Radiant Times

Busted for Gardening!

2011-07-08T10:28:00.001-06:00

Do you live in an area that limits what you can grow in your own yard? I know some folks live in neighborhoods where a neighborhood association controls what you can and cannot grow, but, for the rest of us, by and large, we have creative freedom on how we landscape our gardens.

With the weakness of our current economy and with the rapid rise in food prices, it only makes sense to try to grow some of our own food. But not in Oak Park, Michigan! After her front yard was dug up when a sewer line was replaced, Julie Bass decided to put in attractive raised vegetable beds instead of replacing the lawn. Her new garden is a delight to see. Very tidy and no weeds.

Unfortunately, Julie is facing 93 days in jail for planting a garden in her front yard! Read more here.

Here are pictures of Julie Bass' tidy garden and yard.

Green Eggs and Scam

2010-07-02T10:09:00.003-06:00

With HEARTY apologies to Dr. Seuss and his heirs. A friend of mine posted this on Facebook and I added the last two lines.

Green Eggs and Scam

I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like his health care scam.

I do not like these dirty crooks, or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals,

I do not like their secret deals.

I do not like the speaker Nan,

I do not like this 'YES WE CAN'.

I do not like this spending spree,

I'm smart, I know that nothing's free,

I do not like your smug replies, when I complain about your lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.

I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!

I do not like Obama's plan!

His hope and change, it is a scam!

Watch this blog

2010-06-15T21:02:00.002-06:00

Make sure you take a peek at Unlimited Random. This gal does book reviews and is nice person all around!

Tragedy to Triumph - American Entrepeneurship at it's Best

2010-06-06T14:30:00.005-06:00

The temporary cap on the Deep Horizon Oil Well is not adequate to collect the crude oil that copiously gushes into the Gulf of Mexico. This is a great environmental tragedy, but it is not the time to point fingers of blame at companies, to send down lawyers to threaten lawsuits or to lecture governors. Instead, it is time to encourage the American People to do what they have always done best, and that is to make the best of a bad situation by making it profitable to solve a given problem.

Technical solutions to this environmental problem are really straightforward and do not require any more studies by the federal government because these problems have been discussed for years. First, keep the oil off your main shoreline by all means possible. You can block it from coming ashore by dredging artificial islands and by filling the gaps with booms. Second, you can burn the oil on the surface of the water using fire boom technology which has been with us for years. Third, you can chemically disburse the oils, although this has been controversial lately as some fishermen have become ill from the disbursants. They are not hazard free, but less problematic than having the oil reach the shore. Finally, there are oil-water separator ships used by the Saudi Arabians and other allies that may lend us the vessels to correct this problem. These ships would siphon the oil off the water, separate it, and return unsullied water to the Gulf.

When the oil does hit the shore, and it has, you had better be ready, and not wait for FEMA or some other Federal Agency to help you. Here is what states, businesses and individuals can do:

The great American oil refineries in Houston and across this country, but led by Houston and especially GATX, should to be given presidential permission to upgrade and expand their facilities and increase their shifts to 24/7 operations in order to receive the contaminated oil. Once they have that permission, they can receive the slurry of contaminated oil, re-crack it, and turn it into products such as the petroleum engineers determine. These could be everything from fetilizers, to plastics to asphalts. More than likely, the heavy oil would only be able to be used for heavy products like plastics and asphalt because of the evaporation that occurs at sea and the weathering effect of the sun and sea on the petroleum.

Once the American petroleum companies have received permission to expand their facilities, they should invite and encourage Fishermen, Watermen and other interested parties to be involved in all aspects of the oil cleanup operation with the incentive that they will pay fair market value for the oil collected. Usually emergency HAZMAT cleanup is pretty profitable, and it would keep Americans working instead of being laid off and sitting around at the marina, drinking coffee and feeling sorry for themselves. The best of the American Spirit would rise up - that we can do something to stop and even solve this massive oil spill problem.

The Seafarers know more about going to sea and handling cleanup than the government could ever teach them. Get out of their way and let them create their own plans to collect the oil. They'll do it.

Where volunteers and entrepreneurs are lacking, use forced labor because this is a national emergency. This means prisoners, others in trouble with the law, and welfare recipients, who should give back to their communities instead of taking. This is not about skilled work. We are talking about picking up blobs of oil from the beach, putting it in trash bags, and hauling it off to be dumped in an oil bin. Obviously, work camps would be segregated according to the risks demanded by the different communities.

This is a problem that is not going to go away in a a few weeks or even a few months. The oil spill problem may last for years the way the current leadership is handling it. We may need people to collect oil and contribute to oil spill clean up for quite a while, but it is one way to keep the American private flotilla of fishing and recreational boats and the American Merchant Marine ready reserve fleet fully operational. It would also provide economic incentive to help with the clean up operations.

Scott and Ruth Seiler

Introducing a New Blog

2010-05-30T16:38:00.003-06:00

The blog named "Seiler's Little Paradise" is about the transformation of a small piece of property into a micro homestead.

These folks will explore the joys of remodeling, gardening, poultry raising, alternative energy including wind, solar and hydro power, and self sufficient, self reliant living.

Having a little piece of earth to call your own and to try to live off of is a dream that this family is trying to make a reality.

A Diagonal Dishcloth

2010-04-20T16:46:00.003-06:00

This one is a little more challenging as it teaches the beginning knitter add stitches and remove stitches.

Cast on 3
Row 1: Knit 2, Yarn Over (YO), Knit to end
Row 2: Knit 2, YO, Knit to end

Repeat these rows until you have 43 stitches on the needle or make the dishcloth as large as you want. Then......

Knit one, Knit 2 together, YO, Knit two together, knit to end

Repeat this row until you have three loops left.

Cast off.

This is a very nice simple dishcloth.

Knitted Dishcloths

2010-04-04T21:10:00.002-06:00

Greetings, seekers of the simple life. How about a simple project that is not expensive, is relaxing, and creates a useful household item? I'm talking about knitted dishcloths. These cotton beauties are durable and attractive. The patterns are forgiving, and who cares if you mess up a stitch when you know that you are contributing to sustainable living by making a washcloth instead of buying one woven in China or some other place! Those may be cheap, but making these dishcloths and using a US or Canadian produced cotton thread helps to keep jobs here on this continent.

I won't ask you to grow your own cotton and spin the fibers into something that resembles a worsted weight wool, although some self-sufficient types have a thing or two to teach me about that basic aspect of the cotton fiber. You can get lovely cotton thread anywhere you can buy wool or fabric. I'm using the Peaches and Cream worsted weight cotton. It is perfect for the job.

If you are a beginning knitter, these are good learning projects for you. The first is a simple checkerboard/basket weave patterned dishcloth.

Basket Weave Face Cloth

Use size 8 knitting needles. If your tension is too loose, try a smaller needle.

Cast on 40 stitches
Rows 1 - 4: Knit
Rows 5 - 10: K4 *K4,P4* 4 times, K4
Rows 11 - 16: K4 *P4,K4* 4 times, K4
Repeat Rows 5 - 16 until desired length
Knit 4 rows
Cast off
Use a crochet hook to weave any extra threads into the cloth.

Since rows 5 - 10 make 8 squares to a row besides the garter stitch edging, I just made an 8 x 8 square.

To be continued......

How Simple is Life?

2010-04-04T12:23:00.002-06:00

In my reading of articles and magazines, so many writers are bemoaning how complicated life is and how we need to return to a simpler lifestyle. Today's economic situation, the coming higher taxes and surcharges, and the rising unemployment (thanks a lot, Congress!)make a return to the simpler life and a lifestyle of less consumption increasingly attractive. The Radiant Times staff is examining our current lifestyle and looking for ways to uncomplicate our lives. There will always the reality of long commutes and job requirements, but we are beginning to develop a method whereby we can live healthier and more simply.

Sitting in their Ivory Palace

2009-10-30T05:06:00.003-06:00

So now it is finally released - the hulking form of the House Health Care Bill. Incomprehensible, incomplete, impractical, oppressive, and Congress excluding, this onerous piece of legislation will be voted on next week!

And from her gilded Ivory Palace Nancy Pelosi peered down upon the lowly and ignorant masses (at least those she had deemed lowly and ignorant) and declared that only those in Congress knew what was best for the American People. Alas, Congress had long since become insensitive to the cries of their constituents. They were now sycophantic and self serving, with a false assumption of royalty. They had forgotten the wisdom of the people. They had forgotten restraint. They had forgotten humility and the sacred trust of the office they held. Instead, members of Congress became drunk on the money they were trusted to spend for the betterment of the nation. They, though mere elected officials, grasped the power of their office as a birthright. And truly, some of the people, their constituents, were so ill informed or so cowed and coerced or bribed or outright lied to with promises of entitlements that perpetuate dependency, that certain of their number - such notables as Barney Frank, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Barbara Mikulski, Chris Dodd, Steny Hoyer, Benjamin Cardin, and many others - continued to be re-elected.

How does the travesty end? How does the modern reign of those who believe in the Divine Right of Representatives and Senators end? There are two possibilities.

1. The nation falls under the weight of its own bloat. Inflation rises, national debt rises, taxes rise, and the people continue to suffer more and more to the point of violent rebellion, or secessions as states fall away from the malignant pieces of legislation birthed from viewpoints opposed to the original intentions of the founders of the nation.

2. The people peacefully rise up, become informed of the acts of the great high Pelosi and those like her and seek to remove them from office. The will protest, and they will run for office themselves - the most capable among them - and they will win district by district. And common sense and wisdom will prevail in the land, and the people will see it and rejoice and be satisfied.

Rise up people! Peacefully protest! Call your Representatives and Senators!
Dethrone those who have made Congress an Ivory Palace.

Biden speaks truth to life

2009-09-22T07:24:00.002-06:00

ABC News’ Karen Travers reports:
Vice President Joe Biden said today that if Democrats were to lose 35 House seats they currently hold in traditionally Republican districts, it would mean doomsday for President Obama’s agenda.

Biden said Republicans are pinning their political strategy on flipping these seats.

“If they take them back, this the end of the road for what Barack and I are trying to do,” the vice president said at a fundraiser for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) today in Greenville, Delaware.

Republicans need to pick up 40 seats next November to take back control of the House.

OK troops! There's your challenge! Teapartiers, Independents, Republicans, Libertarians! Let's make Biden's words a self fulfilling prophecy! Not too difficult given the current actions and seeming incompetence of our President.

Let's make it happen. Less talk, more action.

Chicago Tribune Cartoon from 1934

2009-09-21T06:06:00.003-06:00

Hello readers! Have a look at this old cartoon! Look familiar? Remind you of NOW?

Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it!

Thanks to Rex the Terrible for this picture.

Showing true colors?

2009-09-17T09:28:00.003-06:00

Is Obama showing his true colors as a Socialist with Marxist leanings by giving in to the Russians and abandoning its plans for Third Site missile defence installations in Poland and the Czech Republic?

Whose side are you on, Mr. President? Our allies or our enemies?

Western Maryland Homeschool Choir

2009-09-17T08:47:00.005-06:00

Now Hagerstown, Maryland has a premium music program for home schooled students!

Open Enrollment to October 1, 2009

Where?

Virginia Avenue Baptist Church
(South of the Halfway Blvd, Virginia Avenue intersection)
Hagerstown, Maryland

When?

Thursday 2 pm

Tuition

$50 first child in family, $40 second child in family, $30 third child in family
Parents are strongly encouraged to participate in Choir related fundraising activities.

This Choir will divide into two choirs after October 1 to provide a middle school/high school elective for older students and an elementary choral program.

Voice and piano lessons available upon request

For more information, leave a reply to this blog posting!

What's in the Healthcare Bill?

2009-07-29T08:13:00.003-06:00

For those of you who don't have time to read the bill, especially you Congressmen and women!
This is the bill as it stands in the house. Thanks to nutopia on LGF for posting this list!

Line by line provisions of the Obama Healthcare Plan.
Peter Fleckstein (aka Fleckman) is reading it and has been posting on Twitter his findings . This is from his postings (Note: All comments are Fleckman's)

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

Pg 30 Section 123 of HC Bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get

Pg 29 Lines 4-16 of the HC Bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!

