Grandma's Fireside Chat

Born-Again Christian Gavin Mcleod Stars in New Faith-Based Film

2009-09-18T20:56:00.004-05:00

Born-Again Christian Gavin Mcleod Stars in New Faith-Based Film - FOXNews.com

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National Tea Party Coalition Announces “Hall Pass on That” for September 8th Presidential Address

2009-09-03T08:27:00.002-05:00

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National Tea Party Coalition Announces “Hall Pass on That” for September 8th Presidential Address

The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition announces “Hall Pass on That,” the alternative to President Barack Obama’s September 8th address to school children across the nation. The group asks that schools who choose to participate in the president’s September 8th program offer an alternative to students and families who do not wish to view, or have their children view, a partisan address or participate in activities that did not follow proper educational protocol or obtain parental consent.

Dana Loesch, Nationwide spokesperson for the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, announced the launch of the Hall Pass on That website: http://www.hallpassonthat.com to provide parents who oppose the Department of Education’s proposed presidential program. “We are suggesting several action steps parents can take if they do not approve of their children participating in a partisan presentation conducted without their consent.” The four steps propose by the Coalition:

1. Contact the child’s school to find out whether or not your school is
participating in the president’s September 8th program.
2. If your child’s school is participating, ask what alternatives there are for the children of families who wish their students learn about the establishment of the country respective to the Founding Father’s intentions. Discussion can focus on the
Constitution, the definition and actions of a republic, and the responsibility
of elected leaders to their constituents.
3. Ask if the school can excuse your child from the presentation and instead receive a DVD of the address and copy of the activity directives to be evaluated by parents at a later date.
4. Request meeting with the school board, superintendent, and principal to
inquire as to why parents were excluded from the decision-making process of this
event.

Katrina Pierson, member of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, described some of the tools available http://www.hallpassonthat.com: “We will provide alternative lesson plans to the ones initially sent out by President Obama’s Department of Education. Those plans, which people can download from the site, were uncomfortably partisan with no real focus on how our officials serve the people, not vice-versa. Our alternative lesson plans also focus appropriately on the role of parents in the education plan for every child.”

Yes, presidents have spoken to schoolchildren before, but when circumstances required it. President Ronald Reagan addressed students after the Challenger shuttle disaster was witnessed live by millions of schoolchildren; George H. W. Bush addressed students as part of the effort to counteract the growing drug use by schoolchildren.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan issued directives to principals of locals schools, bypassing the school boards and superintendents of those districts – but most importantly, bypassing parental notification or consent. Conservative parents are further concerned as the material issued by the Department of Education focuses on the president’s partisan agenda. The responsibility of this nation’s government to its people is completely obscured by questions that strictly detail response and submission to the president’s wishes.

Parents are also concerned as the entire program was crafted with help from the president’s White House Teaching Fellows, some of whom are activists with documented hostility towards the very tenants of our republic.

The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition cannot afford to extend this administration the courtesy of any doubt when it comes to the education of our children and our schools are not the place to present one-sided agendas, especially without parental consent.

2009-08-19T15:35:00.001-05:00

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Racial profiling nothing but Hoop-a-la?

2009-07-27T08:47:00.003-05:00

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Has the Gates - Crowley incident in Boston taught me anything, as Professor Gates hopes, about Racial Profiling?

Sure has. I've learned that it's possible that many accusations of racism and racial profiling are probably nothing more than ludicrous grandstanding that can and should be ignored.
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Michelle Obama Still Scares Me.

2009-07-25T20:06:00.007-05:00

Condoleezza Rice seemed thoughtful, insightful, and approachable. And I loved Phylicia Rashad. I would love to have known her personally. (I still love Bill Cosby. I think he gave the only intelligent response to the whole Boston arrest thing) I used to respect Collin Powell, but not anymore. Now I see him as someone that jumps to what ever side seems the most opportune. Principle doesn't matter.

But I'll be honest. I've never felt any friendliness coming from Michelle Obama. I look at her and I see an angry, self absorbed woman. I don't like or trust her. I'll even admit that as much as I have deeply disliked Hilary Clinton for years, even she seems warm and cuddly compared to Michelle Obama.

