Sometimes it is Just SOOOO HARD TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN!

REPORTER VOWS TO 'KILL SELF' IF CHENEY RUNS FOR PRESIDENT

Veteran wire reporter Helen Thomas is vowing to 'kill herself' if Dick Cheney announces he is running for president.

The newspaper HILL first reported the startling claim on Thursday.

"The day Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I'll kill myself," she told the HILL. "All we need is one more liar."

Thomas added, "I think he'd like to run, but it would be a sad day for the country if he does."


I can just imagine the fun in the White House with this one today! I wonder if VP Cheney has had even ONE conversation today that didn't start with, "So Dick, when are you going to announce you're running?" I must stop here. She just made it toooooo easy to be tooooo ugly.

THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS HELEN!

Another One?

Hat tip: Marine Mom

Eminent domania!
Another Supreme home scoped for confiscation

Call it eminent domania.

Public outrage over the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing governments to seize private property and give it to another private party has spread to a second justice whose home is now targeted for confiscation.

Justice Stephen Breyer has joined his high-court colleague David Souter in feeling the wrath of the public, specifically the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire, which wants the city of Plainfield, N.H., to seize Breyer's 167-acre vacation retreat by eminent domain........

I Want to Buy the World a Coke and Fairness is in the Middle?

Love this! Let's take a journey. Let's take some "popular" stands and follow them through.

Here is one comment that just tickles me! I call this one, "I want to buy the world a coke." (those younger readers may want to refer to an old Coke sales slogan/song to understand.)

"I do not think it is right for a birth certificate to have parent A and parent B on it. I think both parents name should be on the birth certificate even if parents are both males or both females. I am not for gay marriages, but I am not against any thing that make other people happy. Since I am not that way, I am not going to hate another person because they are that way. The world has to realize that people have to do what make them happy and that just cause you do not do it doesn't make it wrong or right.(TB8068)"

"not against any thing that make other people happy." HUH? What if robbing a bank makes me happy? I know, I know- so extreme, huh? What if sleeping around makes me happy? No one else has the right to put THEIR morals on me! Sounds fair, doesn't it? But what about the kids? Is it fair to the kids? Is it fair to them? I mean, I can raise my kids any way I want to right? The gov't or YOU have no right tellin' me how to raise my kids!

C'mon people! BIRTH CERTIFICATES! THIS MEANS CHILDREN! LITTLE LIVES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD! GOD BLESS YA- YOU WANNA HAVE PARENT 'A' and PARENT 'B'. What about the child's RIGHT? What are we doing? Are we stepping back into slavery here? Does OWNERSHIP come into play? Who OWNS another human being? TELL ME! Who has the right to ERASE YOUR IDENTITY? Yeah- yeah- I know about adoption. DERN RIGHT I DO! We act so AFRAID to go AGAINST ANYTHING that might make someone else happy! Otherwise that makes us HATEMONGERS, right? FOOOEY!

Then this line- "The world has to realize that people have to do what make them happy and that just cause you do not do it doesn't make it wrong or right." HUH? This comment AGAIN- was in reference to the BIRTH CERTIFICATE thread. GET REAL! Just because I am afraid of heights and don't want to jump out of a PERFECTLY SAFE AIRPLANE WITH AN ABLE BODIED PILOT- does not mean I would call it WRONG to go skydiving! (Although I may call it NUTZ!)

Take a stand! This is not PARADISE or UTOPIA! There are plenty of things I don't choose to do- that doesn't make ANY of them WRONG!

As for the middle, this one is just as silly. If Joe thinks beating children is okay, and Sally thinks touching a child in discipline is ALWAYS wrong- middle of the road would be spanking- right? sound nuts? No. But if Joe thinks that murder is okay? then the middle would be what? BEATING? Being in the middle means basing your beliefs on EVERYONE ELSE'S STAND! RIDICULOUS! Finding comfort in "being in the middle" and striving for finding the "middle" for your own beliefs is basing YOUR beliefs on others. So if being 5 foot 1 is short, and 6 foot 2 is tall- I can't find happiness at 5 foot 2? Or if 200 lbs is FAT and 150 lbs is thin, then 175 lbs is what I shoot for? FAT IS FAT, SHORT IS SHORT- RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG!

Base your beliefs and stands on YOU OWN VALUES! They may be different than others. They may seem extreme to some. BUT AT LEAST YOU KNOW THEY ARE YOURS- BASED ON YOUR BELIEFS- NOT ANYONE ELSE'S!

I found out something amazing to me a few weeks ago. Until 1969, lynching was considered LEGAL! This is AFTER I was born! So, in the era that my mother and father grew up- this was acceptable behavior. Does this mean that them being racist would be okay? Does this mean that them using the term "colored" is okay? NO! (And I must add that neither of my parents are racist or use such terms.) RELATIVITY does NOT WORK~! PERIOD!

