Give Us Liberty

Glenn Beck Hit the Ball WAY Out of the Park!

2010-03-09T08:57:00.001-08:00

http://www.watchglennbeck.com/video/2010/March/Watch-The-Glenn-Beck-Show-March-5-2010/full/

Now Is The Time To Be Vigilant With The Health Insurance Bill

2009-08-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend the Obama administration announced that the President was finally ready to drop the public option...or is he? I am a little confused...sounds like they may be too.

Anyway, while this may be good news I fear that it may be a diversion from what will remain in HR 3200. The President said over the weekend that the public option for insurance coverage was "just a sliver" of the overall proposal.

One Democrat, however thinks that this is the beginning of the end for the health insurance reform bill - “It would be very, very difficult, to support a bill that lacked a public health insurance option," Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, “because, without the public option, we’ll have the same number of people uninsured. If the insurance companies wanted to insure these people now, they’d be insured."

Meanwhile the word is coming down the pike that the House is again pushing back the voting date to late September. I imagine that they are doing this in hopes that America's attention span will time-out and then they can get some "real work" done.

There is at least one person who sort of agrees with me. Former Congressman and House Majority Leader, Dick Armey, is making an astute prediction that “In September or October there will be a hyped up outbreak of the swine flu which they’ll say is as bad as the bubonic plague to scare the bed-wetters to vote for healthcare reform. That is the only way they can push something on to the American people that the American people don’t want.”

May it not be so!

A Review of a Review of HR 3200

2009-08-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

Readers in the blogosphere and elsewhere have probably run across several different policy groups who have published reviews on their understanding of the health care reform bill, House Resolution 3200. Some reviews have been helpful and mostly correct, others have fallen short by a country mile.

Kip Horstmann, public policy analyst for the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries has scrutinized one of the more popular reviews floating around the web and has shared his findings with GiveUsLiberty.

Without further ado, House Health Care Reform Issues (HR 3200) #1.

Can Someone Explain This To Me?

2009-07-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

I log onto Drudgereport.com this morning and find this ad picture at the top of the page.

Is this not the same Massachusetts Governor who signed into the law the first individual insurance mandate with government health insurance for those who could not afford it?

This man has no integrity whatsoever! He ascribes to whatever political philosphy is popular and whichever one he think will win him an election.

A New Blog!

2009-07-29T14:55:00.001-07:00

I have started a personal blog at www.johncreath.com called "My Wittenberg Door". I am of course going to be writing about my random thoughts in a less formal setting. So come on over and check it out.

Thanks,

~ John Creath

Not So Sure - Health Care Reform - Part 1

2009-07-20T09:40:00.001-07:00

A friend at work shared this with the staff and I thought it worthy of being posted on this blog...this was a pretty entertaining way of visualizing a serious issue. Well done Let Freedom Ring!

Barbara Boxer's Finest

2009-07-16T14:23:00.001-07:00

I just happened upon two videos that I found interesting...I'll let them speak for themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryEGmkjv8R8

http://www.breitbart.tv/god-awful-black-chamber-of-commerce-ceo-rips-sen-boxer-for-condescending-racial-remarks/

Enjoy!

Obama's Unemployment Math

2009-07-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

Obama told us before the second stimulus bill that if the Congress did not pass the porkulus package that unemployment would rise to 10% by 2012. Well we passed the package and in the year of our Lord 2009, July, unemployment is at 9.5%... and guess what kind of news our President informed us of today? More unemployment...what is the solution? Well the President and some of the members of the Congress are telling us that we may need another stimulus package...that would be the third for those keeping track.

I am not good with unemployment math, but somehow I detect a problem here.

TV Spot - Survivor

2009-05-29T06:57:00.001-07:00

Do we really want this type of "free" health care?

Faces of Government Healthcare

2009-05-28T15:02:00.001-07:00

Besides the fiscal concerns that conservatives and libertarians have regarding "universal" health care we should be taking this problems into consideration as well. Is this a good HEALTH care choice?

Make Mine FREEDOM! (1948)

2009-05-26T12:55:00.001-07:00

Here is a fun video to watch. Kind of seems pertinent to today.

Why...

2009-03-09T04:24:00.000-07:00

...do the Liberals like this guy?

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and all that is necessary to close the circle of our felicities." - Thomas Jefferson, in his 1801 Inaugural Address

Newt in 08'?

2009-03-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingerich in a speech to the Randolph-Macon College said that he was not ruling out a run for the White House in 2012. Newt said, in reference to he and his family, "And if we think it's necessary we'll probably do it. And if it isn't necessary we probably won't do it."

A couple things to remember that came from this speech that I think we should remember are that Newt said Republicans owe it to President Barack Obama to listen to his ideas and seek areas where cooperation makes sense, citing Obama's plan to attack health problems such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

"Cooperate when you can, offer a better solution when possible, stop something only if you have no alternative," he explained.

It's just that right now there aren't many areas where Gingrich sees things going in the right direction. Here's Gingrich on the economy:

"I know of no experience in the last 50 years where a big-government spending program has successfully restarted the economy." He also lumped the bailouts proffered by the Bush administration into the mix. "You can't spend your way out of debt."

A couple thoughts I have are Obama's plan to attack health problems such as cancer and Alzheimer's is just another excuse for him and the bailout lovers and porkbarrel huggers to funnel money to useless beaucracy's that go nowhere in their "research." Siding with Obama on anything health related is going to be a bad decision.

As for the positive side (though some would possibly argue is condradicting) Gingrich's quote "I know of no experience in the last 50 years where a big-government spending program has successfully restarted the economy" was simple and sound. Let's just hope that if he is elected that he will stick to his guns on this.

Interesting times ahead.

Understaffed Treasury Department

2009-03-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

So, Congress just passed this $1 Trillion bailout right (to get some perspective, this is what $1Trillion looks like)? President Obama gave his stamp of approval saying that the Treasury Department would have direct oversight over the distribution of funds. I am wondering how they intend to oversee this distribution when all 17 of the Treasury's deputies are non-existent. For more on this read the Washington Post's article "Understaffed Geithner can't keep up" covering this disconcerting story.

Homeschooling and Homeschoolers In the News

2009-03-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

Two notable happenings in the homeschool world:

Go here to read Adam Schaeffer's Cato Post on Homeschooling.

Also, while we're on the the topic of homeschooling and homeschooler's, there is an American Idol contestant that may be going to the finals who has been/is homeschooled. His name is Scott MacIntyre and he is from the state of Arizona.

The Change We Need?

2009-02-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

"This is our moment, this is our time to turn the page on the policies of the past, to offer a new direction. We are fundamentally transforming the United States of America. And generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was our time." --Barack Hussein Obama

The Product of Ivy League Education

2009-02-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

Foxnews did an interesting study today on where the top leaders and CEO's of the late failed/hands out for bailouts companies went to get educated in the ways of the world and business.

Pretty interesting. I hope this encourages the young men out there who have decided to pursue alternative education programs that will not necessarily give them the fancy letters after their name (and maybe not the fat salaries either) but will in fact better equip them in the fields that they believe God has called them unto.

Postmaster General: 'Six-Day Delivery May Simply Prove to Be Unaffordable'

2009-01-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

Read it here.

"Dissident Notes on the Obama Coronation"

2009-01-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

The following mostly sums up my thoughts on the Obama inauguration. So, I thought I'd share it:

It’s wall-to-wall Obama in the newspapers and on the airwaves, and I keep wondering, Was it quite so overwhelming in the run-up to previous inaugurations? I think not. Presumably the gushing media response is generated by some combination of Barack Obama’s being our first African-American president, his being the antidote to an epidemic of Bush Derangement Syndrome, and our growing cult of the presidency. I complained once about people who see the president as “a combination of Superman, Santa Claus, and Mother Teresa,” and this month journalists are leading the way. Even New York Times reporter Helene Cooper, writing the “pool report” for other journalists on Obama’s visit to the Washington Post, noted that “around 100 people–Post reporters perhaps?–awaited PEOTUS’s arrival, cheering and bobbing their coffee cups.” Post reporter Howard Kurtz assured readers that his fellow journalists did gawk, but they did not cheer or applaud.

The Washington Post banners Obama’s “centrist approach.” Even Blue Dog Democrat Jim Cooper says he’s showing “great centrism.” He’s promising to spend a trillion dollars more than the most spendthrift president in history. If he promised to spend two trillion dollars more, would the Post see his program as left-liberal?

For politicians everything is politics: “It has been more than three months since he sat through a Sunday church service and at least five years since he attended regularly, but during the transition, Obama has spoken to religious leaders almost daily. They said Obama calls to seek advice, but rarely is it spiritual. Instead, he asks how to mobilize faith-based communities behind his administration.”

“Nation’s Hopes High for Obama,” says the Washington Post-ABC News poll. Those polled say that they have high expectations for his administration, they think he has a mandate for major new programs, and they like his promise to give virtually everyone some money. Indeed, according to a graphic in the paper but apparently not online, 79 percent of respondents have a favorable impression of Barack Obama, much higher than the numbers for Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, or Bush II as they prepared to take office. In fact, the only modern president whose favorable ratings on the eve of inauguration matched Obama’s was Jimmy Carter. Hmmmmm.

Bob Woodward offers 10 lessons Obama could learn from the mistakes of the Bush administration. One of them is “Righteous motives are not enough for effective policy.” Woodward directs all his lessons at foreign and defense policy, but that’s a good rule for domestic policy too. The fact that a policy sounds right-minded — create jobs, raise the minimum wage, ban sweatshop products, mandate energy efficiency — doesn’t mean that it will work. Economic processes are dynamic, not static. Benefits have costs. Another of Woodward’s rules is “A president must do the homework to master the fundamental ideas and concepts behind his policies.” Again, that applies to economic as well as to foreign policy. Has Obama read any thoughtful criticisms of Keynesian economics or of “job creation” schemes or of renewable-energy mandates? He met with conservative pundits, but has he sat down and listened to any of the many economists who oppose his stimulus plans?