Pg 42 of the HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose YOUR HEALTHCARE Benefits for you. You have no choice!

Pg 50 Section 152 of the HC Bill - HEALTHCARE will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58 of the HC Bill - Government will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!

Pg 59 Lines 21-24 of the HC Bill - Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic fund transfers

Pg 65 Section 164 of the HC Bill - Payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & Community Organizations (ACORN)

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 of the HC Bill - Government is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Government control

Pg 84 Section 203 of the HC Bill - Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange Pg 85 Line 7 of the HC Bill - Specs of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Government will ration your HC!

Pg 91 Lines 4-7 of the HC Bill - Government mandates linguistic appropriate services - Example: Translation for illegal aliens

Pg 95 Lines 8-18 of the HC Bill - The Government will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Government HC plan

Pg 102 Lines 12-18 of the HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No Choice

Pg 124 Lines 24-25 of the HC Bill - No company can sue the Government on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Government Monopoly

Pg 127 Lines 1-16 of the HC Bill - Doctors/AMA - The Government will tell YOU what you can make

Pg 145 Lines 15-17 of the HC Bill - An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 of the HC Bill - Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 of the HC Bill - ANY Employer with a payroll of $400k and above who does not provide the Public Option must pay 8% tax on all payroll

PG 150 Lines 9-13 of the HC Bill - Businesses with payrolls between $251k and $ 400k that don't provide the Public Option must pay 2-6% tax on all payroll

Pg 167 Lines 18-23 of the HC Bill - ANY individual who doesnt have acceptable HC according to Government will be taxed 2.5% of income

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 of the HC Bill - Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay)

Pg 195 of the HC Bill - Officers and Employees of HC Administration (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records

Pg 203 Lines 14-15 of the HC Bill - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax". Yes, it says that

Pg 239 Lines 14-24 of the HC Bill - Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected

Pg 241 Lines 6-8 of the HC Bill - Doctors, doesnt matter what specialty you have, will all be paid the same

Pg 253 Lines 10-18 of the HC Bill - Government sets the value of Doctor's time, professional judgement, etc. Literally value of humans

Pg 265 Section 1131 of the HC Bill - Government mandates and controls productivity for private HC industries

Pg 268 Section 1141 of the HC Bill - Federal Government regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs

Pg 272 Section 1145 of the HC Bill - TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients, welcome to rationing!

Pg 280 Section 1151 of the HC Bill - The Government will penalize hospitals for what the Government deems preventable readmissions

Pg 298 Lines 9-11 of the HC Bill - Doctors that treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission - The Government will penalize you

Pg 317 Lines 13-20 of the HC Bill - OH MY GOD!!! - PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. The Government tells Doctors what/how much they can own

Pgs 317-318 Lines 1-3 and 21-25 of the HC Bill - PROHIBITION on expansion - Government is mandating that hospitals cannot expand

Pg 321 Lines 2-13 of the HC Bill - Hospitals have opportunigy to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!!

Pg 335 Lines 16-25 and Pgs 336-339 of the HC Bill - Governmtent mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing

Pg 341 Lines 3-9 of the HC Bill - Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advanced Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into the Government Plan

Pg 354 Section 1177 of the HC Bill - Government will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people!

Pg 379 Section 1191 of the HC Bill - Government creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. Can you say HC by phone?

Pg 425 Lines 4-12 of the HC Bill - Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consultant. Think Senior Citizens and the end of their life!
Pg 425 Lines 17-19 of the HC Bill - Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory!

Pg 425 Lines 22-25 and Pg 426 Lines 1-3 of the HC Bill - Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you into death

Pg 427 Lines 15-24 of the HC Bill - Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The Government has a say in how your life ends

Pg 429 Lines 1-9 of the HC Bill - An "advanced care planning consultant" will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates

Pg 429 Lines 10-12 of the HC Bill - "advanced care consultation" may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOVERNMENT!

Pg 429 Lines 13-25 of the HC Bill - The Government will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order

Pg 430 Lines 11-15 of the HC Bill - The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life

Pg 469 of the HC Bill - Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit Organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services has arrived!!!
Pg 472 Lines 14-17 of the HC Bill - PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. 1 monthly payment to a community based organizations. ACORN?

Pg 489 Section 1308 of the HC Bill - The Government will cover Marriage and Family therapy. Which means they will insert Government into your marriage

Pgs 494-498 of the HC Bill - Government will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services

Dear President Obama

2009-07-16T05:46:00.006-06:00

Sir,

You told our lawmakers to "buck up" and pass health care legislation quickly. I am very concerned about your haste in wanting out nation to again spend money we do not have on a program that will be as unsuccessful as the universal health programs of Europe.

If this legislation passes, the people who will suffer are those who are the weakest among us - the elderly and those on fixed incomes. A rationed health care program does not benefit the health of a nation. It demotivates research for cures and causes needless suffering for those who have to wait for health care.

You want to tax the wealthy and employers heavily for this health care. Do you not see that you are making our nation unfriendly to businesses? Do you not see that you are promoting the transfer of business, jobs and wealth to other countries? Do you not see that your programs will cause greater dependency on the Government, and that our country will not be able to bear the bloated cost of providing for every person?

Why are you pushing so much change in this early part of your presidency? You have, with the stroke of your pen, already quadrupled our national deficit. You have taken over General Motors and you demand complicity with the Waxman/Markey Cap and Trade bill. I thought you did not want to raise taxes on those who earn less than $250,000 a year? Waxman/Markey is the biggest indirect tax on all energy consumers.

I question your wisdom, Mr. President. You who rose to your position of great power dependent on Government provisions, Government grants and even Government Affirmative Action programs. Is your goal to make everyone like you.....dependent on and provided for by the Government? God forbid. You are taking our nation down a dangerous path. Our enemies see us as weak because of you. Chinese students laugh at your Treasury Secretary when he claims the dollar is "safe". I hope the people of our nation will rise and oppose your plans and goals. I pray that many in Congress who approve of your reckless agenda will be replaced in 2010, and that our nation will have that beautiful bloodless coup to replace you in 2012, if you are not impeached before then.

George Washington's Rules!

2009-07-14T07:59:00.002-06:00

1. Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.

2. When in company, put notyour hands to any part of the body, not usually discovered.

3. Show nothing to your friend that may affight him.

4. In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.

5. If you cough, sneeze, sigh, or yawn, do it not loud, butu privately; and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.

Death by Cheney

2009-07-01T20:57:00.004-06:00

I think Dick Cheney is a good man and, had his health cooperated, may have been a very good president had he run and been elected. Thanks to my friends at LGF for this hilarious tidbit.

Click on the picture for a clearer view.

Mr. President, who's side are you on?

2009-06-30T05:57:00.007-06:00

When President Obama sides with Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega and the Castro brothers, he gives rise to the possibility that he prefers a Marxist Socialist political model.

Here is what Reuters is reporting this morning:

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday the coup that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was illegal and would set a "terrible precedent" of transition by military force unless it was reversed.
"We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the president of Honduras, the democratically elected president there," Obama told reporters after an Oval Office meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Zelaya, in office since 2006, was overthrown in a dawn coup on Sunday after he angered the judiciary, Congress and the army by seeking constitutional changes that would allow presidents to seek re-election beyond a four-year term.

Yes, Manuel Zelaya is an elected president, but he was acting extra-constitutionally to grab power and institute a Chavez-like dictatorship in the Honduras.

Listen to what Charles Krauthammer has to say about this:

Here is another opinion about President Obama's decision about the Honduras coup:

So if Obama's foreign policy has already failed or is in the process of failing throughout the world, why is he refusing to reassess it? Why, with blood running through the streets of Iran, is he still interested in appeasing the mullahs? Why, with Venezuela threatening to invade Honduras for Zelaya, is he siding with Zelaya against Honduran democrats? Why, with the Palestinians refusing to accept the Jewish people's right to self-determination, is he seeking to expel some 500,000 Jews from their homes in the interest of appeasing the Palestinians? Why, with North Korea threatening to attack the US with ballistic missiles, is he refusing to order the USS John McCain to interdict the suspected North Korean missile ship it has been trailing for the past two weeks? Why, when the Sudanese government continues to sponsor the murder of Darfuris, is the administration claiming that the genocide in Darfur has ended?

The only reasonable answer to all of these questions is that far from being nonideological, Obama's foreign policy is the most ideologically driven since Carter's tenure in office. If when Obama came into office there was a question about whether he was a foreign policy pragmatist or an ideologue, his behavior in his first six months in office has dispelled all doubt. Obama is moved by a radical, anti-American ideology that motivates him to dismiss the importance of democracy and side with anti-American dictators against US allies.

One more source of information from the incomparable Neal Boortz. His article spells out the Honduran situation with great clarity.

President Obama, whose side are you on?

Are you seeing this, too?

2009-06-26T16:04:00.004-06:00

Our President appears to be doing everything he can to weaken our economy and make us less able to defend ourselves. Like Jimmy Carter, Obama looks like he is doing everything he can to weaken our military and financial sectors, making us a little less competitive and a little more vulnerable to attack every day. Not only that, he and the Democratic controlled Congress are eroding the liberties granted us by our founding fathers by massive over spending of the federal budget, forcing a crackpot science global warming based energy agenda upon this nation what will lead to the greatest energy tax increases of all time, forcing a universal health care system on our nation, which is a system of health rationing, cutting back defense at a time when we are at war with an enemy that would like to send the head of your son or daughter home in a hat box, and by limiting freedom of speech through encouraging the passage of the "Fairness Doctrine" and promoting "hate crimes" legislation.

On domestic policy, it seems that everything being done is forcing workers to pay for the wants, needs and benefits for non workers. The wealthiest among us are being taxed to the point of leaving the country, and those less wealthy who are business men and woman, those who create jobs in this country, are threatened with higher taxes if they make more than $250,000/year. That kind of policy does not encourage production and enterprise.

Is Obama's chief goal to drive the unemployment rate to over 20% in the next six months to a year? He's well on his way by his approval of the 'tax and spend' policies of the liberally controlled Congress. Is he seeking to create a nation of those who are dependent on the government for their every need? There are those voters who will always vote for more benefits, no matter how much it hurts the economy.

At the current rate of "CHANGE" our government policies will be unsustainable and financially we will collapse, much like Germany before the rise of the National Socialist Party, when inflation became rampant because of the unsustainability of the government policies. Our standard of living will drop and American citizens will become poor and poorer. Those least able to care for themselves would bear the brunt of the Obama economic policies. Those still employed would be stiffly taxed in a futile attempt to fill the rapidly draining coffers of the bloated government.

Are you seeing this? Are you talking about it? Are you going to just let it happen?

Yesterdays in Montross

2009-06-20T11:59:00.001-06:00

We just had a delightful breakfast on the porch of a gem of a restaurant called Yesterdays. Set in rural Montross, Virginia, which is on Hwy 3 on the Northern Neck of Virginia, Yesterdays has a beautiful and traditional breakfast selection. They have been serving lunch and dinner in their elegantly appointed restaurant since 1986, but have recently expanded their menu to include breakfast. My husband ordered the “Lee Breakfast” which included two eggs, toast, hash browns or grits, and good Virginia country ham. I ordered the biscuits with sausage gravy, which was very meaty and flavored with a hint of sage and Old Bay Seasoning. Both meals were garnished with perfect lettuce and a bright red watermelon slice – refreshing and so appropriate for the season. Part of their breakfast menu were delightful breakfast cocktails – the Mimosa and the Bloody Mary - half champagne and half juice. Prices at Yesterdays were more than reasonable. Their service was exceptional and the servers were friendly and attentive. We heartily recommend Yesterdays for well priced elegant dining, a classy setting and delicious food.

