A religion columnist and journalism professor says the mainstream media's coverage of the fire that gutted Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's home church has been thin, but it's hard to say exactly why it's been underplayed.
Investigators say the fire that destroyed Wasilla Bible Church in Alaska on December 12 was likely the work of an arsonist, but the mainstream news media, with the exception of TheAssociated Press, has largely ignored the story.
Terry Mattingly is the editor of the website GetReligion.org, a Scripps Howard columnist, and director of the Washington Journalism Center. He says because the fire occurred in a remote area, major networks may not want to fly reporters in from Los Angeles, Washington, or New York. Mattingly believes a regional bias could be at play, but adds that he has no doubt that if a fire occurred at the church of a socially accepted victim group, the coverage would have been more extensive.
"To give you an example: right now in a parallel case down in California, we have demonstrations and some vandalism and stuff at Mormon churches....We're beginning to see some coverage of that," he points out. "Yet I think that if you had some sort of corresponding mirror image situation, say, conservative crowds that were doing vandalism and picketing, say, a congregation in the gay-friendly Metropolitan Community Church, you'd be seeing that on page one of the Los Angeles Times."
Mattingly contends news outlets need to probe whether the fire at Palin's church was a hate crime, considering an Alaska statute "criminalizes destruction of real or personal property belonging to religious or charitable organizations."
AP's report says an accelerant -- possible gasoline -- was poured around the exterior of the church and the fire was set near the entrance. A small group of people, including two children, was inside. No one was injured in the blaze.
As we reported last night, Al Franken’s campaign is optimistic about its chances of winning the recount.
And for the first time, Franken has taken the lead over Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) — currently by 78 votes. This wasn’t unexpected: Franken has been steadily gaining votes as the state’s Canvassing Board continues to rule on Coleman’s challenges.
The count doesn’t include the approximately 5,000 challenges that were withdrawn from both campaigns, which means the lead could still change hands. Franken withdrew about 400 more challenges than Coleman, and those aren’t reflected in the count.
But Franken’s campaign has had more success with its challenges so far, which is helping him in the recount. Coleman has only netted 24 votes from his 564 challenges (4 percent success rate), while Franken gained 68 votes from his 414 challenges (16 percent success rate).
ALSO: With the recount expected to last into next year, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is looking into whether he will need to appoint a senator to temporarily fill the seat, according to CNN. The Senate swears in members of the upcoming Congress on Jan. 6, and the winner may not be determined by then.
Franken Takes Lead in Minnesota Recount for the First Time
Democrat Al Franken has taken the lead over Sen. Norm Coleman in the Minnesota Senate race recount, but that could change as a board reviews challenges.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Democrat Al Franken edged ahead of Republican incumbent Norm Coleman on Friday for the first time in Minnesota’s long-running U.S. Senate recount.
Franken opened up a slight lead on the fourth day of a state Canvassing Board meeting to decide the fate of hundreds of disputed ballots.
The change was notable because Coleman led Franken in election night returns and also held a 188-vote lead before the board took up challenged ballots. But its significance was limited, with the possibility the lead could change again before the long recount ends.
The board had several hundred remaining challenges to resolve, with a goal of doing so by Friday. Both Coleman and Franken are also waiting to see how much they gain from some 5,000 challenges that they withdrew, and the board won’t allocate those until Monday.
The outcome of the recount also depends on an estimated 1,600 absentee ballots that were improperly rejected. The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that those ballots must be counted, and set a Dec. 31 deadline for counties to work with the candidates to identify and count them.
The high court ruling virtually guaranteed that the recount would sprawl into the new year. With Congress set to convene Jan. 6, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said his staff was researching the possibility of a temporary appointment.
But Pawlenty said it was unlikely he would do so because he expected the recount would be resolved by then.
The ballot that put Franken in the lead came from Rochester, where a voter’s mark for Franken filled not just his oval but a good chunk of territory next to it. A challenge from the Coleman campaign was rejected.
Before the five-member canvassing board began reviewing challenges Friday, it rejected a request from the Coleman campaign to disqualify hundreds of ballots that the campaign argued were duplicates and had been counted twice.
G. Barry Anderson, a Supreme Court justice serving on the board, said the issue was not the board’s to decide.
“While I think there is a serious issue here, the location, extent and remedy lie elsewhere,” Anderson said.
And while this is going on, CONgress thieves have voted themselves a pay raise. WARNING: Graphic pictures and language. Also at Pat Dollards.
From the Desk of: Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance
12/19/2008
Ed,
On the day following the Official Ramos and Compean Day of support, Ron De Jong received a phone call from one of our Capitol contacts saying there was a "heavy volume of phone calls and faxes for Ramos and Compean."
While I'm indeed grateful for such a tremendous outpouring of support, both of these men remain in solitary confinement-- away from their families as we enter the most blessed time of the year.
One Day Isn't Enough
Giving these former agents one "official" day of support simply isn't enough. We need to do more. In fact, we need to keep pressing until they are returned to their families...
Ed, I'm urging EVERY member of our 1.5 million strong team to continue calling the White House and the Office of the Pardon Attorney, as well as your two Senators right through to President Bush's last day in office.
