http://www.basicchristian.org/ Christian Information, Links, Resources and Free Downloads en-US Copyright &copy 2004-2007 David Anson Brown David_Anson_Brown@BasicChristian.org David@BasicChristian.org http://www.basicchristian.org/BCI_Logo5.jpg http://www.BasicChristian.org/ BasicChristian.us http://rss2pdf.com?url=http://www.BasicChristian.org/BasicChristian_Extended.rss Generates a current PDF file of the 2009 Extended Basic Christian info-news feed. http://www.BasicChristian.org/BasicChristian_Extended.rss The a current Extended Basic Christian info-news feed. http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/BasicChristian.pdf Basic Christian Full Content PDF Version 2008. The BasicChristian.org most complete resource. http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/BasicChristian.CHM Possibly the best Basic Christian resource! Download it and give it a try! Includes the Red Letter Edition Holy Bible KJV 1611 Version. To download Right-Click then Select Save Target _As... http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/JesusWalk.pdf An Ancient Holy Week Timeline, Bible Study, Devotional & Personal Journal for Easter Week 2008. ... Follow along with Jesus in the current Resurrection (Easter) holiday dates of 2008 during the last Ten days leading up to and including His Cross and His Glorious Resurrection. It also marvelously explains and demonstrates that Jesus did indeed die and remain deceased for a total of 3 days and 3 nights and that He then Resurrected, returned from death, just as He prophesied that He would. This is a Personal Study-Journal encouraging the reader to include their own devotions during this 10 day journey with Jesus. ... It will change your life! http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1008467&item_no=199199 Abandoned to God: Oswald Chambers Story DVD 199199 -->From locations in England and Scotland, David McCasland shows you some of the places and describes key events and people that influenced the young Scottish preacher. Also includes an interview with Chambers' daughter Kathleen who shares memories of her father. Come away with a better understanding of this influential man of God. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330192,00.html Amid growing calls for his resignation, including from members of the General Synod of the Church of England, Dr. Rowan Williams hastily backtracked, claiming he had never called for a parallel jurisdiction of Sharia for Muslims. But his moral authority, already undermined by the dispute over homosexuality, looked further in jeopardy as prelates from overseas provinces of the Anglican Communion joined in the criticism. Weblogs and other sites have been overwhelmed by comments from the public, Anglicans and nonAnglicans, the vast majority being highly critical of Williams and his apparent appeasement of Islamism. The Prince of Wales, Britain’s foremost champion of good relations with Islam, has distanced himself from the Archbishop’s views. Privately, he is concerned that the speech is in danger of being taken out of context and distilled into scaremongering headlines. Although the Queen is head of the Church, her spokeswoman declined to comment. http://f2a.org/radio/archive2003.htm Guests: Gary Glenn, Peter LaBarbera, and William Murray. Topic: Romney drops out of race - conservatives rally behind Huckabee. http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080209/NATION/963183699/ "If someone had suggested a year ago and a half ago that we would be welcoming Mitt Romney as a potential leader of the conservative movement, no one would have believed it," Mr. Keene said to open the meeting. "But over the last year and a half, he has convinced us he is one of us and walks with us." ... Jay Sekulow, a Romney volunteer and chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, told attendees that Mr. Romney is the "turnaround specialist" the conservative movement needs. "The movement needs someone of Ronald Reagan's stature and Romney could fill that role," Mr. Sekulow told The Washington Times yesterday. Hanging over the extraordinary meeting, held immediately after Mr. Romney bowed out of the Republican nomination race, was a mood that ranged from skepticism to cold hostility toward Mr. McCain. http://www.newsweek.com/id/109478 In his pursuit of the presidency, Mitt Romney held fast to his Mormon faith, though his religion remains controversial with evangelicals and some other Christians. But his determined (and ultimately futile) wooing of evangelicals led him to make some statements that didn't quite square with Mormon beliefs and culture. And the effort itself may have deepened the impression of him as inauthentic--even to some fellow Mormons. ... Romney's failed courtship of evangelicals was predictable, Oman says, given that for many evangelicals, "Mormons are anathema--not only on theological grounds [but because to evangelicals] there is something uniquely disreputable about being a Mormon. I really don't think there's anything you can say that is going to convince these people to forgive you for being a Latter-day Saint. I didn't see there was any way he was going to get those votes." So even while the attempts to sound mainstream failed to persuade evangelicals, they also made some of Romney's fellow Mormons uneasy. "Rather than the individual little comments that may have startled Mormons, I think what troubled [fellow LDS members] was a sense that he was pandering," says Bushman. "To try to be something you're not just doesn't work," he says. "I think it was a moral error, as well as a political error." https://www.visionvideo.com/detail.taf?_function=detail&a_product_id=32340 George Müller (1805-1898) was a German playboy who found Christ and gave his life to serve Christ unreservedly. His mission was to rescue orphans from the wretched street life that enslaved so many children in England during the time of Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist. Müller did rescue, care for, feed, and educate such children by the thousands. The costs were enormous for such a great work. Yet, amazingly, he never asked anyone for money. Instead he prayed, and his children never missed a meal. This docu-drama presents his life story and shows how God answered prayer and met their needs. It is a story that raises foundational questions regarding faith and finances. Also included are two special documentaries on Müller and some of the lives affected by his work. http://basicchristian.us/CMS/index.php The 2008 Presidential Primary had become the main news event of late 2007 through early 2008. Basic Christian as a theological ministry would have preferred not to get so involved in political issues but with the LDS Mormon religion falsely claiming to be a Christian denomination; an LDS candidate forwarding the LDS agenda; and far too many Christian ministries supporting that LDS agenda Basic Christian felt the need to rise to the challenge and provide an alternate voice to the mainstream, diluted, religious culture of the day. The country soundly rejected a notion of LDS validity and surprisingly non-Christians seemed more discerning and more weary of the LDS claims than some Christians who should have known better. Love, truth, freedom and reality are always the greatest accomplishments of mankind, none of which can be accomplished without a true and accurate knowledge of Jesus Christ and of His divine ministry. The LDS fables have distorted and manipulated Jesus into an unrecognizable figure and it is our Christian duty to always give a reasonable and accurate depiction of the hope and eternal life that reside within the true and unique Jesus Christ of Nazareth. – God bless you, David Anson Brown http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/02/07/romney-to-suspend-campaign-reports.aspx Romney made the announcement in front of an influential conservative political group in Washington, saying that he was withdrawing because America was at war in Iraq and he would rather support McCain as nominee rather than make it easier for the Democratic nominee to win. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080204/31077_Born_Again_Christians_Favor_Democratic_Candidates%2C_Says_Survey.htm A surprising new survey out Monday found that more born again Christian voters said they would support a Democratic candidate than a Republican candidate, breaking the long tradition of born-again support for the GOP. The new Barna study shows that if the general election was held today, 40 percent of all born again adults who are likely to vote in November would choose the Democratic candidate, and only 29 percent would choose the Republican candidate. The remaining 28 percent are currently unsure whom they would support, preferring to vote for a specific candidate rather than strictly along party lines. http://blog.mrm.org/2008/02/can-you-guess-where-this-is-from/ The first to correctly guess what this is and where exactly it is from gets a free DVD copy of The Gospel of John. ... Okay, here’s the only hint I’ll give: It is found within Salt Lake City, but it represents something outside of Salt Lake City. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsXzHLiHTOU Even though Mormon wards, stakes and temples are completely absent of crosses, it's chock full of occultic and Masonic symbols. Most disturbing though, is Mormonism's blatant use of the inverted Satanic pentagram. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/07/romney_faces_long_odds_in_bid_to_overtake_a_surging_mccain/ Mitt Romney, who prides himself on "wallowing in the data" before making tough decisions, now confronts an unforgiving mathematical landscape of delegate counts, polls, and popular vote tallies that suggest the odds are overwhelmingly against his presidential bid. John McCain's sweep on Super Tuesday of winner-take-all states in the Northeast and big states such as California gave him a commanding lead in delegates - 703 of the 1,191 needed to clinch the nomination, compared with 293 for Romney and 190 for Mike Huckabee, according to an Associated Press tally. ... McCain, meanwhile, is looking to cement his front-runner status, finish off his rivals before the March 4 contests, and start uniting the fractured GOP behind him. National polls of Republicans show McCain with a commanding lead, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/mikehuckabee/story/0,,2253377,00.html Mitt Romney, the clearest loser from Super Tuesday, today gathered his advisers for an early-morning meeting in Boston to review the future of his campaign although his team insisted the fight for the Republican nomination will continue. With a disappointing haul of six victories, two of which were in his "home" states of Massachusetts and Utah, the businessman-turned-politician fell victim to a southern resurgence by rival conservative Mike Huckabee. ... "Last night was almost devastating, I would say, for Romney," said Johnson. ... Although Romney is the wealthiest candidate in the race, he is likely to think carefully about committing more personal funds to mass telephone canvassing and to television advertisements. The Washington Post reported that his campaign's has spent $1.16m for each delegate it has secured - a rate which means it would cost Romney some $1.3bn to win the nomination. Huckabee, in contrast, has won 20 delegates for every $1m of outlay. http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/romney-to-meet-with-congressional-supporters-2008-02-06.html Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), coming off a disappointing Super Tuesday, will meet with his congressional supporters Thursday afternoon, sources told The Hill. Romney will meet with the members who endorsed his run at the Capitol Hill Club, shortly after addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference’s (CPAC) annual convention. As results were still being tabulated Tuesday night, speculation grew that Romney might be on his way out of the nomination battle after Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) built on his front-runner status and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee showed surprising strength in a number of Southern states. Romney told assembled supporters Tuesday night that he planned to continue his run all the way to the convention, but rumors soon surfaced that the former governor was set to meet with his senior staff to discuss the future of the campaign. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/romney-prepared-to-keep-on-going/ In a measure of just how dire the situation is for the campaign, Mr. Romney's advisers have been discussing the existence of three different categories of delegates: those that have been already been awarded and bound to a candidate; those that have been promised to someone but are not technically bound; and those that have not yet been allocated. They are mapping out a farfetched possibility premised on conservative fears continuing to fester against Mr. McCain, which they hope fuels a series of wins for Mr. Romney and then perhaps get him to a point where he has enough momentum to wrest some of those promised but not officially bound delegates into his column at a contested convention. Mr. Romney appeared to even allude to this potential route in his speech on Tuesday night, promising to take the contest "all the way to the convention." http://www.therevelationpress.com/book.htm This book is nothing less than Mike Moody's open letter to college fraternity brother Mitt Romney, the final chapter in a correspondence begun between the two former friends in 1999 ... There are many newsworthy observations in the book - as well as some startling (but well-sourced in 10 pages of end-notes) allegations about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), better known to the world as the Mormon Church. Below are a few of those insights, observations and well-documented allegations that collectively represent Mitt Romney's "Swift Boat" moment - this is all based on well-documented facts - many of the documents semi-secret documents from the LDS Church's own archives and libraries. http://www.eyeon08.com/2006/12/09/romneys-real-problem-with-the-log-cabin-letter/ Romney’s sold himself as a conservative to leaders of the religious right, and