Fifth Century Prayers

2009-06-18T04:33:00.002-06:00

For Your Peace

Make Your tranquility, O Lord, to dwell amongst us, and Your peace to abide in our hearts. May our voices proclaim your truth, and may Your Cross be the guardian of our souls. Account us worthy, O Lord, with boldness which is of You, to offer unto You of Your grace a pure and holy prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

- Liturgy of the Nestorians

Intercession

Almighty God, we beseech You to hear our prayers for all who sin against You, or neglect to serve You, all who forget You, all who leave You out of their lives. O Lord, have mercy upon them; bestow upon us all true repentance and an earnest longing for Yourself. Promise, we ask You, O Lord, to strengthen and confirm all Your faithful people, and to lift up the light of Your Face upon them, giving them continually heavenly desires; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

- An Ancient Collect

An Evening Thanksgiving

Accept, we beseech You, our evening thanksgiving, O You Fountain of all good, who has led us in safety through the length of the day; Who daily blesses us with so many temporal mercies and has given us the hope of resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

- An Ancient Collect

For Blessing

Bless all who worship You, from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same. Of Your goodness, give us; with Your love, inspire us, by Your spirit guide us; by Your power, protect us; in Your mercy receive us now and always. AMEN

- An Ancient Collect

For Communicants

Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech You, and grant to all communicants of your Church this day, true repentance and living faith. And we pray that all those who shall from time to time receive Your creatures of bread and wine, according to Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s Holy institution, in remembrance of His Death and Passion, may be partakers of His most blessed Body and Blood; to Whom with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, world without end. AMEN

- An Ancient Liturgy

For Right Living

Grant to us, Lord, We ask You, the spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without You, may by You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

- Leonine Sacramentary

For Heavenly-Mindedness

Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away , to cleave to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Leonine Sacramentary

Magnificent!

2009-06-16T21:33:00.001-06:00

Stories to Tell

2009-06-16T05:04:00.001-06:00

This girl has stories to tell about the protest marches in Iran!

Quote of the Day

2009-06-12T08:19:00.001-06:00

"The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, and the public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero, 55 BC

Ain't that the truth! Are you listening, Congress and Obama??

The Crisis of Credit

2009-04-11T14:31:00.001-06:00

Watch and be enlightened!

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Las Cruces Tax Day Tea Party

2009-04-11T09:06:00.002-06:00

Here are the details for the Las Cruces Tax Day Tea Party:

April 13 at 7:00 pm
Sign making party at Grace Covenant Church
Bring your own materials.
We will also hash out any last minute details.

April 15 TAX DAY
March begins at 4:30 pm at the Loretto Towne Centre

The March will proceed down Church Street to Johnson Park by Brannigan Library.

Rally starts at 6:00 pm at Johnson Park followed by a Taxpayer's "Bawl" with music, dancing and food.

March Rules

Stay on the sidewalks
Obey all laws
Pick up your trash, if any.
Do not react to hostile counter-protesters.

Tickets for the "po' folks" meal will be sold for $5 each.

Projected Deficit - Thanks Obama

2009-03-26T12:14:00.003-06:00

Here is a graphic display of the projected deficit from the Washington Times. See how much debt we are taking on and how it only gets worse as time goes on!

Have you decided to participate in the Tax Day Tea Party yet? Seeing the facts so clearly makes it easy to decide!

Hat tip to Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs!

How do you Boycott a President?

2009-03-08T08:36:00.008-06:00

President Obama has been in office a mere 50 days now. In that time he opened the door to spending on abortion and contraception in other countries, more than doubled our national debt by signing an obscene "Stimulus Package" and agreeing to a pork laden budget, and is planning to normalize relations with Cuba. He is also planning to sign into law a bill that will force pro-life doctors, pharmacists and nurses to be involved with abortions.

Our President cannot even fill secondary level Cabinet positions, let alone the top positions until recently, and Timothy Geithner works alone and inefficiently without any deputies in this time of severe financial crisis.

Thug Boy Hugo Chavez is encouraging Obama to come down the path to Socialism, but that was Obama's political background and upbringing anyways. It seems that Obama and the Congress are rapidly dismantling our nation from a Republic to a Democratic Socialist nation.

Where does it end? I know Obama was rightfully elected in this country, and I pray for him and would rather that he do well for our country, but I am viscerally opposed to his policies and philosophies. Despite what some on the left may say, this is not a race issue - it is an issue of my core values and beliefs about my country and government. I don't believe in punishing the wealthiest among us for their thrift, hard work or even good luck. I don't believe in rewarding those who persist in living in a cycle of dependency on the Government. I don't believe in wealth redistribution. I don't believe universal health care is a good idea, having lived in Europe where health care is rationed. I don't believe a nanny Socialist government is healthy for a free people.

I have written to my senator and congressman, but their namby-pamby lockstep responses are the real conspiracy theory rather than some kook ideas. I've e-mailed the President, but will he really consider my concerns? I doubt it. The only thing that will shake those droolers up ( yes Harry Teague of New Mexico, I think you are a drooler!) is to have their precious House and Senate seats threatened. That will be up to local people like you and me and we had better get on the ball.

Another thing we can do to take action is nationwide peaceful protests. I recommend looking into one of the Tea Party groups. Here is a link for the Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party. Citizens of the nation need to join together and not sit idly by! In Chile, when protesting the oppressive regime of Pinochet, the people would cry out "A people united can never be divided." Let Americans unite against the dismantling of our Nation and Government to something the Founding Fathers never intended.

Why should I pay?

2009-02-21T08:21:00.002-07:00

Obama has proposed a huge mortgage bailout that begs the question:

Should hardworking, faithful mortgage paying Americans pay for the bailout of mortgages of those who unwisely chose a home more expensive than they could afford?

I say "Let them lose their homes and fall on their butts financially until they get it! Bad choices have bad consequences! Time to learn personal responsibility!"

Bad choices have bad consequences? Hmmmmm......Stimulus package? Bailout of banks and the car industry? Mortgage Bailout? Delayed market correction?

America, watch out! Your leaders (Congress and the President) are making bad choices!

Another one bites the dust?

2009-02-05T13:59:00.003-07:00

I just read that Rep. Hilda Solis' husband finally paid 16 years of outstanding taxes! Wow! And he didn't get nabbed by the IRS! Rep. Solis is nominated to be Secretary of Labor but that confirmation hearing is on hold now.

Couldn't President Obama find any decent Democrats who have paid their taxes to fill Cabinet slots? Didn't he vet his choices? What about his 'people' and his high ethical standard? Are his 'people' setting him up to fail by giving him faulty choices?

Liberals railed about the 'corrupt' Bush Administration. I'm hearing crickets from that corner of the room.

Let me end by giving a plug for the Fair Tax. IF we had implemented a Fair Tax system, President Obama could breathe easy now and have his so called hand picked cabinet just the way he wanted it!

Best Pro Life Ad EVER

2009-01-25T15:17:00.002-07:00

I was floored when I saw this. Some will be amazed. Some will be offended. All will face the truth!

This Jerk is Still in Business?

2009-01-23T05:14:00.004-07:00

Abu Hamza is spouting off again! This time using his broad brush to paint all Australians as hooked on Booze, Gambling and Prostitution. And this is the same guy who has the gall to say in a web sermon that it's ok for men to hit their wives and demand sex. ( I think that's called rape)

Get the LOSER stamp ready!

CHANGE is a joke on the Democratic Party

2008-11-22T06:27:00.011-07:00

Obama campaigned on a CHANGE ticket, but we got the first inkling that he was not really dedicated to CHANGE when he chose Washington insider, Joe Biden (aka 'Loose Change'), as his vice presidential candidate.

Now that he is our President-Elect, Obama is assembling a Cabinet that is a duplicate of the Clinton Administration. Heck, he's even embraced Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State! That is going to be an interesting juxtaposition as she is mightily power hungry. Obama is not giving any concessions to those who campaigned so hard for CHANGE.

The names he has chosen for his cabinet so far are surprisingly stale, as these people have failed in various moral and legal ways in the recent past.

Hillary Clinton has her own very visible skeletons and heavy baggage with Whitewater and a litany of dodgy choices.

Tom Daschle's represents humiliating defeat in his own state because of his failure to connect with his own party and people while Senate Majority Leader.

The possible choice of Bill Richardson, who leads the worst education system in the nation - better than only Puerto Rico in most areas of government service - speaks for itself.

Eric Holder, who oversaw the egregious Clinton pardons (Need I say more?) begs the question of his values.

Rahm Emmanuel, Chief of Staff and Democratic hatchet man who sends dead fish to people who disagree with him, does not represent positive change. He's a bully.

YEAH, THAT'S THE CHANGE WE NEED!!!!

Can we destroy the Democratic Party Dream by making the same mistakes over and over? "YES, WE CAN!!"

Don't take me wrong! We have dear friends in the Democratic Party. We want to have compassion on the poor, and we believe in stewardship of the environment and alternative energy sources. We believe in 'green' jobs. We believe that working people should not have to pay $500 - 1000 per month for medical insurance - of which probably half of that is lawyer fees. We don't understand why India can sell fuel cell vehicles for $5000 (here is more information of the REVA )when the Chevy Volt base price is going to be $40,000. We don't believe that American Car companies can do much right, and they should be run by the government until responsible leadership can take over - not by those inflated childish fat cats in their Lear Jets coming to Washington to beg for money so they can produce more cars we don't need and can't afford, like the Hummer, the Escalade, the ugly Ford Flex, and the hideous crossovers as well as other SUV types.

But will Obama's 'Back to the Future" cabinet bring about CHANGE? I doubt it and the joke is on the Democrats who elected him.

Explain something to me, please!

2008-11-21T22:58:00.003-07:00

Barack Obama, our President-Elect, campaigned on a "CHANGE" ticket.

Why in heaven's name is Obama choosing second tier Clinton personnel for his cabinet?
Why did he choose Hillary, herself, for Secretary of State? (Kind of a direct opposite of Condi Rice)

Democrats, I don't call this change. I call it more of the same old stuff.

Was this your plan?

Really?

?

Second Century Prayers

2008-11-15T07:43:00.004-07:00

Intercession

May God the Father, and the Eternal High Priest Jesus Christ, build us up in faith and truth and love, and grant to us our portion among the saints with all those who believe on our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for all saints, for kings and rulers, for the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and for ourselves we pray that our fruit may abound and we may be made perfect in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

-Polycarp

A Dying Prayer of Polycarp, the Martyr

O Father of Your well-beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have known You; O God of the angels and powers and of every living creature, and of all sorts of just men which live in Your presence, I thank You that You have graciously granted this day and this hour to allot me a portion among the numbers of martyrs, among the people of Christ unto the resurrection of the everlasting life, both of body and soul, in the incorruption of the Holy Spirit; among whom I shall be received in Your sight this day, as a fruitful and acceptable sacrifice, as You have heretofore prepared, often revealed and now fulfilled, most faithful God who can not lie. Wherefore for all things, I praise You, I bless You, I glorify You, through the everlasting High Priest, Jesus Christ, Your well-beloved Son, to whom with You and the Holy Spirit, be all glory, world without end. AMEN.

-The Martyrdom of Polycarp

A Prayer for the Privilege of Martyrdom

Ask for me this only in your prayers, that strength may be given me of the Lord that I may not be called but proved to be a Christian. Then shall I be seen to be faithful when the world no longer sees me. for nothing that appears is eternal. For the things which are perceived are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. I write to the Churches and garge you all that willingly I die for Christ, if you prevent me not. I ask of you that your love for me be not untimely; allow me to be devoured of wild beasts, through whom I may attain unto God. I am the grain of God ground between the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of Christ. Then indeed shall I be the true disciple of Christ when the world shall no longer behold my body. Beseech Christ on my behalf that through these means I may be found a perfect sacrifice. Not as Peter and Paul do I command you. They were apostles, I am the least of them: they were free, but I am a slave even unto this day, but, if you wish, I shall be the freedman of Jesus Christ, and in Him I shall rise again and be free. AMEN

-Ignatius

I am Joe

2008-10-18T14:27:00.003-06:00

I am everyman.

I wonder what the future will hold.

I wonder if I'll be penalized for being successful.

I wonder if I should start that business that employs 10 - 100 people.

I wonder if an Obama administration will cause me to lose my profitablity.

I wonder if I will have to pay by taxes to provide for those who choose to not work.

I wonder if our great nation is going to turn Socialist.

I wonder if Obama will compromise our national defense.

