Gut Reactions to the President's State of the Union Address

1. Nancy Pelosi: I'm sorry if I offend any women who may read this blog, but I got real tired real fast of the number of times Tim Russert and Brian Williams brought up the fact that the house was being presided over by the first female speaker. During Condoleeza Rice's confirmation hearings for Secretary of State did everyone drool over the fact that she could be the first Female African American Secretary of State? No! They went after her tooth and claw. Just as an aside, when Democrats propose minority candidates for important positions they are given all teh attention in the world, Obama and Clinton. When Republicans do the same thing they are reviled, Blackwell, Swann, Steele, Rice, Powell, Estrada, Owens, Janice Rogers Brown...

2. Healthcare and Education: Even though I doubt much of what the president said concerning these subjects will be heeded, I loved watching the Democrats grimace when the president said the word "privatization"

3. Energy: The president's proposals on the subject were nice, but all demanded more government intervention, regulation on fuel types and standards, and increasing SPR. I was waiting for the president to say, "...and as we actively pursue the development of alternative fuels we need a steady supply of non-mideast oil. That's why I'm once more reccomending that you open up ANWR and the OCS to drilling."

4. Judges: The president once again called for the speedy confirmation of judges. It's definitely an important thing. The lack of judges is holding up the courts. The fourth circuit is missing one third of its members. However, its a little to late. Thanks to eh incompetence of Frist and antics of McCain and co. the constitutional option was never exercised. with Leahy in charge of the judiciary committee things will go at a murderously slow pace. Also... Can anyone explain why the issues of judges wasn't campaigned on in the midterms as it was in the president's reelection? Might it have done more to galvanize the base?

5. Protection of Marriage: You may see this and think, "Did the president even mention marriage in the speech? If you are that's my point. It seems to me like the FMA was a political ploy campaigned hard on in the president's reelection campaign to galvanize the base, but practically ignored in the last two years. Sorry... It was voted on in the summer by congress in an attempt to show conservatives that teh Republicans are conservative to. Why couldn't the president throw in two lines about the FMA?

6. Immigration: I'm sorry. I have totally had it with the president on immigration. Instead of cozying up to your non-base, can you just keep this country safe Mr. President?

7. Iraq: It's really simple. We need to win. Sadly the Democrats and the RINO's are invested in our defeat. If you don't believe me go back and watch the video of the speech. Every time teh president mentioned victory in Iraq, the Democrats sat on their hands. How can people who don't even want us to win help create a constructive proposal on the subject? Ironically even though the D's oppose victory in Iraq, they cheered wildly whenever teh president encouraged us to support the troops. Explain that one please.

8. Senator Webb's Response: I won't say to much. However... I didn't realize until last night how captivating an orator this state elected. Before I proceed I would like to thank Sen. Webb and his family for their service in America's military. Everyone who serves in that capacity deserves our gratitude for those actions, including Sen. Kerry. However... Being a foot soldier qualifies no one to be an arm chair general, to assume that they always no better than the presiden and his advisors and can run this war. I am sick of people like Sens. Webb, McCain, Kerry, and Grahm who say, "I was a foot soldier thirty years ago. I'm an expert on all things military." In much the same way that I as a grocery clerk am not an expert on how to run a grocery store, Sen. Webb is not an expert on how to run a war. As a Democrat who opposes victory this is also a war he doesn't want us to win.

These sure are tough times. Keep working hard for God and country.

How Can Anyone Still Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

Frozen embryo survives Katrina flood: Noah is born

Reuters | Friday, 19 January 2007

WASHINGTON: A baby boy who as a frozen embryo was saved from the flood spawned by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has been born in a hospital in the New Orleans area and named for Noah, who safely navigated the biblical flood.

Noah Benton Markham was born on Tuesday in St Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, Louisiana, a hospital spokeswoman said on Wednesday. He weighed 8 pounds, 6½ ounces (3.8 kg), and was delivered by Caesarean section with no complications, the spokeswoman said.

His parents, Rebekah and Glen Markham, were unable to have children and created embryos at a fertility clinic to be implanted in the mother's womb.

After the hurricane, authorities saved his embryo and others stored at a hospital where they had been in danger of thawing amid the flood engulfing the area.

Baby Noah has a 2-year-old brother whose embryo was created at the same time but was implanted earlier.

Embryonic stem cell research truly is murder. Every time a human embryo is used in the cause of science another Noah Markham is denied his right to life. Besides after twenty years of intense research, no positive results have come from the destruction of human embryos. Congressional debates over embryonic stemm cell research aren't simply debates over ethics. They are debates over whether the government will fund a form of research, that has never been proven to work, and simultaneously denies thousands the ability to see the light of day.

