tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82381182024-03-13T08:27:44.546-06:00Opinion TimesNews and Opinion from a Conservative, Christian perspective
(Copyright, Jim Pfaff, Colorado Springs, CO)Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comBlogger430125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1121353773540165702005-07-14T09:08:00.000-06:002005-07-14T09:09:33.546-06:00It's ChangedPlease change all your links to <a href="http://www.opiniontimes.com/">http://www.opiniontimes.com</a>. I am now doing all my posting there.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1120850792728157922005-07-08T13:23:00.000-06:002005-07-08T13:26:32.733-06:00The Blog: It Is A Changin'I am in the process of changing the location of my blog to the <a href="http://www.opiniontimes.com/">permalink</a> <a href="http://www.opiniontimes.com/">www.opiniontimes.com</a>. I'll be cross-posting here for a short time until a full transition is completed. <br /><br />In the meantime <strong>please go visit my new <a href="http://www.opiniontimes.com/">Opinion Times</a> site and give me your feedback in comments below.</strong>Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1120580413412793552005-07-05T10:20:00.000-06:002005-07-05T10:20:13.443-06:00Shelby Foote - The Homer of the Old South? Obituaries of Shelby Foote, the eloquent Southern storyteller and Civil War Historian, have been abounding. <a href="http://slate.msn.com/id/2121924/?nav=ais">Field Maloney</a> has well stated the nuances and contradictions of this well-beloved protagonist of Ken Burns' <a href="http://www.pbs.com/civilwar/">1991 PBS Civil War</a> documentary.
<br />
<br />As a great fan of Foote and Civil War history, I'll never forget his description of a phone conversation he had with the granddaughter of Southern General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He had told her that he was convinced the Civil War produced two true geniuses: her grandfather and Abraham Lincoln. There was a short silence and then in a modest Southern drawl she responded, "Well you know, Mr. Foote, my family never did like Mr. Lincoln."Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1120579051133888752005-07-05T09:57:00.000-06:002005-07-05T09:57:31.133-06:00SCOTUS Confirmation Fight Will Draw Millions of DollarsThe imminent Supreme Court confirmation battle will draw in big money.<blockquote><i><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/04/AR2005070400843_pf.html">WaPo</a>: "Under the scenario of an ideological battle, participants predict the competition for cash will turn the Senate confirmation into the most expensive nomination fight in the nation's history, certain to break $50 million and, if the nominee is especially controversial, likely to approach $100 million."</i></blockquote>Partisan bickering on the left is the cause in my humble opinion. As usual, Reid and Pelosi are stirring up the reasons and will blame the President for the problem.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1120578758932974112005-07-05T09:52:00.000-06:002005-07-05T09:58:57.036-06:00Bisexuality Study Asserts No Such ConditionA recent bisexuality study reported in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/health/05sex.html?ei=5065&en=c4386390a5de9b2c&ex=1121140800&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print">The New York Times</a> concludes that multi-sex attraction does not exist. Sampling in the study looks suspect to me as subjects were taken from ads in alternative magazines (high probability of various forms of sexual deviancy regardless of sexual orientation) and shown pornographic movies (which would tend to highlight deviant response rather than normal sexual response).<br /><br />But the most revealing aspect of this study is what was said by Dr. Randall Sell, an assistant professor of clinical socio-medical sciences at Columbia University: <blockquote><i>"'We don't know nearly enough about sexual orientation and identity' to jump to [the conclusion that bisexuality does not exist as a provable sexual orientation]. "</i></blockquote>. . .or any other conclusions about non-heterosexual behavior for that matter.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1120577916750488872005-07-05T09:38:00.000-06:002005-07-05T09:38:36.790-06:00Milblogger Wounded: Met PresidentMilblogger Chuck Ziegenfuss was wounded in Iraq recently and shipped home for surgery and recovery to DC. He recently met President Bush and <a href="http://tcoverride.blogspot.com/2005/07/chuck-speaks.html">his wife reports</a> on his behalf.