I wonder about a Democratic supermajority including a Congress that has the lowest national approval rating in history.

I am Joe.

Explaining Taxes with Beer

2008-10-16T18:31:00.006-06:00

I received this as an e-mail from a good friend of mine. It was written by David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of Economics University of Georgia.

This is from a Professor at UGA. So naturally, it compares drinking to what we pay in taxes. It’s a good lesson on our tax system though.
===================================================================================

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for a beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something
like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.

The fifth would pay $1.

The sixth would pay $3.

The seventh would pay $7.

The eighth would pay $12.

The ninth would pay $18.

The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day
and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them
a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm
going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. 'Drinks for the ten now
cost just $80.The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes
so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But
what about the other six men – the paying customers?

How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair
share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they
subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man
would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that
it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and
he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).

The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).

The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,' declared the sixth man.

He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10! ''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man.

'I only saved a dollar, too.. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!

''That's true!!' shouted the seventh man.

'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two?

The wealthy get all the breaks!

''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison.
'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!

'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the
tenth man (the richest) didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and
had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered
something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for
even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax
system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a
tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just
may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the
atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of Economics University of Georgia

I'm not thinking about the Economy!

2008-10-16T05:49:00.004-06:00

Those in the Obama camp think all the electorate is thinking about is the economy.

I'm not.

I'm thinking about Obama being weak on national defense. So much so that we may possibly lose a city because our enemies being emboldened. Maybe El Paso because it has a large strategic military base, and the border is so near and very open. Fort Huachuca is also near the border and is of strategic importance.

I'm thinking about an Obama tax plan that cripples small business. the backbone of the US Economy.

I'm thinking about Obama's rich and obvious heritage of Marxist/Socialist philosophy.

I'm thinking about Obama's dubious connections. The ones he used to get ahead and then cast aside when they were not useful any more - Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, William Ayers. ACORN....etc.

I'm thinking about an Obama health care plan that continues to pay for illegals and conscious slackers.

I'm thinking about an Obama that openly supported his Communist cousin Odingo, whose followers burned Christians alive in a church.

I'm thinking about the sharp left turn the United States will make with a Far Left Democratic Triumverate in the Presidency, the House with Pelosi at the helm and the Senate with Reid reigning proudly. The Supreme Court won't be far behind as Obama will push through far left liberal justices and there won't be a damn thing we can do about it.

I'm NOT thinking about the Economy. I'm thinking about the Future of America.

Obama's Friends

2008-10-12T17:17:00.001-06:00

This list is by a person called "swamp" whom I found on the AOL Poll.

Obama and 'friends'

Rev Wright
Tony Rezko
Michelle Obama
Louis Farrakhan
William Ayres
Bernadine Dorhn
Rashid Khalidi
Nadhmi Auchi
Khalid Al Monsour
Frank Marshall Davis
Saul Alinsky
Father Pfleger
Kwame Kilpatrick
Rev Meeks
George Soros
Raila Odingo
Abongo Obama
Black Panthers
Ludacris
Franklin Raines
Jim Johnson
Ahmad Yousuf (Hamas)
Fidel, Raul Castro
Hugo Chavez
Daniel Ortega
Mu'ammar Qadhai
Kim Jong Il

Change we can 'bereave' in

What Obama Sez!

2008-10-12T13:10:00.002-06:00

OBAMA CAUGHT SAYING ACORN AND FRIENDS WILL SHAPE HIS PRESIDENTIAL AGENDA

Hat tip to my Lizardly friend 'abolitionist'

Here's another must read article about Obama and ACORN. Obama's more involved with ACORN than he likes to admit!

Why McCain is failing in the polls

2008-10-11T15:33:00.004-06:00

This article is the opinion of Mr. Radiant Times.

This election cycle we have two democrats running for President: McCain and Obama. One is a Maverick who means well but has no plan, and the other has a plan which is openly Anti-American. It is time for Conservatives to stay out of this election and as Jesus said, "Render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's". I say let the democrats and RINO Rebuplicans (intimate allies of the democrats) choose which democrat they want to win. Real Americans and the Conservative movement have already lost this election.

Not everyone forgets McCain's treacherous statements. Not everyone forgets that he was the leader and organizer of the Gang of Fourteen. Not everyone forgets the bad language and the open hatred of Christians. Not everyone forgets his openly mocking the sitting President. There is no excuse for McCain being the Republican nominee. He's lying about being a conservative and only a morally shipwrecked soul like John McCain could turn his personal treachery into a virtue which he calls being a Maverick. I cannot vote for John McCain under any circumstances. He is sneaky and reminds me so much of Richard M. Nixon. Remember President Nixon was a man who started out doing good then under the pressure of being President turned into a imperialistic liar.

I'd like to finish with this one thought:

McCain is behind Obama about 3 - 4 points in the polls in reality, and I predict that he will lose. If he had made a greater attempt to reach out to conservative than to reach across the aisle, he could have had the respect and the trust of the Republican base. There is a real danger that if John McCain should win and take the blame for this depression that we are sliding into - and he will - that the conservative movement which has been completely marginialized this election season will never have a chance to put a good man or woman in that office again. That is a change we cannot live with.

Obama will win, and, of course, he will do none of the things he has promised. He will have the most morally corrupt and perverted and liberty opposing cabinet this country has ever seen. Think Joselyn Elders times ten. But when people are hungry, jobless, taxed to the hilt and out on the streets, let an Obama administration take the blame for the coming depression - not the Republican party I used to know before it nominated McCain to be the presidential candidate.

New Lizard Pictures

2008-09-27T16:47:00.003-06:00

It's been too long! Here are some more pictures of Feisty and Roughy!

Roughy is showing his dominance over Mr. Radiant Times.

Where did it go?

Change Candidates

2008-09-19T21:01:00.009-06:00

Spare Change and Loose Change

Spare Change because he was who the Democrats had left over after the uber-primary season. Spare in that he doesn't really have any real "change" for us - just warmed over socialism. He can give a prepared speech like no other but has no experience. He does not have any special skills or magical powers. Spare in his ability to keep America safe. Spare in his military experience. Spare in his economic plan because he keeps using the failed plans and words of the past, as well as crooked economic advisors. Obama is Jimmy Carter "Lite". Our enemies know it, too. No wonder they root for him!

Loose Change because he can become unhinged.

We'll see it in the debate with Palin...
his eyes will start to twitch and he'll say something outrageous. Joe Biden is "change"? He's been witnessed making things up, being rude to members of his own party. (which he actually has in common with McCain) His childish prattle causes even young senators to fall asleep in meetings. Biden's been called by other Democrats a "Loose Cannon" - Hence the concept "loose change." It's change you get, but not the type you want. Think Monty Python.

Obama blew it.

Hillary would have had a lot more class!
She would have been a better VP. Even Biden admits that!

Separated at Birth???

2008-09-04T18:10:00.006-06:00

Senator Joe Biden and Jesse Duplantis

Is it the fact that they just have very similar biological features or is there some truth in the folk wisdom that physical appearances are merely manifestations of the soul.

If you are seen as accustomed to trying to bilk people out of their money for your own personal gain, and you are commonly known as a "confidence man", is that the kind of change we need from a VP candidate?

Got Crickets?

2008-08-05T19:44:00.002-06:00

Obama Bus in November

2008-08-04T22:40:00.001-06:00

Pelosi still not saving the planet!

2008-08-01T14:27:00.005-06:00

Today, August 1, 2008, Pelosi and the Democrats turned off the lights and microphones and adjourned the House while the Republicans were still debating the drilling issue. Please view the Video update.

Rep. John Culberson reports on the debate on the need for an energy plan, which the Democrats ignore. All they want is a vote, but Pelosi must know that most Democrats would agree to drilling.

UPDATE: Rep. Culberson is using Twitter to keep the world informed about the historic debate.

Important Insight about Obama

2008-08-01T06:18:00.002-06:00

SAY WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN!: Why I cannot drink the Obama Koolaid.

The most important part of this article is the comment about Obama's refusal to repudiate the title "Messiah". Does he really believe he is the 'savior'? That would be arrogance to the point of being evil.

Pelosi not out to save the Planet - Updated

2008-08-01T05:42:00.007-06:00

Pelosi's adamant refusal to bring the issue of drilling for oil on the continental shelf to a vote is not so much about saving the planet as it is about saving Democratic backsides.

UPDATE: Today, August 1, 2008, Pelosi and the Democrats turned off the lights and microphones and adjourned the House while the Republicans were still debating the drilling issue. Please view the Video update.

If Democrats don't have to publicly vote for or against increasing American oil production, the "great unwashed populus" of the United States does not need to know where they stand. If the masses don't know for sure that Democrats would rather the United States remain dependent on other countries for oil (much the same way they want the American people dependent on a 'nanny' government for basic needs), then they will not do any damage to the great Obama's (bow down, unworthy ones!) chances for winning the Presidency - not just of the US but of the WORLD!

Pelosi would rather our country lurch leftward and toward second world status in the name of "saving the environment" with a socialist/Marxist leaning President than for our country to regain and maintain greatness and strength among the nations.

First Century Prayers

2008-07-31T20:23:00.005-06:00

For All Kings and Rulers

Grant unto all Kings and Rulers, O Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, that they may administer the government which You have given them without failure. For You, O heavenly Master, King of the Ages, gives to the sons of men glory and honor, and power over all things that are upon the earth. Do, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well pleasing in Your sight, that administering in peace and gentleness, with godliness, the power which You have given them, they may obtain Your favor. O You Who alone are able to do these things, and things far more exceeding good than these, for us, we praise You, through the High Priest and Guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ; through Whom be the glory and the majesty, unto You, both now and for all generations, and forever and ever. AMEN.

-- Clement of Rome

A Morning Prayer

O God, Who are the unsearchable abyss of peace, the ineffable sea of love, the fountain of blessings, and the bestower of affection, Who sends peace to those that receive it; open to us this day the sea of Your love, and water us with the plenteous streams from the riches of Your grace. Make us children of quietness, and heirs of peace. Kindle in us the fire of Your love; sow in us Your fear; strengthen our weakness by Your power; bind us closely to You and to each other in one firm bond of unity; for the sakd of Jesus Christ. AMEN.

--Syrian Clementine Liturgy

For Rulers and Governors

To our rulers and governors on the earth - to them You, Lord, gave the power of the kingdom by Your glorious and ineffable might, to the end that we may know the glory and honor given to them by You and be subject to them, in nought resisting Your will; to them, Lord, give health, peace, concord, stability, that they may exercise the authority given to them without offense. For You, O heavenly Lord and King eternal, gives to the sons of men glory and honor and power over the things that are on the earth; may You, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well-pleasing in Your sight, that, devoutly in peace and meekness exercising the power given them by You, they may find You propitious, O You, who only has power to do these things and more abundant good with us, we paraise You through the High Priest and Guardian of our souls Jesus Christ, through who m be glory and majesty to You both now and from generation to generation and forevermore. AMEN.

- Clement of Rome

For Blessings

May God, who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh - who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar people - grant to every soul that calls upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honor, both now and forevermore. AMEN.

- Clement of Rome

For Forgiveness

You did make to appear the enduring fabric of the world by the works of Your hand; You, Lord, did create the earth on which we dwell, - You, who are faithful in all generations, just in judgments, wonderful in strength and majesty, with wisdom creating and with understanding fixing the things which were made, who are good among them that are being saved and faithful among them whose trust is in You; O merciful and Compassionate One, forgive us our iniquities and offenses and transgressions and trespasses. Reckon not every sin of Your servants and handmaids, but You will purify us with the purification of Your truth; and direct our steps that we may walk in holiness of heart and do what is good and well-pleasing in Your sight and in the sight of our rulers. Yes, Lord, make Your face to shine upon us for good in peace, that we may be shielded by Your mighty hand and delivered from every sin by Your uplifted arm. and deliver us from those who hate us wrongfully. Give concord and peace to us and all who dewll upon the earth, even as You gave to our fathers, when they called upon You in faith and truth, submissive as we are to Your almighty and all-excellent Name. AMEN

- Clement of Rome

Prayer Before Partaking of the Holy Sacrament

O God, who are great, great in name and counsel, powerful in Your works, the God and Father of Your Holy Son Jesus, our Savior, look upon us, Your flock, which You have chosen through Him to the glory of Your Name; Sanctify us in body and soul, and grant that we, being purified from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, may partake of the mystic blessings now going before You, and Judge none of us unworthy of the, but be our Supporter, our Helper, and Defender, through Your Christ, with whom glory, honor, laud, praise, thanksgiving be to You and the Holy Spirit forever. AMEN

- The Clementine Liturgy

A Pure Heart

O God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son, give me a body unstained, a pure heart, a watchful mind, and an upright understanding, and the presence of Your Holy Spirit, that I may obtain and ever hold fast to an unshaken faith in Your Truth, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord; through whom be glory to You in the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. AMEN.

