Condolences to Baby Emilio's family!

According to KVUE.com, Baby Emilio dies (10:34 PM CDT on Saturday, May 19, 2007) .

May Catarina Gonzales (and the rest of the family), find comfort in the fact that God, not an ethics committee, decided when it was time to send the angels to bring Baby Emilio home.

McCain Meltdown on the Senate Floor

NewsMax reports that Senator John McCain (presidential candidate) had a meltdown on the senate floor Thursday over the immigration bill.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, launched into a shouting match during a Thursday Capitol Hill meeting, where reportedly the presidential candidate dropped the "F” word and more.

According to reports in the Washington Post and the New York Post, Cornyn apparently got the former POW’s attention when he raised the issue about the number of judicial appeals that illegal immigrants could receive.

Read the whole nutty thing here.

Custer State Park Road Trip

My family and I took an afternoon road trip down to Custer State Park for the Open House weekend. Below are a few of the pics I took this afternoon.

The first is of an antelope that came very close to the car.

The second is one of two buffalo that were scratching their back against a road sign about 10 feet off the road. In the pic, he's looking at my daughter as she takes a picture too, as if to say, "Would you leave me alone and let me scratch my back in peace?" (My foot was ready to jump off the brake and onto the gas pedal if he decided to get aggressive with us).

The third is of one of three wild donkeys that came up to us on the road and stuck their heads in the van, begging shamelessly for peanuts or whatever we would offer them (we had nothing).

The last is one my daughter took as I held my son by the window close enough for him to pet the donkey on the nose.

South Dakota is definitely God's country! A fun time was had by all.

Meteorologist: Global Warming Will be a Joke in 5 Years

From the Timaru Herald in New Zealand, yet another meteorologist who's off the global warming plantation. Says meteorologist Augie Auer:

Man's contribution to the greenhouse gases was so small we couldn't change the climate if we tried, he maintained.

"We're all going to survive this. It's all going to be a joke in five years," he said.

A combination of misinterpreted and misguided science, media hype, and political spin had created the current hysteria and it was time to put a stop to it.

"It is time to attack the myth of global warming," he said.

Water vapour was responsible for 95 per cent of the greenhouse effect, an effect which was vital to keep the world warm, he explained.

"If we didn't have the greenhouse effect the planet would be at minus 18 deg C but because we do have the greenhouse effect it is plus 15 deg C, all the time."

The greenies have a pretty good head of steam, thanks to a not-even-remotely-objective media, so I don't know if I'd say it'll be realized in five years that anthropogenic global warming is a joke. But sooner or later, it'll go the way of the population bombers and ice-agers.

Dry Spells Not New

Some are trying to blame the drought we've had in South Dakota in recent years on the myth of anthropogenic global warming.

A couple of stories yesterday throw water on that drought connection.

One from the New Scientist says a dry spell had something to do with the demise of the Neanderthals.

Another from the Arizona Daily Star says a 60-year-long drought hit the Colorado River area in the 12th Century.

But we can get more mileage out of Marxist, anti-business goals when we blame anthropogenic global warming than accepting the scientific evidence which indicates natural climate cycles and/or solar activity.

Why Marriage is So Important

This is one of the many reasons why marriage is so important, especially to the safety and well-being of children.

From STL Today:

A St. Louis man is in jail in Louisiana, accused of beating to death a toddler he was trying to toilet-train.

The man wasn't the father of the boy; he was just the woman's boyfriend.

Far more children suffer abuse, physical and sexual, at the hands of step-fathers and boyfriends, than they do at the hands of their biological fathers. There's a sad logic to it, since they don't have the same biological connection to the child that the actual fathers do.

We as a society must do everything we can to promote and strengthen marriage, for the most defenseless in our society if for no other reason.

Legislative Safety

Pat Powers at the South Dakota War College makes an important point that I think deserves to be driven home and remembered.

In both of the semi-recent cases involving allegations of sexual contact by a legislator (involving Dan Sutton and Ted Klaudt) on a legislative page, there were friend/family relationships present. It might even be fair to say that the incidents were facilitated by those relationships (not that there's anything wrong with those relationships, just that it made the victim more accessible and perhaps more vulnerable to the perpetrator).

This being the case, these incidents could have happened anywhere; it just so happened that some of the activity happened in Pierre. It could also have happened regardless of whether the perpetrators were legislators or bank CEOs or dog catchers.

The point I'm trying to make is that, while the safety of our children when they participate in legislative page programs should always be paramount, some of the murmuring I'm hearing about scuttling the page program is premature and misguided.

Should there perhaps be more stringent guidelines on who can be where with whom? Maybe so. Should there perhaps be more oversight and safeguards put in place? Maybe so. But I don't think ending the opportunity for young people to take an active part in our state government is the answer.

I hope that when my children are older, they will have an opportunity to go to Pierre, if they're interested. Will I be doing everything possible to ensure their safety? You bet!!! But I'd hate to see them lose the opportunity because of a couple of bad people.

Kephart to Challenge Senator Tim Johnson in '08

The Rapid City Journal announces Sam Kephart, a self-employed businessman from Spearfish, will challenge Senator Tim Johnson for his U.S. Senate seat in 2008:

Kephart, a self-described “Eisenhower Republican,” said he plans to make his campaign official next week with an announcement in Spearfish. He said he wished Johnson well in his rehabilitation from a brain hemorrhage and subsequent surgery in December but also questioned the senator’s ability to continue to meet the rigorous duties of a U.S. senator.

The article seems to indicate Kephart is one of these liberal Republicans who likes to hide the fact that he's a liberal (like almost all liberals do):

Kephart said he has a conservative philosophy on issues involving the budget, business, the military and national security issues but is “progressive, not liberal” on social issues. He considers himself “pro-life” but opposes an abortion ban, unless it allows exceptions for rape, incest, serious health problems and to save the pregnant woman’s life.

