Once again the President and the Congress have shown themselves to be clueless - utterly clueless. It was announced that the President asked federal employees to take one for the team so to speak by accepting a reduction in the amount of their salary increases. He announced they would be asked to accept a decrease from a 2.4% raise to a 2.0% raise.
What a magnanimous gesture on behalf of the President. He thought it would be appropriate since so many Americans were out of work and others were not receiving raises.
Congress gave themselves COLA raises. Congress also approved a hefty increase in the fund they use to pay their staffers, so they could give them raises. Now other federal employees will also get raises.
NOTE: Social Security recipients will not get COLA raises, when their highly paid Congressman will!
The federal government is out of control. The deficit IS NOT due to medical costs or other such nonsense. It is out of control because those feeding at the public trough believe it is their birthright to spend whatever they went - and in an unlimited fashion when it benefits themselves.
They further act as if we do not have a clue. It is ridiculous beyond description. Others receive raises when they are financially successful in their profession. It is called a merit raise. This organization is bankrupt and they are giving everyone a raise. The hypocrisy is beyond description.
The President and Congress scream at successful people for having corporate jets and then buy their own. They scream about high level salaries and then give themselves and their people raises when they are clearly incompetent and incapable of controlling anything they do. The debt is where it is because these decisions have been made for years and nothing has changed. They are clueless.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Billy Graham's Prayer for America
The following is a prayer reported on Paul Harvey's broadcast. It is a prayer reportedly written by Billy Graham. It certainly is a prayer all of us should pray for our country:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before you today to ask your forgivness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. O search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen.
And I would say, "Lord I agree with this prayer for me, for my state, and my country. We lift up this prauer from our hearts Lord." Amen
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before you today to ask your forgivness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. O search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen.
And I would say, "Lord I agree with this prayer for me, for my state, and my country. We lift up this prauer from our hearts Lord." Amen
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
President Asks for Pastors to Comment on Healthcare
Last week, President Obama met with a group of rabbis in an effort to combat the demise of his terrible vision for changing how healthcare is delivered in the United States. He asked them to include in their sermons illustrations of how people are suffering from lack of healthcare coverage under the current way insurance and healthcare functions.
It is interesting that the President who eschewed the National Day of Prayer would ask support from people of faith for anything, but especially to support the government taking control over our lives. Such is the desperation he and his political cronies are feeling as America discovers its mistake in electing Barack Obama and rejects his liberal, government in control view of the future.
It also highlights his liberal hypocrisy. He has only asked religious leaders with a liberal bent politically. He has not reached out to the Catholic church - this despite the fact they run hospitals, hospices, senior adult homes, etc. In fact, the Catholic church has probably cared for more AIDs victims than anyone else in America through their hospices and other church programs. Democratic liberals in Washington are not reaching out to Southern Baptist pastors asking us to speak about healthcare issues in our sermons. Why? He knows that our vision differs from his at every level. In fact, our own Senators and Congressmen have not asked Southern Baptist pastors to host town hall meetings for them in Arkansas. I wonder why?
I can tell you confidently that they would scream "separation of church and state" if they were to ever hear a sermon from me or one of my friends regarding the role of government in healthcare.
For liberals such as the President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Senate Majority leader, people of faith are anathema. In their misguided effort to hijack America to their twisted vision, they will even use what they disdain in order to reach their ends.
It is interesting that the President who eschewed the National Day of Prayer would ask support from people of faith for anything, but especially to support the government taking control over our lives. Such is the desperation he and his political cronies are feeling as America discovers its mistake in electing Barack Obama and rejects his liberal, government in control view of the future.
It also highlights his liberal hypocrisy. He has only asked religious leaders with a liberal bent politically. He has not reached out to the Catholic church - this despite the fact they run hospitals, hospices, senior adult homes, etc. In fact, the Catholic church has probably cared for more AIDs victims than anyone else in America through their hospices and other church programs. Democratic liberals in Washington are not reaching out to Southern Baptist pastors asking us to speak about healthcare issues in our sermons. Why? He knows that our vision differs from his at every level. In fact, our own Senators and Congressmen have not asked Southern Baptist pastors to host town hall meetings for them in Arkansas. I wonder why?
I can tell you confidently that they would scream "separation of church and state" if they were to ever hear a sermon from me or one of my friends regarding the role of government in healthcare.
For liberals such as the President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Senate Majority leader, people of faith are anathema. In their misguided effort to hijack America to their twisted vision, they will even use what they disdain in order to reach their ends.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Editorial in Today's Ark-Dem Gazette
There was a fascinating editorial in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette that is worth a read. Someone wrote in regarding one of Senator Pryor's recent votes. It appears that the evidence continues to pour in that the frustration and outrage over the way Washington treats the American public is real.