On a lighter note, former “Saturday Night Live” writer and Will Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay discussed Ferrell’s Broadway show, “You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush” with the Washington Post. Asked how he might make Obama-related comedy, McKay said it would be tough because “Obama’s an actual adult who knows how to work.” Let’s see . . . four years ago Obama was voting “present” in the state senate, and now he’s going to be president. His supporters range from journalists who compared him to “the New Testament” to actual voters who exult, “I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know. If I help [Obama], he’s gonna help me.” He himself said that his capture of the Democratic nomination “was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow.” If humorists can’t find some humor there, we need better humorists.

And maybe it’s appropriate that a singer known as “The Boss” headlined the inaugural concert for a candidate whose wife promised, “Barack Obama will require you to work. . . . Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.”

~David Boaz, Cato Institute

Cato Blog Post by David Boaz

Useless Men

2009-01-10T04:09:00.001-08:00

"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." - John Adams (1735-1826)

dlr

A Voice of Reason

2009-01-09T04:38:00.001-08:00

dlr

A Strange Concept

2009-01-02T04:47:00.000-08:00

"For more than six hundred years-- that is, since Magna Carta, in 1215--there has been no clearer principle of English or American constitutional law, than that, in criminal cases, it is not only the right and duty of juries to judge what are the facts, what is the law, and what was the moral intent of the accused; but that it is also their right, and their primary and paramount duty, to judge the justice of the law, and to hold all laws invalid, that are, in their opinion, unjust or oppressive, and all persons guiltless in violating, or resisting the execution of, such law." - Lysander Spooner, The Right of Juries

dlr

Oops! I forgot I couldn't afford it...

2008-12-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

"The Bush administration took a lot of pride that homeownership had reached historic highs," [former Bush Treasury secretary] Snow said in an interview. "But what we forgot in the process was that it has to be done in the context of people being able to afford their house."

I hate when I forget things like whether I can afford the house I am buying or not...

So what we are learning here is that the former Secretary of the United States of America's Treasury Department simply forgot the pesky detail that Americans would have to afford the houses they were buying. Oops.

I guess I can believe that, when Congress forgets that they can't afford ANYTHING that they do. Oops, looks like we have 50 trillion in unfunded liabilities. Forgot that people would get old. Oops...

Freaking idiots.

It Is Above the Law

2008-12-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

"The right of a citizen to bear arms, in lawful defense of himself or the State, is absolute. He does not derive it from the State government. It is one of the high powers" delegated directly to the citizen, and `is excepted out of the general powers of government.' A law cannot be passed to infringe upon or impair it, because it is above the law, and independent of the lawmaking power." - Cockrum v. State, 24 Tex. 394, at 401-402 (1859)

dlr

A Nation of Thieves

2008-12-17T03:59:00.001-08:00

"The bottom line is that we've become a nation of thieves, a value rejected by our founders. James Madison, the father of our Constitution, was horrified when Congress appropriated $15,000 to help French refugees. He said, 'I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.' Tragically, today's Americans would run Madison out of town on a rail." - Dr. Walter Williams

dlr

Quote of the Day

2008-12-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

"I don’t know much about Arne Duncan, President-elect Obama’s choice to be Secretary of Education. But I do note this: In seven years running the Chicago public schools, this longtime friend of Obama was apparently not able to produce a single public school that Obama considered good enough for his own children." ~ David Boaz (Cato Institute)

A Flawed System or Restored Principles?

2008-12-10T04:39:00.000-08:00

"Today, a major economic crisis is unfolding. New government programs are started daily, and future plans are being made for even more. All are based on the belief that we're in this mess because free-market capitalism and sound money failed. The obsession is with more spending, bailouts of bad investments, more debt, and further dollar debasement. Many are saying we need an international answer to our problems with the establishment of a world central bank and a single fiat reserve currency. These suggestions are merely more of the same policies that created our mess and are doomed to fail."

"The choice we face is ominous: We either accept world-wide authoritarian government holding together a flawed system, or we restore the principles of the Constitution, limit government power, restore commodity money without a Federal Reserve system, reject world government, and promote the cause of peace by protecting liberty equally for all persons. Freedom is the answer." - Congressman Ron Paul. Speech, excerpts from: The Austrians Were Right, a speech delivered before the U.S. House of Representatives, November 20, 2008

I.O.U.S.A Trailer

2008-12-02T12:29:00.000-08:00

This is worth the 30 mins...

No More Pencils!!!

2008-11-24T12:40:00.000-08:00

GiveUsLiberty believes pencils to be alarming and dangerous. These "deadly weapons" should be banned from all citizens. Especially innocent children.

Just think of all the hell a child could create armed with a deadly wooden and lead pencil (not to mentioned the cushioned rubber end with a jagged metal coupling). Not only could a child inflict injury to himself with a splinter to the hand or a jab to the eye, but he could also impose his wielding liberty to negatively influence those within his immediate vicinity.

*GiveUsLiberty's research finds that taxpayers are held responsible for more than 85% of the medical cost for treatment of pencil-related/inflicted injuries. Every day 79 people are killed by pencils in America.......America! The land of the free, the home of the brave!!!! And we allow ourselves to do this to ourselves? How low can we as a society stoop.

GiveUsLiberty calls upon President almost-elected Obama to speak to this devastating crisis that America faces. Pencils should be considered as deadly as weapons of mass destruction and ought to be heavily regulated or outlawed to the degree that firearms will be regulated and/or banned.

GiveUsLiberty's Policy for the Public Betterment Department is releasing policy language and proposed legislation to confront the pencilious problem that lies ahead of us. Due to the confidentiality of some of the persons working on this project the only information that is being shared with the press is that it will most likely involve creating a Federal bureaucracy called the PSA (Pencil Security Administration) that will conduct house to house searches of citizens homes for free to clear their domain of any harmful pencils that may be lurking in the shadows. Non-compliance will of course result in punishment to be determined by the Legislature and/or the Executive Office....probably will involve lethal lead injection or death by pencil puncturing.

*Research is duplicated from statistics spouted off by an anti-firearms idiot during a stupid debate on whether it was a good day to buy a gun on the weekend of 11/22/08. GiveUsLiberty's real research finds that 87% of statistics are made up off the top of individuals heads anyway. If you are reading this disclaimer you probably know who the referenced anti-firearms idiot is and it would be appreciated if you shared this with him.

Obama's Change

2008-11-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

I thought Obama was the candidate for change. He is talking with Hillary about a SOS position in his administration and now this.

Draw A Chance Card....

2008-11-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

...and live happily everafter.

Ready to Rule

2008-11-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

Sigh.

Call me crazy, but I have a feeling that Obama is going to be quite the fascist. Note the phrase this Obama advisor uses: "[Obama will]...take power and begin to rule day one." (Note: Not govern, not lead, but rule...day one.)

"Republicans Offer The Unborn 32 More Years Of Roe v. Wade"

2008-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Read this.

What No One Is Saying About Tax Plans

2008-10-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

As many of you have probably observed, this blog tends to be in agreement with much of what the Cato Public Policy Institute publishes in their policy releases. Today Chris Edwards wrote a blog post called "Obama Tax Plan and IRS Data" that argues that people that are making over $200,000 already pay twice as much in taxes as those who are in the making less than $200,000 bracket. He then follows up with the question, "is that fair?" Of course not! But what you don't hear anyone saying in this debate (including Cato) about this whole 'lets redistribute the wealth' philosophy is that if we had a fixed tax rate across the board for everyone (and I am not promoting this plan, but stick with me) and the rich wouldn't be bearing the tax load, what would happen? 'The rich would get richer,' you might say. Yes (kinda)! but what would that translate into? Jobs! because when rich people get richer they hire people (usually of lesser mean) to manage their wealth and estate, which means that more people are making more money. Its almost like a 'wealth redistribution plan' just without the stealing.

Oh, but I forgot... the people promoting the 'wealth redistribution plan' don't actually want to work for their living... how could I forget?

"The Madness of King Rod"

2008-10-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute did a follow-up blog post on his piece released this morning titled "Hawaii Abandons Universal Coverage for Kids (which I linked to in my previous post) called "The Madness of King Rod". If you live in Illinois, or if you are interested in health care policy I would recommend reading this follow-up blog post.

No More Universal Health Care For Hawaii

2008-10-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hawaii has quickly come to their half senses and realized that “universal child health care” is too expensive and hopefully they, and the “Church of Universal Health Care” will soon realize that it was non-existent to begin with. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle’s office cited budget shortfalls and other available health care options for eliminating funding for the program today after only seven short months after the programs inception. Cato Institute’s Michael Tanner has a good, short write-up on this subject that correlates Hawaii’s failed program with that of Sen. Obama’s “universal health care” plan. He points out that many parents pulled their children from private insurance and alternative plans to put them on this "universal children’s health care" program that has now failed, leaving them shortchanged by disrupting their previous coverage and care. This failure is going to result in financially taxing families that “needed” help in the first place.

David Boaz Has A Good Article Up on Cato Blog...

2008-10-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

...talking about how the nations nine largest banks, represented by their executives, were pressured/forced into allowing the government to buy into their stocks, thus creating quasi-nationalized banks. Read it here.

As a side note, if don't follow David Boaz on Cato Blog or Cato email, you should. He is a fabulous writer and is one of my favorite public policy analyst (he even responds to your questions if you email him).

Is Obama a Natural Citizen?

2008-10-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

I received an interesting email this morning from a policy friend of mine. It was actually something that he forwarded to me from Tracy Klicka (wife of Chris Klicka, President of HSLDA). Rather than tell you what it said, here is the forwarded text:

Dear friends,

I rarely send out any emails of this nature, especially of a negative nature. I am so grieved that we have a man running for president who is not only NOT pro-life, but his ties with anti-American, US terrorist revolutionaries of the 1960s (his ties run much deeper than he admits based on all the associations he has had with these folks over the years), plus his membership (and baptism of his own children) in a "church" run by an openly anti-American, anti-Bible "pastor" for 20 years give me grave concern for the future of our country should this man win the election.

And now the latest indictment...I recently received information revealing that there is a pending lawsuit being brought forth by a longtime Democrat lawyer from PA, against Sen. Barak Obama for not producing any hardcore evidence that he was born in the United States. Conflicting hospital names have been given by family members, and his own grandmother has been telling people her grandson born in Kenya is running for president of the United States. Obama and the DNC are trying to stall this lawsuit until after the presidential election in just under three weeks!