For political novices, "progressive" is a code-word for saying you're liberal without (they hope) the baggage of wearing the liberal label. It's like saying, "I'm not fat, I'm just an avid eater."

He also worked to undermine Republican support for the abortion ban last year:

Kephart clashed with the Republican Party last year at the state convention over the abortion issue. He tried unsuccessfully to amend the party’s stated support for a near-total abortion ban approved by the 2006 Legislature with language intended to show respect for opposing views by party members.

Read the whole article here.

Larry Rhoden Outlines 2007 Legislative Accomplishments

The Rapid City Journal features a Forum piece by state House Majority Leader Rep. Larry Rhoden of Union Center.

Rhoden outlines the successful completion of five legislative objectives and takes (mild, in my opinion) exception to those who are prone to whine.

One of the key areas he discusses is education:

This represents a total budget increase of $34.5 million for the largest one-year increase in K-12 education funding in the state’s history. And unlike most years, that was done almost entirely from state funds, not increasing local property taxes.

Rhoden also reiterates his commitment and that of other House Republicans to remembering that they serve the people of South Dakota, and have a responsibility to the taxpayers of this state.

We understand that every dollar we spend comes from the pockets of state taxpayers.

When lawmakers and other politicians forget this, the freedom and livelihood of the people always suffer.

Now, when are we going to start hearing about "Rhoden for Governor" or "Rhoden for U.S. House"?

Building Stronger Marriages

According to ABC News, Texas is sending a bill to the governor's desk that would promote healthy marriages.

As an incentive, the bill would waive the marriage license fee for those who attend premarital counseling. (Legislators are also considering a bill that would require at least one of two spouses seeking a divorce to attend seminar which would outline some of the problems divorce causes, such as financial and family issues).

While government intervention in people's lives should always be weighed carefully, it should also be remembered that marriage isn't just a trip to the store or buying a TV or even getting a new job.

Marriage is the joining of a man and a woman physically, emotionally and spiritually. It was instituted by God in the Garden of Eden and is also the basic building block of civilization.

Families are built on marriage because, without stringent contraceptive intervention, children are the natural result of marriage. Children, for the first 18 years or so of their lives are very dependent on their parents for everything, from material needs to the need for emotional stability and gender modeling.

When families are torn apart, this does incredible damage to children, not only in their emotional development but in academics and other behavioral areas. The vast majority of the problems experienced by youth today--and the problems they cause society in general--from vandalism, theft and other crimes and going on to substance abuse and suicide (these problems eventually translate into adult societal problems, if they live long enough) comes down to a disintegration of stable families.

In short, there is a very, very compelling state interest in promoting wise marriage choices, strong marriages, and reducing divorce with its devastating effects on children.

And before the Godless Left starts calling this an unwarranted intrusion into people's personal lives (I've already made the case that it's warranted) and some new sinister plot by the Religious Right theocrats, remember that the current environment of no-fault divorce is a relatively recent development.

It was invented by the communists in Russia after the revolution as a way to help pave the way to their egalitarian paradise. In the United States, it's a product of the Marxism-infatuated moral cesspool that was the 1960s.

Before that, you had to have a good reason to get a divorce (i.e. adultery). Now it's just "I'm tired of him/her" or "Some other guy/gal gets me hot where my spouse doesn't."

I hope other states, especially South Dakota, will make similar commitments to preserve and strengthen marriage.

Ted Klaudt Feed

South Dakota War College has a link to an affidavit sworn by South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long today, citing specifics of the case and evidence obtained.

I agree that, before the law, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. But the forensic computer/email evidence cited in the affidavit, and the admissions of Klaudt as recounted by AG Long, make a pretty damning case.

More information about these horrible allegations is sure to come out in days ahead, so I'm adding a feed in the upper right side of the blog that will automatically add fresh news stories as they're picked up by Google News.

Ignorance of the Flag

WorldNetDaily also features an article on this anti-American Methodist leader who likens the American flag to a Nazi swastika.

Only someone ignorant of what our flag means could say, "The presence of a national flag in worship can imply endorsement of national policies which often run counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ and our Christian faith."

However, not all Methodists are ignorant and anti-America, as Mark Tooley, the executive director of UMAction, demonstrates:

"Most United Methodists, and most religious people in America, display the flag as a symbol of God's blessings upon our nation," said Tooley. "Following the commandments of Christ, all Christians are called upon to love their nation, wherever they live, and to render unto Caesar his due, even as they render their worship only to God."

If our flag had to do with "policies," it would be the "Bush Flag" or the "Clinton Flag" or the "Reagan Flag," not the American Flag.

Our flag has zero, zilch, zip, nada to do with any national policies. It has everything to do with who we are as a people, our ideals, our principles and our beliefs.

If it represents anything in writing, it represents the ideals represented in the Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution, which is perhaps the most inspired secular document in the history of the world, a document that, while not directly mentioning God, is nevertheless permeated with God's principles of fairness, freedom and justice.

What's so terrible about that?

Giuliani Nomination=Democrat President

From James Dobson on WorldNetDaily, why I've said that if Giuliani gets the Republican nomination, we'll have a Democrat president:

Speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of any organization or party, I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision. If given a Hobson's – Dobson's? – choice between him and Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran – or if worse comes to worst – not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life. My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else.

I think I'd go the "lesser of two evils" road myself, but there are many who would see it as does James Dobson.

A Giuliani nomination would be disasterous not only to Republican voter turnout, but to party donations and certainly to that intangible but oh so necessary synergy that it takes to win an election (remember the pathetic 1996 Bob Dole candidacy?).

More on Ted Klaudt

So far the Argus Leader as the most detailed account of this despicable report about former state Rep. Ted Klaudt.

An excerpt:

He's accused of performing "ovary checks" and "breast exams" on one of the girls under the guise that he was helping her to donate her eggs, according to court records.

