Political Commentary
DAVID FIORAZO
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The Media Can't Possibly be Trusted
August 22, 2012
According to a Gallup Poll in September of 2011, only 44% of people say they trust the American media[i]. When it comes to bias, only 36% say the media is not biased. It gets worse: according to a new July 2012 Gallup poll, just 21% of adults express confidence in TV news and only 25% of adults express confidence in newspapers.[ii] America is waking up and smelling the liberal bias! I finally woke up to the truth that American people are simply not getting the facts and straight news from most media outlets.
One of the most revealing polls during the 2008 Presidential election was a Rasmussen poll finding that by a margin of 10-to-1, the public said that reporters 'Tried to Hurt [Sarah] Palin'. I will never forget how the media treated a woman who did absolutely nothing to deserve the vitriol and character assassination they displayed toward her. It exposed the pure hatred toward a pro-life Christian conservative by elite liberals in the media and by many in the Democratic Party. Ten to one! They showed their true colors and embarrassed the journalism profession. Reporters are not supposed to have an agenda one way or the other but today's news is being delivered through a progressive filter. Do we honestly expect the media to report fairly when they vote for Democratic candidates 94% of the time?
One thing that is slightly encouraging to me is that every day it seems that more and more people are getting the majority of their news and other information from the Internet through a variety of sources and web sites. With an average of just eight percent (8%) of journalists identifying themselves as conservative, I have a theory about why so many people in the media are liberals or oppose Christianity. One obvious reason is that they are simply trying to fit in with those they rub elbows with and I'm sure they want to please their bosses. It is also partly due to the fact that since grade school, kids form their opinions and world views while learning from mostly government-controlled curricula. The result is liberal indoctrination and for those youth who go into journalism, they are simply a product of their environment.
-Ninety-seven (97%) believe in abortion – a woman's right to choose
-Seventy three (73%) agree that homosexuality is just as acceptable as heterosexuality
-Over sixty (60%) favor gay marriage
-Seventeen (17%) of top journalists attend worship services almost every week
-Twelve (12%) of journalists say they are Republican
It is simply naïve to think that the majority of today's news media deliver important stories with no underlying opinion or without liberal bias. Witnessing what media minions did to Sarah Palin in 2008 compelled me to start writing regularly. I believe that the media is not even trying to cover up their liberal slant any longer. The press that used to be watch dogs have become lap dogs. They were supposed to hold government accountable, but who is holding them accountable? Journalistic ethics and standards are a thing of the past and we will address this important issue in two fact-packed, truth-filled chapters on journalism and media in my book ERADICATE: Blotting out God in America. We'll reveal why Christians should be aware, informed, and concerned.
The Unreported Story of Fannie and Freddie
July 30, 2012
It was the perfect storm in an election year - and it worked. The names Dodd, Frank, Raines, and Waters should have been plastered on front pages of newspapers across the country. Because the media gleefully used the fall of the American economy to blame Bush and Republicans in 2008, we need to scrutinize how it happened. Federal financial institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans that recipients were not likely to be able to repay.
Some still question whether the collapse was a manufactured economic "crisis" because it was the wild card that stalled the momentum created by Sarah Palin and helped catapult Barack Obama into the White House. You may not remember how it all came crashing down, but you probably do recall who the media collectively implied was responsible for the financial crisis.
Their scapegoat, President George W. Bush, tried to intervene from 2001 onward. The Bush administration warned that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were growing out of control, even cautioning Congress that they were over leveraged. According to the Wall Street Journal, the failure of Fannie and Freddie "could cause strong repercussions in financial markets, affecting federally insured entities and economic activity" well beyond housing. The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee at the time, Richard Shelby (R-AL) tried pushing for "comprehensive GSE reform in 2005," Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) criticized the Bush reforms and threatened a filibuster.
He changed his tune in 2008 after Fannie and Freddie collapsed and Dodd asked, "Why weren't we doing more?" He then voted for the very Bush reforms that he once criticized! Naturally, Barney Frank (D-MA) defended Fannie and Freddie as "fundamentally sound". Unknown to most Americans, Frank also ended up voting for the Bush reforms.
In the Wall Street Journal, Senior Advisor to President Bush, Karl Rove explained:
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York dismissed Mr. Bush's "safety and soundness concerns" as "a straw man." "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," was the helpful advice of both Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware and Rep. Maxine Waters of California. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York berated a Bush official at a hearing for raising the issue…
The more the president [Bush] pushed for reform, the more [mortgages] they bought. Peter Wallison of the American Enterprise Institute and Charles Calomiris of the Columbia Business School suggest $1 trillion of this debt was sub prime and "liar loans," almost all bought between 2005 and 2007. This bulk-up in risky paper made it possible for banks to lend imprudently on a massive scale.[i]
Remember that the Democrats controlled Congress at the time and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, still did her best to blame the Bush administration. She tried to imply that Republican deregulation helped cause the crisis and the media let her get away with her lying accusations! In 2008 alone, records show that President Bush warned Congress 17 times[ii].
Back in 2004, Alan Greenspan tried warning the Democrats as well. That same year, a year after the Bush administration tried to tighten regulation and oversight on Fannie and Freddie, Congress was told yet again that disaster loomed. The following partial transcript from a Congressional hearing shows the response of four Democrats:
Maxine Waters: Through nearly a dozen hearings, we were frankly trying to fix something that wasn't broke. Mr. Chairman, we do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and particularly at Fannie Mae, under the outstanding leadership of Franklin Raines. [Raines would barely avoid prosecution for fraud.]
Gregory Meeks: … I'm just pissed off at OFHEO [the regulators trying to warn Congress of insolvency at the GSEs], because if it wasn't for you, I don't think we'd be here in the first place. … There's been nothing indicated that's wrong with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac has come up on its own… The question that then comes up is the competence that your agency has with reference to deciding and regulating these GSEs.
Lacy Clay: This hearing is about the political lynching of Franklin Raines.
Barney Frank: I don't see anything in this report that raises safety and soundness problems.[iii]
Apparently, political contributions were made through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to the very members of Congress who were allowing irresponsible loans. Isn't political corruption a story that should be covered or at least investigated? Journalism used to require that news producers tell the truth, but not anymore. In a 2008 article, "Will the Last Fair Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?" author and columnist Orson Scott Card wrote:
"Aren't you supposed to follow the money and see which politicians were benefiting personally from the deregulation of mortgage lending? I have no doubt that if these facts had pointed to the Republican Party or to John McCain as the guilty parties, you would have treated it as a vast scandal. "Housing-gate," no doubt. Senator Christopher Dodd & Congressman Barney Frank, both Democrats, denied that there were any problems – even two months before the crash…"
Franklin Raines, the CEO of Fannie Mae who made $90 million while running it into the ground, was fired for his incompetence, and Barrack Obama's campaign actually consulted him for advice on housing… So I ask you [in the media] now: Do you have any standards at all? …Is getting people to vote for Barack Obama so important that you will throw away everything that journalism is supposed to stand for?[iv]
What a travesty that media puts party over the people it serves. I know there are some good people out there in the media who try to do an honest job in their reporting. Unfortunately, the distrust of the media and the lack of balance as a whole have gotten so out of whack that it may be irreparable. What have we learned since the economic meltdown?
In 2011, six former executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with lying about the two housing entities' exposure to high-risk subprime mortgage loans just ahead of the 2008 financial crisis. They deceived investors to prop up Fannie and Freddie's stock price. But if you ask the average person today who was mainly responsible for the financial meltdown they would say 'Bush'. Many surmised that the only solution to the 2008 crisis had to be to give the White House to the Democrats so they could fix the economy. How has that worked out for America?
[i] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123137220550562585.html
[ii] http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2010/05/pelosi-caught-in-major-lie-says-bush-didnt-warn-congress-about-financial-crisis-records-show-he-warned-congress-17-in-2008-alone/
[iii] http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/29/video-democrats-insist-nothing-wrong-at-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-in-2004/
[iv] http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2008-10-05-1.html Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?
Not Your Grandparents Democratic Party
May 30, 2012
My grandparents were Democrats. From what I understand, during the 1950's up until sometime in the 1970's, the Democratic platform was much more moderate and even leaned conservative on certain issues compared to what it is today. Christians had better take notice of the chasm between the two main political parties in America. On both the state and national level, it is extremely rare today to find a Democrat campaigning on the pro-life platform. Moreover, many Democrats may now feel obligated to support same-sex marriage since their leader, President Obama, announced his complete support of homosexual marriage just last week. This is part of the platform.
This is NOT your grandparent's Democratic Party. If you are a committed bible-believing Christian, I hope it's not your party either. I have yet to hear a compelling argument that would biblically justify the support of abortion, homosexuality or birth control – the key social issues that the Democrats defend. It is time to wake up and stop idolizing a political party. I've said many times that I would vote for a conservative pro-life Democrat over a liberal pro-abortion Republican any day of the week. The fact is that I have not been faced with that decision that I can remember.
This week, a prominent Democrat announced her move to the Republican Party because of the gay marriage issue. She had enough. Pennsylvania state committeewoman and founding president of the Blair County Federation of Democratic Women, Jo Ann Nardelli, switched her political affiliation because of her faith and became a Republican. In her words, "I will miss you all very much as you are all a part of my family; however, it is time to move forward with my life in a direction that is more in line with my faith."
A Christian friend of mine from California has voted Democrat his entire adult life, but could not bring himself to support Barack Obama in the 2008 election so he voted Republican. I was impressed with his conviction and I now have a new level of respect for him. No party is always right and no politician is anywhere near perfect, but this is our American system of representative government. If you and I profess conservative Christianity, we had better live in a way that lines up with the Bible and we are obligated to vote accordingly.
If you pay any attention to politics at all, you know that the Democrats and big labor unions are forcing a recall election in Wisconsin of Republican Governor Scott Walker. Sadly, the election next Tuesday June 5 must be funded by all state taxpayers, not just the whining ideologues. Is that fair? Scott Walker has not committed a crime nor did he do anything illegal. There was no malfeasance on his part. Wisconsin citizens overwhelmingly voted him in while voting the big spending, liberal Jim Doyle Democrats out of office in November 2010. Both the Green Bay Press Gazette and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel have endorsed Scott Walker and have disagreed with not only the state recall process, but also the reasons for the Democrats forcing the June 5 election.
Here we have a pro-life, pro-family, Christian Governor in Wisconsin who must go through another election because he stood up to the massive union powers that be and told them he was going to balance the state budget and cut the deficit. The whole country is watching what happens next week in Wisconsin so if you oppose mobocracy and socialism, I suggest you re-vote Walker. If he loses, the union thug tactics win and they will use their power to take control of other states.
Our hope is in Christ alone, not politics. I have had many conversations with Christians about these issues. A young Christian woman told me that she was going to vote Democrat next week because "not all Christians are Republicans". I suggested that the best thing for Christians to do is to know and apply God's word to every aspect of our lives, including how we vote. I encouraged her to start with life: look up both Old and New Testament passages about the value of every human being and how God is the Author of life. I also reminded that Paul wrote about homosexuality and that Jesus defined marriage between one man and one woman. Homosexuality is called an abomination, a perversion, and unnatural, among other things.
I also reminded her about some in the Democratic Party who are pushing for increased taxes and even socialism. It's true. Some are defining social justice as the redistribution of wealth to take care of the poor. Jesus never lobbied the Roman government for a higher tax burden on the people so that the government could allocate money to whoever they decide needs it. I thanked her in advance for considering biblical principles when deciding who to vote for. Her response was "Walker hurt Wisconsin teachers." To some Christians, the Bible doesn't matter. What's interesting is that Scott Walker's reforms have literally saved Wisconsin teacher jobs and have saved school districts across the state millions of dollars.
I hate politics, but our vote is the primary voice that each of us has. One friend of mine claims that Scott Walker is hurting teachers economically and as a result, he may not vote at all in the June 5 recall election. He could not in good conscience support Scott Walker's opponent, liberal Democrat Tom Barrett. (Milwaukee has declined under Barrett.) But because Barrett is pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage, some conservative Democrats are at an impasse. How will Christians respond? Is choosing not to vote the best solution? Each election, I believe that we need to re-evaluate our priorities and always put policy over political party – Bible policy. No excuses.
SANTORUM OUT, ROMNEY IN?
April 11, 2012
Many conservatives are disappointed that Rick Santorum decided to drop out of the race for President, but I respect him for putting his family first. His daughter, Bella, has been in and out of the hospital and they are better equipped to love and care for her if the family is not on the road full time. I voted for Santorum in the Wisconsin primary and will most pull the lever in the voting booth for Mitt Romney in November. Evangelicals are bumming big time, but as Andrew Breitbart said at CPAC in February:
"I will march behind who ever our candidate is. Because if we don't, we lose. There are two paths! There are two paths! One is America, the other is Occupy! …anyone that's willing to stand next to me to fight the progressive left, I will be in that bunker, and if you're not in that bunker 'cause you're not satisfied with this candidate, more than shame on you. You're on the other side."
The fact is that we have a long way to go before the Presidential election and there is lots of ground work that needs to be laid. Of course I am bummed that the Republican establishment seemed to get their way again. Romney is a moderate at best, but he has been talking the talk of a conservative in the last several months. I believe Santorum made Romney a better candidate. I hope he is telling the truth and until I am convinced otherwise, I will take Romney at his word regarding his policies.
At least we are not running an aging moderate with poor speaking skills like we did with John McCain in 2008 – look where that got us. To be sure, there is never a perfect candidate to represent an imperfect citizenry. That does not mean Christians should boycott the voting booth. We are not voting to elect a Pastor or a spiritual leader; we are voting to elect a President to lead and represent America. We absolutely must vote.
Samuel Adams once stated: "Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." In Wisconsin where it seems to be non-stop politics, the Democrats are dragging us back to the polls soon in a taxpayer funded recall attempt of Governor Scott Walker. We must be prayed up because the liberal union onslaught and negative attack ads on television will be relentless. Obama's Organizing for America will buss in protesters and activists to try to get people to think that they are in the majority.
It won't work. That may sound optimistic, but I have faith in conservative citizens who are fed up enough with politics. People here are so fed up that they will not only go to the polls and re-vote for Scott Walker, but they will tell everyone they talk to in the next month and then take whoever they can with them to vote.
So, even though some of us are sad that Rick Santorum suspended his campaign, we need to regroup and unify around whoever runs against President Obama. At this point, it appears that Mitt Romney will soon wrap up the Republican nomination. The focus must now shift to Obama's policies and his liberal extremism. We cannot afford four more years of his narcissism, control issues, and endless power grabs. The America we have known would not survive. The Reverend Charles G. Finney once said, "God will bless or curse this nation, according to the course Christians take." I hope and pray we will take the right course, starting with the next election.
Andrew Breitbart RIP: A Truth-Defending Legacy (and a great case for Adoption)
March 1, 2012
American Patriot Andrew Breitbart died this morning, March 1, 2012, from natural causes as he was walking outside his home in Los Angeles. This should be a reminder to us of how precious life is and that all we really have is today. Talk about a wake-up call. I do not know where Andrew stood in his faith but he was a strong defender of religious freedom. He has been known to say that the attack on Christians perpetrated by the mainstream media "angers me to no end." His fight for truth in media and against political corruption was inspiring to me and to millions of conservative Americans that may now take up the torch that Breitbart kept lit. The media is just one part of our culture that I have written about that is blatantly anti-Christian.
"I consider myself to be a Judeo-Christian... I relate to the world view that America has," Breitbart said. "It's a distinctly Judeo-Christian one and I think that it works." One thing many do not know about him is that he was adopted by his parents. He has often shared the story about his "conversion" from being a pro-choice liberal living in Hollywood to a staunch, pro-life conservative. The father of four called the pro-life cause "the most important issue" in America. President of Breitbart.com, Larry Solov wrote "Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love."
Brigitte Gabriel wrote: "Today America lost a great patriot, Andrew Breitbart. A son, who loved his country and its freedoms so much, he dedicated his life and soul to preserve it. Andrew was a trailblazer and a beacon of truth in online media and American politics who knew no fear. He inspired thousands into activism. He fought fiercely, spoke boldly, acted authoritatively standing on American principles that meant so much to him. Today freedom lost a warrior. His contributions to society will remain in perpetuity."
Breitbart said he hoped his battle against the liberal media could become "an international movement," and likened the battle to the previous century's battle against Communism. "This is the same battle that Ronald Reagan and many millions of other people fought in the 20th century, it just has a 21st century new media battleground," he said. "The Cold War is now a new media war." In a Time Magazine interview, he said, "Most conservatives are individualists… For years, they've been pummeled by the collectivists who run the American media, Hollywood and Washington. The underground conservative movement that is now awakening is the ecosystem I've designed my sites to tap into."
On the Drudge Report this morning, Matt Drudge wrote "DEAR READER: In the first decade of the DRUDGEREPORT Andrew Breitbart was a constant source of energy, passion and commitment. We shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening. I don't think there was a single day during that time when we did not laugh with each other, or challenge each other. MDRUDGE"
Breitbart, owner of Breitbart.com, and blogs such as Big Government, Big Hollywood, and Big Journalism, was a major leader in launching a revolution in conservative media in recent years, and a leading critic of the mainstream media's liberal bias. He even considered himself more concerned about American culture than politics. The AIM Tribute today went like this: "Accuracy in Media was saddened this morning to learn that a true champion for grassroots journalism had so suddenly passed away. We at AIM will always remember him as a man who fearlessly stood up for liberty, truth and honest media. Accuracy in Media believes that his efforts will not end with his passing, but will only inspire a legion of new citizen journalists and watchdogs bent on exposing corruption and media falsehoods. Breitbart was the recipient of the Reed Irvine Award for Investigative Journalism in 2010."
The Daily Caller's Tucker Carlson said, "Andrew loved a good prank above all. It's hard to think of a higher compliment. Yesterday I found myself on a plane across the aisle in the first class cabin from Michael Moore, who was looking miserable with a takeout pizza on his lap. I immediately texted Andrew, mostly because I couldn't resist. His response: "Give him the phone and say Breitbart wants to say hi." He couldn't resist either. The plane took off before I could set up the conversation. It would have been a riot. Hard to believe that's the last I'll hear from Breitbart. He really was a great guy. There aren't many."
This morning, I found myself talking with my wife, Rosanna about how short this life is and how we must redeem the time, savor each moment, and live full force for Jesus Christ. Today is all we have. I also found myself reflecting on all the people in my life who inspired me such as my Dad, a college mentor, and others. Though we never met, Andrew Breitbart was one of those inspirations. Christians, unite for the truth of the gospel! Conservatives, unite for truth in media. Citizen Journalists Unite – every one of us can make a difference!
America at War from Within
February 9, 2012
Abraham Lincoln once said, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Some believe that there is no stopping the destruction of our once great nation. Others believe that America can still be saved. The fact is that we are in a moral, spiritual, cultural, and financial decline. There are countless opinions and theories about how we got here. It is one thing to diagnose the disease but it's another thing to prescribe a cure. Not to oversimplify things but there are two major forces at work here: It is a foundational battle going on between good and evil.
