What's your answer?

If you ruled the world for a day, what would you do?

Take a moment and think of families like ours.

I'll try to keep this short. For many reasons this was probably the most difficult year (last 7 months) of my life in many ways. I won't go into all those details but I do want to share something that I look at differently now then I ever used to. We reached a point where we had no choice but to ask for help. This year my family found out how it was to be blessed by a food shelf, an anonymous gift, assistance from our church or help from our friends and family.

There will never be words to express the kind of humbleness and gratitude these experiences bring. Walking out of the local food shelf, for example, with two bags of food for our family was an experience I will never forget. I never realized how others must feel when they receive what is given. I will try to never take what we have for granted.

Our family, no matter how little it may be, will never let a year go by without doing something. It might not seem like much but it's a start and I hope everyone finds the joy and satisfaction giving brings, even to someone you may never meet. I have been brought to tears more than once by even the seemingly smallest act of love shown our family.

So to all those who gave in some way, big or small, to allow families like ours to be blessed in times of need, thank you. It's true that you start to realize what is really important in life. And because of that I know we are truly blessed!

Embrace what is truly important and remember the most precious gift we have been given as we celebrate the birth of Christ. What a glorious time to remember the forgiveness and eternal life we are given when we submit to follow Him.

Merry Christmas!

Stop me before I hurl a shoe.

Now that I have taken my migraine medicine, I have to admit that while I agree, these words are not mine. Michelle Malkin hit this one square on the head.

Click here for her website.

I Surrender!

I tried to keep away but no longer. I am on Facebook.

FYI - Re: My Blog

My blog has gotten a little boring (probably only to me as I am sure you all hang on my every word) so I am going to be updating it...

So this is your last chance to catch up on my current cartoons in the far right column since I will delete them and start anew very soon!

Isn't that the truth!

Michael W. Smith and Crew (including Michael Olson)

Marty and I have attended his Christmas concerts for several years and even though we can't make it this year we recommend anyone who can should not miss it! Michael W. Smith's music is so moving (especially his orchestral and Christmas styles) and with my old college classmate touring with him currently as his drummer, Michael Olson - who is also an excellent musician, it is sure to surpass expectations again this year. I receive MWS's e-mail newsletters and after a few clicks on this website I happened to run across this! I love behind the scenes stuff...kind of makes me miss my time performing in HS and college. Hope you enjoy!

Not much of a change from previous years...

Perspective.

As I struggle to figure out how to deal with our financial situation, pretty much all do to our "stupid taxes" as Dave Ramsey would say, I had a moment of perspective.

Not a single penny is mine. Since I believe what the Bible has to say, I have to remember that everything is God's and placed in our hands to watch over temporarily. Knowing that I can let go of my frustration of unjust situations, situations I will not bore you with now.

So instead of getting depressed and defeated I can continue to use what has been given in the best way possible and continue to pray God's guidance in that ongoing task. He knows what we need and He makes it clear that if we seek God first the rest will be provided. Doesn't mean anything excess or even what most would consider comfortable. But just the basics. So far He has. So many people don't know Jesus personally, don't have that assurance of Heaven, don't have a loving family, good health, friends, etc. I do and for that I am very blessed. Perhaps earthly poor but eternally rich.

Perspective.

God knows our entire financial situation and for the first time ever I feel the most at peace with this area of my life. Since it is God's money and He can provide more or less, my job is to simply try and do the best I can with what He is giving. None of this will matter someday but our relationship with God matters eternally. Focusing on Him is an ongoing task. At this moment when I simply cannot do all I need to , that's when I remember it isn't up to me to do.

Perspective.

I'll need to be reminded of these things regularly. Keeping things in perspective is certainly an ongoing battle. I'm greateful I have loved ones around me to remind me, the Bible to help direct my path and God to handle these things that are so overwhelming. I forget that God can't do His job if I try to do it for Him.

So on this Veterans' Day I am truly greateful for my freedom. Freedom to worship God openly. Freedom to speak my mind. Even my freedom to have made stupid mistakes! But I am greateful that God helps me to keep things in perspective.

God Bless all those who have given so much for freedom.

*

Click Picture below to...

What do you know about FOCA?

What FOCA Would Do:

All sides in the abortion fight agree, if FOCA were to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by a pro-abortion President, it would, among other effects, provide for taxpayer-funded abortion on demand even late in pregnancy, grant abortionists immunity from legal action, allow abortionists the discretion to perform abortions on minors without notifying a parent, and deny health care workers the right to refuse to make abortion referrals as a matter of conscience.