- The Clementine Liturgy

For Joy and Gladness

Blessed are You, O Lord, who has nourished me from my youth up, who gives food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness. that we, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom to You be glory, honor, might, majesty, and dominion, forever and ever. AMEN.

- The Clementine Liturgy

Please leave a comment if these prayers have been helpful.

Radiant Times

This sums it up nicely!

2008-07-24T07:19:00.002-06:00

This says it all, doesn't it!

Who Does He Think He Is???? President???

2008-07-23T12:00:00.002-06:00

I'm not impressed by Obama campaigning in Berlin. It's not like he's running to lead the European Union. Obama is so presumptuous in this 'World Tour', as if he were some kind of Rock Star - oh wait! That's what he's been called before. Obama is campaigning among the leaders of our allies instead of among the American People. I guess he thinks he has the election wrapped up.

Not with me, for sure! And I'm no McCain fan.

By the way - Tiergarten means Zoo.

New Testament Prayers

2008-07-23T09:56:00.002-06:00

The Prayer of Simeon

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel.

Luke 2:29 - 32 NIV

The Magnificat

And Mary said,
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled th hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.

Luke 1:46 - 55 NIV

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

Matthew 26: 39,42 NIV

Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

Father, the time has come. Glorify your son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ , whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours: you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

John 17: 1a - 8 NIV

Prayers of the Early Church

2008-07-23T09:39:00.007-06:00

I discovered a little book owned by my dear husband, Mr. Radiant Times, called Prayers of the Early Church which was originally complied and edited by J. Manning Potts and published in 1953. In subsequent posts, I will edit (updating antiquated language) and publish selected prayers here for the benefit of my readers.

New Testament Prayers
First Century Prayers
Second Century Prayers
Third Century Prayers
Fourth Century Prayers
Fifth Century Prayers

Please leave a comment if you find this site helpful. Thanks.

Radiant Times

What a Race!

2008-07-21T08:33:00.004-06:00

I cannot say our nominating system has been successful when I see the two presidential front runners campaign nowadays. If the best we can do is John McCain and Barack Obama for this election cycle, we will just have to grin and bear it for the next four years of bad leadership.

Obama is the furthest left of any Democratic member of the Senate and John McCain has reached far enough across the aisle to be vetted as a Democratic VP Candidate. So, both candidates are so far from their base that many Democrats are considering McCain and our undereducated product of government schools believes Obama is the greatest thing since Meerkat Manor and will vote for him in droves.

McCain is still not convincing his base that he's the right one for President, and many disillusioned conservative voters will either hold their nose to vote for him (and have a stiff drink afterwards) or simply abstain from voting for president this year. (My dear husband, Mr. Radiant Times, who thinks McCain is Nixonian and may plunge us into more war than we can handle, is in this category.)

Their major difference is on the handling of the war in Iraq and the War on Terror. Obama does not have his act together on this one. His waverability of positions is painful and obvious enough that it provides McCain easy cannon fodder for attack ads. Obama makes his lack of historical knowledge clear in the many recorded gaffes in his speeches. It's to the point that people expect Obama to say something wrong and historically or geographically incorrect.

McCain says the right things, but has a history of doing that and then turning on his party. Some say he is treacherous, and still needs to win the trust of his base. He's lucky to to have the PUMA Democrats leaning toward him.

We still have no clear direction on VP candidates. The right candidate is VERY important for McCain, whose advanced age IS an issue. McCain will essentially be choosing the next president. Obama is still a young buck, so the VP role in his campaign is not as important.

Both bases are disenfranchise and we have the worst slate of candidates for president that I have seen in my lifetime. The latest JibJab flash video is painfully true. God have mercy on America!

Just a Thought

2008-07-14T16:12:00.006-06:00

The cover of the New Yorker is all the rage today, with it's supposedly satirical portrayal of Barak and Michelle Obama. Everyone's talking about it.

I had a different thought flowing through my active mind instead. Obama was raised as a Muslim. Not necessarily a radical Muslim, but enough to have an impact on his life. That's a fact and not a big deal. He also converted to Christianity around 1985, and started attending the church of the Notorious Rev. Jeremiah Wright, of "God D**m America" fame.

His conversion could be a problem for him as he tries to negotiate with Achmadinejad in Iran and with other Muslim leaders. Being a convert to Christianity, he is officially an apostate and the consequences of apostasy in Islam is death. Would he not be under threat of assassination if he attempts diplomatic negotiations in countries which are predominately Islamic??

Just a Thought!

Mr. Bill's - The Best Burgers in Town

2008-07-12T12:50:00.001-06:00

As I was driving home from a rehearsal with a brilliant young singer, Karline Valentine, I heard an ad on the radio (AM 1450) for Mr. Bill’s on El Paseo in Las Cruces. It claimed that Mr. Bill’s had the best burgers in town. This is a possibly dubious claim since there are multitudes of burger places in town.

You can leave your skepticism at the door – Mr. Bill’s is the real deal. They really do have the best burgers in Las Cruces (and we are pretty picky!) The burgers are as good as the ones right off your grill and feature a thick tomato slice, iceberg lettuce, onions (grilled or ungrilled!) and a mayo house sauce. You can have your burger any way you like. The bun is delicious too!

They charge only $1.78 for their simple hamburger – and this small price for a real burger, not one of those stamped out military style burgers that are called ‘sliders’ in the Navy.

Besides a creative and delicious array of hamburgers, Mr. Bill’s also offers delicious seafood. We had the clams, which were not over breaded. The Chihuahua Dog amused me –it is a foot long all beef dog wrapped in a tortilla with green chili and cheese that is deep-fried!

Mr. Bill’s claims to be a “Hot Rod Café” and also adds to the ambiance of the place with a 50’s theme, the pictures of classic cars around the restaurant, the generous use of glass in the construction of the building, and the vintage seats and booths. One almost expects “The Fonz” from Happy Days to come around the corner to charm you and steal some fries from your basket.

Mr. Bill’s claims to be a meeting place for car buffs, and they offer half price burgers if you bring your classic cars on the right days. Yo! You Low Rider boys – Listen UP!

July 15 – 31, 2008 bring your 1960 car or truck for half price burgers.

August 1 – 15, 2008 bring any pre-1970 Harley Davidson for half price on your burgers!

Our only beef was with the fries, which were a bit soggy. They make them by hand from real potatoes – not the pre-fried, pre-frozen excuses of potatoes – and they just need to be a little bit larger. Everything else was FABULOUS!

Is the Methodist Church causing it's own downfall?

2008-07-03T11:15:00.003-06:00

Is it a coincidence that the Methodist church has gone from one of America's largest denominations to one that is seriously declining?

Stay Posted! I'm on vacation in Virginia and will be back home this coming week!

Let's Drill Our Own!

2008-06-12T09:01:00.003-06:00

There is oil available in the Rockies, offshore and in ANWAR in Alaska - plenty of oil to tide us over until we can make greater strides toward becoming energy independent. It can be accessed in a low impact way environmentally, and, best of all, it's OURS!

Unless we depend on ourselves for our energy needs, we are going to be dependent on foreign "oil ticks" who get rich off our need for their oil. You know who they are and they are not necessarily friendly to us! They are prospering at our cost.

What is keeping us from harvesting our energy bounty? Hate to be partisan, but it's the Democrats in Congress! They vote down every proposal to use our own energy resources? I'd like to know why. Does anyone have a real answer? Do they think blocking the development of our own oil fields is going to make us lean towards renewable sources of energy quicker? The average Joe already wants to convert to other forms of energy, but it's way too expensive at the moment. The change has to be gradual, but, while we are waiting let's get our own oil out of the ground and keep US monies in the US, for goodness sake!

With Friends Like These.........

2008-06-11T12:21:00.003-06:00

Who needs enemies!

Wow! I'm not enamored with McCain, but if this guy is a typical representative of an Obama supporter, his campaign is in a LOT of trouble! I wonder whose koolaid he's been drinking.....there are so many moonbat fountains!

Thanks to Blogs for McCain for sharing that tidbit!

Garden Update

2008-06-11T07:30:00.003-06:00

I've had some successes and failures in my little garden.

The sprouting red potatoes I planted did not do well at all. Nor did the Radishes, even though I planted them early enough and watered them regularly. Surprisingly, the onions did not take, and I think it is a soil issue rather than a heat and water issue. Green beans have sprouted and produced a few beans, but have not thrived despite having enriched soil.

Because I planted early and watered well, lettuce did well for me. My Zucchini plants are thriving and will probably bloom in the next week or so. It is no surprise that tomatoes are doing well. I planted Early Girl, Beefsteak, and Heatwave. All tomato plants except the beefsteak tomato plant have fruit on them. The Cherry Tomatoes are already turning red. My Big Jim pepper plants look great and are blossoming.

In my herb garden - the Basil did not reseed, and my Spearmint carried over from last year. It doesn't look great and I want to see if the extra feeding will help. The Rosemary bush is thriving, but the climate here in Las Cruces is friendly for Rosemary.

I'm going to plant some more beans, as I know they are heat tolerant, and hopefully, I'll have more success with them. Because of our long hot summers, I cannot plant a fall garden until the end of September.

I'd like to experiment with fruit trees and berries. Flower gardening is not my strong suit, but I hope to try them later.

Here's a good gardening site for Las Cruces Gardeners - Guzman's Garden Center

Not the Obama I Know

2008-06-10T13:42:00.001-06:00

Is it time?

2008-05-28T07:32:00.003-06:00

What a disappointment this primary season has been. The end result is going to be two main presidential candidates who both hold very liberal positions. Conservatives have essentially been shut out.

Is it time to consider a new political party? The Republican party, nationally, seems to prefer being "Democrats Lite" with a strong leftward shift on policy issues from federal spending to abortion. Conservative voters have been marginalized in the primary process, and many cannot and will not vote for McCain as a matter of conscience.

I've started looking into the American Conservative Party. If things don't change in the Republican party, perhaps a strong conservative coalition will bring balance to this out of balance political situation.

With Gratitude to our Troops

2008-05-26T16:12:00.003-06:00

Thank you to all the men and women in the Armed Services and the United States Merchant Marines who support our troops. Our love and appreciation for you is undying.

In remembrance of our brave fallen soldiers, here is one of our favorite songs, Mansions of the Lord.

Here's another video of the same song:

God bless our Troops and God Bless America!

I am my own best customer!

2008-05-06T06:04:00.002-06:00

Ugh! I check the site meter daily, and find that my IP address is the one that visits this site the most. I know why, too. I've been so involved with these last weeks of teaching that I've barely had the time or energy to contribute what Bill O'Reilly would call 'pithy' comments for general web consumption.

Oh Well! School will be out in less than Three Weeks! My students will perform this Friday, and after that we will try some musical games so I can see what will work and what will not. It ought to be fun. One class wants to revisit old songs. Another I think I will teach how to crochet. Maybe we will do a Plastic Canvas mobile of musical symbols to hang in the room with another class. Thankfully I have freedom to create plans as long as they stay within the guidelines of my standards and benchmarks.

Another MAHS Site

2008-05-06T05:59:00.005-06:00

Here is another website for Alumni of Munich American High School. This site seems a little more active than the forum I posted, but the combination of web resources can keep you in touch with old friends.

I was happy to find some people I knew on the site, and may go to the reunion in Dallas next June 2009. Shocking! That will be my 30 year high school reunion!