<br />
<br />Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.<a href="http://www.michellemalkin.com/"></a>Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1120230357828356342005-07-01T09:05:00.000-06:002005-07-01T16:55:05.040-06:00SCOTUS Battle About to Be EngagedThe announcement has come. The first of two Arizonans is retiring from the Supreme Court.<blockquote><i><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/01/AR2005070100650_pf.html">WASHINGTON</a> -- "Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court and a key swing vote on issues such as abortion and the death penalty, said Friday she is retiring.<br /><br />O'Connor, 75, said she expects to leave before the start of the court's next term in October, or whenever the Senate confirms her successor. There was no immediate word from the White House on who might be nominated to replace O'Connor."</i></blockquote>Let the games begin!<br />--------------<br /><strong>UPDATE:</strong> <a href="http://www.nationalcenter.org/2005/07/probably-they-think-monsters-are-in.html/">Amy Ridenour</a> has it right regarding the hysterical response of liberal organizations to the possibility that a strict constructionist might be put on the court in place of O'Connor: <i>"What is it about interpreting our Constitution according to its actual words that has these folks so frightened? Like many others, I've read the Constitution. Not scary stuff."</i><br /><br />My friend Erick at <a href="http://www.redstate.org/story/2005/6/30/152015/688/">RedState.org</a> and <a href="http://www.erickerickson.org/">Confessions of a Political Junkie</a> believes <a href="http://www.redstate.org/story/2005/6/30/152015/688/">it's Garza who will be appointed</a>. <strong>FURTHER ERICK UPDATE:</STRONG> <a href="http://www.redstate.org/story/2005/7/1/161125/2268/">Here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004856.php/">Captain's Quarters</a> has his take as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://instapundit.com/archives/023981.php/">Instapundit</a> has a slew of links to useful commentary on the impending replacement.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theamericanmind.com/mt-test/archives/017061.html/">The American Mind</a> and <a href="http://christian-patriot.blogspot.com/2005/07/justice-o-connor-to-retire.html/">The Crusader</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://nerepublican.blogspot.com/2005/07/oh-sandra-what-did-you-do.html/">NE Republican</a> believes there are many "Desperate Housewives" around the country in the wake if this announcement.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/7/1/114120/9836/">DailyKos</a> has it right. This is about abortion now. But he hopes abortion remains.<br /><br /><strong>UPDATE II:</strong> <a href="http://www.redstate.org/story/2005/7/1/17522/11385/">RedState.org</a> has nine guidelines POTUS should use to fill SCOTUS.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119985600108150632005-06-28T13:05:00.000-06:002005-06-28T13:09:07.890-06:00Souter May Become First Victim of "Lost Liberty"Logan Darrow Clements, CEO of <a href="http://www.freestarmedia.com/">Freestar Media</a>, LLC, has petitioned the town of Weare, NH to build a hotel at 34 Cilley Hill Road. This would be an everyday non-event until one considers the person residing there now, Supreme Court Justice David Souter. <br /><br />Clements argues that the city of Weare will receive much greater tax revenue with a hotel on this property, and would therefore benefit from the enforcement of immanent domain. This, of course, is the argument behind the recent <a href="http://opiniontimes.blogspot.com/2005/06/green-counter-revolution.html/"><i>Kelo v. City of New London</i></a> case which was supported by Souter.<blockquote><i><a href="http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html">Freestar Media, LLC</a>: "The proposed development, called 'The Lost Liberty Hotel' will feature the 'Just Desserts Cafe' and include a museum, open to the public, featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Instead of a Gideon's Bible each guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel 'Atlas Shrugged.'"</i></blockquote>We at Opinion Times would like to see the Gideon Bible remain, but well done Mr. Clements anyway! This would be an appropriate monument to the excesses of Supreme Court hegemony over the actual language and intent of the Constitution.<br /><br />Maybe the same thing could be done at 125 Broad Street in New York City at the ACLU headquarters. Just think of it: a brand new hotel bringing in more tax revenue per square foot than office space. On the first floor is the new home of New York Evangelical College with adjacent Court House which hangs the Ten Commandments above the bench.<br /><br />Read the press release <a href="http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html/">here</a>.<br /><br />Hat Tip: <a href="http://www.drudgereport.com/">Drudge Report</a>.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119652344201277272005-06-24T16:32:00.000-06:002005-06-24T16:32:24.286-06:00Economist: Religious Just Starting Rise<a href="http://www.economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4102212">Economist.com</a> gives its take on the rise of the "Religious Right" in American politics.<blockquote><i>"Religious America's switch to the right is rooted in two things: liberal over-reach and conservative organisation. The consistent whinge from the Christian right about "liberal activist judges" exceeding their mandate contains a kernel of truth. In the 1960s and 1970s, judges changed America from a country where every school day began with a prayer, and abortion and pornography were frowned on, to a country where school prayer was banned and both abortion and pornography were protected by the constitution.