• "The legislation (FOCA) would invalidate existing and future laws that interfere with or discriminate against the exercise of the rights protected . It also would provide an individual aggrieved by a violation of the act a private right of civil action in order to obtain appropriate relief" - Planned Parenthood website.
• "As a general matter, if FOCA were enacted, it would wipe out a very large number of existing state laws on abortion, substantially impede the ability of states to regulate abortion, and override nearly 40 years of jurisprudential experience on the subject of abortion." - USCCB Memorandum on FOCA

FOCA would automatically overturn state abortion reporting requirements in all 50 states, 44 states' laws concerning parental involvement, 40 states' laws on restricting later-term abortions, 46 states' conscience protection laws for individual health care providers, 27 states' conscience protection laws for institutions, 38 states' bans on partial-birth abortions, 33 states' laws on requiring counseling before an abortion, and 16 states' laws concerning ultrasounds before an abortion.

FOCA seeks to eliminate any civil pro-life opposition in the public square:

"The bill would give women the right to file civil suits against any person or government agency that sought to limit their ability to get an abortion." - MSNBC Briefing Book: Issues '08.

• Presumably this would not only include federal and state legislators who merely introduce legislation seeking restrictions on abortion but also against peaceful pro-lifers who pray and offer alternatives in front of abortion facilities.

FOCA-type legislation increases rates of abortion:

According to NARAL's web site, seven states ( California , Connecticut , Hawaii , Maine , Maryland , Nevada and Washington ) have legislation on the books similar to FOCA.

• In Maryland , FOCA-type legislation has been on the books since 1991. According to Planned Parenthood's Alan Guttmacher Institute, the abortion rate in the United States DECREASED nine percent since 2000 to 19.4 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age in 2005. By contrast, the state of Maryland in 2005 produced a rate of 31.5 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age, an INCREASE of eight percent since 1991.
• Other states with similar FOCA laws on the books show abortion rates larger than the national average of 19.4 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age:
• California has a rate of 27.1 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Abortions in California represent 17.3 of all abortions in the United States .
• Connecticut has a rate of 23.6 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. The rate has increased 12% since 2000, when it was 21.1 abortions per 1,000 women.
• Hawaii has a rate of 21.8 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age.
• Nevada 's rate is 27.0 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age.

For more on the implications of FOCA, see "Freedom of Choice Act Would Harm Women and Remove Protections, by Tom McClusky

*Taken from FRC Special Publication

One promise I hope he breaks.

"Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."

Barack Obama speaking at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event.

____________________________________________________________

*Article Exerpt:

Obama made his remark in response to a question from the audience...

Um, as you were talking about earlier, the recent Bush Supreme Court's decision really took away critically important decisions from women and put them in the hands of politicians. And as a result of this, we're expecting, and have already seen, so much anti-choice legislation at the state level. Um, what would you do at the federal level not only to ensure access to abortion but to make sure that the judicial nominees that you will inevitably be able to pick are true to the core tenets of Roe v. Wade?

Obama was answering that he believed FOCA would combat "anti-choice legislation at the state level" and take judges out of the abortion debate. That it would, on steroids. It would overturn all 300+ local, state, and federal abortion restriction laws, such as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.

How can a candidate claiming he wants to prevent abortions want to overturn every common sense abortion restriction? That's like saying one wants to stop pollution by overturning all anti-pollution laws.

Don't believe me? Read FOCA for yourself.

Note "health" is not defined in this bill, of which Obama is already a cosponsor. This would fly in the face of Obama's statement to Relevant magazine July 1 that he thinks the definition of "health" should be "strict, well-defined."

In fact, Obama's support of FOCA flies in the face of his entire statement to Relevant...

I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother.

... since FOCA would overturn those state laws he says he finds "appropriate."

*Taken from "One Year Anniversary of Barak Obama's FOCA test"

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

It is very easy to forget what Christians go through in other countries today.

The International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church is this Sunday. Please join us and hundreds of thousand of others to intercede on behalf of those who live in nations which are restricted and hostile towards the gospel.

The time that we spend in prayer has an eternal impact on the lives of people throughout the world. Through prayer, circumstances change, closed doors are opened, resistant people are made receptive and leaders are installed or removed.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church website

You can also visit the Voice of the Martyr's website and blog for more information.

No kidding.

My message to the upcoming "Democrat" controlled government...

You wanted it (Pres/Senate/House), you got it. We'll see how you do with all these new responsibilities.

Good luck.

AMEN!

The 10 Cannots

By William J. H. Boetcker
(misattributed to Abraham Lincoln)

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.

You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.


William J. H. Boetcker (1873 – 1962) was an American religious leader and influential public speaker. An outspoken political conservative, Rev. Boetcker is perhaps best remembered for his authorship of a pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots. Originally published in 1916, it is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

I couldn't resist...