America - the beautiful? The very fabric of our republic under God and our Judeo-Christian foundation is being attacked, maligned, and dismantled by a vociferous minority of God-haters. We have a media that practically ignored the Tea Party but continually gives Occupy Wall Street a voice, and we have a culture being conditioned against Biblical values. The Occupy movement is as anti-American as you can get. We also have an administration that seems to be at war with the Church, religious freedom, and continues growing government while spending record amounts of taxpayer money. It's as if they want to accelerate the already rapid erosion of America.
Some in the media compare Occupy with the Tea Party so I did some digging. Less than ten people have been arrested at over 300 Tea Party rallies across the country since 2009. Contrast this with approximately 6,464 documented Occupy Wall Street protestors arrested in 110 cities as of January 31, 2012. Arrests have ranged from civil disobedience and disturbing the peace to assaulting police officers, trespassing, sexual assault, public defecation & urination, drunkenness and drug use, vandalism, and at least one rape (Philadelphia). Gideon Oliver, who represents OWS with the National Lawyers Guild in New York, said that about 2,000 had been arrested just in New York City alone. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are excited about the movement. President Obama said that "we are on their side". Why would these prominent Democrats show support for the Occupiers?
According to [Democratic] pollster Douglas Schoen, 31 percent of the Occupy Wall Street protestors "would use violence to advance their agenda". Some of them openly admit to being Socialists, communists and Marxists but not once has a media report on ABC, CBS, or NBC used any of these terms to describe them. On Occupy's own list of supporters, sponsors, or sympathizers, you can find the Communist Party USA, CAIR, Louis Farrakhan and Nation of Islam, American Nazi Party, Marxist Student Union, and Socialist Party USA. These groups are not exactly friends of Biblical Christianity and America's Constitution.
We see it in government, in Hollywood, public education, the media, and the workforce: an all-out war against morality and those who hold a Christian worldview. Our culture has been in a steep decline for over 50 years. We have removed prayer from school, legalized the murder of babies through abortion, promoted homosexual lifestyles, and elected corrupt leaders. I don't know if God is judging America but if not, we sure deserve to be and it should start with the Church. People of faith need to wake up fast. America needs strong men of courage, faith, and integrity both in churches and in government to lead this country in the right direction. It will take much more than some newly elected representatives and our involvement in politics but the upcoming Presidential election in November will be pivotal to America's future. Our freedoms are at stake. My question to you is can the downward slide be reversed or is the decline inevitable?
Can't Stand Politics? You're Not Alone. Good Bye, 2011.
December 28, 2011
This year has been brutal. Over Christmas, I decided to take a break from the daily news, culture garbage, spiritual divide, and political upheaval in America. We watched some family-friendly Christmas movies, turned off the news and political commentary, and I avoided the Internet almost entirely. It was a nice retreat from the rude reality that is in our faces every day. We have had an especially toxic year in Wisconsin with the endless political and personal attacks on conservatives. Some people choose to ignore or deny the fact that our culture, our nation, and society is not doing very well these days. It is sometimes easier to avoid it altogether than to find a healthy balance of staying informed, doing what you can, and letting go of everything that is not in our control. One important thing we all can do is to vote for candidates who may be able to help our country, and vote out some of those who are currently in charge and are hurting our country.
A recent poll says that only 17% of Americans are happy with the direction of America. A Zogby pool said that 95% of citizens are concerned about the economy. A Rasmussen poll revealed that over 60% of Americans are concerned about the growth of government, and a majority still says they want to see Obamacare repealed and reversed. This administration's massive spending is out of control and there seems to be little accountability. Believe me, I would much rather spend my time doing other things than reading the news, staying informed, and caring about politics or how our government is being run. We often think there is little we can do because there is so much going on and so many battles to fight. We do not have to become overwhelmed, we just need to be engaged. I believe it is our Christian and our civic duty. America deserves who Americans elect to public office. Clearly, politics is just one issue of importance.
Here is a portion of a reading from "The Bible and Politics" by Dr. D. James Kennedy sharing his thoughts in the daily devotional New Every Morning:
Until about [sixty five] years ago, legislators tried to create laws based on biblical principles. Nowadays, whenever someone proposes legislation that might defend a Christian cause, naysayers often oppose it, arguing that no one can impose his or her values on others. Yet every time our legislators pass a law, they impose somebody's morality on someone else. And these days, legislators often allow secular humanism to be that morality... Secular humanism denies that God exists and that any being other than ourselves, can save us. It replaces God's Ten Commandments with human ideas of ethics and morality... Secular humanism has declared a full-scale war on Christianity, its battleground being the schools, the legislatures, and the courts of our land.
It again goes without saying that it is imperative that we keep informed about critical issues in our society. Other than praying for America, one thing we can do to get back to more of a Christian values-influenced government that our Founders intended is to vote for godly leaders and stay informed on legislation that is passed. I am not saying that Christians can or should control government by pushing religion on people. I simply want to remind you that we need to support the most conservative representatives, period. I know some people are disappointed with the current Republican candidates. Did you forget who they will run against? Please remember that the nominee will be going against a divisive, unpopular president with failing liberal policies. Vote in the primary, but please support whoever wins the nomination. Your only other choice is to not vote at all.
Some believe the 2012 election will decide if our nation permanently becomes a secular, socialist state or begins a return to our Christian roots. I don't think it is that simple or that certain either way. Mike Huckabee won the Iowa primary in 2008 so I don't really put as much stock in the importance of Iowa as many in the media do. I did like Mike. (And plenty of Democrats were in the John Edwards camp.) But if I remember correctly, John McCain – who eventually won the nomination – was in fourth place in various polls around the end of 2007. Don't settle for the establishment moderates and don't buy what the media pundits are selling. Look at the values and records of the few true conservatives who are campaigning right now.
I know we can get hung up on "electability" but let's pay attention, stay true to our conservative principles, help others get informed, and vote accordingly. Is that too much to do for the country we care about? Hopefully then, one year from now we will have celebrated another Christmas, we'll be heading into a New Year again and America will have a new president and administration. Now that is something to look forward to!
Wisconsin Political Fight Mirrors National Divide
November 21, 2011
Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas season without being bombarded by political distractions? In Wisconsin particularly, we have to focus a bit harder to avoid the garbage as liberals continue their assault on Republican Governor Scott Walker. In the Wisconsin State Constitution, all that is required to recall a state representative is gather enough signatures and force another election, funded of course by the taxpayers. In other words, you could force a recall of someone if you didn't like the car they drive or if they call a Christmas tree a "Christmas tree". Seriously, I would understand the need to recall a politician in cases of corruption, fraud, misuse of taxpayer money, or other scandals that impact a state. It rarely happens but I can understand the need to do so.
In this case, however, the statistics don't lie. Since Scott Walker was elected a year ago, Wisconsin has been one of the better job producers in the country. In fact, during the month of June, more jobs were created in Wisconsin than the rest of the country combined. Former Governor Jim Doyle ran up the spending in the state to massive levels and left Wisconsin in an economic mess with higher taxes and job losses statewide. In just his first year, Walker had the courage to confront the labor unions and balance the state budget without raising taxes, saving school districts hundreds of millions of dollars and preventing thousands of lay-offs across the state. You just have to look a bit harder for those who actually give him any credit.
Regardless of the Governor's job performance, liberals are campaigning against Walker, gathering signatures, and trying to force a recall election. Do you remember the infamous 'Wisconsin 14' Democrats who fled the state for a three week vacation in Illinois to avoid doing their jobs in the Senate? When they returned to work, they hypocritically supported the recall efforts of Republicans, which caused WI taxpayers to pay $2.1 million dollars on recall elections earlier this year! Thanks to the cooperation of many in the media, the public was often given one side of the story in too many cases such as Walker is a tyrant "attacking the rights of public employees". The sad thing is that there are so many lies going around that some people believe the garbage. Last Sunday in a Christian church parking lot I saw two bumper stickers: One said "Recall Scott Walker", and on another car not twenty feet away a sticker said, "I Support Scott Walker". A true reflection of the state and the country that is both interesting and sad.
On a local newscast a few weeks ago, I watched in disbelief as they did a segment on the "mounting recall efforts against Scott Walker" that was 2:46 long. Picture this: the two local news anchors opened the segment talking about the Democrats efforts to gather signatures against Governor Walker. (One scene showed liberal Democrat Steve Kagen talking to a room of anti-Walker protesters.) They interviewed a lady who said what Walker was doing is a horrible attack on freedom and worker's rights. In that entire "news" segment, only twenty-seven seconds were given to the Republican side which had a brief reply from Governor Walker. 27 seconds. I posted the segment on Facebook and emailed that station's News Department about the lack of balance.
In the Wisconsin Journal Sentinel today, Patrick Marley wrote, "Wisconsin's turbulent - and seemingly unending - political season has seen death threats, a [liberal] protester pouring beer on a lawmaker, a purported cyberattack, and … Protests have been held outside politicians' houses…" There was even this threatening statement in that article made by a union supporter: "Rather than recall him [Walker]...Can we kill him instead?" Nice. Imagine if a Republican had said this.
On the national level, we can see a massive push for Socialism via the Occupy Wall Street movement across the country as more people are promoting reliance on government while the work ethic is at a historical low in America. Our great Grandparents would not recognize the country today. Many of the misguided protesters are demanding that others give them a free ride under the guise of equality but that is not how America was founded. Capitalism works for those who put it to work. Due to President Obama's poor record and some failed policies, his advisers seem to be telling him to approve of and ride the coat tails of this 'Occupy' movement out of desperation while he campaigns all around the country for the 2012 election. The political divide is ugly, violent, toxic and it is getting old.
Meanwhile, unemployment is still at 9%, the national debt is now over $15 Trillion dollars, our southern border is in chaos, and at least two major scandals (Fast and Furious, Solyndra) are weighing down the most polarizing administration in our history. Congressman Allen West tweeted this today: "Under this Administration we've seen 41% increase in food stamp recipients, 16% increase in poverty, & 48.5% people on government aid." In a new poll, it appears that only 13% of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country and we are hearing from many of that 13% at these 'Occupy' protests who claim they are actually "the 99%". Many of us in the actual majority stand for limited government, God-given rights, free market Capitalism, and a stronger national defense. In Wisconsin, big labor unions are not the majority. They just have the loudest voices. Our country is simply not a civil place right now - even during holidays.
A Report Card: President Obama's First 1,000 Days in Office
October 17, 2011
GAS PRICES: Up more than 80% and has been over $3/gallon every day in 2011 [source: AAA/OPIS]
[source: Kaiser Family Foundation]
MORE DEBT: America accumulated as much debt over the past 1,000 days as it had in the country’s first 79,135 days (July 4, 1776 through March 3, 1993) [source: Treasury Dept]
DEBT PER DAY: America’s debt has increased by about an average of $4.2 billion per day [source: Treasury Dept]
INTEREST ON U.S. DEBT: $1.2 trillion has been spent servicing U.S. debt—that by itself would be the world’s 15th largest economy [source: Treasury Dept]
POVERTY: Nearly 3 million more Americans in poverty—poverty rate has gone from 13.2% to 15.1% [source: Census]
MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING: Under Obama, the govt has spent an average of $6.6 million every minute and $111,111 every second [source: OMB and CBO]
CHINA: Owns $1.17 trillion of our debt (as of July) – a 58% increase from January 2009 [source: Treasury Dept]
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: Has averaged 9.4% under Obama [source: BLS]
MORE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: Has been at or above 9% for 840 of the 1000 days [source: BLS]
REGULATIONS – NEW RULES: 7,076 new final regulatory rules issued [source: Federal Register]
REGULATIONS – FEDERAL REGISTER: 45,696 pages of new regulatory rules were added to the Federal Register
[source: National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register, various years]
AVERAGE WEEKS UNEMPLOYED: Unemployed out of work for an average of 40.5 weeks – that’s more than double since Jan 2009 [source: BLS]
JOB APPROVAL RATING: Dropped nearly 30 percentage points [source: Gallup Tracking]
SPEECHES AND PUBLIC REMARKS: Roughly 806 speeches/public remarks made – once every 1.24 days [source: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/obama-speeches/]
SPEECHES --- JOBS: Has said the word “jobs” 4,718 times in 591 speeches [source: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/obama-speeches/]
SPEECHES -- ECONOMY: Has said the word “economy” 4,541 times in 605 speeches [source: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/obama-speeches/]
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE: Has decreased by 168,000 [source: BLS]
MANUFACTURING: 818,000 manufacturing jobs lost --- a -6.5% drop since Jan. 2009 [source: BLS]
BANK FAILURES: 371 Banks have failed [source: FDIC]
STATES: 37 States have higher unemployment rates [source: BLS]
REPOSSESSIONS: More than 2.4 million homes have been repossessed for failure to pay their mortgage [source: RealtyTrac]
BANKRUPTCIES: Some 4 million total (business and non-business) bankruptcies [source: American Bankruptcy Institute]
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Almost $380 billion spent by federal government on unemployment benefits [source: Treasury Dept and CBO]
ECONOMIC TEAM: 7 key members of Obama’s Economic team have resigned [Summers, Romer, Bernstein, Orszag, Goolsbee Volker and Rouse] [source: News Reports/Tracking]
MEDIAN INCOME: Real median household income in the U.S. in 2010 was $49,445, a -2.3% decline from 2009 [source: Census Dept]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: Spent more than $26 billion on the EPA – FY2011’s spending will be about 40% more than FY2009 [source: Treasury and OMB]
More Media Silence: Scandals and Bad News Dems
September 16, 2011
Some very important events apparently received little media attention this week because they reflect negatively on Democrats or the Obama administration. Seriously, I resisted writing about these newsworthy items at the risk of being redundant. Not that talking about them is redundant, but continuing to make the point that evidence seems to convict our beloved elite national media of extreme liberal bias yet again. One of the worse headlines this week was, "Over 46 million people lived below the poverty line in 2010." Did you hear much about this story?
What an awful couple of weeks for Democrats. Jobless claims rose again to 428,000. The poverty rate is now up to 15.1%, unemployment has remained between 9 and 10% for over two years, gas prices are still hurting the average American's wallet, there are now three current scandals the Obama administration is involved in, and Anthony Weiner lost his Senate seat to the GOP. Or, as Jeff Kuhner wrote in the Washington Times today: "The liberal media are President Obama's last hope. His popularity is plummeting. The economy is in crisis. Global recovery has stalled. The Middle East is drifting toward chaos. Even many Democrats concede that Mr. Obama's re-election is in serious jeopardy. Hence, he has only one chance left: Provoke the GOP presidential candidates to tear each other apart."
Let's start right there. Two Republican Debates in a row were moderated by very biased "news" organizations, MSNBC, and CNN. This last debate was laughable because it is obvious that the only ammunition liberals have since they cannot back up President Obama's policies is to try to pit Republicans against each other. I am hoping the informed public will not fall for it and will support whomever the Republican candidate is who runs for president. The desperate Democrats better have something better up their collective sleeves (other than name-calling, union thuggery, and recall elections) if they even hope for a long shot at keeping the 2012 elections close.
Speaking of elections, just this week a pro-homosexual marriage New York Democrat lost a U.S. seat to a Republican for first time in 88 years. The special election on Tuesday was held to replace former liberal Democratic U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, representing New York's 9th District. Weiner had to resign back in June over a sex scandal. Newcomer Bob Turner, a Catholic who ran on a pro-life and pro-family platform won in what the New York Times called "a decisive victory". The media downplayed the result of course because it was an outcome few might have expected for a solid blue Congressional seat. Turner defeated Weprin 54-46 percent. You haven't forgotten the landslide election results from last November, have you? Thank God for the Tea Party. Do not let up because we have a country to reclaim: A country that happens to be unwillingly in the process of a "fundamental transformation".
Eric Holder should be fired! We have keystone cops running the Department of Justice. What clear-thinking American would ever think that authorizing illegal gun sales to get weapons to Mexican criminals was a good idea? In the latest Fast and Furious update, the deadliest, most dangerous scandal of the Obama administration, GOP investigators and House and Senate watchdogs are hard at work to expose the corruption. Some gun shop owners have even risked their lives to tell the truth. To bring you up to speed, weapons linked to ATF's controversial "Fast and Furious" operation have been tied to at least eight violent crimes in Mexico including three murders, four kidnappings and an attempted homicide. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in the U.S. was the first casualty. Now, newly-revealed murders in Mexico bring the total number of deaths linked to Fast and Furious to four. There are reports that Holder and the DOJ are blocking parts of the investigation. Keep watching actual news outlets for more on this huge underreported story.
Solyndra: Another political payoff to Obama campaign donors gone bad. Half a billion taxpayer dollars were given to this green energy company. An Associated Press report shows that Solyndra was hemorrhaging hundreds of millions of dollars for years before the Obama administration signed off on the original $535 million loan guarantee in September 2009. This is big government in action and it appears that the administration protected political supporters at taxpayers' expense! One of Obama's biggest contributors, George Kaiser, is also one of Solyndra's primary investors. The Daily Caller reports that the Fremont, California-based company was "the first renewable-energy company to receive a loan guarantee under a stimulus-law program to encourage green energy and was frequently touted by the Obama administration as a model. Obama visited the company's Silicon Valley headquarters last year and Vice President Joe Biden spoke by satellite at its groundbreaking." Michigan Republican Fred Upton is the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and he made a good point by saying, "In this time of record debt, I question whether the government is qualified to act as a venture capitalist, picking winners and losers in speculative ventures and shelling out billions of taxpayer dollars to keep them afloat." Keep watching this story as it develops. Solyndra announced bankruptcy on August 31st and some media outlets including MSNBC prime time programs still haven't reported on the scandal.
Now this next story is not only shocking, it shows the pro-abortion bias of most national media. Did you know that there are no abortion laws or restrictions in Canada? Katrina Effert was sentenced to community service last Friday for killing her newborn and then throwing the body over a fence into the neighbor's yard. An Edmonton appeal court ruled that the Alberta woman, who strangled her son after giving birth in 2005, will face no guaranteed jail time. Effert's Defense Lawyer Peter Royal went so far as to say it was "unjust" and "almost mean" to incarcerate her for the 16 days of jail time she must still serve for throwing her son's body over a fence. Her defense argued that those actions were evidence that Effert had a disturbed state of mind, which the judge argues validates infanticide being that she was disturbed at the time she killed her child. The judge also rejected arguments that the single father and the grandparent also face "the same stresses of the mind" as a mother who kills her own baby.
Breaking News from WND: City demands Christians get permit for Home Bible Study. Chuck and Stephanie Fromm already have been fined $300 for holding Bible studies for their friends at their home, and they face the potential for additional fines of $500 for each study held, according to Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute. He and a legal team is taking their case to court. The newest conflict over Bible studies in homes in America arose in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., where city officials say a city code prohibits religious organizations in residential neighborhoods without a conditional-use permit, a sometimes very expensive procedure. Trial scheduled for October 7.
And finally yet not surprisingly, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (AKA, The Ninth "Circus") has ruled that a San Diego math teacher must take down his classroom banners that display the word "God." Mr. Johnson had banners hanging in his classroom at Westview High School in San Diego, Calif., for more than 30 years with phrases like "In God We Trust," "All Men Are Created Equal," and "One Nation Under God". (Isn't one of these mottos printed on our money?) The only person who opposed Johnson's banners was the school principal, Dawn Kastner, who did not like them because they expressed a Judeo-Christian point-of-view.