I don't know what it is. It isn't just because of that angry statement she made back during the campaign. There is something more. It's just a feeling I get.
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Hannity - Socialism we can Believe in:

2009-07-13T00:32:00.003-05:00

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Looks like Hannity was right ....

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Done with Michael Jackson

2009-07-06T08:12:00.004-05:00

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Enough Already.

Yes, he was a fantastic entertainer. Yes, he was probably the best at the business for many years.

And yes, I have felt sorry for him.

But no, he wasn't a god. And get honest. For over a decade he's been the brunt of jokes because he DID rub many people the wrong way.

So I respect his talent, and I'm sorry he had a rough life. I pray he is in a better place, although I'm not one of those that thinks everyone is automatically. Maybe he took some repentive steps to get there, maybe he didn't.

But I'm not interested in hearing anymore about it. I've got other, well, more important things to pay attention to, and when I turn on the news, I'd like to see some current news. No more about Michael Jackson, please.

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McCain Can Rot

2009-07-04T11:56:00.003-05:00

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You know, I campaigned against McCain years ago during his first run for President. I thought at that time that he was an opportunist with little real sense of conviction on issues. I especially disliked him for his attempts to sell out my children to tribal government, with his efforts to make the Indian Child Welfare Act even more anti-family, pro-government (making it harder for families of heritage to choose to keep their children off the reservation).

When the campaigning for 2008 first began, McCain was still the last of my Republican choices. My first choice was Duncan Hunter. When all the good guys began bowing out and it was whittled down to McCain, I didn't know what to do. I figured I wouldn't vote in the election at all.

Then came Sarah. She is the only reason I and many others voted at all in the election.

So to have McCain and his people first do their best to mess her up; refusing to allow her to speak as she needed to, and then spreading rumors to make her look like a fool, and now continually blaming Sarah for their ultimate failure - it's beyond belief.

I will never consider McCain as any type of leader again, no matter WHO he chooses as a running mate. In the first place, I wouldn't want to see him do a number on another good person, as he has done with Sarah. I think anyone should be leary of connecting with him again after seeing how quickly and easily he threw Sarah "under the bus" (as they are so fond of saying.)

I have absolutely no respect for McCain - I don't care how many years he stayed in a POW camp. Maybe he had character at that time in his life - but he certainly doesn't have it now. Further, his stupid daughter, with all her attacks on Palin, needs to realize she will never hold a candle to Sarah. She is no where near the woman of integrity and strength that Sarah is.

She and her father should crawl back under a rock. And take his campaign staff with them.
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Saying "No" to Digital TV

2009-06-12T00:13:00.004-05:00

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From Fox News: "NEW YORK — More than 2 million households are in danger of seeing their major broadcast TV channels disappear into a fuzz of static when analog service ends Friday, according to surveys."

In danger? Why does it not occur to these bozos that some of us have purposefully decided NOT to go digital?

With all the garbage on TV; ie sexual jokes on every sit com, sexual commercials mid-day, foul language on the most innocuous looking programing - some of would rather just use Net Flix and make our own choices as to what our children view than use any TV programming.

I look so forward to regular TV being off the air, and no longer a concern when my kids are home alone.
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Obama Dictates To Israel while Apologizing to others for Arrogance.

2009-06-08T00:19:00.001-05:00

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Obama has been apologizing to the world for what he sees as the historical "arrogance" of America's interference with other governments.

He stated that "no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."

He then went on to tell Israel this week how they should run their country.

You want a list of apologies he's made around the world?

Jan. 26: -- in an interview with Al Arabiya
April 1: -- at a press conference ahead of the G20 in London
April 2: -- at G20 summit in London
April 2: -- President Obama, at the G20 in London, as reported by Germany's Der Spiegel, where he said, "It is true…that the (economic) crisis began in the U.S. I take responsibility, even if I wasn't even president at the time."
April 3: -- in Strasbourg, France
April 6: -- in Ankara, Turkey
April 16: -- in an op-ed that appeared in U.S. and Latin American newspapers prior to the Summit of the Americas
April 18: -- at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where he said, "We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms.”