Plus I forgot to get this up for Halloween. But it is still VERY relevant!

Take a Step Back

Look past a fairly boring candidate. Look past his poorly and ineffectively run campaign (esp. compared to his opponant). Take away the temptation to see a historical election (first "woman" Vice President).

Take away the hype. Take away the rush of great production tools and speeches. Take away the temptation to only see a historical election (first "black" President).

Sometimes I wonder, are we giving away an Oscar next Tuesday or selecting a leader for the next 4-8 years?

When all is said and done what issues really matter to you? When we take all the rhetoric away take a good look at what their actual positions are (based upon their past) on the issues. And don't let a wish to be a part of something great get in the way of the, sometimes ugly, facts.

Only then will you have a truly honest idea of what their vision will bring to our country.

PLEASE CLICK HERE.

WARNING: Here Ends the Apathy of Ignorance

I am not a "single issue" voter. However, I must admit that I do believe there is a "single issue" that shows the heart and character of a candidate. An issue that shows what kind of foundation (their character and value system) the rest of their positions and decisions will inevitably be based upon. This is not partisan. This transcends party lines.

I would never vote FOR a candidate due to a "single issue." However, PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE because it will really help explain why I feel we should vote AGAINST someone due to this one particular "single issue."

Whether you read the article or not I implore you to take a moment and watch this. I'm not often for using graphic images to make a point (because it usually won't help). However, if you are truly pro-choice then this shouldn't bother you.

There comes a time when I do feel it is important to show the reality of the rhetoric we hear. There comes a time when we need to say...

Here ends the apathy of ignorance. Here begins the responsibility of knowledge.




UPDATE:

One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society
By John Piper

Investigating dog life in Minnesota has solidified my decision to vote against those who endorse the right to abortion. So then what is my response to the charge of being a one-issue voter?

No endorsement of any single issue qualifies a person to hold public office. Being pro-life does not make a person a good governor, mayor, or president. But there are numerous single issues that disqualify a person from public office. For example, any candidate who endorsed bribery as a form of government efficiency would be disqualified, no matter what his party or platform was. Or a person who endorsed corporate fraud (say under $50 million) would be disqualified no matter what else he endorsed. Or a person who said that no black people could hold office—on that single issue alone he would be unfit for office. Or a person who said that rape is only a misdemeanor—that single issue would end his political career. These examples could go on and on. Everybody knows a single issue that for them would disqualify a candidate for office.

It's the same with marriage. No one quality makes a good wife or husband, but some qualities would make a person unacceptable. For example, back when I was thinking about getting married, not liking cats would not have disqualified a woman as my wife, but not liking people would. Drinking coffee would not, but drinking whiskey would. Kissing dogs wouldn't, but kissing the mailman would. And so on. Being a single-issue fiance does not mean that only one issue matters. It means that some issues may matter enough to break off the relationship.

So it is with politics. You have to decide what those issues are for you. What do you think disqualifies a person from holding public office? I believe that the endorsement of the right to kill unborn children disqualifies a person from any position of public office. It's simply the same as saying that the endorsement of racism, fraud, or bribery would disqualify him—except that child-killing is more serious than those.

When we bought our dog at the Humane Society, I picked up a brochure on the laws of Minnesota concerning animals. Statute 343.2, subdivision 1 says, "No person shall...unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill any animal." Subdivision 7 says, "No person shall willfully instigate or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal." The penalty: "A person who fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor."

Now this set me to pondering the rights of the unborn. An eight-week-old human fetus has a beating heart, an EKG, brain waves, thumb-sucking, pain sensitivity, finger-grasping, and genetic humanity, but under our present laws is not a human person with rights under the 14th Amendment, which says that "no state shall deprive any person of life...without due process of law." Well, I wondered, if the unborn do not qualify as persons, it seems that they could at least qualify as animals, say a dog, or at least a cat. Could we not at least charge abortion clinics with cruelty to animals under Statute 343.2, subdivision 7? Why is it legal to "maim, mutilate and kill" a pain-sensitive unborn human being but not an animal?

These reflections have confirmed my conviction never to vote for a person who endorses such an evil—even if he could balance the budget tomorrow and end all taxation.

Excerpted from A Godward Life, Book I: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1997, pp. 279-280). Used with Permission.

Don't miss my last post but this is important too.

In case you didn't hear...

Secret Service: No One Shouted 'Kill Him' About Obama

Now to the point of this post.