With that in mind, I'll leave you with something Bob Dutko on CNS News said about this glaring double standard in our country: "After all, this is the standard M.O. of the left. Pro-life? You must hate women. Pro-traditional marriage? You must hate gays. Oppose Affirmative Action? You must hate blacks. Support enforcing illegal immigration laws? You must hate foreigners. Reject Global Warming? You must hate science. Reform Social Security? You must hate senior citizens and (of course) oppose more taxes on the rich. You must hate, or at a minimum, don't care about the poor. The reason the left plays this game, but conservatives do not, is simple. Liberals are not offended by intellectual dishonesty. Conservatives are."
Rumors of Wars: The Anti-war Media and God's Perspective
8-4-11
"When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." -Luke 21:9
We are approaching the ten year anniversary of the most horrific and tragic terrorist attack waged on America. It's interesting that I'm writing this today because I just found a red, white, and blue bumper sticker in my garage this morning that has the long forgotten slogan, "We Will Never Forget". That sentiment of unity in America lasted about six months immediately following 9-11-2001. Does this mean that terrorist attacks are fading and is the war on terror over? You've heard the expression, "If a tree falls in the middle of the forest and nobody hears it, does it make a sound? I'd like to ask, "If an American soldier dies in Afghanistan, Libya, or Pakistan and no one hears about it and the media doesn't report on it, is there still a war going on?" Unless someone in your family has served or is currently serving our country in the armed forces, it is way too easy to forget about the ongoing sacrifice and cost of war partly because of the simple fact that the media isn't mentioning it much anymore. What a stark contrast from just a few years ago. This is both sad and unjust when the very press that was created by our Founders to inform and protect the people from government and tyranny refuses to report news that negatively reflects on their political party.
It was not easy trying to find the most current statistics and stories on the recent conflicts that America is involved in. I'm afraid that Google is not always the vast resource of unedited and unfiltered information that most people think it is. Last year, I wrote about the fact that several former top executives from Google now work in the Obama administration and that Google also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Obama campaign back in 2008. Regardless, I finally found a few items of interest. You most likely remember how in 2008, America was subjected to daily reminders of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, including constant casualty counts bombarding us on the front pages of newspapers, and names of fallen soldiers flashing across our television screens. That was then, and it was supposedly all Bush's fault, right? Though today we have a Democrat for President, you may be shocked to learn that more than 1,236 American combat soldiers have died on President Obama's watch. That is a rate of over 30 deaths every month since he took office. The misreporting by the liberal media is a journalistic cover-up, a slap in the face, and a disservice to concerned American citizens who want to be informed.
We know the general public is divided but for Christians, how do we reconcile love and war? The Bible tells us in Luke 6:27 to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us and mistreat us. Are we supposed to love those who consider us "infidels" and whose goal is to kill us? If so, how exactly do we love them from across the ocean? How do we love those who are committed to radical Islam and who killed thousands of Americans on 9-11-2001 and commit fatal acts of violence almost daily somewhere in our fallen world? Would it be right or wrong to forcefully defend your own home if a murdering thief broke in and was an immediate threat to your family's safety? How do we explain in the Old Testament when God used war to punish wicked nations and to achieve His purposes?
In Deuteronomy chapter 20, God commanded the Israelites not to be afraid of larger armies "when" they go to war because He would be with them. God went so far as to tell them to completely destroy their enemies! Why would a loving God command this? "Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God." (Deut. 20:18) We have to believe that a loving God hates bloodshed but consider the condition of our sinful world. If evil is not resisted and in most cases eliminated, the wicked will win. It is often a matter of faith. Jesus Himself said in Luke 12:51, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." It is important to separate God's commands regarding war given to nations from Jesus' instructions on love given to individuals. Jesus was talking about conflicts and disagreements with people, not wars between nations. God's goal is the destruction of evil and wickedness on earth, not necessarily destroying people. In 1 John 3:8, John tells us that the devil has been sinning from the beginning and that, "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." We know that in the end, Jesus will return to defeat sin and death once and for all. There will be no more wars and righteousness will finally reign on earth. (Revelation 19-20) War is a natural consequence to sin so when Jesus destroys sin, wars will cease. But sometimes the only way for a country to have peace is to go to war.
Whether you are a Christian or not, didn't it give you a sense of justice that after almost a decade of evil against America, death, and destruction that Osama bin Laden was assassinated? I pray that the 9/11 families can take some form of comfort in that. In my opinion, it was wrong of the President to visit Ground Zero for a little victory lap following bin Laden's death and to take the credit for this accomplishment. I say if Obama takes credit for this then why can't he take responsibility for the continuing wars, the casualties, the economy, and the direction of this country? Because the new bumper sticker with the Obama logo is true that says: "The buck stops, uh, over there." I bring this up because you may have forgotten that in 2008 when he was campaigning against President Bush, several liberals including Obama, John Kerry, and others accused our troops of "air-raiding villages and killing civilians". On another occasion they said our brave military was "terrorizing women and children". That was absolutely fatuous and shameful.
Even though some of our nation's leaders are hard to respect at times and some abuse their authority, the Bible says that we are to obey the laws, pay our taxes, and submit to governing authorities because they were established by God. (Romans 13:1-4) If we rebel against what God has instituted, we bring judgment on ourselves. Police officers for example, are God's servants, 'ministers of God for good' and avengers of evil. Again, due to corruption and our fallen world, some in authority are not enforcing laws or governing the people with integrity and righteousness. The Bible instructs individuals to not take our own revenge but the government on the other hand must defend the country and protect innocent people. This seems to go against the actions that President Obama has taken with the drone bombing in Pakistan but we don't hear much opposition in the media. Maybe the Code Pink people still don't know what a drone is. Where are the protests from the liberal anti-war professionals who used to be offended at this type of activity?
Let me give you just one example of a headline and the opening from the laughable New York Times in late April about a U.S. drone attack that killed 23 people including many civilians in Pakistan: "Drone Strikes Militants in Northwest Pakistan". ISLAMABAD – An American drone attack killed 23 people in North Waziristan on Friday, Pakistan military officials said, a strike against militants that appeared to signify unyielding pressure by the U.S. on Pakistan's military…"
I didn't realize that women and children were part of the "militants". Now let's turn to U.S. involvement in Libya: In March, President Obama said, "broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake." Then in April, Obama promised to "continue operations in Libya until Gaddafi was gone". The President also authorized drone attacks in Libya without Congressional approval. Imagine the vociferous outcry in the media if Bush had made such a contradiction and followed it up with an attack of any kind. Do not expect many in the lap dog media today to hold a liberal Democrat accountable. This glaring double standard is unfortunately here to stay. What about Afghanistan? There have been five-times the casualties for U.S. military forces since Obama became President. This fact has gone either unnoticed or unreported by most national media. Maybe they have changed their anti-war tune.
Regardless of what our government does or does not do, Christians need to hold fast to the truth, discern the signs of the times, and understand that God is sovereign. America has fallen away from Jesus Christ. There were instances in the Bible when God used war to judge and even discipline His own people. In the book of Jeremiah chapter 5, Israel and Judah were unfaithful to the Lord and lied about the Lord. As a result He said that He would bring a distant nation against them, and that nation would destroy the fortified cities in which they trusted. "Yet even in those days," declares the Lord, "I will not destroy you completely. And when the people ask, 'Why has the Lord done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own." I don't know how much longer God will be patient with America. May He have mercy on us and forgive our sin and heal our land. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I tremble form my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."
This President Will Simply Not Be Held Accountable
6-24-11
Before it is too late, more clear-thinking Americans must wake up to some sobering facts. Many liberals, uninformed citizens, and a majority of youth today believe the following:
America is not one of the best countries in the world; We need to spend more money to get out of this recession; Health care is a right, not a privilege; American citizenship is a right, not a privilege; Gay marriage should be legalized everywhere; Democrats care more about the poor and middle class than Republicans; The stimulus didn't fail, it is just starting to work; Islam is a peaceful religion; Fox News is just a right wing network; Socialism is a better option than our system of Capitalism, the Founding Fathers were extremists, and...President Obama must be reelected to complete the fundamental transformation of America. There are some who, regardless of policy decisions Obama makes, will vote Democrat in every election. For those who are concerned about the good of our country, please keep reading.
Here are a few statistics and headlines to consider:
15 million Americans are now unemployed
Unemployment applications increased by 9,000 last week; totaling 429,000
Gas Prices are hovering around $4 a gallon
When Times Get Tough, Obama Goes Golfing (74 times so far as President)
Unemployment over 9%
A record number of Americans are now on Welfare
Housing market slow; New home prices fall again
Results are In - the Stimulus has Failed
Obama laughs, admitting that 'shovel ready jobs' were not quite shovel ready
Unemployment Applications have been above 400,000 for 11 weeks in a row
National Education Association vows to spend $60 million to reelect Obama
Breaking News: President Obama took heat for tapping into America's emergency oil supplies. Many speculate that this is simply an attempt to temporarily slow down rising gas prices while he spends more time campaigning for the 2012 Presidential election. My opinion? These are our "Reserves" for a reason, like a terrorist attack or nuclear emergency. The sad thing is that our younger generation is going to pay for the reckless spending and foolish decision making of the Obama administration.
Tax Cheat Timmy Geithner thinks the solution is, drum roll...increase spending and taxes! He stated that the government needs revenue increases, and that cutting the deficit by spending cuts alone is irresponsible. I'm not making this up. Watch the headlines in the near future, making Republicans the bad guys, especially since Eric Cantor walked out of Debt limit negotiations. (He refuses tax hikes) More than likely, this generation of young Americans will be the first in our nation's history not to enjoy a standard of living greater than their parents'.
Obama - the war president is, after three years, deciding to pull troops out of Afghanistan…just in time for the 2012 election. The media campaign against the Iraq war was one of the top reasons some voters turned away from President Bush, yet now, where is the outcry? (Not to mention we're entangled in a new conflict in Libya). Many believe this is purely a politically motivated move. During the Obama presidency, U.S. troops have been in Afghanistan for 29.1 months and have suffered 970 casualties—a rate of 33.3 deaths per month. The average monthly casualty rate for U.S. military forces serving in Afghanistan has increased 5-fold since President Barack Obama was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009. (CNSNews.com) So tell me, how many anti-war protests have you seen in the news in the last two or more years?
With all that is happening in the country, what are a few things the president been doing instead of "focusing on job creation"? Obama has been raising lots of money for his campaign, showing a lack of support for Israel and speaking out against pro-life efforts, insisting that Planned Parenthood will continue to receive out tax dollars to fund abortions. At a New York fundraiser Thursday, President Obama touted his efforts to advance gay rights and promised further progress, and the Federal Reserve flew the Gay Pride rainbow flag to celebrate Obama's declaration of June celebrating GLBT month. Oh, and in his speech about Afghanistan, he did mention getting to work on "Nation building" right here in our own country. I don't think he wants to build the same nation that you and I would like to rebuild. Last night, Obama applauded as New York became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage...and add to the destruction of the family unit as God intended. Will we allow it to continue across the country?
The sad truth is that with 70% of Americans saying the country is headed in the wrong direction, our national media seem to be saying, "Shhhh! Don't tell anyone that we know America is in a downward slide, we'll keep blaming Republicans, promote distractions, (like Wiener), and we will campaign for Obama no matter what he does or does not do. This is our unwritten code." And this reality leaves it up to you and I to research, inform ourselves, and make our voices heard.
Do You Actually Trust the American Media?
5-24-11
A new poll came out this week that has pretty much confirmed many other independent news polls in which Americans have a very hard time naming the most trusted news reporter in America. This proves what I have been writing about for several years now - that we simply cannot get factual and objective news reporting from most national media. In order to get accurate information, you need to turn to a variety of sources on the Internet. According to this poll by Suffolk University, "Don't Know" and "None" are the most trusted U.S. political reporters. Last year, it was the Pew Research Center who found that 92% of Americans use multiple platforms to get their daily news.
On this week's poll, there was also a question about the most trusted news sources on television. You don't have to look very hard to see why CBS and ABC were tied for the bottom at an embarrassing 6%. NBC was only a few points above the bottom feeders. Tim Pawlenty, a conservative Christian Republican, appeared on several network morning shows to talk about his candidacy for the Republican presidential ticket. First, they blasted him for not wanting to raise taxes. Then, not even hiding his political leanings, George Snuffleupagus actually quoted a liberal who voted for Obama, as saying that Pawlenty "left a financial mess" behind when in reality, he was one of only four governors in America to receive an 'A' rating from the Cato Institute. ABC must have overlooked that fact. On top of this, the graphic on the bottom of the screen said, "Who's In, Who's Out: Race In Disarray", meaning that there is disorganization in the Republican camp. Are you beginning to see how they operate?
Matt Lauer also got into the mix by inferring that some in the Republican party were against Governor Pawlenty. This is another tactic the liberal media uses frequently. They spin and twist the truth to try and cause confusion and division among Republicans. Lauer actually asked Pawlenty how he was going to run against someone like Obama who has so much charisma. Pawlenty responded, "I'm not running for entertainer-in-chief...but I'll bring the solutions forward that will actually fix the country." I mention this to emphasize the need to be aware of this kind of "reporting". Do NOT buy into the lie that the Republican candidates for the 2012 election are weak. Each one of them has more executive experience than Obama did but since he was a liberal Democrat, that did not seem to matter to many who report the "news" in America.
Back to the Suffolk University Poll. What political news source did the majority say they trust the most? Not surprisingly, Fox News, the network with sky rocketing television ratings overwhelmingly beat out all others. In fact, Bill O' Reilly has not only held the number one slot for years in prime time but in this political news reporting poll, he came in as the most trustworthy and accurate. I could write from detailed research about why Fox continues to have high ratings, regardless of whether there is a Democrat or Republican president, but the issue here is who to trust now and in the future with information. We have a critical presidential election next year, and we must encourage those who will listen to get informed and get involved. Notice I did not say to get "consumed" with politics.
Some liberals in the media don't care about anything except defending their position or pushing their views or ideology on other people. They may even blame President Bush for many of today's problems, but they won't report on who frequents the White House since the Obama administration took over. Do you care that radicals such as liberal billionaire George Soros has been to the White House at least eight times that we know of? Do you have any idea what his background is? How about the progressive, General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt? The list of anti-American or progressive or those who support Socialism and who have spent time at the White House, is long. The fact is that you won't hear much about people like this in the media, and this is just part of the problem. So, as we move into campaigning season, any Republican who runs against Obama could win, even with the onslaught of negative press that will come against them. You just won't hear the mainstream media admit it.
Calling All Conservatives; Looking toward 2012
4-22-2011
It does not even matter to me who runs against President Obama in the election next year. We better get out and vote for him or her. But first, let's start paying attention to the early Republican possibilities. I can't imagine a candidate who could not do a better job than Obama. Right now, I'll go out on a limb and say Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum look pretty good. Whoever runs, look out for the Pro-Obama liberal media. The Republican who runs in the 2012 Presidential election will have to face the Obama machine as well as a biased media who will be complimentary to the Democrats and critical of Republicans.
If you've recently started paying attention to politics, this bias has been proven and documented by the Media Research Center and many others. Conservatives are hated and if you don't believe me, look at how they spin the news to reflect negatively on them. This is the new normal in America in what used to be called, "Journalism". Bye, bye objectivity!
Pay attention to how the media reports on 'their guy' vs. the potential candidate who opposes Obama. Thankfully, more people today get their news on the Internet instead of TV or newspapers. American voters do not hear the whole truth unless they get their news from a variety of outlets and sources. We have to face these facts if we are to effectively impact the 2012 Presidential election, regardless of who the conservative candidate happens to be. The Democrats have powerful 'Get out the Vote' efforts and they are well oiled and organized when it comes to campaigning, demonstrating, and protesting. The national media will always give them more press.
If you want to help America be great again, you need to do more than show up at the polls and mark a box for a candidate. I live in Wisconsin, and values in Madison do not represent the majority of Wisconsin citizens. Make sure your elected representatives hear from you! As we have seen here with the collective bargaining controversy, the battle is on, the work has begun, and action is needed right now. Liberal union thugs will stop at nothing to win; lie, cheat, call for recounts, recall elections, protest neutral businesses.
Nationally, the fight is even more difficult. We're going against an incumbent President with power on his side: international money coming in, an endless money supply from George Soros and others of his ilk, backing from SEIU and other liberal unions, corporations who were given massive stimulus dollars, and Democratic Governors and Senators who received kickbacks for their states in exchange for help with Obama's reelection bid. According to the Heritage Foundation, the President's spending plan was an effort to shore up support within a key constituency: organized labor. First revealed at a Wisconsin labor union picnic on Labor Day, the $50 billion in infrastructure spending represents tens of billions of dollars in high, federally mandated, Davis-Bacon wages for unionized construction workers.
In this age of the blogosphere and lack of media accountability, liberal attacks will continue to be aimed at Christians, Conservatives, and Republicans – even Independents who get in the way of Socialism. Let's not stoop to their level. Call attention to their hypocrisy but don't lose focus. Let's arm ourselves with the truth and share news and information with others who care. Use the Internet. Attend town hall meetings. There is way too much at stake. NOW is the time to pay more attention to what is going in your state and in Washington. Get involved, research reputable sites & sources on your own, and help spread the real news.
The NEA: National 'Endow them with Liberalism' Agenda
3-22-11
In researching National Education Association activity, school curriculums, and the unholy alliance between the NEA and the Democratic party, I've become concerned and somewhat alarmed at the dominance of the anti-Christian, liberal agenda in American public schools. These same schools receive tax dollars from a majority of citizens who do not agree with some of the teachings and methods taking place. One result? An average of 6,000 students every year are leaving public schools for private education or home schooling. I don't believe this current, one-sided educational approach is even close to what our Founding Fathers had in mind for America, and I have a feeling that you don't either. At this point, I want to remind you that I come from a family of teachers who happen to be conservatives, and I know many other hard working teachers who do not agree with the politics of the National Education Association. Fasten your seatbelt.
Wisconsin teacher and friend, Dr. Jake Jacobs said, "The frustrating thing for me as a Christian Teacher in the Public School for over 25 years is the one sidedness of the largest public union in America, the NEA. As a young teacher, when I asked why my money was taken against my will out of my paychecks, I was told that it was the law and there was nothing I could do. As a trained historian I knew that "in knowledge was power" and I soon discovered that the NEA gives almost 98% of it's confiscated public money to many Democratic, Left-Wing anti-Family causes. Teachers were only given one side of most issues and should only share/teach/think one way. As an American I am to this day appalled at such "NEA group teacher think." That kind of ONE PARTY thinking was done in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and is done in Communist Cuba and China today. Thomas Jefferson summarizes my viewpoints exactly: "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical."
Did you know that in 1995, the Clinton administration opened the door to teaching about the history and religious practices of Muslims? I bet you also didn't know that, "parents who may object to their children being compelled to assume a Muslim name and recite prayers to Allah as part of their "learning activities" have no recourse and may not withdraw their children from these activities...government schools have been using textbooks that glorify Islam and denigrate Christianity for some time. Such materials give children a favorable view of Islam and a negative view of Christianity and the Judeo-Christian heritage." (Dr. Karen Gushta, OneNewsNow) Read the whole article here: www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=1314254
Did you also know that recommended reading on the NEA web site is "Rules For Radicals" by Saul Alinsky? The book is a socialist how-to guide for gaining power and redistributing wealth. We've seen his bullying and intimidation methods used recently by Wisconsin teachers and union thugs in Madison. Alinsky, The American Organizer, instructs protesters to, "Agitate + Aggravate + Educate + Organize". Rule #1. "Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have. #5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. #8. "Keep the pressure on. #13. "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."