In fact, if you haven't yet scheduled your personalized faxes, do so by clicking here:
If you would prefer to send the faxes yourself, we have provided all the information you need (including fax numbers) at this special FaxFire site. Whatever method you choose, it is vital that you do something to help. Thank you!
We simply must keep up the pressure, and taking 5 minutes out of our day to call once or twice a week does make an impact.
Here are the contact numbers that you need:
White House: 202-456-1111, Office of the Pardon Attorney: 202-616-6070
Sen. Lugar 202-224-4814 Sen. Bayh 202-224-5623
Remember, when calling be polite in your demands that their lengthy prison sentences be commutated.
Alert Your Friends
This terrible story is an American tragedy, and as such I want as many American citizens to know who Ramos and Compean are.
I want them to know how these two men put their lives on the line for us. And finally, I want them to know how much they need us to step up for them in their hour of need.
Please forward this message to 20-25 friends--encouraging them to stand with you on behalf of Ramos and Compean by calling the numbers above, and scheduling personal faxes by clicking below:
We need to continue to press for their freedom--right to the end. Please commit with me to call a couple of times each week on behalf of Ramos and Compean.
Thanks for standing with Grassfire.
Steve
P.S: To write Jose Compean or Nacho Ramos, see below:
Ignacio Ramos #58079-180 FCI Phoenix Federal Correctional Institution 37910 N. 45th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85086
Jose Compean #58080180 FCI Elkton PO Box 10 Lisbon, OH 44432
Please take a moment and say a prayer for my wife Annie. She fell on the ice early this morning and broke her ankle.
Unfortunately, when she fell, she couldn't get herself up and I was still asleep in the back of the house. She had to lay on the cold ground for almost 30 minutes before someone heard her yelling for help.
After spending almost 4 hours in the emergency room, she came home with a boot on her right leg and we have to take her to an orthopedic surgeon in the next 72 hours to see if she is going to need surgery on her ankle. She is drugged up with pain meds and has her leg propped up while she is laying on the couch.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Undercover footage from a second Indiana Planned Parenthood clinic shows an emerging pattern of abuse, as more clinic counselors evade their legal responsibility to report the statutory rape of young girls. The new footage is the second video in Live Action Film’s “Mona Lisa Project,” a series of investigations documenting how secret abortions keep young girls trapped in cycles of sexual abuse.
In the video, shot undercover this summer at a Planned Parenthood in Indianapolis, two employees state they “don’t care” about the age difference between a 31-year-old man and the 13-year-old girl he was reported to have impregnated. A previously released video shot at a Bloomington Planned Parenthood showed similar results. Neither the Bloomington nor Indianapolis clinics reported the rape and both clinics counseled the 13-year-old to obtain a secret abortion across state lines where no parental consent laws applied.
At both clinics, Lila Rose, student journalist and president of Live Action, enters posing as a 13-year-old girl and discloses she is pregnant by a 31-year-old man. The Indianapolis staffer states, “We don’t really care about who, what, the age of the boyfriend.” She then sends Rose to a counselor, who after hearing about the 31-year-old also states, “I don’t care how old he is.” When Rose tells the counselor that her mother would be upset about the 31-year-old boyfriend, the counselor informs Rose that “the surrounding states don’t have parental consent. I can’t tell you anymore.”
In Bloomington, the nurse declares, “I don’t want to know how old he is” and instructs Rose to travel to an Illinois Planned Parenthood and say her 31-year-old boyfriend is only fourteen. Although the Bloomington clinic fired its nurse, Rose says this is not an isolated incident. “We have more videos documenting this pattern of law-breaking within Planned Parenthood. There are actual cases all across the country where their failure to follow state statutes has allowed predators to continue their sexual abuse of young girls.”
On Monday, Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter launched an investigation of Planned Parenthood in response to the Bloomington footage. Indiana State Representative Jackie Walorski and right-to-life advocacy groups including American Life League publicly called for the investigation. In 2005, the Attorney General also sought the records of 84 Planned Parenthood patients under the age of fourteen who may have been victims of sexual abuse, but Planned Parenthood sued to prevent their release.’
Rose commends the Attorney General’s efforts. “We applaud Mr. Carter’s integrity and urge him to conduct a thorough and complete investigation, despite any political attacks Planned Parenthood may attempt against him personally or his office.”
Rose challenges Planned Parenthood to cooperate. “Planned Parenthood must release files they have previously sued to keep private and allow state authorities to conduct a complete investigation.” She adds, “Mandatory reporting laws are necessary for the protection of young girls, and Planned Parenthood must not be allowed to sabotage them.”
Last night (Monday), Do The Right Thing Radio was an exciting show.We announced the Big Troops Christmas Extravaganza Show on Monday, December 22, 2008 in conjunction with Chandler's Watch & Buffman and Wrench Show.
Do The Right Thing Radio will host with these other 2 fine shows to honor our troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.Troops will be asked to send a message to http://www.blogger.com/christmas4troops@yahoo.com and then hopefully we will be able to read it on air.
