This is an unusual investigation that does not primarily involve Islamists. Instead, it is focused on elements of the old international communist networks that many people mistakenly thought had faded away with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Those under investigation are suspected of providing support to foreign terrorist organizations such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the Middle East, a Marxist group. The Post called them “Colombian and Palestinian groups designated by the U.S. government as terrorists.”

The investigations came into public view last September when the FBI raided the homes of several “activists,” as the Post called them. Some lived in Chicago.

One of the targets, Tom Burke, was a union organizer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). He was so confident he would get a fair shake from the Post that he provided the paper with a photo of himself shaking hands with Barack Obama. The other apparent intention was to send a message to the President and Attorney General Eric Holder that any investigation of Burke might lead to Obama.

(Courtesy of Tom Burke) – Anti-war activist Tom Burke meets Barack Obama in 2004 at Burke’s Chicago-area union hall as Obama was running for U.S. Senate. Burke is one of 23 prominent anti-war activists to be subpoenaed as part of an ongoing FBI terrorism probe.

The Post suggested that investigations of labor union activists might jeopardize their support for Obama’s 2012 presidential run. Indeed, it could therefore threaten his re-election bid, if investigations determine that the activists did more than “cross paths” with the President.  

Deep inside the article, in the 29^th paragraph, we find out that some of the “activists” are associated with a group known as the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), a Marxist-Leninist organization. Burke is a member of the FRSO, which the Post admitted was “far left.”

The obvious question is why Obama, as a state senator in Illinois, would ever have “crossed paths” with such people. The answer goes beyond just union support for the candidate. The “far-left” networks that include the FRSO, the Communist Party USA, the New American Movement, and the Democratic Socialists of America backed and even spawned Obama’s political career. Don’t forget that Weather Underground leaders Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn hosted a fundraiser for his first run for political office. The same networks also backed CIA Director Leon Panetta’s career when he was a congressman from Santa Cruz, California. This helps explain why Obama would pick Panetta, with no intelligence background, to run the intelligence agency. They are cut from the same cloth.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, the Senate voted 100-0 in favor of Panetta’s nomination as Secretary of Defense. It was a classic case of “head in the sand” politics, ignoring not only Panetta’s long-time relationship with Communist Party member Hugh DeLacy but his record as a congressman in undercutting then-President Reagan’s pro-defense policies at every turn.

Obama and Panetta were players in the “progressive” community, which since the days of Henry Wallace, presidential candidate of the Progressive Party, has had a red tint. Obama had his own communist mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, a Communist Party member under FBI investigation for 19 years, while Panetta gave DeLacy, whohad traveled to China to meet with Soviet and Chinese intelligence agents, sensitive reports on U.S. military matters. Any notion that Panetta had no awareness of DeLacy’s Communist affiliation was obliterated when Panetta in 1983 inserted a tribute to DeLacy into the Congressional Record, praising his resistance to “McCarthyism.”  

Former FBI agent Max Noel once told me that the Bureau used to investigate candidates for federal employment by analyzing Character, Associates, Reputation, and Loyalty to the United States. The first letters in those words make up the acronym CARL. By the standard of “A”-Associates-Panetta flunks. But so does Obama.

Another sensitive case involves Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and wife of disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner.  Walid Shoebat and Ben Barrack have reported that Arab newspapers have revealed that Huma Abedin’s mother is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group whose goal is to subvert Western civilization. Jamie Glazov of Front Page Magazine asks Robert Spencer, “There is a remote possibility that Abedin is actually being deceptive in her marriage to Weiner to follow Muslim Brotherhood instructions and to infiltrate the U.S. government, correct?” Spencer replies, “Certainly. That is a very real possibility, and it should be investigated. But the only ones who have the means to do so are mainstream media journalists who are either clueless or complicit.”

It may also be the case that the FBI never investigated Abedin’s background.

As the FBI does not vet presidential candidates for national security purposes, we know there would have been no FBI investigation into Obama’s own background, associations, loyalty, and overall fitness for office. The FBI only probes those being considered for some federal positions under the president. They should have therefore investigated Panetta. But there is no indication that he was ever properly vetted. Now he is confirmed as Secretary of Defense because conservative Republican Senators were apparently afraid of being accused of McCarthyism for questioning his past associations.

On the other hand, the “progressives” are raising hell with Obama and want him to rein in the FBI. They want to further emasculate the agency charged with ferretting out subversives and terrorist support networks.

As the Post noted, “nine members of Congress have written letters to the administration” complaining about the FBI probe of Burke and other activists. The Post even noted that another one of the targets of the investigation, a union organizer named Tracy Molm, managed to arrange a meeting with Holder himself.

One of these congressional members is Muslim Rep. Keith Ellison, the foremost critic of Rep. Peter King’s hearings into radical Islam in America. “Shortly after the raids,” Ellison said, “I made inquiries to the FBI field office for more information. FBI Special Agent Boelter confirmed that an investigation was ongoing. He informed me that due to the pending nature of the investigation, he was prohibited from sharing any further information. However he gave me assurance that the purpose of the searches and service of subpoenas was not to punish or to suppress protected First Amendment activity.”

Pro-Marxist activist Medea Benjamin has said she managed to have a few words with Holder as well to complain about the probes. She is with the Code Pink group that travels to Gaza to meet with the terrorist group Hamas. She is also a staunch ally of Adam Kokesh, the “Russia Today” TV star who openly admits that he functions as a paid Russian agent of the Vladimir Putin regime.

Holder is receptive to this kind of appeal because of his friendship with Obama and record as Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration for facilitating pardons and clemency for terrorists from the Puerto Rican FALN and Weather Underground. It is this record that puts the current investigations by the FBI in serious jeopardy.

The Post article has to be seen as a signal to Holder from those around Obama that he must act quickly to close down these investigations before they get too close for comfort to the Oval Office. First, however, he has to make sure that the congressional investigations don’t get too close to Holder himself. It won’t look good for the Attorney General to be personally implicated in knowledge of the federal gunrunning schemes now under Congressional investigation that provided weapons to Mexican narco-terrorist cartels. The evidence already shows that federal authorities let guns fall into the hands of known criminals.

Cliff Kincaid is the Director of the AIM Center for Investigative Journalism.

Distributed by www.worldviewweekend.com

By Cliff Kincaid

President Obama is by far the worst president this country has ever had.  The article below illustrates this.  Let me make it very clear, I am a believer in Jesus Christ, plain and simple.  This article should be read by all who still believe in the un-compromising truth of the Holy Bible.

When it comes to sexual perversion, the Bible doesn’t mince its words. Leviticus 20, verse 13, makes it clear that homosexual acts are “detestable” to God. The New Testament is just as strong in its warnings. Jude, our Lord’s half brother, says that Sodom and Gomorrah engaged in “gross immorality” and their former inhabitants are being punished by eternal fire (verse 7). So what do you think will happen to America, where Obama has proclaimed June a month in which perversion is to be “celebrated.” Here’s a great comment, from The Patriot Post. AF

Alexander’s Essay – June 9, 2011

Obama Proclaims June ‘Gender Confusion’ Month

AKA: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month

BHO: Director of LGBT Public Relations

“Marriage is … in its origin a contract of natural law… It is the parent, and not the child of society; the source of civility and a sort of seminary of the republic.” –Justice Joseph Story (Commentaries on the Conflict of Laws)

It is said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Barack Hussein Obama, likewise, has certainly been occupying himself with frivolity whilst the U.S. economy edges closer to collapse.

The community-organizer-in-chief took time out from his busy Memorial Day golfing schedule to proclaim June “National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month,” as he has done annually since his election. “The story of America’s LGBT community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union,” said Obama, who apparently comes from both an odd family and neighborhood. He instructed all Americans to “rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

That instruction prompted support from legions of his Socialist Bourgeoisie, including, for example, those at the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, who, as the central government freefalls toward insolvency, ordered the “gay pride” flag flown with our national flag.

Fed spokesman Jim Strader claimed, “It represents the bank’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.” The bank’s chief operating officer Sally Green added, “We strongly support a diverse and inclusive culture at the Richmond Fed and … the ‘pride’ flag as an example of our commitment to the values of acceptance and inclusion.”

Meanwhile, the economy continues to deteriorate. “We don’t know yet what happened in terms of this particular blip,” said Obama, referring to a shocking May jobs report that saw a paltry 54,000 new jobs created and the nation’s unemployment rate increase to 9.1 percent. That “blip” portends the sinking of the ship, but at least Obama and his flock of gender-confused sycophants can take comfort in knowing that our nation will have a “diverse and inclusive culture” when its economy collapses.

For all the attention the gender-challenged draw, one would think that they represent at least as large a constituency as the Democrat Party’s most devoted dependency — blacks — who make up about 12 percent of our population. But, despite Obama’s insistence that they are “our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors,” according to reliable research and surveys, homosexuals compose less than 3 percent of the population. So, why all the attention?

The answer to that question is not readily available on the pages of most conservative political journals because rarely wade into the race debate. The exceptions, of course, are my conservative colleagues who happen to be black. Their skin color renders them relatively bulletproof from the Left’s “racism” canard, thereby allowing them to expose Democrat “plantation politics” without undue threat to their livelihood. Rarer still are analysts who take on the LGBT agenda. Those who do will most certainly be accused of “intolerance” and chastised for their opposition to “diversity and inclusion,” and their syndicators may be subject to commercial boycott (one more reason The Patriot Post does not accept advertising).

However, concerns about such accusations should not keep conservatives from “outing” the truth, so call me what you will — preferably after reading Gender Disorientation Pathology, my summary of how we should respond to the homosexual agenda.

Clearly, the “homosexual normalization” is a high priority for the Left, and they are focusing most of their energy on two fields of opportunity. The first is overturning federal laws which “discriminate against gays,” beginning with proscriptions concerning homosexuals in our military service branches.

Until 1993, when Bill Clinton instituted the so-called “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy giving legal standing to homosexuals in our military and intelligence institutions, those organizations maintained long-standing moratoriums prohibiting homosexual employment because they posed a high risk of compromise, and moreover because of the obvious degradation of morale associated with homosexuals in military ranks. However, in 2008, Obama made it a “top priority” of his administration to repeal DADT and allow open homosexual access to any and all military operations.

In 2010, the United States suffered the largest intelligence compromise in history, by a disgruntled homosexual, Army PFC Bradley Manning. Devastated over news that his “partner” was leaving him, Manning attempted to win back his boyfriend’s affections by “heroically” stealing, according to allegations, some 500,000 classified documents and communiqués from the government’s SIPRNet and JWICS intelligence sharing networks. He then provided them to WikiLeaks for publication. Manning is now in lockdown at Ft. Leavenworth, charged with “aiding and abetting the enemy,” which is a capital offense.

Obama’s response? He has had scant to say about Manning’s treason, and just months after Manning’s arrest, and before Democrat congressional ranks were decimated by incoming Republicans from the midterm election, Obama had Democrats in Congress push through “Do Ask, Do Tell” legislation, which ended any proscription against homosexuals in the military.

This will open the gate for the other primary “gay agenda” items, such as legal recognition of their partners for insurance and other financial benefits. Obama already ordered Navy chaplains to perform same-sex unions, but Congress pulled the reigns back on that maneuver, reminding Obama that the Defense of Marriage Act is still intact.

The second field of opportunity for homosexual normalization is the indoctrination of children at ever-younger ages with homosexual propaganda. The Left subscribes to the Marxist model for success: Karl Marx wrote, “The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother’s care, shall be in state institutions at state expense.” His student Vladimir Ilyich Lenin concurred, “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.”

They are aggressively engaged in re-education of the young, attempting to pass the “Student Non-Discrimination Act” and a myriad of other measures at the federal and state levels which force the implementation of homosexual teaching curricula in government schools.

So, why would Obama attend to the demands of a small Democrat protectorate by advocating such damaging and high profile legislation?

An indispensable common denominator upon each of these pillars is what Founder James Wilson called, “[T]hat important and respectable, though small and sometimes neglected establishment, which is denominated a family … the principle of the community; it is that seminary, on which the commonwealth … must ultimately depend.”

Marriage is the foundation for the family. As such, it is the fundamental building block of the Republic. Thus, the Left relentlessly chips away at this institution because it inherently challenges the authority of the state.

Obama and his socialist cadres seek to establish dominion over We the People by disuniting us according to race, creed, sex, religion, ethnicity, wealth, ad infinitum, and indoctrinating us with the pretense that we must depend on Democratic Socialism for our protection. By adding “sexual orientation” to the list, they seek to undermine the fundamental building blocks of our society — marriage and family.

The repeal of DADT was the cause célèbre for the Democrats’ “gender identity” constituency, and unless it is undone by the next president and Congress, it will prove a powerful tool for the state to institutionalize the erosion of marriage and family. As for Obama’s ongoing commitment to subordinate the authority of the family to the autocracy of the state, consider the length of his recent proclamations as an indication of his priorities.

In the last month, Obama’s presidential proclamations included Military Spouse Appreciation Day (502 words), National Day of Prayer (546 words) and Memorial Day (620 words and 18 holes).

However, Obama’s Proclamation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month was 826 words, not to mention all of his other comments and the launching of the new White House website, “Winning the Future for LGBT Americans,” ad nauseum.

Despite all the rhetoric, here are the quick and accurate facts about homosexuals and their behavior. There is no “gay gene,” no innate trait or brain distinction between heterosexuals and homosexuals. Homosexuality is not a “civil right” as identified anywhere in our Constitution or its amendments. Homosexuals experience substantially higher instances of mental illness. Homosexuals are, in fact, implicated far more often, per-capita, than heterosexuals in cases of child sexual abuse. The number of “hate crimes” directed at individuals because of homosexual proclivity is minuscule, totaling 267 among 860,853 aggravated assaults in the FBI’s most recent year of record. Homosexual orientation can change, and efforts to correct homosexual pathology are not “harmful” to the individual.

In regard to the homosexual agenda, its objectives must be understood and its actions aggressively halted.

In regard to homosexuals, I encourage you to read Gender Identity, The Homosexual Agenda and The Christian Response. I also suggest you read Advancing a Heterosexual Public Ethic With Grace, Wit, and Natural Law, and for an excellent booklet on responding to the secular challenges to traditional sexual morality, see “Gender Identity.”

Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!