Writing for Worldview Times, Tom DeWeese said, "It is fairly well known what has happened to American schools since the 1990s, when massive "reform" took place through the establishment of the federal Department of Education...In short, the modern environmental movement was chosen as the shock and awe tactic to force America into the global village. Over the next three decades these forces combined to rapidly and drastically change America in a very significant way. As Ronald Reagan said, "We are but one generation away from losing our liberties." Change the attitudes, values and beliefs of just one generation and America will forget its founding principles and fall in line with the globalist world view. I strongly suggest that you read the entire article here, http://worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=6597
Retiring NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin explained, "…it is not because of our creative ideas; it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children; and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. The NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of million of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them; the union that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees." Let me clarify; what matters to the NEA is money, power, and protecting the "rights" of union members. Dr. Samuel Blumenfeld responds, "And what are the American people getting for their money? The drugging of over four million children by their educators to cure Attention Deficit Disorder, a steep decline in literacy, and an anti-Christian philosophy of education. Indeed, what we have are government schools that do not truly educate." Did you know that the NEA uses union dues for federal funding of sexual orientation instruction, funding to educate illegal aliens, and more funding for universal healthcare? Many sources also point out the fact that the NEA spends more than any other union in politics, and at least 95% of that money continually goes to the Democratic party. (National Institute on Money in State Politics) Chuck Norris did a great piece in Townhall on progressive indoctrination in public education, saying, "Among that lopsidedness is the intentional training of students to disdain America, freely experiment sexually, forcefully defend issues such as abortion and homosexuality, and become cultural advocates for political correctness, relativism, globalization, green agendas, and tolerance for all."
Our Founding Fathers fought for religious freedom, and the very heart of our ideals and convictions come from Christian teachings. However, these foundational beliefs seem to be a distant thought in today's public schools. The NEA has gradually chipped away at a Christian world view to the point that many young people today either support and defend abortion, gay marriage, the whole "green" agenda, (the idea that the earth is to be valued above human life), and evolution, to name a few. It appears that American exceptionalism is an afterthought. In addition, the fact that American kids rank 23rd in the world in Science, Math, and Reading, makes me wonder how effective liberal teaching methods are today. Instead of learning critical thinking, kids are being told what to think. Need more simple proof? You've seen Jay Leno go out and interview High School or College graduates and ask them the most basic questions about American history, right? The conclusion seems to be that either they don't remember the answers or they were not taught effectively. Have you seen studies or have you heard the liberal media report much on the state of education in America? I didn't think so. And this is why many people are surprised to learn how the NEA has been teaching and promoting liberalism under the guise of education. No film at eleven.
*Solutions! Here is part two of that article by Norris with suggestions on what we can do: http://townhall.com/columnists/chucknorris/2011/03/15/us_public_schools_progressive_indoctrination_camps_part_2
Wisconsin: the Protests, the Numbers, and the Majority vs. Union Agenda
2-26-11
Before writing this, I thought, "Haven't most people made up their minds and already taken a side regardless of the information out there?" However, due to the generally one-sided media coverage, I decided to share some facts, observations and quote several writers who are more eloquent than I am. First, it appears that many liberal Democrats, including Wisconsin Senators, refuse to acknowledge the election results from last November when the majority spoke in favor of conservative principles and values, and limited government. They chose to skip town with full pay because they cannot play nicely in the sand box. Instead of doing their job and voting, they took the football and fled to Illinois. Nice example of democracy for today's children.
Second, it's interesting but not surprising that the media has been complicit and selective on the big union organizers protest methods in Madison. Not only have many teachers left work to be on television but possibly hundreds of them have been given fake doctor's notices so they could protest with full pay, courtesy of the Wisconsin taxpayers. To top that off, some teachers also took their students to the protests encouraging them to skip school for "things that are more important". In video after video, many kids didn't even know why they were there. When asked, one student said, "to protest, I guess", another said, "we're against whatever this dude [Walker] is doing."
"In 2009, Wisconsin's Democratic governor and Democratic Legislature passed legislation that raised taxes and fees by about $1.2 billion over three years. State lawmakers approved the bill on the very day it was introduced, with no public hearing. Remember that. In 2011, the tables have turned. The Assembly has 60 Republicans to 38 Democrats, and the state Senate is weighted 19 Repubs to 14 Dems. GOP Gov. Scott Walker has inherited a budget shortfall that is expected to grow to $3.6 billion over the next two-year budget."
- Townhall's Debra Saunders points out
The Protests:
Obama's Organizing for America Hits Mad Town: Big labor and the Democratic National Convention bussed in protesters from other states, and here are some of the signs with the union label: Scott Walker with a bulls eye on his face, many with Walker as Hitler, "Death to dictators", "Mubarack of the Midwest", "Scott Walker & Adolph Hitler - don't let history repeat itself", Governor Walker's face in cross hairs with the words: "Don't Retreat, Reload: Repeal Walker", "Why do Republicans hate people?", "Koch whores", "Buttholes for Billionaires", "Our Kids deserve better", "Heil Walker", and more. Nice. Seems like they forgot President Obama's comments on this supposed new age of civility. Oh that's right, we're talking about liberals so they get a pass. No film at eleven. A few friends of mine have said that this is causing division among his friends. I made the point that we've always been divided and always will be a divided country. I will never agree with those who support (or elect representatives who support) abortion, gay marriage and the destruction of the traditional family, high taxes, big government, etc. This is, in part, a battle of ideology and world views. Where the union dominance is concerned, we need to ask if there is an unholy alliance between the liberal progressive unions and the Democratic party or have they become one and the same? Possibly the saddest sign I saw read, "Unions: our last hope". Not Jesus, not God, not America, not Freedom...'unions'.
The people of Wisconsin elected a Republican majority in the House, the Senate, and Governor Scott Walker won because of what he campaigned on. He is implementing that plan as you read this. The Democrats, who chose to cut and run, are blackmailing the state of Wisconsin instead of showing up in the assembly to do their job. They choose loyalty to liberal unions over the will of the people. In a meeting with Republicans after winning the 2008 election, President Obama said, "I won", and, "Elections have consequences." You did not see Republicans fleeing D.C. when the Dems slammed the massive health care bill down our throats. They showed up to debate and vote, KNOWING that they were the minority. In Wisconsin, however, I'm embarrassed to say that when the going got tough, the Democrats get going...literally! I guess they are still hiding out at a hotel in Il. "Democrats have fled state legislatures rather than face up to doing the people's business. They should change the symbol of their party from the gray donkey to the yellow chicken."
~ Washington Times editorial quote
WISCONSIN FAMILY COUNSEL: "The 14 State Senate Democrats continue their self-imposed exile in IL, neglecting their duty to represent their constituents on the floor of the State Senate. Legislators are elected to represent the people of their districts--not out-of-state protestors and labor interests. Much is at stake--beyond the proposed budget repair bill. The unions and the protesters have been assisted by the pro-homosexual group Fair Wisconsin and by Planned Parenthood." What in the world do these progressive, anti-Christian organizations have to do with Wisconsin unions?
The National Education Association recommends Rules For Radicals! On the NEA web site: Recommended Reading: Saul Alinsky, The American Organizer "Agitate + Aggravate + Educate + Organize". Rule #1. "Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have. #5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. #8. "Keep the pressure on. #13. "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." So is this really all about the children and education?
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Let's hear retiring NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin explain to the NEA convention why Big Labor is so powerful: "…it is not because of our creative ideas; it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children; and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. The NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of million of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them; the union that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees." I agree with one protest sign - the children DO deserve better.
DR. SAMUEL BLUMENFELD: "And what are the American people getting for their money? The drugging of over four million children by their educators to cure Attention Deficit Disorder, a steep decline in literacy, and an anti-Christian philosophy of education. Indeed, what we have are government schools that do not truly educate. If it were not for the growth of the home-school movement and the restoration of educational freedom by this dedicated remnant, the country would in time become a totalitarian society controlled by behavioral psychologists and corrupt politicians. In fact, with the election of Barack Obama, the nation has reached that brink where ending our Constitutional Republic of limited powers and replacing it with atheistic Social Democracy with unlimited powers is about to take place unless stopped by an alarmed and activated American people." CAL THOMAS: When the federal government runs out of money, it can print and borrow more. When states run out of money they must cut spending to balance their budgets, or raise taxes. The days of constant increases in pay and benefits - including expanding pensions - are over, not only in Wisconsin but also in many other states. One pro-union demonstrator in Madison carried a sign: "This is what democracy looks like." No the last election is what democracy looks like. Governor Walker and the new Republican state legislators ran on platforms to reduce the state's debt. They are refreshingly living up to their promises."
BRENT BOZELL/Media Research Center: Networks Portray Budget Battle as 'National Assault on Unions' - What incredible gall for the national media to try to transform Wisconsin from conservative juggernaut to Egyptian dictatorship in a heartbeat. Their political imagination (or delusion) is just staggering, completely ignoring the election returns. Liberals were crushed by the voters, and now they dare to put themselves in the "people power" category? This is reality turned upside down.
ANN COULTER: Democrats buy the votes of government workers with generous pay packages and benefits -- paid for by someone else -- and then expect a kickback from the unions in the form of hefty campaign donations, rent-a-mobs and questionable union political activity when they run for re-election.
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: "Hence the import of the current moment - its blinding clarity. Here stand the Democrats, avatars of reactionary liberalism, desperately trying to hang on to the gains of their glory years - from unsustainable federal entitlements for the elderly enacted when life expectancy was 62 to the massive promissory notes issued to government unions when state coffers were full and no one was looking. Obama's Democrats have become the party of no. Real cuts to the federal budget? No. Entitlement reform? No. Tax reform? No. Breaking the corrupt and fiscally unsustainable symbiosis between public-sector unions and state governments? Hell, no."
The Numbers:
FOLLOW THE MONEY, Washington reporters like to say. The money in this case comes from taxpayers, present and future, who are the source of every penny of dues paid to public employee unions, who in turn spend much of that money on politics, almost all of it for Democrats. In effect, public employee unions are a mechanism by which every taxpayer is forced to fund the Democratic Party. During the 2010 election cycle, the [liberal] American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees forked over $87.5 million in union dues for the sole purpose of electing Democrats. Countless millions more went to "advocacy campaigns," thinly veiled promotions for Leftist candidates.
MATTHEW SHAFFER, National Review: "Wisconsin teachers are paid an average salary - annualized to account for their 180-day work year, that is $68,000, and that is in addition to their very fine benefits, pensions, and job security. The median household income — that is, total household income, including households with two or more earners — was $49,993 in 2009 in Wisconsin. Therefore, after adjusting for the different work years — and not including teachers' unusually generous benefits — a typical single Wisconsin teacher earns 36 percent more than the typical Wisconsin home….The minority with the loudest voices subvert the normal democratic process of directing public resources (namely voting). Legislators' fleeing the state to prevent a vote by the legislative majority the voters of Wisconsin elected is also not very democratic. Not to mention forcing public employees to contribute to unions whose political advocacy they may disagree with. (Governor Walker proposes to allow public employees to opt out of financial contributions to the unions)."
WALL STREET JOURNAL: "The showdown in Wisconsin over fringe benefits for public employees boils down to one number: 74.2. That's how many cents the public pays Milwaukee public-school teachers and other employees for retirement and health benefits for every dollar they receive in salary. The corresponding rate for employees of private firms is 24.3 cents. Gov. Scott Walker's proposal would bring public-employee benefits closer in line with those of workers in the private sector. The average Milwaukee public-school teacher salary is $56,500, but with benefits the total package is over $100,000, according to the manager of financial planning for Milwaukee public schools." (And the High School graduation rate in Milwaukee is about 56%.)
What about health care? "Under the current collective- bargaining agreements, the school district pays the entire premium for medical and vision benefits, and over half the cost of dental coverage. These plans are extremely expensive. This is partly because of Wisconsin's unique arrangement under which the teachers union is the sponsor of the group health-insurance plans. Not surprisingly, benefits are generous. The district's contributions for health insurance of active employees total 38.8% of wages. For private-sector workers nationwide, the average is 10.7%."
CATO INSTITUTE (Chris Edwards): "The public sector has a significant pay advantage over the private sector when it comes to benefits. He wrote that, "Bureau of Economic Analysis data show that average compensation in the private sector was $59,909 in 2008, including $50,028 in wages and $9,881 in benefits. Average compensation in the public sector was $67,812, including $52,051 in wages and $15,761 in benefits."
MACIVER INSTITUTE had come up with a cost estimate for paying all the teachers in Milwaukee and Madison for the days they had walked out to protest Walker's bill. If they are all paid for the days missed, MacIver News Service said, "protest related salaries for just the state's two largest districts would exceed $6.6 million dollars." Add in the cost of the smaller school districts that have shut down and the total rises to about $9 million. As Commentary's Alana Goodman noted, each "phony sick note" costs Wisconsin taxpayers $513. (The UW and others provided doctors who freely gave out fake excuses at the protest)
PUBLIC INFO: on top of their pay and benefits, Wisconsin spends the most per public school pupil on its students than any other Midwest state: $10,791 per student in 2008. It is also well documented that the big labor unions constantly make enormous contributions to the Democratic Party and the Obama campaign. Unions, most of whose members are public employees, gave Democrats some $400 million in the 2008 election cycle. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the biggest public employee union, gave Democrats $90 million in the 2010 cycle.
BILL O' REILLY: In ten years starting in 1998, Wisconsin doubled the amount of money spent on each public school student to more than $10,000 per pupil, per year. And test scores went down! Doing the math, the equation seems to be that money is not the key to knowledge. Discipline is. The teachers in Wisconsin should be compensated to the best of the state's ability. But the educational gravy train is off the tracks. There's no more money. The taxpayer is tapped out. So, in the future, if you want to teach kids you'll have to take less to do it. That may not be fair but that's the lesson that Wisconsin is teaching us. The writing is very clear on the blackboard: No more public money is on the way. MICHAEL BARONE, Washington Examiner's senior political analyst: "Public opinion seems to be with the Republicans...Now hard economic times have left voters wondering why public employees pay practically zero toward their health insurance and pensions when they have to pay plenty themselves. Wisconsin, which led the nation on civil service a century ago and on welfare reform in the 1990s, may be showing the nation the way ahead once again."
I encourage you to get as informed as possible and to ignore the lies, hateful attacks, and the rhetoric going around. The protestors with the loudest mouths are not the majority. Most of us have had to cut corners to make ends meet in the last few years and though I come from a family of teachers, I have less sympathy for public employees, and the truth is that Wisconsin is in economic crisis mode. I receive no pension, I pay out of pocket for my health insurance and deductible, and my income has not increased to keep up with sky rocketing property taxes and cost of living. Most teachers are dedicated, hard working and honest. I do think that conservative Christian or Republican teachers should have a choice to opt out of union membership due to the fact that the NEA promotes an anti-Christian agenda and at least some of their values don't line up with the liberal union and the Democratic party.
Perspective: This is not a huge deal to God and there will always be division and unrest in this country and in the world. It's easy to get angry about it but let's keep the faith and maintain our respect for others who disagree with us. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, so let's be like salt and light in the darkness, overcome evil with good, and speak the truth in love. These are challenging times and as Christians, we need to remember to pray for our state, our country, and everyone involved in this budget issue in the hopes of a peaceful resolution. A greater plan is unfolding and this is simply one of the battles.
Packers, Not Politics
2-10-11
A few years ago, President Obama was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. This year, he let everyone know that he is a Chicago Bears fan, and prior to the NFC Championship game between the Packers and Bears, he said he would attend the Super Bowl in Dallas if the Bears won. He would have loved to welcome his beloved 'hometown' Bears to the White House, as all American championship teams traditionally make the trip. Regardless of what NFL team they support, most American taxpayers are probably very glad the Bears lost because it would have cost us around ten million dollars if the Obama entourage, which includes family, friends, staff, and security, traveled to Dallas to party and take in the game. This president doesn't travel cheap. So when the Green Bay Packers beat the Bears in the NFC Championship game, I especially enjoyed the post-game speech by Charles Woodson of the Packers. He talked about the team having one focus, one goal, and being of one mind. Then he concluded with, "...and check this, if the President don't want to come watch us in the Super Bowl, hey, we'll go see him. White House on three. One, two three, (and all the Packers shouted) White House!." That was fun to watch.
Recently, I've noticed some friends getting exhausted and overwhelmed by the news. That's what happens when you start paying more attention to what is happening in the world. In the last couple of weeks, it's been nice to take a healthy break from all the bad news, politics, culture garbage, and unrest in the world. I'm the kind of person that pretty much keeps informed on world and national news and current events, so as a Green Bay Packers fan, it's been a wonderful time of escape. Thank God for football and for the little joys in life, including the pleasant 'distraction' of your favorite team winning the Super Bowl. But, during this time, I was reminded that football and politics don't really mix well. First, why does the most visible president in U.S. history have to be on television right before the Super Bowl? I understand that he wants to campaign for the 2012 election but can we please get a break from the endless White House PR?
During the Super Bowl, it was nice to hear the fans cheer former President George W. Bush when the camera panned to he and his wife Laura, Condoleezza Rice, and Jerry Jones in the owners suite. It was a nice gesture, knowing that not all the fans at the Super Bowl supported Bush or were Republicans. In my opinion it was a great game with a great ending (Packers winning), in spite of the very forgettable half time show and Christina Aguilera muffing the Star Spangled Banner. Two days later, still riding high and paying little attention to news and politics, I attended the 'Return To Titletown' celebration at Lambeau Field in Green Bay Tuesday afternoon. The fans got to see the Lombardi trophy, watch video highlights of the best plays of the Packers season, and hear speeches by the players and coaches. The event concluded with fireworks. But to me, the celebration was tainted unnecessarily when some fans, obviously liberal Democrats, actually booed new Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. How classless and disrespectful. It surprised me that some of the best fans in the world would put a stain on the festivities. It reminded me of the divide in our country. A divide that couldn't even be temporarily bridged during a joyous celebration of possibly the biggest trophy in professional sports. This divide left me with a rotten taste in my mouth, and as I think about it, even a bit miffed.
It's the biggest sporting event in America and according to Neilson, the Packers Super Bowl win now holds the record as the most watched television program in history. On Monday night, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama hadn't called anyone from the Packers after they won the Super Bowl on Sunday. Now, I don't remember when he called the New Orleans Saints to congratulate them last year. I do remember him calling the Pittsburgh Steelers two years back AT the Super Bowl, ON the field the day they won. Better late then never, the president finally talked to Packers coach Mike McCarthy yesterday. It probably means nothing but it's still a reminder that we should do our best to keep sports and politics as far from each other as possible. Sports unite us but this is just a sad reminder of how divided we are in America.
Whether he always lived by them or not, in one of the more famous quotes to his team by football legend, Vince Lombardi, he set a few priorities. "Think of only three things: your God, your family and the Green Bay Packers-in that order." After considering this again, I decided to clarify my priorities. I affirm that I am a Christian first and foremost. Next, I'm an American, a Green Bay Packers fan, and a finally, a conservative Republican or Independent. And though not all the Packers players support the president, I'm sure they'll keep football and politics separate when the World Champions enjoy their tour of the White House in the Spring.