Special guests will also be included, like Victoria Jackson from SNL, Dr. Danger(the stuntman), David Naster, Rumblejetts, Sly Dogs, Soldiers Angels and others. Yes they will participate in the troops show.
Awesome night was had on this show, we did a lot of praying from pray requests too.
We should have a Press Release from Knottie, who is helping out in a huge way, later today.
A detail of the "Old Testament" Gutenberg Bibles is photographed at the Morgan Library and Museum Monday, May 19, 2008 in New York. For the first time in more than a decade, the Morgan Library and Museum will exhibit all three of its Gutenberg Bibles, the largest number of copies in any single collection. the exhibit opens to the public May 20, 2008 and runs through Sept. 28, 2008.Photo credit: AP via Daylife
In Maryland: A Bible Club for children is prohibited from handing out meeting notices to students. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the prohibition a violation of free speech. Much like the Missouri case profiled below, according to school policy, the Bible Club need only request to distribute their materials. The school took the position that a "third party" needed to approve the request, like the PTA, any sports team...or any government agency. The Bible Club is allowed to meet after school on school property, but is not allowed to notify parents of meeting dates. Decision of the second appeal is pending.
In Los Angeles: A police sergeant was denied promotions (9 times the sergeant claims) and demoted because he quoted scripture on off-duty hours. His lawsuit alleges that this is common practice for the LAPD. The sergeant, when off-duty, is a senior pastor. At the request of an officer's family, he conducted funeral services for the officer, and he quoted Corinthians 6, which mentions the "unrighteous:" fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminates, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners. The officer was in civilian clothing, off-duty and "in a church outside the city."The objection of the LAPD seemed to be the reference to the "effeminates."
In Missouri: A judge ruled that Bibles cannot be handed out to students who want them, but the Koran can be. Here's the rest of the story:
The Gideons, the oldest Christian business and "professional mens association in the U.S. is prohibited from distributing free and unsolicited Bibles to students who want them in Missouri.
The South Iron School District's policy is that outside literature by "various groups under set rules, irrespective of whether the literature is secular or religious" is allowed, and this policy includes accepting materials from atheisits, communists, gay rights, etc.," if a group so requests.
Judge Catherine Perry [in a trial court ruling] issued an order specifically prohibiting distribution of the Bible, and the Bible alone, after calling it an "instrument of religion."
She said the district's neutral treatment of literature is unacceptable, because it actually would allow the distribution of the Bible.
Matthew Starver argued the case before the 8th circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, on behalf of the school district.
The veto power, the judge wrote, must be provided to veto religious, but not secular, literature.
According to Starver, Perry's ruling legislated that a "private third party (like the ACLU)" had the right to veto the distribution request of the private applicant (in this case, the Gideons).
Staver said the Constitution simply doesn't allow the Bible to be singled out, like contraband, for special penalties.
How ironic [Starver said] that in America, until recent times, the Bible formed the basis of education, and now its mere presence is radioactive in the opinion of some judges," he said. "The Founders never envisioned such open hostility toward the Christian religion as we see today in some venues. To single out the Bible alone for discriminatory treatment harkens back to the Dark Ages. America deserves better.
Our Constitution should be respected, not disregarded.
The Quran is OK, and other kinds of religious texts; just not the Bible. The Bible alone is impermissible in the public school," he said.
The ACLU initiated the challenge in 2006. According to Starver, a decision is not expected for about two months.
Truth is relative in the Middle East, even more so when the truth might be inconvenient to the foreign policy objectives of the Western or Arab ruling powers. ANd the truth is completely irrelevant when it runs counter to the agenda of one of the Big Media corporations.
Diogones the Cynic is the ancient Greek who wandered around the Greek city-state of Corinth with a lamp looking for an honest man. My belief is that he could use a halogen lamp and a Maseratti today and still be unsuccessful in the attempt.
In reading an article in yesterdays (12-14-08) Jeruslaem Post by Barry Rubin, that point was again made clear.Reading the article linked will be informative.
One partial quote is from Himam as-Sa'id the leader of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood. Posted at IMRA, (Middle East Media Research Institute) and the Independent Media Review Analysis website , below is more from that speech.
Sheik Himam Sa'id, Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan: "Oh noble Gaza, raise your head high. You have made the Muslims raise their heads high. And you, people of Hebron - you are now waging a war against the Jews. You are well-versed in this. We saw how, on a day in 1929, you slaughtered the Jews in Hebron. Today, slaughter them on the land of Hebron. Kill them in Palestine. Arise, oh people of Palestine, all the people of Palestine - arise in defense of your Al-Aqsa Mosque, arise in defense of Nablus and Hebron. Arise and face the [PA] Preventive Security forces. Fear them not, for they are rabbits. They are wolves, so fear them not, oh lions. Those are the words from the leader of a group the New York Times described as "The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood" From the NYT article:.........critics speculate that the Brotherhood helps radicalize Muslims in both the Middle East and Europe. But in fact, it appears that the Ikhwan works to dissuade Muslims from violence, instead channeling them into politics and charitable activities.