Mark Alexander

Our God is a loving and just God.  He loves us.  Why can’t we get it!

posted by rightthingtodo on Sunday June 12, 2011

Patriots, we need a fearless political gunslinging hero. And so far, our heroic pistol packin’ mama is Sarah Palin

Gunfight at DC corral: Palin vs Obama

- Lloyd Marcus  Saturday, June 4, 2011

I’m sorry guys. Every time you flood me with emails attempting to convince me Palin can not win; is too toxic, not smart enough, a hypocrite and is only in it for the money, the courageous woman boldly does another extraordinary interview that makes me stand up and cheer, “Sarah Palin, you go girl! I love you!”

On the Hannity show, Palin launched another “in your face” attack on Obama, the GOP and the liberal media. I LOVE IT!

Nothing frustrates me more than GOP candidates walking on eggs cautious not to offend or anger the despicable, lying, agenda driven and evil liberal media. Why should we show respect for characterless people who are committed to lying and putting a negative spin on everything we say and do? The liberal media’s mission is to politically “kill” the tea party. Get it?

Sarah Palin gets it. Palin does not give a rat’s behind about what the liberal media thinks of her.

On numerous occasions, without the slightest hint of reservation or FEAR, Palin has attacked Obama “the man”; his lies, his anti-American associations, his socialist agenda, his assault on our freedom, liberty and culture and his horrific record, thus far. Thank You Sarah Palin! God bless you!

I realize I sound like a broken record, but I can not express the following point strongly enough. To beat Obama and “his media” in 2012, our candidate MUST embrace Palin’s aggressive fearless battle plan.

It has been said, only a fool brings a knife to a gunfight. Without restraint or mercy, Obama, the democrats and Obama’s liberal media gang will show up at the 2012 DC fight for the White House with mega guns firing at the tea party and the republican presidential candidate.

Any republican presidential candidate who is timid due to the historical context of Obama’s presidency saying, “God bless Obama’s heart. He meant well, but his policies have failed” is like entering this crucial battle for our country with a butter knife. Such a restrained effort would insure political death to our side and the end of America as we know it.

Patriots, we need a fearless political gunslinging hero. And so far, our heroic pistol packin’ mama is Sarah Palin.

Sarah is our John Wayne!

h/t LloydMarcus.com 

This caught my eye …..

All Obama’s appointments and all the legislation he has signed will be null and void
Obama’s ineligibility: Picking up the pieces after political Armageddon
By Lawrence Sellin Full Story

It is becoming increasingly likely that Barack Hussein Obama will be forced to resign the Presidency before the 2012 election.

Vice President Biden will also be obliged to resign, as will Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Kagan.

All Obama’s appointments and all the legislation he has signed will be null and void.

The crisis we now face is not a failure of the American experiment, but, as citizens, we have, for far too long, been silent and inattentive.

Most of the guilt lies with a permanent political class and a grossly dysfunctional press corps, who, for reasons of complicity, negligence, avarice or cowardice, have contributed to the greatest fraud in the history of the United States.

The permanent political class and the main stream media (MSM) have become a corrupt, incompetent, profligate, selfish and undemocratic American aristocracy.

Even if one considers the Obama Administration as legitimate, which it is certainly not, the results have been a disaster.

Obama and his cheerleaders in the MSM have brought our country weakness, indecision, mediocrity and ineptitude, drifting from crisis to crisis, bankrupting our country, while eroding our national will and confidence.

We must again embrace the spirit of the American Revolution and reject the notion that a small permanent political class in a capital insulated from common sense can dictate to us their own tyrannical and flawed vision of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The permanent political class uses its powers and taxpayer money to perpetuate itself. Contrary to their view, ours is a nation with a government, not the reverse. The political aristocracy presumes powers and extends itself privileges not granted it by the people and, at the same time, refuses any form of accountability.

The American people have not lost confidence in themselves. They have lost confidence in their government.

As Ronald Reagan once stated:

“I believe this nation hungers for a spiritual revival; hungers to once again see honor placed above political expediency; to see government once again the protector of our liberties, not the distributor of gifts and privilege.”

We now have far too many rogue, self-serving politicians dispersed throughout the highest levels of the federal government trying to maintain a corrupt status quo.

It will now be the duty of ordinary Americans to remove that dishonest aristocracy, salvage our republic, take back our government and re-shape our own destiny.

We must return to the letter and spirit of the 10th article of the Bill of Rights, which asserts that the federal government should execute only those functions explicitly defined in the Constitution.

Our bloated federal bureaucracy has assumed power it was never intended to have and has exercised those powers inefficiently, ineffectively and indiscriminately.

The fall of Barack Obama will expose the endemic corruption within our political system. Many in our political leadership will be charged with felonies. Some will go to prison.

It will be a national trauma equivalent to the Civil War.

It will, however, also provide an opportunity for an American Renaissance.

In the darkest days of the American Revolution, when General George Washington’s men were freezing and starving at Valley Forge, Thomas Paine said: “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

We still have that power. We have the strength to renew the American dream, if we stand together.

posted by rightthingtodo on June 4, 2011

Fabulous!!

On Sunday morning, two days after the death and burial of Jesus, some women went very early, as soon as it was light, to the tomb in the garden. One of these women was Mary Magdalene, another was also named Mary, and another was named Salome. They were bringing some more fragrant gums and spices to place in the wrappings upon the body of Jesus. And as they went they said to each other, “Who will roll away for us the great stone at the door of the cave?”

But when they came to the cave, they saw that the seal was broken, the stone was rolled away, and the soldiers who had been on guard were gone. There stood the tomb of Jesus all open! They did not know that before they came to the tomb there had been an earthquake; and that an angel had come down from heaven and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

When the soldiers on guard saw the angel, with his flashing face, and his dazzling garments, they fell to the ground as though they were dead, and as soon as they could rise up, they fled away from the spot in terror; so when the women came there was no man in sight.

As soon as Mary Magdalene saw that the tomb was open, without stopping to look into it, she ran quickly to tell the disciples. A moment after she had gone, the other women looked into the tomb, and they saw that the body of Jesus was not there. But they saw sitting at each end of the tomb a young man, clothed in a long white garment. Their faces shone like angels, and when the women saw them they were filled with fear. One of the angels said to them:

Do not be afraid; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here; he is risen, as he said that he would rise from the dead. Come; see the place where the Lord lay; and then go and tell his disciples, and tell Peter too, that Jesus will go before you into Galilee, and you shall see him there.”

Then the women went away in mingled joy and fear. They ran in haste to bring this word of the angel to the disciples.

Matthew 28:1-9 ; Mark 16:1-8
Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10

The Passion of the Christ

(NOTE: For many of you who are not familiar with KTBN, these are the call letters for Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Christian television network originating from California.  Here is their main link TBN – Trinity Broadcasting Network, where you can find a station in your area to watch The Passion of the Christ movie.  The movie will be broadcast periodically until July 6, 2011.)

The Passion of the Christ“The Passion Of The Christ” follows the last twelve hours of Jesus’s life from his emotional turmoil in the Garden of Gethsemane until his final moments of the crucifixion. Director Mel Gibson brings the struggle and sacrifice of Jesus (portrayed by Jim Caviezel) to life, like nothing ever seen before. Viewers must be cautioned that due to the graphic violence displayed in depicting the horrific death Jesus endured for us, this film is rated TV-MA-V. Program Schedule: Special show times: Fri 4/22   3:30 PM - 6:00 PM Fri 4/22   7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Sat 4/23   2:30 PM - 5:00 PM Sun 4/24   4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Sun 4/24   7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Sun 5/8   4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Wed 5/18   7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Sat 5/28   6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Sun 5/29   7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Wed 6/8   2:00 PM - 4:30 PM Sun 6/19   7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Note: All times are Pacific Time. All programs are subject to change without notice.

John the Baptist said in John 1:29, “behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the Sin of the World.”

He did it for you and for me.

Have you received the greatest gift in the world?

(following text from www.intouch.org.)

Jesus is called by a variety of names—Messiah, Lord, Christ, Rabbi, Teacher—but the one that is probably the most unfamiliar to the modern world is the Lamb of God. Since most of us do not have a Jewish background, we have a limited understanding of this title. But the Israelites of that day understood the significance of this name. Lambs were for sacrifice.

God has always dealt with sin through the blood of sacrifices. When Adam and Eve sinned, an animal was slain to cover the nakedness and shame of two individuals (Gen. 3:21). On the first Passover, each household covered their doorway with sacrificial blood (Ex. 12:1-7). Later, a goat was slaughtered for the atonement of the entire nation (Lev. 16:15). Now in John 1:29, we see the ultimate sacrifice—the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Usually a person’s most impressive achievements are completed while he or she is alive, but think about what Jesus accomplished through His death. Just as innocent animals had died in place of the guilty, so Christ gave His perfect life for sinful mankind. He assumed full responsibility for all our sins and took the punishment that we deserved. As He hung on the cross, the judgment and wrath of God was poured out on Him instead of on us.

Read Matthew 26:47 – 27:56 (The Betrayal, Arrest, Illegal Trials, Crucifixion of Jesus Christ)

Since we are limited by our human minds and senses, we cannot fully understand all that the Lamb of God endured to bring us salvation. But we know enough to realize that we owe Him our lives. He took our place on the cross; let’s give Him first place in our hearts.

posted by rightthingtodo on Good Friday, April 22, 2011

Exodus 14 (The Red Sea Crossing)

… but, it did not stop there-

Christ’s Last Supper

Read | Exodus 12:1-39

The Last Supper, which took place hours before the Lord’s crucifixion—was a Seder (Passover observance). Previously, the feast’s symbols had only pointed back to the Hebrews’ redemption from Egypt. But that Thursday night, Jesus revealed the messianic significance of two symbols: bread and wine.

In a Seder, a cloth bag with separate compartments holds three sheets of matzoh, or unleavened bread. The middle matzoh is removed and split. One half is broken and distributed; the other is wrapped in a napkin, hidden, and bought back after it is found.

Breaking the bread, Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is My body” (Matt. 26:26). In Scripture, leaven symbolizes sin, so bread without yeast represents holy God. In the divided bag, matzohs are unified yet distinct—a picture of the Trinity. The middle bread signifies the Son, who left His Father’s side to dwell among us (Gal. 4:4) and was broken for mankind (Isa. 53:5), wrapped in a burial cloth (Matt. 27:59), hidden in a tomb (v. 60), and resurrected (28:6). Our redemption was, indeed, costly (1 Cor. 6:20).

Wine, the other symbol Jesus highlighted, is poured four times at a Seder. Scholars believe it is the third cup—known as the cup of redemption—that He called “My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:27-28)

this reading is from www.intouch.org.

posted by rightthingtodo on April 21, 2011

One Jerusalem reports

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DANGEROUS MOMENTUM BUILDING FOR UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE IN SEPTEMBER: Bible warns nations not to divide the land of Israel

Posted: April 5, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

Christian leaders around the world need to wake up and take notice of a rising new threat to Mideast security: the leaders of the Palestinian people are planning to go to the U.N. General Assembly this September and unilaterally declare their state in the “pre-1967 war borders,” and a dangerous momentum of international political support for this plan is growing.

Should the Palestinians proceed with their plans, growing evidence suggests they will receive an overwhelming majority vote at the U.N. in favor of dividing the land of Israel and dividing the city of Jerusalem. Indeed, a steadily growing number of countries around the world are signaling that they are ready to recognize a Palestinian state that includes all of the West Bank, all of Gaza, and at least half of Jerusalem as its capital. However, by making a unilateral declaration, the Palestinians will have chosen to refuse all negotiations with the Israelis. They will have chosen to abandon all diplomacy. They will have chosen to reject concessions and compromise. And they will have chosen to reject giving Israel the assurances of peace and security that the Jewish people so eagerly want. Even though Israel has given the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, withdrawn from southern Lebanon, withdrawn from Gaza, and offered even more sweeping concessions to Palestinian negotiators in recent years – indeed, far more sweeping than I personally am comfortable with – the Palestinian leadership continues to say “no, no, no,” just as they did after the June 1967 war when they issued their famous “Three Noes” declaration from Khartoum: “no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel.”

“We want to generate pressure on Israel to make it feel isolated and help it understand that there can be no talks without a stop to settlements,” Nabil Shaath, who leads the foreign affairs department of Fatah, the main party of the Palestinian Authority, told the New York Times. “Without that, our goal is membership in the United Nations General Assembly in September.”

As I first warned in a detailed column on the subject last December, this is a very dangerous development. If the Palestinians make a unilateral declaration of what they want, what will stop Israel from unilaterally declaring what they want? What if the Palestinians try to forcibly evict the Jews living in the West Bank? Those Jews would certainly fight back. Would the Israeli military move to defend the Jewish settlers? Would Palestinian security forces then fire upon the Israeli forces? Would the U.N. move into to condemn and isolate Israel, and even impose draconian economic sanctions on the Jewish state? Events could spiral out of control. Indeed, the likelihood is that far more violence – not peace – would result by such a Palestinian declaration of statehood outside the context of negotiations with Israel. Still, one country after another around the world is encouraging the Palestinian leadership to go in this direction and promising to publicly support them at the U.N. this fall. Some believe that after a big victory in the U.N. General Assembly, a resolution will later be brought before the U.N. Security Council to ratify the legal status of the newly declared state.

On Tuesday, Israeli President Shimon Peres met with President Obama at the White House. Initial reports suggest they discuss the stalled peace process and how to proceed. I hope that behind closed doors Peres was very clear and direct with Obama about what a dangerous road the Palestinians are on. Indeed, Prime Minister Netanyahu has continually offered direct negotiations with the Palestinians, yet the Palestinians keep refusing to sit down and talk face to face. They claim Netanyahu isn’t serious about making peace or new concessions. Yet Netanyahu was the first Israeli leader ever to give land to Yasser Arafat when he gave away Hebron in 1997. I pray that Peres conveyed to the American President what Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last month: “We are facing a diplomatic-political tsunami that the majority of the public is unaware of and that will peak in September. It is a very dangerous situation, one that requires action….Paralysis, rhetoric, inaction will deepen the isolation of Israel.”  An isolated Israel is not likely to feel secure enough to make peace with the Palestinians. What’s more, when Israel’s enemies (like Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas) see Israel increasingly isolated, they are more likely to launch a new war.

Publicly, the Obama administration says it opposes the Palestinian plan to unilaterally declare. But there is growing concern among pro-Israel leaders in Washington that should the issue come before the U.N. Security Council, Obama might direct his U.N. ambassador to abstain rather than to veto such a resolution.

Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9) Those who truly seek peace will encourage diplomacy, not rash, arrogant, unilateral actions on either side. Sadly, there are far too many leaders in the epicenter who do not seek true peace, and too many leaders around the world who are encouraging reckless behavior.

Bible prophecy makes it clear that the nations of the world will, in the last days, divide up the land of Israel. But the Scriptures are also crystal clear that the nations will face the judgment of Almighty God for doing so. “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat ["the Lord judges"]. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.” (Joel 3:1-2).

Let the nations be warned by the God of Israel: they are on a dangerous and disastrous road. I pray they will turn around before it is too late.

hat/tip Worldview Weekend with Brannon Howse

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It is my opinion that the Obama administration will go along with this dangerous development.

President Obama is the most anti-Israel president that has occupied the White House.  On the other hand, Israel still has true friends in our Congress and throughout our country.

My advice to Obama and his global buddies …. DO NOT DIVIDE JERUSALEM

Pat Robertson Warns Against Dividing Jerusalem

By The 700 Club

Israel is the spiritual capitol of the world. This is what God calls the navel of the earth in the Old Testament.  So why are all of the nations so concerned about Israel?

I will tell you why. Because it is God’s outpost, and it would be, in a sense, a black eye against Him if his plans were frustrated by human beings. And He will not let people frustrate His plan.

When you look at the map you see what is known as the West Bank territory. And this is what the Palestinians want. Down along the Mediterranean Sea is what is known as Gaza. It is virtually impossible to link these two parts through Israel — so just in that you have a problem.

But if we see the tiny nation of Israel in relation to the vast amount of land that is here, Israel is maybe three-tenths of one percent of the land mass of the entire Middle East.

You can see the enormous amount of land in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. The people of these nations have so much land, and yet they want to crowd all of the Palestinian people into this little area that will not support them.

Now let’s see what the West Bank looks like. Here are the cities you have been hearing about. Hebron is a famous town in the Old Testament. Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus. Ramallah is another one of the key cities along with Nablus and Jenin in the so-called West Bank.

Now if the Palestinians get this, look what is left of Israel. It is seven to nine miles across the smallest section of Israel, and that is all they have between this territory in the Mediterranean Sea. And the thought of the leaders of the Palestinians is to squeeze the Israelis as hard as they can and push them into the sea.

Now assume the Israelis have to call up of their forces. They don’t have a standing army — it is a citizen’s army. What will happen is that you will have terrorists moving across the West Bank and frustrating every single attempt to mobilize the Israeli army in this tiny area?

Now Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel. The Jews took East Jerusalem in fulfillment of a prophecy by Jesus Christ. It was made 2,500 years ago. He said, “Jerusalem will be trodden under the foot of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Here is God’s promise to Abraham approximately 1,800 years before Christ.

I am going to give all this land to you and your offspring as a permanent possession (Genesis 13:15 NLT).

O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? (2 Chron. 20:7 NLT).

This is a permanent possession given by God to Abraham, and all of this territory is the land of Israel.

posted by rightthingtodo on April 9, 2011

³And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Genesis 12:3  (New American Standard Bible)

Thank you! Such an honor!

I appreciate getting to see some of your magnificent city – this is 1st time here & I sincerely hope it won’t be my last! During my brief time here I’ve enjoyed India’s famous “Gift for Hospitality.” And next time, I want to visit the Taj Mahal with my husband, Todd. Considering how patiently he’s endured during my political career & been so supportive, it would be nice to reinforce our teamwork/commitment before that monument to eternal love. Todd is here with us tonight.

When I had the honour of meeting your Prime Minister a few years ago, I expressed my admiration for your country’s rich history & culture & most recent achievements! I now am humbled with this opportunity to express that to you, here, in this beautiful ancient land. This has so captured the imaginations of artists & poets & explorers throughout human history. Todd & I are honoured to be here to see the site of some of the world’s oldest civilizations…the birthplace of major religions, the crossroads of the ancient “Spice Route & Silk Road”.

All those precious resources of their day: spices, pepper, silk, indigo – My country was essentiallly “discovered” in the age of exploration, because Western Europeans were looking for a route to your country to exchange & enjoy those resources! (Yes, the connection between our two countries was there from the beginning!)

During the flight here, between our countries, it did not escape me that Japan lies about halfway between my Alaskan home & India. I trust you will join me in expressing solidarity with the Japanese people as they recover from such tragic events. Their determination & resiliency won’t fail them. The world community stands united to offer help to them in the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Thoughts and prayers are with you, Japan. Life is fragile – precious – we’re in this together; may Japan know our caring heart at this time.

I’ve been asked to speak today about my vision for America, & share with you a little about my background.

I grew up in a very small town, perhaps like some of you (though half-a-world-away). My town’s tucked between two grand mountain ranges, in a valley quite far from the avenues of political power. There, in my home state of Alaska, we’re so proud of nature’s beauty & our towering mountains, but certainly here relatively near the spectacular Himalayas can I appreciate an even greater sense of nature’s enormity!

One of the mountains near my home (I see it everyday from my kitchen window!) is called “Pioneer Peak” – named in honour of the brave pioneers who settled our Valley just a few generations ago. By the sweat of their brow & rugged work ethic – they turned raw land into a valuable agriculture community.

I have loved my upbringing there…big family, Todd’s from a big family. I was a school teacher’s kid, loved sports & anything outdoor. I tell my parents the greatest gift they ever gave me was this upbringing in AK, the young, 49th state of the United States.

AK is known as the “Last Frontier” & it’s a place that IS rugged & you can still feel an optimistic, pioneering spirit – like the spirit that had inspired Americans to carve a nation out of the wilderness! It was “pioneer families” – strong & hopeful – who made a good life (though not an easy one) for themselves in the Northern Wilds!

That “pioneering spirit” shaped me. It instilled in me a sense of independence & self-reliance. And: a belief in the ‘Power of Ordinary People’ working together to help one another.

In a small community in such a vast state (AK’s about half the size of India), you learn to help your neighbour; & to help yourself. And you learn to value (& have faith in) personal freedom – especially the freedom to chart your own course! So, it was there I learned there’s no limit to what you can achieve with strong work ethic. That optimism & respect for (& empowerment of) individual liberty shaped both my political beliefs & my vision for my country.

I started in politics on the local level two decades ago; inspired by a desire to serve the ordinary folks in my hometown! As a city councilman, then a city mayor, I led the fastest growing area in our state. I experienced firsthand the power & success of the free market, & the proper role of government in fostering economic growth. I cut property taxes, I invited business in & focused on building infrastructure (roads, water & sewer systems); not a lot of glamour in that – but I have a solid belief in what government’s proper role is & it shouldn’t be glamorous.

It’s not government business to spend the working man’s tax dollars recklessly – & certainly not government’s business to centrally “plan” an economy & control an entrepreneurial spirit! That doesn’t work. Government should lay infrastructure, level the playing field, then get out of the way. Allow the private sector to grow/thrive/create jobs & generate wealth!

Then as governor of my state, my goal was to clean up corruption & develop our rich natural resources: Our abundant oil, gas, minerals & our robust fisheries! An important project that was a ‘center-point’ was jumpstarting a natural gas pipeline project that had been stalled for decades. We brought all stakeholders together for mutual benefit – our state, the energy industry, our neighboring country, consumers & together with ordinary citizens (who are the resource owners) & major energy producers who ‘bid on the right to develop our resources’, AK was finally able to move forward on a project that can help lead America towards energy independence.

Through my work in AK (as an oil & gas regulator, then as governor), I’ve seen firsthand how energy development, job creation & national security are inextricably linked. Access to affordable, reliable energy is the key to economic growth, which is the key to job growth. Securing that stable domestic supply of fuel will lead to a more peaceful & prosperous America – an America that’s not subject to the whims of foreign dictators who could cut off energy supplies & seek to control.

Of course, energy issues are critical to the whole world’s stability & economic opportunities! By 2030, the world’s energy consumption will increase by 50% & almost half of that will come from here in India & from China. We all face similar challenges in this arena & this makes America’s quest for energy security all the more crucial as we seek to stabilize our economy, secure our homeland & cooperate with our allies who would also seek peace on earth.

Energy is key! My vision for a free & prosperous America has much to do with energy.

Now, we hear a lot about “green energy” today. And I am a true believer in environmental conservation & responsible stewardship of our lands. (It’s why I live in AK! A pristine environment to be passed on to future generations – I don’t want to mess it up! I am a conservationist. I married into an Alaska native family, where Todd’s connection to the land through his Yupik Eskimo heritage, an indigenous people, reinforces my respect for God’s creation. And we’ve made our living off the land – as commercial fishermen & Todd working in North Slope oil fields – so we don’t want to mess it up!)

So, I’m in favour of “all-of-the-above” approach to energy security. But “all-of-the-above” means including “conventional” resources! That means, the kind we actually use to reliably fuel our economy. That means crude oil, for example. And our natural gas, our coal, nuclear power.

Unfortunately, some have stymied resource development – like responsible domestic oil drilling. As a result, hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs won’t be created in the U.S. until we change course; it means Americans get hit with huge gas prices at the pump unless we change course; it means we’re continuing to transfer hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars to foreign regimes to purchase energy from them – regimes that don’t have our best interests at heart.

And I’m not just talking about gasoline here. Remember that ‘petroleum products’ are all around you! Look at your everyday surroundings – the foodstuffs; the agriculture products grown with fertilizer; the plastics all around you; medical supplies; the transportation of all these products. It’s not just gas that increases as the price of crude increases: Everything is affected. Basic commodities.

So as government locks up land & we lose good jobs in the ‘Conventional Resource’ arena, you may hear that “green jobs” will be the saviour! But look around the world & try telling that to the thousands of English & Scottish workers who’ve lost jobs as a result of government investments in “green energy” projects. A recent UK study shows that for every “green job” created, nearly four jobs were lost elsewhere in the economy due to lack of affordable energy! Same story in Spain – investment in “green jobs” brought massive debt, skyrocketing energy costs & 20% unemployment.

This push for ‘green’ at the expense of ‘conventional, reliable’ sources is not a credible energy policy or economic policy. It’s “Social Engineering” by Central Government Planners. And it leads to nothing but more debt & more job loss. And taxpayers will be stuck subsidizing the failure and paying more for energy.

The good news is there’s a choice/another option! Instead of funding non-viable special interest projects, Americans can capitalize on our own viable resources that are just waiting to be tapped – they’re right on our doorstep! Billions of barrels of oil warehoused underground in AK!

And so much natural gas – Clean, green, affordable! Easy to transport, abundant across the U.S. – Whether used conventionally, or to power natural gas cars, or run power plants that charge electric cars, natural gas is an ideal “bridge fuel” to the future. (A future when renewable gas can someday become more available, reliable & affordable.)

I warn Americans so often: it’s a ‘false, utopian fairytale’ told that would want you to believe we don’t need to drill for oil today. No, government manipulating energy supplies? Manipulating any aspect of an economy – it leads to more people becoming more dependent upon government to meet needs – it is social engineering, it’s immoral, & it’s a problem we-the-people must be brave enough to take on.

Our need for energy independence is only one of the strategic challenges we face today. The other is an unsustainable government debt which hampers economic growth.

On this: there are no “easy” solutions, but there are “simple” ones, if we just apply courage & political will to confront the problem squarely. Obviously, we need to stop digging the hole we’re in; cut spending; cut government back down to size; get rid of overly-burdensome regulations. And most of all, we need job growth! And that won’t come from ‘top-down government planning’! It’ll come from the ‘Free Market Ingenuity’ of ordinary American entrepreneurs!

To release creative energy, we need to do on a national level what President Ronald Reagan did in the 1980′s. It’s what I believed in as a ‘Reforming Mayor & Governor’ in my state, because I want the free economic choices of ordinary men & women to power the marketplace – rather than distant bureaucrats thinking they can plan & grow an economy by “government decree”. (That just doesn’t work!)

I know you understand this, because in the early 1990′s, due to clear, commonsense, pro free-market reforms, India’s economy took off!

You abolished import licenses; cut import duties; removed investment caps & broke the union’s grip on industry.

You unleashed the creativity & hard work of the Indian people; you turned away from a system where ‘Central Government’ sets targets for all sectors of the economy, to a system that lets the market set its own targets. That works.

People no longer speak of India as a “struggling economy” as they would have 30 years ago. Today we speak of India as a “dynamic & vibrant economy”. You empowered individuals & in doing so, you’ve reminded America of the free, entrepreneurial model that made our country great, prosperous & exceptional!

See, if we unshackle the creative energy of our workers, & entrepreneurs, there is no reason in the world why we can’t get back to rapid growth & prosperity!

Friends: some people want to claim that the geopolitical stage is ‘so changing’ & some actually claim ‘America is in decline’. “The United States,” they’d say, “will soon be a shadow of its former self.” I completely reject this! It represents wrong-headed thinking by some friends & wishful thinking by our enemies! America’s demise has been predicted before. It didn’t happen then. It won’t happen now.

No, America is not in decline! What is in decline? It is the idea of a ‘Tax-&-Spend, Centralized Bureaucracy’ that has brought America to the point of debt & deficits in the first place. These “Big Government” ideas are once again being consigned to the ash heap of history – though they won’t go quietly to the grave.

From the beginning: my faith has never been in Big Govt. My faith is in the American people, & we are turning things around!

All great nations face the challenges that come with a changing economy, demographics, & new technologies. The nations that succeed in the face of these challenges are the ones that show innovation & ingenuity – & will empower a free power! These qualities are the hallmarks of the “American Experience” & the unique strengths of the American people.

My vision for my country is a strong America that unleashes those strengths & confidently engages in leadership in the world & can welcome the healthy competition & partnership of rising economic powers in a democracy, like India.

The relationship between our countries could shape the course of the next century! Tilting it in the direction of free people & free markets! The future lies with us! We’re half-a-world apart geographically, but connected with much in common!

We both have deep & historical ‘democratic traditions’. We are the world’s most diverse, tolerant & dynamic societies. Our peoples enjoy very close ties (& in recent years our governments have been catching up!) There are few limits to what India & America can do together to allow a more peaceful & prosperous world.

Tragically, we have both been the targets of terrorism. We have both witnessed the courage of our people in combating terror. Both our peoples want it defeated.

And we both want to ensure that China’s rise is peaceful – while hedging against risks that it could be otherwise.

We both want to expand trade & investment with allies in a liberal international order that will soon boast India as its fastest-growing major economy.

