantu of Euless drove the 35 miles to Denton on Friday and wiggled his way into a packed room full of elation.

As his wife, Beverly, sat down with the coffee carrier they bought for the masses, Cantu shook several hands, smiled widely and looked guests at the Denton County Republican Party headquarters straight in the eyes to greet them with one wholehearted epithet.

Unfortunately, we couldnt celebrate locally, Cantu said. But Im glad to be amongst my fellow deplorables.

The Denton County GOP hosted a watch party for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. On Friday at the party headquarters, a large number of local figures and guests from surrounding counties beamed for what they reckon to be a bright American future.

Watching the proceedings on TV, attendees cheered at the Trumps and jeered at outgoing President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Amens answered Trumps promises, and many chanted Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in unison during the inaugural invocation.

During her unsuccessful campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called some Trump supporters deplorables. Cantu said the new president will bring people together.

Trump is a uniter. I truly believe he says what he means when he says hell be a president for all people, whether youre black, white, brown and all in between, Cantu said. Those who say they dont support him just dont know it yet.

Cantu called Friday a new day for America, likening the approaching presidential term to those of Ronald Reagan. Cantu confidently predicted a resurgence of Reagans trickle-down prosperity, a stark change from the trickle-down poverty he dubbed the Obama administration.

Event organizer Lyn Yeargan took the watch party as an opportunity for Denton County Republicans to welcome those down the road and set an example for the countys GOP support.

The room nearly overflowed with Trump supporters as Republican groups in many surrounding counties didnt host inauguration celebrations.

Were thrilled. Its really neat to have so many people from Grayson County, Cooke County and Tarrant County, Yeargan said. We want to be the best host for those who took time out of their days to celebrate with us so they feel at home.

In contrast, the Denton County Democratic Party held no events Friday, and party Chairwoman Phyllis Wolper said she didnt watch the inauguration.

Our country has survived all of these years with all kinds of different leadership, some of which were magnificent with what they brought to the table. Others, history has shown to be very negative. This is no different, she said.

Wolper said she was looking forward to todays womens rally at the Courthouse on the Square, where she and fellow party members will be registering people to vote and informing the public on various ways to become politically involved.

We will go forth. As a nation, there are certain things that may or may not happen with this [administration] that we will not agree with, Wolper said. But we will pray for our country and do what we can to make our part of the country as we wish it to be.

Mark Roy, the commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1300 in Denton, spent Friday morning at the GOP watch party.

He was originally disdainful of Trump during his campaign. But he said the presidential candidate earned his respect when Trump skipped the last Republican debate before the March primary to raise $6 million for veteran charities.

Roy works with 22Kill, a Dallas nonprofit focused on veteran suicide awareness that was given $200,000 from Trumps fundraising.

Trumps decision to opt out of the debate, a move many pundits predicted would end Trumps campaign, invigorated Roy and his colleagues. Moreover, Trumps commitment to repeal the Affordable Care Act when Roy hasnt paid more for health insurance in years further bolstered his growing support of the Trump administration.

Trumps inauguration speech Friday underscored the presidents straightforwardness, Roy said, and the likelihood of all the promises hes made coming into fruition.

If he does half of what he said in his speech, were all going to be great off, Roy said.

MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper.

MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper.

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Republicans rejoice at local GOP gathering - Denton Record Chronicle

Shannon, a 48-year-old accountant from Encino, didnt tell her co-workers she was traveling all the way across the country to get a great view of President Donald Trumps swearing-in. She told them she was going skiing.

Its a bucket list,said Shannon, who didnt want The Times to use her last name, lest she be outed. Standing amidthrongs of like-minded people celebrating a Republican win, Shannon marveled at her freedom to be herself. I can wear a Trump sweatshirt without getting hoots and hollers. In L.A., you cant even put a bumper sticker on your car it would be keyed in a second.

For California Republicans, Trumps improbable election was a rare taste of victory. The GOP has not wona statewide electionin more than a decade. The party failed to field a viable candidate for the Senate in 2016, the first time a seat in the upper house had been vacant in nearly a quarter century. Voter registration for the party that gave birth to Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon appears to be at a historic low.

Victories like this are few and far between and very sweet for us, much more so than someone from Texas who is used to winning all the time, said Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican National Committee member from San Francisco who attended the swearing-in ceremonywith her husband and parents. The ceremony was chilly and rainy, but that didnt dampen the rally-likemoodamongthe GOP faithful ready to have their moment.

The last time I was able to celebrate an inauguration was when [former California Gov. Arnold] Schwarzenegger was inaugurated. That was many years ago, and now, its correct, we are certainly not used to winning victories at this level.

