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The Gods of Liberalism Revisited

 

The lie hasn't changed, and we still fall for it as easily as ever.  But how can we escape the snare?

 

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Saturday, October 04, 2008

Video: Sarah Palin Rebukes Obama Association With Domestic Terrorist

Here it is, the video of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin earlier today in Colorado, rebuking Senator Barack Obama for his association with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers.

Ayers and his group of Weathermen bombed the U.S Capitol, the Pentagon and several other buildings, and on September 11, 2001 Ayers said

"I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."

In addition to laying this properly at the feet of Barack Obama--even though the "mainstream" media has tried very hard to ignore this for over a year--she also clearly laid out the difference in how conservatives see America, and how liberals like Barack Obama and Joe Biden (who said it is "patriotic" to pay higher taxes) see America:
This is not a man who sees America and you and I see America. We see America as a force for good in this world.

And
"Our opponent though is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough that he is palling around with terrorists who would target their own country"

It's a sad, bad truth. But it's the truth.

I can't for the life of me figure out how someone can rationally say they love this country (the country they want to lead), all the while attending a church where the pastor bashes the United States as a source of unrelenting evil, and working with and going to the house of a man unrepentant for bombing U.S. government buildings, and whose wife said that only recently, as her husband received the Democrat nomination for president, has for the first time been proud of her country.

Tell it, Sarah!


Palin Nails Obama for 'Palling Around With Terrorists'

I like this gal! I really like this gal! If John McCain had half the guts Sarah Palin does...well, anyway.

According to NewsMax, Republican vice presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin nailed Barack Obama for buddying up with terrorists while speaking to a group in Colorado today.

NewsMax says Palin

said Obama seems to see the U.S. as being so imperfect that, in her words, "he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."



Obama served on a charity board with Ayers in Chicago and has denounced his past activities.

The only problem is, Ayers has never denounced his own past activities (in fact, he said publicly that in planting bombs in the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and other government facilities, he "didn't do enough").

And yet Obmama still pals around with him.


Obama Youth Hail the Obamessiah

You must check out this video on some Obama Youth.

The allegedly impromptu video of kids singing sugarly to the Most Beneficent Lord Barack Obama, the Obamessiah, earlier this week was, well, like trying to drink a bottle of corn syrup. But this is even more creepy.

Kinda puts you in mind of another group of youth who were religiously, fanatically supportive of a certain charismatic leader. Not saying a certain charismatic leader of today is anything like being on the scale of this previous charismatic leader; just that some of the parallels with the mania surrounding him are.


Palin Admits She Was Annoyed During Couric Interview

In an interview with Fox News' Carl Cameron, Governor Sarah Palin said she was "a little annoyed" in her notorious interview with Katie Couric because

no matter what you say, you're going to get clobbered. If you choose to answer a question, you're going to get clobbered on the answer. If you choose to try to pivot and go on to another subject that you believe that Americans want to hear about, you get clobbered for that, too.

I couldn't have said it better.

I also imagine it would have been difficult to keep from giving Couric a piece of her mind, with that smarmy "you're such a stupid little child that I can barely tolerate" look on Couric's face through the whole interview.

I hope Palin is back to being herself again. She said in the debate that she wasn't going to play the "mainstream" media's games and was going to just talk to the American people

I hope she sticks with that. We don't need a Mensa member to run the country, but we do need a genuine person who has a solid moral center--and I believe Sarah Palin is all those things.



HT to Newsbusters.


Biden and Obama: Charity Cheapskates

The myth of liberal "compassion" has been roundly and soundly debunked in the past couple of years.

Conservatives routinely give more--far more--to charity than the liberals who spout "compassion, compassion" like rabid parrots.

Liberals are big on giving to others....when it involves someone elses money. Liberals are big on sending the government to take your money and give it to someone else (whether they deserve it or not), whether you want to or not. But when it comes to giving of their own...well, that's a different story.

Even the Most Beneficent One Lord Barack Obama, the #1 most liberal senator, was revealed a few months ago to be a charity cheapskate when it comes to giving.

According to the ABC News blog,

The Obamas' donations to all recipients totaled $2,350 in 2000, $1,470 in 2001, $1,050 in 2002, $3,400 in 2003, and $2,500 in 2004. They also paid federal taxes totaling $311,044 during the same period on their $1.2 million of income.

I made significantly less than $1.2 million in that same time frame, yet I gave more than the Obamas every single year in that period.

But at least Obama and Biden seem to be a good match for one another.

The Hill reports that last year the Palin's gave almost more than Obama's running mate Joe Biden did in the last 10 years. And in 2006, they did give more than Biden did in the last 10 years.
In 2006, the Palins paid $11,944 in taxes on $127,869 in income. In 2007, they paid $24,738 on $166,080.

But in 2006, they donated $4,880 to charity, and in 2007, they donated $3,325.

By contrast, Biden (D-Del.), Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's running mate, has donated a total of $3,690 since 1998 despite his higher Senate salary, according to an analysis posted by National Review.

Hmmm. At the risk of patting myself on the back too much and minimizing my "reward in Heaven," it looks like on my paltry income my family gave more to charity last year than Biden did in the last 10 years.

If liberals really believed in charity and compassion so much, why don't they abandon socialism and do it the Biblical way--where private individuals and groups help people in need?

If liberals really want to build up our country and help those less fortunate, why don't they embrace the wisdom of the Founders and return to private charity?

After all, James Madison said
I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.

And as Congressman Davy Crockett reminded us
We have the right, as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to appropriate a dollar of the public money.

The wisdom of the Bible and the Founders--along with the behavior of Biden himself--ultimately proves that his foolish contention that paying more taxes (so it can be redistributed to government bureaucrats paychecks and "others in need") is "patriotic" is simply this: wrapping up socialism in the flag in an attempt to justify government policy that is profoundly un-American.


South Dakota Dist. 32 Candidates on Sonograms

From the South Dakota Family Policy Council's 2008 general election voter guide, comparing South Dakota District 32 legislative candidates on sonograms in abortion facilities:

Support an act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women?

D House Eric Abrahamson
D House Bethany Wojahn N*
R House Brian Gosch
R House Brian Dreyer Y

D Senate Thomas M. Katus N
I Senate Elli Schwiesow Y
R Senate Stan Adelstein


Palin Smarter Than Biden (Couldn't Resist)

Sorry, I couldn't resist that headline after weeks of hearing how stupid, provincial and unqualified Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is for vice president of the United States.

In a remarkable flareup of candor from CNN, we find that Palin spoke at a higher grade level in Thursday night's vice presidential debate than did Senator Joe Biden.