Again, he says this and then turns around and dictates to Israel how they should run their country.

Now, where's the list of areas where the U.S. has been arrogant, aggressive and selfish over the last few decades? How about when we aided and defended allies in two World Wars, or sent billions of dollars in international aide to needy countries - regardless of race or religion? Then there was the assistance to South Korea in their time of need, liberating Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm, economic assistance to Eastern Europe after the Soviet Union collapsed, tripling aide to Africa, providing over $350 million to help Tsunami victims in 2004, aide to earthquake victims in Pakistan, India, China and even Iran, and then drawing attention to Darfur. Yup, if the U.S. kept its nose out of everyone's business, the world would be different.
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Thought Police: Parents better not say anything if their boys wear a dress.

2009-06-06T06:51:00.002-05:00

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During a May 28 broadcast, hosts Arnie States and Rob Williams of KRXQ, Sacramento, began talking about the California Supreme Court ruling concerning Proposition 8, (banning same-sex marriage). States then said, "If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him."

Williams said, "They are freaks. They are abnormal. Not because they're girls trapped in boys bodies, but because they have a mental disorder that needs to be somehow gotten out of them." He also said he would tell a boy he was "a little idiot" if he wanted to wear a dress.

Bank of America, Verizon, Chipotle, Nissan Motor Co. and Carl's Jr. restaurants then pulled their advertising from the radio station.

According to a report in The Sacramento Bee, States later said he never advocated abuse and his comments were meant only as a joke. He didn't do anything wrong.

I agree - he didn't do anything wrong. Parents have a right to teach their children according to what they feel is right or wrong, and whether the libs like it or not, most Americans understand that boys are boys and girls are girls. If, despite a life time of having been gently taught right and wrong, my son wanted to wear a dress or high heals, I'd call him a little idiot as well. (in a loving voice, of course.)

I'm tired of how ridiculous this country has gotten. Most Americans feel the same way. The passing of Proposition 8 is proof.

So much for Freedom of speech, thought, and even opinion. All that is fine and good for those that want to swear on TV during prime time, make rude sexual jokes, disparage the WASP's, and even sell male "enhancement" garbage on TV while our children are watching. (You want to know what offensive is? Those commercials are offensive. But who cares what a conservative thinks is offensive?)

Just try to tell the liberals in California that you don't want their world view taught to your children at a public school. You are immediately labeled a kook. When a conservative speaks up, they get ravaged and called every rotten thing in the book. And in some areas of the country, they even get harassed by picketers and crank callers.

Bank of America, Chipotle, Nissan Motor Co. and Carl's Jr. restaurants, the supporters of this kind of behavior, will be places to avoid from now on.
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Joel Osteen - Pastor or Profiteer?

2009-06-04T21:58:00.003-05:00

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Joel Osteen preaches that "All people can reach their God given potential of health, wealth and happiness." He tells women to tell themselves;"Ten years from now I will be married" and "He's going to be rich and good looking!"

Is that what God is really looking for in our prayer? God's purpose for us is clearly stated in Genesis 12:1-3 and restated throughout the entire Bible. God's children have a Great Commission to be a light to the rest of the world, and preach the Word with the courage he provides through the Holy Spirit. And the Word, the Good News, the Gospel is this: that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to die for us in order to save us, despite the fact that we are all sinners and don't deserve his gift of salvation. We have been given the gift of salvation, and all we need to do is realize our sinfulness, humble ourselves, repent, ask for forgiveness, and accept His gift.

Where and how do rich husbands fit into this picture?

Osteen chooses to focus on lusting for potential gifts from God rather than repenting from sin. He rarely uses Scripture and instead, claims he is a Christian "life coach." Yet he doesn't use Scripture as a text. At times, he has even seemed to deny that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.

Osteen seems to be a saleman and "Christian" events are his marketplace. Note the amount of money spent at his events, and remember that neither Jesus nor any of his true disciples required funds from their listeners. In fact, Jesus fed the lot of them - for free - simply because they needed to be fed.