Our diplomatic, military & political ties are deepening, because we have a genuine strategic partnership! But it is our people who are driving this relationship!

Indian entrepreneurs are investing in the U.S., even as U.S. businesses expand here.

Indian students are throughout American universities & more Americans seek to study here – including through an expanded Fulbright programme.

Our tech companies are working together in impressive ways. And our ethical partnerships could transform both our development trajectories.

Our ties & bonds are deep! And they’re not driven so much by “political leadership summits” & bureaucrats – they’re driven by free people & free markets! That’s why there are no natural limits to the future of U.S.- India relations. And that is why the world’s largest democracies – NOT its largest autocracy – will lead the 21st century.

We will lead because we are on the side of empowering individuals to make choices for themselves. Not government /not some New World Order organization making decisions & decrees for us.

We are on the side of religious tolerance & women’s rights! (And in recent years, India has helped lead by example in the area of women’s education by narrowing the gender gap in women’s literacy. You’ve helped remind the world that a culture cannot advance when it holds back half its creative & intellectual power!)

And its political power! I admire India’s tradition of strong women leaders – at home & abroad! In fact, last year, I had the honour of supporting a strong American woman of Indian descent when I endorsed the candidacy of South Carolina’s new governor – their first female – Nikki Haley!

I met Nikki’s parents & was impressed by their story, work ethic! And, by Nikki’s upbringing that led her to become part of a ‘grassroots movement in American politics’ that’s known as “The Tea Party”! (I’m proud to be a part of this movement as well.)

The “Tea Party” is named after that famous event in American politics that was a precursor to our Independence! In 1773, when American patriots were upset about British taxes, they dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. (The British had forced a monopoly on the American people that prevented us from importing tea from anyone but the British East India Company. See, even back then we believed in free trade!) Today’s “Tea Party” is a strong & vibrant movement in the U.S. & it’s only going to grow & become more influential!

India Conclave: the theme of this conference is the “Changing Balance of Power”. Well, the present day Tea Party is a perfect example of that! It’s all about the empowerment of ordinary, everyday, independent patriots who are rising up & making their voices heard to positively change the “Balance of Power”! To protect our U.S. Constitution & live out our Declaration of Independence!

It reminds our ‘Central Govt’ that our Constitution gives great power to our 50 individual states – and to individual citizens – & that these powers (these God-given ‘RIGHTS’) aren’t to be trampled on.

The “Changing Balance of Power” throughout the world today is driven by the empowerment of the individual – & mankind’s desire for freedom!

The American people understand this. And India understands this, too.

Back home in AK, where the fresh snow blankets the ground today, where my kids texted me to report they see a Mama Moose & her two baby calves outside our door by the firewood pile: There at home, I have a beautiful pencil drawing on my kitchen wall. A framed drawing by Robin Coran. It’s a picture of Mother Teresa, of Calcutta. She’s holding a precious child (a baby).

It was said of Mother Teresa that “perhaps the greatest message she has given to the world is the value & dignity of human life!” From India, she was able to share this crucial message with the world! And it is a crucial message because the freedom & empowerment of the individual is rooted in an understanding of every man & woman’s inherent dignity & worth! I looked at the picture as I typed out this speech on my home computer set up there in the kitchen.

I was struck with this: Countries that deny that message of individual worth (& destiny) inevitably stifle their own advancement because the fire of human progress is sparked by the aspirations of ordinary men & women seeking a better life!

These simple “working class” aspirations for a good job, a home, a good education for our children are what motivate economic progress & positive change! Not bureaucrats! Not ‘Central Planners’! Not government decrees! Just hard-working women & men seeking the freedom to chart their own course & succeed by their own merits!

When people realise even the briefest glimpse of this freedom & opportunity – even a hint that they can succeed through honest hard work – they run towards it! They embrace the promise of “better days ahead!” They will sacrifice today for a better tomorrow for their children & grandchildren. With individual responsibility, drive & determination, they will work together to carve a life for themselves out of the wilderness!

They’ll voluntarily contribute to help their neighbours even those half-a-world-away!

That’s the ‘Optimistic/Pioneering Spirit of America’s Frontier’! That’s the spirit of India’s progress too.

America has long been famous for our rags-to-riches stories. Now India is, too. Take pride in this – it’s inspiring! Together, as the worlds’ largest democracies, we are a testament to the positive force of human aspirations!

Today, all across the world, we see individuals, “ordinary” men & women, rising up/moving to advance (& a great tool they’re using in this ‘demand of human rights’ is social media).

We don’t know where all of this will lead. But we should look at it as opportunity to advance the cause of human freedom – not naively, but optimistically.

Friends: our two democracies understand this struggle for freedom. It’s the struggle of those who defiantly dumped tea in Boston Harbor to protest a British tea tax. & it’s the struggle of those who courageously marched to the seacoast near Don-dee to make their own salt in defiance of a British salt tax!

This hunger for ‘Freedom & Opportunity’ is proof that what we call the “American Dream” is not just “American.” It is the universal dream of people everywhere! I believe it’s created within us! And that is where the march for freedom has found its most eager advocates: ‘ordinary people’ who have ‘extraordinary determination’ to seek justice & make a better life for their families. This is as true in AK, as in Andhra Pradesh.

Half-a-world-apart? And yet we are connected by this.

My ‘Vision for America’ is one of a country that lives that dream! And, in turn, inspires & empowers women & men around the world to live it, too! We can lead by example.

What America can show the world is what is possible – the potential of human possibilities when women & men are free…Yes, may we be free!

Thank you & God bless you!

Sarah, I think you’re exceptional, …. please RUN!  We need an exceptional president.

posted by rightthingtodo on Sunday, March 20, 2011

West says that as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and considering his lengthy military background he should have been consulted before we started a new combat front with Libya. Instead, he says, Congress was sent home to their districts and the next thing you know is that the US is engaged militarily with Libya. He says he’s not even sure what the mission is:

Well first of all I can’t tell you what the mission is; I don’t think anyone knows what the mission is. When we say were going to go in and protect civilians, that’s going to be very hard to do from thirty thousand feet.

West is critical over the fact that we waited as long as we did and says that if we really wanted to influence the decision making of Qaddafi that we should have acted much earlier.

Hmm, sounds like Congressman West could be a President West?  He would certainly clean Obama’s clock!

posted by rightthingtodo on Sunday, March 20, 2011

The ties that bind President Obama, Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Rev. Jeremiah “Bombastic” Wright and Muammer Qaddafi run deep, deep across the south side of Chicago.   These ties are the reason for Obama’s dithering over Libya before Secy Clinton brought him to the No Fly Zone table kicking and screaming.  I should tell you that the Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood which houses the mansions of Obama and Farrakhan and Bill Ayers is buzzin’ like a chain saw.

Gaddafi has a special relationship with Obama’s former pastor and spiritual advisor Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan.  Reverend Wright accompanied the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to Tripoli to visit the brutal Gaddafi.  Reverend Wright described the trip as a “social visit”.

For nearly 25 year Gaddafi has financed and strongly supported the Nation of Islam and its leader Louis Farrakhan.  With the ousting of Gaddafi that financial backing would surely dry up.

Back during the 2008 presidential campaign, Wright himself noted the trip could be problematic for Obama.

“When (Obama) enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli to visit (Gaddafi) with Farrakhan, a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell,”

Farrakhan, a close friend of Wright, received a $5 million interest-free loan in 1985.

Later that year, Gaddafi spoke by satellite to Farrakhan’s Saviour’s Day (oops, that’s right, Farrakhan was the official false messiah before Obama) Convention in Chicago, and told Farrakhan supporters he was prepared to provide weapons to a black army in the U.S. to destroy “white America.”

In October 1995, Gaddafi was said to have called Farrakhan with congratulations on the success of the Million Man March. Gaddafi reportedly assured Farrakhan that together “we will unite our capabilities and efforts to achieve this.”

According to reports in 1996 from Libya’s news agency, JANA, Farrakhan and Gadhafi agreed to work together to mobilize “oppressed blacks, Arabs, Muslims and Red Indians” to help reshape U.S. foreign policy (Sound familiar).

Farrakhan went to Libya for multiple other events. He was the recipient in 1996 of the Gadhafi Human Rights Award, which came with a $250,000 prize. despite U.S. sanctions on Libya, Farrakhan accepted the cash.

Obama has many ties with Farrakhan. For example:

Rev. Willie Barrow, a member of the Obama campaign’s official Faith Outreach Team and an Obama super-delegate, is a close friend of Farrakhan’s (ans close friend to Jesse Jackson) and a staunch Nation of Islam supporter. Farrakhan stated in a 2002 interview he met with Barrow to devise his Nation of Islam platforms.

Marxist activist Cornel West, an adviser to Farrakhan, and close friend to the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Mike Pfleger, of the Hillary Clinton crying impression fame, also had been an adviser to Obama’s 2008 campaign and is a close Obama associate and personal friend. During the period of Obama’s attendance at Wright’s Trinity United Church, which practices controversial Black Liberation Theology ideology, the Chicago church was openly allied with Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam.

Wright gave Farrakhan his 2007 Empowerment Award. Farrakhan delivered multiple guest lectures at the church. Wright has been involved in Farrakhan initiatives and labeled him “one of the most important voices in the 20th and 21st century” during a national address to the media in April at which Nation of Islam officials were invited guests.

Obama has appeared at least three times on the cover of Trumpet magazine, founded by Wright. The magazine, to which Obama last year granted a lengthy, exclusive interview, regularly hails Farrakhan. Obama’s face was featured on the cover of a 2006 issue of Trumpet alongside Farrakhan’s image.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, a 2004 photo emerged of Obama’s wife, Michelle, posing with Farrakhan and Obama adviser Barrow at a woman’s luncheon for the Rainbow/Push Coalition for which Barrow serves as chairman emeritus. In the picture with Michelle Obama is Khadijah Farrakhan, Louis Farrakhan’s wife.

Another Obama connection to supporters of Farrakhan comes from David Axelrod, Obama’s chief political strategist. Although he is Jewish, Axelrod sits on the finance committee of St. Sabina, the Chicago Catholic parish that is led by controversial pastor Michael Pfleger, an outspoken Farrakhan supporter who has hosted the Nation of Islam chief at his parish several times.

There is no reason for our allies to be confused or for Hillary Clinton to be perplexed as to why Obama has dragged his feet in supporting a no-fly zone or why it took him so long to make a decision- he true allegiance isn’t to democracy or American interests, it’s to his allies in the Muslim Brotherhood and his friends in Chicago. Can the evidence be any more clear?

If there is any doubt … watch this

(the gentleman at the microphone is former Chicago alderman, Clifford Kelly, who hosts a talk radio show on WVON)

Do I have to say more???  Obama is in trouble with his old friends … looks like the chickens are coming home to roost!

posted by rightthingtodo on Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Muslim Terrorist War against Israeli Families

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- Daniel Greenfield  Thursday, March 17, 2011

The brutal murders of the Fogel family, including the beheading of a 3 month old baby, stabbed a 3 year old twice in the heart, murdered both their parents, along with an 11 year old brother who was staying up late reading in bed, have shocked the world. But the Muslim terrorist tactic of massacring families is not a new one. It has been a signature move of the PLO in its various phases, especially the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

Many of us would like to think that men who murder children are an aberration even in a terrorist movement. That perhaps the terrorists who murdered the Fogel family did not deliberately target children. It would be nice to think that we live in a world where such acts are an aberration rather than a tactic. Sadly that isn’t so. We live next door to evil. And it is vital that we see that and not look away.

Almost 10 years ago to the date, Mahmoud Mahmed Mahmoud Amrou set up a sniper rifle and took aim at a mother and father walking with a stroller. In the stroller was their baby daughter. She was 10 months old. Mahmoud had three targets in front of him. The parents were the easiest targets. Instead Mahmoud took aim and shot a 10 month old little girl in the head.

Consider the head of an adult and a child. Which is easier to hit from a distance? Her parents were young. Her father capable of military service. Her mother could still have more children. Even from the tactical standpoint of a terrorist, they were better targets. But Shalhevet Pass, the 10 month old baby girl was the one he shot in the head. Her father suffered leg injuries because the bullets were aimed at the level of the stroller.

The terrorist atrocities of these Fatah terrorist groups were backed at the highest level of the Palestinian Authority

Mahmoud Amrou was no random serial killer. He was a member of the Tanzim militia, a terrorist arm of the Palestinian Authority which crosses over extensively with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. He confessed that the attack had been ordered by Tanzim and Al-Aqsa commander Marwan Zaloum. The terrorist atrocities of these Fatah terrorist groups were backed at the highest level of the Palestinian Authority. And when Palestinian Authority leader Abbas was campaigning in 2002 in Hebron, he called out, “Mercy on the souls of all the martyrs. Mercy on the soul of Marwan Zaloum.”

But the backing for it goes even higher than that. The Clinton and Bush Administrations both held meetings with Tanzim leaders. When Tanzim and Al-Aqsa leader Marwan Barghouti was arrested, Condoleezza Rice herself called for him to be freed. Newspaper articles presented Barghouti as a “moderate” and the only hope for the peace process.

The murder of Shalhevet Pass, a 10 month old baby in a stroller, had not just been a random killing. It was another act of terror from the Palestinian Authority’s own terrorist organization, many of whose members had been armed and trained by Western security forces. It was part of a strategy targeting Israeli families and their children which goes back for over 50 years of atrocities.

March 2, 2002. A Bar Mitzvah celebration was winding down in Jerusalem. It was a balmy Sabbath evening. Outside mothers stood waiting with their children in strollers. The suicide bomber mingled with them. A bomb vest under his clothes. He insinuated himself as close as he could to the children. Then the blast. The dead included the Nehmad family, both parents and and two of their daughters, 3 year old Liran and 7 year old Shiraz. Along with their 18 month old cousin, Oriah and her 12 old brother who had been sent by his father to get the car keys. Also killed was Tzofia Eliyahu and her 7 month old son.

The mothers and their children had been deliberately targeted

The mothers and their children had been deliberately targeted. Most of the murdered were Mizrahi Jews who had fled Muslim countries and returned to their own homeland. Only to fall prey to Muslim terror in Jerusalem. Only to die with their children in front of a synagogue. As so many Jews in the Muslim died had been killed over more than a thousand years.

Once again the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the Palestinian Authority’s own terrorist organization, funded by Arafat and Abbas—indirectly funded by American taxpayers took credit for the attack.