Moderate? The only moderate in that is the moderate mental derangment of the NYT authors Robert S. Leiken and Steven Brooke in the April 23, 2007 article.
Then again from the J'lem Post article, Rubin mentions Palestinian Authority Ambassador to Lebanon Abbas Zaki. Another gentleman many in the West have cozied up to. Again from the IMRA / MEMRI website Abbas Zaki: We consider the U.S. to be an enemy because its only strategic alliance is with Israel. Interviewer: How could you possibly accept your enemy in your land? Abbas Zaki: What do you mean? We meet even with Israel. Interviewer: How can you consider Israel to be your enemy, if you signed a peace treaty with it? Abbas Zaki: Allow me... This enemy... If I had the capabilities of the U.S. - would I be fighting it or negotiating with it? Interviewer: Israel ceased being an enemy once you signed a peace treaty with it. I don't know how it could be your enemy. Do you talk to the Israelis as if they were your enemies? Do you talk to Israel as a friendly or enemy country? Abbas Zaki: An enemy country, which owes us certain things. The heroic Vietnamese used to negotiate with the French, while they were slaughtering them. These are the 'people' against which we struggle, and the unwitting (in some cases) support given by Western media should be and would have been in the past, found to be aiding and abetting a known enemy. A crime which would land the perpetrator in a federal penitentary or against a wall.
In closing I will suggest that there are simply no honest men (or women) left in government, and as for Diogenes, the only evidence I see of his successors are those who are involved with citizen journalism on the internet. Those in Big Media have no interest in truth or even "The Story" Everywhere I look, the "news" and "reporting" is being skewed to further an agenda.
Big Media is failing at it's job and in the marketplace. Time for them to roll up their tent and go home.
From the Desk of: Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance
+ + Urgent Immigration Update ++
12/15/2008
Dear Ed,
With the appointment of Cecilia Munoz, an 18-year veteran of the National council of La Raza, and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who opposes the border fence, it's painfully obvious where Obama wants to steer the immigration debate...
How can someone who worked for an organization whosesole purpose was to systematically dismantle border enforcement and undermine the immigration system, suddenly represent the broader national interest?
Ed, the answer is, it can't be done!
With these appointments, Obama is tipping his hand andsending a message to Americans who want real border security that it simply isn't going to happen on his watch.
Instead, we anticipate he will move quickly to press for comprehensivereform that throws open the doors to millions of illegals!
And who will pay for the influx of illegals during thesechallenging economic times? You and me, of course.
Ed, to beat back this anticipated immigration storm, I need to know you're standing with me and hundreds of thousands of other Americans who want our borders secured.
Please take a moment right now to QUICK SIGN our petition RESISTING Obama's coming comprehensive immigration plan that will swing wide the door for more illegals to enter our nation.
Ed, we understand everyone is busy--especially nowduring the Holiday Season. That's why our QUICK SIGN feature is so popular--allowing you to join the resistance in less than 10 seconds!
Again, with his appointments, it is obvious what Obama has in storefor us regarding immigration. Our only hope to amass a grassroots coalition of citizens who will RESIST yet another attempt to tear down our borders!
Thank you for your quick response.
Steve
P.S: We've reached a critical phase, and we must get our message out to as many citizens as possible. Ed, you've been an ardent supporter of border security, and I'm counting on you to once again lead the charge. After signing, please forward this message to 25-30 friends--urging them to click below and join the RESISTANCE against Obama's progressive immigration policies. http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?u=14443&RID=14997504#J1
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + Grassfire.org Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)4 issues advocacy organization dedicated to equipping our 1.5 million-strong network of grassroots conservatives with the tools that give you a real impact on the key issues of our day. Gifts to Grassfire.org are not tax deductible.
O Cyber Pastor --- what did you do to the comments???? Well, I'm not sure. Some are going to Haloscan and some are arriving by email from Intense Debate. So while I figure out what the heck I did to make that happen, I will copy and paste the Intense Debate comments here for your reading pleasure!
Thought I would share a new picture which my wife took while we were in DC.
Note: This contains more Bush Derangement Syndrome nonsense, reference "The Attack of The Killer Tomatoes."
I have no doubt that Bush is responsible for the blown tire on my motorcycle in 1986 and likely responsible for the broken thumb I suffered in 1977 as well.
Dean
BMI's collection of outrageous economic bias for the entire year: From the salmonella outbreak to the media's call for a new, New Deal.
1977: President. Jimmy Carter signs into Law the Community Reinvestment Act the foundation and cornerstone for the impending disaster.. The law pressured financial institutions to extend home loans to those who would otherwise not qualify .
The publicized premise: Home ownership would improve poor and crime-ridden communities and neighborhoods in terms of crime, investment, jobs, etc.
The Results: Statistics bear out that it did not help.
How did the government get so deeply involved in the housing market?
Answer: Bill Clinton wanted it that way.
1992: Republican representative Jim Leach (IO) warned of the danger that Fannie and Freddie were changing from being agencies of the public at large to money machines for the principals and the stock-holding few.