Please watch this short video and pass around to everyone you know! Even those who support Obama cannot support a man who is not a true citizen of the US!!! The second link is a web site that shows how the birth certificate published on Obama's web site is irrefutably a forgery.

Short video of lawsuit being brought against Obama for failing to produce evidence that he is a natural-born citizen of the United States (he has actually recently hired, Joe Sandler, an attorney with the Washington law firm Sandler, Reiff, and Young, the legal hitman for the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)--CAIR is an organization with terrorist ties) to file a delay of discovery motion (meaning, if granted, would allow him to not produce his legitimate birth certificate until well after the election; makes me wonder--why doesn't he just produce it if it's real???):

Collection of data which prove that the copy of Obama's birth certificate on his web site is a forgery:

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/07/atlas-exclusive.html

Update to the Obama Birth Certificate forgery/lawsuit as of October 15:

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/obamas_birth_certifcate_forgery/
Please, please pass this on to as many folks as you possibly can. Thank you!
May truth prevail,

Tracy

If you follow the links and watch the Youtube video it does raise an interesting question. I of course believe that it is "convenient" that 1) Mr. Berg is a Clinton supporter (this makes me suspicious that Hillary and maybe her supporters would prefer allowing McCain win so she could have another shot in 2012), and 2) that this is coming out the month before the election. Now, if Sen. Obama is not a natural born citizen then he should by all means be dismissed from the presidential election by the FEC and be held responsible for any crimes commited in the falsifying of documents and the cover-up of this matter.

One thought that is going through my head is 'didn't Obama have to present original documents (i.e. birth certificate) to the FEC while filing to run for President?' If there is/was a discrepancy, why didn't they catch it? If I tried presenting a non-original/phony birth certificate, even to get a stupid drivers license in say...Illinois (thats another story), I would be rejected. One would think that there would be a lot more scrutinization for somebody attempting to qualify for a Presidential run. But alas, I am a simpleton...what do I know.

Interesting times...

The Lord is at Work

2008-10-15T14:43:00.001-07:00

"The world is moving into the greatest economic crisis of history. It is a religious crisis, the product of man's efforts to play god and to control all things. For humanistic man, freedom is anathema, because it runs counter to scientific planning and control. The growing crisis is thus a religious one, and we must see it as God's judgment on a false and rival order. The crisis must be seen as good news, as evidence that God is at war, that the wages of sin in any sphere are always death, and that every tower of Babel man erects has a common destiny, disaster and confusion. The Lord is at work; let the people rejoice." ~~ R. J. Rushdoony

dlr

Is the Bailout Working Yet?

2008-10-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself wishing you were in a career that sets records and then over-achieves and breaks those records the next day may I recommend getting into the financial sector. They are setting records daily. :)

Chuck Baldwin Announces Cabinet Position for Ron Paul

2008-10-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

In an address to the John Birch Society, Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party Candidate, announced that if he is elected he will appoint Congressman Ron Paul to Secretary of the Treasury. Read about it here.

Quote of the Day

2008-10-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

Stocks plummeted even after Congress passed a $700 billion financial rescue package last week and the Federal Reserve announced a series of measures to add cash to the financial system. FoxBusiness

Not only do we get a bailout, and not only does the Federal Reserve decide to print us some more cash, but this is only the beginning of a "series" (I think its kinda like the Worlds Series coming up...only closer to home [pardon the pun])of measures put forth by the Fed. They really shouldn't leave us on such a cliff hanger though...its all I can do contain myself for the excitement of a very close game of Fed's playing chicken with the economy. THIS HAS A MORE THRILLING PLOT THAN IRONMAN!!!

Congressman Thaddeus McCOTTER Speaks the Truth

2008-10-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

This Congressman deserves to be made famous for this tactful but yet direct and poignant speech on the House Floor. I discovered this clip on Cato Institutes Blog (which I would recommend subscribing to).

Indroducing...drumroll...Bryan Evans

2008-09-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

Bryan Evans (also known as "dlr") is the newest contributor to Give Us Liberty (you may have seen his debut post here). Bryan admittingly does not write as often has he posts thought provoking items that he reads from a his pool of various resources (you read how many hundred blogs a day Bryan?).

I feel like Bryan brings balance to the Give Us Liberty bloggers; I contribute with my shotgun mouth, Joshua Peiffer with his analytical brain, and Bryan with his research and massive reading and listening capacity. What better team could you ask for?

Enjoy!

Why Do We Even Have Small Numbers...Like A Billion?

2008-09-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

I was just reading some of my daily news websites which are predominantly focusing on the no-so-good-looking economic situation and was happily greeted on Foxnews.com and Newsmax.com's home page with a headline story reporting that I am going into debt another $3000 without my consent. Our Congressional leaders announced today that they had a "done deal" with regards to the proposed $700 billion credit bailout (which actually might mean $1.2 trillion) and the $25 billion automakers bailout (only Newsmax picked up on this one...small potatoes I guess.)

Apparently the Democrats and Republicans have decided that for the first time in the history of the 21st century [exageration added for affect] they would put aside their much needed bickering at a time when we need them to just keep talking and arguing (because when ever they have tried to "help" lately, it translates into the ecomony getting a bowel obstruction that backs up a bunch of ____/paper-things-they-call-"money" from fertilizing our financial, mortgage compost pile...I don't know if that makes sense but I laughed when I wrote it, so it stays) so they don't actually move us into solvency.

O...and while we are on the topic of big numbers, the FDIC has just reporting that they might need a bailout themselves...only to the tune of $150 billion though

Happy Days!

Isn't that Special!

2008-09-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

3rd Infantry's 1st BCT trains for a new dwell-time mission. Helping "people at home" may become a permanent part of the active Army

I think the "founders" talked a little about standing armies, didn't they?

dlr

Missing the Branches for the Roots

2008-09-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Some thoughts on political progress (via ending abortion) can be found HERE.

How Did We Get in a Ecnomic Crisis?

2008-09-18T14:23:00.001-07:00

Glenn Beck, in his ever so clever and humorous way, gives a simple explanation of how we got where we're at in this mortgage/economic crisis his most recent CNN column. For those of us who are simplistically minded and love humorous analogies to get a point across, this is worth the read. Enjoy!

"How we got into this money mess" by Glenn Beck

Surprise! Surprise! The FDIC Is Low On Cash.

2008-09-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Read this report from Newsmax and be mad! :)

Palin Thoughts

2008-09-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Like everyone that is politically savvy, I have been reading a lot about Sarah Palin, the vice-presidential running mate for John McCain. Below are links to some, what I believe, interesting material regarding this issue. Enjoy!

This next one is really eye opening...

Now, read Iron Ink Blog commentary on Palin's ABC interview.

Where is Obama on Iraq?

2008-09-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Read this. It kind of sounds like Obama is trying to delay the pulling troops out of Iraq until he can take office, that way he gets the credit for ending the Iraq war. If this is the case, he is proving himself to actually be a candidate of "more of the same," not change. These kind of tactics have been used many times throughout political and electorial history to better enhance the image of fake "advocate for change" politicians and in the end it is the citizens in general and the military in particular that tend reap the consequences.

If he really is an advocate for withdrawing the troops from, and ending our major influence over Iraq, he should be open to removing them as soon possible and not be concerned with how it will affect his political career.

Republican VP Choice

2008-08-30T20:15:00.001-07:00

I have been wanting to write something regarding the "conservative" party's recent nomination of Sarah Palin for the VP slot, but alas I am in the middle of moving and have not had the time to compile my thoughts on this issue and transcribe them into a blog post. So here are two similar perspectives on Mrs. Palin's nomination that I tend to agree with, maybe entirely. The first is a post from Doug Phillip's blog and the second from CS Hayden's blog. Enjoy these well written, thought provoking pieces and leave a comment of what your thoughts are. I am genuinely interested in what stance Christians will take on this issue.

Cato Institute weighs in on Real ID

2008-08-29T10:08:00.001-07:00

Read the latest article from Cato Institute's Jim Harper on Real ID and see whether your state is one of the eleven opposing this insidious mandate.

"The Ground of Liberty: The Word of God"

2008-08-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a good article I read today and I thought I should share it with you, my audience. Enjoy and feel free to comment and discuss it on this blog. I would like to hear some feed back on this.

Tax Dollars At Work

2008-08-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

Newmax reported today some states have reached the conclusion that maybe the electronic voting machines our tax dollars bought just a few short years ago aren't really all they were hyped up to be. So, now that we have bought a slew of these wonderful, technological machines that we don't like any more the question is 'how can we get rid of them'? According to Newsmax one generous manufacturer is offering to buy their machines back for $1 a piece. Now I know some of you are scratching your head and thinking "$1...didn't we pay a little bit more for them than $1?" Yes, only a little bit more... in the realm of several thousand times $1 more! Apparently there have been some of these nifty pieces of fill in the blank that were purchased for $5,000!!! The government ceases to amaze me at how they continue to expand the horizons to the definition of "careless" is all I have to say...that and "wow!"

Guns In Texas School.......Legally!!

2008-08-15T12:26:00.001-07:00

Chron.com reported today that one North Texas school district is finally going to have some real security measures. They are going to let approved teachers conceal carry. This is the best news I have heard in a long time! Now lets just hope that this starts a ripple affect.

Nice Bodyguards...

2008-07-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Read this and tell me what you think. Should we be concerned yet?

Read this and tell me what you think.

Happy Cost of Government Day!

2008-07-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

I bet that since January 1st to now you probably haven't thought that your going to work every day was just to pay for the cost of government for this year alone. So, do you think you got a good deal? Write a comment briefly detailing your bargain and how your mandatory purchase of government "security" has benefitted you this year. This'll be exciting and wholesome fun! Oh and to get play by play coverage and statistics of this wonderful holiday click here.

Depends on what your definintion of "basically" is...