An analysis carried out by a language monitoring service said Friday that Gov. Sarah Palin spoke at a more than ninth-grade level and Sen. Joseph Biden spoke at a nearly eighth-grade level in Thursday night's debate between the vice presidential candidates.

Grade level: Biden, 7.8; Palin, 9.5 (Newspapers are typically written to a sixth-grade reading level.)

That tells you something about newspapers as well, doesn't it?

The article also tells us something about those founders and early statesmen who, oh my, just weren't as smart and as sophisticated as we are today (with our zombie-like followings of Britney Spears and Survivor: Third Moon of Jupiter):
The analysis said Abraham Lincoln spoke at an 11th-grade level during his seven debates in 1858 against incumbent Stephen A. Douglas in their race for a Senate seat from Illinois.

Hmmm. Maybe those folks living in America's past actually did know a thing or two.

And either way you look at it, Palin showed the elitists snobs in the "mainstream" media and other Leftist peanut galleries a thing or two Thursday night.


The Reckless Ideology Behind the Financial Crisis

Glenn Beck: Are You Paying Attention? Obama, ACORN Racists—the Ones to Blame for the Economic Crisis


Welfare state failures are at bottom of the crisis

BY STAR PARKER
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
COALITION ON URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION

As our financial markets totter, as homes go into foreclosure, as Wall Street executives lose millions, as Americans have more and more difficulty getting loans, can anyone be happy?

Certainly. Those on the left who now, with unbounded glee, pen obituaries for the free market.

One can sense their joy as they have, they think, the last laugh.

Bernie Sanders, the far left senator from Vermont, was almost giddy on Larry Kudlow's TV show recently to hear free-marketer Kudlow endorse the bailout and tell Kudlow that he is glad to see he has become a socialist.

The Washington Post's Harold Meyerson writes, "The old order -- the Reagan-age institutions built on the premise that the market can do no wrong and the government no right -- is dying."

And, of course, there's the thrill in seeing greedy Wall Street capitalists laid bare for the heartless, exploitive monsters they are and see justice done as they fall by the free market sword by which they lived!

But, in fact, what we are watching is not a failure of markets, but the latest failure of the welfare state. The sad part is how few who wield political power seem to understand, or want to understand, that this is what's happened.

As the details behind the current debacle are unraveled, we see how government created one more entitlement -- the right to own a house -- and then devised an array of programs to subsidize in various ways "affordable housing." Like all welfare programs, the subsidies succeeded in influencing behavior, but the wrong behavior.

The greedy part, or, if one wishes to be forgiving, the confused part, of the Wall Street guys is their willingness to play ball with politicians over these years in turning our free country into a welfare state. Wall Street has regularly been a generous contributor to politicians who love to grow government and use it as a tool for social policy.

These smart investment bankers, commercial bankers, and traders could have gotten plenty rich, and stayed that way, by encouraging solid institutions to build our country properly. If anyone should appreciate the power of freedom and markets and want to encourage the proper role of government, the integrity of private property, and the care and nurturing of American families, you'd think it would be our financiers.

But instead of recognizing basics -- the principles of limited government and traditional values -- and fighting political pressures to undermine these basics, our financiers were happy to support the welfare state model.

They should have appreciated, as we must appreciate today, that the problem is not a failure of freedom and markets but of eroding the pillars and principles that make them possible and functional.

The best housing program this nation could have is for the government to stay out, let the price of real estate and credit reflect true realities of supply, demand, and risk, and let private people decide for themselves what they need to do and how hard they need to work to acquire what they want.

As the institution of government grows, we sadly watch the collapse of the institutions that really sustain growth of home ownership: American marriage and families.

According to the Census Bureau, the single largest incidence of homeownership, 86.3 percent, is among married-couple families. Yet, traditional families now amount to barely more than a quarter of our households.

And, sadly and ironically, the problem of family structure is most severe in low- income communities where government housing policy has been most targeted.

Social and economic policy are not separate universes but part of one fabric of institutions and laws that sustain freedom and prosperity.

Those who want to use the current crisis as an excuse to expand government and welfare state policies contribute to laying the foundation for our next crisis.

Star Parker is president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education and author of the new book White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay.

Prior to her involvement in social activism, Star Parker was a single welfare mother in Los Angeles, California. After receiving Christ, Star returned to college, received a BS degree in marketing and launched an urban Christian magazine. The 1992 Los Angeles riots destroyed her business, yet served as a springboard for her focus on faith and market-based alternatives to empower the lives of the poor.


Friday, October 03, 2008

More States Working on Pro-Life Measures

Today's Turn Signal: Americans United for Life reports a 12 percent increase in pro-life measures across the U.S.


South Dakota Dist. 33 Candidates on Sonograms

From the South Dakota Family Policy Council's 2008 general election voter guide, comparing South Dakota District 33 legislative candidates on sonograms in abortion facilities:

Support an act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women?

D House Kimberly Henderson
D House Jeff Nelsen N

R House Phil Jensen Y
R House Jacqueline Sly Y
D Senate Dennis W. Finch
R Senate Dennis R. Schmidt Y


Illegal for Bride and Groom to Marry in California

Apparently it's illegal for a bride to marry a groom and vice versa in the wacko-land that is known as California.

From WorldNetDaily:

Gideon Codding and Rachel Bird recently were married in Placer County, near Sacramento. However, surprised by new forms that were created by state bureaucrats to allow for "Party A" and "Party B" on marriage licenses, they "jotted an explanatory 'Groom' and 'Bride' next to the party names."

They soon found out how strong is the pro-homosexual lobby in the state: The form was returned to Pastor Doug Bird, who officiated, with a form letter stating the license "does not comply with California State registration laws."

This is pretty pathetic; California government demands generic marital distinctions and refuses to acknowledge the actual marital distinctions of bride and groom.

Is it just me, or does that smack of Marxist-style revision and propaganda in the highest order?

We're in deep trouble, folks.


Palin Passed on What Might Have Been a Lethal Shot

I thought Gov. Palins performance last evening was masterful, but I confess I did cringe once when the subject of the financial mess came up. Sen. Biden, true to Democrat talking-points, tried to blame the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Republican efforts to relax regulatory oversight. Anybody with just a minimum of understanding knows that to be false, but Gov. Palin’s response was to blame the problem on “greed on Wall Street.” Well, she is wrong, too, and I believe she knows the truth but, following McCain’s lead, declines to voice it in the name of civility and “congressional congeniality.”