For Chris: If you remember, I wanted to be an opera singer - that was my career goal at the time. Life got in the way and I did not sing any opera roles until the Spring of 07, where I sang the role of the mother in Hansel and Gretel with the Dona Ana Lyric Opera. I did reach my goal of becoming a professional musician, and have a Master's degree in Choral Conducting. Yes I did sing with George Morrison up to the spring semester of 79. Mr. Morrison and I had a falling out and I did work study teaching elementary music in the afternoons.

Ruth Seiler, formerly Ruth Mills

Munich American High School

2008-04-22T21:58:00.003-06:00

I went to one of those Department of Defense schools that now belongs to the Germans since the US closed so many bases in the 80s and 90s.

Munich American High School is no longer an American School, but its alumni are scattered to the four winds. Fortunately, there are ways to seek and find old classmates. Today I found an old, but still functional Forum for Munich American High School students. I'm a member of the class of 1979, by the way!

Computer Repairs, Gardening and Much Needed Rest

2008-03-29T05:24:00.005-06:00

This week was spent doing many things so very different from my usual routine. It was spring break in this part of the country, and I had a week off from teaching. It was also a week of limited access to the internet community - our primary computer was being repaired. I've missed blogging, but the blogging life is not the center of my existence either.

I spent a lot of time in my little organic garden. Vegetable growing is one of my hobbies. The southern New Mexico climate (zone 9) permits the planting of summer crops earlier than most region. My readers from the cooler climes will be surprised to know that my tomatoes and peppers are planted and thriving. (Early Girl, Beefsteak, Heatwave, California Wonder and Big Jim chile peppers!) Today, if all goes well, I'll be planting green beans, yellow summer squash and zucchini.

I planted my spring crops in January - several varieties of lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas, potatoes (red potatoes from the store that had sprouted) and turnips. We are harvesting the lettuce now. The radishes should start bulbing out soon. The peas are not blooming yet and the turnips look healthy. I forgot to mention my red onions. They did not get planted until about a week ago, but I could not find good onion sets until then. (I still have some yellow onion sets to plant today as well!)

My little herb garden contains rosemary, spearmint (good thing it's in a contained raised bed), basil and coriander.

As my garden is fairly small, I use a modified version of Square Foot Gardening to maximize yield. Vegetable prices are high nowadays, and whatever I can do to help keep our food costs down and provide healthy food for my family is a bonus!

The biggest expense of gardening in the desert southwest is the cost of water. I like to use a lot of mulch to retain moisture in the garden, and I spot water my plants and use a soaker hose to target watering. How I wish we had a grey water system to recycle laundry, sink and bath/shower water! Such a system is high on my wish list if we were to move from here.

Interested in organic gardening? My favorite resources are the "Mother Earth News" and "Organic Gardening" magazines. Yes, yes, I'm a political conservative who reads "Mother Earth News"! I believe in responsible stewardship of our natural resources, and have NEVER believed the "Progressives" and "Liberals" have had a corner on the market of environmental responsibility!

There are two days left of this blessed spring break, and then I go back to the very busy life of teaching choir at one of our local schools. Large group festival is looming, as well as our spring concert and other opportunities for my honor choir to sing.

Taste of India

2008-03-16T18:17:00.003-06:00

My dear husband and I wanted to eat something different after our very busy work week. I convinced him to try the Taste of India. We were not disappointed!

Taste of India has a wide variety of dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. All their meats are kosher, and they have a tandoori oven in the kitchen.

My husband tried the Tandoori Combination Platter, and I enjoyed the Non-vegetarian platter (carnivores are we!) Our waiter gave us the choice of mild, medium or hot for our dishes. My dear husband choose the very hot as he has a cast iron stomach (or at least claims to) while I chose medium. The combinations platters included chicken and lamb. The curries were delicious and creamy and a homemade cheese was part of the dish. We enjoyed a condiment made up of home grown mint, jalapeno and, we think, cucumber.

If you come at lunch, there is a rich buffet prepared, and you can choose whatever you want to eat.

If you are in Las Cruces and want to try something different than the ubiquitous Mexican fare, try A Taste of India. Here is the address and phone number:

Taste of India
1001 E University
Ste F3
Las Cruces, NM 88012

(505) 532-1700

The Engine Behind Change

2008-03-09T18:41:00.004-06:00

Mike Huckabee is no longer officially running for President (although if McCain were to have some problem with his health or other issues and needed to drop out, the convention would be brokered and all candidates would be back on the table.)

Despite the withdrawal of Huckabee from the presidential race, the energy behind his supporters has not waned - merely been redirected. HucksArmy is still a viable force on the political scene. This time, though, their energy will be turned toward supporting those candidates who share Huckabee's values. A new group has formed as well - the F3 Coalition - an action site based on Huckabee's slogan FAITH, FAMILY, FREEDOM.

These forums are worth looking at, and , if you want to get involved, please sign up. A change needs to be made in the Republican party as it continues to drift away from its base. Conservatives are about ready to say, like Reagan said of the Democrats - "I didn't leave the party, the party left me."

Another Option Besides the Expected

2008-02-28T20:48:00.003-07:00

The Republican Presidential Primary is far from over. McCain does not have the delegates needed to clinch the nomination yet. He also has FEC problems and there is a question if his birth in Panama makes him ineligible for the presidency.

Regardless of McCain's problems, people ought to check out Huckabee. He has the most experience governing of any candidate. Besides, having a brokered convention would be such a good thing for the Republican party.

Here is an editorial written by some Huckabee supporters. It is concise and well written (or I would not put it on this humble blog), and lays out why so many people support Mike Huckabee.

Check out Huckabee

Many people are willing to disenfranchise thousands of voters in Ohio by clamoring for Gov. Mike Huckabee to exit the presidential race. Senator McCain has not clinched the nomination by winning 1,192 delegates. With Gov. Huckabee, voters have a choice between a Governor, with 10 and one-half years of proven experience in running a state, and an experienced legislator.

In the predominantly democrat state of Arkansas, Republican Governor Huckabee tackled issues like welfare reform, joblessness, health care, education, and a crumbling infrastructure. He pushed through the first major, broad-based tax cuts in state history. He took office with a $200 million deficit; he left office with an $850 million surplus. He was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the five best Governors in America.

Gov. Huckabee is an effective communicator; a tested leader. He'll reduce the size of government, fight for a fair tax, seal our borders, and end illegal immigration. He staunchly defends the second amendment, and is passionate about ending our dependence on foreign oil. He believes a strong defense is the best offense, so will restore our military to its former strength. He understands the war we are fighting is like no other; that we must leave a stable Iraq. He passionately defends the right-to-life and traditional marriage. He never gives up. He will fight tirelessly for his vision of a better America.
Please check Gov. Huckabee's record at http://www.mikehuckabee.com. Vote for the genuine conservative on March 4. Ohio, we have a choice!

Bob and Reta Tharp
Heath

Let's Be Honest Here!

2008-02-28T06:00:00.006-07:00

With McCain's decidedly liberal positions on the pro-life issue and immigration, taxes and free speech, I think this little sketch is appropriate.

If McCain is the nominee, I'm facing the possibility that the Republican Party is leaving it's faithful. Grandpa John is like Dole - just more liberal, angrier, and more coarse and mean. Although an American hero based on his service in the past (like Kerry), he's certainly not the best candidate.

The Best Democrat in the Race

2008-02-13T19:20:00.002-07:00

It should be obvious!

This is the face of the sharp left turn of the Republican Party. Pity!

No Retreat - No Surrender

2008-02-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

Call us hardcore if you wish. Many conservatives will not vote for John McCain this fall, even if he is on the ballot. We don't see why we have to merely accept the RINO that the Republican establishment wants to throw at us. They presume we will vote for their 'presumptive nominee', but we cannot and will not compromise our values. Romney asked us to look at his record - and he was found to be a hardcore liberal underneath his facade. Now we should do the same to John McCain and have his treachery and liberal choices exposed as well.

Mike Huckabee is in the race to the end, and conservatives are with him. We will not retreat and we will not surrender. He still has a chance at the nomination.

Good Money After Bad

2008-02-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

So, Romney is planning to stay in a race where he is increasingly unpopular. He has not been able to purchase the hearts of voters with his multitudinous millions, but his ambition to be president, seemingly based on his mistaken opinion that he truly deserves the nomination - despite his vacillating positions on key issues, is a lust that cannot be satisfied. Romney now bitterly lashes against those who disagree with him, and with each offended word a little more of his plastic facade flakes from his "perfect" exterior to reveal a spoiled rich man who is used to getting his own way by purchasing what he wants.

Here is an article demonstrating Romney beginning his angry fight of blame for his lack of success. First he blamed Huckabee; now he snubs President Bush. Who is next? Maybe FOX news for acknowledging Huckabee's success on Super Tuesday, and the Media for ending the Huckabee Blackout.

Romney Vows to Fight to Convention, Makes Swipe at Bush

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 10:48 PM

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney spoke late Tuesday night to supporters in Boston, saying it's time to send the politicians home from Washington and put the people back in charge.

With results showing Sen. John McCain sweeping Northeastern states with the exception of Massachusetts, Romney said results in the West had not come in fully.

But he made clear that whatever the final results of Tuesday's elections, he planned to fight for the nomination all the way to the GOP convention.

Romney said he was fighting to keep America great in the image of great presidents citing Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Teddy Roosevelt. He omitted President George W. Bush.

According to press reports, President Bush has expressed displeasure privately over Romney's positions on Iraq and immigration.

Mike Huckabee - Going the Distance

2008-02-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Wonderful video!

My Sentiments Exactly!

2008-02-03T03:20:00.000-07:00

There is a fine article The Catholic Online site that echoes what I'm feeling and adds to my prior posting about feeling disenfranchised.

The Shaking of the Republican Party

This election is shaking the Republican Party and forcing it to reexamine its first principles. It may mark the beginning of a new coalition for life, family, freedom and solidarity.

Feeling Disenfranchised

2008-02-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

I will not pretend to be able to read into the future and tell you which of the presidential candidates will be left standing to proceed toward the nomination of their parties or if there will be brokered conventions. I am only expressing my personal opinion in this article.

People talk a lot about Reagan's "three legged stool" and how they represent the different sectors of conservative voters - the fiscal conservatives, the security conservatives and the social conservatives. They rave about how Reagan brought those three groups together, and he did well at that because he was able to effectively communicate with all conservatives and with those called the "Reagan Democrats". It was what the Republican Party needed at the time.

The Republican party is again fractured and somehow needs to be brought together. George W. Bush has not left us with an 'heir-apparent", and the fractured sections of the conservative base have again become evident. This makes for an exciting, if frustrating, selection process as we try to determine the Republican nominee. Our current choices are a very socially liberal candidate who is strong on national security, a one-term governor and business man who seems to be buying the election and is only recently 'conservative', a successful multi-term conservative governor who communicates well, but is branded as a liberal because of his compassion for the poor and because he had to raise some taxes to benefit the people of his state, and an anti-war Libertarian who should have run as a Libertarian, but decided he had a better chance running as a Republican.

Additionally, those in the media whom we deemed trustworthy are fully supporting Republican candidates who either hold firmly to liberal positions or who are recent converts to conservatism with no evidence to back up their new positions. One candidate, whose companies own part of a popular "fair and balanced" television station, is being foisted on us by that station. The one candidate who is most conservative is sidelined and ignored in the mainstream media. The most liberal of the Republican candidates, the one who has done the most to denigrate his Republican credentials, is seen as the 'front runner."

The irony in our current scenario is that the current 'front runner' does not adhere to the Republican party platform, led a revolt of Senators against the President, collaborated with the Democrats to limit our free speech and give amnesty to illegal immigrants, and was even courted by Democrats to be a vice presidential candidate. The one pushed by the 'fair and balanced' media outlet promised to be even more liberal than his democratic opponent when he ran as governor, and made gay marriage and legalized abortion (only $50) available during his term as governor.

All of these candidates need the large block of social conservatives to successfully gain the Republican nomination. This block, branded as the "evangelicals" consist of social conservatives who believe in traditional values. Republican candidates try to court this large group of voters and are often successful because of promises made to them - promises that usually do not come to fruition.