1993: Clinton extensively rewrote Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's rules turning the quasi-private mortgage-funding firms into semi -nationalized monopolies dispensing cash and loans to large Democratic voting blocks and handing favors, jobs and contributions to political allies . This potent mix led inevitably to corruption and now the collapse of Freddie and Fannie.
1994: Despite warnings, Clinton unveiled his National Home-Ownership Strategy, which broadened the CRA in ways congress never intended.
1995: Congress, about to change from a Democrat majority to Republican. Clinton orders Robert Rubin's Treasury Dept to rewrite the rules. Robert. Rubin's Treasury reworked rules, forcing banks to satisfy quotas for sub-prime and minority loans to get a satisfactory CRA rating. The rating was key to expansion or mergers for banks. Loans began to be made on the basis of race and little else.
1997 - 1999: Clinton, bypassing Republicans in Congress, enlisted Andrew Cuomo, then Secretary of Housing and Urban Development elopement, allowing Freddie and Fannie to get into the sub-prime market in a BIG way. Led by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, congress doubled down on the risk by easing capital limits and allowing them to hold just 2.5% of capital to back their investments vs. 10% for banks Since they could borrow at lower rates than banks their enterprises boomed.
With incentives in place, banks poured billions in loans into poor communities, often "no doc", "no income", requiring no money down and no verification of income. Worse still was the cronyism: Fannie and Freddie became home to out-of work-politicians, mostly Clinton Democrats. 384 politicians got big campaign donations from Fannie and Freddie. Over $200 million had been spent on lobbying and political activities. During the 1990's Fannie and Freddie enjoyed a subsidy of as much as $182 Billion , most of it going to principals and shareholders, not poor borrowers as claimed.
Did it work? Minorities made up 49% of the 12.5 million new homeowners but many of those loans have gone bad and the minority home ownership rates are shrinking fast.
1999: New Treasury Secretary, Lawrence Summers, became alarmed at Fannie and Freddie's excesses. Congress held hearings the ensuing year but nothing was done because Fannie and Freddie had donated millions to key congressmen and radical groups, ensuring no meaningful changes would take place. "We manage our political risk with the same intensity that we manage our credit and interest rate risks," Fannie CEO Franklin Raines, a former Clinton official and current Barack Obama advisor, bragged to investors in 1999.
2000: Secretary Summers sent Undersecretary Gary Gensler to Congress seeking an end to the "special status". Democrats raised a ruckus as did Fannie and Freddie, headed by politically connected CEO's who knew how to reward and punish. "We think that the statements evidence a contempt for the nation's housing and mortgage markets" Freddie spokesperson Sharon McHale said. It was the last chance during the Clinton era for reform.
2001: Republicans try repeatedly to bring fiscal sanity to Fannie and Freddie but Democrats blocked any attempt at reform; especially Rep. Barney Frank and Sen.Chris Dodd who now run key banking committees and were huge beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the mortgage giants.
2003: Bush proposes what the NY Times called "the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago". Even after discovering a scheme by Fannie and Freddie to overstate earnings by $10.6 billion to boost their bonuses, the Democrats killed reform.
2005: Then Fed chairman Alan Greenspan warns Congress: "We are placing the total financial system at substantial risk". Sen. McCain, with two others, sponsored a Fannie/Freddie reform bill and said, "If congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole". Sen. Harry Reid accused the GOP ;of trying to "cripple the ability of Fannie and Freddie to carry out their mission of expanding home ownership" The bill went nowhere.
2007: By now Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee over HALF of the $12 trillion US mortgage market. The mortgage giants, whose executive suites were top-heavy with former Democratic officials, had been working with Wall St. to repackage the bad loans and sell them to investors. As the housing market fell in '07, subprime mortgage portfolios suffered major losses. The crisis was on , though it was 15 years in the making.
2008: McCain has repeatedly called for reforming the behemoths, Bush urged reform 17 times . Still the media have repeated Democrats' talking points about this being a "Republican" disaster. A few Republicans are complicit but Fannie and Freddie were created by Democrats, regulated by Democrats, largely run by Democrats and protected by Democrats. That's why taxpayers are now being asked for $700 billion!!
If you doubt any of this, just click the links below and listen to your lawmakers' own words. They are condemning!
Postscript: ACORN is one of the principle beneficiaries of Fannie/ Freddie's slush funds. They are currently under indictment or investigation in many states. Barack Obama served as their legal counsel, defending their activities for several years.
The financial crisis we are currently witnessing was manufactured and supported by Democrats. Fabricated by Democrats to do what? Think about it and remember my words.
Old news you say? Perhaps, but it bears repeating until this "ship of fools" we are on gets it.
A post by Lynn Stuter worth a read;
THAT DÉJÀ VU FEELING
December 2, 2008
NewsWithViews.com
An estimated 67,000,000 Americans, we are told, voted for Barack Hussein Obama on November 4, 2008. A landslide we are told; a mandate for change we are told.