<br />
<br />The fact that the courts were running so far ahead of public opinion in a generally religious country bolstered the religious right in two ways. It provoked white evangelicals to join the political fray. And it persuaded all religious types to bond together. Protestants and Catholics, who used to be at loggerheads, have now found common ground, especially on abortion. "</i></blockquote>This is not just a passing fad but the result of more than 25 years of effort which has led to a more mature and diverse Christian response to political and legal actions. President Reagan's move to remove the <a href="http://www.twf.org/News/Y1997/Fairness.html/">Fairness Doctrine</a> which led to the rise of <a href="http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/">Rush Limbaugh</a> and a slew of conservative radio talk shows and the emergence of the blogs has also facilitated the rise of Social and Evangelical Conservatives.
<br />
<br />The gains which took fruit in 2004 have not yet consolidated, but a successful 2006 election in Congress and with various Senate and Governors' races could change the political landscape for the proceeding 20-25 years.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119644679920391782005-06-24T14:24:00.000-06:002005-06-24T14:28:40.520-06:00Durbin on a Bad Run<a href="http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2005/06/from_the_desk_o.html">IowaHawk</a> has found evidence that Dick Durbin is having a bad run in the customer service area. Thankfully, these few samples give us an example of patience and tolerance from one of our Senate leaders.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119636603011064832005-06-24T12:10:00.000-06:002005-06-24T12:26:07.380-06:00Green Counter-revolution<a href="http://www.intheagora.com/archives/2005/06/green_counterre.html">Zach Wendling</a> opines about <i>Kelo</i>:<blockquote><i>"Now that development interests official[ly] trump property rights, I think it's natural to wonder, 'What trumps development interests?' "</i></blockquote>This makes me consider that now with government help I can get rid of my pesky neighbors and get that green space my boys have been craving!<br /><br /><a href="http://powerlineblog.com/archives/010828.php/">PowerLine</a> gives <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062301420.html/">George Will</a>'s opinion on the decision.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119364245864465782005-06-21T08:30:00.000-06:002005-06-21T08:30:45.930-06:00Nobel Prize Nominee Says Terri Schiavo was Able to SeeConfirming the suspicions of some, a Nobel Prize nominated Doctor confirms that Terri Schiavo was aware and not blind when she was killed in a Florida hospice. Dr. William Hammesfahr, a Florida neurologist, disputed some of the autopsy results in a recent interview.<blockquote><i><a href="http://www.lifenews.com/bio1041.html">LifeNews.com</a> Unlike the constant drumbeat from the husband, his attorneys, and his doctors, the brain tissue was not dissolved, with a head of just spinal fluid," Hammesfahr explained. "In fact, large areas were 'relatively preserved.'"
<br />
<br />"Obviously, the pathologists comments that she could not see were not borne out by reality," he said.
<br />
<br />"The autopsy results confirmed my opinion ... that the frontal areas of the brains, the areas that deal with awareness and cognition were relatively intact," Hammesfahr added.
