Softly softly, charming Huckabee***Don't underestimate the rocker of the religious right

Softly softly, charming Huckabee
Dec 10th 2009
From The Economist p...

Illustration by KAL

SARAH PALIN may be the Republican Party's rock star, but Mike Huckabee can actually play the bass guitar. While campaigning for the presidency last year, he would often whip it out and start jamming. Lexington heard him a few times. He was at least as good as that other former governor of Arkansas, the one who plays the saxophone. And his latest book has more about rock music in it than the title, "A Simple Christmas", might suggest.

As an eight-year-old boy in 1964, he watched the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and immediately wanted to be one of them. He put "electric guitar" on his Christmas list, but his parents picked something cheaper. After two years, he drew up a list with only the guitar on it. Alarmed by the price, his parents urged him to reconsider. No, he said, it's a guitar or nothing. They gave in. "I didn't know until years later…just how much money $99 was to my parents," recalls Mr Huckabee. It took them a year to pay for it. The lesson? Christmas is about sacrifice. Several Christmases later, when he was a penniless father-to-be, he sold his precious guitars (he had two by then) to buy a washing machine.

Political memoirs aim to make money and charm voters. Mrs Palin's recent volume is generating more cash than Mr Huckabee's, but also more controversy: it is packed with score-settling. Mr Huckabee's memoir, by contrast, is disguised as a book of heart-warming Christmas stories. Cynics will call it corny, but it offends no one. In this, it resembles Mr Huckabee's weekly television show on Fox News. Like a conservative Oprah, he interviews nice people about the challenges they have overcome or the good works they are doing. This week's show featured a football coach who cared for his Alzheimer's-stricken wife, musicians who wrote a song for a vegetable-themed children's movie and an appeal to put old toys in shoeboxes and send them to poor children. Asked why his show is not more strident, Mr Huckabee replies that people want to relax at the weekend.

The race for the Republican nomination in 2012 is wide open. Mrs Palin hogs the headlines, but half the country hates her, so she cannot plausibly win a general election. Mr Huckabee's views on faith, family, abortion, gays and guns are almost indistinguishable from hers, yet hardly anyone hates him. He seems so reasonable: soft-spoken and gently humorous. "Lord give me patience," he says, "right now!" He describes something improbable as being "as likely as someone going up to Chuck Norris and taking away his chest hair". He does not sound intolerant. Of the tut-tutting about a certain golfer, he says: "Don't worry about what's happening behind the doors of Tiger's house. Focus on what's happening behind the doors at your house."...full article

One of coolest Christian emails

 

Awesome!!  We complain about the cross we bear but don't  realize  it is preparing us for the dip in  the road that God can see and we  can't.  Whatever your cross, whatever your  pain,  there will always be sunshine, after  the rain....  Perhaps you may stumble,  perhaps even fall;  But God's always ready, to  answer your call.....  He knows every  heartache, sees every tear,  a word from His  lips, can calm every fear...  Your sorrows  may linger, throughout the night,  But  suddenly vanish, dawn's early  light...  The Savior is waiting, somewhere  above,  to give you His grace, and send you  His love...  God  promises a safe landing, not a calm  passage.       ...and you question   God -'why me?'.. always look at the bigger picture.....  A day without the Lord- Is a day wasted.      No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.94/2545 - Release Date: 12/04/09 13:34:00   Do no harm by any word or deed.  Remain attentive to God's Word.  Stay in Love with God~John Wesley

 

New Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill Introduced in Congress

 

From: Common Sense Updates

Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 12:50 PM

Subject: New Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill Introduced in Congress

Fellow Common Sense Citizens:

 

In case you haven't heard yet, a new "comprehensive" immigration bill has been introduced in the United States House of Representatives.  The bill is backed by a coalition of progressive caucuses.  A roundup of news sources on the new immigration bill is included below.

 

Via the Wall Street Journal:

"The legislation is set to be introduced by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D., Ill.), the chairman of the House Immigration Caucus. The effort has the backing of two key groups within the House Democratic membership - the Hispanic and liberal-leaning Progressive caucuses.