The number of Californians who ventured to the nations capital for the festivities is unknown. Unlike the heyday under President Reagan when the official California ball was the most coveted ticket in town andattended by Hollywood royalty there is no longer a central gathering spot.

But this week, there were several events aimed at the states visitors. More than 140 Californians bought seated tickets forThursday nights All American Ball, the official ball of the Virginia GOP. The states well-heeled donors dined Thursday at the Lincoln Club of Northern Californias soiree at the exclusive Cosmos Club on Embassy Row.

Earlier Thursday, more than 600 Californians and expats living in Washington attended a lunch at the Ritz-Carlton featuring the states wines, produce and entertainers organized by the nonpartisan California State Society.

Members of Congress held receptions and dinners throughout the week.Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabachers formal ball at the Library of Congress was expected to be a popular post-inauguration fete on Saturday.

Its better. Its nice to be amongst all friends, said Cynthia Bryant of Elk Grove, the state GOPs executive director, comparing the nations capital with her home state. Everyone in D.C. right now is a Trump supporter. I find it exciting because theres a lot of people getting along, celebrating the victory. It seems like such a happy time.

Given the distance between California and Washington, it hasalso been an incredibly expensive time. Tickets to balls cost a couple hundred dollars, airfare costseveral hundred more and basic hotels started in the high three-figures per night. Many Californians stayed in the capital for a few days to enjoy the sightsin addition to the inaugural festivities, which usually requirerenting or buying ball gowns and tuxedos.

Its a lot of money, said Celeste Greig, a longtime GOP activist from Northridge who shared a basic hotel room with two others for $700 a night near the White House. This was the fifth Republican inauguration the 69-year-old has attended. This is my Christmas gift from me to me, my Mothers Day gift from me to me and my birthday gift from me to me.

Its history, its being part of history, and the fact that he was not supposed to be our nominee, the fact he was not supposed to win the November election, the fact that he is so hated by some people and loved by othersits history, she said.

Trump was not Greigs first choice; she preferred former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. She also liked Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But once Trump became the nominee, Greig and her friend, Nancy Eisenhart of Woodland Hills, went all out volunteering for him. Theytraveled twice to Nevada on their own dime to try to sway voters in that battleground state.

Thats when we saw America join us, and it was beautiful,said Eisenhart, tearing up on the chilly grounds of the nations capital waiting for Trumps swearing-in as she recalled the diverse group that supported Trump in Nevada, including minorities, the disabled and the elderly. Trump ultimately lost the state to Clinton by 2.4 percentage points.

Still, the retirees were not alone in bragging about the amount of energy volunteers in California expended on Trumps behalf. Though both sides knew Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton would overwhelmingly win Californias election, Trump got nearly 4.5 million votes in the state, along with many volunteers who called or traveledto more competitive states on his behalf.

In Sacramento, our call center made more phone calls than the Trump Tower. Not everyone realized that about California, what California did for the Trump campaign, said West Walker, a middle school teacher from Stockton, as he watched a Trump celebration concert featuring Lee Greenwood, Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down on Thursday night.

Its nice to see common people with a common passion who are more about the United States as opposed to dividing the country, Walker said, recalling that California Republicans were beaten during a Trump rally in San Jose before the states primary. We werent the ones attacking other people. Weve been victimized; weve been literally beaten up when we go to a rally to hear a Trump speech. People [in California] are afraid to come out and speak. So its nice to see people with a common passion.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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California Republicans celebrate Trump's inauguration: 'In L.A., you ... - Los Angeles Times

Detroit Free Press readers 12:04 a.m. ET Jan. 21, 2017

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., then House Budget Committee Chairman, introduces his controversial Path to Prosperity budget recommendations, on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2011.(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

In April 2011, the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives passed, in a 2012 budget blueprint, a proposal to replace traditional Medicare with vouchers. This ignited a firestorm of opposition from congressional Democrats, Americas seniors and the general public.

Back then, an analysis of the proposal by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concluded that turning Medicare over to private insurance plans would result in a skyrocketing cost to seniors and higher administrative costs

It is astonishing that after the bashing delivered to Republicans on the voucher proposal in 2011 that they would be reviving it again. U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Rep. Kevin Brady, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, and Representative Tom Price, Chairman, Budget Committee, President Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, are among Republican leaders in the U.S. House who support legislation to privatize Medicare by converting it to a premium support system.

Just because the Republican Party has majorities in the House and Senate and a Republican President-elect, it is not a mandate to destroy Medicare with a voucher plan to pay outright subsidies to insurance companies who make big contributions to many members of Congress.