2008-07-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Whew! That is the sound of Americans wiping the sweat from their drenched brow. 'Do I feel better now or what,' they say. In case you are quizzically wiping your economically concerned brow in relief and don't know why, our President just announced yesterday that our banking system is "basically sound". Fox News just reported the President as saying that his proposed bailout scheme for FannieMac (or FreddieMae if you wish) is...not a bailout scheme?

The Presidents exact words were "I don't think the government ought to be involved in bailing out companies." His explanation of the seeming inconsistency: they were not bailouts because the two would remain shareholder-owned companies. So apparently as long as the company is still shareholder-owned its not a bailout...never mind that a chunk of those shares guarantor name happens to be the Federal Reserve. What is funny is that while Bush conveniently and discreetly didn't mention this fact, he must have forgotten to tell his buddies over at the ~~printing press~~* Federal Reserve and Treasury not to say anything because the Treasury blurted out yesterday in a press conference that it would, if necessary, buy stock in the companies to make sure they have enough money to operate! "Wow" is all I have to say here.

Back to the interpretation of "basically sound" though: what exactly does that mean? The Federal Reserve readily admits that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hold or guarantee more than $5 trillion in mortgages — almost half of the nation's total. So does "basically" means...oh say....only half our banking system is going down the tubes as opposed to the whole thing? This is a nerve racking, bone cracking, .45 packing heck of a ~~mess~~* relief not a ~~relief~~* mess.

*Typing errors courteously corrected by the National Security Agency

The Invincible Swiss

2008-07-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Read the story here.

Read the story here.

Grand Illusion - Gas prices are NOT going up

2008-07-11T14:59:00.001-07:00

You won't here this perspective getting air time in our media...wonder why?

NRA and the Rapture?

2008-06-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

I posted what I thought was an interesting post on Christian political engagement HERE.

Congress' Energy Plan Is Supposed To Be Helping...Right?

2008-06-25T11:14:00.001-07:00

A True Survivalist

2008-06-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

Baby Miraculously Survives Abortion, Expected to Live 'Normal' Life according to Fox news. This is an incredible miracle that should go to prove that murdering children in their mothers womb is always wrong even when "no hope" is given for the baby from the doctors. While I am joyful that this precious one survived such an evil procedure, my heart grieves for the souls of these parents who thought in their perverted minds that having the abortion in the first place was the best thing to do. I also pity them because from now on every time these parents look at their precious son they will at best struggle greatly with the guilt that they attempted to kill this child. And you know that one day this baby will grow up to be a man and will find out this shameful act that was directed at him by his parents. Will he not also struggle with bitterness and anger towards his father and mother? O that parents would actually consider the error of their way in this matter so as to glorify God and abide by His law and prevent these opportunities for unnecessary trial and struggle.

Demographic Winter

2008-04-27T16:08:00.001-07:00

On Saturday night at a friends house my wife and I watched a documentary that was quite profound. The message that it presented was quite the opposite of that which our expectations dictated (in a good way). When one sits down to listen to a bunch of University of Chicago and other secular "scholarly" professors talk about demographics the first thing that would pop into most minds would be "overpopulation". I expected to hear things like how in X number of years we would have to practice euthanasia to regulate the worlds population, enforce birth control, etc. The first mental image that came to my mind was Ted Turner if that tells you anything.

Demographic Winter says that we (United States, Russia, Europe & others) are going to be looking at third world country status in one to at best two generations because we can't repopulate ourselves. It proposes that the reasons we are actually declining in population and experiencing economic disperity are due to: immature males who are 18-25+ living at their mommas house playing Xbox's (or what ever the current video game console is) instead of working and establishing their own family, fatherless homes, one parent homes, hostility between parents in two parent homes, women working outside the home, higher education, cohabitation, premarital sex, and my personal favorite - faithless societies. THESE ARE THE GOD HATING LIBERALS THAT WE HEAR ATHEISTIC GARBAGE FROM DAY IN AND DAY OUT!!! How they arrive at these conclusions without embracing Christian faith is beyond me, so you can imagine my jaw-dropping reaction when they started citing these faults as causing the demographic problems we face as a society.

Demographic Winner not only gets the problems right but even more astonishing they conclude with the right solution that says it will be families of faith raising up like minded offspring that will save our society and return prosperity to our culture!!! Again, how they arrive at these conclusions is amazing and to some extent leaves a question mark in my brain.

My review of this documentary doesn't do the documentary itself justice though. I would strongly advise families to watch and discuss this film together and find out where your family stands on this issue of demographics and reproduction. This is a wonderful tool to use when instilling in our children a proper worldview as it pertains to multiplying and being fruitful.

This is normally where I would insert any cautions to be on-the-look-out for when you are watching the film I am recommending to you, but I must say I incredulously have no criticism of the film itself. These professors and experts from secular outlets of policy analysis and education get it right in this documentary. The only kind of warning I can think of is that these "experts" only look at and speak about the data they are presenting rather than practicing what they preach. I would admonish you to not follow the idle example these "professionals" live out, but to practice the lessons that they teach in this film and be doers of this warning to our civilization and not hearers only. Anyone can be a back seat driver, a sideline athlete, or an armchair philosopher that only talks about what should be done and never does anything. We as people of God must be the ones to obey God's first charge to man when He told us to be fruitful and multiply and take dominion of the earth.

Click here to order this documentary

The View From Gate 14

2008-04-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

This a well written editorial that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on April 25th, by Peggy Noonan (former speech writer for President Ronald Reagan). Click on the link to read "The View From Gate 14"

Christian Idolatry

2008-04-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

Chuck Baldwin wrote a very thought provoking article on his blog the other day called "Christian Idolatry". Go here to read it. Chuck Baldwin is a pastor and was the Constitution Party's Vice President candidate in 2004.

Is Russia A Friend To The US?

2008-04-03T08:23:00.001-07:00

I recently had a conversation with a gentleman who asked me what I thought of Bush's recent comments at the G8 Summit stating that Russia and the United States are friends. "Russia is not the United States friend are they?," he asked. I then proceeded to explain that politically the US and Russia seemingly have a feud that is on going but that I didn't view either of them as being more righteous than the other because what both of these countries want is basically the same thing; power, by means of using police tactics. One nation aggressively tries to police its own country as well as those who are in its geographical vicinity while the other attempts to have a medium police presence all around the globe and polices its own country arbitrarily depending on which of its two parties are in power. I vaguely touched on the ideological similarities between the two countries but not as thoroughly as I would like to in this post. From my perspective it seemed as though my friend thought I was taking a liberal stance on this issue with a traditional "bash America, blame America first" mentality when in fact I was simply stating that both are wrong in their ideological approach to proper government. I will readily admit that the US had a good approach on limiting it government in its beginnings but now?...

Yes, politically the two countries are generally opposed to the other. But they are similar in the freedoms that they constrict and restrict when they are in power. Do remember that we are looking at these countries through a wide lens picture when you read the following.

On the issues of life, one has the blood of millions of babies on its hands because it has not upheld God's Law and has allowed abortion to become legal. This same one condemns to death by starvation and dehydration people who can't care for themselves or defend themselves in court against the dictates of an evil divorced partner. The other country also allows abortion and euthanasia and similar kinds of injustice in the area of life. Both, by the way, slap the wrists of murderers with jail time instead of punishing them according to God's Law.

When it comes to Christian liberties, one has had a longer period of time to let is hatred of Christianity steep in the simmering waters of atheism while the other, budding, socialist state is not far off its heals. In the area of general religious liberties the situation is about the same (except when that religion is statism.) Both restrict prayer on government property (which is getting larger all the time - amount of government property that is.) Both reject any reference to Jesus in their schools or government workforces, or on their political stages. Some references of God are allowed as long as it is in the context of recognizing all "gods".

Personal property rights are disregarded by both in many cases. Surprisingly, in the country you'd least expect it, the law requires property tax to be paid up front with the purchase of the land and after that its yours and you are no longer leasing it from the government such as is case in the other country. Both do have imminent domain laws to where the government can take your property away from you for the "public good." The one that claims to recognize the right to life, liberty, and property recently concluded that its imminent domain law encompassed the right to take property for the "public good" and then hand it over to corporations or wealthy individuals that could turn the tract into a highly desirable piece of real estate that generates... more taxes. This same country has exercised its imminent domain "authority" to steal 3-4 million homes since World War II not counting small businesses, churches, and schools.

Both countries do not respect the rights of parents to raise up their children according to how they believe God would have them. While one country mandates that all children must attend government indoctrination centers the other is not only trying to do the exact same thing but is also telling or trying to tell parents how they can discipline and disciple their children.

Both do have government indoctrination centers (some call these "schools") that promote sexual immorality, alternative sexual lifestyles (homosexuality), tolerance of everyone else's beliefs except Christians, statism, enslavement ("go to college (debt), get a career (to sort of offset some of the debt), be a good little sheeple (pay the government its uncalled for taxes, fees, & fines/more debt), go into debt for the oversized house, etc), atheism, government "provided" welfare, the list goes on and on. Both have an agenda being implemented by their indoctrination centers that tells its vegetable minions, "government is the answer. The more government the better. Obey the government and all will be well". After this, these two empires go and practice what the preach by ordering their military's to spread "wellness" (aka their ideas of government) disguised as democracy or communism to "poor and impoverished" second and third world countries.

And here we arrive at the beginning: Russia doesn't like the US because the US wants to put this standing army here or that nuclear defense system there. The US doesn't like Russia because they too want to expand their empire to countries around them and in the middle east. They don't want an out n' out war so they prop up smaller governments and countries and fight through them - sometimes for oil, sometimes for territory, sometimes to inflict revenge for some previous conflict.

Regardless of how they bicker back and forth, the agenda's that they are pushing not only in their respective countries, but around the world are so close to being the same thing that its not worth us trying to decipher which is better. So, yes, Russia and the US are friends in the sense that their values as a whole (as nations) are like minded. I don't like it - as matter of fact I believe that it is God's peoples (you and me) charge and duty to reform it. Why? Because he commanded us to (read Matthew 28:16-20 for starters. Notice the use of the word "nations").