The total population of the United States, according to the 2008 U.S. Census bureau estimates, is approximately 306,000,000. When we compare the number of votes for Obama to the total population, the percent who voted for Obama is 21.9%; hardly a mandate for change; certainly not a mandate for change of the type Comrade Obama has in mind.
[Note: When I wrote this article, I made an error which has been brought to my attention. While the total population is 306,000,000, this figure includes everyone, of all ages. This, of course, overstates the voting population. Using this document put out by the US Census Bureau, averaging the % increase in voting population over the past five election years, 1998 through 2006, the estimated population eligible to vote in 2008 would be approximately 226,300,000 people. This would change the percent who voted for Obama from 21.9% to 29.6%; still hardly a mandate for change.]
In total, an estimated 130,000,000 Americans voted; 42.5% of the total population; more an indication of the apathy that leads to the loss of freedom and destruction of any nation.
Barack Hussein Obama is now, at every opportunity, appearing before the cameras from behind a podium on which appears a sign, “The Office of President-Elect.”
Never heard of the Office of President-Elect before; must be something new. The truth is that this is just another ploy to make Americans believe the election is over. It is far from over.
Barack Hussein Obama does not become President-Elect Obama until the Electoral College meets and votes on December 15, 2008.
More and more Americans are becoming concerned by the fact that Barack Hussein Obama may not be eligible to the office of president. More and more articles are appearing on internet sites concerning this issue. While the mainstream media continually and erroneously refers to the fraudulent document released by the Obama camp as a “birth certificate” and tries to play down the growing concerns with fluff pieces like the one done by Pete Williams of NBC, the fact still remains that Obama has yet to prove his eligibility. Causing further concern is a Hawaiian law that allows for the issuing of birth certificates to individuals who are foreign nationals:
[§338-17.8] Certificates for children born out of State. (a) Upon application of an adult or the legal parents of a minor child, the director of health shall issue a birth certificate for such adult or minor, provided that proof has been submitted to the director of health that the legal parents of such individual while living without the Territory or State of Hawaii had declared the Territory or State of Hawaii as their legal residence for at least one year immediately preceding the birth or adoption of such child.
On October 31, 2008, Dr Chiyome Fukino, Department of Health, Hawaii, issued a press release in which she stated, in part:
Therefore, I as Director of Health for the State of Hawai‘i, along with the Registrar of Vital Statistics who has statutory authority to oversee and maintain these type of vital records, have personally seen and verified that the Hawai‘i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures.
On October 31, 2008, the Associated Press reported the following:
Health Department Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said Friday she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama's original birth certificate.
Notice that neither the actual press release nor the Associated Press article state that Obama was born in Hawaii or that he is an American by birth; both items were left to the reader to assume: if there is a birth certificate on file with the State of Hawaii then Obama must be a natural born citizen. That, however, is not an assumption that should be made, considering §338-17.8 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
After my last article, I received a couple of responses that bear mention. One response stated the FBI has a file on Barack Obama that proves he is not an American citizen; the other stated that an individual employed by the Hawaii Department of Health came forward, after the “non-answer” press release of Dr Chiyome Fukino, and stated that there were two pieces of paper in the file holding Obama’s birth certificate; that the second piece of paper states Obama was born in Kenya. It is doubtful the FBI would be willing to turn over their file on Obama; and thus far the State of Hawaii has steadfastly refused to give audience to Obama’s vault copy Hawaii birth certificate. Thus neither claim can be substantiated.
New rules published in the Federal Register would allow certain civilians to call American soldiers into action inside the U.S. to prevent environmental damage or respond to “special events” and “other domestic activities.”
The alarming warning is contained in proposed rules published last week for the Department of Defense’s “Defense Support of Civil Authorities” plan.
Under the U.S. Constitution, soldiers inside the country essentially are tasked with the responsibility of quelling “insurrections” and repelling invasions as well as making sure each state has access to the republican form of government.
But the new rules go far beyond that, essentially establishing a plan to activate the U.S. military inside the country to deal with social issues under provisions that appear to be devoid of any connection to the Constitution, according to an expert.
“I think the thing that’s of concern with respect to this set of rules is it appears to have no constitutional foundation, no reference whatsoever of any constitutional structure. It’s totally missing,” said Herb Titus, a onetime candidate for vice president for the Constitution Party and a longtime constitutional professor.
Herb Titus
Titus, whose biography includes teaching at five different American Bar Association-approved law schools and service as founding dean of the College of Law and Government at Regent University, reviewed the federal proposal at WND’s request.
The multi-page plan is to establish policies and assign responsibilities “regarding military support for civilian law enforcement.”
“Who Killed the Constitution?” Here’s a dirty little secret: The bedrock of our country is … dead
The plan states, “This proposed rule will allow civil authorities access to the correct procedures when they are seeking assistance from the Department by establishing updated policy guidance and assigning the correct responsibilities within the Department for the Defense for support of civil authorities in response to requests for assistance for domestic emergencies, designated law enforcement support, special events, and other domestic activities.
Titus, who has testified before Congress on constitutional issues and is authorized to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and a long list of federal court districts, said, “All of this is based on the assumption that government was created for the purpose of preventing things from happening in our lives.”