The following reports from Fox News concisely place the blame where it belongs—on congressional Democrats and their wealthy cronies. The folks charged with overseeing operations at Fanny and Freddie refused to listen to warnings, choosing instead to reward those responsible for the failed policies, and also helping themselves to a nice piece of the graft for all their trouble.





Democrats are going to continue to try to hang the failures in the lending markets on Republicans, and this may be their most effective stategy, as polls over the past two weeks have shown. Gov. Palin could have (and should have) shot that boat out of the water if only she had been willing to state the facts and call out the Dems on their years of corruption and malfeasance. Barney Frank, Christopher Dodd, Barrack Obama, Jamie Gorelick, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are names of only a few of those who could have acted to prevent the financial meltdown but were busy sucking the teats of the bloated sows called Fannie and Freddie.


Enemies Within

Move America Forward Freedom PAC has posted the following video that reveals just how supportive are some of our Democrat friends of our military. Why would anyone call them unpatriotic?!


Beseeching Temporal Prosperity

American Minute from William J. Federer

On OCTOBER 3, 1789, from the U.S. Capitol in New York City, President George Washington issued the first Proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God, as just one week earlier the first session of the U.S. Congress successfully approved the First Ten Amendments limiting the power of the Federal Government.

The First Amendment begins: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

In his Proclamation, President Washington stated: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God....we may...unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations..."

Washington continued: "and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our...duties properly...to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws...and to bless them with...peace and concord...and the increase of science...and...to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.


South Dakota Dist. 34 Candidates on Sonograms

From the South Dakota Family Policy Council's 2008 general election voter guide, comparing South Dakota District 34 legislative candidates on sonograms in abortion facilities:

Support an act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women?

D House Lisa F. Cook
D House Bonny Petersen
R House Ed McLaughlin Y
R House David Lust N
D Senate Gary L. Hargens
R Senate Craig Tieszen N


Sanford Health: Blocking Healthy Choices and Allowing Unhealthy Ones

Boy, if that isn't a blatant--and pathetic--double standard from Sanford Health.

Voices Carry points out that if you take your laptop to the hospital and try to go online through their web portal, you're blocked from at least one pro-life website under the auspices that it is an "abortion/advocacy group."

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood's website--the billion-dollar earning, getting $337 million of your tax money, leading abortion provider--gets through without a problem.

Want to read about people who want to save lives? No way; not at Sanford Health. Want to read about people who eagerly desire to kill unborn children and put women's health at risk? Go for it; our health facility applauds your unhealthy choice.

With a health facility with this kind of poor judgment, would I really want to trust them with other aspects of my health?


South Dakota Representatives: Voting Against American Interests

Good letter in the Rapid City Weekly News yesterday:

Study public record before casting votes

Since all bills for raising federal revenue (our taxes) must originate in the House of Representatives (See Article I, Section 7, U.S. Constitution), doesn’t this power make the office of congressman more important than the presidency?

With this in mind, what code of conduct would you use to rate the performance of a congressman or senator? How about examining their actual voting record using these standards:

- Their adherence to the constitutional principals of limited government.

- Fiscal responsibility

- National sovereignty

- A traditional foreign policy of avoiding foreign entanglements.

The Freedom Index (www.capwiz.com/jbs/home) uses this system to rate all 535 members of Congress on identical issues.

Would it surprise you to learn that in the most recent index, Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Sen. Johnson (both up for reelection) voted against America’s best interests most of the time? Out of a possible 10 votes tallied, Rep. Herseth Sandlin voted zero out of 10 times for the above principles and Sen. Johnson voted one out of 10 times for the same.

Do you really want to reward this kind of irresponsible behavior by reelecting these people? Forget their rhetoric and politics. Study the public record, then cast an informed vote!

Gary C. Velder
Newell


Newsbusted Conservative Comedy 10/3/2008

Topics in today's show (taped before veep debate):

--Pressure on House to pass financial bailout after Senate does

--11-year-old suspended for wearing anti-Obama t-shirt

--Layoffs at the Playboy mansion

Starring: Jodi Miller
Director: Bruce Roundtower
Executive Producer: Matthew Sheffield

NewsBusted is a comedy webcast about the news of the day, uploaded every Tuesday and every Friday.


Video: Entire Vice Presidential Debate

In case you missed it, this is the entire vice presidential debate video, from CSPAN.


Biden is Ready to Exaggerate

Indeed. At least he kept his foot out of his mouth for most of the debate.



Thursday, October 02, 2008

Palin-Biden Debate: How Did it Shake Out?

Republican vice presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin was a little cool and stiff at first, but warmed up quickly and started to shine with the down home spunkiness that is part of her character.

Palin got Democrat vice presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden on his statement that paying more taxes was "patriotic." She made good points that in the Democrats' efforts to stick it to the rich, they're also sticking it to many of the small businesses that provide the jobs and economic well-being of millions of Americans.

Biden said taking money from one person and giving it to another isn't "wealth redistribution;" he and his bunch call it "fairness." If "theft" is "fairness" in Biden's dictionary, then I suppose he has a point.

Class envy and hatred of the successful business sector that drives America's economic engine were definitely on display from the Left tonight.

Palen's environmental pandering was a bit disappointing, stating that we needed to do something about "climate change" regardless of the cause. She didn't jump on the anthropogenic band wagon, at least.

She did score a good point that in relying on other countries who don't even try to produce oil as cleanly as possible, we are contributing to any pollution problem that does exist, and energy independence would mean more clean oil production.

She also hit Biden hard on his reticence and that of his party to do anything proactive to drill for more oil or do anything to meet our growing energy needs.

Biden made no bones about his faith in the religion of Global Warming; there is no doubt in his mind that our SUVs are more responsible for any climate change than is the star in the center of our solar system, or the climate cycles which have been documented for thousands of years.

Biden said there would be no distinction in an Obama administration between a heterosexual couple and a homosexual couple.

Palin drew the line at redefining marriage. She did tout her "tolerance" in people choosing their own relationships (maybe she hasn't checked the data on the tremendous health risks homosexual behavior involves, with higher rates of AIDS, STDs, depression, substance abuse, suicide and domestic violence).

Biden said he didn't support "gay marriage" and neither does Obama, yet Obama says on his website he plans to completely repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

Biden's statement tonight seems disingenuous at the very least. Domestic partnerships, civil unions and the like are nothing but "marriage lite" or "homosexual marriage by another name."

On Iraq, Palin commended the success we have seen in reducing violence under the surge, and pointed out that Obama opposed funding for the war in Iraq. She made no bones about it "We have got to win in Iraq."