Such attacks too were not an aberration. Next year two Muslim terrorists were caught planning to detonate a 20lb bomb belt outside the entrance of a junior high school at the end of the school day when all the children were leaving. Munir Mohammed Rabiah, one of the terrorists, was caught hiding out in a mosque. Both he and Morad Zeitoun were members of Palestinian Authority security forces.

The Muslim terrorist gangs who called themselves Palestinians had built their cause on acts of terror like these going back long before there was a Green Line and when Gaza and the West Bank were still in Egyptian and Jordanian hands. The gangs were called Fedayeen, they operated out of Syria, Egypt and Jordan and disavowed any independent Palestinian nationality or state. Their backing came from the Soviet Union, and they identified themselves as Marxists or Communists. Their goal was to cross the border and carry out massacres of civilians.

On April 11, 1956, the Fedayeen burst into a village farm school filled with almost 50 young boys. The killers opened fire and then ran for it. It was another epochal moment in what would become the “Palestinian struggle”. Except there was no such thing yet. The terrorists of the day were gangs who had fled after the Arab invasion failed to crush Israel. Their attacks were carried out on the orders of the Egyptian government. It would not be until after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when it had become clear that conventional Muslim armies could not destroy Israel, that the ‘Palestinian’ cause would become the defining brand of the terrorist gangs.

Under the supervision of the Soviet Union, a new wave of terror followed that defeat. The targets were once again families and children.

April 11th, 1974. On the exact same date as that attack, three terrorists crossed the border from Lebanon. The date match was not a coincidence. Numerology is second nature even among devout Muslims. The 11th day of the month is a popular date for Muslim terrorist attacks. The World Trade Center was hit on September 11th and Madrid on March 11th. And it was a key date in the development of Pakistan’s nuclear program.

In Arabic the numerical value of Mohammed adds up to 92. In the Koran, Surah 47 is known as the Surah of Mohammed and it has 38 verses. Add 9 + 2 and you get 11. Add 4 to 7 and you get 11. Add 3 to 8 and you also get 11. Take the 99 names of Allah and divide them by 9, another key number in Islam, and you get 11. (The numerical value of Allah is 66). These seem like trivial things—yet thousands of people have died because of the number of letters in Mohammed’s name and the number of verses in in his Surah in the Koran. A reminder of how indivisible even the trivial numbers in the Koran are from the slaughter carried out on its instructions.

For the people of Kiryat Shmona going about their lives, the number 11 would be a fateful one. The terrorists’ first target was an elementary school named after Janusz Korczak, the Polish-Jewish orphanage director who chose to die with his charges in Treblinka during the Holocaust. But the Muslim numerology of the terrorists frustrated their planned massacre. April 11th was Passover and the school building was empty. Its pupils enjoying their holiday vacations. So instead the terrorists invaded a nearby apartment building. When the fighting was over, 8 children and as many adults lay dead.

A month later, the next effort at a school massacre was more successful. After cutting a hole in the border fence, another terrorist gang entered the town of Ma’alot and pounded on apartment doors, claiming to be the police. Joseph Cohen, a forester, opened the door. The terrorists killed him and his seven months pregnant wife, along with his 4 year old son, Eliyahu, and wounded his 5 year old daughter, Miriam.

From there it was on to the school where over a hundred high school students had been on a field trip. Some escaped, the rest became hostages. As in Beslan, plastic explosive charges were placed among the students. They demanded the release of imprisoned terrorists. The code word for their demands was Al-Aqsa. Israel tried to meet their demands, but the deadline ran out. As the terrorists began executing the girls, Israeli commandos stormed the school and disarmed the explosives under fire. Most of the students survived, but 22 teenagers died. Most of them young girls deliberately chosen by the followers of the misogynistic cult of Islam.

Yitzchak Ankwa

March 11th, 1978. The Coastal Road Massacre or the Bloody Bus. Another numerological tribute of blood to Mohammed. 11 terrorists landed on a beach, shot up a taxi, hijacked a bus on an outing for employees of the bus company and their families. Using them as human shields, the terrorists shot and threw grenades at passing cars. The attack was taking place too deep inside Israel and there were no military units in place to defend against it. Instead a few dozen traffic cops armed with handguns set up a barricade. One of the passengers wrested a gun from the terrorists and shot two of them. The remaining terrorists suicided, setting the bus on fire.

Reporters described a scene of horror. “A child aged seven or eight was lying on the asphalt, a bullet hole in its head.” Parents lost their children. And children lost their parents. Among the dead were 5 year old Erez Alfred along with his father. Habib Ankwa had volunteered to serve as a translator and mediator for the terrorists. He was shot in the stomach. Along with him died his 10 year old son Yitzchak and his 2 year old daughter, Galit. Along with them died 6 year old Liat Gal-On (pictured to the side), 5 year old Naama Hadani in her mother’s arms, 6 year old Yoav Meshkel and 9 year old Mordechai Zit. Joseph and Rebecca Hochman were riding with their two sons, 3 year old Ilan and 6 year old Roi. While her husband fought off the attackers, Rebecca was killed along with her two sons. Her husband lost the use of his legs and was awarded the medal of courage.

For Israel this was a day of horror, for Muslims a day of triumph. The Palestinian Authority has named dozens of events and locations after Dalal Mugrhabi, one of the female terrorists who reportedly dragged a baby that a mother was trying to throw out of the burning bus back inside. Including a USAID funded school. Last year as the Obama Administration was going to war with Israel over some new housing in Jerusalem, the Palestinian Authority was going ahead with plans to name a square after her. Al Jazeera’s report describes the massacre as “the day a passenger bus became a fully sovereign independent republic for four hours”. And that independent republic of gloating Muslim killers and murdered families aptly foreshadowed what a Palestinian state would be like.

With the creation of a Palestinian state, bus massacres would become commonplace

With the creation of a Palestinian state, bus massacres would become commonplace. But even before that, there was the Avivim School Bus massacre. The terrorist gangs had memorized the schedule of the bus as it picked up the village’s children for school. They opened fire on the bus using a bazooka and small arms fire. (Whenever you hear complaints about Israeli disproportionate responses and superior force, remember that in 1970 their terrorists were using bazookas against a school bus.) Nine children between the ages of 7 and 14 died that day. The majority of them from a single family.

And so it has gone on throughout the years. Attacks aimed at children. Attacks meant to strike at the heart of families.
Robert Aroyo had just moved from England to Israel and was driving back to Tel Aviv with his two young children, when a Muslim teenager stepped in front of his car. Robert stopped to avoid hitting him, and the teenager tossed a grenade into an open window. The rest comes from the Time Magazine article.

All he heard was a muffled explosion and Abigail’s cry, “Daddy, Daddy!” The back seat was bloody when he looked. Beside him Preeti moaned, “My back is broken.” Wasfi Mussa Masharawi watched indifferently as the man staggered out of the car, cradling a bleeding girl in his arms. He ran away when the man pleaded with him for help.

In 1987, the Moses family car was firebombed. The pregnant mother died and her husband and four children were severely burned. A 5 year old lingered on for three months before dying of his injuries. Next year, a bus near Jericho was firebombed. Rachel Weiss burned to death along with her three children whose bodies she covered with her own in a futile attempt to save their lives.

On and on it went.

Matan and Noam Ohayon

A terrorist entered Kibbutz Metzer and murdered the Ohayon family, the mother and a 4 and 5 year old boy, while their father listened on the phone. 9 year old Yaakov Manzor, stabbed repeatedly in the chest and abdomen in Jerusalem. 11 year old Yael Ohana murdered in her home along with her mother. Zipporah Sasson, five months pregnant, gunned down next to her husband and children.

The Ozeri family was sitting down to their Sabbath meal when there was a knock on the door. The head of the household opened the door and was the first to die. His 5 year old daughter was wounded. Luckily his Sabbath eve guests were armed. They shot back, killing one of the terrorists. The other terrorist fled and was hunted down by the army.

The Leibowitz family was returning from a Bar Mitzvah when the terrorists ambushed them. 7 year old Noam died and her 3 year old sister was seriously wounded, along with her brother and her grandfather. Steve and Tehiya Bloomberg were also on the road where their car was fired on, killing Tehiya, a local nurse, who was 5 months pregnant. Her 14 year old daughter was left paralyzed. Rabbi Dickstein was murdered along with his wife and 9 year old son.
And then there were the bombings that wiped out entire families in a single moment. The Sbarro pizza bombing killed the Schijveschuurder family, both parents and three children, ages 2, 4 and 14. Along with another 8 year old girl and her mother. A Muslim university in the West Bank commemoration it with an exhibit that allowed its students to walk through a recreation of the pizza store, complete with body parts strewn around the room.

The bombing of the Maxim Restaurant by a Jenin lawyer, who prior to the attack had begun fasting and memorizing the verses of the Koran, wiped out three generations of the Almog family, killing Ruth and Ze’ev Almog, along with their son and two of their grandchildren. Their daughter, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were wounded but survived. A woman lost her mother and her baby daughter in a suicide bombing at the mall. Mordechai Lapid, dead, three children wounded. The Taba Hilton bombing. A mother and her two sons, ages 3 and 11, all dead.

The list goes on endlessly. A drawn out memorial to the dead.

Hatuel family

Tali Hatuel, 7 months pregnant, murdered along with her four children. She had been a social worker. Her four daughters, aged 2 to 7, were shot at point blank range. The terrorists continued pumping bullets into their bodies even after they were already dead.

But there must be a place to stop. Some place to say enough is enough. We can say, enough dead, or enough lists. And we say, enough lists instead. Enough reminders. Leave us alone already. An endless parade of evil is too much to bear. It is easier to look away. But these murders were not accidental. Many of them were selected. Families were deliberately targeted. Children were deliberately targeted.

Samir Kuntar murdered a four year old and became a hero of Lebanon. Syria’s president awarded him the Order of Merit, his dictatorship’s highest honor. For bludgeoning a 4 year old girl to death.

During his time in prison, Kuntar got married and picked up a degree in political science. In 2008 he was traded to Hezbollah in return for the bodies of captured Israeli soldiers. In Lebanon, Kuntar received a hero’s welcome.  Al Jazeera’s Beirut office chief threw him a party and called him a pan-Arab hero. Is there anything more to say after that?

This is the war against Israel’s families. Its children. It has been going on for generations.

The Muslim world knows that it is weak technologically and organizationally. Its chief weapons are demographics and terror. Arafat called the womb of the Palestinian woman his greatest weapon. Europe’s statisticians are finding that out for themselves. But demographic war is only half the picture. The other half is to destroy non-Muslim families. To murder pregnant women and massacre their children.

See how many pregnant women there are on this incomplete listing? That is not a coincidence. None of this is. Muslim terrorism is genocide. It is a genocidal struggle to conquer and wipe out non-Muslim populations. As in Israel, as everywhere else. Rape is one tool of Muslim demographic warfare. So is murdering pregnant women and children. Destroying families. They have been fighting it since a maddened would-be prophet began his campaign of extermination against a multicultural region.

This is war. Their kind of war. The attacks on schools and on families. The massacre of entire families is a tactic. Acts of evil by a cult too horrifyingly evil for most people to even understand. What evil does best is the exploitation of innocence in order to destroy it. And who are more innocent than the children?

Daniel Greenfield

Daniel Greenfield Most recent columns

Daniel Greenfield is a New York City based writer and freelance commentator. “Daniel comments on political affairs with a special focus on the War on Terror and the rising threat to Western Civilization. He maintains a blog at Sultanknish.blogspot.com.

Daniel can be reached at: sultanknish@yahoo.com

Give The Peace Prize Back, Obama

Trump: I have a little bit of doubt that Obama was born here

This clip will go further towards mainstreaming Birtherism than anything a Republican pol has said. Trump’s media reach is long, so he’s apt to reach audiences that don’t otherwise pay attention to politics or the birth certificate issue.

As for the substance of it, Obama’s classmates from elementary school in Indonesia and high school in Hawaii have talked to reporters about him, so it’s not true that “nobody knows who he is until later in his life.” Things get hazier during his Columbia years, but there are people who remember him from that period too. Ah well.

But it’s interesting that Trump is willing to play this card.  As we get closer to the 2012 presidential campaign, look for more of this as more and more states will require proof of “original” birth certificates of all presidential candidates.  This will include President Obama.

posted by rightthingtodo on March 17, 2011

Sarah Palin who has been ridiculed for her North Korean gaffe called for the media to apply even standards when it comes to candidates and their invariable gaffes.

From her Facebook page.

My fellow Americans in all 57 states, the time has changed for come. With our country founded more than 20 centuries ago, we have much to celebrate – from the FBI’s 100 days to the reforms that bring greater inefficiencies to our health care system. We know that countries like Europe are willing to stand with us in our fight to halt the rise of privacy, and Israel is a strong friend of Israel’s.  And let’s face it, everybody knows that it makes no sense that you send a kid to the emergency room for a treatable illness like asthma and they end up taking up a hospital bed. It costs, when, if you, they just gave, you gave them treatment early, and they got some treatment, and ah, a breathalyzer, or an inhalator. I mean, not a breathalyzer, ah, I don’t know what the term is in Austrian for that…

Of course, the paragraph above is based on a series of misstatements and   verbal gaffes made by Barack Obama (I didn’t have enough time to do one   for Joe Biden). YouTube links are provided just in case you doubt the   accuracy of these all too human slips-of-the-tongue. If you can’t   remember hearing about them, that’s because for the most part the media   didn’t consider them newsworthy. I have no complaint about that.  Everybody makes the occasional verbal gaffe – even news anchors .

Obviously,  I would have been even more impressed if the media showed some consistency on this issue. Unfortunately, it seems they couldn’t resist the temptation to turn a simple one word slip-of-the-tongue of mine into a major political headline. The one word slip occurred yesterday during one of my seven back-to-back interviews wherein I was privileged to speak to the American public about the important, world-changing issues before us.

If the media had bothered to actually listen to all of my remarks on Glenn Beck’s radio show ,  they would have noticed that I refer to South Korea as our ally throughout, that I corrected myself seconds after my slip-of-the-tongue,  and that I made it abundantly clear that pressure should be put on China to restrict energy exports to the North Korean regime. The media could even have done due diligence and checked my previous statements on the subject, which have always been consistent, and in fact even ahead of the curve .  But why let the facts get in the way of a good story? (And for that matter, why not just make up stories out of thin air – like the totally false hard news story which has run for three days now reporting that I lobbied the producers of “Dancing with the Stars” to cast a former Senate candidate on their show. That lie is further clear proof that the media completely makes things up without doing even rudimentary fact-checking.)