The public has been lied to and given so many disingenuous positions over time that the distrust is real and significant. It is clear that long time Senators and U.S. Representatives do not understand this fact. The outrage is far more than just the terrible policies and direction they are and have been moving the country. It is also the fact that they engage in a one-sided conversation. Their voice is the only one that matters to them. They also speak in disingenuous statements and simplistic generalities intended to cover what they are truly trying to do. When questioned by thinking people, they are offended. Offended partly because of the hubris generated by their "status"(important in their own minds only) and partly because the public is too smart to be duped by their poor excuses for arguments.
Read the editorial this morning - it's good to know our frustration is not the only frustration.
The public has been lied to and given so many disingenuous positions over time that the distrust is real and significant. It is clear that long time Senators and U.S. Representatives do not understand this fact. The outrage is far more than just the terrible policies and direction they are and have been moving the country. It is also the fact that they engage in a one-sided conversation. Their voice is the only one that matters to them. They also speak in disingenuous statements and simplistic generalities intended to cover what they are truly trying to do. When questioned by thinking people, they are offended. Offended partly because of the hubris generated by their "status"(important in their own minds only) and partly because the public is too smart to be duped by their poor excuses for arguments.
Read the editorial this morning - it's good to know our frustration is not the only frustration.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Great Information on Healthcare
Although I have not [posted in a week or so due to exciting but time consuming things at church, I have been following the healthcare debate - as have you all. I have added to my following section an incredible political blog worth your time. It has posted some excellent information on the debate over the Democratic Party's hijacking of the healthcare system.
Please check out http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog and read this blog. There is an excellent youtube video on there related to abortion and euthanasia that will result from the proposal by the Democratic Party, and specifically President Obama and his partners in crime.
For christians, it is especially frightening. The pro-life movement has been warning the country for years that if we persist in legalized abortion, that it will so devalue human life that we will eventually reach the point where we devalue the lives of the elderly and those with physical and mental handicaps.
Please watch the video, stayed engaged in the debate, and pray for our nation.
Please check out http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog and read this blog. There is an excellent youtube video on there related to abortion and euthanasia that will result from the proposal by the Democratic Party, and specifically President Obama and his partners in crime.
For christians, it is especially frightening. The pro-life movement has been warning the country for years that if we persist in legalized abortion, that it will so devalue human life that we will eventually reach the point where we devalue the lives of the elderly and those with physical and mental handicaps.
Please watch the video, stayed engaged in the debate, and pray for our nation.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Judge Sotomayor's words say more than intended
The hearings for Judge Sotomayor, nominated to serve on the United States Supreme Court, have been telling in ways beyond intended by liberals. It has been well documented that she has far left views on race and gender. She has been repeatedly quoted, in public settings, commenting that she views her experiences as a Latina would qualify her to make better rulings as a matter of course than a white male.
It has also been reported that she has publicly disagreed with a famoucomment made by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor - that a wise old man and and a wise old woman would reach the same conclusion. That is because it is about wisdom and not gender or race.
In her hearings, Judge Sotomayor has been backtracking on everyone of these statements. She has called them mistakes. She has basically lied by saying they were misinterpreted and then restating it in a fashion which is the exact opposite of her oft repeated, clearly stated opinion.
Her views are biased and extreme. They reveal a sense of superiority because of her race and gender over someone like, say me. These views have been consistent, public, and are revealed in numerous rulings. Her testimony in trying to distance herself from her own comments are disturbing on two separate accounts. It is difficult to determine which one is worse.
On the one hand, it is ridiculous to believe her changes in position when they have been clearly stated and acted upon for the course of her life. It is only in Washington that people believe she would change such long held beliefs. That means to put it bluntly, she is not telling the truth. She is a crass politician working with crass politicians to do what crass politicians do -say whatever you have to say, because people and the truth do not matter anyway, to get where you need to go. Their position is that people in America aren't smart enough to be discerning anyway. So just change your life long beliefs by lying about them - which is what she has done repeatedly.
On the other hand, her statements are wrong. Some might argue it shows something on her part "to move to the center" as if this is some great sign of integrity and intelligence(that is a blog for another day). What does it say about her integrity and moral center that she wold so easily shift from long held views simply to get a job. It means she is not anchored in her belief system and blows with the political winds.
Which is worse lying to the public or having no strength of character to hold to who she is and what she believes. It is a toss-up. Neither apparently bother her benefactor President Obama because is exactly the same person. She has support from her side of the aisle as well in such kindred spirits as Senator Charles Schumer - whose only standard for what he says is whether is sounds good at the time. Since this the way of Washington, it appears she is well-qualified by today's standards and therefore will be passed.
Unfortunately for her, there is a flaw in the plan. They have as fundamental presupposition that we do not care or understand. There are at least some of us who do care and who do understand. Whether she intended it or not, her statements were clear about who she is.
It has also been reported that she has publicly disagreed with a famoucomment made by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor - that a wise old man and and a wise old woman would reach the same conclusion. That is because it is about wisdom and not gender or race.
In her hearings, Judge Sotomayor has been backtracking on everyone of these statements. She has called them mistakes. She has basically lied by saying they were misinterpreted and then restating it in a fashion which is the exact opposite of her oft repeated, clearly stated opinion.