No wonder Osteen doesn't understand the deity and purpose of Jesus Christ, nor the purpose of Scripture, nor the purpose of Christians. Osteen has never studied theology or even religion at a college of seminary. He attended Oral Roberts University for a short time, but reportedly didn't take the theology courses while there.

Pay close attention to God's warnings in Matt 7:15, Acts 20:29, Romans 16:18, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, and 2 Peter 2-3.
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Gas Prices Shoot Up

2009-06-01T07:49:00.004-05:00

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According to the national Lundberg Survey released Sunday, U.S. price of gasoline jumped 19 cents a gallon during the past two weeks.

We all knew it was too good to last. What is their excuse this time? Interesting to note, gas prices plunged after Bush opened up off-shore drilling in September. Gas prices began shooting up again after Obama closed off-shore drilling.

Despite claims from the left that off-shore drilling is dangerous to beaches and wildlife, industry specialists say improved technology has made drilling safe. According to a July 2008 USA Today article by Sean Gardner, the "Coast Guard reports that the amount of oil spilled in U.S. waters dropped from 3.6 million barrels in the 1970s to less than 500,000 in the 1990s" and "a report by the National Research Council found that offshore oil and gas drilling was responsible for just 2% of the petroleum in North America's oceans, compared with 63% from natural seepage and 22% from municipal and industrial waste."

USA Today reported that during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, 115 oil platforms were toppled, but only insignificant amounts of oil spilled.

"Offshore drilling is the safest way to go," a specialist was quoted.

So what are the real reasons Obama and the Dems are opposing it? Who are they helping this time?
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Glenn Beck is wrong about many Independents

2009-05-26T02:26:00.003-05:00

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I agree with Glenn Beck on most issues and appreciate his sincerity. But he's wrong to say that independents are socially liberal and have left the Republicans because they are too conservative. That's just plain wrong. I'm a socially conservative independent who drifted away from the Republican Party because they aren't conservative enough, and there are many of us who have done so.

I think his guest, who wrote the book "independent nation," must be socially liberal and saw what he wanted to see in the independent movement. Either that, or he's claiming they are liberal because that's the what he wants us to think.

It is wrong for Glenn and his guest to assume that many of the Tea Party participants are socially liberal. There were no polls taken on those issues at the Tea Parties, which were billed as non-partisan so as not to make the social controversies an issue. So it's impossible for Glen to assume that most of the participants were socially liberal.

Many of the Participants that I know are socially conservative. And many have left the Republican party because it isn't conservative enough. That's what being independent is all about. We're independent. Being "independent" isn't a party with a platform. You CAN'T label us one way or the other.

Being independent means that when we do vote, we vote for the person we think will represent us the best, no matter what party they are in. So it turned my stomach to hear Beck and his guest say that independents like Barak Obama. Not any of the independents I know. We don't like him on any aspect of the issues. We liked Sarah Palin. Some of us left the Republican Party because of the way they treated her. There are other Republican governors that we like as well, and we might still yet vote for them in the next elections. But the party and its leadership -phooey. We 're done with them.

If Glenn wants to claim the independents as a group that are in agreement with him on social issues, (as he refered to independents as "we"), then maybe those of us that are socially conservative will just have to find a different name for ourselves. Glenn - Don't worry about us co-opting what you feel is your movement. But we aren't going to become liberal simply because it is claimed that this is what independents are. We want someone to represent us that is truly conservative.
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Did Bristol's Classmate Post This?

2009-04-16T08:23:00.003-05:00

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Posted to the Draft Sarah Palin For Vice President site -

1akn said...
Adam, glad you're back. I'm new to your site, but thought you'd be a good person to start with getting info out about LEVI. I'm sick of seeing him lie on tv every day. That kid is a scam artist. Every day he's bragging about not having to take care of tripp--that bristol does it for him. and he didn't live with the palin's either. he crashed their for a few weeks. He complains about not being able to get any sleep b/c the baby kept him up at night. He's always sitting in the Carrs parking lot in his big red truck with a blonde girl--and it aint his weird, obsessive sister with the tattoo of his name on her wrist. It's some freakin sophomore. Who paid for that trip to tyra? He's flat a** broke. His mom has 6 felony drug charges. He aint working. He aint getting his highschool diploma. Bristol could do so much better. Atleast she tried to be polite when she went on tv once. And she's going to graduate with us in June.
April 8, 2009 6:56 PM
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Ban Prayer and All Expression in College Faculty Offices

2009-04-11T07:40:00.002-05:00

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According to the San Francisco Chronicle, two students claim that the College of Alameda cited them for "disruptive behavior" and issued suspension notices to them after they had prayed with an ill teacher in a faculty office in December 2007.