<br />
<br />As a result, the Florida physician said Terri likely had little trouble with her eyesight in the years leading up to her death.
<br />
<br />"In fact, the relay areas from the frontal and front temporal regions of the brain, to the spinal cord and the brain stem, by way of the basal ganglia, were preserved, thus the evident responses which she was able to express to her family and to the clinicians seeing her or viewing her videotape," he said.</i></blockquote>The Doctor also noted the autopsy did not verify Terri's husband Michael's claim that she suffered a heart attack nor did it rule out physical abuse as the cause of her collapse and loss of oxygen back in 1991 which resulted in her deteriorated neurological condition.<blockquote><i>Hammesfahr pointed out that the autopsy shows Terri's collapse was not the result of bulimia, eating disorders or a heart attack. That leaves open the possibility that Terri's collapse could have been the result of physical abuse.
<br />
<br />"As we noted in the press, there was no heart attack, or evident reason for this to have happened (and certainly not of Terri's making)," he said.
<br />
<br />He also indicated that the autopsy did not completely check for all types of physical abuse and he and a neurologist for Michael both agreed neck injuries were present.</i></blockquote>Unfortunately, a woman who was fully mentally aware was destroyed by a court system unwilling to make life the ultimate test of good law. By refusing to embrace the concept of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," a rogue judge destroyed innocent human life. And by neglecting the enumerated executive power given to him, the Florida Governor sat back and watched it happen allowing the question to remain open: will we as a society ever again value the concept of life as the foundational principle of our freedoms?
<br />Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119306771854206142005-06-20T16:32:00.000-06:002005-06-20T16:32:51.853-06:00Housing Market: What's Next. . . <a href="http://maxedoutmama.blogspot.com/2005/06/more-on-housing.html">MaxedOutMama</a> has her take and some research.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119306320568280422005-06-20T16:25:00.000-06:002005-06-20T16:25:53.893-06:00Durbin: Guantanamo is Cruel, Not Partial Birth AbortionRobert Knight of <a href="http://www.cwfa.org/">Concerned Women of America</a> points out an interesting fact left out of Sen. Dick Durbin's (R-IL) recent comments suggesting the Guantanamo Bay prisoner facility is cruel and inhumane to suspected terrorist prisoners captured on the battlefield. He believes that taking a baby from its mother's womb, sucking out its brains and discarding it is not cruelty. <br /><br />Read about it <a href="http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8377/CFI/life/index.htm">here</a>.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119301662855417252005-06-20T15:07:00.000-06:002005-06-20T15:07:42.923-06:00Dry Creek ChroniclesHere's a great new blog I came across today: <a href="http://www.draughthorsepress.com/chronicles/">Dry Creek Chronicles</a>.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1119280367867882722005-06-20T09:12:00.000-06:002005-06-20T09:12:47.876-06:00Cheaper by the Dozen--Plus FourArkansas State Representative Jim Bob Dugger and his wife are expecting a new child, and it will bring their family up to <a href="http://9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=8bcf7da4-0abe-421a-00eb-42acb9b27437&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf">sixteen children</a>.<br /><br />Now that's family values!Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118948607483388632005-06-16T13:03:00.000-06:002005-06-16T13:03:27.490-06:00Editorial Writers Claim Religious Discriminiation<a href="http://www.indystar.com/">The Indianapolis Star</a>, a Gannett Co. newspaper, has been charged with religious discrimination in a lawsuit brought by two former editorial writers, James Patterson and Lisa Coffey. <blockquote><i><a href="http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000962266">INDIANAPOLIS</a>: "[Patterson and Coffey have charged in court that] top newsroom managers 'consistently and repeatedly demonstrated ... a negative hostility toward Christianity.'"<br /><br />The two are asking to be reinstated at the paper, and be compensated for lost income, benefits, emotional distress and unspecified punitive damages.<br /><br />"Lisa and I aren't the only employees that have been driven away from this company and we thought it was time for someone to say, 'Goodness gracious. This isn't right,'" Patterson said.<br /></i></blockquote>This is consistent with the changes which have taken place at the Star since Gannett purchased Central Newspapers, the former parent company of the Star and the Arizona Republic. The editorial bent has turned decidedly more liberal and news reports have become much less local and more liberally oriented with editorial decisions following the precedent of Gannett's mega paper, USAToday.