This leads me to the point of this rambling article. As a social conservative, I feel disenfranchised by my own political party. The party has certain political platforms that are supposed to define and unify those who agree with them, but the majority of candidates being foisted upon us do not adhere to the platform (probably out of fear of losing elections). This causes the Republican party to appear as if it does not have significant differences from the opposing party, and demonstrates a lack of integrity. As mentioned before, these candidates aggressively court the 'evangelical' vote, only to disappoint those very voters by supporting issues that they consider socially liberal. Could it be that evangelicals are being used by the Republican Party the same way Blacks and Hispanics are used by the Democratic Party? It's something to think about! And maybe it's time to determinedly pursue an alternative to the current two party system, and organize a third party.

Feb. 3, 2008
Quick update: To those on the Ron Paul Information site - I am not LouDobbs!!!
Radiant Times is a humble music teacher in New Mexico.

Romney's Record

2008-02-03T01:50:00.000-07:00

Romney invites us to look at his record to prove his conservatism. I accept the challenge and find him to be rather liberal. It seems his 'conversion' to conservatism is an act of political expediency.

Here is an article presenting the research done by MassResistance. It documents the positions Romney has taken before and during his governance of Massachusetts.

Will voters, especially those who consider themselves reasonably conservative please do some comparison shopping of the candidates? Mike Huckabee is really the only true conservative out there.

Huckisms

2008-01-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful inspiring slide show!

Well chosen pictures with meaningful quotes by Mike Huckabee. I hope you enjoy them.

Huckisms

Thompson in the bag for McCain?

2008-01-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Does Thompson have ANY chance of being a President? No.

A Vice President or cabinet officer of high rank? Yes, with McCain's help. Thompson is the sort of lackluster person who will not outshine McCain. Face it, people go to sleep listening to him talk. Thompson makes Gerald Ford look exciting!

Thompson can be a hero to McCain if he can take enough financial and electoral support from Huckabee to put Huckabee in second place all the time.

Fred Thomson the "Fix" is on! Why did he, all of a sudden, get energized in South Carolina? He had no chance of getting the 1st, 2nd or 3rd slot, but was able to peel off enough votes that McCain, one of the many liberals on the Republican side, was able to barely beat Huckabee (who is a true conservative, by the way).

The question I have for McCain is this: Do you intend to offer Fred Thompson a job should you become the party's nominee? No other explaination is plausible. Now that Thompson has flown home to Mother, maybe he can sit back and wait for his reward should McCain become the nominee.

Is Huckabee like Carter? NO WAY!

2008-01-17T23:45:00.001-07:00

I get so frustrated when Mike Huckabee is portrayed as some kind of 'liberal'. In truth, Huckabee is truly conservative and is exactly the type of leader the Republican Party is looking for.

Here are links to some great articles which talk about Huckabee's conservative positions:

Mike Huckabee Is A "Real" Conservative

Huckabee: Another Carter? How Stupid Can It Get!

Now, if only the electorate would look at facts instead of being spoonfed by the media.......

Article about Romney worth consideration

2008-01-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

It's been interesting to follow what has been written about the candidates in this political race for the White House. The fortunes and hopes of each candidate have risen and fallen according to the truth about their positions, the authenticity of their words and the revelations of their backgrounds. Take McCain, for instance. His very liberal positions are coming to light and are eating away at his credibility as a "conservative."

Romney, too, is having a hard time getting away from the truth about his past - supporting gay marriage, raising all those "fees" (by mandate rather than by election) and increasing the financial burden on the people of his state, and ending his one term as Governor of Massachusetts with a low favorability rating (43%). His reputation as a flip-flopper, while unpleasant, is not entirely undeserved.

Michael Medved wrote an interesting and devastating article about Romney highlighting his Michigan acceptance speech. I will quote the article in full as I am not nearly as eloquent nor as astute at Mr. Medved.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Mitt Claims Victory - as a Democrat!
Posted by: Michael Medved at 2:44 AM
Mitt Romney won a big victory in Tuesday’s Michigan primary, thumping John McCain by the unexpectedly comfortable margin of 39% to 30%. In his victory statement, however, the former Massachusetts governor utterly undermined all those loyal supporters who insist that he’s a “true conservative,” Reagan’s rightful heir, and a solid, loyal Republican.

I’ve watched tape of Romney’s carefully crafted and exuberant speech three times now, and repeatedly reviewed the transcript.

One point comes across inescapably: nearly everything he said last night would have fit comfortably in a Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama victory speech (except for invoking the names of Reagan and, oddly, “George Herbert Walker Bush”). More than 90% of his remarks made Mitt sound like a Democrat – and a demagogic one at that.

Before all you Romniacs out there start shooting off your angry comments about that observation, please read the speech yourself. In fact, I will reproduce it below, in its unedited entirety, but with occasional comments from this observer.

First, I’ll acknowledge that Mitt did a good job of delivering these words, and that this little talk was blessedly brief— tighter and more focused than Huckabee’s victory speech in Iowa, or McCain’s in New Hampshire.

From the first, however, the Mittster sounded a note of arrogant showboating – the kind of ugly and inflated self-important that would help seal his defeat in a general election if he ever won the nomination.

Tonight marks the beginning of a comeback – a comeback for America! (Applause and Cheering)

Does Romney honestly maintain such a messianic view of himself that he suggests that his first inconclusive primary victory (with less than 40% of the vote) signifies the beginning of “a comeback for America”?

You know, only a week ago, a win looked like it was impossible, but then got out and tald America what they needed to hear.

You said we would fight for every job. You said that we would fight to get health care for all Americans. You said we’d fight to secure our border. You said we’d fight for us to be able to get lower taxes for middle-income Americans and Michigan heard and Michigan voted tonight. Congratulations. (Applause).

Please read over the paragraph above. Try to find one word that would make Clinton, Obama, or even John Edwards uncomfortable if they delivered it. Don’t say that they’re against a “fight to secure our border.” All Democrats – and all Republicans – want border security, and say so. The emphasis on fighting for jobs and to “get health care for all Americans” is vintage John Edwards. So is the promise to get lower taxes for “middle income Americans.” Republicans want radical simplification (flat tax or fair tax, anyone?) and lower rates for everyone, including lower corporate rates. Democrats make a point—as Romney does, repeatedly – that the tax cuts he wants are only for “middle income Americans.” A true conservative? Did you ever hear Reagan talk that way?

Tonight proves that you can’t tell an American that there’s something they just can’t do, because Americans can do whatever they set their hearts on.

And tonight is a victory of optimism over Washington-style pessimism. Now, tonight, we are celebrating here in Michigan. I’ve got to tell you that. Guess what they’re doing in Washington. They’re worrying, because they realize, the lobbyists and the politicians realize, that America now understands that Washington is broken. And we’re going to do something about it.

This new Romney theme (Romney 4.0, as his political personality continues to evolve and mutate) is “Washington is Broken.” Doesn’t that come very, very close to the Democratic theme that won them both houses of Congress in 2006? Don’t those words fit more comfortably with a liberal candidate than a Republican —especially after eight years of a (mostly) heroic Republican president, and six years of combined GOP rule in the White House and Congress?. As Romney continues, he harps on the theme “Washington is broken” and he promises to fix it – to make government work more efficiently, not cut it back. Reagan made clear that “government is the problem, not the solution.” To Romney, the solution is still government – a more effective government, not a smaller one. With his new emphasis on “competence, not ideology” he sounds like another doomed Taxachusetts governor who ran for president: Michael Dukakis.

You see, America understands that Washington has promised that they’d secure our borders, but they haven’t. Washington told us that they would live by high ethical standards, but the haven’t. Washington told us that they’d fix Social Security, but they haven’t.

Washington told us that they’d get us better health care and better education, but they haven’t.

All right, people, let’s stop right there. “Washington told us that they’d get us better health care and better education”??!!! Since when do conservatives believe it’s Washington’s job to “get us” any kind of health care and education? What happened to federalism, and the authority of the states? What sort of conservative candidate sees it as a failure of the federal government that it failed to “get us better health care and education.” Democrats talk about health care as a “right” but I thought conservatives wanted the feds less involved in medical care and local schools. Has Romney gone from channeling Tom Tancredo to channeling John Edwards in less than a week?

Washington told us they’d get us a tax break for the middle income Americans—but they haven’t!

This is a flat out lie – and again, a direct steal from Democratic attacks on President Bush. The President and the GOP Congress lowered taxes dramatically for middle income Americans – in both 2001 and 2003. It’s Dems who’ve promulgated the stinking lie that Bush provided only “tax cuts for the rich.” Now Romney, seeking the nomination of the President’s party, recycles that wretched lie in classically liberal terms. Bush lowered the bottom income tax rate more substantially than any other rate—dropping it from 15% to 10% , a cut of a full third. Did anyone tell President Bush that Mitt Romney now joins Democrats in denying that the tax cuts ever helped the middle class?

Washington told us that they’d cut back on the earmarks and the pork-barrel spending, but they haven’t. And Washington told us that they’d reduce our depenmdence on foreign oil, but they haven’t.

Anything at all in this carefully selected laundry list to make Democrats squirm? Or just one more liberal attack on the Bush administration?

And who’s going to get the job done?

Audience: We are! (Applause).

You guys, it was not very far from right here that Ann and I and our family behind us began our campaign at the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation. And at that Museum of Innovation, we said that we were going to take innovation and change to Washington, recognizing that there’s no way that an insider in Washington is going to turn Washington inside-out, but we’re going to do that.

Okay, the paragraph above would fit better with Obama than with Clinton, since Obama is running as the ultimate “outsider” with a similarly vacuous emphasis on “change.” Who’s more credible as an outsider, by the way, former community organizer and African-American poor boy Obama, or corporate honcho, globalist businessman and son-of-a-governor Mitt?

American voters said that knowing how America works is more important than knowing how Washington works.

That’s a good line – credit where credit is due. Easily the most effective line of Mitt’s speech.

And what we’re going to see in the next few days is Democrats saying that they’re the party of change. You’re going to hear Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and John Edwards saying that they’re the party of change.

Is he claiming, insanely, that he originated the demand for “change” and the Democrats are stealing it from him? Is he honestly unaware that Obama’s been beating that drum for more than a year?

And I think that they would bring change to America, just not the kind that we want. You see, I think they take their inspiration from the Europe of old, big government, big brother, big taxes. They fundamentally in their hearts believe that America is great because we have a great government; and we do have a great government. But that’s not what makes us the best nation, the strongest nation, the greatest nation on earth. What makes us such a great nation is the American people.

Platitudes, but at least this one paragraph sounds vaguely conservative. Finally.

I take my inspiration from Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush who took their inspiration from the Amrican people.

Is he trying to diss the President by mentioning his father, but not the current President Bush? What is the deal here? Most conservatives don’t see the controversial one-term Presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush as particularly inspiring. Why does Romney see it in those terms, and somehow comparable to Reagan’s revolution?

They took their inspiration from hardworking American people, people who believed in opportunity, who loved education, God-fearing people, people who also loved their families, people deeply patriotic. It is that characteristic of the American people that makes us the most powerful nation on earth.

Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush…

Here we go again.

… said we are a great and good people. It’s exactly what we are. It’s why we will always be the most powerful nation on earth.

Now, you heard right here in Michigan our campaign. We said we were going to strengthen our military with additional troops and better equipment and better care for our veterans when they come home.

All Democrats always emphasize this.

We also said that we’re going to strengthen our families.

How, Mitt? Hillary Clinton makes precisely the same promise.

We said we’re going to strengthen the economy. I will never accept defeat for any industry here in America!

He’s got to be kidding. No defeat, for any industry? Does that mean no more industries go out of business? How much corporate welfare, how much protectionism, will it take to keep his promise to save every single industry. Don’t conservatives understand that the freedom to succeed in a free market means that you must also have the freedom to fail – without the Nanny state making sure that every single industry wins. Doesn’t Mitt sound a bit like one of those soccer league directors who wants to hand trophies to every single team—even those that lost every game?