Palin said Biden and Obama's plan is a "white flag of surrender."

On Iran, Palin said Iran cannot be allowed to get nuclear weapons "period." She was also clear that Iran wanted to wipe our ally Israel off the map. She took Obama to task for stating he would meet with Iran's homicidal leader "without preconditions."

She said that diplomacy is important, but when dealing with those who want to destroy what we stand for, they cannot be met without precondition on a presidential level.

Biden made a big pretense of friendship and standing with Israel, and when Palin responded, she made a good-natured quip that it was so good that they could both agree on friendship with Israel.

Palin also took Obama to task for saying our troops are overseas killing civilians and air raiding villages.

Palin said she was just a "Washington outsider" and just didn't understand things like why Biden and others voted for the war and now they're against it, and why they rail against atrocities around the world--like in Sudan--but do nothing about it.

When asked how they as vice presidents might do things differently were they to rise to the top position, Biden said he'd continue Obama's policies. Palin said that she and John McCain are "a team of mavericks" and aren't going to agree on everything." She said that she was working on him on supporting drilling for oil in ANWR.

On education, Palin spoke highly of teachers (and winked at her teacher-father in the audience) but said standards are lax in some areas and need to be tightened up.

In the role of a vice president, Palin gave a good answer with a bit of self-depreciating humor, and spoke of exercising the constitutional authority granted to a vice president with the Senate, and of pursuing a number of policy initiatives on behalf of the administration such as improving things for special needs children.

She also spoke of her executive experience as a mayor, oil-and-gas regulator, business owner and governor that she would bring to the position. She also spoke of the everyday responsibilities that so many women face, like that of wife and mother, and even the mother of a special needs child; balancing these responsibilities is something that many women--and men--across America can relate to, and know that they are no little responsibility.

Biden played the "me too" game with parental responsibilities, and actually seemed a bit miffed that she had mentioned her responsibilities as a mother; he seemed to feel somehow slighted and unappreciated in his role as a father.

In closing, Palin said she had enjoyed the unfiltered debate setting and preferred it to the stifling "mainstream" media interviews where they tell the American people "what they just heard." She spoke highly of the values and ideals of the American people, and that John McCain was dedicated to protecting those.

Biden's closing seemed a little flat. And, as is the standard with most Democrat statements, was heavy on class envy, how terrible things are in America, and a laundry list of government give-aways that would make everything better now.

Moderator Gwen Ifill seemed to do a surprisingly fair job, though perhaps not quite so surprising since her extreme bias, some of it directly against Palin, has been pretty well vetted over the past day or so.

The questions often seemed to be tainted with a presumption that the liberal worldview was the only worldview, but that's what we've come to expect from the "mainstream" media.

Palin was not afraid to take the initiative and lead the discussion where she wanted to go; at one point, she said she might not answer the questions the way the moderator wanted, so she could communicate with the American people.

No one knows everything about everything, yet that has become the facade of those stuck inside the orbit of the Beltway. "Mainstream" media hacks like Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric have tried to squeeze Palin into that mold...and put on the masks of thinly veiled elitist condescension when she doesn't fit.

Sarah Palin is an average hard-working American who loves her country, has a solid moral center, leadership ability, and wants to serve the country.

Palin is all the things we average Americans are...and many of the things average Americans admire and would like to be.


Doctors to Explain Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Covered Under IM 11

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Oct. 2 – A team of South Dakota OBGYN doctors will hold a press conference Friday, October 3 at 1:30 p.m. CST. Physicians who support Measure 11 want to convey the truth about a deceptive TV ad by a pro-abortion activist group. The ad depicts a woman telling her story about her pregnancy with twins. It implies that a procedure resulting in the death of a twin that has “Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome” is illegal under Measure 11, which is false.

A team of doctors will appear at the VoteYesForLife.com headquarters at 3500 South Louise Avenue, Sioux Falls, to discuss how treatment is completely covered under Measure 11 (Section 2, Measure 11). Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome is a complication that occurs in less than 1 out of 1,000 pregnancies. Today there are modern medical procedures that are used to save the children. Performing those procedures, which are intended to save the lives of the babies, is never prohibited by Measure 11, even if one or both of the babies dies.

The ad placed by the opposition shows a woman who received treatment in Ohio, not South Dakota. The accepted standard of care in our state is covered under Measure 11. Measure 11 will end abortion as a form of birth control, and can stop up to 97 percent of abortions from ever occurring in South Dakota. The measure does provide exceptions in the cases of rape, incest and to preserve the health and life of the mother. For more information, visit VoteYesForLife.com or call Brandi Gruis at 605.929.7925.


Okay, I'm Voting Democrat!

You know, this video has a point. After much reconsideration (well, a couple of seconds, at least), I think I'm going to vote Democrat, too.

Why didn't I think of this before? Well, that's probably the problem: I was thinking too much.

Ignorance really is bliss!


Free Speech Between 12 and 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays With 10 Days Advanced Notice

From today's StopLight: A college student is threatened with expulsion for sharing the Gospel.



Men in Black Squash the People

This is a very good ad in favor of Yes on 8, the marriage protection amendment in California.

It outlines the usurpation of democracy and the will of the people perpetrated by the judicial activists in California, in addition to what's at stake.


The Joe Biden Embarrassment Wagon

A little preview of the kind of things we might hear from Joe Biden at tonight's vice presidential debate.

I don't know about you, but I have the popcorn ready to pop. If Joe's ready to gaffe, I'm ready to laugh.

Give us some more tips on some of that Red "patriotism"!

Don't disappoint us, Joe!


New Video: Marxist Children Sing for the Obamessiah

Courtesy of Reason.TV and WorldNetDaily, we now have a version of the "kids singing to the Most Beneficent Lord Barack Obamessiah" video that hit a day or two ago.

This one is a little more in touch with its Marxist roots, in the best Pyongyang tradition.


Whether You Like it or Not

The Yes on 8 at ProtectMarriage.com have their first ad out in support of Proposition 8 in California to protect marriage from the homosexual hijackers and their accomplices in the judiciary.

The people of California voted in 2000 to protect marriage and spell out what rational people have understood instinctively for thousands of years: that marriage is between a man and a woman.

In May 2008, however, a slim majority of activist judges in the California Supreme Court decided to take it upon themselves to create law (something normally reserved to the legislature or to the people and the democratic process) and to redefine the foundational institution of marriage.

In November, the people of California will take marriage back from the radical social engineers and spell it out in their state constitution.