<br /><br />In fairness, the <a href="http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=COLUMNISTS&template=cover/">editorial staff</a> maintains two decidedly Christian writers, Russ Pulliam and Lori Borgman. Pulliam is the scion of the paper's founding family, but his role on the editorial staff has been greatly reduced to general legislative and community commentary. Borgman writes a stay-at-home-mother oriented humor column which is in the Erma Bombeck tradition which sometimes espouses decidedly Christian ethical advice and insight.<br /><br />The Indianapolis Star (<a href="http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/star/history/history.html/">history</a>) was founded in 1903 and was brought to prominence after it was purchased in 1944 by Eugene C. Pulliam. The Pulliam family was a highly influential and conservative voice in the midwest for many years until Pulliam's son, Eugene S. Pulliam, died in 1999. Shortly thereafter, it was sold to Gannett Co.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118342229268524162005-06-09T12:37:00.000-06:002005-06-09T12:37:09.333-06:00Amnesty International Calls for Kidnapping of Pres. Bush, et. al.We've heard much in the media about the assertion by Amnesty International that Guantanimo Bay is a "gulag." But Ed Morrisey found out through columnist John Leo that they are also calling on foreign governments to kidnap President Bush and other US Government officials for trial in International Criminal Court.<blockquote><i><a href="http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004674.php">Captain's Quarters</a>: "according to Leo at the end of his column, AI also issued a press release accompanying their annual report that the media mostly ignored. In that release, Amnesty International apparently called for other nations to kidnap George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and other American officials and haul them off to the ICC for prosecution on charges of crimes against humanity:"</i></blockquote>Outrageous and greatly unreported!Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118285943891087692005-06-08T20:59:00.000-06:002005-06-08T21:01:05.433-06:00"Howard Dean: The Windows 3.1 Of The Democratic Party"I link this from <a href="http://www.rightwingnews.com/archives/week_2005_06_05.PHP#003956">Right Wing News</a> mostly because of the byline. Good points as well.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118285562071554862005-06-08T20:52:00.000-06:002005-06-08T20:52:42.080-06:00Dizzy from Feminist Spin<a href="http://maxedoutmama.blogspot.com/2005/06/dizzy.html">MaxedOutMama</a> takes a brief trip into the feminist mind.
<br />
<br />...Thankfully she came out alive.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118283555018643422005-06-08T20:19:00.000-06:002005-06-08T20:19:15.080-06:00MSM Ignores American Flag Desecration. Laser on Quran AbuseHat tip to <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/archives/002684.htm">Michelle Malkin</a> for giving us video and other links.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118250317034260522005-06-08T11:05:00.000-06:002005-06-08T11:05:17.110-06:00Tancredo Will Enter '08 Race if There Is "No Other Person" on Immigration<a href="http://www.politics1.com/">Politics1</a> and the Denver Post report that Colorado Cong. Tom Tancredo, R, will enter the Republican presidential primary race if no other candidate will stand up for immigration reform including strict border enforcement.<blockquote><i>"It's such an odd thing to talk about," Tancredo told The <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_2780117/">Denver Post</a>. But "if there is no other person ... then we have no choice" but to enter the presidential race. </i></blockquote>Norman Ornstein, an American Enterprise Institute Fellow feels that though Tancredo would play the role of Don Quixote in any primary bid, bringing the issue to the forefront as a candidate would require Republican candidates to address the issue more directly.<blockquote><i>"Even fringe presidential candidates end up with more airtime than members of Congress. It's quixotic if you think you've got a realistic chance, but not if your goal is to continue to get airtime and get the press to bring up these issues."</i></blockquote>Tancredo has burned bridges in the Republican Party because he has not been afraid to excoriate elected officials in both parties for sitting on the sideline while thousands of illegal immigrants continue to stream across the Mexican border. Karl Rove in particular strongly rebuked him in 2004 because of Tancredo's strong criticism of the President over border policy during the Presidential campaign.