Another thing you will find when reading throughout all of scripture is that God doesn't just punish individuals for their actions, He also punishes nations for their sins as a whole. The often overlooked book of Obadiah is a classic example (yes it is in your Bible, I know most of you have never heard that name before but its there). I would suppose that there were some righteous people in these nations that God judged. Did they suffer some of that judgment? I don't know. I tend to believe that some did. If some righteous people did suffer, was it because they did nothing? Again, I do not know. I do not pretend to be able to know why God does what he does.

What I do know is this: Let us not get caught up into an empirical/political struggle between two nations whose innocents have long since left them. Let us be about reforming families and spreading Jesus to all peoples including both nations. Don't get bogged down in an argument between two opposing entities whose agendas are both from the pit of hell and are, hopefully, going back there sooner rather than later. To the Christ followers in America I charge you not to point out the pine tree in Russia's eye but to examine the redwood in our own eyes. The same goes for the believers in Russia. Both or our political systems are broken let; let us be about reforming them.

Oil company gouging consumers?

2008-04-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

I am seeing a bunch of headlines today that read "Oil execs getting grilled by lawmakers", et. al. I roll my eyes and don't bother reading the articles...

So I decide to do some thorough research on Google to determine what the oil companies profit margins are. Turns out they average 8.2% profit. This isn't a huge profit margin.

What about taxes? How well does Uncle Sam do on the sale of gas? Including state sales tax, state tax per gallon, and Federal tax per gallon - the tax rate per gallon is approximately 17-18%.

Turns out the government pulls in over twice as much profit per gallon than the oil companies WHO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING.

SHUT UP stupid, stupid lawmakers. This post is to GRILL YOU! You horrible, tyrannical idiots! Stop taxing the gasoline at EIGHTEEN PERCENT! STOP IT! Stop demonizing companies who make a meager 8% profit who are ACTUALLY PROVIDING A PRODUCT CONSUMERS WANT AND NEED!!!

So, enough demonizing the oil companies. Please direct all demonizing to the government. Thank you.

It's Story Time!!!

2008-03-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a man. He was 20 years old. He was married and had a son. He had moved out of his parents house in GA and located himself in...oh say...Peoria, Illinois. This 20 year old man enjoyed the sport of marksmanship and exercising his right to keep and bear arms. So, being the model citizen that he was he decided to obtain his FOID card (or so he thought.)

He sent in his application and five dollar application fee that did end up getting cashed. And then he waited - and waited - and waited - and for a little change of pace, he waited some more.

Finally something comes in the mail from the IL State Police HQ in Springfield! "Ah ha" says the young man, "It finally came!" But to his dismay it was a notice that he must obtain his parents/legal guardians signature because the 20 year old man was not 21 years old. His parents don't live in Illinois and don't have an Illinois drivers license. He doesn't have a Illinois legal guardian because he himself is a guardian to his little man and he just doesn't see the point.

So the next day when the 20 year old man goes to church his funny friend points out a funny fact. "You could sign for your son (lets call him John the IV) and get him a FOID card because the application doesn't specify that the parent must be 21 - all the parent has to have is a valid Illinois drivers license," says the funny friend.

So, one day soon you may hear a headline news story about a little man that goes into a gun store with his youthful father and says to the store clerk, "I would like to buy some ammo. Here is my FOID card"

THE END

...now wasn't that a funny story!

Weather Channel Founder Wants To Sue Al Gore. Did I Predict This?

2008-03-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

My friends, in an effort to be humble I simply want to link to a Fox story that was written this morning entitled, "Weather Channel Founder; Sue Al Gore." If you will remember gentle listener I wrote an article several weeks ago called "A Convenient Lie That Gave Some People A Lot Of Convenience" that predicted just this. So here we are ladies and gentleman - the gloves are coming off please start placing your bets!

Sorry Al, but I gave you fair warning.

Another Good Cato Read On Social Security

2008-03-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Go here to read Michael Tanner's editorial on Social Security. A very well written article. Some how I didn't realize that Social Security is the largest government program - taking up 23% of the federal budget!

By the way, for those of you who are editorial readers and you want to get some sensical and logical analysis on what is happening in the world and in this nation I would highly recommend subscribing for free to the Cato daily email updates. The topics that are talked about range from social/domestic issues to economic and legal editorials. I can't say that I agree with all of Cato's social and domestic issues, but they certainly are an overall good resource. To subscribe, click here.

Bush endorses McCain

2008-03-12T14:33:00.001-07:00

Listen to what Bush and McCain have to say when it comes to national security.

An Interesting Read On Inflation

2008-03-12T13:06:00.001-07:00

I came across this aritlce at work and thought I'd share it. Its by Gerald P. O'Driscoll Jr. and was published by the Cato Institute. Enjoy!

Inflation Alert

Save Now on your IL State Taxes!

2008-03-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

Paying too much on your taxes? Frustrated and looking for a way out?

Like me, you probably love finding new and innovative ways to save on your taxes! While recently filling out my IL-1040, I discovered a trick that will save everyone lots of dough. I decided to share it, free of charge. We first need to gather all materials needed for this totally legitimate tax saving technique. Here's a list:

All W2's
Completed Federal 1040, with a calculated AGI
A sharp, Number Two pencil
Towels and gauze

Now here are the steps:

1) Using your number two pencil, fill out the IL-1040 up to line 12d.

2) Now take your number two pencil, and stab your eyes out. Go ahead, it'll be worth it.

3) Apply towels and gauze to your eyes.

4) Have someone who can read finish reading this blog post, and finish filling out your 1040 form.

Before you got to step 2, did you read the fine print on 12d? "Check if Legally Blind" If you performed all steps accurately, this should now apply to you! Nobody reads this sweet option! The great, benevolent state of Illinois has provided a way for all of us to claim an additional exemption for up to $1000 per year! Every year!

Now, some of you "math nerds" out there are probably saying, "a tax 'exemption' of $1000, doesn't that just reduce my taxable income by $1000, and therefore this is only saving me 3% of $1000, or $30?"

To you math nerds I reply, "Well...I...hadn't exactly thought of that way until after I stabbed my eyes out in an attempt to save on my taxes."

So alas, I am now blind - but I did save $30 more dollars than you on my taxes! Suckers! And yes, it's $60 for your spouse. Sweet!

Free Health Care At Work In Russia

2008-02-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

"Free health care" is a right granted to Russian's in their Constitution (Sec 1, Ch 2, Art. 41). But is it working? According to a report in the Chicago Tribune today called "Russian health-care system badly ailing," the free health care plan is working...as long as you bring your own syringes, medications/prescriptions, and a wad of cash and are willing to clean your hospital room (I noticed that Michael Moore didn't use Russia as an example of government providing health care in his "Sicko" documentary. Hmm. Wonder why?).

While here in America the latest kick seems to be "universal health care" via mandatory insurance, this goes to show that it isn't just government mandates that fails to help people, but especially government administered health care. Why? Because governments were instituted to enforce God's laws - not "provide" for peoples health care by throwing money to bureaucracies that are known for their corruption and scandals. Providing and coordinating care is a function and ministry of God's people, the Church (see examples in Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-36, 6:1-7.)

The problem with governments like Russia taking over health care and then making a dismal failure of it, actually incompasses a two-fold blame. One, blame rests with the government for taking hold of health care - and two, blame should be served to the Church for allowing peoples care to become so deplorable to the point that the government thinks it must shoulder the responsibility.

When government shoulders the responsibility for peoples "well-being" it always ends up in failure because it is not it's proper function (i.e. Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, public schools, subsidies, the list can go on and on).

The solution to these broken systems and in particular the health care systems is for governments (i.e. the Russian government) to restore liberty and choice to the individuals so that they can, hopefully through the ministry of the Church, make health care decisions that honor God and don't result in wasteful spending and bureaucratic corruption. Doing this will result in peoples financial, emotional, and spiritual needs actually being met (and that is what this entire issue is about isn't it?) For an example of how Christians are helping Christians with their health care needs on a large scale click here.

That is it!

Obama campaign rep STUMPED on legislative accomplishments

2008-02-22T09:35:00.001-08:00

No comment necessary for this video. This is purely for your enjoyment.

A Convenient Lie That Gave Some People A Lot Of Convience

2008-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

He saw the signs...he tried to warn us...now in the worlds best looking hours...he's got a plan...TO SAVE HIMSELF...RUUNNN!!!(watch the Chicken Little trailer and you'll get more out of the above quote.) Two years ago Al Gore made an Academy Award winning, fourth-highest-grossing documentary film to date, documentary called "An Inconvenient Truth" where he explains how we (people/human beings) are polluting the atmosphere to the point that we are endangered from Arctic and Antarctic meltdowns. Between this film and Gore's green earth tours and book (also called "An Inconvenient Truth") he has made a hefty sum. Obviously, making a hefty sum is not a bad thing as long as it is earned honestly; but has Gore earned his fame and fortune honestly?

Gore is largely recognized as the public figure that brought the issue of global warming to its national and international prominence. The issue is so far advanced that in The United States one can rarely make a successful run for public office without having a stance on global warming.

Speaking of public office, prior to making his "award winning" film with his own money, Gore had a track record in the Congress, as Vice President, and then as a citizen for advocating using taxpayer's money to heroically combat "global warming" and to beneficially establish a "green earth."

One of Gore's most well known propositions that he made as a senator and as Vice President was the carbon emissions tax that he wanted to implement on "high polluting" factories all the way down to old gas guzzling vehicles (of course all the while Gore was himself using at least a Gulfstream size jets to transport himself to lectures where he would condemn everyone else's use of such transportation.) Gore has been the face of "global warming" for a long time (for more information on some of Al's work with global warming click here and scroll down to the lower part of the page.)

With all of that said I came across an interesting article today by Newsmax entitled, "Global Warming?" Remember all those melting polar ice caps that were going to flood the world by 20 feet, sinking a significant portion of Florida, India, and Shanghai, China? Well, lo and behold the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that almost all the allegedly “lost” ice has come back. Those ice levels which had shrunk from 5 million square miles in January 2007 to just 1.5 million square miles in October are almost back to their original levels. Wow! Imagine that! We aren't going to have to watch 100 million people die!!!

After you get done celebrating this news (which varies in length with different people - mine lasted about .000000000000001 of a nano-second - just to give you an idea of what to expect) you will probably become very angry and upset at the fact that politicians and "atmospheric experts" have not only been telling us a lie but have been using our tax dollars and resources to fund a fake war on greenhouse gases, global warming, or what ever their latest scam title is.