It would offer a path to legal residence for people currently living illegally in the U.S., and would create a new panel within the Department of Homeland Security to make recommendations about future inflows of immigrants, according to an aide to a member of the Progressive Caucus familiar with the legislation.

 

Illegal residents in the U.S. with no criminal records would be able to pay a fine, start to pay taxes, take English and civic classes, and after six years be able to apply for a green card.

 

It was unclear how large the fine would be, and whether the immigrants would be required to pay unpaid back taxes."

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091214-714788.html

 

Via the Washington Times:

"Democrats on Tuesday begin their new push for an immigration bill, hamstrung by the image of legalizing millions of illegal immigrant workers at a time when the unemployment rate stands at 10 percent -- more than twice what it was the last time Congress tried to act...

 

A draft overview of the bill, circulated with the letter, ends some enforcement tools such as the 287(g) local police cooperation program, calls for an electronic verification system to replace the voluntary E-verify program, argues that there's no need for more U.S. Border Patrol agents or fencing, and establishes a long-term path to citizenship for illegal immigrants."

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/15/immigration-bill-backers-try-again-in-face-of-jobl/?feat=home_top5_commented

 

A Press Release from the SEIU:

"Until Congress passes comprehensive reforms, workers will continue to be pitted against each other--denied the opportunity to unite their strength and demand the labor and civil rights protections we need to lift our economy and raise living standards for everyone. This is unacceptable."

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/12/rep_luis_gutierrez_renewing_co.html

 

WORLD NET DAILY -- Obama ripped for plan to bring back 'inquisitions'

 

----- Original Message -----

From: AFAM@chartermi.net

To: AFA-Michigan E-News

Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 2:07 PM

Subject: WORLD NET DAILY -- Obama ripped for plan to bring back 'inquisitions'

"But (Canadian attorney Gerald) Chipeur said he expects the same issues now to be raised in the U.S., because of the expanded 'hate crimes' law signed by Obama.  'I would be shocked if you did not have 100 times more problems with this legislation than we are. Your system is set up to encourage lawyers to do this, and you have so many more people, there is more opportunity for people to take offense,' he said.  ...'This is the way it gets implemented in all the other countries,' (Christian Anti-Defamation Coalition director Gary) Cass said.  'Christians are singled out for prosecution, with threats, imprisonment and fines simply for refusing to stop doing what Christ commands: proclaiming the truth.  These cases are a good precursor of where this goes,' he warned."

 

---------------------------

 

WORLD NET DAILY
www.WorldNetDaily.com
Cave Junction, Oregon
December 13, 2009

Obama ripped for plan to bring back 'inquisitions'
'Witch hunt' expected under new U.S. 'hate crimes' law

by Bob Unruh
WorldNetDaily

The lawyer who handled the years-long battle by Pastor Stephen Boissoin over "hate speech" charges for a letter he wrote to the editor of a local newspaper that cited the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality is forecasting a nationwide "witch hunt" in the U.S. prompted by an expanded "hate crimes" law signed by President Obama.

Gerald Chipeur,  who supervises law offices across Canada, worked from his Calgary headquarters on the defense of Boissoin, who was accused by a university professor of instigating hate against homosexuals with his letter to the editor.

As WND reported, an appellate court in Canada recently reversed the decision by an administrative judge that Boissoin was to pay $5,000 and give a written apology to the professor.

Alberta had adopted a "hate speech" law with promises it would be reserved for actions that accompany "hate speech." Boissoin's letter to the Red Deer Advocate criticized those who "in any way support the homosexual machine that has been mercilessly gaining ground in our society since the 1960s."

"Our children are being victimized by repugnant and premeditated strategies, aimed at desensitizing and eventually recruiting our young into their camps. Think about it, children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system… Your teenagers are being instructed on how to perform so-called safe same gender oral and anal sex … Come on people, wake up!" Boisson wrote.

University of Calgary professor Darren Lund filed the complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission . An administrative law judge later ordered the $5,000 payment and written apology from Boissoin along with instructions not to express his beliefs further.

Chipeur today told WND the damage to religious liberties from the case was immediate and dramatic and continues even though the decision has been overturned.