The article also says at least some of this alleged activity is supposed to have taken place in a Pierre hotel during session, reminiscent of the Dan Sutton affair.

While it wouldn't have been too extraordinary for a male page to share a room with a male legislator (before the Sutton incident, anyway), a female page sharing a room with a male legislator???

These accusations are disgusting, but there remain a lot of unanswered questions here.

ACLU Harasses Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center

More anti-Christian attack from one of the most anti-American and anti-Christian organizations in the country: the ACLU.

From the Rapid City Journal:

EUGENE, Ore. - The American Civil Liberties Union has asked federal and state officials to investigate whether public money has been used for religious purposes in an abstinence-only sex education program based in Oregon.

The group cites a contract signed by the Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center of Spearfish, S.D., that stipulates that those who present the "Stop and Think" program in schools will "possess an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ" and "attend a Bible believing church or fellowship."

How does a Christian ministry that receives some federal funds for presenting authorized abstinence teaching in public schools constitute "Congress [making a] law respecting an establishment of religion?"

If it doesn't then the ACLU is just harassing people of faith, and Christianity in general.


Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. – George Washington’s Presidential Farewell Address

Alcohol Sales on Pine Ridge: Gasoline on the Fire

Today the Rapid City Journal examines the question of whether to open Pine Ridge up to alcohol sales, especially in light of alcohol sales right on its border in Whiteclay.

Meanwhile, four stores in Whiteclay, Neb. – about two miles south of Pine Ridge village – sell about 4 million cans of beer each year, mostly to people from the Pine Ridge reservation. Crowds of people have marched from Pine Ridge to Whiteclay several times to protest alcohol sales to people from the reservation, which has one of the nation’s highest alcohol-related mortality rates.

“They contribute nothing back to our people,” said Poor Bear, who has led marches to Whiteclay. “The border towns are sure getting rich off us.”

If the tribe did legalize alcohol, Poor Bear said, tax revenues could be used to address alcohol addiction. “I feel the revenues from alcohol would really help us with the detox centers, treatment centers, help with the pain people have in turning to alcohol,” he said.

I know there are alcohol rehab programs on Pine Ridge because I visited one during a church missions project.

Is there a shortage of alcohol rehab programs on the res? The article says there is only one: Anpetu Luta Otipi. But a couple of years ago I know there was Hands of Faith. I'll do more checking on this in days to come.

Would more help the problem of alcohol abuse? Not nearly enough, I'm afraid. Alcohol rehab has some success in dealing with a problem that already exists, but does little to prevent a new problem from springing up.

When I worked in law enforcement, almost all domestic disturbance/violence situations were alcohol related. Most assaults were alcohol related, and many other crimes occurred because someone's judgment was adversely affected. And we won't even go into the dangers to public safety caused by drinking and driving. Many of society's other ills could be solved by getting rid of alcohol. Pound for pound, I think it does more widespread harm than illicit drugs.

It would be good if Whiteclay would quit selling alcohol. Someone who makes money off of other people's misery is the most despicable form of parasite.

United Methodist Church Official Calls for Removal of U.S. Flag from Churches

Compares American flag to Nazi Swastika flag

WASHINGTON, May 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- An official with the Washington, D.C. lobby office of the 8 million member United Methodist Church called this week for the removal of U.S. flags from his denomination's churches. The Rev. Clayton Childers of the Capitol Hill-based United Methodist Board of Church and Society declared: "The presence of a national flag in worship can imply endorsement of national policies which often run counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ and our Christian faith." He ominously noted: "One need only recall the way the Swastika Flag was displayed prominently in German churches during the Nazi era." (Full Story)

More Planned Parenthood Clinics Cover Up Child Rape

91% of 800 facilities contacted agreed to conceal statutory rape

May 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Monday, a New London man was indicted in the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. Now, a police investigation has uncovered that the child was taken for abortions to the Planned Parenthood clinic Norwich in April, July and September of 2006.

Mark Crutcher, the president of Life Dynamics Incorporated of Denton, Texas, says that this is part of a nationwide pedophile protection scandal involving facilities associated with Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation. (Full Story)

Immigration Compromise Denounced as "Amnesty"

Bill offers immediate legal status to those already in U.S. illegally

May 17 /Standard Newswire/ -- Republican Senators have compromised the party position on immigration, saying Republicans and Democrats have "reached an immigration deal." However, fellow conservative Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, says this so-called "Grand Compromise" is "Neither grand, nor a compromise. It's amnesty, and it's bad for America," Hanna said. (Full Story)

Christian Conformists

Marcia Segelstein, a former CBS producer, has an outstanding guest column at OneNewsNow.

In it, she points out that Christians must be rebels in our postmodern culture, if they are going to be true to their religion.

She illustrates the "going with the crowd" mentality held by most people these days, whether they call themselves Christians or not, through a book:

Peter Kreeft, in his book The Snakebite Letters: Devilishly Devious Secrets for Subverting Society As Taught In Tempter's Training School, includes the following advice from a senior demon to his apprentice regarding the person he's trying to ensnare: "Your patient, like most Americans, is a conformist (though he fancies himself a freethinker). He fears being different, eccentric, or (worst of all) 'a fanatic,' much more than he fears being wicked."

She also paints the picture of how things have changed in the last 50 years:

Imagine a mother living in the 1950s, busy raising her children, who suddenly finds herself transported to the year 2007. She picks up the woman's magazine on her kitchen table and blushes in embarrassment. The headline on the cover screams out "Seven Secrets to Great Sex." Next, in some confusion, she reads that the cover story is about how important it is for her to put herself above her children and her husband. Wondering if the world has gone made, she comes across a special section titled "Divorce: How To Share Your Children with Your Ex-Husband's New Wife." And finally she stares in disbelief at a headline that reads: "Abortion and Guilt: They Don't Have to Go Hand in Hand."