But you know (getting back to Gore here for just a second) I have some questions that I would really like to ask Gore and his camp right now - here is one of them: "Have you ever noticed global warming more prevalently in a certain time of the year more than another...say like around middle of the year? Just between you and me this is what is actually known as SUMMER."

Some of you may be laughing right now but this has actually been the problem. Gore and the rest of his tree-hugging brothers didn't realize that summer did play a role in their "global warming" equation. To prove this we move to Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" lectures where he as been using a clip of a polar bear clinging onto melting icebergs - what he doesn't tell you is that the pictures was snapped in AUGUST and that the population of polar bears has been increasing in recent years (as a side note, I can only conclude that polar bears must be in favor of "global warming." I also must state for the record that at single digit temperatures here in Illinois, I would be okay with global warming too - just a little bit anyway.)

Okay, okay all jokes aside what has been Gore's gig? One, seriously, doesn't make a blunder such as the one above. After canceling out the stupidity and ignorant tags that I just joked about (which are probably relevent to a certain extent), one can only be left with one conclusion: this entirely ludicrous global warming campaign has been advanced with the personal and financial interests of a few at the expense of many. This must stop; and I think it will. One can only pull the wool over so many peoples eyes for so long. Its just a matter of time.

In conclusion I have two things that I want to say. Number one: to the politicians who have followed Gore's global warming theories; "stop the spending of hundreds of millions of dollars that have been going to this insane campaign. No, there isn't some mistake...the campaign has been fake. Return liberty and prosperity to the people that have been unjustly tax for so-called pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Remove all the emissions taxes from vehicles to manufacturers. Don't pretend that you haven't been wrong all these years, just admit it."

The final thing I want to say is, "yeah...Gore you better run. This game that you have been playing is going to be coming to a screeching halt that will translate into media, citizens, and probably some of your gullible followers momentously racing after first dibs to take a whack at your not-so-low-pollutant backside. I am afraid to say it but I don't think it will be unwarranted. Good luck chum."

"There are many who still do not believe that global warming is a problem at all. And it's no wonder: because they are the targets of a massive and well-organized campaign of disinformation lavishly funded by polluters who are determined to prevent any action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming out of a fear that their profits might be affected if they had to stop dumping so much pollution into the atmosphere." ~ Al Gore

Announcing...Joshua Peiffer

2008-02-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

In case some of you haven't noticed Joshua Peiffer has written a couple posts for Give Us Liberty in the last few weeks and is now going to become a full-time-some-of-the-time/whenever he feels like it contributor to this blog. Lets give him a warm round of applause.

In all seriousness Joshua is one of the most consistent men I know and he tends to look at all kinds of issues including political ones without letting his emotions take over and guide his perspective. This does not mean that Joshua has no emotions. It means that he usually looks at matters in a logical, philosophical state of mind and instead of allowing his "feelings" to take control he applies sound reasoning and principle - translated - Josh will be good at presenting some difficult issues in ways that we may not have seen them before.

So, I know two things will result in my writing this post and having Joshua contribute to Give Us Liberty. One, Joshua will write and analyse with the style I outlined above and in doing so will bring some good food for thought to the table. Secondly, he will remind me till the day that either of us dies that I said the above things about him. I can hear it now - "...oh yeah well...remember...you said that I apply reasoning and logic to every issue I examine. So I am right about ____..."

Good to have you onboard Joshua.

Yet another "Gun-Free" mass shooting...

2008-02-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

Yet another school shooting at Northern Illinois University...

Firstly, my heart goes out to the victims and their families. They are in my prayers. While I am very sincere in that statement - that is all the sentimentality that you'll find in this post.

I am outraged at these school shootings. Outraged.

I heard someone commenting on this shooting, and their conclusion was that "it is too easy to get guns..." Ridiculous! If increasing the density of gun ownership increases the likelihood of mass shootings - why don't gun shows [where the sole purpose is to provide guns to people] always breaking out in fire fights?

It has nothing to do with gun availability - and everything to do with the nut job whose sole intent is to get their name and face on the national news. Fifteen minutes of fame, which they'll never enjoy, because they cowardly turn the guns on themselves. My comfort is that this particular nut job has met his maker, and is not enjoying His wrath.

Notice how no mass shootings happen at NRA meetings or gun shows? It's always in "gun free zones"...like Amish school houses full of innocent children. Cowards! Horridly depraved pieces of sub-human trash!

I'm outraged at a culture who produces these conscienceless monsters.

I'm outraged at a government who creates such "zones" that you're forced to be defenseless if you ever found yourself in such a circumstance. As Ann Coulter said once, "Imagine the embarrassment the shooter felt when he realized he was in a 'gun free' zone?"

I'm outraged that I, personally, have to gamble with my very life and the life of my family because it's illegal in Illinois to protect ourselves by carrying a firearm. I could disobey the law, and then risk incarceration which would ultimately leave my family unprotected. So it's a gamble. I may get caught in a mass shooting...or I may get caught illegally carrying a firearm. (Which I do not do, for the record.)

Why in the world do we need gun free zones? If someone is going to commit MURDER, I don't think breaking a zoning law will slow them down. Idiots...

Health Care: Why Does Everyone Want the Government To Run It?

2008-02-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

The Deseret Morning news published a story today entitled "Health-care bill gets thumbs-up," that reported on the "progress" that the Utah Legislature is making in reforming health care. I wrote a letter to the editor on this story and I thought some of you might be interested in reading it.

This is a feel good bill if I ever saw one. Rep. Clark [sponsor of the HB133 bill] said that now is the time to act, and then he says that the key numbers are 3,6,&10*. This is just more of the same kind of stalling seen in other states. Nobody wants to touch this issue with a ten-foot-pole. If it didn't cost money though I would be fine with it. I mean...who wants government to be in control of health care. It doesn't matter whether they opt to go with a single payer system or a mandated insurance connector. Government has consistently proven that it cannot efficiently manage our health care. They will NEVER be able to effectively manage our health care, because our health care is our natural responsibility - not the governments. If we give away the right to liberty in our health care for "security" then we will have neither. Wake up people! The only solution to health care is to allow the free market system to run its course. The security in free market is competition. Competition will force companies and people to operate righteously. If they don't they'll go out of business. Leave the Government out of health care!

[*Rep.Clark said. "We will take three years for identifying the plan. Six is the number of steps involved and 10 is because it is not going to be a sprint. It could take as long as 10 years to complete." Click here for the full article.]

Since I was limited to 200 words I was not able to bring out one more point that is essential to effective health care. Charity. Charity is left out of our equations today and not just in the area of health care. Those who are believing Christians need to wake up to the fact that as followers of Christ we are to be helping one another as Jesus would have when he was physically here on earth. There are so many practical ways that we can share one anothers physical, emotional, and spiritual, health care related burdens. I have recently been on the receiving end of charity in health care.

My son, John was recently born to my wife and myself. We are members of a health care sharing ministry that coordinates with its members allocating money to other members needs. What that means is we had other members of our health care sharing ministry sending us money and notes of encouragment to the extent that our needs have been 100% fulfilled and then some. This is without using insurance or government handouts.

Not only were our financial and emotional needs met through our health sharing ministry (which I might add is an international organization that coordinates thousands of Christians sharing with other Christians) but our physical needs were met as well through our local church and family. We have had more food come through our door in the past week and a half as we had personally brought in, in the previous three weeks (and it was good food too I might add).

I share this story with you because it is an example, not a one-time occurence, of charity working in health care.

I am convinced that a successful health care system incompasses three sectors: Faith, Liberty, & Charity. I only scratched the surface of commentary on the importance of Faith in health care in this article. I will talk about that aspect another time in another article, but trust me, it is essential.

Separation of Church and State?

2008-02-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are intersted in the debate of how much the church and state should overlap or even not overlap I came across this article which in an articulate manner discusses the issue. Believing that Christians should know their stance on this matter I highly recommend taking the five minutes to read this.

Observations On an A.A. Hodge Quote

Kissing the Son

2008-02-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

by: Joshua Peiffer

Politics can be a very pragmatic thing, where one must compromise on some issues of importance for the "greater good". But what is the ultimate "good"? Fiscal conservatism? Small government conservatism? A return to Federalism? Beating Clinton? Overturning Roe v. Wade? What is the most important thing?

I haven't written much on the upcoming election since my initial excitement over Huckabee. I'm less thrilled after looking at some of his past positions, however he still passes, for the most part, the most important test we can put a politician to: The Psalm 2 Test.

"Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

The most important thing for a ruler to do is to kiss the Son. Paying homage to and recognizing King Jesus and his sovereign reign and rule, the supremacy of His law over all things, is the most important thing.

There must never be a compromise by Christians on this basic, fundamental litmus test. Never.

I'm blessed in my heart to see Governor Romney drop out of the race today. Is he "more conservative" than McCain? Maybe. I don't care.

Mitt Romney is a demon worshiper. For a Christian to have wasted their vote for him in the name of pragmatism is a disgrace to Christ.

He may be a nice guy and may be a great leader, practically. He's done wonders in the business world, and to that I am impressed. But the fact remains that Mormonism is a cult which worships a false god, a demon.

Hillary Clinton's Scary Health Care Plan

2008-02-04T11:13:00.001-08:00

Go here to read about one of Hillary's enforcement plans for her universal health care plan. This is pretty scary and communistic.

A Sign That Says It All

2008-01-29T07:01:00.000-08:00

Someone sent this to me the other day and I thought it was just too funny not post.

Ron Paul Joins March for Life

2008-01-24T12:16:00.000-08:00

For those of you who say that Paul has little to zero morals and is not a friend to the family and to life - click here (and even if you do like Ron Paul click there.) :-)

P.S. I am going to make this announcement now since I don't see any better time to do it. I officially endorse Ron Paul for President! (now watch Paul pull through and win now that he has my endorsement.)

Something To Think/Pray About & Research

2008-01-21T07:03:00.001-08:00

I received an intriguing email today about presidential candidate Mike Huckabee that is making me rethink my position on him. I will admit that I have not researched all of this information so I will not try to defend this information to the death or anything.