The rage that’s not on your front page

by Michelle Malkin

When a few unruly McCain-Palin supporters show their anger at campaign rallies, it’s national news. It’s an epidemic of “Weimar-like rage” and “violent escalation of rhetoric,” according to New York Times columnist Frank Rich. It’s the “reemergence of the far right as a power in American politics,” according to Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne. It’s a mass movement of GOP crowds “gripped by insane rage,” according to newly-minted Nobel Prize Winner Paul Krugman.

Too bad they don’t give out global awards for the Blindest Eyes in Punditocracy. We’ve just hit a trifecta.

Are a few activists on the Right getting out of hand? Probably. Between massive ACORN voter fraud, Bill Ayers’ and Jeremiah Wright’s unrepentant hatred of America, and John McCain’s inability to nail Barack Obama on his longtime alliances with all of the above, conservatives have plenty to shout about these days.

But a couple of random catcallers do not a “mob” make. And there’s an overflowing abundance of electoral rage on the Left that won’t make it onto your newspaper’s front page.

Last month on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a small, brave contingent of McCain supporters marched through the streets with campaign signs. They were met by a menacing horde of New Yorkers who displayed their disapproval with a barrage of jeers and vulgar gestures. (“The number of middle fingers in the ‘progressive” crowd’is directly proportional to the number of PhD degrees in the ten-block radius,” one of the witnesses wryly observed.) A YouTube video of the confrontation now has nearly half a million views (link). But don’t expect to find it on the nightly news. It doesn’t fit the Angry Right narrative.

Neither does the near-riotous reaction of Barack Obama supporters to a McCain/Palin sign in Democrat-dominated Prince George’s County, Maryland. Buried in a back local section, the Washington Post reported this week that “pandemonium” broke loose when an unsuspecting businessman erected a “Country First. McCain/Palin” message on the marquee at his Colony South Hotel & Conference Center.
“Operators of neighborhood e-mail group lists cried foul to their memberships. The NAACP logged calls. Community leaders demanded boycotts of the hotel, a common venue for Democratic events,” the little-noticed article reported. A black professor called the sign “a stink bomb in the middle of the living room” of Obama land. The poor hotel manager, Alan Vahabzadeh, surrendered. “I didn’t even realize it was going to be like this.”

Can’t blame him for missing the fiery hint from Portland, Oregon – where two deranged vandals were arrested after throwing a Molotov cocktail at a McCain yard sign in the middle of the night. Nope, didn’t make it into the columns of Rich, Dionne, or Krugman. Doesn’t fit the Angry Right narrative.

Speaking of “violent escalation of rhetoric” you never hear about:

*Obama supporters in Philadelphia sported “Sarah Parah is a [disgusting vulgarism referring to female genitalia]” t-shirts and yelled “Let’s stone her, old school” over the weekend.

*An Internet artist has designated Palin an “M.I.L.P” – “Mother I’d Like to Punch” – and published a drawing of a man’s fist knocking a tooth out of the Alaska governor’s mouth and the glasses off her face.

*“ABORT Palin” grafitti has sprouted on the sidewalks of Seattle and “Abort Sarah Palin” bumper stickers are spreading on Web stores.

*Sarah Palin-bashing Madonna performs before an audience of thousands, screeching and threatening to “kick her a**.”

*Getty Images publishes a photo of a man pointing a fake gun at the head of a cardboard cutout of Palin on display at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition building.

And no one blinks. Not a peep from the Obamedia.

But when Sarah Palin simply spotlights Obama’s longtime relationship with Weather Underground bombing terrorist Bill “We Didn’t Do Enough” Ayers?

“Inciting violence,” frets NBC reporter Ron Allen. “Concerned…for Senator Obama’s safety,” agonizes ABC reporter Terry Moran. “Beyond the pale,” cries Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. As if the no-holds-barred Obama campaign has ever had a rhetorical pale to stake.

All the world’s a Kabuki stage for the selectively outraged over rage.

Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2008

Sen. Obama's $250,000 figure is just plain disingenuous.

Full disclosure: I'm no expert. However, I owned a "small business." I created jobs. I paid taxes. I followed all the rules all the laws and do you know what happened? Let me tell you as briefly and simply as I can.

Did you notice the tense of the word I used earlier? I "owned" a small construction business. The defining reasons we didn't make it is because we refused to hire illegal aliens (trust me I had the chance to and could have paid LESS than min wage as so many businesses do) so our payroll was high. This is why I also have such strong opinions about why illegal aliens lower our wages and ability to grow businesses and jobs. But I will spare you from that discussion. I also had to pay unbelievably high state and federal taxes.

You see, I had a sub-chapter S corp. This meant that my company's income was reported on my personal taxes. Most "small businesses" are like this.

So the $250,000 figure that Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden refer to is just plain disingenuous.