Contrary to what the "mainstream" media and other liberals would have you believe, it wasn't that long ago that we were a people who valued morality and integrity, and were a people that put the good of others (e.g. our children) above our personal goals for fulfillment.

Segelstein cites Ronald Reagan as one person who refused to accept the status quo. American presidents since the birth of the Soviet Union had lacked the will to stand up to this bunch of tyrannical thugs, but not Reagan. And in the course of two presidential terms, the Soviet Union had gone from the unassailable world boogeyman to a crumbling memorial to a bankrupt philosophy...crashing to dust just a couple of years after Reagan left office.

If just a few genuine Christians will refuse to accept the status quo, will stop fearing being called a "fanatic," our civilization can be saved.

Are you brave enough to reject the status quo, or are you a conformist?

The Worst Kind of Terrorism

From Fox News:

The gravest terrorist threat in the world today is Islamophobia, foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference said this week.

“It is something that has assumed xenophobic proportions,” they said.

The ministers described Islamophobia as a deliberate defamation of Islam and discrimination and intolerance against Muslims. They accused Western media of misrepresenting Islam and Muslims worldwide, according to a report in Arab News.

“The linkage of terrorists and extremists with Islam in a generalized manner is unacceptable," the ministers said.

"The gravest terrorist threat in the world today is Islamophobia"? First of all, I do not concede that there is an irrational fear of Islam (though there may be a rational fear...more on that momentarily). But it's laughable to claim that a fear of something is a greater form of terrorism than is blowing up innocent men, women and children.

And, whether they like it or not, the linkage of terrorism with Islam is completely logical. This is not to say that all Muslims are terrorists, but still, what is the religious affiliation of most terrorists today? I'll give you one hint: it isn't Christian, Bhuddist, Hindu, Wiccan or even atheist.

What was the religious affiliation of all of the 911 terrorists?

What was the religious affiliation of the people who tried to blow up the WTC in 1993?

What was the religious affiliation of the Khobar Towers bombers?

What was the religious affilation of those who blew up our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania?

What is the religious affiliation of countless people who have killed countless other innocent people in Israel?

What was the religious affiliation of those who attacked the USS Cole?

What was the religious affiliation of the Millenium Bomb plotters?

What was the religious affiliation of the shoe bomber?

I think I've made my point. Are all Muslims terrorists? No. But sadly, every time terrorists acts are perpetrated by Muslims in the name of Allah, all you hear from the Islamic community is crickets.

Evolution and Engaging the Culture

CNS News features a story today about a group challenging the theory of evolution in the public square:

(CNSNews.com) - Billboards that show a man turning into a monkey and an online game entitled "Let's See How Evolution Works" are two elements of a new national campaign launched by a Christian group to call attention to the "lack of proof" for the theory of evolution.

Billboards at six locations in Oregon and Georgia ask "Are They Making a Monkey Out of You?" and additional signs are planned for Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, according to Julie Haberle, founder of the Who Is Your Creator non-profit organization.

It's good to see a group that's aggressively engaging our culture. This sitting-on-the-sidelines-and-waiting-for-culture-to-come-to-you approach that has been a very good losing strategy has to stop.

The "mainstream" media is nothing but an agenda-driven apparatus, despite their protests of "objectivity." Conservative, traditional, and Christian ideas are never going to get a fair shake from the MSM.

So those who believe in these ideas can either keep sitting on the sidelines, allowing themselves to become more and more marginalized, or they can act like they believe their own ideas and take the war of the worldviews out into the public arena.

Me, I prefer to do battle for what I believe in, what I know is right, what I'm convinced can save our rotting, hurting culture. What about you?

Clinton Trying to Steal Limbaugh's Girlfriend?

Rush Limbaugh told the story today of his chance meeting with former president Bill Clinton last night.

One of the interesting tidbits:

At some point during the conversation with the mayor, I looked to my left, and the former president was intently chatting up the woman that I was sitting with.

What do they say about a leopard not being able to change its spots?

Phelps Freaks Plan to Attend Falwell Funeral

That Fred Phelps bunch of idiots plans to go to Jerry Falwell's funeral, according to a Fox News report.

I don't recall Falwell ever denouncing this group, but then I didn't follow everything Falwell said that closely either. What I do know about him leads me to believe he would have completely disagreed with this group. Jerry Falwell stood firm for God's truth, but he did so in the spirit of God's firm love.

Some people believe that this bunch of wackos from Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas is actually a plant by pro-homosexuals to make the rest of us look bad. While I'm not into conspiracy theories, the Phelps Brigade are so nutty and so far away from what the Bible says, I can't completely discount it.

They claim God hates homosexuals. He doesn't; He just hates their homosexual practices and wants them to renounce their sin (John 3:16)

The Fox story says they have a video out that says "God hates the world." Again, John 3:16 says God loves the world so much He sent His Son to die for it.

Their stupid video also says it's too late to avoid God's judgment. It'll only be too late for a sinner to repent when they're dead and/or Judgement Day arrives.

These people are so theologically distorted, they may very well be intended to mislead average Joes to think all Christians are like them.

They are as mistaken as those who say God created people to be homosexual, and who say God approves of homosexual behavior.

Gov't Already Too Involved in Health Care

The National Center for Policy Analysis today examines "Is Health Spending Out of Control?" Regardless of whether you're for or against socialized medicine, I think everyone would agree: "Oh yeah!!!"

But is more government intervention the answer? No way!

Government health programs (principally Medicare and Medicaid) and tax subsidies accounted for more than half ($1.3 trillion) of total health expenditures in 2006.

Already more than half of the $2.2 trillion spent is spent by the government. In other words, our health care system is already more than half "nationalized" or "socialized."

Already about 1/6 of our economy goes to health care, and it's expected to rise to 1/5 in the next 9 years.

Now, when have you ever known of a government program--especially a federal gov't program--to have sufficient oversight to prevent massive waste and abuse? Even with huge amounts of regulation and oversight, which costs even more money, anything the federal government does leaks money like the Titanic.