Archbishop Burke: Democrats Risk Becoming Party of Death

From Reuters comes word that former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, who now leads the Vatican’s Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature, didn't pull his punches when he recently described the Democrat Party as a "party of death" recently.

According to the Reuters piece, in June he told the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire that the DNC

risked “transforming itself definitively into a party of death for its decisions on bioethical issues.” He then attacked two of the party’s most high profile Catholics — vice presidential candidate Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — for misrepresenting Church teaching on abortion.

He said Biden and Pelosi, “while presenting themselves as good Catholics, have presented Church doctrine on abortion in a false and tendentious way.”

How true!

The only disagreement I have with Archbishop Burke's statement--and I don't know if this was paraphrased by Reuters or Avvenire, or if Burke actually used the word--would be that "risked" is obsolete. The Democrat Party already has transformed itself into a party of death.

The DNC embraces a position of hostility toward children that elevates contraception almost to the level of a sacrament. In other words, their public policy advocacy is, in practice, hostile toward the creation of new life.

The DNC embraces abortion on demand for no other reason than "I don't want it." This has resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 million children in the past 35 years...and the DNC vociferously and relentlessly fights to maintain that right to kill every unborn child possible in perpetuity. As a party, they embrace even the totally barbaric "partial birth abortion"...and the banner-carrier of their party, Barack Obama, even defended infanticide.

The DNC officially promotes embryonic stem cell research which destroys human life, while ignoring the dozens of successes of adult stem cell research which does not destroy human life.

The DNC embraces euthanasia and the killing of the weak, disabled and old. Their vociferous defense of the murder of Terri Schiavo a few years ago stands as the most shameful example of their embrace of death...for others, that is.

The DNC also embraces homosexuality in all it's forms and manifestations. Homosexuality is a practice which by its very nature can never result in the creation of life--even when both sets of reproductive organs involved function perfectly. And by normalizing, encouraging and even celebrating a practice which is characterized by much greater risk of AIDS, STDs, depression, substance abuse and suicide, the DNC is encouraging even more death.

Some folks act like they don't know the difference between the value of life and death, even though it was clearly laid out more than 3,000 years ago.

The Democrats risk becoming the party of death? I'd say that ship already sailed a long time ago...


Ifill Already Disparaged Palin, More Expected Tonight

More evidence today that Gwen Ifill "moderating" tonight's vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin is a joke.

Though Ifill already has a clear track record of liberal extremism, Jim Meyers at NewsMax points out that some her bias is specifically toward Palin:

Later Ifill said about Palin: “Lots of talk about, what, gutting caribou or whatever — I shouldn’t say it this way — gutting caribou in Alaska, which I’m sure is a fine, fine thing to do.” That drew laughter from the audience. “What I’m just saying, we heard a lot more about what Sarah Palin did for sport or what she did as a mother or what she did — than what she did as a governor actually, the actual policy decisions.”

Also
Some viewers complained of a “dismissive” look by Ifill when discussing Palin’s speech, and some said she wore a look of “disgust” while reporting on the GOP candidate.

Objectivity from the "mainstream" media? Expecting a fair shake from the "moderator" between the two candidates tonight?

How stupid do these elites think we are?

(Pretty stupid, apparently)


Regaining Confidence After the Wall Street Earthquake

By Marie Jon'

Our people in Congress who contributed to the Wall Street uncertainties must take their share of the blame. They have been exposed by new media pundits and conservative talk radio. The old drive-by-media will not be able to spin the culprits out of this problem. American voters have sufficient time to learn the truth before Election Day.

The people responsible for the fiscal mess lack good judgment, trustworthiness and character. We must extricate them and not allow their ilk into power again.

It is obvious that the Democrat party is not capable of exercising stewardship of our country in any capacity. They have become impacted by their own mean-spiritedness. Their intellect is stunted by an extreme liberal ideology; they are no longer able to aid their own country in time of war or peace.

For decades, Democrats have aggressively engaged in social engineering for their own political gains. They are guilty of using big government to do their dirty work. In the process, they hurt the minority people who unknowingly allow themselves to be taken advantage of.

America was not built upon socialism, and Americans don't want the Democrats' "two Americas." Everyone in this country can become whatever they desire with hard work and personal perseverance. We can no longer afford the Democrat's divisive ways.

As result of government intervention into our capitalist system, financial institutions many believed were invincible are in danger of collapsing. There is a simple lesson to be learned: We all must learn to live within our means. People bought homes without having sufficient funds to make their house payments. What happened to the gift of home ownership that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac supposedly gave them?

If people want a better status in life, they must earn it. Though we are responsible for our own lives as well as giving our neighbors a helping hand when needed, the onus is upon those who desire a better lifestyle to strive for it. America is at her best when watching others succeed. However, we create our own destiny with the choices we make in life, good or bad. There is always tomorrow to start anew.

No matter what befalls our great nation, we will recover and move forward. There are changes coming, and soon. John McCain and Sarah Palin will do some incredible house cleaning after they take office. These two humble mavericks will give America back to the people. Both deserve your vote because they have shown that they are willing to work for you. They are upright and dedicated.

Prepare yourselves. There will be more caterwauling from the Fifth column. But be assured that President McCain will not allow any more harm to our country or her people.

It is time for every citizen to come back to America. Patriotism is making a comeback along with a hockey mom who bakes a great apple pie. She is beautiful, intelligent and, if necessary, ready to be on stand-by for the president.

It is apparent that people are fed up with listening to those responsible for our fiscal debacle blame others. There awaits a monumental surprise for those who will not take their medicine for the current crisis in which we find ourselves. Indeed. Just hold on and wait until we vote come in November.

Middle America has already begun to rise up. They are voicing their common sense opinions. They see gutsy Republicans standing tough. Americans understand that we must take care of the mess we're in, but we are going to begin the process off on the correct path. The people are behind the Republicans who will not allow a bailout using the taxpayers' hard earned money foolishly.

As far back as 2003, The New York Times scolded President G. W. Bush for daring to bring the matter we are facing today to the fore. Bush warned congress of his deep concerns about the way Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was doing business. The media had their agenda to peddle, and the warning that Bush heralded was never acted upon. Bush did not give license to those who would plunder our policies.

The response from Rep. Barney Frank and others addressing the calamity seen today is found in their own words.

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not facing any kind of financial crisis."

"The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing." — Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts.

"I don't see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing." — Representative Melvin L. Watt of North Carolina

It is amazing that Sen. Barack Obama's Democrats blame President Bush and Senator John McCain for their own negligible actions. Since 9/11 our economy has been humming right along in spite of what took place on that unforgettable day, thanks to President Bush.