My company, in our first year, made in the six figures. Yep, that's right. That income was reported on my personal taxes. Meaning if my company had made $250,000 or more I would be getting Sen. Obama's tax increase and apparently would have had nothing to worry about because I "could afford it." Frankly that's laughable when you look at the facts.

Now, we can go round and round about this but I hope you can all see that $250,000 doesn't mean your rich and it absolutely DOES include MOST small businesses (especially since most are sub chapter S corp). But that means you have to be upfront and honest about these facts and they have not been. They are even distorting this issue in regards to "Joe the plumber" and his question that lead to Sen. Obama being perhaps a little do candid about his "spread the weath around" philosophy.

Did I personally make six figures....absolutely not. In fact we had to lay off jobs and eventually close our business because we simply could not afford to stay in business if we were going to be honest and follow the laws (i.e. illegal aliens) and then get taxed to death each quarter/year.

So forgive me if I find Sen. Obama's figures not only misleading but a flat out lie meant to distort the facts and play class warfare. There are a lot of people who don't realize what I have shared because they haven't owned a small business. Those of us who have know that Sen. Obama's tax plan will not create jobs, it absolutely will destroy them.

What is going on?!

Barack Obama said that his economic philosophy is to "spread the wealth around."

Ok seriously, I can't even go into why this philosophy is dangerous and against everything we were founded on.

I just don't have it in me tonight. But I will add this:

"Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" the plumber asked, complaining that he was being taxed "more and more for fulfilling the American dream."

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too," Obama responded. "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody ... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

When are we going to wake up and see what is happening to our country!? Frankly we can thank Pres. Bush and Congress for helping get us used to this before we actually jump head first into a Socialist society and hand all our freedom over to the government.

Obama says, "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too." That's great but not at my expense without my permission - that's robbery!!

Pursuit of happiness. Sound familiar?! PURSUIT not GUARANTEE!!! Are we losing our minds!

Christian Citizenship Ministry

While it is true I do have a few "partisan" opinions, I am thrilled and honored to be a part of such a great ministry. If you click on the CCM logo above you will be linked to their website. We welcome any opinions or suggestions you have as we work to really get things going. There are only a handful of weeks before this election but much to do all year round. So the ministry doesn't end on Election Day! In fact it is just beginning...

I apologize up front.

But I simply cannot help myself. Actually you can blame this on my friend Emily (she can be reached by way of her blog located on the right hand column under "Blogs to Visit" and look for "Emily's Life").

Sorry guys but it must be done. I am compelled to share with you, what was shared with me.

"Ignorance In Action" Alright

<----- I am here.

If I really let you know how I felt I would not only need more headache medicine for my migraines but the keyboard I am typing on would burst into flames. So I'll be brief.

I made the drastic mistake of turning on the Emmy Awards (briefly - that's all I could handle). I agreed with SOME of one of the winner's comments when he said that the freedom to hear is equally as important as the freedom of speech. Since freedom of speech doesn't really matter if you can't hear it. He also said that he sees "Ignorance in action." The problem is that he believes that that freedom should only belong to those who agree with his liberal world view. I feel sick when I hear that kind of ignorance in action. What hypocrites. Too bad I can't get those moments of my life back. I think I may be dumber for having watched it even for that short of time. It's too bad because so many people have been given such talent and then they use the full power of their free speech to help us see just how hateful they are while they proclaim tolerance.

Wow. We have to remember what that word tolerance TRULY means. Our culture has been chipping away at redefining so many things and this is a critical one. I support their right to spew their opinions even if their speech is truly hateful. To bad they don't extend that tolerance to me and the rest of us bitter white trash clinging to God and our guns (remember there is more than one Amendment in that silly thing called our Constitution... that second one is kind of important too). And my God doesn't support hateful intolerant attitudes to those with those whom we disagree. Just the opposite. We are called to show love and remember that we all have sinned and fall short. However, there is right and wrong and we must strive for what is right. That means we respect others but we don't have to agree with them.

Wait, that sounds like the real definition of tolerance and the spirit of free speech.

Energy and Glenn Beck's T-shirt

I would like to have offered my opinion in my own words but I had to rely on providing third party resources. I simply have not had time because of the project I have been working on in addition to having a significant amount of personal issues I have been distracted with (one being legal documents for reassessing our child support now that our income has been drastically reduced for the long term...long story but all your prayers would be welcome!!) I hope you guys understand.

I have been asked about some Energy issues:

American Solutions: Myth vs Fact


I was also asked to explain this t-shirt of Glenn Beck's:

It reads: Bitter typical white person clinging to God and my guns.