Now, I know several of you will take these words and attempt to eat me for lunch. The funny thing is this, that's okay with me. I am NOT middle of the road. I AM WHO I AM- PERIOD. To some- I may seem moderate, to others extreme- to others just wrong. ALL OF THIS IS OKAY WITH ME. I AM WHO I AM BASED ON WHAT MY BELIEFS ARE AND WHAT I HOLD TO BE TRUE IN MY OWN HEART. NOT ON ANY ONE ELSE.

I use to be "little miss ERA!" I was pro-life in my heart, but I would always vote pro-choice. After all, as a woman who had been through "crisis pregnancies," I understood that NO ONE could tell me what to do. right? Then I grew up. I realized that life was not about ME. It was not about MY rights. NOTHING GAVE ME THE RIGHT TO END AN INNOCENT LIFE! If I truly OWNED this life inside of me, then I had to subscribe to slavery. I don't subscribe to such barbaric practices. PERIOD. It was a HARD thing to face, but right is right, wrong is wrong.

I base my values on GOD. Not me. I get a LOT of things wrong. I am NOT ALL KNOWING. I am NOT PERFECT. I don't have the answers to life. I don't know how to operate my VCR, DVD player, cell phone, or computer better than those that created these devices. So, I read the manual they write, so I can get the BEST and MOST out of their creation. So, I read the Bible, and try to get the best and most of my life from GOD. After all, I am not a creation of Barbara Boxer or Rush Limbaugh- I am HIS CREATION!

Is Discovery Destined for Doom?

I know Levi doesn't like when I use WorldNetDaily as a source, but if this is accurate- we need to start demanding some answers instead of blindly trusting NASA.


NASA: We were wrong to launch
Future missions suspended due to foam-insulation danger

WASHINGTON – NASA today admitted it was wrong to launch the space shuttle Discovery and suspended future shuttle flights because of the risks from foam insulation debris – the same problem that brought down Columbia in 2003.

Though the space agency doesn't yet know the extent of the damage to the Discovery, it too was a victim of foam insulation falling off the shuttle during its launch.

The debris spun off the tank when it separated from the main craft. The debris missed Discovery, and NASA insists it does not appear to present a problem for the seven-person crew now in space.

READ IT ALL!


I think I would have aborted this mission a LAST WEEK!

Another Attack on the American DAD!

You're not gonna believe THIS ONE!


Mass. Debates Birth Certificates for Babies of Same-Sex Couples

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (search) says babies born to couples of the same sex should be given amended birth certificates, but supporters of gay marriage who want to change those certificates say the governor's formula for doing so is wrong

{snip}

"I'm opposed to taking the Massachusetts birth certificate and removing the term 'Mother' and 'Father' and substituting 'Parent A' and 'Parent B,'" Romney said. "Look, each child has a mother and a father. They should have the right to have that mother and father known to them and that's something I'd like to preserve on a birth certificate."

READ IT ALL!


RIDICULOUS! There is a reason that a birth certificate names the NATURAL PARENTS! Even in the event of an adoption, we name the BIRTH MOTHER AND BIRTH FATHER on the ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Here's the kicker- FOR A REASON! What a bunch of numbnuts! Yes, I used the term numbnuts. Let's follow this train of thought for just a moment. If the TRUE IDENTITY of the mother and father are not relevant, but just the PERCEIVED or WISHED IDENTITY of the mother and father, oops- I mean Parent 'A' and Parent 'B', why not write down the name of your best friend or roommate? Does this mean I can name anyone I want as the father too? Maybe I wanna pick Mel Gibson as Father. Or maybe I have a thing for Darth Vader. I heard Brad Pitt wanted kids...............

These people have finally flipped. They want to defy nature at every turn and try to recreate the world to be as they WANT it, not as it is. Did you know that a mule (the cross between a horse and a donkey) is almost always sterile? Why do you think incest increases risks of infertility and health defects? It is AGAINST the INTENT of the CREATOR- that's why! This is EXACTLY the argument I use when debating with those that are against interraciall marriage. The offspring of mixed races do NOT run a higher risk of health defects or infertility.

I'M BAAAAACK, Again!

First off, thanks to RWNJ for alerting you all to my computer issues. I am back online!

So much catching up to do!

The TERROR bombings in London are TRAGIC and HORRIFIC. There is a bit of banter about the "innocent" man shot in the subway. I regret a man was killed and my sympathy goes out to his family. I can't imagine the shock and anger they must feel. As a woman with children, and an American that understands what the TERRORISTS seek to do to us, I have to say, "Oh well, what do we expect?" What on earth was he thinking? He was wearing a HEAVY jacket in 70 degree weather in July- the day after another attempted bombing on the subway system. He JUMPED the gates at the entrance, and then RAN when told to freeze. Not to mention that when he RAN, he RAN into a train crowded with people. Times have changed folks. The suicide bombers have changed the atmosphere. Their weapon is their own body (strapped with bombs, hidden by heavy jackets). Their mission is to kill themselves and take as many innocents with them as possible. If were to find myself with guns aimed at me, I would have dropped to my knees, after thoroughly wetting and soiling myself, with my hands in the air screaming "Please don't shoot me!" In ANY situation with law enforcement pointing guns at me, I would do this. We have seen the same type of thing happen here in America with people carrying fake guns.