And government programs always take away freedom, take away choice, take away individual responsibility, take away initiative, and take away innovation...not to mention taking away all the hard-earned tax dollars of the people who make America work.

Market solutions are the only solutions that can slow out-of-control health care costs. They are also the only solutions that will help ensure some respectable level of quality...unlike the long waiting lists for treatment seen in Canada and England.

The South Dakota Zaniya Project needs to take a long, hard look at this...and run as fast and as far as possible from socialized medicine. The freedom-loving, independent people of South Dakota deserve far more than to have some European socialist straight-jacket contraption of health care slapped on top of them.

Read the detailed NCPA report here.

People Who Don't Exist

Another one of those global warming dissenting scientists that don't exist.

From the Commercial Dispatch:

Many people who saw “An Inconvenient Truth,” a global warming documentary featuring Al Gore, immediately became very concerned about global climate change and impending weather disasters.

Don't count state climatologist Dr. Charles Wax of Mississippi State University as one of them.

“First off, there isn't a consensus among scientists,” Wax told the Columbus Rotary Club Tuesday. “Don't let anybody tell you there is.”

Media: Evil Isn't Evil

The Media Research Center does it again, exposing the dumbfounding political correctness of the "mainstream" media.

A recent New York Times article says of the plot by Islamic fanatics to attack Fort Dix:

It is unclear what role, if any, religion played in the attack Mr. Shnewer and the five other men are charged with planning.

That's like saying, "It is unclear what role, if any, religion played in Mother Teresa's missionary work."

MRC contrasts what the New York Post had on the subject:

"When the teen and another employee went into a back room and began the conversion of the tape, they saw a group of bearded men wearing 'fundamentalist attire' and shooting 'big, f-ing guns,' the teen later told co-workers.
"Throughout the 90-minute-long tape, above the booming gunfire at a Pennsylvania target range, the jihadists could be heard screaming 'God is great!'"
[...]
"That call to authorities set in motion a 16-month undercover investigation in which six of the men caught on tape chillingly discussing killing soldiers 'in the name of Allah.'"

But no connection to "the Religion of Peace."

Pathetic Judge Material

WorldNetDaily features an article about 19 candidates to fill a vacancy in the Idaho Supreme Court who couldn't find it within themselves to affirm or endorse elements in the Idaho State Constitution.

For example, Question 1 asked whether the candidates would agree with the statement: "The Founders of the state of Idaho were grateful to God for our freedom."

Not one candidate would respond to the questionnaire, even though the preamble to the state constitution says: "We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare do establish this Constitution."

Are they so unfamiliar with the Idaho Constitution that they were unsure if these things were legal?

Are they so unfamiliar with their heritage that they didn't know these concepts were natural to previous generations?

Are they so caught up in being politically correct that they couldn't even affirm what already exists in their own state constitution?

How many judges in South Dakota--and in the federal judiciary--are so ignorand and/or politically correct?

Going Uphill in a Downhill World

Babu Ranganathan's latest piece at the Conservative Voice examines "entropy and evolution."

In it, he examines one of the reasons why evolution just isn't viable from a scientific standpoint:

The sequence of molecules in DNA (the genetic code) determines the sequence of molecules in proteins. Furthermore, without DNA there cannot be RNA, but without RNA there cannot be DNA. Without either DNA or RNA there cannot be proteins, but without proteins there cannot be either DNA or RNA. These complex molecules are all mutually dependent upon one another for existence!

If the cell had evolved it would have had to be all at once. A partially evolved cell cannot wait millions of years to become complete because it would be highly unstable and quickly disintegrate in the open environment, especially without the protection of a complete and fully functioning cell membrane.

Of course, once there is a complete and living cell then the genetic program and various biological mechanisms exist to direct the formation of more cells with their own genetic programs and biological mechanisms. The question is how did life come about when there were no directing mechanisms.

The great British scientist Sir Frederick Hoyle has said that the mathematical probability of the sequence of molecules in the simplest cell occurring by chance is 10 to the 40,000th power or roughly equivalent to a tornado going through a junk yard of airplane parts and assembling a 747 Jumbo Jet. It is not rational to put faith in such odds for the origin of life.

It requires more faith to believe in evolution, naturalism and materialism than it does to believe in creation.

Abortion Support Dependent on Ignorance

Very insightful piece from LifeNews.com today on Roe v. Wade polling.

As I've said before, how a poll is conducted and what goes into it has a lot to do with the results you get (but only conservatives do biased polling, you have to remember) :-)

Here's what was found from polling by the Judicial Confirmation Network and the Ethics and Public Policy Center:

The survey first asked Americans a generic question about whether they wanted Roe overturned and found the public opposes that by a 55 to 34 percent margin.

The polling firm then told respondents that Roe prohibits states from limiting abortion during the first six months of pregnancy and that, if Roe is overturned, states could make abortion policies that would permit abortion for some reasons and bar it for others.

The percentage changes to just 48 to 43 against overturning Roe -- almost within the margin of error -- when they get more information about what it does and doesn't do. It represents a huge shift of 16 percentage points in terms of the public attitude on the case.

The "mainstream" media feeds the public ignorance and misinformation, then capitalizes on that for their polling. But when people have the facts, you see a different picture.

I would imagine that if you went back and asked this same group the same question again over a period of several months, you would see the results skew away from supporting Roe even more.

I used to be pro-abortion because I formulated my opinion based on the garbage I was getting from the "mainstream" media. Even after I learned the truth, it was something like several weeks later, involving a fair amount of serious consideration during that time, before I faced the conclusion that I'd been wrong about abortion.

That's why it is so important for pro-lifers to take every opportunity possible to educate the public on this issue. Ignorance always has been the best friend of liberalism, and the liberal position of abortion is no exception.