I'm disgusted that our congress wants to encourage such destructive research. Many blessings on young Noah, and his elated family.

This is Too Disgustingly Biased to Ignore

So I was reading ManOnFire_89's discussion on marriage, and I thought, "I just heard a story about the sad shape of marriages these days, maybe I'll re-read it and post a link on his site." The story is printed by the truthful patriotic conservative NY Times and entitled, "51% of Women Are Now Living Without Spouse." http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/us/16census.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin The problem was that their 51% of women was of all women over 15. http://newsbusters.org/node/10205 If you are 15 or 16 I hope you aren't married. But why is this a big deal? The left is using stories like these to show that marriage is really ruining women's lives. Part of the NY Times story read, “For better or worse, women are less dependent on men or the institution of marriage,” Dr. Frey said. “Younger women understand this better, and are preparing to live longer parts of their lives alone or with nonmarried partners. For many older boomer and senior women, the institution of marriage did not hold the promise they might have hoped for, growing up in an ‘Ozzie and Harriet’ era.” As soon as marriage is "proven" destructive to ones life, what's to stop any type of relationship from occurring between any number of partners? What's there to stop these rlationships from raising children? Ugh!!

As young people, let's commit that when we are married we will have marriages that others will see and ask, "how can I have a happy marriage like that?" It's a serious thing growing up.

Thank You

The French parliament has pulled the dangerous language from the bill. Thank you everyone for contacting the French embassy.

French Homeschoolers need your support. NOW!!

Imagine the U.S. Congress was about to pass a law almost eliminating homeschooling in America. You would probably act immediately. That's exactly what the small fledgling French homeschool movement is facing. If you have been blessed to be a homeschooler, and want other children to continue to enjoy those blessings. Please read the letter below and call the French embassy. If you have never contacted a government office before, don't worry. You can just read the script and add a couple of personal comments at the end.

Please act now and help preserve the right of parents to educate their own children.

January 9, 2007

HSLDA--French Homeschoolers Need Your Help Immediately!

Dear HSLDA members and friends:

French homeschoolers are faced with a draconian bill which will be
voted on by parliament within the next few days. We just received word
about this bill today.

Homeschooling is currently allowed in France. However, this bill would
essentially outlaw homeschooling. No parent would be allowed to
homeschool unless they showed that the health or handicap of their
child makes it necessary for him or her to be taught at home.

In addition, if a family could even prove they have a health issue or
some other "serious" reason to justify their homeschool, they would
then have to submit to a home visit by a government official each
year. Also, their curriculum would be either provided by the "National
Center of Correspondence Teaching (CNED)" or by an approved private
correspondence school.

French homeschoolers believe this bill will essentially outlaw
homeschooling as they know it in France. They plead for your help to
stop this restrictive bill.

Homeschoolers in America have successfully stopped similar legislation
in Ireland, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. In both Ireland and
the Czech Republic, the restrictive homeschooling bills had already
passed one house of parliament before we even got involved. Once we
got involved the bills were stopped.

At this point we need you to communicate with the French Embassy in
Washington, D.C. In a few days we will send another email asking you
to communicate directly with the parliament members.

ACTION REQUESTED
Please contact as soon as possible, by phone or email, the French
Embassy and give them this message:

"Amendments 127 & 128, which would virtually outlaw homeschooling, are
being voted on by the French parliament. If passed, this would cause a
travesty. We cannot believe that a free country like France would
outlaw such a basic right as parents choosing to homeschool their
children. Over two million children are being successfully
homeschooled in America. Homeschooling works. We ask that you
immediately convey to the French government our concern and request
that the bill language prohibiting homeschooling in nearly all
circumstances be withdrawn."

Also, explain in a paragraph or two the wonderful success you have had
with homeschooling.

Ambassador Jean-David Levitte
(202) 944-6000
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3600
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3601

BACKGROUND
Homeschooling has long been allowed in France. Homeschoolers have to
have regular testing and sometimes they are visited by an official,
but for the most part operate freely. This bill would completely
change that legal atmosphere and make it impossible for 95% of
homeschoolers to operate.

Please take time to help our brothers and sisters in France, where the
homeschool movement is small and they do not have a lot of
organizations or numbers. Nonetheless, there are many sincere parents
who love their children and want to faithfully teach them at home
principles from the Word of God and personally train their children.

If homeschoolers don't try to help, who will? Please take a moment and
contact the French Embassy.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Christopher J. Klicka
HSLDA Senior Counsel