A plain reading of the law, he said, would allow drastically different actions than what Americans probably expect.
“Instead of prosecuting somebody charged with murder, we should profile people who are likely to commit murder, round them up and prevent them from endangering lives,” he said, citing the plan’s apparent permission for the government to restrain liberties when there is concern about potential damages or injury.
A contact at the Department of Defense did not return a WND call requesting comment on the proposal.
But the plan itself says the person calling for soldiers’ actions could be either a military official or civilian leader. And it renews questions about Barack Obama’s stated plans for a National Civilian Security Force that is at least as powerful and well-funded as the U.S. military.
Even Obama’s new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, says there will be a mandatory “force” for Americans.
“If you’re worried about, are you going to have to do 50 jumping jacks, the answer is yes,” Emanuel told a reporter who was podcasting for the New York Daily News.
WND also reported when the official website for Obama, Change.gov, announced he would “require” all middle school through college students to participate in community service programs.
That proposal, however, was changed suddenly after a flurry of blogs protested children being drafted into Obama’s proposal. The new wording reads, “President-Elect Obama will expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps and will create a new Classroom Corps to help teachers in under served schools, as well as a new Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, and Veterans Corps.
WND previously reported on a video of a marching squad of Obama youth.
Obama, meanwhile, also has yet to clarify what he meant during his July “Call to Service” speech in Colorado Springs in which he insisted the U.S. “cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set” and needs a “civilian national security force.”
A video of his comments is here:
Joseph Farah, founder and editor of WND, used his daily column first to raise the issue and then to elevate it with a call to all reporters to start asking questions about it.
“If we’re going to create some kind of national police force as big, powerful and well-funded as our combined U.S. military forces, isn’t this rather a big deal?” Farah wrote. “I thought Democrats generally believed the U.S. spent too much on the military. How is it possible their candidate is seeking to create some kind of massive but secret national police force that will be even bigger than the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force put together?
“Is Obama serious about creating some kind of domestic security force bigger and more expensive than that? If not, why did he say it? What did he mean?” Farah wrote.
The Obama campaign has declined to respond to WND questions on the issue.
The newly proposed Department of Defense rules leave a virtually wide open door for what could be cited as a reason for military intervention.
It defines “Imminently Serious Conditions” as “Emergency conditions in which, in the judgment of a military commander or responsible DoD civilian official, immediate and possibly serious danger threatens the public and prompt action is needed to save lives, to safeguard public health or safety, or to prevent or mitigate great property or environmental damage.”
Repeatedly the rules cite “special events.”
“Special event support to non-governmental organizations is a DSCA activity,” it states under policy issues.
That, Titus contemplated, could even be a Democratic National Convention in Denver.
He said it’s important to keep the foundations of the nation in mind and that many of the principles of justice and government for America were derived from the pulpits of the 1700s.
“If you go back and look at Romans 13, the civil government was authorized to punish evil doing, not to prevent it from happening,” Titus said.
The new proposal specifically states it applies to a “potential or actual domestic crisis” and even confirms that conditions not always will allow “prior authority” before “action is necessary for effective response.”
“All this is really designed to do is legitimize by rule essentially a broader discretionary power,” Titus said.
It also reverses the role of the boss, he said, because of the repeated references to a situation “manager.”
“It’s the image that’s being created. A manager. You’re supposed to do what the manager tells you. Contrast that with civil authorities who are our servants. They’re supposed to do what we want them to do,” he said.
Many state constitutions were specific in that area, he noted. Virginia’s, for example, declared that all powers derive from the people, and in Pennsylvania the constitution specifically reserved the right to regulate police to the people.
Although many would argue such military occupation of the U.S. would be reserved only for such “emergencies,” the Washington Post reported just a few days ago on plans by the U.S. military to have 20,000 uniformed troops stationed inside the U.S. by 2011.
The plan has been lauded by some in the Bush administration and Congress as a reasonable response to the threat of terrorism, despite concerns over how it would undermine the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that restricts the military’s role in domestic law enforcement.
At word of the plan, the ACLU warned of expansions in “presidential and military authority,” while the Cato Institute called it a case of “creeping militarization,” according to the Post.
Gene Healy, Cato vice president, told the newspaper, “There’s a notion that whenever there’s an important problem, that the thing to do is to call in the boys in green … and that’s at odds with our long-standing tradition of being wary of the use of standing armies to keep the peace.”
Bob Williams in Wesley Chapel, Florida sends 215 packages weekly to the military in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Kyrgyzstan - EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR - 215 packages stuffed with necessities and comfort items for our men an women in uniform, fighting the War on Terror.
According to Stars and Stripes, Mr. Williams served in the Navy in the 1960's. His sons now handle the family businesses, while he works for the troops, preparing the boxes destined for approximately 200 combat-zone bases.
The short story is that donations are needed to cover the postage. Mr. Williams and OurTroopsOnline.com spends approximately $8,000.00 a week in postage, from $20.00 to $45.00per package, depending on the contents. He always has packages ready to mail, but often lacks the necessary postage.