"I had church pastors, church school principals, board members coming to me for legal advice [when the case erupted]," he said. "They were saying, 'What should we do about our statement of faith, our bylaws, our policies. Should we just completely repeal them so that we won't have people offended?'"

Chipeur said his advice was for organizations to "tell the truth as you see it from the Bible" and the law firm's job was to defend that right.

"Even though I gave them that advice, many pulled punches," he said. "They reversed policies, they buried their statements of faith, ran for the hills. They tried to do everything they could."

Benjamin Bull, chief counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, agreed with the damage assessment.

"Homosexuals got exactly what they wanted. In the marketplace of ideas, one side has now been censored," he said. "This [situation] is exactly what homosexual activists have in mind."

That damage – the suppression of religious beliefs because of the intimidating effect of the lawsuit – continues today, Chipeur said.

"I can tell you there was significant damage from the decision. People continue to be afraid. People aren't going to feel safe overnight. That was the impact of the decision. Christians became afraid," he said.

"They're only human. They were frightened. They acted upon that fear, and started to reverse policies that had been in place forever," he said.

Chipeur described the core problem with the Boissoin case as a misunderstanding on the part of many who believe "hate crimes" laws will make "everyone love everybody."

Further, there are minorities who are not happy with the liberty to live their lives as they choose; they demand government endorsement and approval. Once given that, they then want to crack down on anybody who disagrees with them, he warned.

In practicality, he said, such "hate" laws – the ones in Canada and the U.S. are similar – are intended to address actions, not thoughts.

"This legislation does not address your ability to think it. It does not address your ability to speak it. It does affect your ability to act on this, to prevent someone from having a job, to get accommodations to buy things because of race, religion or sexuality," he said.

But Chipeur said he expects the same issues now to be raised in the U.S., because of the expanded "hate crimes" law signed by Obama.

"I would be shocked if you did not have 100 times more problems with this legislation than we are. Your system is set up to encourage lawyers to do this, and you have so many more people, there is more opportunity for people to take offense," he said.

"There are certain people in society who look to the government for everything, including to help them with their hurt feelings. The government was never made for that," he said.

Regardless, "there are those who want the government to bless their approach to life, whatever it is, because they have this view. They come to the point they want the government to say … you are right."

"We've learned from history that's a very bad idea. You get persecution, which is exactly what's happening here," he said.

Then those interests want the "power of the state to punish anyone who disagrees," he said. The result is, "doing exactly what we did 500 years ago. They will be going on a witch hunt, [repeating] the Spanish Inquisition."

"This is not theoretical. We've already seen it, hospitals, school boards, religious organizations pummeled with this. There are board meetings going on as we speak … talking about what they can do to avoid having complaints," he said.

The Boissoin appeals court ruling did not strike down the "hate speech" law, but it sets limits for its use. The Alberta ruling means "hate speech" laws cannot be used to silence religious expression or public debate simply because someone takes offense. Such a provision would, in fact, violate the Canadian Charter of Human Rights, the ADF said.

The accuser in such a case "must demonstrate that the speech contributed to actual harm," ADF said.
Obama signed the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" in October after Democrats strategically attached it to a "must-pass" $680 billion defense appropriations bill.

The law cracks down on any acts that could be linked to criticism of homosexuality or even the "perception" of homosexuality. As Congress debated it, there were assurances it would not be used to crack down on speech. But with the law only weeks old, it has yet to be tested in court.

Days after Obama signed it, in response, pastors and other Christian leaders gathered to read from the Bible at a rally organized with the help of Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Coalition.

Former Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt of PrayInJesusName.org read from Romans: "And they that commit such things are worthy of death."

"The government has to invade my thoughts to decide what my motive was in quoting the Bible," Klingenschmitt explained. "I can be prosecuted if the government thinks my motive was wrong."

The rally took place in front of the offices of Attorney General Eric Holder, who supported the bill although he explained it does not protect all people equally. He is charged with enforcing the law.

Obama boasted of the "hate crimes" bill when he signed it into law.

"After more than a decade, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray or who they are," he said.