As horrified as passengers were to see this man shot down in front of their eyes, it sure beats having your body blasted into pieces plastered onto the insides of the train. We ALL need to wake up and realize that the world TRULY HAS changed. It is a change most of us would NEVER have wanted, but it is here weather we like it or not. I pray no more innocent life is taken. Not by the terrorists, OR by law enforcement.

The troops are doing their part to protect us. We need to do ours. We need to support those with the charge to protect us. In this particular case, I feel the officers shooting this man made the right decision. This man made not ONE mistake, but several. None of them make him DESERVING of death, yet all of them put together lead him there. This new world we live in was brought to us courtesy of TERRORISTS, and this is where the BLAME TRULY LIES.

The American Hiroshima?

Al-Qaida nukes already in U.S.
Terrorists, bombs smuggled across Mexico border by MS-13 gangsters


WASHINGTON – As London recovers from the latest deadly al-Qaida attack that killed at least 50, top U.S. government officials are contemplating what they consider to be an inevitable and much bigger assault on America – one likely to kill millions, destroy the economy and fundamentally alter the course of history, reports Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

According to captured al-Qaida leaders and documents, the plan is called the "American Hiroshima" and involves the multiple detonation of nuclear weapons already smuggled into the U.S. over the Mexican border with the help of the MS-13 street gang and other organized crime groups.......

Read it all!

As I realize this headline should be EXPECTED in today's world, why do I hesitate to believe it? Does this mean that I just can't fathom this as a reality? Are the political scare tactics and rhetoric at such a high pitch that we just don't take this seriously? Are the images of 9/11 hidden from us so well for so long that we have forgotten the feelings we had that day? Or is it that we have done so well in the War on Terror that we just don't think they could pull it off? It's not like we doubt this is what they want to do to us. Or do we just feel invinsible? Or do we just not trust anything these terrorists say?

The LORDSHIP of Judges........

Build condos – or go to jail
Judge threatening county planners with prison if development not OK'd

A judge in Maryland is threatening jail time for county planners if they don't approve a 254-townhouse project in a badly congested region, despite a shortage of water and a petition signed by 600 residents.

"What is the point of having commissioners if the county is going to be run by lawyers and judges?" Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich told the Baltimore Sun. "All the decisions at this level of the courts seem to be pro-development."

According to the paper, the planning commission rejected the Eldersburg project last year, citing inadequate facilities in South Carroll, whose population has nearly tripled since 1980.

But Circuit Judge Michael M. Galloway agreed with developers that a previous ruling from six years ago was still valid, and on June 30, he ordered commissioners to OK the site plan for the rental complex in the county's most populous and fastest-growing area.

Benjamin Rosenberg, attorney for the developer, the Carrolltowne Development Partnership, said he'd demand jail time for members of the planning commission – including County Commission president Julia Walsh Gouge – if officials did not comply with the judge's decision.

Local roads are reportedly congested, schools are surrounded by portable classrooms, and the water supply is so stretched, officials have cut back on development until new sources of H2O can be found.

"They will find water for this project," Rosenberg told the Sun. "The county should have reserved water for this project in 1995. If need be, it will have to take water allocated to another project."

The ruling is prompting an outcry from some local residents.

One posted reaction in an online messageboard, decrying the judge's ruling:

"The citizens of Carroll County be damned. A developer wants to make some bucks. It's simple, go to court and have the judges become the final word on what is best for the county. Judges are becoming too powerful in this country. Their ilk are strictly out of touch with what is good and right for society. In this case, they overstepped their authority and are attempting to become legislators. For the sake of their citizens, I hope the board will unanimously ignore the judges. Their is no one the judges can go to to enforce the ruling. All the bench warrants in the world are not going to have the board arrested. No one will lift a finger to jail the board."


Now a judge can rule that elected officials must IGNORE voters and what is in the best interest of the community- or go to jail? HUH?

O - L - I - G - A - R - C - H - Y ! ! ! ! !

INSANITY!

Court affirms partial-birth ban unconstitutional
Critics say judges 'fail to understand the barbarity of the procedure'

A federal appeals court today upheld a district court decision striking down the federal law banning partial-birth abortion.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in St. Louis agreed with a federal district court judge in Nebraska that the ban, passed by Congress in 2003, is unconstitutional because it does not contain an exception for the health of the mother.
Pro-life advocates said the court has exhibited a "failure to understand the barbarity of the procedure."

"This court apparently would have us believe that there is a constitutional right to crush the skull of a baby that is halfway out of the mother's body," said Gary McCaleb, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund. "Americans overwhelmingly reject this barbaric procedure, and it is their will, not the will of the courts, that will win in the end."

McCaleb argued that health exceptions are not well defined, meaning almost anything can become an exception.