“Hope springs eternal” as the poet says.  Let’s hope that perhaps, just maybe, they might get it right next time.  When we the people are effective in holding America’s free press accountable for responsible and truthful reporting, then we shall all have even more to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

- Sarah Palin

Palin has a point.  The media has largely ignored the various misstatements made by both Obama and Biden while playing up every gaffe she makes.

And it’s not that the media thinks the president or the veep should get a pass based on their respective offices but because it represents a bias to protect them from embarrassment. That was not the standard with president Bush who was a perpetual gaffe machine and was a constant target of the liberal media.

To a certain degree Palin has now inherited that mantle as she moves closer to a 2012 presidential run and becomes more of a threat to Obama and the Democrats and the media would like to negate that threat as soon as possible.  I must give Palin credit for having the courage to take on the press and hold their feet to the fire which very few Republicans have been willing to do in the past.

Conservatives will need more of that kind of courage if they are to succeed in beating back the liberal media in the future.

H/t Don Irvine/Canada Free Press

***********************************************************************

I can’t think of a reason why Palin would want to be president and move to Washington. She clearly loves Alaska and has a wonderful family who also love Alaska as home. Palin clearly has a good thing going with the influence she has on national politics and election cycles. On a personal level, she has been able to amass a small fortune in being who she is. I don’t begrudge her the fortune, and I don’t blame her for her love of the wild beauty of Alaska.

I can’t think of a single reason she would want to move to an urban environment often choked with crime and poverty. I can’t think of a good reason why she should want even more scrutiny into her life and her doings with her children and submit to being organized 24 hours a day. I can’t think of why she would want to brave the wall of vitriol that would come from the left as well as many Republican establishment types. Make no mistake that if she does run for president, you can expect every rude, misogynistic, and disgusting word in several languages to be thrown her way.

In fact, there is only one reason I can ask Sarah Palin to brave the sewers of a presidential run. The reason is that we need her. (emphasis mine)

Simmons wrote that while other lesser-known political figures have taken on the establishment, “only Palin has shown the charisma and powerful speaking skills that can pack an auditorium to a sold-out crowd ten minutes after announcement….she speaks from the heart.”

Citing Gov. Palin’s vetoing of a law barring domestic benefits for same-sex couples when she first took office, Simmons wrote that she will ensure the law is enforced regardless of personal beliefs. Joe Hilley wrote about this extensively in Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader.

He applauded her unique brand of religiosity and tolerance. Though Simmons is agnostic, he feels very comfortable around Gov. Palin.

“Palin is utterly fearless, willing to take on her own party, the other party, the Federal Reserve, and anyone else who needs to be taken on to forward the interest of America,” he wrote and unyielding in her patriotism.

He wrote about her intelligence and savvy.

As Palin’s knowledge of policy, economics, and government has grown, so has the counter-story being put out by the establishment. Thanks to the internet, people can look up Palin’s past, listen to her speeches, and examine her record; the need to rely on the “big three” news services has been supplanted by the internet. Furthermore, on those same sites, Palin’s foes have been revealed as nasty, misogynistic, and potentially violent people.

“I am sorry, Sarah Palin, but we need you to serve — and for that, we need you to run,” he concluded.

Please share this story.

posted by rightthingtodo on November 27, 2010

Bless the Lord…who satisfies your mouth with good things…
Psalm 103:1, 5

The pumpkin pie has one great purpose in a thanksgiving feast–to remind us that the best is yet to come. There on the table are our traditional favorites: green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, corn, slaw, the turkey and dressing, rolls with butter, and maybe a new dish or two. But the best is saved for last–pumpkin pie–sweeter than anything that precedes it.

As Christians, we enjoy a cornucopia of blessings every day. Psalm 103 tells us to bless the Lord with all that is within us and not to forget all His benefits. Ephesians 1:3 reminds us we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

But the best is yet to come. When the great missionary Adoniram Judson was asked about the prospects for evangelizing Burma, he replied that the prospects there were “just as bright as the promises of God.” We can say the same about our own prospects–for every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.

To trust God is to trust His promises. And to trust God’s promises is to be sure of their fulfillment. This assurance concerning the future, anchored in God’s promises, is what the Bible calls “hope.”
Scott Hafemann

H/t  (Today’s Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah)

posted by rightthingtodo on November 27, 2010

Last week a dozen Tea Party activists signed on to a letter to Congress urging them to abandon social issues and focus exclusively on economic matters. The letter was sponsored by the homosexual rights advocacy group GOProud. This week, more than 150 Tea Party organizers sent a separate letter to congressional leaders rebuking the GOProud letter, stating “America is a conservative country. We expect conservative leadership…”

The letter lists seven demands:

*Defund ObamaCare;

*Seriously reduce spending

*Defund the “liberal-political complex” including ACORN and Planned Parenthood

*Disallow any increase in the debt ceiling without a

plan to cut spending

*Permanently extend the Bush tax cuts

*Vote down amnesty legislation

*Retain the 1993 law banning open homosexuality in the military

posted by rightthingtodo on November 27,2010

1 Thessalonians 5:18

What could have motivated Horatio Spafford to pen the words to the mighty hymn “It Is Well with My Soul?” Before writing the hymn he had lost his only son in 1871, been financially ruined by the great Chicago fire of the same year, and then lost his four daughters at sea in 1873. His motivation was likely the truth of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks.”

Many claim the verse is unrealistic: How could anyone give thanks for events like Spafford endured? But the verse says to give thanks in all things, not for all things. God expects no one to be thankful for tragedies that befall us in this life. But He does expect us to trust Him in the midst of such circumstances. In those difficult times, we can thank God that He will cause all things to work together for good in our life (Romans 8:28). While we grieve for those events and the losses incurred, we can give thanks even while in their midst.

Giving thanks when things are good requires enthusiasm, but giving thanks in hard times requires faith. If you are in the midst of difficulties, begin each of your days with a prayer of thanks.  It will make a difference.

Prayer without thanksgiving is like a bird without wings.
William Hendriksen

posted by rightthingtodo on November 27, 2010

1 Thessalonians 5:18

You may never know the impact the two of you have made on millions of adoring fans.  Each week for three months straight, millions of us cleared our Monday and Tuesday night schedules so we could watch you and Mark create magic right before our eyes.

Bristol and Mark better known as Team Balin poured their heart and soul into every dance they did.  Bristol had the best teacher and it appears that Mark had the best student he has ever had on DWTS,  He said this is the first time that he has had a partner who had no music performance background or dance or acting experience. He said she did not know where to place her feet and now look at her!  He said she was so shy when they first met and now she has blossomed like a beautiful flower.  It’s not easy to give yourself over into the hands of a complete stranger but that is what Bristol did.  Mark assured her of his sincere commitment to guide her in this journey of becoming a dancer and she gave him her complete trust.  He is so proud of Bristol’s growth and development and best of all he and we got to watch it all.

To place third in a ballroom dance competition ain’t bad when you start out with a non-performing background.  having said that, I believe we will never really know how many votes were cast for Bristol on the final night of competition.  What we do know is that the judges or at least 2 of them are liberal and biased.  They did not hide it and were quite happy and enthused  to clear the path for their fellow liberal, Jennifer Grey.

Bristol Palin’s Dancing with the Stars adventure ended, but if this chapter had to come to a close, if tonight’s dance was her last televised dance, what better way to go out than having the courage to step out of her comfort zone the last few weeks–once in a monkey suit, no less–and have the time of her life? These were her goals after all, were they not?

Yes, mission accomplished. Congratulations, Bristol Palin!

Former First Lady Barbara Bush

The real question is why is Barbara Bush saying “she hopes Palin stays in Alaska”

Yep, that was a sly, nasty very catty dig made by the former First Lady toward Sarah Palin.  This was not a slip of the tongue because Mrs. Bush’s words were very carefully worded and measured.  She was prepared for the question and answered it perfectly to the liking of Larry King and other Sarah Palin detractors.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Bush’s remarks will be used over and over again by those who hate Gov. Palin to denigrate her and belittle her credibility.  Hmmm, something like what the mainstream media did to Mrs. Bush’s son, former President George W. Bush.  How ironic.

The quip, which is widely reported by the lame stream media, reveals several things, none of them complimentary to the former First Lady.
Baldfaced Sexism and Misogyny?

The emphasis on Gov. Palin’s feminine beauty combined with the “advice” to stay in Alaska is baldfaced sexism and misogyny and what makes it worse is coming from another woman. This is tantamount to saying that Gov. Palin’s “place” is “barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.” How else is one supposed to interpret, “she was beautiful..very happy in Alaska…I hope she’ll stay there”?

Mrs. Bush, what a pity, we expected so much more civility from you.  You have just lost a considerable amount of respect from many patriotic Americans who see former Governor Sarah Palin in a different light than you and Larry King do.

Mrs. Palin has a lifetime of accomplishments. She can run circles around our present occupant in the Oval Office.  I would advise you Mrs. Bush to be careful with your speech.  Your son, our former 43rd president, has just written a book in which he explains his decisions he made during his eight years of president and the process he used to make those decisions.

The very man, Larry King, who elicited that unfortunate statement from you about Mrs. Palin, is one of the leaders of the pack wolves who attacked your son, George W. Bush, while  he was in office, for what they in the mainstream media describe as ignorant, stupid and ill prepared to lead our country.

Those of us who love your son and believe that he was a strong president who kept our country safe during the last decade cannot understand how you could have said such a demeaning thing about Gov. Palin, who admires  and respects your son, former President Bush.

Home of the Bush compound

Mrs. Bush, maybe you should stay in Kennebunkport, Me.

It has been a joy to watch you on your journey.  Hate to see it come to a close.  You are the best.

Mark is a gem of a gentleman.  You rock!!

This was their chance to redeem themselves from that Monkey Suit business, when Bristol had a hard time getting out of hers.  Well, they did it!  They danced the Jive tonight to a different song and never missed a beat.  Bristol was bouncy and energetic and just fun to watch.  Her face was full of expression and joy.  She seemed stronger than ever and that was a feat to accomplish after all that has happened to her this past week.

I guess we can say she’s a chip off the old block.  Strong as steel with the joy of the LORD!  Mark is the gem of a gentleman.  He cannot be thanked enough for the way he has taken care of our girl.  He has been so protective to her and that has not been easy for him to do in Hollywood tinsel town.  He seems to not care what the others are saying or thinking about Bristol’s performance in this show.  He is an angel.

Let’s take a look again at their energetic Jive-

Good job, kids!  They received 3 9s from the judges for a total of 27 out of 30 for their superb performance.  Head judge, Len Goodman said to Bristol, “The last time you were a gorilla and this time you are a thriller!”  Way to go, Len.

Their last dance of the night was the Free Style which presented a bit of a challenge to Bristol at first.  Mark selected “Cell Block Tango”, from Bob Fosse’s “Chicago” but Bristol had never seen the Broadway play or its adaptation to the movie screen.

“I’ve never seen Chicago,” Bristol said in rehearsal. “I’ve never been to a Broadway show.”  Mark was able to convince her that everything would be fine and he was right.

Their interpretation was fantastic, with Bristol and Mark dancing a dramatic Argentine Tango, which started with Bristol dancing in a cage and ended with Mark in the cage.   There were a lot of sexual tensions and dramatic movements involved in the dance and for someone who has never danced before and has never been to a Broadway play, Bristol did a magnificent job!  She had the right emotion, the right attitude and plenty of determination in the dance.  it was quite entertaining to watch -

Head judge, Len Goodman, liked it and gave Bristol praises, “That was no disaster, I thought it was fantastic!”  Len’s colleagues Bruno and Carrie Ann both gave her low score of 8s.  Carrie Ann tried to compare Bristol’s performance to that of the actresses in the original Broadway play – people who have spent their life time singing, dancing and acting on stage!  Bruno gave her credit for determination and for reaching so high.  It was still appalling that the two of them gave her 8s when she deserved 10s.  She really came out of her comfort zone and performed as Mark had taught her. It was completely theatrical.

They did rent the movie of “Chicago” to help her get the feel of the tension and drama of the women in the iconic movie-

Bristol is a quick study.  She’ll need that because Tuesday night she will have to learn a Quick Cha Cha.  Besides doing their personal favorite she and Mark will be given another Insta Dance challenge.  Their song will be give to them at the beginning of Tuesday’s show and they will have to choreograph the Cha Cha to that song and perform it.

This has been an amazing journey for Bristol and she deserves to win.  So we pray and pray some more and cheer this beautiful young woman along her way.  The judges may have scored her to be last but God said the last shall be first when you honor Him.

I feel really good about Tuesday night.  Bristol and Mark shine like the morning day sun!!  God bless you both.

posted by rightthingtodo on November 22, 2010

Why On Earth Is Barbara Bush saying “she hopes Palin stays in Alaska”

I guess she and former President George Bush Sr. are really confused by all of this “Tea Party Business??

Well, President and Mrs. Bush Sr., so sorry to break it to you this way … but the sooner the better.

We, the voters, will have a lot to say about Mrs. Palin’s future residence.  You really don’t have to worry it this time.  Thanks

Illustration: Rainbow parachute by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

KNIGHT: Lame-duck quackery

Repudiated pols shouldn’t impose homosexuality on the military

By Robert Knight-The Washington Times

Not all of the snipers targeting U.S. military personnel are in caves or perched on cliffs in Afghanistan. Some are right here in America, planting stories instead of explosives.

Their mission: to destroy the military’s moral backbone.

On Oct. 28, unnamed “sources” claimed to the Associated Press that a survey conducted by the military over ending the ban on homosexuality reveals that most soldiers are thrilled with the idea. Sure they are.

The next shot was fired by an unnamed “source” who managed to get a front-page story in The Washington Post on – you guessed it – Veterans Day. The headline was: “Report: Little risk to lifting gay ban.”

What a selfless, objective source. Why make Congress read the full report before voting on the bill to end “don’t ask, don’t tell,” sponsored by Rep. Patrick Murphy, Pennsylvania Democrat, whose constituents voted on Nov. 2 to throw him out ?

Congress didn’t bother to read the 2,700-page Obamacare bill before voting on it. Why should members read a far shorter report that could profoundly alter every branch of the service?

And how handy that the “source” concluded that the military can accommodate open homosexuality “with only minimal and isolated incidents,” as the Post put it.