Some of the rally was captured by Christian Broadcasting Network on video:

"If this law is used to silence me or any of these preachers for speaking the truth, then we will be forced to conscientiously defy it," Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, declared. "That is my calling as a Christian and my right as an American citizen."

Janet Porter of Faith2Action called it a "sad day for America."

"While a small minority of homosexual activists are celebrating, thousands of pastors, priests and rabbis are lamenting their loss of First Amendment freedoms. I for one refuse to bow before this unjust and unconstitutional law, and I intend to continue to preach the whole counsel of God as revealed in the Scriptures,'" she wrote.

"But this law doesn't just affect pastors; it will criminalize the beliefs of millions of ordinary people who may now be afraid to speak even their pro-marriage positions lest it spark a federal 'hate crime' investigation," Porter wrote.

Cass noted in the U.K., a senior citizen was accused of "hate crimes" for writing a letter objecting to a pro-homosexual festival:

"This is the way it gets implemented in all the other countries," Cass said. "Christians are singled out for prosecution, with threats, imprisonment and fines simply for refusing to stop doing what Christ commands: proclaiming the truth."

"[These cases] are a good precursor of where this goes," he warned.

The bill signed by Obama was opposed by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which called it a "menace" to civil liberties. The commission argued the law allows federal authorities to bring charges against individuals even if they've already been cleared in a state court.

http://www.wnd.com:80/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=118710

A Suggested Survival List by Chuck Baldwin, December 15, 2009

A Suggested Survival List
By Chuck Baldwin
December 15, 2009

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20091215.html

One does not have to be a prophet to know that we are on the precipice of
some potentially catastrophic--or at the very least, challenging--days. In
fact, most of us are already in challenging days, and some are already
enduring catastrophic events. That is, if one would call being out of work,
losing one's home, facing life-threatening medical conditions without any
prospect of medical insurance, several families being forced to live in one
house due to homes being foreclosed, etc., catastrophic.

The potential for an escalation of cataclysmic events, however, is very
real. Only a "blooming idiot" would call someone who attempts to prepare for
"the day of adversity" a Chicken Little now. Anyone who does not see the
storm clouds on the horizon isn't paying attention.

For example, can one imagine what would happen if terrorists nuked a major
American city or cities? (Once again, I encourage readers to go get the
videos of the CBS TV series "Jericho" to get an idea of how quickly life,
and even civilization, could change.) Imagine if there was another 9/11-type
event. What would happen if some form of Zimbabwe-style inflation hit the
US? What would happen if anything disrupted the distribution of Welfare
checks, or food to local grocers? Imagine a Hurricane Katrina-style natural
disaster in your town. I think people everywhere are beginning to awaken to
just how vulnerable we all really are.

As a result, people from virtually every walk of life have recently been
asking my thoughts on how they should prepare. Therefore, I will attempt to
share with my readers some of the counsel I have given these folks.

First, a disclaimer. I am not an economist; I am not a survival expert; I am
not a firearms expert; I am not an attorney; I am not a physician. In fact,
I am not an expert in anything! For several years, however, I have tried to
learn from others. I am an avid reader. My work has allowed me to travel
extensively. I have had the privilege of sitting at the feet of--and
learning from--many of America's most learned, most trained, and most
qualified "experts" in a variety of fields. What I write today, I have
learned from others. I've formed my own opinions and priorities, of course,
but everything I'm sharing has been said, or written about, before. But if I
can share something in today's column that will help someone be better
prepared for the days to come, then my goal will have been achieved.

Location:

First, analyze your living conditions. Where do you live? Do you live in an
urban or rural environment? Is it a big city or small town? Do you live in
an apartment or condominium? How close are your neighbors? Do you even know
your neighbors? Would you trust them if the electricity was off and they
were hungry? Could you grow your own food, if you had to? How easily could
you secure your home? If you live in a cold weather environment, how long
could you stay warm without electricity? These are the kinds of questions
you need to ask yourself now.