Randy Stuck

Southfield

Vouchers give tax dollars back to the people

A government that is truly of the people ought to allow the people to spend their education dollars as they see fit. The idea that the people are mindless twits who need to be told by the government what they should do is contrary to the founding principles of this country.

Public education money does not belong to the government but rather to the taxpayers, and the taxpayers should be able to use it as they see fit. Vouchers allow for the free market to select winners and losers, and, in the long run, the free market has been shown to perform better than centralized government planning. Bring on vouchers. Bring back individual liberty.

Jim Miller

Bloomfield Township

A lesson in buying a cabinet position

I really tried to keep an open mind on Betsy DeVos. However, after the strong endorsement from Gov. Snyder and her initial answers in the confirmation hearing, I wonder, who thought she was qualified?

DeVos may care about education with a passion. She may donate millions to improve the education system. But can anyone tell me if she ever taught in a classroom? Does she have a teaching degree? It seems the only qualifications Betsy DeVos has is organizing a Republican Party and being a key donor. You can buy this office?

God help our schoolchildren especially in the inner cities. I went to Detroit Schools and have a teaching degree! I am more qualified than Betsy DeVos. I just do not have an extra $4 million to give to the Republican Party!

Jim Fox

Shelby Township

Much to miss about Obama, Biden

I am really going to miss having President Obama and Vice-President Biden in the White House. They have shown exceptional expertise in world affairs and running the United States. I believe that President Obama will go down as one the best presidents since Franklin Roosevelt. He is kind, caring, trustworthy and highly intelligent. We need more kindness on this planet. It seems that there is very little if at all. President Obama embodies kindness, integrity, character and intellectual insight. President-elect Trump is quick to condemn and belittle people who disagree with him and call him out when he does not speak the truth. He diminishes the press and our own intelligence agencies. He seems to me to be a child in a mans body. Four years of Trump? God help us all.

Jim Jeziorowski

Wayne

Trump has nothing to do with GM investment

I object to the headline of a story published on freep.com last week: GM to invest $1B in U.S. after pressure from Trump. This is entirely inaccurate, as the article itself quotes the manufacturer as having been working on this investment for a while, and stating they were not influenced to do so by Trump. These decisions take time, and the headline gives Trump credit for something he didnt actually do. You have a sub headline asking about this, but the print is small. I am a longtime reader, and require that my newspaper, now more than ever, report truth and avoid influencing the reader, not make untrue assumptions and contradict the article in question. I look to the Free Press to be a beacon and uphold the First Amendment. Do not fail us now.

Susan Hendricks

Grand Blanc

The world needs more like Rep. Lewis

Lets compare renowned civil rights activist and U.S. Rep. John Lewis with President Donald Trump. Congressman Lewis has a record of putting his life on the line for civil rights, and many years service in Congress. Trump has a record of building structures emblazoned with his name. Lewis began his life with virtually nothing, Trump began his with the total backing of a millionaire father. Lewis conducts himself with humility, dignity, thoughtful speech, and honor. Trump conducts himself with braggadocios statements of his abject wonderfulness, seems to take great joy in belligerent fighting, and with a need to win more than a desire to enjoy meaningful discourse with others. The list of differences goes on and on. I pray the world, and especially our country, will be inhabited by more John Lewises and fewer Donald Trumps.

Virginia Franklin

Lathrup Village

Trump responded, Lewis started it

An article about the dispute between U.S. Rep. John Lewis and President Donald Trump should have been titled: Trump responds to John Lewis attack.

John Lewis attacked Trump first! A civil rights legend should have known better than to talk so disrespectfully about the Trump presidency or any presidency. He owes Trump an apology. And this newspaper should not be blaming this on Trump. Your bias is showing.

Carol Maynard

Northville

Detroits most struggling areas need Habitat stores

The Habitat for Humanity re-sale stores were intended to be located in areas where the lower income and financially impoverished residents of the city would have easy access to them. These stores were designed to sell items donated from the average person as well as appliances, hardware furniture and building materials donated from contractors and merchants .

The soon-to-close store on Detroits west side, is located in an area that serves middle and lower middle class and income-assisted residents. It is located in an area currently devoid of hardware and furniture and appliance stores.

My worry is that Detroit Habitat Executive Director Ken Cockrel Jr. may suggest a new location in an area that is already viably served by the business community. This is one of the main reasons the west-side store lost customers: Donations were going to Habitat stores in more financially stable areas.

Arvie A Green

Detroit

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Republicans revive outrageous plan for Medicare - Detroit Free Press

Democrats have pounced on Betsy DeVos following a somewhat bumpy confirmation hearing earlier this week. | Getty

Sen. Lamar Alexander, chair of the Senate education committee, has delayed by a week a planned committee vote on Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trumps nominee for Education secretary.