Much of what Williams sends are donations: baseball bats and gloves, games of all kinds, grips to put on the soles of boot, unending supplies of popcorn, and items for children in hospitals and orphanages - which the troops use to help gain the trust of the locals. All the usual foods and toiletries are either donated or purchased.
He receives thousands of email requests from troops and their families and friends, and much of those requests are paid for from his own pocket. Items like Q-tips, batteries, shampoo, feminine and personal hygiene items, and deodorant are constant requests. Williams will not say how much he personally spends but the website says it is significant.
Camouflage scarves are inscribed with messages to the troops by Florida school children and church groups. "The scarves are good for keeping dust and sand out of your nose and mouth," says Williams.
There are no expenses for this volunteer group. No one gets paid, there's no rent for a warehouse, no office space rent, and while I made two telephone calls to OurTroopsOnline to verify this information (a human actually answered both times - no option for a choice of language preference, and no need to leave a message), no one gets paid to answer the telephone - everyone is a volunteer.
OurTroopsOnline accepts cash or checks for postage. Make your check payable as follows:
Postmaster P.O. Box 7560 Wesley Chapel, FL 33545
If you live in the area and want to donate items for the boxes, call 813-991-9400 for a delivery address or contact Mr. Williams by email at sift@aol.com. If you are a business and have items the troops need or will enjoy, and can contribute once or on an ongoing basis, please contact Mr. Williams.
This is a year-round operation - it doesn't end in December. Put these people on your donation list throughout the year and know you are doing your part to make life a little more comfortable for our military in these combat zones.
From the creators of Facing the Giants and Flywheel comes Fireproof!
After seven years of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are prepared to enter divorce proceedings.But before they do, Caleb’s dad challenges him to a forty day experiment:The Love Dare.
Wary that this trial has everything to do with his parents’ new found faith, Caleb commits to the challenge.
Can Caleb love his wife while dodging God’s love for him?
Will he be able to demonstrate love to a person who constantly rejects his love?Or will he leave his most important partner behind?
Sorry it's been a couple of days since I last wrote. I've been EXTREMELY busy and also extremely tired!!! The Memorial Service was really nice. I have to say that the roll call they do is the absolute worst. For those of you who don't know what this is, they call out Rob's name 3 times. Of course, each time he doesn't answer. I'm not sure what the reasoning behind this is, but all the memorial services I've been to do this. It just makes it that much more real that he's gone. These past couple of days have been emotionally exhausting. The house, the service, and yesterday I got the Army Times and Rob's picture was under the section "Human Toll". Every week I got the paper, I'd always look at this to see how many soldiers were killed that week in Iraq and Afghanistan. To see Rob there, killed me. Then yesteray I spent all day with my Casualty Assistant Officer on Ft Hood going to different offices for benefit information. I was gone from 8am to 3:30pm. When I got back to the house, my friend who's a real estate agent was there and we got our house put on the market. I then had a couple of more friends stop by. Later I still had to pack up a few more things to take back with me to Nebraska. I took a bunch of Rob's t-shirts, jeans, dress shirts, and acu's. One of Rob's aunts said she would make a quilt from Rob's t-shirts and another friend said she knows someone who will make teddy bears out of his jeans, shirts, and acu's. I figure this would be great so we can still have his things near us without having to put them all in boxes or get rid of them. That's the hardest for me. Right now I can leave our house and come back to Nebraska. But when the house gets sold and I move into a new one, I have to figure out what to do with his things. I can't bear to get rid of them because it's part of HIM and there are so many memories. But I can't bear to look at them all the time either because the scab constantly gets torn off. Now that I'm back in Nebraska knowing that this will be my new reality, things are starting to set in. I MISS HIM SO MUCH. My world as I know it has turned upside down. My whole adult life I've only known the military. I've been married for 8 1/2 years with 2 small children. Rob was an amazing father and husband. He helped me so much. My family will be wonderful and will help me out with ANYTHING I need, but my best friend, husband, and father to my children is gone. And I have so many emotions running through me: sad, scared, angry, uncertain.... I just have to hold on strong to the fact that God will get us through this. I pray every night for Him to help me be the mother our girls need me to be to raise them solely on my own so they can grow up to be happy, confident, christian women. And what helps me so much is knowing how many family, friends, and perfect strangers are supporting the girls and I and giving me those words of encouragment. I know that we will never truly be alone. I thank God every night for all of you who are wrapping your arms around us. More than ever, I can't thank you enough.
Written by Dena Yllescas
Click on the link at the top of the post to go to the Yllescas Family Blog to send your comments directly to the family!
This blog contains the personal views of Ed Boston aka Cyber Pastor and other contributors specifically chosen by Cyber Pastor. The views contained on this blog site may not necessarily be the same as those of the many groups and organizations that Cyber Pastor is affiliated with.
Prayer List for our Troops
The memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
James - Basic Training
Kenneth - Basic Training
In Memory of Kevin's cousin -- Mike
CPT Kevin - recovering
Scott (Bottomlinefighter) - recovering from injuries
A religion columnist and journalism professor says the mainstream media's
has
Posts