Over the past several decades, masses of people have migrated into large
metropolitan areas. More people live in urban areas than at any time in
American history. While this may be well and good for times of prosperity,
it is an absolute nightmare in any kind of disaster. Does anyone remember
what New Orleans looked like after Hurricane Katrina came through? Can
anyone recall what happened in downtown Los Angeles during the 1992 riots?
Needless to say, any inner-city environment could become a powder keg almost
instantaneously, given the right (or wrong) circumstances. And the bigger
the city, the bigger the potential problems.

If you live in the inner city, I suggest you consider moving to a more rural
location. Obviously, now is a very good time to buy property (especially
rural property), but the downside is, selling property is not as favorable.
If you can afford it, now is a great time to buy a "safe house" outside the
city. If you are fortunate enough to have family or some true friends
nearby, you might want to put your heads--and some resources--together in
preparation for serious upheaval. Obviously, a team of prepared people is
much better than being alone.

If you must stay in your urban location, have some commonsense plans in hand
in the event of a major disaster. Get to know your neighbors: find out whom
you can trust and whom you can't. Keep some extra gasoline on hand, in case
you need to get in your car quickly and leave. Have several exit routes
planned ahead of time, in case roads are blocked. Have a "bug-out" bag
containing essential ingredients to live on for 3 or 4 days. If leaving is
not an option, have a plan to secure your home as best you can. You'll need
to think about things such as food, water, medicine, warmth, self-defense,
etc. But at this point, to do nothing is absolute lunacy!

Provisions:

During a major disaster, food will quickly disappear. Living for over 3
decades on the Gulf Coast, I can tell you with absolute certainty that
whenever disaster strikes (usually an approaching hurricane, for us), food
and provisions at the store sell completely out in a matter of a few hours.
People panic, and within hours, you cannot find food, bottled water, ice,
generators, batteries, candles, etc. In a matter of hours, every gas station
in the area will be completely out of gas. Not days. Hours!

Furthermore, almost all disasters include a complete loss of electricity.
The water supply is compromised. Bottled water becomes more valuable than
bank accounts. Dehydration becomes a very real and present danger. I
remember witnessing a man offer an ice vendor $100 for an extra bag of ice
during Hurricane Ivan. My wife and I went 2 weeks (14 days) without
electricity in the aftermath of that hurricane. Believe me, I got a taste of
just how precious bottled water, ice, batteries, generators, fuel, etc., can
become.

I suggest you have a supply of food and water to last at least 2 weeks. A
month would be even better. Personally, I can live a long time on tuna fish
or peanut butter. You can purchase MREs from a variety of sources, as well
as "camp-style" packaged food from stores such as Academy Sports & Outdoors.
Of course, bottled water is available everywhere during normal times. Stock
up! Plus, I suggest you have some water purification tablets or a Katadyn
water filter on hand. And, if you are able, prepare to grow your own food.
Canning food is another very helpful hedge against deprivation. If your
parents were like mine, this was standard operating procedure.

Get a generator. Keep a supply of fuel on hand. Stay stocked up on
batteries, candles, portable lights, first aid supplies, and personal
hygiene items--especially toilet paper. Trust me, during times of intense
and prolonged disaster, toilet paper could become more valuable than money.
I also suggest you never run out of lighters or matches. You never know when
you'll need to build a fire, and during a prolonged survival situation, fire
could save your life. If you live in a cold weather climate, you probably
already have some sort of wood stove or fireplace.

Obviously, you need to take stock of your clothing. Do you have clothes
suitable for extended outdoor activity? What about boots? During a disaster,
you would trade your best suit from Neiman Marcus for a good pair of boots.
Do you have gloves? Insulated underwear? What about camouflage clothing?
These could become essential outerwear in the right conditions. Plus, any
"bug-out" bag will need to include spare clothing.

And one more suggestion, while we're on this subject: the best resources in
the world are of little use if one is physically incapable of making good
use of them. In other words, GET IN SHAPE. During any kind of emergency
situation, physical exertion and stamina become immensely important.

Commodities:

I suggest you have at least some cash on hand. Just about any and all
disasters will result in banks being closed for extended periods of time.
That also means credit card purchases being suspended. You need to have
enough cash to be able to purchase essential goods (if they are even
available) for an undetermined amount of time.