Congress is back for a lame-duck session this week, and members are being pressured to vote for a military authorization bill that contains Mr. Murphy’s repeal of the 1993 law barring open homosexuality in the armed services. Often mis-characterized as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a Clinton policy that watered down the actual law, the law has functioned fairly well. About 14,000 men and women have been separated from the armed services under that law over the past 17 years. That’s less than 1 percent of total military separations, most of which are for pregnancy, substance abuse, being overweight, etc.

I had to read the “source” reference twice because it was so outlandish: “The source declined to state his position on whether to lift the ban, insisting it did not matter. He said he felt compelled to share the information out of concern that groups opposed to ending the ban would mis-characterize the findings.”

President Obama has urged Congress to overturn the law, and a federal judge in California, Virginia A. Phillips, issued a profoundly arrogant ruling in October ordering the entire U.S. military, including overseas troops, to cease enforcing the law. The 9th Circuit put a stay on her order as requested by the Obama administration, and the case is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court, where its fate is uncertain.

Meanwhile, homosexual activists and their media allies are putting on a full-court press to persuade the still-liberal current Congress to overturn the law before a more conservative Congress is seated in January.

Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, is leading the opposition, with Sen. Lady Gaga and most of the media occupying trenches on the other side. Just kidding. Lady Gaga, who has the pop world by the throat, would never settle for being a mere senator.

(Here is a clip of Senator McCain on Meet The Press this past Sunday and he talks about DADT among other things)

Senator McCain, so many of us are depending on you to exactly what you have said you will so – stand in the way of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.  We must be just as concerned about the moral and cultural deficit as well as the financial and economic deficits.

The stakes in this fight are enormous, beginning with chaplains, who would be forced to recant their biblical morality or resign. Enforcement of any new “tolerant” policy would result in zero tolerance for servicemen who believe that homosexuality is wrong. The military would then be used as a battering ram against American society’s resistance to mandated acceptance of homosexuality. Story Continues →

Take Action Now

• Pray that this “lame duck” scheme to homosexualize our military and put our troops at risk will fail.
• Call your two Senators and House member and urge them to oppose any attempt to overturn or fail to enforce the 1993 law. The Capitol Hill switchboard is (202) 224-3121. Click to identify the email or fax number of your Senators or House member.

The Fine Print — Why It Matters
The stakes are enormous, beginning with chaplains, who would be forced to recant their biblical morality or resign. Enforcement of any new “tolerant” policy would result in zero tolerance for servicemen and women who believe that homosexuality is wrong. The military would then be used as a battering ram against American society’s resistance to mandated acceptance of homosexuality.

Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos told reporters on Nov. 6 that he strongly opposes ending the ban.

Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos

Here’s a snippet from a Los Angeles Times article:

“There’s risk involved,” Amos said. “I’m trying to determine how to measure  that risk. This is not a social thing. This is combat effectiveness.”

Amos assumed the commandant job two weeks ago, succeeding Gen. James Conway.

In August, during his last visit with troops in Afghanistan, Conway repeatedly asked gatherings of enlisted Marines throughout Helmand province whether they thought unit cohesion would be harmed if openly gay people could serve. Almost unanimously, the young Marines indicated they felt it would.

Combat, Amos said, is an “intimate” experience without parallel in civilian life. “We’re talking about our young men—laying out, sleeping alongside of one another and sharing death, fear and loss of brothers,” he said.

In February, Gen. Conway, Amos’s predecessor, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he opposes repeal:

“My best military advice to this committee, to the secretary, to the president would be to keep the law such as it is.”

The Marine generals’ views parallel those of 1,167 retired generals and admirals who have signed a petition opposing any effort to remove the law.

Again, Please Take Action Now

• Pray that this “lame duck” scheme to homosexualize our military and put our troops at risk will fail.
• Call your two Senators and House member and urge them to oppose any attempt to overturn or fail to enforce the 1993 law. The Capitol Hill switchboard is (202) 224-3121. Click to identify the email or fax number of your Senators or House member.

H/t  ROBERT KNIGHT: Lame-duck quackery

Robert Knight is Senior Writer and Washington, D.C. Correspondent for Coral Ridge Ministries. He is the author, most recently, of The Truth About Marriage: Defending God’s Design for the Family

posted by rightthingtodo on November 19, 2010

FLORENCE, Ariz. — When a suicide bomber entered an American military barracks in Afghanistan in February, it was not American soldiers but Afghan stray dogs that confronted him. Target and two other dogs snarled, barked and snapped at the man, who detonated his bomb at the entrance to the facility but did not kill anyone.

The dogs were from the Dand Aw Patan district, in the eastern Paktia Province near the Pakistani border. One died of wounds suffered in the blast, and months later, Target and the other dog, Rufus, were flown to the United States by a charity and adopted by families. Target — who received a hero’s welcome, including an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” — went to live with the family of Sgt. Terry Young, 37, an Army medic who witnessed the animals’ bravery that night and helped treat the dogs and several American soldiers who were wounded.

Target was hailed a hero and her injuries were treated by medics as though she was a soldier. She lived, came to live in Arizona and appeared on Oprah with her owner Sgt. Young Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330088/Afghanistan-dog-hero-mistake-Arizona-animal-shelter.html#ixzz15jQJp2LY

The glory, though, was short-lived. Target, after learning to get along with the Young family’s other dog in Arizona, becoming accustomed to dog food and to using a doggie door to relieve herself, escaped from her yard. She was captured last week and euthanized by mistake.

Target, right, and Rufus were brought to the United States in July after the dogs thwarted a suicide bomber’s plan in Afghanistan.

“My 4-year-old keeps saying: ‘Daddy, bring Target home. Daddy, get the poison out,’ ” Sergeant Young, a father of three, said in a telephone interview, his voice choking with emotion. “Obviously, at first there was extreme anger and horror. Now that a couple of days have passed, the anger has been replaced by sorrow.”

To say that Target was a celebrated mutt would be an understatement. Beyond caresses from Oprah, the shepherd mix had appeared on all the major television news channels upon her move to the United States and had won a local Hero Award as dog of the year.

Target, not used to being confined, escaped Friday afternoon from Sergeant Young’s home in the San Tan Valley area in central Arizona. After being spotted on the loose, she was reported to Pinal County’s animal control. Target was brought to the county animal shelter in Florence, where she was held just like any other run-of-the-mill stray. Because she had no tag, microchip or license with the county, her photo went up on the shelter’s Web site on Friday in hopes that her owner might respond.

Sgt Young's 4-year-old son (seen here when Target arrived from Afghanistan) has been devastated by the pet's death and asked his dad to take out the poison and bring the beloved animal home Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330088/Afghanistan-dog-hero-mistake-Arizona-animal-shelter.html#ixzz15jOnB4Kh

Sergeant Young spotted Target’s photo online on Friday and paid the fee by computer to recover her. He mistakenly thought the shelter was closed for the weekend.

By the time Sergeant Young arrived at the pound on Monday, the shelter employee in charge of euthanizing animals that day had apparently picked the wrong dog out of the pen and administered a lethal injection, performing what the shelter referred to as “P.T.S.,” or put to sleep.

“I am heartsick over this,” Ruth Stalter, the county’s animal care and control director, said in a statement. “I had to personally deliver the news to the dog’s owner, and he and his family are understandably distraught.”

Barraged with criticism, the county ordered an investigation and placed the unidentified woman who euthanized Target on administrative leave. “This is unacceptable,” Ms. Stalter said, “and no family should be deprived of their companion because procedures were not followed.”

The county offered the Young family the services of a grief counselor who specializes in pet issues and agreed to refund the recovery fee and waive any fines, said Heather Murphy, a county spokeswoman. “We are not shying away from this,” she said. “We screwed up, and we’re acknowledging that.”

But Target’s fate has mushroomed into more than a family tragedy. Because of the dog’s fame and her heroics in battle, there has been an outpouring of grief.

A candlelight vigil is planned for Dec. 3 to honor Target. Sergeant Young said he might spread the dog’s ashes, which were provided by the animal shelter, at a memorial service, perhaps at the park where Target used to frolic off leash.

A lawyer specializing in animal issues has also contacted Sergeant Young, who said a lawsuit was possible.

Recalling those difficult days in Afghanistan, Sergeant Young said that perhaps because he and the other soldiers were living like dogs themselves, they bonded with the strays that found their way onto the base. “Our rooms could be mistaken for kennels with the cement floors, smell of urine and feces, razor wire and chain-linked fence all around the compound,” he wrote for his hometown paper in Oklahoma, The McCook Daily Gazette, just days after Target joined him in August.

Target had her own Facebook page for those who wanted to follow her new life in the United States. Since word of her death has spread, fans have written of their shock and outrage.

“R.I.P. Target”

“Nooooooooooo!!! So so sad Thank you for all you did Target! Amazing that you survived a war, but not an American shelter … something is wrong here, baby,” read one posting.

The page has been used to organize a write-in campaign to Pinal County officials to express outrage at what happened. The No Kill Advocacy Center has used Target’s death to raise the profile of its campaign to end the euthanizing of millions of cats and dogs at shelters every year.

And the Puppy Rescue Mission, the organization that raised the several thousand dollars to bring Target to the United States, has expanded its mission to encourage pet owners to install microchips in their animals so they can be easily traced.

At the shelter where Target died, there is significant despair as well, county officials said. “On Monday, I spoke with the director and if she was not openly crying, she was fighting back tears,” Ms. Murphy said. “You don’t do this work if you don’t care about animals.”

“They love when someone adopts an animal or an animal is returned to its owner. That’s the best part of the job,” Ms. Murphy said. “But there is roadkill to pick up, and we recently had to pick up 154 cats from a trailer with no running water. These jobs are thankless even on a good day.”

The official investigation into what happened will go beyond one employee’s error and look into the policies of the shelter, officials said. Already, one former employee has come forward to say that he almost euthanized the wrong animal on several occasions.

“They said, ‘Ah, don’t worry about it, mistakes happen,’ and we went on,” the former employee, Jason Melroy, told local television station KTAR. “I sedated a dog that wasn’t supposed to be put to sleep. Thank God another officer found it.”

³⁰ “Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

Last night’s elimination process on Dancing With the Stars was what I consider a ‘statement from God.‘  Apparently, He said it was Bristol and Mark’s turn to be honored by having a place in the finals.

The previous evening, Bristol and Mark had honored Him by performing their Slow Waltz in tribute to the crucifixion of of His Son, Jesus Christ.  They danced to a song from Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ. It was Mark’s idea to perform their semi-final round waltz to that particular music.

“John Denby is one of my favorite composers and that song is just so powerful and it’s something that I think both of us really believe in and we’re passionate about the music,” Mark explained. “It’s just moving… my favorite thing in the world is music and to be moved by music is just the most beautiful thing… and especially if you watched the movie, when that song is playing [over] the scene that’s happening it’s just so inspiring and so motivating. The song is just gorgeous and I’ve always wanted to dance to it.”

They had been working long, long days and long hours on their waltz.  It paid off – God took notice even though Carrie Ann did not.  She said that Bristol again wandered off during the dance and lost her connection with the audience.  Carrie Ann gave them a score of 8.  She did not understand Bristol’s interpretation of the most awe inspiring sacrifice the world has ever seen.  Bristol had her character spot on.

“You turned into somebody else on that last one,” Mark told his partner. “You turned around and I was like, ‘Oh! All right! Game on! Let’s go!’ It really felt good. I was really proud.”

What Carrie Ann had to do was score Bristol lower than her competitors and over score the competitors so there would be no doubt to the audience and the world that, Bristol would be the least likely to survive, bcause in their minds she did not belong and she had to be placed at the bottom of the heap.

Well, God cast His vote for Bristol.  He watched her drive her truck all the way from Wasilla, Alaska over the span of 4 or 5 days into the Left-Wing capitol of the USA, Hollywood.  He knew that His spirit was in her and on her and He knew she would run into some problems and some issues.  Because of that, He simply gave her an extra dose of anointing of the Holy Spirit.

He watched her take the challenge of learning how to dance.  He knew she had no knowledge of dance, performing arts, acting, show business, etc.  The one thing He knew that she had was determination, ability to work hard, willingness to take criticism, humility, kindness for others, and a merry heart. He simply cleared the path for her because He has this relationship with her.  Bristol is a Christian and she loves the Lord.

On the evening of the semi-finals, God was in the audience watching everyone and everything.  He saw the deceit in some of the comments of the judges.  He saw the sense of entitlement in some of Bristol’s competitors.  He saw the arrogance of some members of the Hollywood community present in the audience.  He saw the over scoring of Bristol’s competitors and the under scoring of Bristol’s performances.  He saw the lack of fairness in the judges’ grading of Bristol’s effort and undeniable growth as a dancer.

So He spoke. I am in no way saying that God loves some more than others.  No, He loves all of us unconditionally.  That is why He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay for all of our sin.  What I am saying is, Bristol came with humbleness and Brandy came with arrogance and a sense of entitlement. It appears that Bristol was happy to just be there and compete but Brandy gave us the sense that she had to win at all costs.  She said that if she did not win, she would have to see a doctor!

Brandy felt from day one she would win.  She made numerous remarks about how she just had to win.  At one point, she referred to the fact that she is a singer and that was a good thing because she has music.  She even said, ‘I’ve got this.”

Folk, Brandy desperately needed to revive her performing career and the Mirror Ball was the path she had chosen to do that.

Bristol did not register on their radar in Hollywood as a potential contender and forget being a potential winner.  They view her as an outsider and they were not prepared to have to deal with the fact that she could win the Mirror Ball.

Did you see the faces of Jennifer Grey and her partner, Derek Hough as the announcement of Brandy’s elimination was made?

Look at them again-

It is clear that all of them, including the judges, were set for Bristol’s exit.  Did you notice Kyle placing his hands on his hips and Brooke and Bruno actually said they were so shocked.  Bruno stands up and tells the audience that you have to vote because every vote counts?  He goes as far as telling Brandy that he is disappointed and encourages her to perform her Free-Style Dance with Maks next week? That was most inappropriate because Bristol and Mark are standing right there and listening to the hostess and one of the judges lament over Brandy’s elimination!

It was appalling!  Here we have Kyle and Lacey’s reactions-

Yep, adorable Kyle is in on it too – we just heard him say another unpredictable day at DWTS.  In his mind, Bristol was supposed to be history!