To start off I think it would be useful to share a letter that was written to Michael Farris from an Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) member soon after HSLDA endorsed Mike Huckabee.

December 28, 2007

Dear Mr. Farris and members of the staff of the HSLDA,

As a long time fervent supporter of private education and home schooling in particular, I am outraged, disgusted, embarrassed, and distressed to the extreme that the Home School Legal Defense Association has endorsed Mike Huckabee for the presidency of the United States. This man is a liar and a dangerous individual. He has rightly been called the Huckster. What is so sad is that your endorsement has deceived and led astray many unsuspecting Christians who sincerely are looking to elect godly candidates. There are many things about Mike Huckabee that should upset a God-fearing Christian, but I will list those that most outrage me and cause me to wonder what has led HSLDA to so betray the home school movement.

First, Mike Huckabee is a blatant liar about his academic credentials. Click Here For Article.

Now, I realize that in a campaign and because of being tired from multiple speaking
engagements, any candidate can mix up facts from time to time. Yet, no accident or mistake would account for a person forgetting or confusing his academic background on multiple occasions. How could Mike Huckabee think that a degree in speech and communications plus one year at a seminary would allow him to say that he possessed a degree in theology? Why would Huckabee lie about his academic credentials? People typically puff their resumes when they are trying to attain jobs that are beyond the reach of their competency. In my humble opinion, that would certainly be applicable in this instance.

The most disturbing aspect of Mike Huckabee is his cozy relationship with the Council on Foreign Relations. He spoke before this body in August 2007. Here is the text of his speech on the web posted in September of this year.

Huckabee will publish an article in the January/February 2008 Foreign Affairs magazine, the publishing arm of the Council on Foreign Relations. That link of the article in its complete text can be found here.

According to the following article, Huckabee is getting very cozy with Richard Haass, the president of the CFR: Click Here For Article.

The CFR has a long history reaching back to the 1920s of supporting one world government and working for globalism, internationalism, and socialism. If you will read the speech by Mike Huckabee, you will see that he supports massive giveaway foreign aid programs as well as fighting foreign wars and nation building. As some have said, he is George Bush on steroids. All of these proposals are the dream of socialists and internationalists. Is it any surprise that Huckabee has become a cultivated student of the CFR? Please note that foreign aid and nation building are not authorized by our Constitution. Yet, Huckabee would engage in this according
Page 2 to his own testimony if elected President and while being under oath to defend the Constitution. The ninth commandment has a great deal to say about keeping our oaths. Like George Bush, Huckabee evidently believes in the theory of the unitary executive which would vastly expand the prerogatives of the President all in the name of emergencies. He would project American power and financial influence all over the world if necessary. This will bankrupt our nation. It already has. Huckabee is a tax and spend liberal as his record in Arkansas evidences. He would do no differently in the White House. He claims that he would have sent far more troops into Iraq, at least three times as many. Such a plan would have required a draft to fulfill.

Judicial Watch lists Huckabee as number six on a list of corrupt politicians of 2007. Go to www.judicialwatch.org and click on the top article entitled “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” of 2007. Huckabee was charged fourteen times for ethics violations while governor and was reprimanded five times. Check the following links with this information and other disturbing data concerning Mike Huckabee:

www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071102.html

www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071127.html

Even though Mike Huckabee claims to be pro-life, he supports embryonic stem cell research. Check this article for documentation.

If he believes that life begins at conception as he claims, how could he take this position? He wants a constitutional ban on abortion, but it will take years to get such an amendment enacted. There are many obstacles to such a thing happening. There are quicker and more direct and immediate ways to handle this such as Congress simply declaring unborn babies to be persons according to the 14th Amendment. Why would Huckabee protract the protection of babies while millions are dying every year and when there are easier and less cumbersome methods to accomplish the same?

According to this article, Huckabee would fund massive government involvement in energy research and development to make our nation energy independent by the end of his administration. As laudable as the goal of energy independence is, there is no constitutional authorization for government involvement in obtaining sources of energy. The government could vastly spur this development, however, by deregulation and lifting onerous paperwork.

Huckabee would continue the war in Iraq even though there is no evidence whatsoever that Iraq was ever involved in 9/11. Without that involvement, on what pretext did we invade the country? Furthermore, this war is being fought without a declaration of war by Congress as mandated by the Constitution. Thus, the war is both immoral (invading a nation without just cause) and unlawful (unconstitutional).

In this video, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee clash on the subject of illegal immigration.

According to Mr. Huckabee, failure to give the children of illegal immigrants scholarships and instate tuition would be to “punish” these children for the sins of their parents. Only a person with socialist mush for brains would think that failure to give state BENEFITS to someone constitutes punishing them. As a capitalist, I would like to see government completely removed from the education sphere in terms of control and financial support. Yet, it is clear that even under our socialistic government school system, illegal aliens are not entitled to these state offered benefits. Huckabee would give illegal immigrants better privileges than American
citizens from other states! As Romney noted, this money does not belong to Mike Huckabee to give away at his discretion. To do so in the name of “compassion” should more properly be labeled as a violation of the 8th commandment.

Mike Huckabee embraces what has been labeled as “touchback amnesty.” Though he has appealed to his endorsement by Jim Gilchrist and claims to be tough on immigration problems, the reality is quite different. A plethora of immigration groups have condemned Mike Huckabee as a fraud. Read their scathing letter of denunciation here.

Despite his deceptive rhetoric to the contrary, Mike Huckabee has an abysmal record on illegal immigration and favors a more liberal and easier path to citizenship than does President George Bush! It is all a scamnesty that is done while denying that he favors amnesty. Huckabee has learned his lessons in deception very well from his mentors in the Democratic and Republican Parties who tout “comprehensive immigration reform” as a good solution when in reality it is
amnesty repackaged to sucker the American public into thinking that something good is being done.

Huckabee accepted an invitation to speak before the radical leftist organization, the National Education Association (NEA). Click Here for link.

The New Hampshire NEA affiliate has chosen to endorse Hillary Clinton and Mike Huckabee. Click Here for link.

Huckabee is an aggressive supporter of public education. He sent his children to public schools, and he says that people should not be concerned about the lack of prayer in public schools.

He foisted a radical centralization of school districts upon Arkansas and proposed that all superintendents be employed by the state rather than by local school districts:

Click Here for 1st article

...and here for the 2nd article.

Mike Huckabee has no interest in getting rid of the teaching of evolution in the public school textbooks. He has claimed that the Constitution supports gay rights.

Later, he backed away from this position apparently when he was rebuked by Ann Coulter.

This article also mentions the documented joking by Huckabee about illegal aliens taking over this country and turning Southern whites into a minority.

Mike Huckabee received a mock phone call from God when speaking at a governor’s convention, an attempt at a joke that borders on the sacrilegious and perhaps even blasphemous.

website:

www.ronpaul2008.org

Sincerely yours,
Pastor Steven M. Schlei
22872 E Belleview Lane
Aurora, CO 80015
303-773-1679

I will admit that some of the arguments and criticisms in this letter I find either lame or non-essential-issues. However Pastor Schlei brings up some interesting facts that should be considered before voting for Gov. Huckabee.

And now for a link with commentary of my own...Mike Huckabee's two-faced position on the family when it comes to heterosexuality needs to be reconciled before I can vote for him. In an interview with Larry King, Huckabee said that he would (not might; he would) have homosexuals working for him in his Presidential Administration (he also unapologetically admitted that he knowingly had homosexuals working in his Gubernatorial Administration.)

Now, for the Ron Paul haters out there that are going to come back and say, "well Ron Paul is pro-homosexual rights too," I say this: "Ron Paul is non-interventionalist who believes that liberty is important and it doesn't matter whether your a "nice" homosexualist or a sick heterosexualist, the federal government is going to leave you alone as long as your liberty doesn't infringe on the well being of others citizens or other states. The United States federal government was established as a union between (not a government of) sovereign states thus it does not have jurisdiction on this issue." I will contend that there is something wrong with our states' laws and they should be changed because God's law calls homosexuality a sin. However Ron Paul would concur that many of the liberties allowed under our our laws are morally wrong and thus you don't hear him coming out and saying, "Homosexuals apply here for a job in my administration!" Paul's understanding of the Presidency is that his responsibility is to enforce the law. Paul realizes that there are loop-holes in the law but it is not his job to make laws (Congress) however, you don't see him trying to please everybody by allowing all kinds of perverse people into his administration.

I may not entirely be in agreement with Paul on this issue, however, I know that Huckabee and myself couldn't be further apart (and no, this doesn't mean I am endorsing Ron Paul, though I am sure that if I did that it would be the momentum needed to thrust him to front of the Republican nomination process.)(yes, that was a joke!)

That is my thought of the day...I hope you enjoyed it.

Moving Towards Life

2008-01-17T11:29:00.001-08:00

I was blessed today when I came across two articles that told me our nation is slowly moving towards honoring life. The first article reports that abortions are at a record low since 1976 - I read that and thought, "that is good, but what is the birth rate look like?". Then I came across another article reporting that the birthrate is at a record high! This is good.

While I understand that our justice and political systems are still broken and encouraging murder, it is encouraging to know that people are starting to acknowledge abortion as sin and are turning from it. This gives me great joy and should inspire us, the pro-life camp, to continue - continue mirroring Christ and the joy that comes with being one of his children - continue nourishing relationships with our children, parents, and siblings so that our testimony is one that proves life is important and joyous - and continue teaching and preaching of the judgement that comes to murderers and their co-conspirators.

Let us pray this day and the other 365 days this year that justice will return to our legal system by recognition of unborn-children's right to life.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
— Declaration of Independence

"The Law" (Book Review)

2008-01-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

I just finished one of the most insightful works on economics and law that I have ever read. Frederick Bastiat's "The Law" is a must read for all and I would strongly recommend it to the curriculum of all teachers for their students. Bastiat addresses the core problems of socialistic and communistic economics and politics. If you read the last sentence and thought to yourself, "well...I already know that socialism and communism is bad - I don't need to read this", allow yourself to stand corrected. Bastiat explains how nearly all governments promulgate "legal plunder" in the name of protecting and providing for the people. Bastiat articulates how giving "justice" as the definition of law is not sufficient nor complete.