Of course, some survival gurus insist that during any cataclysmic climate,
precious metals will become the only reliable currency. But when most of us
are trying to feed our families and pay our bills, it is difficult to get
excited about buying gold and silver. Obviously, I would never recommend
that anyone jeopardize the present on the altar of the future. My parents
made it through the Great Depression with canned goods and garden
vegetables; gold and silver were certainly not a priority with them. And
maybe it should not be with you, either?

In fact, in a disaster, what is considered a valuable commodity can change
rather quickly, as the barter system takes a life of its own. What is
valuable is determined by what you need and how badly you need it. In a
prolonged disaster, simple things such as toilet paper, canned goods,
ammunition, and clothing could become extremely valuable; while cars, video
games, televisions, etc., could be reduced to junk status. In antiquity,
wars were fought over things such as salt.

Speaking of cars, remember that during a prolonged "national emergency" that
might involve some sort of nuclear attack or widespread civil unrest, an
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) might be employed; in which case, most every
late model vehicle would be completely inoperable. Accordingly, if one can
keep an older, pre-computer-age vehicle in good working order, he or she
might be driving the only non-government vehicle capable of going anywhere.

Self-Defense:

Needless to say, during any kind of disaster, your safety and protection
will be completely up to you. If you really think that the police are going
to be able to protect you during an upheaval, you are living in a
dreamworld.

In both the New Orleans and Los Angeles disasters, police protection was
non-existent. Lawless gangs quickly took control of the streets, and people
were left to either defend themselves or swiftly become the helpless prey of
violent marauders. In fact, in New Orleans, some of the policemen actually
abandoned their oaths to uphold the law and joined with the criminals,
turning their weapons upon the public.

Face it, folks: in any kind of disaster, you must be able to defend
yourself, or you and your family will be meat for these animals of society
that will quickly descend without mercy upon the unprepared, unsuspecting
souls around them. This requires that you be armed! It also requires that
you be skilled enough to be able to efficiently use your arms.

Therefore, I strongly suggest that you purchase firearms sufficient to keep
you and your family safe, and also that you practice sufficiently to know
how to proficiently use them.

Now, when it comes to a discussion of which firearms are preferable for
self-defense, the suggestions are as varied as the people who proffer them.
These are my suggestions:

I believe every man (along with his wife and children of adequate age)
should be proficient with the following weapons: a handgun in .38 caliber or
above, a .22 rifle, a center-fire hunting rifle, a semi-automatic battle
rifle, and a shotgun.

My personal preference for a self-defense handgun is either a .45 ACP 1911
(either Colt or Kimber) or a .40 S&W. In the .40 caliber, my favorite is a
Glock 23. In the 1911, I like the Commander size configuration. I also like
the Glock 30 and 36 in .45 caliber. My wife prefers to carry a Smith &
Wesson .38 caliber revolver in the snub-nose, J-frame configuration. But
this is primarily due to the reduced weight of these weapons for carry
purposes. If needed, she could make a good accounting of herself with a
Glock 19 in 9mm. If you are someone who has never owned and seldom fired a
handgun, I recommend you buy a Glock. They are as simple as revolvers to
operate, reliable, and almost indestructible. Plus, they provide increased
magazine capacity, and are safe. They are also very easy to disassemble and
clean.

For a .22 rifle, I really like the Ruger 10/22. For a hunting rifle, my
suggestion is either a .270 or .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle. (If I had
to pick one, I'd pick the .30-06.) I prefer the Remington Model 700 BDL, but
there are several fine weapons in this configuration and caliber by numerous
manufacturers. For a battle rifle, I suggest an AR-15-style weapon in .223
caliber. Here I prefer a Bushmaster. (Please, I don't need to hear from all
you .308 lovers out there. I love the Springfield M1A, too.) For a shotgun,
I suggest a 12-gauge pump. Here I prefer a Winchester Model 1300, which is
not made anymore. So, you'll probably have to choose between Mossberg and
Remington.

Whatever you choose, practice with it to the point that you are able to use
it proficiently. And be sure you stock up on ammunition. A gun without ammo
is reduced to being either an expensive club or a cumbersome paperweight.