now conservative leaders are concerned that he misled them. That is the importance of these quotes. Clearly what is happening is that people are circling back with this letter and re-evaluating and asking him questions. This is not the last time this will happen. There will be statements on abortion, more statements on homosexuality, etc. Each time another letter or statement comes out and gets this level of scrutiny, it is going to lower the trust of the leaders of these groups. Romney will lose credibility over time both as a conservative, but also as a leader. Republicans like leaders that don’t act on the direction of the wind. Romney will have trouble taking that stance. These kinds of things give cover to people anxious about "the Mormon Question". They are uncomfortable with that, but willing to tolerate it because he’s a real conservative. But now that they are not completely sure that they can trust what he says about where he is on the issues, their concerns about the religious foundations for his positions can also become an issue. As one religious leader said — and Evangelicals for Mitt quoted — “It’s not whether I could vote for a Mormon, it’s whether I could vote for this Mormon." Indeed, the question goes from, "I have concerned about trusting this man," to "I have concerns about trusting this Mormon." http://www.boston.com/news/daily/11/romneyletterbaywindows.pdf "As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever that as we seek to establish full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent (Sen. Edward M. Kennedy)," http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2006/12/romney_spoke_of.html "As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever that as we seek to establish full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent," Romney wrote, referring to US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. ... Among bloggers, Kathleen Lopez downplays the recent Romney disclosures. Andrew Sullivan asks "Was he lying then or is he lying now? What does he really believe?" On AmericaBlog, a poster says: "This almost as fun as Mary Cheney pregnant." And Town Hall's Dean Barnett offers a bit of explanation here. http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8182621 Riding a wave of votes across four time zones on Super Tuesday, John McCain celebrated the biggest presidential primary day in the nation's history by taking a commanding lead in the race for the Republican nomination. ... The battle for Super Tuesday among Republicans revealed ideological fault lines as the party moves toward picking a leader to succeed President Bush. McCain has tried to woo conservatives and moderates, describing the GOP as "the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan." http://www.b-29s-over-korea.com/book_reports/The-John-McCain-Story01.html This book report covers one of the greatest pieces of literature, and is a must read by every man of military background. It is a serious, utterly gripping account of faith, fathers, and the military. John McCain, one of the most admired leaders in the United States Government, tells a story that, in the words of NEWSWEEK, "makes the other presidential candidates look like pygmies". John McCain learned about life and honor from his father and grandfather, both four star admirals in the U.S. Navy. This story covers their lives, their heroism, and the ways that sons are shaped and enriched by their fathers. John McCain's grandfather was one of the Navy's greatest commanders, and led the strongest aircraft carrier force of the THIRD FLEET in key battles during WWII. John's father followed a similar path, equally distinguished by heroic service in the Navy as a submarine commander during WWII, rising to the rank of four star admiral. The McCains became the first family in American History to achieve that distinction. John McCain Jr. became commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam war. It was in the Vietnam war that John McCain III faced the most difficult challenge of his life. As a naval aviator he was shot down over Hanoi in 1967. His story tells of torture beyond belief, inhumane treatment by his Vietnamese captors during five and a half years of imprisonment. http://cuttingedge.org/newsletters/011608.html Did you know that the Republicans changed the stars in their official elephant logo to two stars upward in the year 2000, the very year in which Skull & Bones George Bush was "elected" President? This Republican logo is the traditional elephant logo as this book front page cover demonstrates. The book is entitled, "The Pictorial History of the Republican Party", by Beryl Frank, published in 1980. As you can see, the stars on this elephant logo are the same as the traditional stars on an American flag, i.e., with one point upward. This style of Pentagram is a "good", White Magic type of star, the same type of star as in the traditional American flag. Now, carefully notice the new GOP elephant logo. The three stars are the Goatshead of Mendez Pentagram, with two points upward. This style of Pentagram is the "evil", Black Magick type of star. The Illuminati program for their Masonic Christ (Antichrist) is most definitely the Black Magick variety. The plans these Globalists have for this country and this world is literally the "worst case" scenario, from the planned destruction of 66% of all humanity, to the dissolution of every elected government on earth, to replacing those governments with the most repressive dictatorship in world history. This dictatorship will be supported by unprecedented level of modern technology, which will allow government authorities to monitor nearly everyone in the world at every moment of the day. This Plan fulfills prophecies exactly, especially those in the Book of Revelation and Daniel. When was this Republican elephant logo changed? The change occurred in the year 2000 ("The Party of Satan", Radio Left, Mon 17 Dec 2007, quoting the Thom Hartmann Show, of December 17). This is the year George W. Bush (Jr.) was elevated to the White House, following one of the closest elections in American history, an election not decided until December 13, when the Supreme Court decided that Bush had beaten Gore in Florida. Therefore, at the time the country was electing its second Skull & Bones President, the Republican Party quietly changed the stars on its official Republican elephant logo to the Goatshead of Mendez star. This reality means that America has been officially and deliberately set on a course of extreme evil since that momentous year. Have we ever been so beset, from without and within, than in the last 6 years? This is just a partial listing of all the evils which have beset us since 2000: ... http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/02/03/funeral/ SALT LAKE CITY -- There's never a good time for a funeral, but the one Mitt Romney went to Saturday may have been particularly inopportune. In the closing stage of a campaign where he has tried his hardest to manage scrutiny of his faith, Mitt Romney, candidate for president, pulled himself off the campaign trail for the morning and became Mitt