Global Warming: Falling Away from the Faith

From the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works:

Many former believers in catastrophic man-made global warming have recently reversed themselves and are now climate skeptics. The names included below are just a sampling of the prominent scientists who have spoken out recently to oppose former Vice President Al Gore, the United Nations, and the media driven “consensus” on man-made global warming.

The list below is just the tip of the iceberg. A more detailed and comprehensive sampling of scientists who have only recently spoken out against climate hysteria will be forthcoming in a soon to be released U.S. Senate report. Please stay tuned to this website, as this new government report is set to redefine the current climate debate.

Read the partial list and details about these scientists here.

No Liberals in the Democrat Party

The Media Research Center's Times Watch points out the double standards in how Republicans are refrerred to by the "mainstream" media, specifically in context of the debates:

Also, the Times' story on the G.O.P. debate included 10 "conservative" labels, with the candidates constantly defending their "conservative credentials" before a "decidedly conservative crowd." Liberals apparently have no pull in the Democratic party, because the Times' April 27 story didn't see fit to mention their existence or Democratic candidates' attempts to appeal to them.

In case the MRC doesn't know it, there are no liberals on Planet Earth, only "conservatives" and "moderates." :-)

Book: Soviets Behind Six Day War

The Jerusalem Post has an interesting article about a new book which says the Soviets deliberately engineered the Six Day War back in 1967.

In a new book that "totally contradicts everything that has been accepted to this day" about the Six Day War, two Israeli authors claim that the conflict was deliberately engineered by the Soviet Union to create the conditions in which Israel's nuclear program could be destroyed.

Having received information about Israel's progress towards nuclear arms, the Soviets aimed to draw Israel into a confrontation in which their counterstrike would include a joint Egyptian-Soviet bombing of the reactor at Dimona. They had also geared up for a naval landing on Israel's beaches.

The whole article is a good read. As I suspected it would, the book makes the claim that the Soviet's plan fell apart when Israel surprised them by kicking the stuffing out of the entire Arab world that ganged up on them.

Planned Parenthood Continues to Provide Cover to Child Molesters

Multiple incidents reveal PP sweeps statutory rape under the rug

DENTON, Texas, May 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- During a two-year investigation, family planning clinics associated with Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation were caught on tape covering up what they believed was the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.

As part of the undercover operation, Life Dynamics Incorporated of Denton, Texas, recorded over 800 calls to facilities across America in which a female caller portrayed a 13-year-old girl who was pregnant by an adult and wanted an abortion in order to hide the illegal sexual relationship from her parents and the authorities. On the tapes, many of the clinic workers are heard telling the caller that this situation was unlawful and that they were legally mandated to report it to the state.

However, even after acknowledging this, 91 percent of the 800 facilities contacted agreed to illegally conceal it. (Full Story)

American College of Pediatricians Supports Adult Stem Cell Research

Unlike embryonic stem cell research, it has already produced impressive results

GAINESVILLE, Fla., May 14 /Standard Newswire/ --The American College of Pediatricians calls for an end to embryonic stem cell research and recommends the exclusive support of already proven effective adult stem cell research. "Not only does embryonic research require taking the life of human embryos, it also prolongs needless suffering by delaying the development of more promising adult stem cell treatments and cures," states Michelle Cretella, MD, Fellow of the American College of Pediatricians. (Full Story)

Is Nothing Sacred to the Clintons???

By Carrie K. Hutchens

The description of a campaign video (on YouTube) for Clinton says, "President Bill Clinton talks about Hillary's life of public service and why she's the right choice to be president."

Bill Clinton paints this picture of Hillary as one who turned down lucrative jobs to become the champion of children and the poor. It leads up to us seeing a picture of Hillary with Mother Teresa. Is Bill suggesting that Hillary's public service is liken to that of Mother Teresa's? Is he suggesting that Hillary is another Mother Teresa or on her way to being so? One can only wonder since it's doubtful that Mother Teresa would have blessed this campaign she has been pulled into. (Full Story)

Jerry Falwell: In Good Company

Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died today at the age of 73, is in good company now...in more ways than one.

In addition to being at home with his Savior, he's being reviled in his death...just as his Savior was.

From WorldNetDaily:

"Good riddens!!! (sic)" wrote joe on joemygod blog. Richard Weaver added his thoughts: "What a great way to move into the season of gay pride!!!!"

"No wonder everyone is so happy and shiny faced today. I think we all should have lots of premarital (or in some other way offensive to him) sex to celebrate. Yes, I see no ill in celebrating the death of a man who has caused so much pain and suffering to others," added Copperred on the same site.

On Wonkette, a leading liberal website, was this: "At a time like this, people deserve sympathy and good wishes --- except for Falwell, who is an evil ----."

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. John 15:18-21

Climatologist Fired for Global Warming Blasphemy

Funny how the "open minded" and "tolerant" Left will tolerate no dissent or deviation or discussion whatsoever from the party line.

From a Heartland Institute release:

University of Washington climate scientist Mark Albright was dismissed on March 12 from his position as associate state climatologist, just weeks after exposing false claims of shrinking glaciers in the Cascade Mountains.

You can't disagree with the doom-and-gloomers, and facts be damned!

Albright knew from his research that the Cascade Mountains snow pack had not declined anywhere near what Nickels asserted, and that the snow pack has actually been growing in recent years.

At most, according to reliable datasets, the Cascade Mountains snow pack declined by 35 percent between 1950 and 2000. Moreover, even that number is misleading. Nickels and other global warming alarmists deliberately choose 1950 as the "baseline" for Cascade Mountains snow pack because 1950 was a year of abnormally heavy snowfall resulting in an uncharacteristically extensive snow pack.

And consider this:

"If a shorter record is chosen, starting in about 1975 for example, there is a small increase in snow water equivalent," Hartmann concluded (emphasis added).

Facts are facts. Conjecture is conjecture. Liberals tend to confuse the two, especially when conjecture is to their political advantage.

And truth is the inevitable victim.