First the "typical white person" part. Article link here for Obama Calls Grandmother a "Typical White Person" in Radio Interview.

Second, while at a closed fund raiser in San Francisco on April 11th Senator Obama was recorded saying this:

"But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there’s not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Let’s just take a second on this....items in parenthesis are mine.... "So it’s not surprising (BECAUSE THESE THINGS COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE GENUINE BELIEFS) then that they (SMALL TOWNS IN MIDWEST) get bitter, they cling to guns (FIRST AMENDMENT = 100% GREAT BUT THE SECOND = STUPIDITY ... AND REALLY THE CRIMINALS WILL RESPECT AN ANTI GUN LAW) or religion (COULDN’T POSSIBLY BE A REAL FAITH IN GOD REGARDLESS OF OUR SITUATIONS) or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment (WRONG, ANTI ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION)."

Ok, let me know if either of these needs more info. I understand I might need to spend more time on this but I wanted to get some info out before too long. I have my bulletproof vest on for those that might not agree with me...it's ok! I like to hear from everybody!

Sorry!

Hey, I just wanted to ask your patience. I have been asked to work on a very important project. This has meant I have't had as much time as I need to answer your requests in previous e-mails. I will, I assure you. However, until then I could use your prayers as I continue to embark on this task. I'll explain later...

Thanks!!
Britt

September 11, 2001

Remember.

Poll Inspired Question

I know I just posted a couple of hours ago (and please comment on that one with your ideas and suggestions) but this is something I would really like to hear form all of you on.

Is the United States showing it is a racist country if Sen. Obama does not win?

With differing responses to this poll question I think further explanation might be beneficial to both sides of this topic. Therefore, please explain why you think Sen. Obama's loss would or would not prove America is a racist country.

ATTN: I need your help!!

To everyone reading this post;

There is just too much going on in the world and my brain needs some direction from my many faithful readers. So I decided I would go right to you and ask what you would like me to post about. Be as specific as you want and offer as many ideas as you can!!

I am begging. Please leave a comment, even if you would rather not sign your name. I simply cannot narrow my thoughts down and need your help. What do you want to read about? What would you like to challenge me on? What would help you stay informed? Or whatever!

Signed,

Your overwhelmed author -Brittany

Obama campaign throws thousands of American Flags in the trash?

Click on the picture below of the garbage bags filled with American flags for a summary of this story from Ed Morrissey's blog at HotAir.com. Or visit Hugh Hewitt's blog (link located in the left column).

HEADLINES = LIES

Ok so that isn't always true (although this time my headline was a lie) but my provocative headline may have contributed to you reading the post...effective huh?! Before I get to the topic of my post title (no I am not being ironic...I really am going to talk about Headlines = Lies) I would recommend you visit and read this post from the Gifted For Leadership blog. This is from a Mayor Sarah Palin constituent.

Now, allow me to provide you with the entire text of Stu's blog the other day. I don't think I need to add a thing. Click HERE to link to his blog. Click on the picture of Glenn to go to his website.



09.04.2008 20:58:39
Sarah Palin: Snakecharmer

The media is trying REALLY hard to paint Sarah Palin into an evil religious zealot. The AP is willing to break the typically utilized laws of printing the English language to do it.

According to the AP, Sarah Palin said this about the troops while at church:

“Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God,"

According to real life, Sarah Palin said this about the troops while at church (with the AP’s selective quoting underlined):

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God,”

The AP quote means “Iraq is a mission from God.”

The actual quote means “We pray Iraq is a mission from God.”

The headline is even more misleading.

Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'

The AP not only doesn’t mention the sentence before, or the first part of the sentence they quote, they also ignore the very next sentence after as well. “That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

This is a statement of humble reflection from Palin. To translate into terms the media might understand, its “I hope we’re doing the right thing.”

This is bad enough that the AP really should issue a correction on it. The whole story is based on half (or a quarter) of a quote, ignoring the previous and following sentences, and even presenting the trimmed quote as the start of a sentence --forcing them to capitalize a word in the middle of the sentence to do so.

Really bad.

Sarah Barracuda

Per a request by my dear friend Emily I offer these excerpts (albeit a lot of them - what was I supposed to do the whole thing was phenomenal) from the full text as prepared. Some of these may vary slightly from her actual remarks due to some technical difficulties with the teleprompters. I bet you didn’t even know there were problems; did you?!

She also added this:

“By the way, do you know what they say is the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick.”

Her entire speech in video format is located in the left column. With that I give you Governor Sarah Palin:

Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored to be considered for the nomination for vice president of the United States.

I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America.

I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country.

And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions ... and met far graver challenges and knows how tough fights are won — the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.