I have a couple of questions for you. Is Washington, D.C. broken?

Audience: Yes!

Can it be fixed?

Audience: Yes!

Are we the team that’s going to get the job done?

Audience: Yes!

And I thought it was W., not Mitt, who was the yell-leader in prep school.

All right, let’s take this campaign to South Carolina and Nevada and Florida and all over the country. Let’s take it all the way to the White House! Thank you so much.

All right, I promised you every line, every word of his victory speech, and I delivered. I did so with a sneaky purpose in mind: so that you can pour over his words and his lists and his promises and note the glaring, and sickening, omission.

In the biggest speech of his life so far, after the greatest victory of his political career, Romney made not a single reference to the fact that we are a nation at war. No mention of winning in Iraq, or Afghanistan. No promise to defeat an evil, implacable enemy. No acknowledgment that the next president’s biggest job will be to keep us just as safe as we’ve been under George W. Bush.

Romney made no reference whatever to the most important aspect of the position he seeks: the role of commander-in-chief. The bland promise to “strengthen our military with more troops and better equipment” sounds more like Nancy Pelosi than like McCain or Giuliani (to name two candidate who understand the most consequential issue of our time).

In explaining to the world what his victory means, Romney offered no assurance to pursue the war in Iraq to a victorious conclusion, no determination to pursue the enemy with the relentless ferocity that characterized the best moments of the Bush administration.

Did his pollsters and focus groups tell him that voters don’t care any more about winning the war, or refusing to appease terrorists?

Does Romney agree with conservatives that the struggle in which we’re engaged is an existential conflict that will determine the survival of civilization? If so, there’s only one way to explain his failure to mention that ongoing war (in which John McCain’s son Jimmy, by the way, currently serves with the Marine Corps in Iraq).

While the world waited for the candidate to define the significance of his big electoral triumph, we got an empty speech from an empty suit.

As I noted last night: he’s not running for Commander-in-Chief. He’s going for the job of Panderer-in-Chief and Michigan has moved him closer to his goal.

I apologize for the length of this article, but felt it was important enough to disseminate to my readers. As my gentle, and not so gentle, readers know - I enthusiastically support Mike Huckabee and believe he is the candidate the Republican party is looking for but who which the 'establishment' is trying to avoid. The truth always always comes out, and Huckabee is the real deal.

McCain a Democratic Candidate?

2008-01-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

I fully expect massive quantities of vitriol for even considering this topic.

I'm quite concerned that the general population follows media reports in this primary season like lemmings following their leader and hurling themselves over a cliff to their own destruction.

Today's media darling is John McCain. He's taken the forefront in the media's attention, and his poll numbers have gone up proportionally. What this reveals to me is the naiveté and intellectual laziness of a large portion of the Republican populus. McCain's record has been forgotten and all that is heard is what he is saying today. John McCain is one of those senators whom one wonders why they have not switched parties. His positions on domestic issues read like the Democratic playbook.

Can McCain be considered a true conservative? Is he really the candidate to carry the Republican banner? Many say "NO" because of his clearly liberal positions based on his record in the Senate.

McCain had been a fierce opponent of Bush until after the 2004 elections. During that election cycle, McCain had been approached about the possibility of being Kerry's running mate.

Rick Santorum maintains that a McCain presidency would be dangerous for the country. From the article:

“It’s amazing to hear what John McCain is trying to convince the voters he is all about. The bottom line is, I served 12 years with him, six years in the Senate as one of the leaders of the Senate, trying to put together the conservative agenda, and almost at every turn, on domestic policy, John McCain was not only against us, but leading the charge on the other side.”
Santorum cited the campaign finance reform bill sponsored by McCain, the McCain-Feingold Act, which limits campaign contributions and has been called by some an “incumbent protection act.”
Santorum called the act “an affront to personal freedom and liberty in this country, and what we’ve seen as a result of this misguided attempt to placate the New York Times and to help his stature within that community … is that special interests have absolutely taken over the political process, and individual candidates, unless you’re a billionaire, and parties have very little voice in the process.
“It’s a shame, but he was obviously out front on that.”
The former Senator also criticized McCain for voting against the Bush Tax cuts — he was one of only two Republicans to do so.
“The reduction in [tax] rates and lowering the rates on capital gains and dividends … did so much to get this economy up and going. [But] we would have had a much bigger tax cut if it were not for John McCain.”
Santorum pointed to McCain’s opposition to conservative positions on drug re-importation, federally funded embryonic stem cell research, immigration, the questioning of terror detainees and other issues, and said he has a “big fear” of a McCain presidency.
He asserted it would create a “huge rift” in the Republican Party, and told Levin’s listeners:
“I think he’s been solid in the war on terror … but on domestic policy, he’s very, very dangerous for Republicans.
“There’s nothing worse than having a Democratic Congress and a Republican president who would act like a Democrat in matters that are important to conservatives.”

I hope my readers will take time to really examine McCain's record. At this point in the primary season, poll show that either McCain or Huckabee could win against a Democratic Candidate. As my readers know, I support Huckabee's effective and proven leadership.

For all the politics junkies

2008-01-05T00:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a good site for you to track the elections this year. Enjoy.

Election Projection 2008 Edition

Romney

2007-12-30T16:23:00.001-07:00

Romney's been a bit of a bully lately in Iowa and I think it will bite him in the rear before long. I have become disenchanted with Romney's tactics now and will not consider supporting him should Huckabee not get the nomination.

This might not be a bad site to look over.

I guess Fred is done!

2007-12-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Well, stick a fork in him! Fred has done everything but bow out of the presidential race. Are we surprised? Not really, for Fred Thompson has not approached this campaign as anything but a walk on a path in a lovely Southern Plantation - he's not worked for the role of being President. Here is the article about what he said today:

Thompson says he's interested in serving, not running for president

WILLIAM THEOBALD • GANNETT NEWS SERVICE • December 29, 2007
Burlington, Ia. -- Fred Thompson said today he does not much like the modern form of presidential campaigning and that he "will not be devastated" if he doesn't win the election.

"I'm not particularly interested in running for president," Thompson said, but rather he feels called to serve his country.

"I don't know if you have a desire to be president," Burlington attorney Todd Chelf told Thompson during a question-and-answer session raising an issue that has dogged his campaign.

"I am not consumed by personal ambition," Thompson responded. "I'm offering myself up."

Given the volatile state of the world, the actor and former Tennessee senator said he was not "sure it is a good thing if a president has too much fire in his belly."

"I'm only consumed by a few things and politics is not one of them," he said.

Chelf said after the event that it was "almost refreshing to hear that approach."

"I think there is a passion there," he said. "I think its sort of a Southern gentleman passion."

Thompson also had stops scheduled today in Washington, Williamsburg, Montezuma, and Newton.

I have no doubts that Fred is a nice guy with good traditional southern values who got lucky enough to get name recognition from being a TV star. But I also have no doubt that he is not presidential material. Maybe he will get an acting role as a president some day, and he'll do a great job of that!

12-30-07 UPDATE

I'm being bashed by Fred Heads. They've linked me to one of their blog sites (which I won't show here) Whatever! Their candidate, nice guy that he is, is being denigrated by the actions of his followers. I wish Thompson had been more aggressive as a campaigner, for I once was a Thompson supporter and turned away from him because of his 'walk in the park' method of campaigning. I really don't think he has the energy or drive to hold the highest public office in our nation.

Romney Buys a Lot of Debt

2007-12-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

I was very surprised to find out that in Mitt Romney's attempt to purchase the presidency, he has amassed an incredible amount of debt - $17,350,000 to be exact.

Check here to see the numbers.

My two cents on Limbaugh's seemingly thin skin.

2007-12-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Recently, Rush Limbaugh had a caller on his show who declared that he only listened to the "Washington,DC/New York" chattering class. This caller chose to remain anonymous and stated that he was a Huckabee supporter. For some reason, Mr. Limbaugh became offended by the comments of the caller and has been lambasting Huckabee.

My opinion is this - Mr. Limbaugh, you have been a bastion of strength and have almost singlehandedly galvanized the conservative movement for years. You are well appreciated by conservatives everywhere in this great country - no matter who they support. Are you going to get bent out of shape over an anonymous caller. You know as well as anyone that the caller could have been a plant from another campaign. Please save your energy for the things you can verify and not the idle anonymous chatterers.

A Merry and Blessed Christmas to All

2007-12-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

I wish joy and happiness to all my readers!

God bless you all this Christmas!

Radiant Times and the Kringle Lizards, Roughy and Feisty

Will Conservatives return to Thompson????

2007-12-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

Will Conservatives return to Thompson? The author of Land of Da Free
seems to think so. I have my doubts, though.

Fred Thompson has campaigned like a man who assumed the Republican nomination was his. Now he realizes that his nearly arrogant, sloth-like trot onto the Republican campaign field was a mistake and is only now realizing that his campaign is in danger.

I do not fault Fred on the issues. He is reasonably solid as a 'social conservative'. I just don't believe he has governing experience, and I don't believe he would have the physical stamina to tolerate the demands of the Presidency. Sadly, he comes across as Gerald Ford or Bob Dole on barbiturates - lackluster and boring. (no insult intended to these fine men...just imagine them on the barbies) When Republicans tried Dole, a man much like Thompson, WE LOST. BADLY.

Fumbling his way through the political montage, Thompson seems to be a candidate whose ambition has kicked in too late. He doesn't meet with the public, he only talks to a select few, and the press has little access to him. That attitude shows in his dropping poll numbers, and is also one reason why I am supporting Mike Huckabee. Ultimately we have to select the candidate whom we feel will compete best against Obama or Hillary...... and that ain't Thompson.

What more can I say about Fred Thompson???? He's a good actor and should go where we can like him as rising Hollywood star instead of a falling political meteorite.

Never Thought I'd See the Day

2007-12-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

About three and a half weeks ago, our glorious lemon colored Australian Bearded Dragon, Roughy, got away from us. We grieved over that silly lizard like a dog owner over a lost dog, and assumed he had gotten out of the house and had become a 'scooby snack' for one of our local cats.

But yesterday he emerged from his hiding place and I found him on the living room floor. He must have found a cool place to burmate for a few weeks. Needless to say, there was MUCH rejoicing in the Radiant Times household, and my dear husband is spending plenty of time coddling his 18 inch long lizard.

New Blog in Town

2007-12-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Radiant Times is now affiliated with the LC 4 Huckabee group. Visit the blog HERE!

To the Troglodyte Headhunters of Sudan

2007-12-03T06:23:00.001-07:00

I've renamed the Lizard of Doom. Ibn Abu Al Beardie is now called Mohammed - a common name!

Let the Ululation commence!

Huckabee is rising; Guilian and Romney are Waning

2007-12-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

Today's Rasmussen polls are evidence of Huckabee's rise.

Poll Results:

Rudy Giuliani: 22%

Mike Huckabee: 17%

John McCain: 14%

Fred Thompson: 14%

Mitt Romney: 11%

Low Carb living

2007-12-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

We decided to dramatically change our lifestyle and way of eating last October. Our weight had been creeping up to the point that shopping for clothing became difficult. With our medical histories - diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol - we made the choice to cut back on carbohydrates and live a low carb lifestyle.

Since we are not exercising as regularly as we should, our weight loss is not dramatic, but both of us have dropped ten pounds to this point (even surviving Thanksgiving). The diet is not odious, and we have flexibility with our food choices. So many have gone this road before us so there are many, many recipes to try to keep the diet interesting. I'm pleased to know there are even recipes for 'bread substitutes' available for those who are reducing their carbohydrate intake.

Our favorite recipe book is "500 Low-Carb Recipes" compile by Dana Carpender.

We know we've made a long term lifestyle change and look forward to continued benefit over the next few months.

Huckabee on Immigration

2007-12-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Huckabee does not sound like a softie on immigration as Thompson purports.

Believe

2007-11-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here is Mike Huckabee's new TV ad:

I Heart Huckabee Video

2007-11-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun little video!

Enjoy!
Kudos to Team Huckabee

The Cream Always Rises to the Top

2007-11-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

Mike Huckabee continues to rise in Iowa.