HT to the National Center for Policy Analysis.

14-Year Old's Abortions Hides Sexual Assault

Again, abortion helps hide the crime of molestation of young girls.

From WNBC.com:

He told police he wanted to keep the child from the girl's first pregnancy, but that her mother forced her to have an abortion. She later had two more abortions.

Thanks, Mom.

Abortion not only murders an innocent life, but hurts women physically and enables their victimization.

Audit of SD Coalition of Schools Approved

According to the Argus Leader, the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board has signed off an audit of the South Dakota Coalition of Schools called for by Attorney General Larry Long.

Long asked for an audit of the books of schools that support the lawsuit and of the coalition. He said it's illegal for a school district to spend public tax money to challenge a state law.

This was my main point in my Rapid City Journal column a few weeks ago: it's silly (if not illegal) for one government entity to sue another government entity for more tax dollars.

Government entities suing other government entities for more money makes about as much sense as a husband suing his wife for more hunting or fishing money, or a wife suing her husband for more money to spend on clothes.

But it appears those that need auditing the most aren't likely to get it. From the Argus:

He [AG Long] also told Guindon by letter that if an audit of the several schools were too expensive and time-consuming, then the audit should cover the coalition's books. That's what Guindon proposes to do, with the legislature's endorsement.

They can probably find out what they need to by looking at the South Dakota Coalition of Schools' books, but it's not really the group that's over the line. While I disagree with the lawsuit, it's their right to give it a try. What's uncalled for is a gov't department (the schools) getting involved in it. They should not behave as activists, but as the servants of the people, paid by the people, that they are.

If people believe the schools aren't receiving "adequate" funding, they can hire a tutor, put their kids in a private school, homeschool them, or elect legislators who see school funding issues the way they do.

That's the correct process in a representative democracy, not getting the courts involved every time we don't like something.

Congressional Approval Below 30%

See if the "mainstream" media doesn't quiet down about Bush's poll ratings.

From Gallup:

Twenty-nine percent of Americans approve of Congress, down slightly from last month's reading (33%) and this year's high point of 37%, while Bush's approval rating is holding steady at 33%.

If Bush's low poll ratings have been cited as if to say he isn't being liberal enough, does this mean the Democrat congress isn't being conservative enough? Is the surrender caucus dragging them down? Is the pro-homosexual big-government agenda causing them to lose favor? Is the emptiness of their "anti corruption" mantra being revealed?

Senate approves bill extending time for ending life support

According to AP writer Kelley Shannon's article on chron.com, "Senate approves bill extending time for ending life support" (May 14, 2007),

"AUSTIN — A Texas law that allows hospitals to end life support after a 10-day notice for patients deemed medically futile would be changed to give patients' families more time under legislation the Senate approved Monday.

The unanimous Senate vote came after private negotiations in Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's office resulted in a compromise among Texas Right to Life, the Texas Hospital Association, disability activists and others."

As the article states, the current futile care law only requires a two day notice to families of an ethics committee meeting and then merely gives the family 10 days in which to transfer the loved one to another facility before life-support can be terminated. If this new legislation is signed into law, it will afford a seven day notice of the meeting, 21 days in which to transfer and another 20 days should the family seek court review.

Deuell further stated,

"One key point in the compromise, he said, was an agreement that nutrition and hydration — food and water — won't be discontinued.

"So we won't starve or dehydrate a patient to death, which is not pleasant," he said.

That the nutrition and hydration issue was addressed, is quite promising.

The proposed law does address some of the concerns of the vulnerable and, while not perfect, is indeed an improvement over the current law and what looks like a ten day vacate or be terminated notice.

Why Giuliani Will Not Be a Nominee

GUEST COLUMN

By Rev. Rob Schenck
Faith and Action, Washington, DC

Rudolph Giuliani has a huge problem--and so do all other candidates that approach abortion as he does. Their huge problem are both their obviously untenable moral positions on abortion, as well as the huge number of pro-life activists and our many allies. We just don't like equivocation or ambivalence. (Full Story)

Governor, you don't need to be reserved about school reserves, still....

By Gordon Garnos

AT ISSUE: Governor Mike Rounds is again complaining about the increased school fund reserves. In a recent Associated Press story he said school officials who are putting extra money into budget reserves instead of teacher salaries or programs and should explain their decision to taxpayers. This is not a new issue. A few years ago it was discovered that some school districts in South Dakota had socked away millions of dollars instead of using that money for teacher salaries. That is when the Legislature put a cap on how much could actually be in those reserve funds. Also, a follow up on last week's column. Some recently published numbers prove the success of the state's alcohol bracelet program. (Full Story)

Close the Gate - The Wish

GUEST COLUMN

BY NANCY KRAAYENHOF

At the beginning of May I informed my daycare chickens that the television would no longer be turned on until Sesame Street starts at 11:30. That is usually the time when we sit down at the table and color or do crafts while I am starting lunch.

I told them I would much rather that they play outside or table toys or anything but sit in front of the boob tube (as I was raised to know it). Of course, we don’t call it that at daycare. (Full Story)

6th Graders Subjected to School-Led Gunman Attack

World Magazine reports a school in Tennessee staged a fake gun attack drill...but told these 6th graders it was real.

"The children were in that room in the dark, begging for their lives, because they thought there was someone with a gun after them," said Brandy Cole, whose son went on the trip.

And then you have this Chicago school showing the R-rated homosexual cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain" to 8th graders.

This stuff is outrageous! And some people claim they can't understand why my wife and I homeschool.

Homeschooling and Socialization

The Lawrence Journal-World & News from Kansas featured an article yesterday on how homeschool socialization is not the problem some make it out to be.

The article examines some of the negative socialization that homeschool children can "miss out on":

They missed being bullied,” she says. “They missed being told they can’t learn beyond what they’re supposed to learn for a particular year. They missed out on being told they’re stupid or, especially, gifted. They missed out on being in a box none of them would fit in.”