The Chronicle reports that U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the women can proceed with a lawsuit against the Peralta Community College District because students have the right to pray in private outside the classroom. Their attorney was quoted as saying that they aren't seeking damages apart from attorneys' fees. All they want is an acknowledgment of their right to pray, an apology, and all disciplinary action to be rescinded. But the district's attorneys argue that faculty offices are "places for teaching and learning and working" not "protests, demonstrations, prayer" or other disruptive activities.

How stupid that the District would try to cover their hatred toward Christians by putting prayer in the same line as protests and demonstrations in faculty offices. What jerks. If prayer is considered as disruptive as protests and demonstrations, then they need to make their rule cover everything else as well. Arguments between staff, Birthday parties, Holiday decorations, listening to the radio, personal conversations, telephone calls to Mom, and muttering under ones breath. Unbelievable.
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Petition Against Obama's Reckless Legislation

2009-04-06T00:47:00.006-05:00

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I recieved this letter from a friend today:

"I am sending this out to some people on my list who profess to adhere to Christian principles or those principles that are similar. As you know, America is in trouble. We now have an administration that is taking advantage of this economic crisis to fund social re-engineering projects under the pretense of “economic stimulus” with no financial basis from which to draw the money being handed out. We are seeing a huge percentage of funds in these early hand-outs going to efforts that will continue to erode the freedoms we now enjoy.

"I normally do not send out a petition like this. In fact, I am often skeptical of them or their effectiveness, but my mind is changing. We are called to peacefully petition our government for righteousness and justice. This is an opportunity. A simple signature on this petition is one more effort to accomplish that. And, passing it on to others you know with similar adherence to the principles of a limited republic established by our founders will allow them to express their position.

"Though we would like to separate abortion, the subject of this petition, from “the economy”, we cannot. And the administration is showing it will not. As Francis Schafer taught us more than 30 years ago, “Abortion leads to infanticide and infanticide leads to genocide.” It happened in Germany and is happening in America.

"With the unfolding of current events as rapidly as they are, this is our first step in resistance to evil. The next step is currently brewing around the United States. I am reading of “tea parties” (open resistance to this massive government spending and taxing) that are already scheduled in over 2,000 cities across the US for tax day, April 15. If we ignore our government‘s actions via methods like this simple petition, we will then be given the opportunity to also ignore the increasingly open rebellion that is brewing. It is best to peacefully resist in favor of freedom, always first and whenever possible. I fear that if we do not, we will be facing the same thing German citizens did prior to Hitler’s rise to power. That rise became unstoppable because the church not only stood aside but often endorsed Mr. Hitler’s philosophies and ultimately his actions of genocide. Few resisted and though there were others, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is the only name that comes to mind. Do I say genocide is coming to America? All I can say is that we are following the same trail and I believe we need to resist every attempt to take our freedoms away unless, like the German people and the illustrated frog in slowly heating water, we wake up one day seeing a cauldron around us and wonder whatever might have caused this?

"If you do not live in the States, I suggest you forward this on to those who you know do.

"President Elect Obama said during the campaign that one of the first things he wanted to do was sign Foca (Freedom of Choice Act) into law.

"Foca would lift all restrictions on abortions.