"Including such an exception would render the ban nearly useless," he said. "Moreover, Congress found that the evidence clearly demonstrates that no such exception would ever be needed."

The Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 says: "A partial-birth abortion is never necessary to preserve the health of a woman, poses serious risks to a woman's health, and lies outside the standard of medical care. There is no credible medical evidence that partial-birth abortions are safe or are safer than other abortion procedures."

ADF funded a friend-of-the-court brief for the 8th Circuit in the case, Carhart v. Gonzales.

In the court's opinion, opinion, Judge Kermit Bye wrote, "When 'substantial medical authority' supports the medical necessity of a procedure in some instances, a health exception is constitutionally required. In effect, we believe when a lack of consensus exists in the medical community, the Constitution requires legislatures to err on the side of protecting women's health by including a health exception."

Read it all


INSANITY! INSANITY! How is SUCKING THE BRAINS OUT OF A BABY'S HEAD WHILE IT IS HALF WAY IN AND HALF WAY OUT ABOUT SAFETY FOR THE MOTHER? DO THEY HAVE ANY IDEA HOW RIDICULOUS THEY SOUND? DO THEY REALLY THINK PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS AND DON'T SEE RIGHT THROUGH THEM?

An Open Letter to Our Islamofascist Buddies

Tom Purcell's latest column!

An Open Letter to Our Islamofascist Buddies

It’s not going to work, boys.

I know how much you enjoy blowing up innocent people, people whose only crime is going to work in the morning. I can’t imagine how fun it must be to meet secretly while building bombs and coordinating cold-blooded murder.

I can’t imagine the thrill of carefully executing your plan and how the head fellows in your organization -- not the unfortunate slobs who wrapped bombs around their torso in exchange for 72 virgins -- likely watched the explosions from a safe distance.

“Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters,” you posted on one of your Web sites.

That just isn’t so, boys. The Brits were calm and orderly and tended to those in need. The only thing they were burning with was anger and resolve. You boys keep thinking your barbarism will weaken us, but it strengthens us. It reminds us how hopefully lost you are and how we must defeat you.

I understand your confusion. You’ve probably been misunderstanding some of the messages that have been reported on the news -- those in which some American “leaders” have stopped attacking the terrorists and instead attacked their president, who is unflinching in his efforts to defeat you.

But what you keep forgetting is that America is a free country. Anyone here is free to speak his or her mind. People can say anything even if it isn’t true or even if it is intended to twist or confuse. And some of our “leaders” have been doing just that. They hope to weaken the president with the hopes of winning back political power.

I can see how you could misunderstand that. The irony is that the best thing you could have done was to have NOT launched another attack. If you wanted to weaken our resolve to defeat you, you could have just sat back while America argued with itself, while we forgot how barbaric you really are.
But you blew it again.

This latest bombing reminds us of the way you beheaded Nick Berg, a fun-loving American fellow who did nothing to wrong you, and how you praised your God while you murdered him.

It reminds us of the way you took over a school in Chechnya, killing innocent children. And how you blew up the trains just before the Spanish elections. And how you’ve detonated bombs all over the world on numerous occasions with the hopes of spreading fear and terror, and how you killed thousands in America on 911.

This last act in London was just as horrific as your past work. I read the reports of walls covered with blood, of body parts spread about the twisted steel. That is your signature, isn’t it. Well it’s a dumb signature.

The truth of the matter is that you fellows aren’t very smart. You had a nice host country in Afghanistan -- you were free to train terrorists and foment your hatred -- but then you attacked America on 911. You expected us to cower, but you got the opposite. You’ve been on the run ever since.

And just as America was turning on itself -- just as Democratic senators and others have had some success clouding what the war on terror is really about and making Bush and the Republicans the bad guys -- you go and strike again, which has caused America to come back to its senses again.

I think it is because you are a bunch of narcissists. You suffer from the worst of human sin and weakness, while wrapping yourselves in the cloak of your religion. You are so lost in yourselves, you actually believe God is on your side as you slaughter the innocent.

That is why you keep miscalculating, you nitwits, and thanks to your miscalculations, you have strengthened our resolve just when we needed a jolt.

That’s why it’s not going to work, boys.

(Tom Purcell’s e-mail address is TomPurcell@aol.com; his Web address is http://www.tompurcell.com/)

The Venom of HATE....

Terror in London

Seven near simultaneous explosions rocked the London Underground network subway and tore open a double-decker bus during the morning rush hour today in the capital city, killing at least 40 people and injuring hundreds of others.

Bloodied survivors were seen emerging from stations and receiving treatment on sidewalks.....


The Words of President Bush:

I spent some time recently with the prime minister, Tony Blair, and had an opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences to the people of London, people who lost lives. I appreciate Prime Minister Blair's steadfast determination and his strength. He's on his way now to London here from the G8 to speak directly to the people of London. He'll carry a message of solidarity with him.

This morning I have been in contact with our Homeland Security folks. I instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place here and in London, and to be extra vigilant, as our folks start heading to work.