McCain wrote legislation in 2005 in an attempt to fix Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Democrats voted it down. The problems we face today will not be repeated under the leadership of President John McCain.

Despite the attempts and the warning that began in 2003, the abuse and waste of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continued. There were those who tried to protect us with their wise and prudent counsel, but the Democrats in charge would not have anything to do with them.

My friends, keep the faith. We are a strong resilient people who always rise from the worst adversities. We have done it before, during the Great Depression. President Bush reminded us that we are facing consequences, however, we are nowhere near what took place during the worldwide economic spiral that began in 1929 and ended in the early 1940's.

With the Almighty's help and two honest humble servants, America will regain her confidence. Deep down inside we are a people of pioneer stock, no matter where our ancestors originally came from. Every once in a while, we get to show our inbred goodness and fortitude. On days such as these there will be no exceptions.

Marie Jon' is a political/religious-based writer and founder of www.DrawingClose.org and www.PeoplePoliticallyRight.com — sister websites to RenewAmerica. Marie extends her hand of welcome; visit DrawingClose and receive your free gift of salvation by taking an online Bible study.

Marie's writings have appeared on many sites, including The New Media Journal, ChronWatch, and ABCNews, to name a few. Marie brings a refreshing and spirited point of view that is reflected in her writings. Marie is a nurse, a lay student of the Bible, and a patriot. She is an advocate for American troops serving abroad, as well as the Blue and Gold Star Mothers of America and their families. Marie enjoys Townhall.com radio, Rush Limbaugh, Bruce Elliott Saturdays 5AM-9AM EST and her friend Larry Elder.


Pastors Can Speak Out Without Joining Pulpit Freedom Initiative

With all the talk and news on the Alliance Defense Fund's (ADF) Pulpit Freedom Sunday effort to regain constitutional freedom of speech and freedom of religion for America's pastors and churches, it should be noted that America's pastors don't even have to join this courageous effort to still speak out and be effective in the upcoming election.

In other words, pastors and churches can do so even without putting their tax exempt status on the line as these churches have done.

As LifeSiteNews points out,

Pastors and church leaders do not need to violate IRS regulations on political activity in order to impact the 2008 elections. There are a wide variety of permissible activities that will activate voters and encourage them to vote according to biblical values.

While churches may not endorse or oppose candidates for elective office, pastors can preach on biblical and moral issues, such as abortion and traditional marriage, can urge the congregation to register and vote, and can overview the positions of the candidates. Churches may distribute nonpartisan voter guides, register voters, provide transportation to the polls, hold candidate forums, and introduce visiting candidates.

In 1954, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson sponsored and succeeded in passing a tax code amendment which prohibited tax exempt organizations from endorsing or speaking against political candidates (not ballot issues). Johnson did this to muzzle his critics who worked in tax exempt organizations. It was a violation of the Constitution then...it's a violation of the Constitution now.

And while Pulpit Freedom Sunday was about challenging this unconstitutional violation of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, churches and pastors have never been restricted from holding voter registration drives and speaking out on ballot issues such as South Dakota's pro-life Initiated Measure 11.

In 2006, Gary McCaleb from the Alliance Defense Fund visited several cities in South Dakota to provide information to pastors on what they could do without even violating the 1954 tax code amendment.

I attended the meeting in Rapid City that year, and here is an excerpt of what I wrote about it:
Today in Rapid City, McCaleb told a filled room of 60 Black Hills area pastors and church leaders, “What they are saying is that you can lose your tax exemption as a church if you speak out on the abortion ban, or the gambling issue if it comes up, or in favor of marriage. I’ve come up from Arizona...to tell you very directly that this is absolutely inaccurate, wrong, false information. If you speak out even directly from your pulpit and tell your people to vote in favor of the marriage amendment, or vote in favor of the abortion ban, that is not going to put your tax exemption at risk.”

McCaleb also said churches may use an “insubstantial portion of your ministry resources to directly lobby on legislative matters like these [marriage and abortion] laws.” He said this is at least 5% of the total ministry value (not just the church budget, but the value of volunteer labor, and all the things that go into the ministry) on direct lobbying; this can involve buying yard signs, advertising, holding public rallies and such to encourage others to support legislation. McCaleb said some courts have said it is permissible to go up to 15-20%, but he advised 5% as a completely safe figure. Churches can also financially support the work of groups like the South Dakota Family Policy Council, VoteYesForLife.com and others, as long as reporting procedures are followed.

McCaleb said, “If anybody tells you differently, find out what they are quoting and give me a call. I guarantee you they are wrong. They are spreading misinformation. They are trying to silence the church.”

If a church is acting within what is allowed by law, but a complaint is filed against them for violating the tax code, McCaleb said the Alliance Defense Fund would help defend them at no cost. He said they exist to support Christians doing their work in defense of the Gospel.

So pastors and churches of South Dakota: even if the bluster from the secularists over Pulpit Freedom Sunday may have intimidated you a little bit, don't let that cause you to hesitate a second about getting your church members registered so they can vote their values, and about standing 100% for Initiated Measure 11.

With 84.6% of the abortions being performed in South Dakota because "the mother did not desire to have the child," this measure could save hundreds of lives.

Pastors, your people need to know that. And they need to be encouraged to vote their values.


Dykstra Points to Failure of Leadership from Johnson

Republican Joel Dykstra isn't playing around with this new ad. He calls Senator Johnson on the carpet for refusing to debate him and defend himself, and for not showing leadership on the Senate Banking Committee--leadership that might have averted the massive financial mess we face.

If Senator Johnson isn't willing to be proactive in solving our nation's problems, it's time to make way for someone who can and will.


Wednesday, October 01, 2008

The Book of Barack

Is your name in the book? No, not the Book of Life; the Book of Barack.



Better Off Under Obama?

You won't be better off under Barack Obama, that's for sure.



Defend Freedom, Defeat Obama

This is the new NRA ad: Defend Freedom, Defeat Obama


Gwen Ifill: When the Moderator Isn't So Moderate

The ever-vigilant sentinels at the Media Research Center have the goods on the "mainstream" media figure Gwen Ifill who will "objectively" moderate the vice presidential debate tomorrow night between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.

Ifill, the "nonpartisan" moderator has in the past said things like:


■ Clinton’s Not Liberal Enough. “Is this welfare bill your great vulnerability on this subject? Your supporters, your critics, they all say that, perhaps, you are abandoning minorities and the poor.” — Ifill interviewing President Clinton on race relations, June 16, 1997 Today.