Romney, grieving Mormon. ... But the way Romney's campaign handled his visit betrayed a more complicated set of calculations. Attending the funeral was, in some ways, an even more public declaration of his faith than Romney's heavily hyped speech on religion in December; there was no on-message way for him to frame the service for a man Mormons called, in addition to president, "prophet, seer and revelator." Barely 170 years after the religion burst into existence, it still apparently makes some mainstream Christians squeamish enough that only Mormon bigwigs in national politics (Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada; Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, attending on behalf of President Bush; Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett) came to the service. Compare that to the scene three years ago, when Catholic and Protestant elected officials alike made a big show of flocking to Rome to see Pope John Paul II buried, and you can understand how the visit posed a dilemma for Romney. His campaign didn't exactly go out of its way to play up his trip this week. ... The church-owned Deseret Morning News led Saturday's paper with Romney's visit to the state -- giving it more attention than his own campaign did. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_missionary Missionaries are expected to pay their own expenses while on the mission, often with assistance from family and friends. In the past, each missionary paid his or her actual living expenses, but this approach created a disproportionate burden on missionaries who were assigned to more expensive areas of the world. In 1990, a new program was introduced to equalize the financial responsibility for each missionary and his or her family. Now, all young missionaries pay a flat monthly rate which is then redistributed according to regional costs of living. The cost of a mission as of January 2006 is USD$400 per month, which covers food, lodging, transportation, and personal items. As families now contribute to a general fund for missionary expenses, the sum is deductible under many nations' tax policies regarding charitable gifts. Young people in the church are encouraged to save money throughout their childhood and teenage years to pay for as much of their mission as they can, although nearly all receive assistance from parents, family, or friends.[citation needed] Missionaries who cannot save the required funds may obtain assistance from their home congregation or from a general missionary fund operated by the church and contributed to by Latter-day Saints around the world. Married couple missionaries are expected to pay their own costs. In many areas, church members often invite locally-assigned missionaries over for meals to help reduce the overall expenditures of the missionary program. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020401526.html?hpid=sec-religion The new leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, is taking the reins of the church at a time of unprecedented scrutiny and significant challenges. The selection of the tall, affable 80-year-old Monson as president of the 13 million-member Mormon church was announced yesterday. He replaces Gordon B. Hinckley, 97, who died last week after serving 12 years as president. The globe-trotting Hinckley left behind a denomination that is better known than it used to be -- partly because of the presidential candidacy of Republican Mitt Romney -- but also one whose growth rate has slowed and whose dropout rate troubles its leaders. Worldwide Mormon church membership grew as fast as 8 percent a year in the late 1980s, but the growth rate has decreased since 2000 {A decline due to the internet now exposing LDS propaganda, mainly from the ex-Mormon websites, and the Christian video-DVD Ministries instructing people in the differences between LDS and Christianity.} to less than 3 percent. The Seventh-day Adventist Church and some Pentecostal churches are among the denominations now growing faster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk6IJS3QN34 Added: February 02, 2008 Romney is using unethical campaign tactics to trick supporters of Mike Huckabee into thinking it is a 2 person race. ... And in his own voice. He basically called and told people Huckabee has dropped. That is unethical! Oh ya, a dirty trick and he is trying buy the white house. I am so mad..... I just want to break something! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!! http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gUnoUELAnv8Te0FILLUhFvCWqACgD8UJSD180 SCRIPT: McCain: "I'm John McCain and I approve this message." Announcer: "Mitt Romney on Ronald Reagan." Romney (from video clip): "Look, I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush." Announcer: "Mitt Romney was against Ronald Reagan, before he was for him." Romney (from video clip): "Yeah, I voted in the Democratic Primary...When I was running in '94, I wasn't trying to return to Reagan-Bush." Announcer: "If we can't trust Mitt Romney on Ronald Reagan, how can we trust him to lead America?" Romney: "I'm not running as the Republican view or a continuation of Republican values." KEY IMAGES: Ad opens with a photo of McCain shaking hands with Reagan. The clips of Romney appear against a faded backdrop of Reagan. As the announcer speaks, his words also appear on the screen. A caption explains that in 1992 Romney voted for Democrat Paul Tsongas for president. http://www.americablog.com/2007/02/romney-voted-for-tsongas-for-president.html Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said today he voted for Paul Tsongas in the 1992 Democratic presidential primary as a tactical maneuver aimed at finding the weakest opponent for incumbent President George Bush. ... "In Massachusetts, if you register as an independent, you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary," said Romney, who until he made an unsuccessful run for Senate in 1994 had spent his adult life as a registered independent. ... But 12 years ago, the Boston Globe reported that Romney was giving a different explanation for his vote for Tsongas. ... "Romney confirmed he voted for former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas in the state's 1992 Democratic presidential primary, saying he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton," the Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips wrote on February 3, 1994. http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJ-Azq9hh4MVMJI1DBZhrmmOk5XQ Mitt Romney launched what could be his last bid to stop John McCain from seizing the Republican presidential nomination. Meanwhile, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were locked in an increasingly tight race and battled for support in delegate-rich northeastern states ahead of Super Tuesday. Romney continued to hammer away at his assertion that McCain is weak on economic issues and is too much of a maverick for the conservative party. The former Massachusetts governor told voters in a series of coast-to-coast stops that hardcore Republicans were telling him, "We don't want Senator McCain; we want a conservative." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-romney25mar25,1,5176548.story Though Romney's policy shifts have become widely known, his meetings with activists for abortion rights and other causes - which have received far less attention - show he put much work into winning support from Massachusetts' liberal establishment only a few years ago. Making personal appeals on the state's liberal touchstones - gay rights, abortion rights and the environment - Romney developed a persuasive style, convincing audiences that his passion matched theirs and that he was committed to their causes. He impressed environmentalists by using rhetoric sharper than theirs. He met gay-rights activists on their turf, in a restaurant attached to a popular gay bar, and told skeptics he would be a "good voice" and a moderating force within his party. And in many cases, he said his commitment had been cemented by watching the suffering of someone dear to him: a grandchild whose asthma left him worried about air pollution; his wife's multiple sclerosis, which had him placing hope in embryonic stem cell research; the death of a distant relative {This now 'distant relative' has also been quoted as Romney's Aunt. I wonder if this tragic story is even true or if it's just another made for politics drama.} in an illegal abortion, convincing him that the procedure needed to remain legal. In discussing the need to combat global warming, he said he worried about his family's favorite vacation spot. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=60018 Last Wednesday Romney conveyed that "his campaign was not trying to purchase television advertisement" on Super Tuesday, when 20-plus states hold simultaneous nominating contests. Then he flip-flopped (again) the very next day, telling reporters, "I have authorized a seven-figure – I won't give you the exact number – but seven-figure advertising buy for our campaign." As one news agency put it, "One of Romney's greatest campaign strengths has been his deep pockets. A wealthy former businessman who has largely financed his own campaign …" The BBC described that Mitt "may be the only Republican candidate who can afford to buy advertising in major media markets ahead of Tuesday's poll." A couple months ago, he was spending $85,000 daily on presidential commercials. Over these past few days he spent millions more. The only concession for Mitt is that he is possibly being outspent in this particular inning by his Democrat opponents. But, then again, their money is largely donated by others, not funded by themselves. ... GOP candidate and former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee is the only presidential hopeful who is not spending recklessly or rashly ... As the Washington Post rightly noted, "Romney's money is his mojo: If he's not spending, he probably isn't winning." http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKxKwS4VpjaTYLI4Sb8oJWjrVTwgD8UJD6980 BOSTON (AP) — It's part of Mitt Romney's core narrative: Massachusetts, in the throes of a fiscal freefall, fell back on his CEO skills and turnaround wizardry to spark — in his words — "a dramatic reversal of state fortunes and a period of sustained economic expansion." It's a rosy opinion of Massachusetts' economy that few in the state share. Instead, observers say, the state's recovery from a disastrous 2001 recession has been tepid at best, and Romney gives himself more credit than deserved on job creation and balancing the state budget. Romney says that by the time he left office, the unemployment rate in Massachusetts was lower and the state had recovered nearly 80,000 jobs from the low point of the recession. A fuller look reveals a state still struggling to recoup the jobs washed away in the recession, while much of the rest of the country has already sailed past pre-recession highs. According to state unemployment numbers, the net number of jobs added during the four years Romney was in office was 24,400 — a fraction of the total of about 200,000 lost during the recession. Although the number of new jobs steadily climbed during Romney's four years in office — from a loss of 54,700 in his first year to a gain of 34,700 in his final year — most of the rest of the country rebounded much faster. http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/dnc-romney-hangs-hat-credibility-really_460323_1.html WASHINGTON, Jan 31, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Last night's debate was yet another reminder of why smooth talking Mitt Romney keeps wracking up the silver and bronze medals, but just can't seem to make it across the finish line. After losses in almost every critical state heading up to next Tuesday, Romney's campaign has apparently decided that his last hope is to try to re-brand himself yet again -- this time as an "authentic conservative." After all the damage Romney's flip-flops have done to his credibility, hanging his hat on authenticity might not be the best plan. Exit polls in every early state have shown that voters who want a candidate who believes what he says are rejecting Romney: He was the top choice of just 7 percent of those voters in South Carolina, 14 percent in Iowa, 15 percent in New Hampshire, and 19 percent in Florida. Even in Michigan, a state where his home field advantage helped him win, Romney was the top choice of fewer than one in four voters who wanted a candidate who says what he believes. [CNN Exit Polls, 1/29/08] http://vintage.aomin.org/Quotations.html "...orthodox Christian views of God are Pagan rather than Christian." (Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B.H. Roberts, p.116) "...the God whom the 'Christians' worship is a being of their own creation..." (Apostle Charles W. Penrose, JD 23:243) "The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God." (Brigham Young, JD 8:171) "What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute best." (John Taylor, JD 13:225 "What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing...Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God." (John Taylor, JI) 13:225) "Believers in the doctrines of modern Christendom will reap damnation to their souls (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.177) ... "...brother Joseph B. Nobles once told a Methodist priest, after hearing him describe his god, that the god they worshiped was the "Mormon's" Devil-a being without a body, whereas our God has a body, parts and passions." (Brigham Young, JD 5:331). http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/Christian_vs_Mormon.pdf Mormonism (LDS) practices and engages in the longtime deceitful and illegal marketing practice of "bait and switch" to offer - bait the customer with one product and then through excuses, deceit and manipulations to steer the customer into a different inferior product. In this case Mormons universally offer Jesus, the Bible and a "truer Christianity" and then in a dishonest way switching from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible to the teachings of Joseph Smith and others. The Mormon Church is deliberately trying to avoid their true identity as a Mormon cult and is instead representing themselves as something they are not, which is true Christian followers of Jesus. Following are a few considerations as to why Mormonism is a cult and in no way resembles Christianity. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=60022 "Most people are unaware of the way Massachusetts came to adopt same-sex marriage," the former Reagan administration diplomat said. "They think the state's Supreme Judicial Court forced it to happen. That's incorrect." "The court merely issued an opinion stating that, in its view, the existing marriage law was unconstitutional because it failed to allow persons of the same sex to marry," Keyes said. "The court then gave the legislature 180 days to 'take such action as it may deem appropriate in light of this opinion' – implicitly telling lawmakers to come up with a new marriage statute." Noting that the legislature did not act within the court-imposed 180-day window, refusing to let the judiciary infringe on its law-making powers, Keyes said the only reason same-sex marriage became the law was because of Romney's actions. "Mitt Romney pushed through same-sex marriage all by himself, in the absence of any authority or requirement to do so, having a complete misunderstanding of his role as governor and of the significance of the court's opinion," said Keyes. "The court never ordered him to act, nor did he have the right to act, since the legislature never changed the law. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59509 The letter also criticized those in the conservative community who are supporting Romney, accusing them of "gross malpractice, ruthless ambition and dishonesty." "Behind the empty gestures and deceptive rhetoric, Romney was not pro-life or a defender of marriage by any stretch of the imagination. He was a disaster," said O'Gorman, of the board for Massachusetts Citizens for Life. He said Romney "deceptively" claims to have been awarded a pro-life award from the group. "The award Romney arranged for himself with the local Pioneer Valley Chapter was the Mullins Award for Political Leadership, not a pro-life award and not approved by MCFL's state board of directors," he said. "We're blowing the whistle to warn voters..." "For some bizarre reason the mere fact that Romney's never been divorced and goes to a temple regularly is supposed to negate the fact that he's extremely liberal," said Harvey. "He used his Republican and Mormon identity to push through radical policies on gay marriage, abortion and pro-homosexual school programs that Ted Kennedy always dreamed about." The Romney campaign repeatedly has declined to respond to WND requests for comment on such issues, including a failure to respond to multiple requests for a one-on-one interview in which the candidate would have been allowed to give his definitive perspective of the issues being raised. http://www.walkingintruth.org/Walkingintruth/devotions/wit2008/feburary_2008/wit020108.htm The other day I received an interesting e-mail from a ministry online. It included a copy of an e-mail from a Pastor in Berlin/Germany. He sent a list of the 12 things that Satanists are regularly praying for. I felt impressed of the Lord to send this to y'all so that we could take what they pray for and reverse the curse - so to speak. Read what they are praying for and then please take the time to cancel their prayers and speak blessings on what they have selected for their curses. Let's keep a copy of this list on hand so that we can zealously cancel their assignments through our effectual, fervent prayers. http://www.traveltheroad.com/ Travel the Road, the groundbreaking reality television series that documents the adventurous lives of young missionaries Tim Scott and Will Decker over 18-months, through 25 countries, across 40,000 miles is a unique look into the world of frontline mission work. The journey is filled with danger, excitement, adventure and epic triumph as Tim and Will undertake unbelievable expeditions into the most remote areas of the world to bring the gospel. From the deserts of Ethiopia to the island villages of Papua New Guinea they travel from country to country with one backpack, a change of clothes, and a message of hope that pushes them deeper into the unknown. The journey is a landmark television debut of reality programming with a purpose. Join the expedition of a lifetime on TBN every Saturday at 8:30 PM Pacific - 11:30 PM Eastern. http://www.ovrlnd.com/Cults/invertedcross.html I recognize that Roman Catholics associate the upside down cross with the apostle Peter's crucifixion in argument for apostolic succession which is then used to support the Roman Catholic distinctive of papal infallibility, a very late dogma. However, Protestants argue that the Church is founded upon Jesus Christ. But, for the sake of explanation let us visit Matthew 16:18-19 which reads, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." http://www.flix55.com/watch/WeyvWGElqlf Description: Crop Circles and Occultic, Masonic & Illuminati Symbols. http://basicchristian.us/CMS/index.php Mormon LDS President-prophet Hinckley funeral updates and info. http://www.mrm.org/topics/salvation/no-hell-mormon-theology LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith explained: "The Lord will judge each individual case and will assign transgressor to that degree to which each is entitled according to his works. If a man only merits a place in the telestial, that will be his reward; if it should be the terrestrial, then he shall be admitted to that kingdom. In order to enter the celestial a man must be true and faithful to the end, observing all things which the Lord has commanded, otherwise he shall be assigned to some other kingdom, or to outer darkness if his sins so merit" (Doctrines of Salvation 3:310). ... Is there a concept of hell in Mormonism? Yes and no. LDS Apostle John Widtsoe insisted there was no hell when he said, "In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is no hell. All will find a measure of salvation; all must pay for any infringement of the law; but the payment will be as the Lord may decide" (Joseph Smith, Seeker After Truth, p. 178). However, 10th LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "The Church does teach that there is a place called hell. Of course we do not believe that all those who do not receive the gospel will eventually be cast into hell" (Answers to Gospel Questions 2:210). http://origin.sltrib.com/ci_8137144 Gordon B. Hinckley was a master of the moment. - Hinckley clearly enjoyed bantering with reporters. At the Nauvoo Temple dedication, I asked why the church would spend millions to rebuild an exact replica of the structure destroyed in the 19th century, yet have a standing Angel Moroni statue rather than a recumbent one as in the original temple. "I like it better," he said without losing a beat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCI7R_9Ks8 Mormons could not wait to get the Olympics to call attention to themselves. The great moment came and Pres. Hinckley took center stage..... well maybe it was not such a great idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjS0ZJbLEk Someone's (Gordon B. Hinckley) bitterness and cynicism spills out at the Nauvoo Temple ground breaking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpRW5oRuEpg Does anyone suspect that Hinckley wants to hedge these numbers in THE (LDS) church's favor ..... or is some leader just not too bright.... or both! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KESq7JsFTnY Brigham and Joseph show that the Glory of God is Intelligence - unfortunately the LDS Mormon cult is lacking in glory to God. http://blog.mrm.org/2008/01/latter-day-credo/ Pre-existence and the afterlife: Before their mortal birth, humans existed in pre-mortality and were born in the spirit world to heavenly parents. Mormons also believe in the resurrection and teach that most people will receive some measure of salvation and have a place in a three-level eternal kingdom. {The LDS Mormons also have some very vague concept of hell, yes they say there is a Mormon hell but no one goes there and if they do go there it is only for a short time not permanent like eternity.} http://blog.mrm.org/2008/01/you-would-have-procreative-power-you-would-have-your-own-offspring-you-would-create-your-own-worlds/ He also confirmed what is arguably the Church’s most unusual teaching of all—the polytheistic doctrine that one day, righteous Mormons will become gods and live with their families forever. As Boone explains, the fifth prophet of the Church taught, "As man now is, God once was. As God now is, man may become.” Boone quotes chapter and verse from the Old and New Testaments to support the claim that Christianity was always intended to be polytheistic, with righteous human beings eventually becoming gods. "In the creation account in Genesis it says, 'Let us make man in our own image' ... and we believe that. I'm not sure about everybody else. When Christ was giving the Sermon on the Mount, he directed them 'to be perfect, even as their Father in heaven was perfect.’ Well that’s quite a charge. So most Christians would say and most Jews would say and most Muslims would say that we ought to be more God-like in our activities. So where do you draw the line. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8103965 The funeral for LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. in Salt Lake City's LDS Conference Center. While funerals for every president from Brigham Young on have taken place in the LDS Tabernacle, Hinckley's will be in the center to accommodate the expected crowds. The 97-year-old leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died at his Salt Lake City home on Sunday at 7 p.m., surrounded by his children and other members of the governing First Presidency. Though many saw signs of decline in recent weeks, Hinckley continued to work until Wednesday. On Thursday, he simply couldn't get out of bed, family sources said, and by Saturday, loved ones had gathered to say goodbye. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has confirmed he will attend the funeral, as have Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Utah Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch. Other expected dignitaries, and the schedule of speakers, has yet to be determined, said Scott Trotter, LDS Church spokesman. People attending the funeral must be seated no later than 10:30 a.m., and seating will be restricted to 21,000 individuals. Overflow seating, with large screen viewing of the proceedings available, will be in the LDS Tabernacle, Assembly Hall and Conference Center Theater. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8103965 KUTV will broadcast live coverage, as will KSL TV and radio and Brigham Young University's television station. The proceedings also will broadcast via satellite, and in 69 languages, to more than 6,000 LDS Church buildings across the globe. Between the funeral proceedings and the grave-side service, "In His Own Words," a program about the life and ministry of Hinckley, will be televised in the Conference Center, overflow venues, on BYU television and via satellite. Hinckley's burial in Salt Lake Cemetery, beside his companion of 67 years, wife Marjorie, will immediately follow the funeral, which will last at least 90 minutes. Public viewing of Hinckley's body is set for Thursday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the LDS Church Administration Building, 47 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. There will be a tent on the west side of the building where people can wait before walking indoors. Due to Hinckley's death, church officials announced that the dedication of the Rexburg Temple in Idaho, which had been scheduled for Sunday, will now take place on Feb. 10. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695248861,00.html The number of visitors expected at the viewing is drawn from the 1995 viewing for President Howard W. Hunter, who preceded President Hinckley. "For President Hunter, we had 60,000 visitors in one day," said church spokesman Mark Tuttle, ... Visitors will have to pass through security checks, and cameras and other recording devices are not being allowed in the "Hall of the Prophets" area where President Hinckley's casket is. ... Whether a significant number of visitors will travel long distances for the funeral or viewing is less certain. Some of the major hotels downtown, the two Marriott locations and the Grand America, said they have not seen any spike in the requests for rooms this weekend. Those who plan to attend either the viewing or the funeral are reminded that downtown parking is extremely limited — especially during weekday hours — with the recent demolition of both the ZCMI Center and Crossroads Plaza parking structures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr. Under Smith's leadership & direction, the church's first temple was constructed in Kirtland. The work of building the Kirtland Temple was begun in 1833, and was completed by 1836. Around the time of its completion, many extraordinary events were reported: appearances by Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Elias, and numerous angels, speaking and singing in tongues, prophesying, and other spiritual experiences. However, the construction of the temple, in addition to other ventures of Smith's, left him and the (LDS) Church in deep debt. To raise money, Smith planned a banking institution, which was called the Kirtland Safety Society. The State of Ohio denied Smith a charter to legally operate a bank causing Smith to rename the company under the advice of non-Mormon legal counsel as 'The Kirkland AntiBanking Safety Society' and he continued to operate the bank and print notes. The bank collapsed after 21 days of operation in January. During this time, Smith and his associates were accused of illegal and unethical actions. In the wake of this bank failure, many Mormons, including prominent leaders who had backed the venture, became disaffected with Smith. Eventually, lawsuits and indictments against Smith and his banking partners became so severe that, on January 12, 1838, Smith and Rigdon left Kirtland by dark of night for the Far West settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. At