The contrast between what we've seen on the TV screens here, what's taken place in London and what's taking place here is incredibly vivid to me. On the one hand, we have people here who are working to alleviate poverty, to help rid the world of the pandemic of AIDS, working on ways to have a clean environment. And on the other hand, you've got people killing innocent people. And the contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill -- those who have got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks.

The war on terror goes on. I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve. And that is we will not yield to these people, we will not yield to the terrorists. We will find them, we will bring them to justice, and at the same time, we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate.

Thank you very much.





BTK, Duncan, and Terroists. What kind of work goes on in someone's head to justify the kind of behavior these folks participate in? What kind of mental hoops does someone have to jump through to make it okay to rip other's lives in order for you to satisfy some horrific thirst or need you have? I will never understand it. The men who steal little girls from their homes, use them to quench some fantasy, then snuff out her life, are of an evil I cannot comprehend. It is the same evil that cloaks the men who can take a knife and saw off the head of another human being that is bound and blindfolded because of their race or nationality.

Could you do this? Could you take a knife, saw back and forth through a neck, listen to screams and justify it? Could you get some erotic fulfillment as you listen to the whimpers and cries of a mother or a little girl? It is the same evil that plots and plants bombs in a public place, and awaits the sounds of explosions, cries of terror, sirens, and panic. What kind of spirit engulfs a body that finds pleasure and satisfaction in these things?

Evil is unworthy of compassion. To us, compassion is a gift, a strength. To them, compassion is a weakness. It is the battleground and the weapon.

Good News, Bad News

I wish to invite all of the Minions, Groupies, and Trolls to celebrate with me for a moment. On Thursday, I begin a new job. I have been unemployed for two years, one week, and two days. I truly do love working; psychologically unemployment has been somewhat difficult for me. I have drawn great satisfaction and purpose on several blogs, most significantly Straight Up With Sherri. My new job is a great job with a terrific small company. It will require a commute lengthier than I prefer - but that is a minor shortcoming with numerous options for overcoming.

The bad news is that I will not be available as often and will not have the time to research many of the issues that I love. I will still be here whenever I can.

I wish to thank all of you for enhancing my life and providing your insights and perspectives on numerous topics. Thank you for sharing your feelings. Even though I may sometimes disagree with you, I have enjoyed your company and I am pleased to know you in whatever form you present yourself.

Most importantly, I express my gratitude to Sherri for the trust she has placed in me. For letting me usurp her soapbox and say anything I wish … and for her faith in me and her willingness to personally confide in me. Sherri and I have become very good friends in an amazingly short time. We have never met face-to-face and probably never will. She does hold a very special place in my heart.

Right Wing Nut Job

PSA's and Who Has Issues?

Okay- we are venturing way out of my normal realm of topics, but I find myself extremely irritated lately at some of the parenting practices I see. I know someone is going to use this as an opportunity to point out my parenting flaws, and challenge my "right" to comment on others, but I get flack no matter what. Taking a stand on any issue always leaves you open for criticism, not to mention, criticism from those that don't share my same values just doesn't bother me anyway. So, here it goes.

I was listening to this PSA (Public Service Announcement) earlier today that really made sense to me. I wonder though, how many people heard it, and really "got it." It talked about how parents are afraid to talk to their kids about doing drugs for fear of being seen as a hypocrite by their children. This is where the VERY BASICS of parenting needs to be addressed. We've all been there at some point and time with our kids. Maybe not about drugs, but some issue comes up where we find ourselves disciplining our child for something we do or have done. Sometimes we find ourselves telling our kids not to do things we did or have done.

If the fear of being seen or thought of as a hypocrite overrides your will to see your children live a better life than ourselves- WE ARE THE ONES WITH AN ISSUE! Raising our kids is not about our image. Yes, I understand that kids can spot hypocrisy- I also understand that losing respect from our kids hinders our effectiveness. I would rather take the stand of telling my child to "wait for marriage" and be seen as a hypocrite than handing them condoms and praying for the best. My son never knew his father for the first 14 years of his life. I was NEVER married to his father. How do I get away with teaching him to "wait" for marriage? Easy. The pain of him not knowing his father was the collateral damage of my reckless behavior. I tell him just that. "Do you really want your children to grow up like you had to?"

Other parents tell me I am a fool to think that my son will not be having sex. They say things like, "I want my child to be able to talk to me. I would rather know what they are doing so I can protect them, than to be blind to what they are doing." This is the epitome of pride getting in the way of the real purpose of parenting. Children don't share with their parents all they are doing or not doing based on weather or not they are allowed to do these things. Don't be silly. If you tell your kids they can have sex- just use a condom and don't get anyone pregnant, or we tell them all the dangers and warn them to be careful; then think that we will know all they are doing- we are kidding ourselves. There is always something they are doing that we don't know about. So, the higher the bar- the better. On top of that- think about it. It sounds more like we are more concerned about looking like fools for thinking our kids aren't having sex when they are, than we are concerned about the choices they are making and what this can do to their lives.