It would force all faith based hospitals to perform abortions. Christian Doctors would be forced to do abortions even if they felt it was wrong, because it would now be law. The Parents of younger girls would not need to be notified. And lots more. We need to sign the petition against F.O.C.A. Please go to http://www.fightfoca.com/ and sign the petition. Thank you.
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Sincerely,

Russ Wahl"

OMG! Obama and his People are Destroying US

2009-04-02T11:24:00.002-05:00

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Starting with Obama's decision to move the 2010 census into the White House where Obama's people can change the numbers, to firing an Auto CEO - the CEO of a private company - to telling companies what they can and can't do with their legal contracts, telling car companies what kinds of cars they can and can't make, telling the car companies that the White House will decide who the members of the car company board will be, and finally the bail out money that frightened banks now can not return even if they want to.

Now there is talk of mandatory "volunteer" programs for teen agers. Knowing a wide spectrum of teenagers and their personalities, I have to wonder how the government would make a "volunteer" program work; ie who would supervise it, what kind of "educating" would be included, how far they would go to enforce participation, and how much the volunteer program would end up costing.

The current social climate is more scary to me that the global warming climate.

Obama's behavior in London has been absolutely embarrassing. He thinks he's not only the king of America, but that the rest of the world should bow to him as well. I can't believe he's given the Queen of England an ipod with his speeches on it. What a self-absorbed child! His driver had also parked in such a way that blocked other vehicles from entering, including prince Charles' car! He had to be told to move it. And then Obama's wife, against protocol, put her arm around the Queen of England! The rest of the world leaders certainly seem to be irritated by Obama at this G20 conference.

Obama and his people are on a road to doing serious damage to our country. They are children playing adult. We all need to scream at our Congress people and Obama, and do it right away because they are voting on the budget today or tomorrow - and get as many others to scream as well.

For a complete list of contact information for Congress, Obama, his cabinet, and 40 top Obama aides, go to www.Data-aide.com. Get the Contact info and share it with your friends.

This administration is going to continue to steam roll over everyone unless people start to scream. Wake up People!
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Welcome To Bristol Palin's newborn

2009-01-02T01:26:00.003-06:00

Offering Bristol, Levi and the Palin family congratulations for the birth of their little boy/grandchild. Praise God for every new baby brought into the world.

God Bless the Palin family!

To Clint and Heather Larson

2008-12-22T07:48:00.001-06:00

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Clint and Heather - I don't want to devastate you further. I wish I could assure you that your baby will be okay, but I can't.

The Leech Lake Reservation is so bad, that even my husband, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe from Leech Lake, took our kids far from it and wrote in his will that he did NOT want the grand kids that he had legal custody of (through ICWA, of course) to go back there when he died.

He passed away four years ago and how I managed to keep his grand kids is still a mystery to us. The Lord definitely had his hand in it. We imagine that the Mpls. Star and Tribe series, "The Lost Youth Of Leech Lake," which came out just two months before he passed away also brought such bad publicity to the tribe that they simply decided not to fight with us.

I strongly urge you to continue to fight for this little boy. It will be hard enough for him having to deal with the affects of having been born with substances in his system. But being in Cass Lake on top of it....

You said on the news that you want to fight to make sure this doesn't happen to any more children. We are also trying to fight for the children. I have a grandson now who, at 1/4 blood quantum, is enrollable. If anything should happen to his parents, I WILL fight the tribe tooth and nail and I WILL defy the law if it came down to it. We would like to work with you in your battle.
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Sarah Palin's Church torched - but no one is hurt.

2008-12-15T01:00:00.002-06:00

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Friday night, Sarah Palin's church in Wasilla was torched by an arsonist. The Wasilla Bible Church has an estimated $1 million worth of damage and the Wasilla fire chief has said that the fire was "definitely suspicious."

The anger directed at Sarah Palin during the campaign was unwarranted. Apparently, a lot of people hate Christians.

But Sarah has said to have faith in "the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good."

Pastor Larry Kroon told KTUU TV, "I've had a lot worst calls at night. When one of your parishioners dies or loses a child, it's a whole different thing than the building's on fire."

Give thanks to God for everything. Praise God for His goodness. Sarah is right, good will come out of this evil.

Please pray protection for Sarah, her family and her church and that God come against those that would try to hurt them. But also pray for those that set the fire. They must have a lot of anger and pain in their hearts to have done something like this. They really need Jesus Christ.