<br />
<br />A Primary flavor is beginning to develop!Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118243167674679282005-06-08T09:06:00.001-06:002005-06-08T09:22:00.113-06:00Tom Daschle to be Honored at Homosexual Awards Ceremony<a href="http://www.dakotavoice.com/200506/20050607_7.asp">Dakota Voice</a> has the story.<blockquote><i>Former United States Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) will be honored at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards. . . .The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's website further states, "Senator Daschle led the successful fight to defeat the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) in the U.S. Senate. In doing so, he put his 25-year career in Congress on the line to help wage one of the crucial battles in the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. FMA was defeated, but on Election Day 2004, Sen. Daschle became the first Senate party leader in 52 years to lose reelection — by 4,500 votes." </i></blockquote>Need I say more?<br /><br />Great news for future efforts to pass the <a href="http://www.allianceformarriage.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mac_FederalMarriageAmendment/">Federal Marriage Amendment</a>. Opposition to FMA is politically damaging by the opposition's own admission.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118243185063162132005-06-08T09:06:00.000-06:002005-06-08T09:17:44.626-06:00Tom Daschle to be Honored at Homosexual Awards Ceremony<a href="http://www.dakotavoice.com/200506/20050607_7.asp">Dakota Voice</a> has the story.<blockquote><i>Former United States Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) will be honored at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards. . . .The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's website further states, "Senator Daschle led the successful fight to defeat the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) in the U.S. Senate. In doing so, he put his 25-year career in Congress on the line to help wage one of the crucial battles in the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. FMA was defeated, but on Election Day 2004, Sen. Daschle became the first Senate party leader in 52 years to lose reelection — by 4,500 votes." </i></blockquote>Need I say more?<br /><br />Great news for future efforts to pass the <a href="http://www.allianceformarriage.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mac_FederalMarriageAmendment/">Federal Marriage Amendment</a>. Opposition to FMA is politically damaging by the opposition's own admission.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238118.post-1118238979912165872005-06-08T07:56:00.000-06:002005-06-08T08:05:55.566-06:00Congressman Wants to Stop ACLU Profit from First Amendment CasesCongressman John Hostettler, R-IN, wants to remove the financial incentive organizations like the ACLU have to attack religious expression in the public square.<blockquote><i><a href="http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036787.cfm">CitizenLink</a>--Representative John Hostettler, R-Ind., has teamed with the American Legion to prevent the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others like them, from strong arming defendants.<br /><br />The Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (PERA) would prohibit attorneys' fees from being collected in cases against the establishment of religion clause. . . .<br /><br />The legislation comes at a time when the ACLU is challenging the mention of "Jesus" in the Indiana legislature, the cross on the California state seal and prayer at graduation ceremonies across America. Regularly such cases never make it to court because of concern over the cost of attorney fees.</i></blockquote>Kneejerk reactions to this sort of proposal will clearly point out that the "rights of victims to due process" will be infringed if they cannot obtain a competent attorney through fees which come through court judgments. But to the contrary, the ACLU with its 400,000 members, for example, brings in $44 million in donations to its organization.<br /><br />If this law passes, it could also bring to the forefront the most onerous aspect of the current status of First Amendment law. It's what I call the "Malicious Ignorance Clause"; too much emphasis on "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion" and complete denial of the words "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."<br /><br />This is not the first time Cong. Hostettler has introduced this bill. In 2003, it died in committee. The difference this time: he has the support of 2.7 million members of the American Legion.Jim Pfaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632575665216978709noreply@blogger.com