■ Ken Starr’s “Truck Bomb.” “There's very little they can do about this, when someone drives, as one House Judiciary Committee member put this some weeks ago, a truck bomb up to the steps of the Capitol and just dumps it on them....it is in some ways, politically, a very violent action for Ken Starr to leave this on them weeks before an election when they're trying to decide how to deal with it.” — Ifill during live MSNBC coverage of the Starr Report arriving on Capitol Hill, September 9, 1998.

■ Red-Baiting Century. “After World War II, then we went through decades of Red-hunting, Red-baiting, fear of communists, and then all of a sudden the Berlin Wall, that symbol of everything that happened, fell.” — PBS host Ifill reviewing the century on Washington Week, December 31, 1999.

■ “Record High” Misery? “The unemployment rate is at record highs, and somehow he [Bush] says this is Congress's fault.” — PBS host Ifill somehow forgetting the Great Depression in describing 6.1 percent unemployment, Washington Week, May 2, 2003.

Isn't it great to know that we can be solidly assured that Sarah Palin will--as usual--get fair, balanced, and objective treatment from the debate "moderator"?


South Dakota Dist. 35 Candidates on Sonograms

From the South Dakota Family Policy Council's 2008 general election voter guide, comparing South Dakota District 35 legislative candidates on sonograms in abortion facilities:

Support an act to require abortion facilities to offer sonograms to pregnant women?

D House Fern Y. Johnson Y
D House Curtis R. Marquardt
R House Don Kopp Y

R House Mark Kirkeby N*
D Senate Theresa Spry
R Senate Jeffrey K. Haverly Y


* denotes an extended answer


Media Showing Their Underwear

Doug Wead has a great read on the shark, er, "mainstream" media feeding frenzy going on over Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

From NewsMax:

When Jack Cafferty cornered poor Wolf Blitzer on CNN recently and showed the clip of the Katie Couric-Sarah Palin interview and then launched into his panicky, now famous, oxygen deprived rant — “Have you ever seen anything like it, ever? Have you? Wolf? You there Wolf? Isn’t this unprecedented ditziness? Imagine? A heartbeat away? Wolf? You home in there Wolf?” — most Americans could identify with the Wolf Blitzer freeze.

It is stunning to see the emotionally charged hatred of the media toward Sarah Palin. Of course, Wolf had seen such moments of ditziness. Ted Kennedy cannot do interviews well. His handling of handpicked, family friend, Roger Mudd’s softball question in November 1979 cost him the presidency. It was a moment far more deadly than Cafferty’s desperately hyped vignette of Palin and Couric.

Wead's piece not only points out the jackal-like behavior of the "mainstream" media over Sarah Palin, but the "special" treatment liberals get. And how, even then, many of them make a mess of themselves.

I've been watching "mainstream" media bias with an open eye for well over 20 years now. And I honestly think that--with the possible exception of the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings--I have never seen the "mainstream" media go this transparently ballistic before.

I hope the voters are watching with an open eye. If so, the "mainstream" media is helping to ensure a McCain-Palin landslide in November.


Sweeping Rape Under the Rug of Convenience

This has to be one of the most myopic letters I've read in the Rapid City Journal in a long time.

Better ways to use resources than Initiated Measure 11

I received my absentee ballot in the mail yesterday, and Measure 11 goes farther than I thought. In addition to forcing women to carry unviable fetuses to term (those with fatal defects or even those with a defect that results in the absence of a brain), it reads: When an abortion is performed as a result of rape or incest, the woman must consent to biological sampling from herself and the embryo or fetus for DNA testing by law enforcement. Thus, in addition to the physical and psychological trauma of rape or incest, paternity testing would be performed on the products of conception by law enforcement. What is this expensive testing going to tell us? Women may be having sex with their partners or husbands at the time of rape. Women may be raped by their partners/husbands. Is our state so financially set that we can spend our taxpayer’s dollars on paternity testing of aborted fetuses? This doesn’t even take into consideration the millions of dollars that we, as South Dakotans will pay as this law goes to the Supreme Court. Let’s put that money into our schools, our roads, low cost birth control and sex education.

JESSICA PETTIGREW
Rapid City

"Thus, in addition to the physical and psychological trauma of rape or incest, paternity testing would be performed on the products of conception by law enforcement." Evidence gathering is standard procedure in the crime of rape. It's how perpetrators are prosecuted, justice is obtained for the victim, and the public is protected from future rapes.

"What is this expensive testing going to tell us?" Oh, silly little things like who is the perpetrator of this crime of rape. And it will tie the perpetrator to the victim with physical evidence. Just goofy stuff like that.

"Women may be having sex with their partners or husbands at the time of rape." So? That "expensive testing" using DNA evidence will reveal who is the father of the child--and theoretically the perpetrator. DNA evidence can tell the difference whether the woman was impregnated by her husband or the rapist (not that this changes the humanity of the child). After all, the issue with the rape exception is theoretically that the woman was raped and the child to be aborted is a subsequent outcome of that rape.

"Women may be raped by their partners/husbands." Yes, and if they did, they can be prosecuted for it...and again, this "expensive testing" will provide the evidence necessary to proceed with prosecution.

"Is our state so financially set that we can spend our taxpayer’s dollars on paternity testing of aborted fetuses?" I don't know; is our state "so financially set" that we can spend our taxpayer's dollars to gather and test evidence in other crimes?

"This doesn’t even take into consideration the millions of dollars that we, as South Dakotans will pay as this law goes to the Supreme Court." If it does go to the Supreme Court, you can thank the pro-abortionists for suing to stop a reasonable law from being enforced. It will be them you can thank for the expense, not the folks trying to end abortion on demand and save lives.

I think rather than "Better ways to use resources than Initiated Measure 11" for the title of this letter, it should have been, "Sweep the crime of rape under the rug."

Do we really have to explain basic things like this to pro-abortion liberals? Or are they simply so blinded by their zeal to keep abortion legal for retroactive birth control that they overlook the obvious?


Johnson, Dykstra on Dakota Midday Thursday

From the Argus Leader, Senator Tim Johnson and Republican challenger Joel Dykstra will be guests on South Dakota Public Radio's "Dakota Midday" on Thursday:

Johnson, who plans to be in Vermillion that day, will be the first guest interviewed live in the SDPB Radio studio on the University of South Dakota campus. He and Dakota Midday host Paul Guggenheimer will start the program shortly after the newscast at noon.

The next segment of the show will feature Dykstra live from Rapid City. Guggenheimer will talk to both men about some of the top issues facing Congress as the election season draws to a close.


Meanwhile, Dykstra will be interviewed on SDPB Television's "South Dakota Focus" at 8 p.m. Oct. 14.