Our nominee for president is a true profile in courage, and people like that are hard to come by.

He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight.

And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief. I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.

I was just your average hockey mom and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids' public education better.

When I ran for City Council, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too.

Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.

And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.

We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man. I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.

But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.

Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests.

The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it.

No one expects us to agree on everything.

But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart.

I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States. This was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau ... when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good-ol' boys network.

Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power brokers. That's why true reform is so hard to achieve.

But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up.

And in short order we put the government of our state back on the side of the people.

I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for.

That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay.

I also drive myself to work.

And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef — although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. I came to office promising to control spending — by request if possible and by veto if necessary.

Sen. McCain also promises to use the power of veto in defense of the public interest — and as a chief executive, I can assure you it works.

Our state budget is under control.

We have a surplus.

And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes.

I suspended the state fuel tax and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress.

When oil and gas prices went up dramatically, and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged — directly to the people of Alaska.

And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists, who kind of liked things the way they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources.

As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control of our state and return it to the people.

I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history.

And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly 40 billion-dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.

That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart.

When a hurricane strikes in the Gulf of Mexico, this country should not be so dependent on imported oil that we are forced to draw from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

And families cannot throw away more and more of their paychecks on gas and heating oil.

With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus, and to divide and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers.

To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world energy supplies ... or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia ... or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries ... we Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas.

Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we all didn't know that already.

But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.

Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines ... build more nuclear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ... and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources.

We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers. I've noticed a pattern with our opponent.

Maybe you have, too.

We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers.

And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.

But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state Senate.

This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot — what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it.

Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.

Government is too big ... he wants to grow it.

Congress spends too much ... he promises more.

Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.

The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business — like millions of others who run small businesses.

In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers.

And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.

Among politicians, there is the idealism of high-flown speechmaking, in which crowds are stirringly summoned to support great things.

And then there is the idealism of those leaders, like John McCain, who actually do great things. They're the ones who are good for more than talk ... the ones we have always been able to count on to serve and defend America. Sen. McCain's record of actual achievement and reform helps explain why so many special interests, lobbyists and comfortable committee chairmen in Congress have fought the prospect of a McCain presidency — from the primary election of 2000 to this very day.

Our nominee doesn't run with the Washington herd.

He's a man who's there to serve his country, and not just his party.

A leader who's not looking for a fight, but is not afraid of one either. Harry Reid, the majority leader of the current do-nothing Senate, not long ago summed up his feelings about our nominee.

He said, quote, "I can't stand John McCain." Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man. Clearly what the majority leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to John McCain. That is only one more reason to take the maverick of the Senate and put him in the White House. My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of "personal discovery." This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer.

And though both Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely.

There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain. In our day, politicians have readily shared much lesser tales of adversity than the nightmare world in which this man, and others equally brave, served and suffered for their country.

It's a long way from the fear and pain and squalor of a 6-by-4 cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office.

But if Sen. McCain is elected president, that is the journey he will have made.

For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words.

For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.

If character is the measure in this election ... and hope the theme ... and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.

Education is the civil rights issue of this century.

"Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school?"

AMEN! With three children currently or soon to be embarking on their time in our substandard secular humanist government run education system, this speaks to me. A mom that is also not satisfied to allow my rights to be stripped from me when they cross onto school grounds. This is something I will not remain silent on and so far I'm liking what I am hearing from John McCain.

On that note, I present a case for electing John McCain, using his words from his acceptance speech. These statements are in order but this is not the entire speech (even though it is a lot of quotes...I hope you take a minute and read them anyway). His entire speech in video format is located in the left column.

I now give you, John McCain.

Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans — the privilege of accepting our party's nomination for president of the United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.

In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn't any different. That's a tribute to the candidates who opposed me and their supporters. They're leaders of great ability, who love our country, and wished to lead it to better days. Their support is an honor I won't forget.

As always, I'm indebted to my wife, Cindy, and my seven children. The pleasures of family life can seem like a brief holiday from the crowded calendar of our nation's business. But I have treasured them all the more, and can't imagine a life without the happiness you give me. Cindy said a lot of nice things about me tonight. But, in truth, she's more my inspiration than I am hers.

These are tough times for many of you. You're worried about keeping your job or finding a new one, and are struggling to put food on the table and stay in your home. All you ever asked of government is to stand on your side, not in your way. And that's just what I intend to do: stand on your side and fight for your future.

And I've found just the right partner to help me shake up Washington, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. She has executive experience and a real record of accomplishment. She's tackled tough problems like energy independence and corruption. She's balanced a budget, cut taxes and taken on the special interests. She's reached across the aisle and asked Republicans, Democrats and independents to serve in her administration. She's the mother of five children. She's helped run a small business, worked with her hands and knows what it's like to worry about mortgage payments and health care and the cost of gasoline and groceries.