Then we have the drama queen Jennifer Grey and her partner, Derek Hough, who by the way is best friends with Bristol’s partner, Mark Ballas reacting to Brandy’s exit.  Just listen to Jennifer shower Brandy with praise (even though phony)  She says very little about Bristol-

I mean, really Jennifer?  On November 5, on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, you were asked your opinion of your competitors and how they were doing and you said to Jay that you had no opinion because you only had enough energy for yourself … that you don’t have the energy to keep up with the progress of your competitors.  What I took from that was that you didn’t really care about anyone else there because it’s all about you.

You’ll notice that these interviews were done by TV Guide and even their interviewer showed her bias when interviewing the last 3 competitors for the finals, she asked Kyle and Lacey and Jennifer and Derek about the elimination of Brandy.  When she interviewed Bristol and Mark she never mentioned Brandy’s name, watch –

I’m sure many of us would like to know Bristol’s feelings about the Brandy’s elimination – but this interviewer did not find the words to ask Bristol what she thought.

I will admit that I was overwhelmed with emotion when they announced Brandy’s name instead of Bristol’s.  When Kyle was told early in the show that he was safe along with Jennifer, that frightened me.  I thought if Kyle was not eliminated then it would most likely be Bristol.

I thought that because in our home we had experienced a difficult time casting our votes for Bristol.  It took each of us over an hour to vote online.  We thought that Bristol’s line had been rigged or something.  It turned out that so many of us were trying to vote for her that we jammed the online page for her and Mark.

It was simply the hand of God moving in Hollywood Tuesday night when Bristol and Mark were given a place in the finals next week.

You are blessed, Bristol and Mark.  Do well and enjoy every minute of it.  You have earned it!!  Don’t let anyone tell you differently!

posted by rightthingtodo on November 17, 2010

She and her partner, Mark Ballas, danced the Paso Doble, for which they received a score of 27 and they danced the Slow Waltz and received a score of 26.  They may have ended up at the bottom again – but she had to be happy to receive a total score of 53 on semi-final night.

This beautiful young woman from Wasilla, Alaska, who drove her truck all the way to Hollywood from Wasilla over the span of 5 days – alone – is a brave heart indeed.

It makes my stomach churn when I hear or read the cruel, nasty, petty remarks about her not being  qualified for the semi-finals.  If we can remember, the object of this show is to take a person who is a newbie to dance, really a non-dance individual and turn them into a ballroom dancer in 3 months.

Those are the qualifications and Bristol fits the bill a hundred times more than any of her three competitors.  Bristol is someone with no musical background, no dance training and no performance experience, who just showed up with determination, a hard-work ethic, tough skin and nerves of steel and the greatest smile.

She listened to everything her professional partner taught her and executed the dance routines on the dance floor with the likes of professional actors, dancers, singers, sports figures, entertainer, etc.

Yes, you betcha’, Bristol Palin deserves to be in the semi-finals and the finals and to WIN the coveted trophy!

Those naysayers who keep insisting that she should not be in the semi-finals, may I say that Jennifer, Brandy and maybe Kyle should not be there.  They are members of the performing arts and have skills that they have learned and used for years.  Bristol had none!!

Take a look at the drama queen, Jennifer Grey, when she appeared in the 1987 movie, ‘Dirty Dancing’

Although, Jennifer has changed her face these days, she had those same moves last night that she had back in 1987 – she is not a newcomer to dancing.  Her father and mother are choreographers and actors, and Bristol is standing on the same dance floor with a person with this kind of dance experience!  Get it??

Now, let’s take a look at desperate Brandy when she appeared in the 1997 remake of the Rodgers and Hammerstein ‘Cinderella’ movie

Are we getting the picture of what Bristol is  up against?

And last, but certainly not least, let’s look at Kyle, who is an actor, a rapper and all around entertainer, who is very, very comfortable in front of a camera.  We heard his mother say that from a young age, she know that Kyle and his brother would be in show business.  Here’s one of Kyle’s rap videos

Kyle is a consummate performer – make no mistake, he knows how to turn up the volume when he needs to.

The judges gave our 10s last night like they were going out of style.  Everyone received a 10 or, multiple 10s except Bristol.  Hmmm, I wonder why?

She may not have performing arts experience but she has presence and she has improved  each week.  her foot work is impeccable.  She makes you just want to watch her and cheer her along.  It’s like she said in her interview with Mark and the other couples on the Larry King Show, she is everyday people just like you and me.  people relate to her and want to help her win.

She is one gutsy little lady and she just shines because of her genuine niceness and sweetness.  She said in one of the video clips below, people like her and vote for her because they know she is not fake.  She is not the Hollywood type.  She is pretty savvy at handling rude interviewers – did you hear Larry King sneak a Levi Johnston question in?  She put King right back in his place and refused to be drawn into inappropriate  questions.

Her first dance last night was the Paso Doble to the song, ‘Gimme Me More’, by Britney Spears, which was just fun to watch-

Her last dance was the Slow Waltz to music from the soundtrack of Mel Gibson’s ‘Passion of the Christ’. This dance brought tears to my eyes as I watched her glide across the floor.  As I listened to the music and thought back to the movie, I could not help but think of how Jesus Christ was treated during his crucifixion.  While none of us will never know what that was like, and can never compare ourselves or our journey through life to Christ, I imagined that Sarah Palin and her daughter, Bristol, have a few painful stories they could tell all of us.

Bristol’s face, as she was receiving the judges’ remarks about her performance, told us of some of that pain.  She was surely thinking of all the hard work and time she has put into this dance show, and to stand and listen to Carrie Ann find just one more thing to criticize and not understand the emotion and passion of the theme of the music was appalling.  Carrie Ann is one petty individual and they should replace her next year.

Now, we wait and pray that we have called enough times to send our winner’s choice to the finals next week.  She is last in Hollywood’s mind to win, but as the scripture says, the last shall be first.

I must not forget to commend Mark Ballas for his wonderful, sweet spirit.  He has been terrific with Bristol.  We never saw him lose his temper with her.  He never raised his voice with her.  He had the patience of Job and the heart of an angel.

We love you Mark.  Bristol could not have had a better teacher and partner.

Lord, victory for Bristol and Mark, is what we ask of you.  Thank you.

posted by rightthingtodo on November 16, 2010

************************************************************

Please try voting for Bristol and Mark on the DWTS website at ABC.com and see what happens to you.

I have tried 10 times to cast my vote on-line at ABC.com, for Bristol and Mark, and each time the message is as follows:

sorry, we couldn’t find that page

Please try using the search above or follow one of the links below.

ABC Television Shows & Programming

**********************************************************

I hope that it’s just busy with callers lined up to cast their votes for Bristol.  It’s really strange.  ABC should have been prepared to receive the calls and it appears they were not or maybe something sinister is going on.  We’ll all find out tomorrow night…

This is the message that has been received by me since the show came on the air tonight at 7pm.  It is now 8:39pm.  The show has just gone off.

************************************************************

sorry, we couldn’t find that page

Please try using the search above or follow one of the links below.

ABC Television Shows & Programming

Vote For Bristol

1(800)868-3407

There are three ways to cast Votes:

(1) Telephone voting commences at 8:00 p.m. Eastern today (7:00 p.m. Central, etc.) and the lines are open for thirty minutes after the show has ended in your local time zone. Call 1-800-868-3407 to vote for Bristol. You may use landlines or cell phones and call up to five times per number.

(2) You can text your vote (AT&T customers only) to 800-868-3407 using text-in code 3407. Text voting opens at the beginning of the show and remains open until 30 minutes after the show has ended in your local time zone.

(3) Voting on the internet begins once the show starts airing and is open until 11:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow. You will need to log into Dancing With The Stars main page for internet voting.  There is a limit of five votes per email account this week.

Complete rules for voting here.

There are three ways to cast Votes:

(1) Telephone voting commences at 8:00 p.m. Eastern today (7:00 p.m. Central, etc.) and the lines are open for thirty minutes after the show has ended in your local time zone. Call 1-800-868-3407 to vote for Bristol. You may use landlines or cell phones and call up to five times per number.

(2) You can text your vote (AT&T customers only) to 800-868-3407 using text-in code 3407. Text voting opens at the beginning of the show and remains open until 30 minutes after the show has ended in your local time zone.

(3) Voting on the internet begins once the show starts airing and is open until 11:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow. You will need to log into Dancing With The Stars main page for internet voting.  There is a limit of five votes per email account this week.

Complete rules for voting here.

Bristol and Mark will dance the Paso Doble, which is a lively dance modeled after the drama of the Spanish bullfight.  It will look something like this -

and then, they will dance the Slow Waltz -

Both of these dances should not be a challenge for Bristol who grasps the technique of the dances very quickly and retains the steps in her mind.  We will pray that she will continue get into the character of these dances and wow the audiences and the judges tonight.

Bristol and Mark are by far the most deserving of the the 4 couples competing tonight because Bristol started with nothing but sheer will to try something completely new to her.  Her 3 competitors are all performers and entertainers and dancers and singers and actors, you name it, they have done it.

Brandy is a singer and actor.  She had the leading role in Cinderella and she danced in that movie.  Sweet Kyle is an actor.  Drama queen Jennifer is an actor who attended The Dalton School in New York City, where she studied dance as a child. Her parents are actors and choreographers.  Now, do you see why Bristol is the least likely to  be the winner in the eyes of the ‘Hollywood types’?

Bristol came to the show with determination and nerves of steel just like her mother.  We can be proud of our vote for her because she is the real deal.

When asked, What do you think is your biggest handicap to overcome if you’re going to win?   She answered:

“I’ll be starting from square one. I don’t have any formal dance skills so I think the biggest challenge will be training my feet to follow my head.  There’s no doubt this will be tough, but I thrive on the challenge, expanding my boundaries and trying new things.”

God be with you, Bristol and Mark!

George W Bush memoirs: Decision Points in pictures

“Decision Points” covers 14 separate decisions Bush made while in the White House, offering analysis about how he reached them in an effort to shed further light on his presidency. The book begins with the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, which drastically reshaped his foreign and military policy, and ends with the economic meltdown during his waning days in the White House.

Asked if he authorised the use of waterboarding on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, he said: “Damn right! We capture the guy, the chief operating officer of al-Qaeda, who kills 3,000 people. We felt he had the information about another attack. He says: “I’ll talk to you when I get my lawyer.” I say: “What options are available and legal?”.”

Interestingly, he said that before the waterboarding of three terror suspects, officials gave him a list of legal “enhanced interrogation” techniques, two of which he rejected as going “too far”.

Mr Bush insisted that “waterboarding” of terrorist suspects by the CIA saved British lives by stopping Islamist attacks on Heathrow, Canary Wharf, US government buildings abroad and many targets within the US.

In the book, Mr Bush writes of his errors in the Iraq campaign and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, which international intelligence reports strongly suggested Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had obtained. Asked if he considered apologising for the mistakes, the former president said he has not. “Apologising would basically say the decision was a wrong decision,” Mr Bush said

Mr Bush insists “the world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power, as are 25 million people who now have a chance to live in freedom” in Iraq.

He writes: “What would life be like if Saddam Hussein were (still) in power? It’s likely you would be seeing a nuclear arms race.”

Mr Bush said he regretted flying a banner bearing the words “Mission Accomplished” on the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003 before the troop numbers were lowered in Iraq and the insurgency again destabilised the country: “It looked like I was doing the victory dance I had warned against. It was a big mistake.”

Mr Bush said that he wished he could have brought bin Laden to justice and the fact that the al-Qa’eda leader continues to evade capture was “among my greatest regrets”.

Mr Bush’s biggest regrets centre on Osama bin Laden and Iraq, particularly “false intelligence” on WMD. “No one was more shocked or angry than I was when we didn’t find the weapons,” he said. “I had a sickening feeling every time I thought about it. I still do.”

On Afghanistan, Mr Bush writes: “Our government was not prepared for nation building. Over time, we adapted our strategy and our capabilities. Still, the poverty in Afghanistan is so deep, and the infrastructure so lacking, that it will take many years to complete the work.”

Mr Bush praised the “wisdom” and “strategic thinking” of Mr Blair in his book, confirming that the former prime minister was his strongest foreign ally. Mr Bush writes in his memoir that following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, Mr Blair told him “he would stand with America ’100 per cent’ in fighting terror”.

George W Bush has disclosed that he and his wife bonded with the Blairs over the film ‘Meet the Parents’. When the group, including Mr Bush’s wife Laura, decided to watch a film, they decided to watch the 2001 comedy starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. “When they agreed on Meet the Parents… Laura and I knew the Bushes and the Blairs would get along”, he wrote.

Mr Bush confesses that he did not respond as effectively as he could have during the Hurricane Katrina crisis, which some critics viewed as the low point of his presidency.

He called his New Orleans flyover a “huge mistake,” and acknowledged he should have stopped in Louisiana to tell local officials and victims of the disaster “I hear you.” He said the photographs now seared in public memory showing the president looking out the window of Air Force One on a flight back to Washington made him seem “detached and uncaring.” “This was a problem of perception, not reality,” Bush said in his book. “My heart broke at the sight of helpless people trapped on their rooftops waiting to be rescued.”

On Iran, Mr Bush writes: “A government not of the people is never capable of being held to account for human rights violations. Iran will be better served if there is an Iranian-style democracy. They play like they’ve got elections but they’ve got a handful of clerics who decide who runs it.”

Mr Bush shows evidence that contradicts the stereotype of a hick cowboy: he won a competition with his adviser Karl Rove to get through the most history books in a year (110 to 95); read 14 biographies of Abraham Lincoln while in office; and ignored television entirely to spend more time reading. He said: “I found it fascinating to be reading history and making history.”

posted by rightthingtodo on November 15, 2010

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:2

“I always have one extra plate at my table,” said a Christian woman long ago. “The command is, ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ As I never know when the angels will come, I think it wisest to be always ready and waiting for them.”¹

For centuries, Hebrews 13:2 has inspired Christian hospitality; and it used to be a common custom to set an extra plate at supper in case someone dropped by.

In Genesis 18, three strangers showed up at Abraham’s tent. One was the Lord Himself (the pre-incarnate Christ) and the other two were angels on a mission to judge Sodom and Gomorrah. They appeared fully human, but they were anything but. Abraham and Sarah entertained them and set an example for us. Could it be that in helping a stranger, smiling at a visitor, or befriending a newcomer, we are ministering to an angel? The Bible supports that possibility. It’s a good reason to be kind to everyone you meet today.

Messengers from God brought a greater blessing than they received. Whoever entertained a servant of the Lord entertained the Lord Himself.
Holman New Testament Commentary on Hebrews 13:2