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Archived Blogs : 2010
click on title to expand
Top Ten Things the Media is NOT Talking about at the end of 2010 : 12-23-10
9. The war in Afghanistan & record number of American lives lost since 2009 (one of the things Obama campaigned on was pulling U.S. troops and ending the war)...but who's counting?
8. Illegal immigration, the Arizona lawsuit, the drug war/number of deaths, and border chaos (remember Eric Holder - sued Arizona before he even read the AZ law)
7. Record unemployment numbers continue; (Pelosi, Obama, and Reid promised if the stimulus was passed, unemployment wouldn’t even reach 8%)
6. The Swine flu…er – I mean, ‘H1N1’ – the media stirred up public fears, the sky was reportedly falling…for what? That’s right, I think Obamacare was on the horizon.
5. 2010 Midterm election results – the most lopsided election since the 1940’s. (Imagine the headlines & countless news stories if Democrats had won that big)
4. The Ground Zero Mosque, Islam and terrorism of any kind
3. Recovery in Haiti? Oh yeah, Haiti– deaths, disease, poverty, slow recovery…remember the earthquake? (Reports have shown that most of the money raised and given by Americans never got to the people in need)
2. Global Warming and man-caused climate change. No explanation needed, just look at current weather trends. Can't we just acknowledge that God governs the climate...and everything else?
...drum roll, please...and the number one thing the media is not talking about anymore...
1. Hope and Change! THAT faded faster than (you fill in) the 2010 Minnesota Vikings.
Bonus: OK, just one more...they're sure not talking about Jesus Christ in Christmas!
TEN HONORABLE MENTIONS: (Things the Media is doing little or no commenting or reporting on)
· Current job approval of Congress = 13% The Tea Party - Shhh...you think the media wants another Republican route in 2012?
· America’s continued reliance on foreign oil – two years after Obama promises to remedy the problem
· Ethics Violations of Charlie Rangel
· Joe Biden…where’s Joe Biden?
· John Edwards
· Tiger Woods
· Poland’s president and top officials died in a plane crash
· Gas prices at $3 a gallon – guess they can’t blame Bush anymore
· ACORN and SEIU (Too many Voter registration or Election fraud lawsuits?)
· Closing Guantanamo Bay – hmmm, another failed promise (thankfully)…seemingly forgotten
What did I miss? I know there are more but these are just some top news items the mainstream media has conveniently moved on from.
Dancing With The Stars, and American Voters : 12-1-10
Now don't misunderstand me, I'm not even a closet Dancing with the Stars fan, though I admit that I tuned in more than a few times to see Kurt Warner. I typically find myself on most occasions, pulling for either a Christian or the underdog on these shows and other competitions. I'd like to find out how many Christians won American Idol or made it to the finals because it seems that there have been so many Christians who have done well on that show. But let's talk about the obvious. Bristol Palin has been voted into the semi-finals on Dancing with the Stars. I haven't seen a full episode but from what I've watched, Bristol is not the best dancer by far, yet she tries very hard and is having more fun each week. Her popularity has truly catapulted her into the final weeks of the show. Similar to American Idol, the judges give their performance critiques and then the voters cast their votes for their favorite.
Regarding family programming, it's also very interesting to me that with all of the junk on the tube this past Sunday night, there was one program that smashed ratings for cable network, TLC; Sarah Palin's Alaska, which is a documentary of sorts featuring the Palin family and the great outdoors. The scenery was breathtaking and the show will do wonders for Alaska tourism. The premier of the first episode attracted close to 5 million viewers. The last time TLC had a show even come remotely close in ratings was back in 2003. I point this out because it was safe for the whole family, and a breath of fresh air compared to all the fowl, mind-numbing, secular-progressive, agenda-promoting trash that makes up a good portion of television programming today. We sure have dropped the ball in the last few decades by allowing massive amounts of profanity, sex, violence, homosexuality, nudity, crude, rude, or plain offensive behavior to enter our living rooms. I did say "we". Maybe the average American is simply fed up with Hollywood's war on traditional values.
Still, it's fascinating that, just as the American voters spoke loud and clear for conservative Republicans and social issues in the recent midterm elections, middle America voted for their favorite amateur dancer, Bristol Palin. There were far more talented dancers than her. Could it be that people most often vote for the person or candidate that they most identify with? And how much does her Mom's popularity have to do with it? Is it Bristol's stand for abstinence education that people admire? Whatever the reasons, I almost always enjoy seeing an underdog do well.
Curious Election Time News Silence: AZ Illegal Immigration, Health Care Laws/Rising Costs, Ground Zero Mosque, Global Warming, Tax Dollars Funding Abortion, War in Afghanistan
Debt Has Increased $5 Trillion since Speaker Pelosi Vowed, 'No New Deficit Spending' in 2007 Speech (DEMS have had the majority in Congress since 2006)
Obama Discovers the Creator: After repeatedly quoting the Declaration of Independence without referencing "endowed by their Creator," Barack Obama finally discovered the Creator this past weekend, correctly quoting the Declaration…
Networks twist unemployment reports to boost Obama, bash Bush. Bias by the Numbers > 2009-10: High Unemployment yet Positive News vs. 2005-06: Low Unemployment and Negative News, Hmmm
Katie Couric looks down her nose on Middle America; "It's great to be traveling America among the great unwashed"
Harris Interactive Poll: Obama job approval now at 37%
REPORT: Al Gore leaves car idling for one hour during speech; Opts for Swedish government jet over public transportation
GM to Repay $2.1 Billion to Taxpayers; Still Owes the Government $40 Billion
Bank of America provides largely unsecured $32 million credit line for the Democratic Party
George Soros-Funded Film Embraces Liberal Terrorists Who Plot To Kill Republicans
Chris Matthews/MSNBC: Tea Partiers Will Be Wearing Nazi Uniforms Soon
Joy Behar calls Senate candidate Sharon Angle, "Bitch" three times on national television; Angle campaign has fundraising surge of $287,000 in two days
Homosexual Students may be protected by Federal law barring 'Sex' discrimination, Education Dept. says
Pakistan-Born Muslim Arrested for Plotting Attack on Washington Subway Station
1,200 Children Killed by Cartel Violence in Mexico Since 2006
Mohammed most popular name for newborn boys - in England!
Looking For a miracle, Obama brings the Chilean mine rescuers to the White house
Public Employee Unions Funnel Public Money to Democrats
UPDATE: Boxer Campaign (CA) Apologizes for Getting Caught Soliciting Teachers to Recruit Student Volunteers
ACORN'S Get-Out-The-Vote Operative Under State Felony Charges
Obama Chats with Progressive Bloggers; then appears on Jon Stewart Show
Obama tells Latinos to 'punish our enemies,' the GOP
POLL: 65% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress
What Voter Fraud?
In North Carolina and Nevada, early voters have encountered ballot machine glitches that favor Democrats in hotly contested races. In Troy, N.Y., and Daytona Beach, Fla., police investigations into suspected absentee ballot fraud by elected government officials are underway. In Harris County, Texas, the voter registrar admitted that 20 percent of voter registration forms submitted by liberal activist Houston Votes had problems.
And the kicker...
Illegals Can Now Vote? Court Voids AZ Voter Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote in Elections
…sticking with the script? Or, should I say, the Declaration of Independence? Last Friday night in an address to Hispanics, Obama said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal [pause], endowed with certain unalienable rights: life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." What? It's supposed to be, endowed by our Creator with..." Given the fact that he was using a teleprompter, I can only conclude that this was intentional. Either he, or his speech writer, did not want to give credit to Almighty God or the heritage of our Christian nation.
…the Swine Flu, a.k.a. H1N1? Remember the media frenzy? It was once called an epidemic, threatening to spread across the country. I have my theories.
…the billions of stimulus money from the massive 2009 bill? Why is actual unemployment still between 8 and 18%, depending on where you live in America? Why didn't the money go directly toward job creation? And why did this administration spend more than $9 million dollars on stimulus project signs? They seem proud of the fact that they're wasting our money. Or is it all political?
Whatever happened to the presidents promise to reach across the isle and work with the Republican party? Obama has been slamming Republicans, Fox News, and the Tea Party movement while campaigning for Democratic candidates almost non-stop, taking breaks only for all his golf outings & family vacations. And now it appears that Michelle Obama will be helping campaign leading up to the Nov. elections.
…war protestors? There ARE still wars going on, right? Did they all disappear or is the media simply not covering the protests? We do still have troops fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan and other places, don't we? Or maybe they're too busy protesting Arizona!
…the once reliable and trusted news media? Numbers came out this week: ABC, CBS, and NBC News have lost a combined 739,000 viewers; Katie Couric loses 343,000! Only 16% of Americans, in a recent poll, say they get UNbiased news from network television. The tide is rapidly changing!
…the health care issue that was so hotly debated? Where is the press coverage now? Obama and Pelosi promised the opposite of the following realities: Many people have been cut from their employer's health plan, premiums have gone up, our National Budget deficit is worse, taxes on small businesses have increased, and senior citizens are starting to suffer from Medicare cuts. This is just after six months of passing the overhaul!
…all the people that were either fired or forced to resign from the Obama administration for one reason or another? Even the three people who wrote Obama's economic policy are no longer there!
Whatever happened to news about the Gulf Coast oil cost analysis and damage? I really had to search for these number estimates: The spill could cost Gulf Coast tourism $22 billion, it may cost BP $3 billion, and ultimately cost the gulf area 17,000 jobs! And it's nearly impossible to find figures on all the dead fish and other sea life.
…the search for a new church by the president? In November 2008, the president said he'd find a new church when the first family got settled in D.C. Maybe he doesn't feel quite settled in yet. The Obama family hasn't decided on a new permanent congregation since coming to Washington. He left his church of 20 years (the infamous Jeremiah Wright in Chicago) in March of 2008. Do the math, is this an important issue to him?
…Global Warming, Climate Change, Environmental Alarmists, and left-wing activism for green technology advancement? Are they waiting until after the November elections to regroup or is their agenda simply not cost-effective?
...fairness in journalism? According to the Media Research Center: Over a three week period, the media's coverage of the issue favored the Ground Zero Mosque by a 2:1 margin. Even more telling, when discussing whether opponents of the mosque were anti-Muslim, 93% of media coverage supported the charge of "Islamophobia." By casting this national debate in terms of "hate" and "Islamophobia" — and creating the false view that most Americans are anti-Muslim — the liberal media are actually fueling the fires of anti-American hatred among the groups that are responsible for the World Trade Center attacks!
Whatever happened to the Summer of economic recovery? (don't even get me started!)
And finally, for my Midwest friends…whatever happened to Summer?!
FIORAZO DIGGS: Digging fo News the Liberal Media Skips : 8-31-10
Private employers cut 10,000 jobs in August; Unemployment numbers expected to be a bit higher and still hover close to 10%.
ABC News Tries To Incite Incident At Mosque Protest - Did you hear about this story? At a rally in New York protesting the ground zero mosque, an ABC News employee attempted to "make" news instead of report news. He did not have any identification such as a logo on a hat or shirt or a press badge, and he tried to provoke a confrontation with people at the protest so the ABC cameras could capture the action. At the time it was not known that the cameraman was a coworker. Full story at Newsbusters.org and many others.
Media Attacks Conservatives and Others Who Disagree With the Mosque:
CNN Compares Ground Zero Protestors to Nazi Sympathizers
Time Magazine cover: "Is America Islamophobic?"
ABC, CBS: Did 'Heightened Fear and Prejudice' of Ground Zero Mosque Prompt NYC Violence?
NY Times Frank Rich: Fox News Trying to Portray Obama as a 'Closet Terrorist'
CBS Uses Opposition to Ground Zero Mosque to Lecture About ‘America Becoming Islamophobic’Mosque Opponents Acting Like 9/11 Terrorists
Sobering Numbers; More on the Mosque: Brigitte Gabriel writes in the Daily Caller: What’s remarkable about the American people is not their sense of outrage, but their restraint. The pundits of the “establishment media” want the American people to suspend their good judgment and their own innate sense of self-preservation in the name of some abstract and mindless tolerance. But tolerance of what? As has been pointed out many times, all Muslims are not terrorists — but 99.9 percent of terrorists are Muslim. Islamic radicals have committed 15,897 deadly terror attacks around the world since 9/11. This is as of Monday, August 21st. These bombings, assassinations, beheadings and various outrages haven’t been committed by Sikhs, Lutherans, Buddhists, Jews, Catholics, Mormons, Zoroastrians or atheists. They were committed by the jihadists of Allah, encouraged by imams and ayatollahs and plotted from mosques and Islamic centers. This isn’t speculation. It’s established fact. Some of the 9/11 terrorists plotted at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in northern Virginia, whose Imam was Anwar Al-Awlaqi, now hiding somewhere in Yemen. The Ft. Hood jihadist had connections to this mosque and Al-Awlaqi. The blind sheik Omar Abdul Rahman, one of the ringleaders of the ‘93 World Trade Center bombing, was the leader of the al-Salaam Mosque in New Jersey. Read more; Daily Caller, Aug. 25
So How's That Southern Border Doing? The federal government has posted signs along a major interstate highway in Arizona, more than 100 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, warning travelers the area is unsafe because of drug and alien smugglers, and a local sheriff says Mexican drug cartels now control some parts of the state. The signs were posted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) along a 60-mile stretch of Interstate 8 between Casa Grande and Gila Bend, a major east-west corridor linking Tucson and Phoenix with San Diego.
UPDATE: The Divided States of America. It's irrelevant that over 70% of Americans support Arizona in their efforts to defend its borders because our current government doesn't care what the people think. After suing the state of Arizona over its immigration law, the Obama Administration has now taken its case to the international arena by including Arizona in the State Department's report on human rights violations. The danger of this globalism is seen in the Obama Administration's attacking one of our states -- Arizona, before the United Nation's Human Rights Council.
Obama Aug. 31 Speech: "As I've said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hopes for Iraqis' future."
That was then: "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse." --Obama in 2007, opposing the surge that made last night's speech possible.
Obama, Democrats got 88 percent of 2008 contributions by TV network execs, writers, reporters (Washington Examiner) Senior executives, on-air personalities, producers, reporters, editors, writers and other self-identifying employees of ABC, CBS and NBC contributed more than $1 million to Democratic candidates and campaign committees in 2008, according to an analysis by The Examiner of data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. The Democratic total of $1,020,816 was given by 1,160 employees of the three major broadcast television networks, with an average contribution of $880. By contrast, only 193 of the employees contributed to Republican candidates and campaign committees, for a total of $142,863.
At Least 23 Scholarships Given to Democratic Congresswoman's Family and Associates; Congressional Black Caucus member Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democratic Senator has admitted to steering 23 scholarships worth over $25,000 to two grandchildren, two great nephews and the children of a top aide over the past four years. Update! Nancy Pelosi now asking for help to 'drain the swamp' of political corruption.
From the Family Research Council: And with their 19-month assault on the Constitution apparently facing strengthened opposition in Congress after the upcoming elections, liberals may try to complete their dangerous legislative agenda in November and December by: Extending the ObamaCare federal bailouts for the abortion industry, Undermining marriage by providing government employees in same-sex partnerships with federal benefits reserved for lawfully married couples; Forcing open homosexuality on the military by overturning the federal law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT); Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.1584/H.R.2981) to suppress freedom of religion and silence all moral opposition to their immoral agenda; and, Weakening our economy with radical anti-business regulations, new taxes, and laws giving labor unions dangerous power over workers.
If Numbers Matter at All: How can estimates from the same event be tens of thousands (America on Line) to over 650,000 (CS Monitor) at Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally Saturday? CBS News offered an independent estimate of approximately 87,000 people there, plus or minus 9,000 people. The estimate generated criticism from conservative bloggers and journalists, as well as from Beck himself, who suggested the rally attracted at least 500,000 people.
CABLE NEWS RACE: MON. AUG 30, 2010 - VIEWERS
1. FOXNEWS O'REILLY 3,977,000
2. FOXNEWS HANNITY 2,645,000
3. FOXNEWS BECK 2,600,000
4. FOXNEWS BAIER 2,097,000
5. FOXNEWS SHEP 1,858,000
6. FOXNEWS GRETA 1,856,000
7. MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,078,000
11. CNN KING 620,000
12. MSNBC HARDBALL 620,000
13. CNNHN GRACE 586,000
14. CNN COOPER 581,000
And a few more Headlines:
Bold new liberal strategy on ObamaCare: Talk about anything except ObamaCare
Cities and counties dumping hospitals in advance of ObamaCare
Black Conservatives Blast Al Sharpton Protesters in DC 8/28
Politics Daily: Louisianans Give Bush Higher Marks Than Obama for Crisis Response
Once again, Planned Parenthood -this time in Indiana- has been caught on hidden camera misleading women about abortion. In this case their staffers attempted to use euphemisms to convince a woman her unborn child was "not a baby" and convince her to have an abortion.
Abortion is still in the Health Plan! -- Despite the President's Executive Order prohibiting abortion coverage in his health plan, the Department of Health and Human Services approved high-risk insurance pools in Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Maryland, with no restriction on abortion. Surprised?
PRIORITIES: Obama Skipping Historic Boy Scout Jamboree for 'VIEW' Taping:
President Obama will make history as the first sitting president on a daytime talk show when he visits with the ladies of "The View." Unfortunately, he'll be missing out on another historic occasion -- the Boy Scouts' Jamboree marking the group's 100th anniversary. The Jamboree kicked off this week at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, where organizers had invited the president to speak to the 45,000 scouts in attendance. All three of Obama's predecessors have made it to one Jamboree while in office. But the president will instead be traveling Wednesday to New York for a taping of the ABC show, as well as Democratic fundraisers and a stop in New Jersey. (from Drudge Report)
Journ-olist: More Media Malpractice; Election Conspiracy: The Daily Caller, an online political journal founded by conservative-libertarian Fox News contributor Tucker Carlson, recently uncovered documents in which journalists from such notable publications as The Washington Post, Time, Politico, Baltimore Sun, the Guardian and the New Republic conspired how best to deflect the public attention from Obama's relationship with the radical "Reverend" Wright. They ran a smear campaign against Obama's conservative critics, below the belt and without regard to truth or fundamental journalistic ethics.
Missed July Headline? The Obamas take 4 Vacations in 1 Month!
How does the president fit it all in? Golfing, White House parties, campaign trips, Television appearances, concerts, baseball games, and hosting special liberal guests at the WH. I’m actually glad he has time to get away on all these vacations!
Don’t Trust Google With Political Searches: This year according to data gathered from the website OpenSecrets.org, Google employees have donated over $270,000 to Democrats and liberal campaign groups. Google boss Eric Schmidt and his Google colleagues donated over $800,000 to Obama’s war chest, making the company one of his top-five contributors. And with control of about 70 percent of the U.S. Internet search market, Google is in a unique position to determine the destiny of individuals, corporations and America itself…internet giant Google has been simultaneously expanding its presence in the U.S. political scene, adding lobbyists, DC-based employees, and ramping up its campaign donations. During the 2008 campaign, Schmidt served as an informal economic adviser to Obama and actively stumped for the candidate, who was the first to visit Google’s headquarters, in 2007. After the election, Schmidt and other Google executives paid $25,000 each to help pay for a lavish, star-studded inaugural celebration. Schmidt was then appointed to Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology…four Google employees went to work in this administration.