She knows where she comes from, and she knows who she works for. She stands up for what's right, and she doesn't let anyone tell her to sit down. I'm very proud to have introduced our next vice president to the country. But I can't wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming.

I don't mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I've had quite a few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the way. In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test.

We're going to change that. We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire. The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics.

We believe everyone has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach their God-given potential from the boy whose descendents arrived on the Mayflower to the Latina daughter of migrant workers. We're all God's children, and we're all Americans. [My correction added]

Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work.

When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that choice, and their children will have that opportunity.

Sen. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I'm president, they will.

Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn't think of them first, let's use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let's try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and independents to serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.

We're going to finally start getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won't care who gets the credit.

I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege.

Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most valuable lesson of my life. I was blessed by misfortune. I mean that sincerely. I was blessed because I served in the company of heroes, and I witnessed a thousand acts of courage, compassion and love.

On an October morning, in the Gulf of Tonkin, I prepared for my 23rd mission over North Vietnam. I hadn't any worry I wouldn't come back safe and sound. I thought I was tougher than anyone. I was pretty independent then, too. I liked to bend a few rules and pick a few fights for the fun of it. But I did it for my own pleasure; my own pride. I didn't think there was a cause more important than me.

Then I found myself falling toward the middle of a small lake in the city of Hanoi, with two broken arms, a broken leg and an angry crowd waiting to greet me. I was dumped in a dark cell and left to die. I didn't feel so tough anymore. When they discovered my father was an admiral, they took me to a hospital. They couldn't set my bones properly, so they just slapped a cast on me. When I didn't get better and was down to about a hundred pounds, they put me in a cell with two other Americans. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even feed myself. They did it for me. I was beginning to learn the limits of my selfish independence. Those men saved my life.

I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my fellow prisoners. Our Code said we could only go home in the order of our capture, and there were men who had been shot down before me. I thought about it, though. I wasn't in great shape, and I missed everything about America. But I turned it down.

A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did. I'd been mistreated before, but not as badly as others. I always liked to strut a little after I'd been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it. But after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever had before. For a long time. And they broke me.

When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn't know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next door, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me. Through taps on a wall he told me I had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he told me to get back up and fight again for our country and for the men I had the honor to serve with. Because every day they fought for me.

I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn't my own man anymore. I was my country's.

I'm not running for president because I think I'm blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.

If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our armed forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

I'm going to fight for my cause every day as your president. I'm going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I'm an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what's right for our country.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children's future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

GREAT SIGN!

I saw these while watching the convention on C-Span a few minutes ago.

I had to share.

What great numbers (and no styrofoam greek columns needed)

They say she had about 1.1 million less than he did but did you know this...

Sarah Palin 37.2 million - 6 networks carried the speech live

Barak Obama 38.3 million -10 networks carried the speech live

Channel for channel:

Obama's speech averaged 3.8 million viewers for each of the 10 broadcast and cable networks counted by Nielsen.

Palin's speech, which was carried live by four fewer networks, averaged 6.2 million.

hee hee hee... no wonder Obama was crabby today!

**ELECTION UPDATE**

Hot Dog! This is fun sometimes!

There was much more but I think this specific excerpt should help explain why I was on my feet, hollering and clapping (good thing Abby didn't wake up)! This convention is a lot more fun!! Even while I'm mad at the Republicans (remember: I'm a Conservative - often a BIG difference)!!

So without further adieu I give you the man I voted for for President during the primaries/caucuses... Senator Fred Thompson:

History making in that he (Barak Obama) is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President. Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it's the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation's history.

Together, they would take on these urgent challenges with protectionism, higher taxes and an even bigger bureaucracy.

And a Supreme Court that could be lost to liberalism for a generation.

This is not reform.

And it's certainly not change.

It is basically the same old stuff they've been peddling for years. America needs a President who understands the nature of the world we live in.

A President who feels no need to apologize for the United States of America.

We need a President who understands that you don't make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer, and you don't lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.

Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases.

They tell you they are not going to tax your family.

No, they're just going to tax "businesses"! So unless you buy something from a "business", like groceries or clothes or gasoline ... or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small "business", don't worry ... it's not going to affect you.

They say they are not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the "other" side of the bucket! That's their idea of tax reform.

My friends, we need a leader who stands on principle.

We need a President, and Vice President, who will take the federal bureaucracy by the scruff of the neck and give it a good shaking.

And we need a President who doesn't think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade.

The man who will be that President is John McCain.