I am not attacking parents that parent differently. I know all parents mean well. We all LOVE our kids. But we are human. We have issues. I just want to encourage each of us to focus on what the best thing to be telling our kids is, instead of focusing on what makes us feel good as parents. It is not easy. But once you commit to expecting them to be strong, and show them that we believe they can be, it gets a LOT easier. If you degrade your children when they fall short of your expectations, expect them to degrade you when you fall short as well. If you ask for forgiveness when you fall, without allowing your failures to be excuses for theirs, you may be surprised by how relieved you both are!

I had a bit of an edge with my son. I decided a LONG time ago to be sure to parent from the point of protection rather than authority. God gives us rules to live by. Once we step out from these rules, we step out of His protection. The rules are not there to ruin our fun or make life miserable. The rules are there for us to get the most enjoyment out of life. Thou shall not commit adultery is not about making sex evil. It is about God saying, "Hey, I don't want you to have to come home from work and find your wife in bed with your neighbor." Thou shall not steal is not about God not wanting you to have nice things. It is about God not wanting you to worry about people stealing YOUR things. Believe it or not, kids get that. They understand it.

Building trust with our kids means being honest. My son knows I am not, and never was a saint. He knows that I made STUPID decisions and choices. Ones that caused HIM hardships. But he knows that I love him. He knows that I will always try and look at what is best for him. I fail. He knows this too. But even as I fail, he knows that it is because I am human and am honest about being human. He knows it is not about trying to convince him I am perfect. He knows I am not- no matter how much I would try to hide it from him. I only have experience on him. He has wisdom over me by a longshot. He trusts me. This is the key.

Treat your kids with respect, and you will get it back. My son knows when I say "no" that he has the opportunity to make his case- as long as he does it RESPECTFULLY. He also knows that I will honestly listen, not just debate or argue. He also knows that once I re-affirm "NO," then the answer is "NO," and he knows that it is "NO" because I love him. He also understands that sometimes the answer is "NO" because it is not best for the family as a whole if the answer were "YES." It takes a little extra effort and time to establish this kind of rapport with your kids, but saves a LOT of time and heartache trying to deal with other "issues."

The most important thing I could ever offer to any parent is this. No matter what, NEVER cut them out of your life. Never become a memory with no contact. NEVER! Once you have done this, you have missed EVERY PART OF PARENTING! EVERY PART! I realize there are times that parents have to step back and let their kids fall. There are times when you cannot help them anymore. They have to fall on their face and deal with the consequences of their choices without us bailing them out. NO DOUBT. But to just step out of their lives completely is the WORST parenting style of all. I know GOOD people who have never seen their grandchildren. I know people who made a mess of their lives and hurt the ones they love- then changed from within- and their families have missed out on the BEST person they have ever been.

There is no such thing as "quitting" as a parent. No such thing. Give me a failing parent. Give me a parent that can't have a sober conversation with their child. But don't show me a person who PUNISHES their child by never talking to them and then call that person a parent. I realize there are many children better off without their parents in their lives. This is different. I am not talking about a parent that is so bad they destroy their kids lives. I am talking about parents who choose to walk out of their child's life as a PUNISHMENT to their child. RIDICULOUS! COWARDLY! IMMATURE!

In the end- we can all only do our best. But when you stop doing anything at all. YOU LOSE ALL RIGHTS TO BE CALLED MOM OR DAD! ALL RIGHTS!

None of us can be perfect parents, but we can all let our kids know we love them. No child EVER deserves a parent to stop letting them know that they love them.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

It is a pet peeve of mine to hear people refer to this American Holiday and celebration as "The Fourth of July." It is the fourth day of July- but it is the fourth day of July in ALL of the earth. Today is INDPENDENCE DAY!

INDEPENDENCE DAY is the day that a bunch of WHITE, CHRISTIAN MEN decided to fight against TYRANNY. It is the day that the thought of PEOPLE governing the GOV'T instead of the GOV'T governing PEOPLE was ESTABLISHED as a GOD GIVEN RIGHT! It is the day that the WORLD saw a bunch of CRAZY ideas born- and NEW HOPE DELIVERED!

Today is the day we eat watermelon, watch a crazy uncle drink himself into a stupor, smell charcoal and smile as our mouths water, and gather to watch a spectacular light show. As you stare into the sky tonight- know that MILLIONS join you. Also know that MILLIONS ENVY YOU! BILLIONS pray and dream of their own INDEPENDENCE DAY. MANY DIED FOR US TO HAVE THIS!

If you do nothing else today- give your children the legacy we had. Then give them more. Give them an appreciation of a country divided and united. Different, yet BONDED! Each glimmer and sparkle is laced with blood- blood of good men and women. Every "ooh" and "aahhh" is a gift. Each memory is a treasure. One paid highly for. Many daddies and mammas are missing from families today; sisters, brothers, sons and daughters. But FREEDOM is STRONG and THRIVING. LIBERTY IS EXALTED TODAY!