So many people in our country are lost without Jesus Christ. It's the only explanation for the amount of anger they have when confronted with the Holy Spirit, indwelling in a person such as Sarah. She's someone they can't touch - at least not that they can see. She doesn't react to their barbs. So they just get angrier and angrier.

Dear God, please Bless Sarah, and give her - our Esther - as well as her husband - her protector - all the strength and wisdom necessary for the job you have set before them.

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Today is "Day to Work for Pay!"

2008-12-10T01:00:00.002-06:00

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I'm excited to go to work today! What a beautiful day to wake up, have a cup of joe and drive to work. Doesn't matter to me if it's snowing and cold or rainy and wet or hot and dry. Every day that I am blessed with privilege to go to work and make a living is a great day. Thank God I live in a country where so many jobs are available, so many grocery stores are so well stocked with food, and where I have the freedom to pass from town to town without being stopped by road side guards. I am not in high danger of being kidnapped, or car bombed, or even stoned.
Praise God! We live in a great Country.

Further more, I am so happy seeing the wonderful nativity scenes depicting the historical couple, Joseph and Mary with their little baby Jesus. This is truly a time for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again for us.

It's snowing where we live. I love celebrating a white Christmas.

May God continue to bless and be with us here in America, guiding us in all that we do.
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For Immediate Release: Lawsuit re: National Bison Range

2008-12-09T01:00:00.001-06:00

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LAWSUIT TO BLOCK TRIBAL TAKEOVER OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Bison Range Deal Cedes “Inherently Federal” Functions and Bars Public Oversight

Washington, DC — A Bush administration deal giving operational control over the National Bison Range to a Montana tribe for the next three years is illegal, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). This precedent-setting arrangement has national repercussions, as another 18 refuges in 8 states, constituting 80% of the entire National Wildlife Refuge System, are eligible for similar tribal agreements. So are 57 National Parks in 19 states, including parks such as Redwood, Glacier, Voyageurs, Olympic and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Plaintiffs bringing the suit feature four former Bison Range refuge managers whose tenures span 40 years, a former Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System and Nathaniel Reed, former Assistant Interior Secretary during the Nixon and Ford administrations, as well as a current Bison Range employee whose job is being displaced. The suit cites violations of federal laws which –

Forbid outsourcing “inherently federal functions” as well as require that operational control of all refuges remain with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service;

Ensure public access to financial and other records maintained by federal contractors and mandate a full and open review of environmental impacts of major federal actions; and

Shield federal employees from job loss at the direction of groups outside the federal government and guarantee return rights once the agreement ends.

“The National Bison Range agreement improperly contracts out operation of a major federal facility without adequate oversight to protect taxpayers,” stated PEER senior counsel Paula Dinerstein, who filed the action today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “Ceding substantial control over a national refuge requires an act of Congress and cannot legally be given away in a closed-door deal.”

Negotiated with top U.S. Interior Department officials, the Bison Range agreement transfers all jobs, except for a Refuge Manager and deputy, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). This agreement, which takes full effect in January, is a successor to a more limited FY 2005 agreement which the Fish & Wildlife Service summarily rescinded in December 2006 citing a host of performance-related issues on the part of the Tribe, as well as reported mistreatment of FWS employees by the CSKT.

“This arrangement seems designed to settle a political debt rather than enhance the refuge mission,” Dinerstein added. “In fact, the agreement itself concedes that wildlife-related services will likely suffer.”

Called the crown jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Bison Range is one of the nation’s oldest refuges and celebrated its centennial this past May. .

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See the PEER suit
http://www.peer.org/docs/nwr/08_8_12_bison_range_complaint_.pdf
Look at who are the key plaintiffs
http://www.peer.org/docs/nwr/08_8_12_bison_range_case_plaintiffs.pdf
Learn more about the Bison Range agreement
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1105

ALSO SEE: Dying in Indian Country - The National Bison Range

Call Your State or Federal Legislator Today and Tell Them What to Do.

2008-12-08T01:30:00.000-06:00

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Being elected to Congress or the State Legislature is a wonderful and exciting opportunity, but it brings with it heavy responsibility.