Spiritual Power:

I firmly believe that man is created to have fellowship with his
Creator-God. I really don't know how people can face the uncertain future
that we currently face without the spiritual knowledge, wisdom, comfort, and
power that is made available through Jesus Christ. I believe the maxim is
true: "Wise men still seek Him." I strongly suggest that you seek to possess
a personal relationship with God's only begotten Son.

That we are facing challenging days is a certainty. Exactly what that means
is yet to be determined. I trust that some of my suggestions will help you
be better prepared for what lies before us.

*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these
editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by
credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php

(c) Chuck Baldwin

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Dow-funded U-M researcher at odds with MI DEQ=Scientist won't cave to Govt. ideologs

Dow-funded U-M researcher at odds with DEQ

State environmental agency has asked for help in addressing misunderstandings caused by study

By Eartha Jane Melzer 12/15/09 9:41 AM

State officials say that a Dow Chemical-funded University of Michigan study on dioxin exposure in the Saginaw River watershed has spurred misperceptions about the contamination threat caused by Dow — and they say U-M's lead researcher has not fully cooperated in efforts to address the problem....full article

my comment:

Ah yes, the Government Religion of Science at work.  With Climategate opening a window into the politics of social structuring by manipulating facts of science to fit their agenda, we can see it clearly now in this article, in the DEQ.

 

What is not being told is why do the residents outside of the dioxin contaminated area have such high reading of it in their blood?  What is being hidden and why is the State after Dow?  Is it that the EPA and the DEQ are not wanting we the People to know the truth about dioxin?

 

Maybe it is time for the Michigan State University comes forth with their facts on dioxin in our diet.  It has been years now since MSU turned out facts that corn fed animals are high in dioxin whereas legume fed animals are high in beta-carotene.  About three years after the study was release, I heard a news blirp stating that this Study must not be sat on very much longer.  Immediately following that announcement, the USDA came out with the grants for ethanol plants.  Go figure. 

 

George

Maybe we can just throw the symptoms under fibro-myalgia.  I am sure DEQ wants a pay raise too.

Chuck Norris : What if Mother Mary Had Obamacare?~C. Norris-Townhall/Abortion funds in Omnibus Bill

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Debra Mantey

To: Debra Mantey

Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 9:52 AM

Subject: Chuck Norris : What if Mother Mary Had Obamacare? - Townhall.com

http://townhall.com/columnists/ChuckNorris/2009/12/15/what_if_mother_mary_had_obamacare

The people are masters of both Congress and the Courts, not to overthrow the 
Constitution, but to CHALLENGE the men who pervert it.
Abraham Lincoln

 

A Time of Universal Deceit -- by Star Parker

 