The vote, which was originally slated for this Tuesday, has been rescheduled until Jan. 31, Alexander announced Friday evening.

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The delay comes as Democrats have argued that they havent had enough time to examine DeVos complicated financial holdings or ask her questions. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the committee, has said shes concerned that the committee was moving too fast with DeVos nomination.

Earlier today, the Office of Government Ethics released DeVos financial disclosure and ethics paperwork. Alexander had previously said that if those documents were finalized by the end of this week, he would hold a committee vote on her nomination next Tuesday.

Instead the committee vote is now set for the following Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m.

Alexanders office said that the delay was meant to give each Senator time to review DeVos' government ethics paperwork that was released Friday.

DeVos has agreed to sever ties to several companies that provide services to schools and colleges, as well as a debt collection agency that collects student loans on behalf of the Education Department. The Michigan billionaire reached an agreement on Thursday with government ethics officials that will require her to divest from 102 of those assets that could potentially pose a conflict for her as Education secretary.

Democrats have pounced on DeVos following a somewhat bumpy confirmation hearing earlier this week. But Republicans have so far have stood united in support of her nomination.

Alexander has said shes an excellent choice for education secretary and has dedicated her life to helping children, especially low-income children, have the opportunity to attend a good school.

An Alexander aide said that DeVos "has completed the committees paperwork, answered questions for 3 hours at her confirmation hearing, met privately with the members of the committee and she will now spend the coming days answering senators written questions for the record."

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Republicans delay DeVos committee vote by a week - Politico

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ID: 10367060

Gay Republicans have been around for decades, often, theyll tell you, feeling maligned by liberals or invisible. But with Donald Trumps victory and inauguration, they wanted to dance. They wanted to be seen. They wanted to dress up like Pepe the Frog.

About 200 gays and lesbians ate crab cakes and clinked cocktails to toast Trumps inauguration at a gala on Friday night outside Washington, DC, where they rejoiced a growing sense of freedom to come out of the political closet.

David Yontef, a talent recruiter for an ad agency in New York City, said all his friends assumed that gay men like him voted for Hillary Clinton.

In New York City, people dont even assume that I would vote for Trump, he told BuzzFeed News, saying his friends tried to console him after the election. As a gay Republican, I feel that Trump is the dream candidate. But coming out as a Trump fan is like coming out a second time.

He attended the Gays for Trump DeploraBall with his friend Trae Reinart, who travelled from Texas for the ceremonies.

After the inauguration, he said, we thought we might as well do something gay.

And gay it was: Ariana Grande and Whitney Houston songs were on blast, disco lights flashed, and there was an open bar.

There was also a mask of Pepe the Frog, the meme that was co-opted by the alt-right and ultimately deemed a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.

One of the organizers of the event, Robert Luke Antonek, said gays are having their moment in Republican politics.

A validation that gays and lesbians are equal in our own party is worthy of singing from the rooftops, its worthy of a celebration, said Antonek, who coordinated the event in Potomac, Maryland. He said Trump affirmed LGBT people in his speech at the Republican National Convention last summer.

Trump is the head of the party today, he added. Liberals have harassed us for what we believe. This event shows how diverse we are.

Progressives should write off gay Republicans at their own peril, added Michael Baker, chairman of the Texas state affiliate of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nations best-known LGBT conservative group. The Republican Party is coming around on LGBT issues, he said, and fellow conservatives deserve credit.

President Donald Trump waves as he walks with first lady Melania Trump during the inauguration parade on Pennsylvania Avenue. Evan Vucci / AP

ID: 10367162

Republicans lawmakers will open the door for a Republican, not for a Democrat, said Baker, who said he met with two Texas congressmen this week. I am not a one-issue person and I think most gay Republicans are the same way. True diversity not just our skin color, but the way we think.

The ringleader of Gays for Trump, Peter Boykin, rallied the crowd during dinner: Hillary sucks! She made it easy!

But it wasnt necessarily a welcoming audience for transgender people. In an interview with BuzzFeed News earlier in the week, Boykin said he opposes transgender people using public restrooms that match their gender identity unless they have a certain appearance.

I dont totally agree with the gender identity I think it should be based on your looks at least, said Boykin, who lives in North Carolina, where a law restricting bathroom access for transgender people became a flashpoint last year. If you feel like a female, you should at least look the part. If you look the part, you go use that bathroom. Its just easier.

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This Is How Gay Republicans Partied After Donald Trump's Inauguration - BuzzFeed News