GE Pays $23m after Iraq Probe; General Electric has agreed to pay $23.5m to settle allegations from US regulators that its subsidiaries bribed Iraqi officials to win contracts under the United Nations Oil for Food Program between 2000 and 2003. The settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission is the second in as many years for GE. Last year, the company agreed to pay $50m to resolve charges of accounting fraud relating to hedging activities in 2002 and 2003. For the record, GE is a huge Democratic support and Obama donor.
All Time Ratings Low for Oprah...Again! - Another huge Democratic donor and supporter, Oprah's ratings have plummeted downward continuously since her open support for Obama's 2008 election campaign.
Elena Kagan** The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to recommend Elena Kagan for confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her blatant advocacy for abortion and the homosexual agenda, her anti-military activism, and less than satisfactory answers to key committee questions, should have disqualified Kagan. (if she were a conservative or Republican, she’d be going, going…GONE!) If confirmed by the full Senate, she could become the court's most radical activist justice. At 50, Kagan's lifetime appointment will allow her to advocate for her liberal agenda for the next 30 or more years, regardless of which party is in power. As an operative in the Clinton administration, Kagan played an extraordinary role in protecting partial birth abortion.
Unemployment Quotables: It was this President who said, “We must pass the stimulus to keep unemployment from reaching double digits,” However, a year after its passage, the unemployment rate had already skyrocketed to double digits, and continues to hover around 10%. It was this President who said, he “will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days,” but that hasn’t been true – many bills have been signed within hours or days of passage.
The BIG Lie: "The fact is, most economists agree that extending unemployment insurance is one of the single most cost-effective ways to help jumpstart the economy. It puts money into the pockets of folks who not only need it most, but who also are most likely to spend it quickly." --Barack Obama (He’s right about one thing; they’ll spend it quickly – on groceries, rent, utilities, and gas. We’re trillions of dollars in debt and he just wants to spend more money. Doesn’t this seem odd to anyone?) Barack Obama wants Americans to tighten their belts in these trying times -- and pay more taxes to boot -- but he refuses to lead by example. When the First Family took their recent vacation in Maine, they chose to let their dog Bo fly on a separate jet. No word on how much this lavish expense cost, but don't worry: We taxpaying people will be picking up the tab.
No Expression of Christian Views at Public University? *Homosexual activists are no longer content to try to end "discrimination" against homosexuals--they are now trying to impose discrimination on anyone who dissents from their views. The most recent evidence comes from Georgia, where Augusta State University counseling student Jennifer Keeton has had to file a federal lawsuit, with the help of our friends at Alliance Defense Fund, to defend her rights. When Jen expressed her Christian view that homosexual conduct is morally wrong in class and in private conversation with other students, the faculty responded by insisting that she participate in a "remediation plan"--essentially, a year-long program of intensive pro-homosexual indoctrination that would only be considered successful if she abandoned her moral values. (from Family Research Council)
Charles Rangel and the Corruptocrats: The Most Ethical Congress EV-AH! In the reign of Obama's transparent administration and Nancy Pelosi’s ethical Congress, a House investigative committee has charged the Democratic lawmaker with multiple ethics violations, including use of rent-subsidized New York apartments and failure to publicly disclose financial information as required. Rangel had over $500,000 in unreported assets, $750,000 in "over-looked" Rental income, and, (Following Tax cheat Tim Geitner's lead), Rangel failed to pay taxes on over $1 million in income. I guess this is what we get when we allow someone to stay in Congress for 40 years.
Kerry Agrees to Pay Massachusetts Tax on Yacht Docked in Rhode Island: Sen. John Kerry tried to sail, but he couldn't hide. The Massachusetts senator, after an uproar in his home state over the decision to dock his new $7 million yacht in tax-free Rhode Island, told his state's tax collector Tuesday that he would "promptly" pay all Massachusetts taxes on the yacht. The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee has been dogged by charges of tax evasion when the Boston Herald first reported about his decision to dock the 76-foot sloop Isabel in Newport, R.I. Doing so spared Kerry a $437,500 one-time sales tax charge in Massachusetts, as well as about $70,000 in annual excise taxes. Rhode Island is a known nautical tax haven. The Republican party MA Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour said in a statement, "Senator Kerry will only pay the taxes because he got caught. He should spend more time creating jobs rather than customizing his yacht. Democrats think they live by another set of rules, and the voters of the commonwealth will soon remind them they do not." (from FoxNews.com)
The Race is on: "There is not now, nor has there ever been, anything post-racial about Barack Obama, except for the people who voted for him in the mistaken belief that he shared their desire to be post-racial. When he leaves office, especially if it is after one term, he will leave this country more racially polarized than before. Hopefully, he may also leave the voters wiser, though sadder, after they learn from painful experience that you can't judge politicians by their rhetoric, or ignore their past because of your hopes for the future. Voters may even wise up to race card fraud." --economist Thomas Sowell
And finally...
New Low for Congress; down from 17% in 2009; Gallup's 2010 Confidence in Institutions poll finds Congress ranking dead last out of the 16 institutions rated this year. Just when you think this Congress can not reach a new low they surprise us. The new poll reports that only 11 percent of Americans have confidence in the current 111th Congress--a record low for our elected officials--while 50 percent of Americans polled have "very little" or "no" confidence in Congress, the highest "low" for any institution since Gallup first asked this question 37 years ago. This year's poll also finds a 15-point drop in high confidence in the presidency, to 36%.
How Long Can the Media Hide Bad News? Summer Headline Blog #2 : 7-8-10
Border chaos in Arizona; A shootout left 21 people dead and six wounded last week. Barrack Obama, Eric Holder, and the Department of Justice are suing the state of Arizona for trying to enforce a federal law to protect their citizens. But wait a minute…the Obama administration allows sanctuary cities around the U.S. who provide safe haven for criminal, illegal aliens. Is this the land of Oz? The latest study shows that illegal immigration costs the U.S. $113 billion a year.
Six Months to Go Until The Largest Tax Hikes in History! Americans were warned, and then voted...for change. When the Bush tax cuts expire in January, personal income tax rates will rise. Also, the marriage penalty- narrower tax brackets for married couples will return, and taxes will be raised on all types of businesses. Surprise!
DAY 80 of the Gulf Oil Crisis; Oil Keeps Leaking
At one point, the feds promised 140 oil skimmers would patrol the waters — and provided a map of their precise locations. From a helicopter it was discovered that only 31 were on the job. ALSO, most offers to help from 44 nations were turned away, ranging from technical advice to skimmer boats and booms. This raises more questions. Is the Obama administration purposely delaying the clean up efforts in order to promote his cap and trade environmental agenda? After telling the American people that he would not rest until the oil is stopped and cleaned up, he’s been golfing eight times, had parties and concerts at the White House, and last week it was a trip to Vegas. Well to be fair, I guess that’s technically not ‘resting’.
June was the deadliest month in the war in Afghanistan. Did you hear about this? Do we truly support our troops? Just wondering if any media other than Fox News honored the sacrifice of our troops and reported the story. Where are the anti-war protests from the liberals and radical left groups? What a GLARING double standard. When Bush was in office, how many times did we see war footage or photos of soldier’s caskets?
Rasmussen July Polls: Just 25% of voters nationwide believe the economic stimulus package created jobs and voters are counting on decisions made by business owners more than government officials to create the jobs needed by the nation. By a 69% to 15% margin, voters believe tax cuts is a better way to create jobs rather than more government spending. Only 29% Say Stimulus Plan Helped the Economy.
Census Director: We May Have Counted Many Homeless People Twice
New Yorkers fight three new mosques; Project planned near ground zero. (of all places!) One protestor’s sign read, “You can build a mosque at ground zero when we can build a synagogue in Mecca.” New Yorkers have not been shy about their opposition, and a recent poll on the most contentious of the three projects — involving a Muslim center just two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack — shows residents stoutly opposed.
Obama’s New ‘Medicare Czar’: 'Excellent health care is, by definition, redistribution'
The White House found itself on the defensive Wednesday over President Obama's recess appointment of a key official to help implement his health care overhaul plan, facing a bipartisan torrent of criticism... (from FoxNation.com) Charles E. Grassley said, “The American people have a right to know about Berwick's background, his past statements supporting rationing and government-run health care, and any potential conflicts of interest. All of that is hidden when the confirmation process is circumvented."
OUTRAGE: Ex-Official Accuses Justice Department of Racial Bias in Black Panther Case; you MUST look this one up yourself if you haven't heard about the dropped charges in the voter intimidation case from the 2008 election. This case was won/in the bag. Now the guy says all white babies should be killed.
BIAS ALERT! Let me get this straight, according to Joe Biden, President Obama gets credit for success in Iraq, but Bush gets blame for any possible Iraq failure. Obama and Biden were both strongly opposed to Iraq criticizing President Bush and the surge strategy, and now that we’re reducing our troops there they want a piece of the credit? Interesting. Keep paying attention to see how the media continues to SPIN this story. No anti-war protests? Remember, Bush’s war = bad, Obama’s war = good!
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a recent interview that his "foremost" mission as the head of America's space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world. Umm, how exactly does that fall into the “Space” category? (the “S” in NASA stands for Space) Here’s the full quote: “When I became the NASA Administrator, [Obama] charged me with three things: One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.” Forget Science, will someone with a Psychology degree please explain how this makes sense?
On a lighter note and until next time, I’ll leave you with a quote from a good friend’s facebook status: our border is leaking. oil well is leaking. our nation's bank account is leaking. whatever happened to joe the plumber?!
Housing sales hit a record low last month: one of the lowest marks in history. Since Congress has spent billions of dollars in unsuccessful economic "stimulus" bills, you'd think by now that things would be better. So how did the media report on this? Housing Sales Dropped "Unexpectedly". Um, really?
Civil War at the Border; Drug Cartels Threatening Police: one of our states has been crying out for help as their state is being invaded by criminal aliens, drugs, leading to vandalism, theft, kidnappings and murders. Arizona tries passing a law that mirrors the federal law and the White House decides to sue AZ. Obama meets with Gov. Jan Brewer making promises face to face that he failed to keep by their agreed deadline last week. Many Democrats want to make illegal aliens citizens, I'm sure that will secure the borders, won't it?
Question: How does the White House have such a huge budget for concerts, parties, and entertainment when for the first time in history, America does not have a national budget? Does this lack of budget stop the Dems from spending money we don't have and adding to the debt? Nope.
Don't forget about the health care legislation that was rammed through by Democrats. Figures have now been released that say their earlier cost under-estimates were off by a few billion dollars. Doctors are dropping out of health plans, people are starting to be turned away from Medicare, and small businesses are dropping health care coverage for their employees. Result? Recent polls show that between 60 - 70% of Americans now want to repeal health care laws. Maybe they should have asked what people thought before passing such massive legislation.
DAY 67: Oil keeps flowing and so does the red tape. Taking the president's cue, the media made BP the villian of the Gulf disaster, even during the pathetic and disorganized emergency response. In my last blog, I documented the timeline of how the national media virtually ignored this major catastrophe UNTIL the administration announced that BP was under investigation. I guess they couldn't resist a scapegoat other than George W. Bush.
June 25: Obama has gone golfing 6 times since the start of the Gulf Oil Crisis and has already golfed more than President Bush did in 8 years. The press says it's good four our country and it relieves his stress. (Bush stopped golfing during his presidency after 9-11-2001)
Obama forced BP to set up a $20 billion escrow fund to pay for law suits. The fund will be distributed by an administration official. Meanwhile back at the ranch, BP has started to pay claims while Obama goes golfing. Oh, and that the same weekend when the White House criticized BP's Hayward for attending a yaght race, Obama attended a White Sox game Friday night then spent 5 hours on the golf course Saturday. Ah, wrong Gulf, Mr. President! If Bush did...
Several conservative GOP women won state primary's by large margins and many more are running for office in November; thanks, Sarah! (even though Mrs. Palin doesn't fit the ideal liberal definition of a feminist - she's pro-life)
Iran enriches more uranium and threatens nukes; ignores U.N. Becoming volitale?
Abortion Corruption; Money Trail for Planned Parenthood. Missing $1.3 billion of taxpayer money?
How low can it go? Obama's job approval keeps sinking; only 43% approve of the job he's doing, 64% say the country is on the wrong track.
Economy failing just like the job recovery efforts; money being spent in the wrong places. (they thought the Census worker jobs would pad those bad numbers more than they did) Unemployment hovering around 10%. Flashback: Obama promised that unemployment wouldn't go above 8% if they passed the stimulus.
Sestak Job Offer Raises More Legal Questions; The White House recruited former President Bill Clinton to pitch a possible administration role to Joe Sestak if he would sit out the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary. developing...
Afghanistan. Obama apointee General McChrystal, the loose cannon gets walking papers; did he speak truth, spout off too much, or both? His replacement is General Pettraus, who Obama openly criticized when Bush was president.
Obama ignores the National Day of Prayer but supported LGBT and mentions two-father homes on Father's Day.
Is yet another administration official - Rham Immanuel on the way out?
November is coming. President Obama and the Democrats better do some more golfing.
Mad at the Media for Massive Malpractice : 6-4-10
I don’t care WHO or WHAT caused the leak until they do whatever is in their power to fix the problem! This is beyond tragic and the photos now coming out are heart wrenching. Fox News Anchorman Shepard Smith appeared stricken by the images and mentioned that many news crews have said BP has tried to make it hard for them to get pictures of the worst damage. The oil keeps flowing and more and more media outlets are reporting on this disaster and giving it more of the attention it deserves. Where were they a month ago? It’s been 47 days now going on seven weeks. The national media is corrupt, in my opinion. They didn’t want to call more attention to a President who appears somewhat disconnected with the disaster and who waited eight days to even make a statement. The administration seemed to be busier with other things like trashing Arizona, taking vacations, dealing with scandals, photo ops, and Paul McCartney concerts. But when an investigation into BP was announced, the media jumped in with gusto.
Please bear with the next few questions. If President Bush was still in office, do you think the media would have gone about this tragic story differently? Do you also think there would be more stories covering anti-war protestors or have all the war protests gone away, even though Obama sent more troops to Afghanistan? If Bush virtually ignored the Nashville flood the way Obama did, would it have been front-page news? Would Celebrities be speaking up and would Shaun Penn have flown to the Gulf if Bush were still President? Do you think all the environmental protests ended when Bush left office, or, are protests going on and the media is simply not covering them? Take a look at the pictures of suffering wild life; oil drenched birds, dead fish, and the amazing underwater cam that shows oil gushing out almost as fast as our national debt is growing. This has been made into a political issue and as of yet there’s still no answer to the problem! Gulf Coast states have been asking for help but where’s the national outrage? I’m tired of the double standard and fed up with a media that continues to influence or ignore the news instead of report it honestly to the people. The oil leak is not Obama’s fault. But the way the media has reported on the devastation leaves a foul taste in my mouth.
We're Forgetting Part of the Argument; This is America : 5-11-10
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
I'm concerned about the slant in the news today and am so tired of the liberal media bias and corruption. Are we losing our perspective? Why are we not securing the borders? Exactly what IS the job of the National Guard? We've forgotten that our freedoms were bought and paid for by the blood and sweat and sacrifice of many brave men, women, soldiers, and patriots who lived in very different times than we do. It seems to me that the Obama administration spends just as much time ignoring the needs of the majority of Americans as protecting the rights of those who break our laws. Forget about terrorism for a few minutes and let's just talk about criminal activity around the country taking place at our borders; drug smuggling and abuse, kidnapping, prostitution, vandalism, and murder, for starters. The liberal progressive left are sympathetic to illegal aliens. The news media backs them up. These people have a much different vision for America than you and I grew up with. I'm not against immigration or citizenship. Is it too much to ask for them to go through the right channels to become legal? The Media Research Center did a new study and the results are disturbing: By a 12 to 1 margin, ABC, CBS, and NBC rip Arizona's new immigration law. Most reports are negative about enforcing border security and immigration laws, but positive toward those who have broken our laws and are here illegally. Explain that to one of the many American families who've had a loved one murdered by an illegal alien with a criminal record who, instead of being deported, was released from prison to go commit more crimes. This is more common than you know.
I'm not simplifying a complex issue. Let me say up front that the problem goes beyond Hispanics coming to our country to work. I don't blame them! They get free health care and entitlements. Most of them want to provide for their families and start a new life in a land of opportunity instead of oppression. I used to manage restaurants in California and many of these people are good, humble, honest, and hard working. One of the problems is the countless number of companies that hire illegals, and have been doing it for decades under Clinton, Bush, and now Obama. This is not a political party issue. It's a Cancerous American issue in more ways than one. For example, one argument is that people from Mexico will do the menial jobs that Americans won't do. Tell that to the lower class worker who was laid off or the elderly person who still needs to work because Social Security isn't meeting their needs. But I will say that American kids today are so stinking spoiled and many parents don't know how to say "no". This high tech generation doesn't know what it means to actually, "go outside and play". When I hurt my back several years ago, I tried to hire some neighborhood kids to do some raking and yard clean-up. They worked at a slow, unfocused pace for a few hours and didn't come back for days. I had to call to follow up so they'd finish the job they agreed to do. When they came back the next day, their Dad was with them and he ended up doing most of the work himself. It was a sad, eye-opening moment for me on the work ethic in our country, and more disturbing is the fact that this generation is tomorrow's voters.
When I was young, I had a paper route or two, and also worked as a dishwasher and bus boy in a local restaurant. Years later, I worked at a gym, hardware store, mowed lawns, and delivered lumber, shingles, and sheet rock. The oddest job I had was doing Summer maintenance for a funeral home. I'll leave it at that. When I moved to California from Michigan, I worked various jobs and went to school while sharing an apartment to split the rent and utilities until I could afford my own place. Kids today lack discipline. I don't see as many young people who are willing to work hard, due in part to uninvolved parents and the conditioning of our entitlement society. This generation sure seems to see America differently, not to mention what they're being taught about history. So why shouldn't illegal immigrants expect us to bend over backwards for them and grant them citizenship? Our leaders are not exactly saying, "wait a minute, protest all you want but remember what country you're now living in - this is America!" They will keep crossing our borders in high numbers and the media will trumpet their cause. (Insert your scenario here) The line of liberal thinking goes like this: since kids are going to have sex anyway, give them condoms; since teens are going to drink anyway, host a party for them and show them how to mix good drinks; since people are going to smoke pot anyway, just legalize it, since our borders are being flooded - just give them citizenship, and on and on. Maybe we'll eventually come to our senses, enforce our laws, and be proud of our heritage in America again, but I'm not holding my breath. Especially when our own government refuses to fix the problems.
No Opinions; Just Politics : 4-17-10
More Media Malpractice: During a report on the Tea Party movement, CNN put “INCITING VIOLENCE?” on the screen under video of Sarah Palin while a panel eagerly agreed that the President’s political opponents are indeed inciting violence and are motivated by hatred and racism!