Dear Friend of CURE, Here's Star Parker's weekly column. Hope you can take the time to read it. A Time of Universal Deceit Our national history began by asserting "self evident truths"
Star Parker, founder and president of CURE Americans, not surprisingly, are feeling cynical. Gallup's just released Honesty and Ethics of Professions poll shows that for the first time, a majority -- 55 percent -- rate members of the U.S. House of Representatives low/very low for honesty and ethics. Senators come in slightly better at 49 percent. A whopping 9 percent of the house and 11 percent of the Senate get high/very high ratings in honesty and ethics. Even members of the clergy do not escape this cynical cloud hanging over the nation. Although 50 percent rate the clergy as high/very high in honesty and ethics, this is the lowest since Gallup starting reporting it. This prevailing mood of distrust is understandable given how commonplace it has become for so many in public life to lie to us. A mountain of hacked emails shows that scientists who held the public trust regarding information on climate change research were liars. The emails show they selectively expunged data and suppressed research not supporting the conclusions they wanted showing man-made global warming. Congress is frenetically trying to pass major health care reform that report after report shows is filled with politically manipulated data and conclusions. And now we learn that even Tiger Woods has been lying to us about whom he is. What is so troubling is that all this is not about human error or fallibility. It's the opposite. It's about individuals intentionally manipulating information to deceive the public in order to advance their own personal agendas. The late writer/physician Michael Crichton pointed out back in 2003 in a speech he gave at the California Institute of Technology the common sense being violated in the research allegedly showing that human activity is causing the earth's climate to irreversibly warm. "Nobody believes a weather prediction twelve hours ahead. Now we're asked to believe a prediction that goes 100 years into the future? And make financial investments based on that prediction? Has everyone lost their minds?" Similarly in the health care reform push, simple exercise of common sense would put the brakes on what is going on. Before us is proposed massive new government expenditures and intervention into health care markets under the assumption that the benefits of all this government activity will exceed the costs. But simple honesty would recognize that if this were true it would be unprecedented. When Medicare was enacted in 1967, the projections then were that its annual expenditures by 1990 would be $12 billion. Actual expenditures in 1990 were $110 billion. Medicaid started as a proposed modest program with $1 billion in annual expenditures. It's now $280 billion. We're told that health care reform won't cost more than $900 billion over the next 10 years. This is accomplished on paper by sleight of hand. Taxes are assumed to start in 2010, but expenditures not until 2014. Starting the meter when the expenditures actually begin shows that over the first ten years the costs are more like $2.5 trillion. It's not that we no longer know how to conduct honest inquiry in America. It's that our interest in doing so is disappearing. How can you search for truth in a society that increasingly denies that truth exists? What is adultery when our acceptance of something as basic as the definition of marriage can change with the political winds? So Tiger Woods, unhampered by moral constraint, simply pays handlers to produce a public image calculated to maximize his income. Our national history began by asserting "self evident truths." Now we have a president who, in his interpretation of our constitutional history, writes: "Implicit in its structure, in the very idea of ordered liberty, was a rejection of absolute truth ..." It must have been times like this that George Orwell had in mind when he wrote: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Have you read these other articles by Star Parker yet? Will Baltimore succumb to culture of death? Of 50 individuals who testified before the council's hearings, there was not a single client of a pregnancy center who claimed to have been misled 'The Blind Side' should trouble as well as inspire Oher's story is about private individuals, about personal choices and responsibility, and about Christians Sodom in the nation's capital There is a centrality of the traditional family to the American dream of opportunity and a centrality of family breakdown to poverty Abortion, health care, and socialism Rather than recognizing that every human being is unique and free, created in God's image, socialism tries to turn us into laboratory rodents, pretending to manage our lives according to predictable formulas Challenges for a Republican renaissance We cannot lose sight that we won't have a prosperous nation without free markets and limited government as our constitution originally intended Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service Send a comment to Star Parker Support CURE
Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education 722 12th Street, NW Fourth Floor Washington, DC 20005 telephone 202-479-2873 (CURE) www.urbancure.org	urbancure.org CURE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

It must have been times like this that George Orwell had in mind when he wrote: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

A Value-Added Tax Won't Solve the Deficit Crisis | Only FairTax & Constitution can

A Value-Added Tax Won't Solve the Deficit Crisis

by Brian Garst
As Congress prepares to raise the debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion, there are renewed calls from political elites for a value-added tax in America. The New York Times all but campaigned for the idea while touting it as a possible "cure for deficits." But a VAT would do nothing to solve our deficit problem. Rather, it would supply new fuel to big government bureaucrats addicted to spending....full article
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my comment:

Employment is the only method of growing revenue.  VAT will further harm the American Manufacturing.  FairTax will have the effect of creating so many jobs, we will have inflation based on employee income for once.  Not since the Federal Reserve appeared, have we experienced this.  FairTax please.

As to a balanced budget, it is not necessary, not if we would have a Constitutional Budget.  Spending at the federal level would reduce dramatically, taking back all the looted taxes to the States to manage their own affair.  I never could understand how the Federal tax would be more then the State tax.  Today, the equivalent to replace our production tax by a consumption tax is at least 23%.  It should be around 3 to 5 %.  A State with FairTax under the Federal Gov. Constitutional budget would rise, no would remain the same or drop as domestic production would flourish. 

What was the good old days will not be able to stand up to the prosperity if we FairTaxed and all became Federalist=went by the Constitution.

George