Today I will look in my daughters' eyes, seeing the reflection of sparks in red, white and blue. When they are watching the sky light up, I will be watching them. My eyes will sting, as I taste the salt of my tears running down my face. I will think of men like Hamilton, Franklin, Adams, Hancock, Washington, Revere, Lincoln, Rodney, etc. But I will mostly think of people like my grandfather who fought against Hitler. I will think of my brother who has served 2 tours in Iraq. I will think of fingers stained with purple ink. I will think of women owning their own businesses. I will picture churches, temples, peace signs, soldiers, and nuns. Most of all I will picture horses, mud, blood, stripes and stars. I will praise God for men of honor. I will long for the days when men know of causes bigger than themselves and a dollar sign. I will not take for granted the men and women of today that are visiting grave sites, missing loved ones, feeling grief. For watching those flares, hearing the pops and snaps of fire in the sky- is all a gift, but seeing them reflect off the eyes of my children is a MIRACLE! Why am I one of the ones born in America? Why was I given the gift to be born free over the billions of others born under tyranny and oppression? I will ask myself, what am I doing with this MIRACLE?

Who is BLESSED because I WAS BORN FREE? Who has heard of, or FELT JESUS because I CAN TELL THEM AND SHOW THEM JESUS without death on my doorstep? Who have I reached? When have I tried? When didn't I? I will be filled with shame of the waste of my freedoms and liberties. I will also be filled with HOPE that TOMORROW, yes TOMORROW, I will do better. Most of all. I will hope my children see me be a better me, tomorrow.....

When the rocket's last glare is snuffed out for the night, I will gather my babies in my arms. I will kiss them under the star-lit night and know that I am the most blessed woman on earth. I am a mother. I am an American woman. I am a child of God. And MANY people gave their lives for me to be able to celebrate. Not to celebrate the fourth day of July; but to celebrate INDPENDENCE DAY!

Caesar Rodney

In the midst of our weekend celebration of our INDEPENDENCE, I would like to share a piece I wrote on the cusp of the Iraqi elections in January of this year.

My FAVORITE story of our forefathers that is little known:

The story of Caesar Rodney and the Declaration of Independence

The Harder the Conflict, the More Glorious the Triumph.

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain, too cheap, we esteem too lightly:--'Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to set a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated....... I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
Thomas Paine- The American Crisis (Also the author of Common Sense.)

Common Sense was published on January 9, 1776 and became an instant best seller. It was a 50 page pamphlet that outlined a strong case for the colonies to go to war, seeking Independence.

On the eve of such an historical event as elections in Iraq, I can't help but think of the courage of our forefathers. While most people I know talk much about George Washington, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere; the one man I remember the most is Caesar Rodney. Most Americans have no idea who he is, unless of course you have lived in Delaware. Let me share with you perhaps the most incredible story of a man that knew his purpose and life was bigger than himself.

It was late June in 1776, and Caesar was in Sussex County Delaware. Rodney was a "Brigadier General of Delaware's militia, speaker of the state assembly which had also declared him as their leader. He was alternately in his seat in congress, and at work in Delaware, stimulating the patriots and repressing the royalists." He was also dying of cancer, when he received word from Thomas McKean that he was needed in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. It was made clear that without his signature, there would be no independence. The flesh on his face was being eaten away by this disease and he knew that if he signed the Declaration, he would never be able to return to England. The cancer would surely take his life. In spite of this fate, he mounted his horse and started on his journey for Philadelphia.

With cancer eating the flesh from his face and asthma gripping his every breath, he ventured onward through brutal humidity, thunderstorms, and torrential rains. He was racked with pain, sought by the British, and exhausted. The trip was not a simple ride on well traveled trails. He crossed rickety bridges, streams, and fields. He knew every hour and every one of the 80 miles were bringing him closer to signing his own death warrant, and bringing him closer to freedom.

Finally he reached Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Caesar Rodney staggered into Congress with only minutes left of the debate. Others in the room saw his condition and quickly came to assist him. His face was wrapped in linen, now covered with blood, sweat, and mud; in fact his entire body was laden with mud. It is believed he spoke these words as he cast his vote, "As I believe the voice of my constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of independence, my own judgment concurs with them. I vote for independence," and then he collapsed.



Caesar Rodney cast the DECIDING vote.

My heart swells with utter pride and my eyes sting of tears when I think of this man's excruciating mission. Whenever I get a quarter, I check to see if it is his. Yes, the Delaware quarter features his valiant ride on its back. This is the epitome of integrity to me. He risked it all. He was dying of cancer. His only chance for survival was to go back to England, but he not only stayed and fought, but he gave it his all. What is more amazing is that Rodney was a 48 year old bachelor. In the 1700's, 48 was not a young age, and he had no wife or children to be leaving a legacy of freedom to. It was about his honor and duty, it was about freedom, justice, and liberty. It was about a dream.