"The leftists in the media would do well to remember that their liberty to be a free press comes from the same constitutional amendment as the tea party crowd's liberty to gather together. And our elected leaders would do well to remember that the First Amendment exists to protect average people from the government, not the other way around." --columnist Ken Blackwell
"[W]hat are the tea partiers really angry about? Health care reform or the fact that it was an African-American president and a woman Speaker of the House who pushed through major change?" --MSNBC host Chris Matthews
Washington Times; ..."Mr. Obama's election brought the United States astronomical public debt, a slumping currency, increasing government control of the economy, continued job losses, radical judges, a disastrous foreign policy, a government takeover of health care and a job-killing energy bill. Americans -- some unwittingly -- put in place the most radical government in generations, and they now are realizing what they have wrought. The results...cannot be ignored. Democrats have failed to exhibit responsible stewardship of the country, and voters are putting them on notice."
Abortion and Health Care
"When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes mandatory." -Thomas Jefferson
The Family Research Council reported that Bart Stupak and his coalition had the votes to kill the health care bill. Stupak emerged from a meeting with President Obama having agreed to support the Senate bill in exchange for the President's promise of an Executive Order to prohibit taxpayer funding for abortions… Pro-life leaders are astonished that Stupak, after having fought so hard, trusted the most pro-abortion President in American history to advance the pro-life cause, especially since Rep. Stupak and his group know any President can reverse an Executive Order at any time, and that a pro-abortion federal judge could well repeal it. Planned Parenthood celebrated with an email blast to their supporters: "VICTORY!" Leading pro-abortion Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) told the press that the Executive Order "doesn't change anything".
Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker memorably said: “When all the power of the moment was in his frail human hands, he dropped the baby.”
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Director Susan Armacost said that the president signed “this bogus executive order, knowing full well that it does nothing to stop the new law's massive government funding of abortion and it does not provide adequate conscience protections for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who are morally opposed to the destruction of the lives of unborn children through abortion." The fact is, an executive order (EO) cannot override statutory law. Congress ignored the explicit wishes of the American people by voting to establish taxpayer-funded abortion. The AUL legal team has concluded that an executive order is not an adequate fix to mitigate this legislation's establishment of taxpayer-funded abortion.
Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries writes, "Many are dazed at the rapid decline of America. The passage of health care wasn't about health care; rather, the socialization of America. America just came under the power of Saul Alinsky. But some of us, while grieved, look at the broader picture." ...Globalists have no respect for the people who elected them; no respect for their office; no respect for the American Constitution; no respect for what it means to be entrusted by the people of any nation to serve in a high capacity. Their only maniacal goal is the consolidation of more money and power into the hands of the few in order to control and manipulate the entire world.
Sign seen at the Nevada Tea Party rally - "I need a Job! My family can't eat Health care!!"
The number one superpower has been America and now we see her imploding due to corrupt politics, greed, love of self, love of power...former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay condemned the actions of the House saying, “Not only did they not listen to the American people, they shredded and trashed the Constitution and then stood there on the floor of the House and lied to the American people."
Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. - James Garfield
The liberal media have never seen a big-government program they didn’t like. That's why they omit and distort the news in favor of Obamacare but refuse to cover stories that reflect negatively on it. Are Republicans the party of ‘no’ or are American citizens the people of ‘no’? Sometimes ‘no’ is just what this administration needs to hear. When it comes to more borrowing, the answer is no. When it comes to more spending, wasted stimulus and bailouts, the answer is no. And when it comes to a government takeover of health care, the answer is no. I'll also add that the answer is NO when it comes to: abortion, tax-payer funded abortion, sex education involving gay and lesbian indoctrination in schools (funded by our taxes), global warming ("green" or "climate") technology regulations, gay marriage, illegal immigration reform, political correctness in the war on terror, hate crimes legislation (censoring Christians), and the Fairness doctrine (censorship of conservatives). Most of us recall Obama campaigning on transparency in government but just sort of laugh it off as the Democrats hold meetings behind closed doors on health care and who knows what else. The Washington Times reported today that Obama “has rolled back rules proposed by the Bush administration that expanded the financial disclosure statements required of labor unions and their leaders.”
Where are the checks and balances in America, and who represents the majority of we the people? Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. November is right around the corner, and our votes will matter. There are huge Democratic majorities in both houses; unchallenged liberal dominance of our media, our courts, public schools, universities, and our executive and legislative branches. Thomas Jefferson said, "The people are the ultimate guardians of their own liberty." Is anyone surprised that Tea Parties are breaking out all over America? Jefferson also said, “I wish, therefore, to see maintained that wholesome distribution of powers established by the Constitution for the limitation of both; and never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold as at market." I noticed another headline, “Is the Declaration of Independence Still Relevant?” Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council writes, "Every new year, pastors urge their flocks to rise above setbacks and discouragement to embrace the future with wholehearted Biblical faith. But Americans face extreme uncertainty. Few understood just how radical the new President and liberal Congress would be! Few believed the President could appoint the kinds of extremists he has chosen to impose his agenda of change upon the people. Never have our values been subjected to such a frontal assault by those in government."
I agree with Townhall contributor Matthew Vadum, who lays out the ugly truth about a far-Left organization proving that abortion is big business, and revealing that Planned Parenthood, America's foremost abortion provider, has found that killing babies--especially in minority communities--is good business. And their political friends in Washington are keeping the taxpayer money flowing. Here's another breaking news story you won’t hear about on the networks, CNN, or the Times. Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) detailing federal investigations into the alleged corrupt activities of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The documents reference serious allegations of corruption and voter registration fraud by ACORN as well as the Obama administration's decision to shut down a criminal investigation without filing criminal charges. I find this peculiar since there are stories all over the country about charges against ACORN. In my state of Wisconsin, there are now five more criminal counts of voter fraud from the November 2008 general election. It appears that multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals were submitted, and also were part of a scheme in which they and other (special registration deputies) registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN. Milwaukee is not very far from Chicago.
Flashback: Immediately after the Democratic National Convention in Colorado, the Boston Globe published a letter from David Alinsky. He boasted about how Barack Obama had made effective use of his training in the methods of David's late father, the famous Chicago radical, Saul Alinsky. David Alinsky gloated: "I am proud to see that my father's model for organizing is being applied successfully beyond local community organizing to affect the Democratic campaign in 2008. It is a fine tribute to Saul Alinsky as we approach his 100th birthday." He wanted a radical change of America's social and economic structure, and he planned to achieve that through creating public discontent and moral confusion. "Change" was Alinsky's favorite word. What he called change meant an alteration of our socioeconomic structure; what he called organizing meant pursuing confrontational political tactics. A new 2010 “Hall of Shame” report by the Better Government Association details the nearly 150 county officials who have gone to jail for corruption in Barack Obama’s Cook County. John Adams said, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.” Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
Morning in America is near and it's always darkest before dawn. November is coming and then in 2012 we'll have a chance to vote again, this time to clean out the White House. “In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate - look to his character.” –Noah Webster. Millions of Americans will have the chance to do just that in November, but for right now, I can’t wait to get out of Chicago and get home.
I'll Have an American Omelet, and a Healthy Dose of Voter Backlash, Please! : 1-10-10
Let's review. The president failed to bring the Olympics to Chicago, and more recently waited five days to make a statement about the Christmas terrorist bomber and airport security. Eggs sound good about now. And who can forget Air Force One flying low over the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero for a photo op? Showing his lack of executive experience and need to be in the spotlight, he chose to fly his entourage back to Copenhagen at the tax payer cost of millions of dollars to accomplish absolutely nothing in the much-debated global warming initiative called the Climate Summit. Another time they also should have served eggs for lunch at the White House was the beer summit with the Cambridge cop with the impeccable record who Obama didn't waste time jumping to conclusions about and saying the cops "acted stupidly". I think I know who men and women in uniform voted for last night in MA.
Possibly the biggest issue is the attempt to ram a health care bill through without revealing to the people what it contains. Remember how Obama promised to have the most open and transparent administration ever and to reach across party lines? Liberals are upset that he has not delivered health care reform, and conservatives are angry that there hasn't been much open debate, even though he promised more than eight times to put the process on C-Span for the country to see what's going on. Instead, there have been back room deals on the Democratic side including the 300 million dollar Louisiana bribe and the Cornhusker kickback in Nebraska. Pelosi, Reid, and Obama are not even blushing because that's how they do things in this Congress now, and that's how Obama did things in Chicago. I'm not sure who President Obama gets most of his advice from, but it seems he's not meeting expectations on both sides. For the liberals, he's failed to spend even more money to jump start the economy. Unemployment is over 10%. He's failed to close Guantanamo Bay, end the war and bring the troops home, just like he promised his base. I heard a statistic yesterday that by the end of this year, Obama will have spent more money than President Bush did in his entire eight years in office! And some say Bush's spending policies were too liberal.
It's also interesting that after four years of a Democrat-controlled Congress and one year after Obama took office that some people still have the nerve to blame the previous administration. I've lost count of the times the word, 'inherited' has been used and it has become obvious to Americans that this administration isn't willing to take responsibility or be accountable. The bigger joke, to me, is that the mainstream media has gone along with it, for the most part, and they rarely mention the lack of openness and transparency in the health care debate because most of the media are Democrats and support Obama. They may not get away with blatant lies but they often leave out news stories or details that reflect poorly on the president. It's amazing and infuriating to me that we've come to this, but more people are waking up! Now even with Scott Brown winning an election in the bluest of states, Nancy Pelosi insists they will hammer out a bill to allow the federal government control over the health care system and the health care options of every American. All citizens would be required to participate or be subject to fines and prosecution. Scholars say the bills are unconstitutional on their face. Thirteen state attorney generals are threatening to sue, saying the bill and process are "constitutionally flawed." The Senate bill, brokered in private meetings with the White House, wildly violated election year promises of a more open government.
Last night, I heard Chris Matthews on MessNBC say that now they have to push this through before more Americans get the chance to let their voice be heard. Amazing. They don't get it because their extreme liberal agenda is blinding them. If you're a Christian conservative, independent, Libertarian, or moderate Democrat, it's time to come together against potential tyranny and voice our values to this radical administration. And the hits just keep on coming. Wish I had time to get into the hugely important National Security issue, Fort Hood, profiling, and Attorney General Eric Holder deciding that the 9-11 terrorists will go on trial in New York City, of all places. In his victory speech last night, one of the many good things Scott Brown said was that he wants government to use our tax dollars to kill America’s enemies instead of paying for lawyers to protect them. Yes, I think the landscape in the country will come back around because after Obama’s first year, Hope has collided head-on with Reality. Finally, in a crucial battle to most of us, the March for Life in Washington, DC is just two days away, so please pay attention to how or if the media covers it.
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Archived Blogs : 2009
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Do Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain! : September 09
So what's been the strategy of the Democratic Congress and this undaunted administration? Put down the dissenters and put out the message that they're just a small percentage of people, mostly sent out by right-wing activist groups and they certainly don't represent the heart of America. Do you think Americans are buying it? Here’s the smokescreen. The day President Obama left for vacation, two major red-hot news stories broke. The new Congressional Budget Office, (CBO) numbers for the forecasted 10-year national deficit came out, and the administration was way off on their original estimates...by just two TRILLION dollars! This is not a pretty picture considering our current economy plus the massive spending by Congress already this year. Imagine if the Bush administration had...oh, never mind. Peter Orszag, the president’s budget director, says the nation inherited a dire situation. Hmm, let’s see if the blame Bush excuse holds water. This January, the national Public Debt was $6.3 trillion. As of this August, it’s now $11.7 trillion. So the rest of the story is that the Obama administration is making it much worse! God help us. Really!
This isn’t the first time they’ve been confused by the numbers. Before Obama campaigned to pass the stimulus package in January, he warned us that if Congress did NOT pass it, unemployment could reach 8%. Here we are now, AFTER the so-called stimulus was passed and the latest projections for unemployment will be 10%. (And liberals were questioning Sarah Palin’s competence?) Well as they say, image is everything and since the Pres is on vacation, this all reflects more poorly on the administration and Congress than Obama because he's not even home! But the buck eventually has to stop with him. The second major story is that a few Chicago thugs in the Whitehouse led by Attorney General Eric Holder are reopening the investigation into the interrogation of terrorists following the 9-11 attacks on America. Today’s IBD headline read, “The Justice Dept.'s War On Heroes”. Appointing a prosecutor to harass CIA interrogators exposes this administration's priorities: The global war on terror takes a back seat to terrorizing some of America's most selfless warriors.” Don’t fall for the hand fake! The questions have already been answered and proven; the interrogation techniques used by the CIA saved countless lives by protecting America and preventing further attacks. How often do you hear anyone give Bush credit for keeping America safe for the remainder of his term?
Some say the investigation is political, to distract from both the major Healthcare reform disapproval and also how terribly the administration miscalculated the deficit numbers. I’m calling this a double smokescreen, another clever strategy to protect an unfazed president from getting his hands dirty. With Obama out of town, Congress and his appointees can take the heat. The point is to make sure you're paying attention to what's going on behind the curtain, because this administration with the help of the media, is trying to kill Toto before he reveals the great and powerful Oz. With due respect as I write this, there's a new story, Senator Kennedy died of Cancer. I'm interested to see how this plays out in the media. With his approval rating continuing the decline, the President will return from vacation hopefully rested, and the so-called opposition to his massive overhaul will continue to grow. Do you think we're being told everything that's in the Healthcare bill in detail when most of Congress and even Obama probably skimmed through the whole thing? Why does he need to sell it to the public and why is he still going around campaigning? Why do you think the greatest, most charismatic communicator (to some), and orator of our time cannot clearly explain exactly how the bill will work? Maybe he's too busy playing defense because of all people, he should be able to tell Americans exactly how it's going to all work.
The numbers don't lie. Over 80% of Americans say they're happy with their current Healthcare. Yes, others are uninsured but is it the taxpayers responsibility to pay for and cover the millions of illegal aliens, the homeless, those who refuse to get insurance, and the twenty-something’s who don't want it because they don't think they need it? No. Pay attention to how the news is being reported and also to the stories the press is ignoring. This administration is always scheming and planning to further their agenda, regardless of what Americans want. Our country will never be the same if the current bill passes, there’s too much government in it. Did you know that Washington D.C. has the best employment rate in the country? There has already been a silent coup and it appears many of us missed it. Abortion funding, socialists appointed to the administration, czar after czar with more government jobs created, gay marriage advocates, a liberal judge already confirmed, massive spending with little accountability, and now the organizing attack dogs are being sent to silence regular folks. No one knows exactly how it happened but that it was and is gradual, just like the frog in a kettle of warm water. A friend commented on a past blog of mine and I'll leave you with her words. "The 48% that did not vote for this president MUST become active, MUST pray, MUST vote and work as directed by the Holy Spirit in non-violent ways to stop this tsunami of evil choices and decisions that are overwhelming our nation."
Doesn't every legal American citizen have the right to freely express his or her views about government, with their representatives, with friends, on the phone, on a web site, or in an email? But this administration is like a child in a sand box, not knowing how to handle basic conflict or disagreement. Thanks in part to the cheerleaders in the media, public resistance seems like a foreign idea for Obama. It's not his fault, but he's taken full advantage of it, and has coasted along without focused opposition. The race to get the trillion dollar health care bill signed and jammed down our throats has fortunately stalled for now, and more Americans have been finding out what’s actually in it. Oh, and did I mention they’re pretty upset? Some get pretty emotional about it. Although a minority will support Obama until the end regardless of where his policies take America, many who voted for him are now realizing they were sold a bill of goods about hope, change, accountability, transparency, and a new era in politics. And since the fawning media doesn’t know how to objectively handle those who disagree with the administration, they choose to play defense. Check out this ABC headline from a report by Charles Gibson: "Town Hall Wrath Appears To Be Orchestrated". CNN commentator and political strategist Donna Brazile: "They're renting organizers. The left has done it. Now they're doing it. This little small band of protesters are trying to stop members [of Congress] from doing their jobs." I can list countless others but I'll spare you.
Gary Bauer said, "All over the country, normal citizens are exercising their God-given rights of assembly, free speech and dissent. It is important for elected members of Congress to hear from their constituents, and it is a healthy exercise for our democratic republic. The same leftists who for years applauded when demonstrators took over the streets to protest the Iraq war, amnesty for illegal aliens or who attacked churches that supported marriage remaining between a man and woman, suddenly see retirees, small businessmen, homemakers, farmers, sales clerks and just plain folks as evidence of rightwing extremism." It’s not a good sign for the Obama administration that average American citizens are waking up. You tell me, do they seriously think we took a page out of their community organizing playbook on disrupting meetings and events by intimidation, outbursts and protests? One man I saw stand and shout at the Green Bay meeting was seventy years old! These are real people, hard workers, the best of the U.S.A. Young and retired alike are uniting to oppose big spending and the potential government take over of the health care system, and some don’t like the discourse.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gets in the act and blames the national protest on an old stand by: the vast right-wing conspiracy. He says "angry mobs" are disrupting the "honest" conversations that Democrats are trying to have in their home districts. It's "manufactured anger," he told reporters. It gets better... (or worse, depending on how you look at it). Enter Nancy Pelosi, who claims she doesn't believe that people attending these meetings opposing health care overhaul are authentic and grass roots. In her own words, "... they're more like Astroturf … they're carrying swastikas to town hall meetings on health care." Uh, did she just make a Hitler reference? Of course Harry Reid chimed in saying those in disagreement on the right have run out of ideas, have ditched their civic manners, and he accused protesters of trying to "sabotage" the democratic process. In another Democratic meeting a woman in her thirties said, "The President tried to shove through this health care plan in less than thirty days yet it took six months to pick out a dog for his kids!" I couldn't have said it better, what a great line.
It didn’t take the well-oiled Obama machine long to start scheming. "We are going to be very aggressive," said David Axelrod, a White House senior adviser. Obama took action and they sent out an email asking people to contact the White House with any opposing web site or email that seems "fishy". Last time I checked, even "fishy" speech was protected under our constitution. Can you imagine if Bush did this? The Hill reported last weekend that labor unions and leftwing organizations "will spend between $10 million and $20 million this month to twist lawmakers' arms over the stalled healthcare reform effort in Congress". They want to sell, convince, and enforce their will on Americans no matter what people think, and this is sad to me. Could it be that this is our wake up call? Take heart and choose whether to get involved or not. Keep on believing in the goodness of our country and pray for our leaders, for salvation, direction, and integrity. It's one day at a time. God is not up in heaven pacing and we can confidently trust Him with the future.
Here's the next question; how can we keep a sound mind when there's a barrage of negative information coming at us, and if you're a Christian, opposition from all sides? Perspective and priorities. There's a battle going on for our country, and there's a spiritual battle going on for souls. Our focus needs to be about bringing sinful people to salvation through Christ, rejecting what goes against God's standards, and promoting measures, people and policies that would conform government toward morality and values. To be clear, believers should be active politically but not with the goal of controlling government, whereas Obama seems to prefer controlling over governing. He has lots of support in his corner, including most of the media. Remember Chris Matthews' pledge? "I want to do everything I can to make this new presidency work." Time magazine has also invested in Obama, saying that "Obama's start has been the most impressive of any president since FDR." Remember their cover story on Bush in the first 100 days of 2001? There wasn't one. Did you hear any newscasts about thousands of Tea Parties on July 4, (35,000 attended in Dallas alone), protesting government control and spending? Hmm, I think there's a theme here. And so far, network reporters have never used the word "liberal" to describe either Obama or his agenda. In the days before he unveiled his $3.5 trillion budget, four out of five statements on the evening newscasts indicated that President Obama was a deficit fighter. Huh? Remember the speech Obama gave using the word "crisis" a total of twenty-six times, before passing the economic stimulus bill? The media should have been awarded for helping trumpet pending disaster to pass legislation. Fear sells. But the Bible says that those who trust in God won't fear bad news because their hearts are established. And 2 Tim. 1:7 says, "I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind".