They usually miss out on learning foul language and sexual innuendo in grade school, and other bad habits, too. What a shame!

The most quaint thing I noticed from this article was from the attitudes of those opposed to homeschooling. To listen to their socialization objections, you'd think homeschool children were kept locked inside the house all day and all night 24/7 with no interaction with siblings, neighborhood children, homeschool groups, church groups, civic groups, or any of that.

In the past year, my daughter (my son is only 4, so he's not as involved yet) has been on homeschool field trips to the Rapid City Journal, the Coca Cola bottling plant, the airport, the YMCA Science Center, and I'm sure I've forgotten several things. In about two weeks, I'll be taking her to a homeschool outing to Bear Country (which will be her 4th or 5th visit to Bear Country since we quit keeping her locked up in the house 24/7).

In addition to these homeschool group activities, she plays with other children my wife homeschools, neighborhood children, has been active in Girl Scouts since she was 5, our church AWANA program, has attended several years of public swimming lessons, and is now taking ju-jitsu lessons at least twice a week. Without exaggeration, she's done more and seen more in 9 years than I did in 18 going to public school

All this in addition to being several grade levels ahead of her peers academically. Plus she's been learning Spanish for about the last year or so. And our curriculum isn't as rigorous as what some homeschool parents use.

Homeschool children lack socialization? Opponents are just grasping at straws, hoping to make an ailing public system look better.

Global Warming: Indoctrinating Children

Global warming apostle Laurie David wants to indoctrinate children in the religion of global warming.

From Yahoo News:

That's why we wrote our book, The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming. It's for girls like you and yes, boys, too. The more people who understand global warming, the better chance we have at bringing about change -- change as individuals and change as a country.

She also says, apparently in an imaginary conversation with her children

We embarrass you when we glare at hummer drivers and or get emotional when we talk about drowning polar bears.

Her children will be even more embarassed when one day all this global warming hysteria passes and her children learn how profoundly wrong Mom was about all this drivel.

Obama's Bad World View

According to MSNBC, Barak Obama said in Kansas City this weekend:

"The day that this president steps down, the entire world will breath a sigh of relief," said attacking President Bush.

He obviously became confused and disoriented at the podium. What he should have said was, "The day that this president steps down, the entire terrorist world will breathe a sigh of relief."

Anyone can make a mistake.

Health Care: How to Make it Worse

Sibby has an insightful post on the latest from the Zaniya Project as reported by the Argus Leader. It specifically looks at Indian health care.

What I find interesting is how these bureaucrats and politicians can be standing right in the room with the elephant, yet fail to see that it's even there.

Native Americans already have government (free) health care. Yet, according to this article, their health is worse than the general population. I won't get into the possible reasons why right now, though you might guess, but stop and consider that a moment.

Here we have a segment of people with access to "free" health care. Yet their health is no better for it. And the Native American health care facilities I've seen...well, some of those Walter Reed Army Hospital images come to mind, but on a much larger scale.

So more of this "free" government health care is what socialists want to force on us?

No thanks.

Blog Comments Policy

Elais left a comment last night that I rejected because it contained profanity.

Just so you know, I won't reject your comments just because you're wrong, but I will if you use foul language.

If you want to get your comments posted and profanity is normally a part of your public discourse, you'll have to pretend to be an adult long enough to make a comment without obscene language.

Happy blogging!

Poll Results:Nicolas Sarkozy

How will the election of French conservative Nicolas Sarkozy affect Europe's relations with the U.S.?

Final results:

Other nations will be more agreeable without socialist agitation from France - 15.38%
Nations working against the U.S. will continue to do so - 84.62%

I guess I'd have to agree with those results.

Some people didn't like the last poll, such as the wannabe mrs. ellis at Clean Cut Kid.

I got a real hoot out of how liberals can get so bent out of shape at what they perceive as a "biased" poll, yet are oblivious to the biased polls that go on our there every day by "reputable" pollsters like Gallup, CNN, etc. They have both questions answers that are slanted to get the results they want, and sometimes are so open-ended that they can be interpreted any way the media wants to.

A good example are polls on President Bush. The lib media loves to tout his low poll numbers as if to say, "See, Bush just isn't being liberal enough." Did they stop for a moment to think that maybe it's because so many of Bush's supporters think he' isn't being conservative enough, not aggressive enough? I'm sure they've considered that...but they're not going to tell YOU that.

Anyway, the new poll is up in the upper right corner: What’s the best way to succeed in Iraq?

Access to Essential Services, or Just Do-Gooders?

BY CINDY FLAKOLL
CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA - SD

Twenty-five years ago when I worked in a Midwestern hospital, I recall the welfare-recipient mothers of children with mere colds flocking to the local pediatrician who was willing to admit their children to the hospital for an occasional weekend---simply because the mothers said they “needed a break.” I had been forewarned by co-workers about this situation. Then I started seeing it with my own eyes, and I became a believer, because it was so very obvious that this really was occurring. (Full Story)

1/2 Hour News Hour is Back

The 1/2 Hour News Hour is back on Fox News on Sunday nights. I believe they have 13 episodes planned at this point.

Enjoyed the brief quip tonight about the terrorist plot against Fort Dix. They reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's plan was to call for the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Fort Dix.

Which also reminds me of the one about violence in France after the election of Nicolas Sarkozy; they reported that the violence ended after France surrendered to itself.

Still more innuendo than they need, so I hope they'll tone that down. You don't need to make things salacious to make them funny; liberals say and do enough stupid stuff to provide plenty of material.

New Area Code Needed for South Dakota Population Explosion

Okay, so there's no explosion. But KELO reports we'll need a second area code before my daughter heads off to college.

A new analysis by the North American Numbering Plan Administration says South Dakota will need another area code by 2014. But Hanson says each time such a report is issued, the date is delayed. So he doesn't think it will be needed until 2015.