In the years to come we will hear stories like these of the people in Iraq. They won't be riding horseback through streams and fields for 80 miles. They will be those that walked deserts, and stood in front of police stations that were the targets of choice for suicide bombings. They will be of women who dared to work in public or just leave their homes without covering their faces. We are in the midst of these great stories. Once again, America is leading the charge. We are helping others achieve the great history we hold so dear for themselves, as we did in Europe and Japan. They may not remember what our valiant and heroic soldiers did, and how our nation was ripped in a political fervor to make it all happen; but we will.

Rejoice in being an American today.

In the words of Thomas Paine, "We have it in our power to begin the world anew...American shall make a stand, not for herself alone, but for the world."

I CAN'T FIND THE WORDS!

Note to self: DO NOT SIP COFFEE WHILE READING NEWS AND BRING DUCT TAPE! (Be sure to spike coffee with HARD liquor or lace HEAVILY with drugs.)

I don't have the words for this guy!


NBC anchor compares Founders to terrorists
Brian Williams equates 1st U.S. leaders to Iran president-elect

In his newscast tonight, "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams compared America's first presidents to the president-elect of Iran, alleged hostage-taker Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying they were "certainly revolutionaries and might have been called terrorists by the British crown."

At least six of the Americans held at the U.S. embassy in Tehran as hostages for 444 days claim Ahmadinejad was one of the leaders of the captors, having recognized him on television reports.

Williams' comment came in a question to reporter Andrea Mitchell.

At the end of Mitchell's report, Williams asked, "What would it all matter if proven true? Someone brought up today the first several U.S. presidents were certainly revolutionaries and might have been called 'terrorists' by the British crown, after all."


Read it ALL!


HOW DARE HE COMPARE OUR FOREFATHERS TO THESE ANIMALS! HOW DARE HE! What is his point? I mean some people would say that Hitler was a humanitarian....... SO? These people would be called MORONS! (at the VERY LEAST!) The Bombers of Pearl Harbor could be called Heroes by some people. We could carry a list forever. Heck- some people would call McCain a conservative. GIVE ME A BREAK!

Here we are, on the cusp of our DAY OF INDEPENDENCE, and some IDIOT wants to talk about our founders this way?

Tune in tomorrow, I will share a story about my favorite American Patriot, and the kind of MAN he was. This weekend will be dedicated to REMINDING people of the AWESOME men our forefathers were.

The Supreme (UNELECTED and UNACCOUNTABLE Constitution Revising Committee) Court Losing a Robed Royal?

O'Conner steps Down

Justice Sandra Day O'Conner announced her retirement today.

O'Conner, a swing vote on issues such as abortion and the death penalty, said she plans to leave before the start of the court's next term in October.

In a letter to President Bush, she wrote: "This is to inform you of my decision to retire from my position as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, effective upon the nomination and confirmation of my successor. It has been a great privilege indeed to have served as a member of the court for 24 terms. I will leave it with enormous respect for the integrity of the court and its role under our constitutional structure."

More to come ...

The LUNCH of Champions?

WARNING: This story could be VERY UPSETTING!

I have no idea how true the allegations in this story are, but the fact that investigators find it the least bit believable is ASTOUNDING!


Accused fetus-eatersays he's vegetarian
Abortionist calls charge 'outrageous,'claims meat makes him squeamish

The Kansas abortionist who had his license pulled and clinic closed after high-profile accusations by at least one employee that he microwaved a fetus and mixed it into his lunch says the charge is ''outrageous'' because he's a vegetarian who is squeamish about meat.

{snip}

No charges were brought against Rajanna for the alleged fetus consumption, but not because law enforcement authorities disbelieved the accusation. The problem for the district attorney was that there are no laws against eating fetuses.

After being provided information about horrific conditions of a Kansas abortion clinic nearly two years ago, the Kansas state board in charge of regulating such facilities took months to investigate it and even longer to shut it down. It was finally shut down in March. Rajanna lost his license earlier this month.

{snip}

''Julia went on to describe how she and the other girls actually witnessed Rajanna microwave one of the aborted fetuses and stir it into his lunch,'' explained Howard, the investigating officer in the case. ''Julia claimed that she shared this (information) with some of the other employees, who confirmed that they had seen him do the very same thing.''


There is MUCH more. READ IT ALL!


I also want to make a point. Many people believe doctors are "special" people. They are dedicated to saving lives. They are committed to helping people, bettering their lives, and keeping them healthy. Many doctors are WONDERFUL, but just like ANY other profession, there are good ones and bad ones. Do we really think that ABORTION doctors are compassionate, top of their class, ethical people? What kind of person makes a living at such a thing? Day in and day out, scraping babies from the womb. I imagine these folks are NOT the hardest working, most meticulous, or cream of the crop. I would venture to say these folks are the LOSERS of their profession. How would ya like to spend an afternoon BBQ at their house? I can just picture the FUN and EDIFYING conversation- not to mention the finger licking meal.......

(excuse me while I go PUKE!)