With the pressures today's seat holders carry, it would be much easier to submit to what seems most popular rather than what is truly best. I pray that our legislators remember their constituents and what is their real needs are.

The proper care of all constituents is an extremely heavy responsibility and one that I admit I am grateful I don't have to carry. It's all too easy when under stress to give up, give in and just let something slide. They need to be reminded and encouraged to do the work your friends and neighbors want done.

Hurry now, if you haven't already, and contact your US Senator, Congressman, and State Legislator about the issues that are very important to you. They are putting bills together right now for the 2009 legislative sessions. They need to hear from you. Some states only allow their legislators to submit a certain number of bills. Make sure that your bill is one of them.
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Wal-mart Line-Jumpers were Horrible, Selfish Jerks

2008-12-06T08:01:00.002-06:00

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The fate of a Wal-mart employee, trambled by shoppers the day after Thanksgiving, is now being used to bolster the personal agendas of various interests.

Parade magazine blamed "shopoholics." As if it some type of illness that bears no responsibility.

A column in The New York Post blamed "anxiety about the economy." Again, not the shopper's fault.

The New York Times, consistent idiots that they are, blamed President Bush for encouraging people to continue bolstering the economy after 9/11.

Some people blame the Nassau police. Admittedly, people would probably behave differently if a police car was parked near the entrance and a couple of uniforms stood on the sidewalk. But are the police supposed to man every store that opens early after Thanksgiving, and is it their job to do so?

Fox News contributor, Judith Miller, wrote, "Attorney Hecht, targeting Wal-Mart and other companies, was quick to absolve shoppers of blame. "They are not responsible."

Miller went on, "Perhaps greed is not criminal and behaving like a crazed animal is understandable in light of tough economic times. But I think many Americans would disagree, even avid shoppers like me. Blaming "capitalism" for such conduct, or diluting Wal-Mart’s responsibility through psycho-babble about the addiction of shopping only underscores the injustice of Mr. Damour’s fate."

Wal-mart DOES bear responsibility for crowd control. One method used by some stores in the past was to hand out tickets in the waiting crowd - 100 tickets for the 100 low-priced TV's, 75 tickets for that microwave. That way, the 101st person waiting for the TV and 76th person waiting for the microwave could go home. Without a ticket, there's no need to rush. However, that wouldn't get serve the purpose of having "door busters" in the first place - which is to get as many people in the door as possible in the hope that they will purchase regularily priced merchandise as well.

Still, crowd control is the responsibility of Wal-mart and other stores, and if police can't be there, then the stores need to hire a trained, private security firm. Their employees are not crowd control specialists and shouldn't be put in the position to be so. I have a son and a son-in law working at Wal-mart, and although those two guys are pretty big, I wouldn't want either of them to be standing in front of a rampaging crowd.

Finally, YES, some, but not all, within the crowd itself DO bear responsibility. Specifically, those that sat in their cars waiting for the doors to open, and then rushed the front of the line. My daughter stood in the cold in a line in North Dakota, only to have a crowd of people rush the line at opening there, as well. She said anger surged through the front line as those waiting patiently were pushed aside by line jumpers. She thought a fight was going to break out and felt fear at the pushing.

Jerks. Selfish, greedy, horrible people. Yes, they ARE totally responsible for their behavior, and if there is any way to discover who they are, a way should be found to punish them - perhaps something to do with behavior that incites a riot and results in injury or death.

The shoppers that stood properly in line waiting for the doors to open, but were pushed through the doors by the horrible greedy people that rushed the line, were victims along with Mr. Damour. While there were people in the crowd that couldn't care less about Mr. Damour, most people in America do have a conscience. Some of them are going to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of having seen Mr. Damour fall. They might have even felt themselves stumble over him, but under the crush of the crowd were unable to stop or do anything about it. Fearful of admitting they were among those that were pushed across Mr. Damour, they will always feel that guilt and will always wonder what, if anything, they could have or should have done differently.

If there is anyway to tell who waited in the cars and then rushed the front of the line, these are the people to prosecute.
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