Missouri: Where Stealing Babies Seems to be the Trend

by Carrie K. Hutchens

One would think that the Stocklaufer case would put the system on notice that people are actually taking note of what the Missouri courts and DFS (Division of Family Services) are doing with regard to the children of, and within, their state. Apparently not though! If there was ever a MEMO -- it must have gotten lost within the system. After all, it certainly didn't get to some case workers that went above and beyond wrong in the actions taken against still another Missouri family.

A foster child was involved in inappropriate behavior. The foster parent made notification to the proper authorities (as is the rule) only to then become the one blamed. Excuse me?

It didn't end there...

The DFS, didn't just take away the one child, they came into the home and took away other babies that were also supposed to be adopted by this family. Their excuse? That the family -- not they -- were neglectful. After all, the family should have somehow known the inappropriate incident was a possibility, and because they didn't (from lack of information provided by DFS) they were neglectful and therefore not worthy to foster or adopt the babies, right?

What is wrong with this picture? Too much, I would think!

The foster parent makes the call, yet is thereafter treated as though someone called in on them? Where is the ability to process logic? Isn't that a requirement with these state jobs, especially the ones involving the well-being of children? If not -- it should be!

Maybe Missouri needs to review it's social workers and it's rules, prior to wrongfully destroying families! Just a thought!


Carrie Hutchens is a former law enforcement officer and a freelance writer who is active in fighting against the death culture movement and the injustices within the judicial and law enforcement systems.


Related article:

Missouri's "Too Fat to Adopt Man" Faces Losing More Than Weight


Advice to Palin and Biden: Be Yourself

The debate Thursday between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden may be one of the most watched political events in some time. The differences and contrasts between the two contestants could not be much more stark in American politics. The policy differences have been talked about endlessly and there is not much that I can add. I just hope that the personal styles, confidence, integrity, and other qualities that bear on a person's ability to lead become the contrasting characteristics in this meeting. Sarah Palin demonstrates all the positive qualities of a leader while Biden demonstrates arrogance, prevarication, condescension and simply wrong-headedness. I hope that Gov. Palin is just herself as she was in this clip from an Alaskan gubenatorial debate. I hope Biden is himself, as well. Americans will learn much from such a debate.

If this is the guy that Sarah Palin debates on Thursday the choice will be clear:



Note on video above: For those who haven't been following, Cheney has proved to be right and Biden has been shown to be "dead wrong," despite his extensive foreign policy experience.


Patronizing Palin and Big Hugs for Biden

Newsbusters has a thorough analysis of the hit-tactics of the "mainstream" media toward conservatives and the friendly softballs thrown underhanded to liberals.

While Sarah Palin got the third degree from Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric, it was cookies and ice cream with Joe Biden.

Couric also took a pass on Biden's myriad gaffes, while searching for the slightest chink in Palin's armor of knowledge.

When conservatives are under the media bright light, they must know everything and sound like it; mere leadership ability and working understanding is not enough.

But for liberals...well...oh, it's really about how the feel, isn't it? Do they care? And since they're liberals, we know that they do, so what's the point of asking any tough questions?

Of course, we understand, too, that while conservative ideas and positions must always be meticulously analyzed and revealed for the diabolical and hate-filled mean-spirited hurt-wagons we know they are. Meanwhile, the liberal mindset is accepted as "just the way things really are."

Conservatives are expected to renounce their medieval, hateful ways and make some apologies for trying to oppress honest, hard-working, sexually free Americans.

Read the whole Newsbusters piece for an education--or re-education.

Did we really expect any different from the "mainstream" media? Of course not.

But it'd be nice if the media would surprise us every now and then with some balanced and objective reporting. It'd keep things interesting.


TV Entices to Risky Behavior


As we frequently talk about the sad state to which television and movies have fallen, word of a new study sheds light on the effect of the moral decay promoted in the media.

LifeSiteNews says a new study from researchers at the University of California published in the Journal of Communication found that portrayals of risky sexual behaviors altered people's expectations about such encounters.

Those with less experience and exposure to such behaviors in the past were more susceptible to an altered expectation.

This would tend to make sense, since innocence is often more corruptible than the attitude of someone who has "been around the block." While someone more experienced with moral compromise may indulge in it even more, they might also be more familiar with the cold, hard reality of some of the negative consequences of that behavior.

However, even that often doesn't make a difference.

"Even when behaviors are negatively portrayed, audiences may be motivated to model them anyways," the authors conclude. "We hope this research stimulates greater care in the application and testing of psychological theories to the study of media content and effects."

Of course, human beings are not animals or automatons. Human beings have a free will and can choose whether or not to emulate behaviors they see in media, so media responsibility only goes so far.

However, our culture has been in moral free-fall for decades, with few parents or other authority figures instilling a strong moral center in young people. This ethical void leaves many young people susceptible to these enticements, with no internal moral standards with which to resist such allures.

The responsible thing to do, of course, would be not only a return to strong moral teaching by parents and other authorities, but also restraint on the part of pop culture and media.

Since the latter isn't going to happen without the former, it's time for parents and authorities to get to work repairing the breached walls of our society.


Obama's Terrorist Bill Ayers

This video puts things into context for those folks who so far just haven't wanted to deal with this dirty fact surrounding Barack Obama.

Bill Ayers, as you might or might not recall, is a domestic terrorist who's group the Weathermen bombed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., the Pentagon, and several post offices in the 1960s and early 1970s.

After a bomb went off prematurely and killed several of his fellow terrorists, he went underground for several years before surfacing again. Though he and his terrorist wife eventually turned themselves in, Ayers got off on a prosecutorial technicality.

You might or might not also recall that Ayers said on September 11, 2001 in the New York Times that "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."

Since achieving "respectability," Ayers went on to found the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, where Barack Obama came to serve on the board.

Obama and Ayers also served together on the board of the Wood's Fund in Chicago, and appeared together as speakers at various public events.

Ayers has also contributed cash to Obama's campaign, and helped launch Obama's political career with a meet-and-greet at Ayers' house when Obama first ran for the Illinois state senate.

Ayers isn't the only 1960s radical Obama associates with. Others include Maoist Michael Klonsky of the Students for a Democratic Society, SDS chapter founder Mark Rudd, Marxist and SDS member Carl Davidson, and 1968 convention-crasher and Hanoi-Jane marrying Tom Hayden.

So, to the point of this video.

Would you be friends, hang out, work on projects together with Timothy McVeigh?

Would you vote for someone who would?

How about when the question involves Bill Ayers?


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