Her views are biased and extreme. They reveal a sense of superiority because of her race and gender over someone like, say me. These views have been consistent, public, and are revealed in numerous rulings. Her testimony in trying to distance herself from her own comments are disturbing on two separate accounts. It is difficult to determine which one is worse.
On the one hand, it is ridiculous to believe her changes in position when they have been clearly stated and acted upon for the course of her life. It is only in Washington that people believe she would change such long held beliefs. That means to put it bluntly, she is not telling the truth. She is a crass politician working with crass politicians to do what crass politicians do -say whatever you have to say, because people and the truth do not matter anyway, to get where you need to go. Their position is that people in America aren't smart enough to be discerning anyway. So just change your life long beliefs by lying about them - which is what she has done repeatedly.
On the other hand, her statements are wrong. Some might argue it shows something on her part "to move to the center" as if this is some great sign of integrity and intelligence(that is a blog for another day). What does it say about her integrity and moral center that she wold so easily shift from long held views simply to get a job. It means she is not anchored in her belief system and blows with the political winds.
Which is worse lying to the public or having no strength of character to hold to who she is and what she believes. It is a toss-up. Neither apparently bother her benefactor President Obama because is exactly the same person. She has support from her side of the aisle as well in such kindred spirits as Senator Charles Schumer - whose only standard for what he says is whether is sounds good at the time. Since this the way of Washington, it appears she is well-qualified by today's standards and therefore will be passed.
Unfortunately for her, there is a flaw in the plan. They have as fundamental presupposition that we do not care or understand. There are at least some of us who do care and who do understand. Whether she intended it or not, her statements were clear about who she is.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
When Popularity is Substituted for Leadership
It is truly is an ironic moment when art imitates life. My family enjoyed attending the musical Wicked a short time ago. It is the second time my daughter and I have seen the musical and it is great fun. In a pivotal moment when the relationship between the two main characters is transformed from "loathing" to friendship, Galinda the Good Witch takes it upon herself to do a makeover of her new friend Elfaba (soon to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West). She is the expert on being popular and decides to train Elfaba in the tricks of the trade. She then sings a wonderfully fun song entitled "popular."
A verse in the song goes like this: Consider celebrated heads of state, or especially great communicators - did they have brains or knowledge? Please don't make me laugh! They were popular!
It's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed. So it's very shrewd to be popular like me!
This art imitates life - or at least provides insight into it. Barack Obama has built his political career on this strategy. He is know running the country based upon this strategy. His public focus is solely on being as popular as he can be. His version of leadership philosophy means he hides behind this trumped up popularity to move as much of his radical agenda forward as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it is working.
We will not stop this onslaught of socialism until people see through it as a political strategy. He is forcing approval of a healthcare bill not even written yet. He is ramming through his adoring congress monumental bills which they have not even read. There is now way to do any thoughtful analysis of the consequences of any of this legislation. It is simply this strategy - "build up popularity and behind that impetus get the stuff passed. It doesn't even matter what the bills say. Just pass them now and we will sort the catch later. Popularity is the stock and trade. Once that is gone we will have to slow down, so grab as much as possible now."
Is this the leadership that we want? It is the leadership we have until we rise up and change it. We can first change it by writing and communicating to our congressional representatives now and in force. We must also let them know that we will vote against this onslaught in the upcoming election. Let them know the President's personal popularity with some areas of the country is going to get them unelected here! Communicate and do it now. It does work. The Senate is making noises now like backing away from taxing healthcare benefits of employees, but only because of the hue and cry from their constituents.
The strategy is popularity. Let them know how they are truly being viewed.
A verse in the song goes like this: Consider celebrated heads of state, or especially great communicators - did they have brains or knowledge? Please don't make me laugh! They were popular!
It's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed. So it's very shrewd to be popular like me!
This art imitates life - or at least provides insight into it. Barack Obama has built his political career on this strategy. He is know running the country based upon this strategy. His public focus is solely on being as popular as he can be. His version of leadership philosophy means he hides behind this trumped up popularity to move as much of his radical agenda forward as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it is working.
We will not stop this onslaught of socialism until people see through it as a political strategy. He is forcing approval of a healthcare bill not even written yet. He is ramming through his adoring congress monumental bills which they have not even read. There is now way to do any thoughtful analysis of the consequences of any of this legislation. It is simply this strategy - "build up popularity and behind that impetus get the stuff passed. It doesn't even matter what the bills say. Just pass them now and we will sort the catch later. Popularity is the stock and trade. Once that is gone we will have to slow down, so grab as much as possible now."
Is this the leadership that we want? It is the leadership we have until we rise up and change it. We can first change it by writing and communicating to our congressional representatives now and in force. We must also let them know that we will vote against this onslaught in the upcoming election. Let them know the President's personal popularity with some areas of the country is going to get them unelected here! Communicate and do it now. It does work. The Senate is making noises now like backing away from taxing healthcare benefits of employees, but only because of the hue and cry from their constituents.
The strategy is popularity. Let them know how they are truly being viewed.
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