The opposite of a sound mind would be Joe Biden. He said last week, "We've got to spend money to prevent bankruptcy". Enter headline here...Pelosi on Health Care: 'We Have the Support of the American People'. Wait a minute! If almost 80% of Americans, according to a July study, think taxes will go up for the middle class, don't you think we're against their health care plan and we'd hear about it in the news? This is just another example of the media giving Obama a pass on anything he's doing. Meanwhile, Al Gore could make billions on the advancement of his global warming research and theories. Why isn't the media reporting this blatant corruption? Too busy attacking Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, and Palin? NBC News, whose parent company General Electric is getting billions in stimulus cash to perpetuate Democrat-friendly "green" technologies and health care information systems. Are we having fun yet? We're in the middle of a spiritual and culture war, and the Bible doesn't tell Christians to be "salt and light" just up to a certain point in history and then quit! If you're a person of faith, pray and get active. Start by sharing this with people who care. You don't need to stand on a corner with a big sign, you just need to make a simple phone call to your Senator and send emails to your Congressman. Too many are using the excuse that this may be the end times so it's okay to sit back and watch and see what happens. The book of James says that faith without corresponding actions is useless. He also says it's not a big deal to believe in God, because so does the devil! The difference is what we put our complete trust in and then what we take action on. We can no longer afford to be silent or neutral on cultural and ethical issues that divide our country. Spiritual pacifists will be run over.
In closing, I'm taking the liberty to condense points made by Bill O' Reilly recently: "In Newsweek magazine, there is a nasty hatchet job on Sarah Palin by a guy named Rick Perlstein. The piece is presented as hard news, not an opinion column, and basically says that the governor is a moron who is supported by dimwitted conservatives at odds with smart Republicans. Perlstein also submits that the dumb GOP folks are led by me and other Fox News people. Turns out that Rick Perlstein is a far-left zealot who lists one of his 'interests' as 'conservative failure.' Newsweek editor Jon Meacham basically tried to disguise an ideological attack as news coverage. Awful... Newsweek magazine is in dire financial trouble and is seeking to survive by cultivating a liberal, urban audience. But this sneaky media stuff is harming America, and it must be unmasked. With Barack Obama in the White House...the left sees a major opportunity to knock out Judeo-Christian traditions, replacing them with a secular philosophy. In order to accomplish this, the left-wing media is marginalizing people like Sarah Palin who oppose the strategy. Americans need to wake up and smell the corruption." I couldn't agree more. Social conservatives have worked for decades to make advances promoting pro-life, pro-family policies which this administration has reversed or has undermined. Christians, conservatives, and independents need to step up efforts to educate this country on what is happening. There are millions of Americans who oppose Obama's radical agenda that may have failed to vote last November. This cannot happen again in 2010 and 2012, and it has to start with we the people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and walk by faith one day at a time. He is working even when we don't see it. Ultimately, God is sovereign and can be trusted with every concern we have. May He bless America!
OK, if you disagree with that, tell me if there's any other time when we the people would allow the government to expand, our taxes to increase, and billions of dollars of earmarks to be passed in a so-called "stimulus bill? They're putting money into things like global warming research, pig odor research, grape research, wool research; funding abortion providers, funding astronomy in Hawaii, film and television production companies, gay marriage organizations, ACORN and other Democratic campaign contributors. Plus about 900 million dollars to Gaza? Did I mention that bailed-out AIG is now planning on giving $165 million in bonuses to executives? So exactly WHAT kind of jobs is any of this going to create? I believe it was Nancy Pelosi who said something like "we have to take advantage of this crisis", meaning to her it's an opportunity to further the secular progressive agenda in our country and, of course, pay back the people who helped elect the President. I'm not surprised that these big spenders in Washington, many claiming to be in touch with the middle class, are going through our money like drunken sailors...not to insult a drunken sailor. Remember during the campaign how often Joe Biden talked about being in touch with the middle class?
If President Obama doesn't want to keep slipping in the polls of public opinion, he had better realize that the average American family makes around $48,000 a year. If he cares about us, like he said in the campaign, maybe he and his wife - who seems less embarrassed of America now that she's had some exclusive parties at the Whitehouse featuring top of the line entertainment and only the choicest of foods - should begin listening to all the "tea party" protests going on across the country, such as the Fullerton, CA event that drew 15,000 people. As Ann Coulter put it, Democrats like to mention, "the daunting self-sacrifice of both Barack and Michelle Obama for passing up lucrative jobs to work in "public service" -- which apparently is now defined, such as in Michelle Obama's case, as "working as a 'diversity coordinator' at a big city hospital for $300,000 a year." Wow, that must have been rough. So who is out of touch, the Americans who are finally speaking out about the mishandling of our economy and heritage, or the President who lied about campaign donations and raised more money than anyone in history, much of it including untraceable overseas donations.
If you can read this and not shake your head, or if you think I exaggerate, you probably only watch MSNBC or read the NY Times. Did you notice that there's not much accountability in the media these days? Do you think we've reached the cut-off period for blaming Bush for everything? Did you notice that behind the smokescreen of economic uncertainty promoted by the Whitehouse, Reid, Shumer, and Pelosi are campaigning to spend even more of our hard-earned money? Have you noticed that Obama has quietly been furthering his liberal agenda by funding overseas abortions, closing Guantanamo Bay, stopping the prosecution of a 9-11 terrorist, and stem cell research on embryos, to name a few? And what about marriage? Quoting the President himself. "I have taken on the issue of civil rights for the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] community as if they were my own struggle...I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying. This is an effort to demonize people for political advantage." Hmm, I'm not sure about demonizing people for political advantage, so maybe I can ask Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, John McCain, James Dobson, George Bush, Michael Steele, or Joe the Plumber about that.
Have you been surprised by the further corruption to come out of Chicago? Is Blago for real?! Were you at all shocked that the first couple of things Obama did in office (while letting Pelosi and Reid build up the disgusting 1,000 page stimulus bill), was to take major stands in favor of funding abortions, support of gay marriage, shutting down Gitmo and stop the trial of a terrorist who killed 19 people in a bombing of Americans? Are you at all surprised that yet another cabinet appointee has withdrawn, this time because he couldn't support Obama's policies? And did you even notice that we're up to four, no wait...five democratic appointees who didn't pay huge amounts of taxes? [and Geithner is now in charge of the IRS!!] Do you think that if it were us, they'd just say it was a simple mistake and let it go? To my liberal friends, you can respond to my thoughts but up front, we'll have to agree to disagree. The most liberal folks I know have the attitude of "I've made up my mind so don't confuse me with the truth or the facts." But aren't you at all concerned that even your own democratic senators have said that they haven't read the entire economic stimulus bill? You support it NOT because it's good for America but because you voted for Obama and have to stand by your man now or it will be too humiliating. What's it going to take for you to say, 'hmmmm, maybe we should re-think a few of these policies"?
YES I'm angry, and I'm thankful for free speech - that we can share our thoughts and disagree and still live in a country that protects our freedoms. Unfortunately, in subtle ways I see some of those very freedoms being threatened. Remember this, the "Fairness Doctrine" to you and I means the Censorship Doctrine! Our free speech is now being reconsidered. Don't believe me? Look it up. Already it's obvious that one of the only groups that you can openly discriminate against is Christians and other religious people. Just ask Hollywood and the left side of the Democratic party what they think about folks that still hang on to their faith and hope in God, let alone conservative 'narrow minded' ideals. We who believe there's still hope that America won't be radically changed by this administration; we have to keep fighting the good fight of faith, spread awareness to those who are open or will listen, and let our local and state reps know how we feel. We may be the silent majority, but from now on, we can't afford to be silent. Remember, it bugs them to no end but we're still the majority. You have rights, you have a voice, and you have freedom to choose what to do. Please take a stand, keep informed on the issues, and pray for God to have mercy on our country. And make sure you're getting your news (not opinion) from the right sources. I am undaunted in my convictions that we need to go back to true conservative and grass roots principles, like America's Founders originally intended.
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Archived Blogs : 2008
click on title to expand
The American Public Saw the Media's Pro-Obama/Anti-McCain and Palin Tilt : November 08
By Nearly 8-to-1, Voters Say Journalists Wanted Obama to Win
By 5-to-1 Public Thinks Most Journalists Tried to Elect Obama
Rasmussen: By 10-to-1 Public Says Reporters 'Tried to Hurt Palin'
Pew poll Finds Media Credibility Plummets to All-Time Lows
Rasmussen: '55% Say Media Bias Bigger Problem than Campaign Cash'
Fox News Poll: Two-Thirds Think Most Journalists Wanted Obama to Win
Rasmussen: Three Times More See Pro-Obama Over Pro-McCain Bias
Pew: Many Recognize Media's Pro-Obama Bias, Democrats Prefer CNN
Rasmussen: 63%+ of ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC Viewers Back Obama
MSNBC should be renamed as the Obama Network
(Here's part of Jonah Goldberg's Town Hall article)
In an attempt to dial down expectations for his administration, President-elect Barack Obama's supporters have dropped much of the "Messiah" talk.
No more talk of him being The One (Oprah), or a Jedi Knight (George Lucas), or a "Lightworker" (the San Francisco Chronicle), or a "quantum leap in American consciousness" (Deepak Chopra). Instead we have more humble and circumspect conversation about the man. Now he's merely Abraham Lincoln and FDR and Martin Luther King, combined. It's a step down from divine redeemer, but you have to start somewhere. Newsweek, Time, the Washington Post, "60 Minutes" and, of course, The O Network (formerly known as MSNBC) have all run wild with this stuff. Depicting Obama as FDR or Lincoln has become a staple of the self-proclaimed "objective" media. I was on Fox News the other night to throw some cold water on this Obama-as-Lincoln stuff. Alan Colmes of "Hannity & Colmes" chastised me, asking if we shouldn't give Obama "a chance to actually spread his wings and fly a little bit" before disparaging him. Fine. I actually agree with that. Conservatives should not denounce Obama's performance before he's had a chance to, you know, perform.
But, shouldn't we also hold off on comparing the guy to FDR and Lincoln before he's done anything? Obama hasn't even taken the oath of office yet, and it's already an unfair right-wing attack to say that Obama isn't on par with Lincoln and FDR. What's next? Will it be slander to say Obama's a carbon-based life form? Will the Secret Service investigate you if you're overheard saying you think Obama's merely "OK"? WHERE’S THE TRUTH IN MEDIA? Sadly, gone.
WHAT WOKE ME UP a few months before the election was a few Christian friends saying they planned to vote for Barack Obama, even though he supports abortion on demand, same-sex marriage, cloning, infanticide, the ordination of same-sex clergy, appointing judges who make laws instead of interpret them according to the written Constitution, and federal funding for liberal, partisan organizations. They might argue that abortion is not the only issue in an election, but more than a dozen respected Pastors I know said it was THE key policy to them. This is not a Republican issue, it’s a Biblical guideline. Is America that desensitized? We have come into a time where the moral center of our nation's values has changed and we are left confused by what we thought God said in the Bible. Approximately 30% of professed Christians voted for Obama, and to me, this is a tragic wake-up call for true Christian conservatives and the church as a whole! How can we expect the average person to vote values if the church isn’t? In exit polls, people under 30 were asked from a list what the most important election issue was and do you know what was at the BOTTOM of the list? A candidate’s character and experience! Money and charisma were at the top, so 52% voted for charisma over character.
HOW MEDIA MADE A DIFFERENCE: How was your local paper and television coverage? We know all about the liberal bias and decline of the LA and NY Times, but Cal Thomas from TownHall.com said that you know things are bad when journalists begin admitting bias. Columnist Michael Malone wrote on ABCNews.com that campaign coverage has been so biased, he is ashamed to tell people he is a journalist. The Colorado Springs Gazette carried an opinion column about "The Death of Objectivity," which criticized slanted coverage. The public has already turned on big media, but big media is too into denial to notice. (Surveys before the election showed that approximately 69% of Americans thought there was a clear media bias toward Obama. Notice it did not say, “Republicans”, but “Americans”.) In her Nov. 2 column, Deborah Howell writes, "...it's true that The Washington Post, as well as much of the national news media, has written more favorable stories (73%) about Barack Obama than John McCain despite reader complaints about too much coverage of the race itself and not enough of the candidates' positions on the issues. Journalism is the only profession I know that ignores the wishes of its consumers." If a retail store did this they’d soon be out of business. In exit polls, young voters were asked where they get most of their news. The internet was first and cable news second. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more layoffs in the newspaper industry.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY; 60% of all voters said the economy was the most important issue. Let’s look into this a bit. World Watch, October 5, Orson Scott Card wrote an article about the housing crisis called, “Will the last fair reporter please turn out the lights?” Starting in the late 1990’s, yes before President Bush was in office, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans, loans that recipients were not likely to be able to repay. Wait, what was that?! “Furthermore, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were making political contributions to the very members of Congress who were allowing them to make irresponsible loans… Isn't there a story here? Doesn't journalism require that you who produce our daily paper tell the truth? Aren't you supposed to follow the money and see which politicians were benefitting personally from the deregulation of mortgage lending? I have no doubt that if these facts had pointed to the Republican Party or to John McCain as the guilty parties, you would have treated it as a vast scandal. "Housing-gate," no doubt. Senator Christopher Dodd & Congressman Barney Frank, both Democrats, denied that there were any problems – even two months before the crash, and refused Bush administration requests to set up a regulatory agency.
Franklin Raines, the CEO of Fannie Mae who made $90 million while running it into the ground, was fired for his incompetence, and Barrack Obama's campaign actually consulted him for advice on housing. If that presidential candidate had been John McCain, you would have called it a major scandal and we would be getting stories in your paper every day about how incompetent and corrupt he was. A journalist’s job is to tell the truth. That's what you claim you do, when you accept people's money to buy or subscribe to your paper. (Or watch your TV network) So, WHAT MADE THE "NEWS" INSTEAD? How out of touch Republicans are! Hoards of reporters were sent to Alaska to investigate Sarah Palin, attacking her because she’s a Christian, making fun of her home state, accusing her for the pregnancy of her unmarried daughter -- while ignoring the story of John Edwards's own adultery and love child, and hating her for having a Down syndrome baby! Was there one reporter willing to travel to Chicago for a little research on Obama? Ann Coulter writes, “For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president.” She has a good point, but our attitude needs to be to support and pray for those God has in leadership, asking Him for their salvation and especially to bring America back to what our Founding Fathers intended…or is it too late? Is this the great decline of faith, family, and moral culture?
WHO ELSE FEELS LIKE SHOUTING, “I’m mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!”? We cannot expect the Republican party to help or to even win the next election. So what have conservatives learned and what do we need to do? I BELIEVE WE ABSOLUTELY MUST: pick ourselves up from this devastating loss, (yes I believe Obama's presidency will weaken America), and go back to the basics of true conservatism. As Christians we need to continue being salt and light in our communities, submit to the authority of Christ first and America second, stay on course and keep fighting the good fight by working harder to give the unborn a voice/standing for life, prove that faith, family & marriage are the cornerstones of American culture no matter what San Francisco, Hollywood, and the Northeast tell us, fight INJUSTICE and hypocrisy in the media as well as in Washington politics, develop cyber-roots conservative organizations to rival the power of groups like MoveOn.org, find out how to strengthen the church, encourage Pastors to preach the un-watered down Word of God so there is more Holy Spirit conviction, seek accountability and unity in the church while encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ, and provide opportunities for both youth & adults to get more informed and involved in culture and political issues. I'm always open to your thoughts. Thanks for reading and caring about the future of America. God bless you as you seek Him first and trust Him completely. He isn't worried, and there IS a plan and purpose!
It’s nonstop campaign mode and PR for the most image conscious and overexposed President in US history. Another day, another magazine cover or two for the administration. Newsweek has Joe Biden on the cover proclaiming, “Why Joe Biden is no Joke”. They’ve featured Obama many times, and Time magazine has had him on the cover over 15 times already. My Mom canceled her subscription. Obama is also on this month’s issue of Men’s Health - his second or third cover. I canceled my subscription the first time. That was not a typo, a polarizing political figure is currently featured on Men’s Health. I guess puppet master David Axelrod will take what he can get, but you’d think with all the cheerleading and positive publicity that Obama can do no wrong, but that’s only if you’re uninformed, uneducated, or watch the main three networks, CNN, or MessNBC. The NY Times puts out 80% positive stories about him as it continues to decrease in circulation. These “news” organizations have the right to print or broadcast whatever they want and they’ll continue to do the president’s bidding. Free speech. But the White house is now banning Fox News, the biggest, most successful, powerful, and highest rated network in the world, not allowing anyone from the administration to be interviewed by Fox. This strategy may backfire on them. Other media outlets in America are either too scared to report the whole truth or they’ve been bought out by rich, corrupt people who influence programming in order to promote their extreme agenda.
Europe’s newspapers don’t have that problem and are increasingly more critical of the Obama administration. Last week, the UK’s Telegraph outlined 10 pledges Obama made on the campaign trail that he has already broken as president. Heck, even liberal Saturday Night Live is using their platform to remind the president that he needs to stay to the left and follow through on his promises. Right now, campaigner in chief, President Obama must decide instead of talk about Afghanistan, or we risk losing what he has described as the "central front" in our battle against al Qaeda. Charles Krauthammer writes, “Obama's handpicked commander requested on Aug. 30 -- a surge of 30,000 to 40,000 troops to stabilize a downward spiral and save Afghanistan the way a similar surge saved Iraq. That was more than five weeks ago. Still no response. Obama agonizes publicly as the world watches. Why? Because, explains national security adviser James Jones, you don't commit troops before you decide on a strategy. No strategy? On March 27, flanked by his secretaries of defense and state, the president said this: ‘Today I'm announcing a comprehensive new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.’" What sickens me almost as much is the apathy and ignorance of many Americans, even those in the church who fell for the sugary rhetoric during the campaign last year. Halloween season is full of scary stuff and the 43% of voters who recently said they’d reelect President Obama is hard for me to believe. Take the next left, America has changed.
But some of us are not backing down. Faye Parrish said, “When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office. You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold. You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy. We have noticed all these things. We will deal with you.” So why shouldn’t you and I speak up? I resolve to be undaunted in standing up for what I believe in and will speak to whoever will listen. Millions of others around the country are taking this battle seriously. Will you join us? I’m concerned about America, the church, and the radical direction the Obama administration is taking us. I loathe the media’s lack of integrity, journalistic standards, and lack of honest, unbiased news reporting. I see limitless double standards and hypocrisy in government and I’m not just going to sit around and hope for the best. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” I used to think others with louder voices were supposed to get involved but that was then. There’s an eternal, spiritual battle for souls going on and there’s a physical battle for freedom in America. Our founders fought for it, great patriots before us fought for it, every solider in every conflict defended it. I admit I’m an optimist, but believe that together we can bring back Christian and conservative morals, values and influence. We need them in our homes, schools, at work, and maybe even in politics.