The Law incorporates good philosophical and logical articulation (for homeschooling parents I would definitely recommend this to be material for a good philosophy class.)

On a 1 to 5 star rating I give "The Law" a 5 star.

Is There A Chance Of A Viable Independent Candidate?

2007-12-31T09:31:00.000-08:00

Newsmax released a story covering the possibility of an independent Presidential candidate (Note My Georgian Friends that Sam Nunn is mentioned as a possibility! Yes...I understand that he wouldn't stand a chance but is interesting to note.)

Ron Paul 101

2007-12-31T08:21:00.001-08:00

The more I talk with fellow Christian voters I find that many are in the same boat I am in. We like Mike Huckabee's strong proactive stance on social issues like abortion but when it comes to his fiscal policies we are a bit concerned. Some of us like Ron Paul for his message of fiscal reformation and his stance on abortion but are unsure if he will proactively work as hard as Mike Huckabee on social issues.

While I am still not sure of who I will vote for, I do see a common trend in fellow Christians and that is this: they haven't really listended to Ron Paul.

While I have been accused of secretly being a Ron Paul fanatic trying to persuade Christians to "convert" to Ron Paul, my desire is that people simply listen to both candidates and make an informed and God honoring decision. From my perspective my fellow brothers have not made an effort to be equally informed of these two candidates and I think that is a improper.

So, I submit to you now to watch this video and listen to what Paul has to say. I will warn you that he does not talk about his personal faith as much as the other candidates and I will readily admit that I wish he would do so a little more often. But let me not influence your presuppositions prior to watching this.

Enjoy!

Zogby: Ron Paul Will Surprise You

2007-12-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Read this first and then read below.

Please remember my friends that when I make a prediction or make a statement it may take a while for the media, politically savvy people, and naysayers to come to the realization and conclusion that there actually is validity to what I say (yes, that was said in my best Rush Limbaugh tone of voice.)

I have told people many times not to write off dark horse candidate Ron Paul too quickly. The immediate response that I get from most is "we will not have to worry about Ron Paul. He is old, libertarian, and against the war in Iraq." What most Republicans and Republican leaning Independents haven't realized is that nearly all the things Paul represents is becoming/is the ideal for many Americans and themselves.

What I find interesting as I talk with people who would consider themselves Christians, proponents of conservative government, and advocates of freedom and liberty, is that their ideology and philosophy would be best represented by Ron Paul. Many such people, though, quip that Paul is a "libertarian" as though that is a bad thing.

What most of these people don't realize is that the founders of this country and hero's of our original American culture were advocates of liberty. They were called "libertarians". The Libertarian Party has taken this tag and twisted it to mean that people can do whatever they want to do. So the problem is similar to that of what "Reformered" folks run into: people get confused as to the difference between those who are Reformed and those who are reformed. It is the same for libertarians getting mixed in with the Libertarians or those associated with the Libertarian Party. True liberty recognizes that there are certain unalienable rights and promises endowed to individual life's by their Creator, God. For example: when God says, "thou shalt not kill," righteous governments will protect the rights of the unborn.

Though Ron Paul rarely speaks on this issue from his theological perspective (which I am somewhat disappointed about) there have been a few instances and in the times that I have heard him do so I have been satisfied by his answers (this does not mean I am satisfied on all his positions).

To bring this full circle I would recommend that every voter reevaluate their choice candidate (even those who have gone with Paul) and determine whether he (or she in one instance) is a choice that God could use to bless this nation with renewed freedom and liberty through righteousness. We must remember not to make our decision based on a candidates historical or current rhetoric but on their current standing and righteous history. I believe such a decision is properly made by prayer, an open mind, and a lot of research. And of course I would recommend that you listen carefully to what Rep. Ron Paul has to say and give him an ear and a open non-biased-towards-"libertarian" mind.

I am always researching the information I put in my posts. I like to know as many details as possible and of course I want all of this so that the truth can be known to me and the citizens of this country. If you have any information or leads on this post they are most welcome. Thanks

Hillary: The Loser

2007-12-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

As some of you know I have been saying, since the day it was conceived that Hillary would be the President elect in 2008, that Madam Clinton would not have the charisma and candor to fool the American people into electing her President. Finally polls are starting to catch up to my predictions. Here is an article on one such poll.

One thing I didn't predict was that Clinton would scare people with her aged and wrinkled appearance into not voting for her. I almost jumped out skin in fright when I saw this picture on Drudge Report the other day. This picture did set me to wondering what kind of makeup job she must have to do everyday. She must do something to disguise her aged conplexion since this is the first time I have seen her looking like this.

It has come to my understanding that the appropriate time to release this picture is Halloween...but I couldn't wait that long.

BTW: Here is an interesting article that showed up this morning on Hillary.

Ron Paul Tied With Rudy Guiliani

2007-12-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

Ron Paul's standing neck and neck in Iowa with the former Republican front runner Rudy Guiliani begs the question: does Paul still have a chance? According to the ABC news and Washington Post poll Paul and Guiliani both stand at 8% just behind third place holder Fred Thompson at 9%.

With Paul's success in campaign contributions the question remains - will he be able to use his warchest to get his message out and across Iowa in time to suade enough voters to his side in order to place first or second in Iowa's primary? One aspect that I see helps Paul is that his close ally in the House and Presidential candidate Tom Tancredo is suspected to withdraw from the race and would probably endorse Paul, moving his small support base over to Paul. Every little bit helps.

Paul's current financial status for the quarter comes in at nearly $18.5 million.

Huckabee, Giuliani Tied in GOP Race According to Poll

2007-12-19T13:20:00.001-08:00

Former Governor Mike Huckabee catching up to former Mayor Rudy Guiliani in the latest John Zogby poll. Read article here.

Speaking of Mayor Guiliani and Governor Huckabee, both released their Christmas campaign vidoes. Take a look and vote on which you like better.

2007-12-19T13:16:00.001-08:00

2007-12-19T13:13:00.001-08:00

Government Oversight In The Auto Industry

2007-12-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Should the federal government regulate the auto industry as it did today?

Read this and make you own decision.

D.C. Police Chief: "taking guns out of homes can help save lives."

2007-12-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

DC Police are going to buy guns off the street this weekend in an attempt to reduce gun violence. This has to be one of the most ridicules ideas I have ever heard come from the gun control crowd.

How much logic does it take for a criminal with a firearm to come to the realization that "hey...I am not supposed to have this gun in DC. Why should I turn it into the police and risk being hauled off to jail?" It doesn't take a lot of brain power to conclude that nobody that poses as a potential violent threat is going to be turning in their guns.

One nagging question, though, in my mind is: how can the police buy firearms out of the hands of people who have been breaking the law by owning these "weapons" in the first place and still be enforcing their nonsensical gun ban? Will these transactions end with the police paying "lawbreakers" for their guns with no repercussions for the "lawbreaking"? I don't envision hardened criminals (or any criminals outside a mental institution) reconciling this "innovative idea" in their minds to the degree that they go and relinquish their "assault weapons" for $100. Maybe I am missing something here.

Paul Is Gaining Momentum In Finances. But How?

2007-12-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

Dark Horse candidate Ron Paul, in another attempt to send a message to the media and the nation that his campaign should not be taken lightly, has come out with another "money bomb" day that has exceeded his and his campaigns expectations.

As of 6:00pm Sunday Paul had raked in over $15.9 million dollars for the fourth quarter.

Some have questioned, though, some of the sources Paul is receiving his money from? According to news sources 1 Paul's campaign has received and excepted funds and an endorsement from Dennis Hof and his prostitute ranch called the Moonlite Bunny Ranch (for the inquiring minds information I had never heard of this guy nor his whorehouse until researching this story.) (for my evangelical friends that might misinterpret my use of the word "whore" should go here to understand the reason I used the word.) Some find this a contradiction to what Paul says in his campaign speeches.

Ron Paul has said, in context of homosexuality, prostitution, and other types of evil, that he personally does not support the actions of people living in these sinful lifestyles but says that it is not the Federal governments job to interfere with such practices (from a constitutional stand point I would agree with him on that point.) A question many Christians are asking Paul in lieu of this is, "why is your campaign (an entity that you personally control) excepting money from people who blatantly are living a life of sin?" "You claim that you are personally against these sins, yet you accept the support of those who practice them. While this appears to be a good question, I do not believe it deducts to the core reasoning of this issue.

The core question is: Should the government enforce morality? Since we are sticking with the core problem we must understand "morality" as what the Scriptures define as moral and immoral. The immorality list would include: murder, homosexuality, fornication, etc (the practices that the Scripture implicitly forbids) The morality list would include: love, joy, peace, etc (characteristics that the Scripture mandates Christians to practice.) Understanding what I mean as moral and immoral will aid us in this discussion (we are not talking about the gray areas)

First of all we must remember that no human instituted government is perfect. The governing of that of Moses in the Old Testament to King David's administration to the Greek and Roman republics of Christ's time were all corrupted and infected with sin. However we do see that when government has been an enforcer of God's law, God has blessed that government and the people under it's jurisdiction. Since we live in a direct democracy/republic with the elected governors and officials it is logical that those people should be promoting morality both through their respective offices and personal lives.

In the case with candidate Paul there seems to be an error in his political world-view that tells him he should not be promoting God's law from his governing office. I would argue though that overall Congressman Paul's approach to liberty in most aspects of government are good for the Believers and the Church and will further aid in the spreading a reform in this country (if Christians have the liberty to speak the truth this will make way for a rapid spreading of the gospel and spreading of discipleship and result in America once again turning to the Almighty and acknowledging Him as this nations One and Only God. This thought will have to be fleshed out in the ensuing posts.) However, it would be ironic if, in this situation, the material possessions of the unrighteous were used to further a cause that was diametrically opposed to their own and brought about their own demise in a round-a-bout way.

I am always researching the information I put in my posts. I like to know as many details as possible and of course I want all of this so that the truth can be known to me and the citizens of this country. If you have any information or leads on this post they are most welcome. Thanks