the time, there were at least $6,100 in civil suits outstanding against him in Chardon, Ohio courts, and an arrest warrant had been issued for Smith on a charge of bank fraud. Those who continued to support Smith left Kirtland for Missouri shortly thereafter. Independence, Missouri was identified as "the center place" and the spot for building a temple. Smith first visited Independence in the summer of 1831, and a site was dedicated for the construction of the temple. Soon afterward, Mormon converts—most of them from the New England area—began immigrating in large numbers to Independence and the surrounding area. http://famousamericans.net/brighamyoung/ The territory of Utah was established on 9 September, 1850, and on 3 February, 1851, Young took the oath of office as its governor, commander-in-chief of the militia, and superintendent of Indian affairs, to which places he had been appointed by President Fillmore. ... Meanwhile the Federal judges were forced by threats of violence to leave Utah, and the laws of the United States were defied and subverted as early as 1850. Colonel Edward Steptoe was sent in 1854 to Utah as governor, with a battalion of soldiers; but he did not deem it, prudent to assume the office, and, after wintering in Salt Lake City, he formally resigned his post and went with his command to California. Most of the civil officers that were commissioned about the same time with Colonel Steptoe arrived in Utah a few months after he had departed, and were harassed and terrified like their predecessors. In February, 1856, a mob of armed Mormons, instigated by sermons from the heads of the (LDS) church, broke into the court-room of the United States district judge and compelled him to adjourn his court. Soon afterward all the United States officers, with the exception of the Indian agent, were forced to flee from the territory. These and other outrages determined President Buchanan to supersede Brigham Young in the office of governor, and to send to Utah a military force to protect the Federal officers. (See CUMMING, ALFRED, and JOHNSTON, ALBERT SIDNEY.) The affair terminated with the acceptance of a pardon by the Mormons, who on their part promised to submit to the Federal authority. ... Besides his office of president of the church, Young was grand archer of the order of Danites, a secret organization within the church, which was one of the chief sources of his absolute power, and whose members, it is claimed, committed many murders and other outrages by his orders. By organizing and directing the trade and industry of the community, he accumulated great wealth. His funeral was celebrated with impressive ceremonies, in which more than 30,000 persons participated. http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/Vote2008/story?id=4224754&page=1 For the last year, conservative Republicans have been unhappy with the Republican field. But some pundits predicted that eventually the party would coalesce around someone. Now the field has been winnowed down largely to two candidates -- Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. Nevertheless, the discontent remains. ... And while Romney claims conservative credentials -- that assertion is undercut by his own record. "I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush," Romney said during his unsuccessful 1994 Senate bid against Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy. ... With dislike of McCain and distrust of Romney, some say only one candidate could unify and energize conservative voters: Hillary Clinton. But conservative activists warn the nominee ignores their concerns at his own peril. "Every time the Republican candidate has not had the enthusiastic support from the base of the Republican party they lose, no matter who the opponent is," said Richard Viguerie, a conservative activist and author. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327187,00.html WASHINGTON — Two months into an arranged marriage, Fozia Sadiq, a young Pakistani immigrant, found herself trapped in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, with a violent husband. She says he routinely beat her and intimidated her into never going anywhere in public without him. "My neck had so many bruises, and I had scratches all over my arms," Sadiq told FOXNews.com through an interpreter. A practicing Muslim, Sadiq finally escaped in 2006, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/topstories/stories/012808dnpoljebbush.2a6b786.html TAMPA, Fla. – He's the most prominent Republican name in Florida, but he might as well be the invisible man in the state's presidential primary. GOP hopefuls have been snapping up allies from former Gov. Jeb Bush's vaunted political machine in advance of Tuesday's crucial contest. But a question remains. Where's Jeb? "Well under the radar," said Kevin Wagner, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. ... Mr. Doster said many Florida Republicans would still like to see him run for national office in the future. ... The second-oldest of the four Bush brothers, Jeb was viewed as the one being groomed to follow father George Bush to national office. http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/01/30/the-state-of-the-republican-race/ The winner-take-all aspect of McCain-friendly states like New York, New Jersey, Arizona and Connecticut makes a delegate battle tough for Romney. More trouble for Romney: Far from being seen as the outsider/agent of change, now he’s viewed as the status quo Republican, per the exit polling. Voters who were happy with Bush and happy with the economy pulled the lever for Romney. The angry-with-Bush "change" vote gravitated toward McCain. This suggests Romney’s sunny, optimistic ads about reviving the economy may have seemed out-to-lunch for GOP voters getting jittery about a recession. http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/lone_republican/index.php/2008/01/30/big-win-for-mccain-romney-for-senate/ Last night was a huge win for John McCain! For all those pundits who said McCain cannot win a Republican only primary — you were wrong! So what is next? If you look at the winner take all states, McCain has a substantial lead. He will easily win New York (101 delegates), Connecticut (30 delegates), New Jersey (52 delegates) and Arizona (53 delegates). Many of the other states are proportional in delegate selection and the race between McCain and Romney is competitive. Therefore, Romney will not be able to pick up big chunks of delegates to stop McCain. My prediction is that McCain will be the Republican nominee next Wednesday. Moreover, Rudy Giuliani will be the Attorney General. What is best right now for the Republican Party is for the nasty attacks between McCain and Romney to end. Governor Romney should reevaluate his candidacy before looking foolish. Wouldn’t his millions be better spent taking on John Kerry and winning? ... I don’t think he can appeal to Massachusetts after this campaign. He’d be better off moving out to Nevada where has a following and going after Harry Reid’s seat in 2010. http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1708083,00.html From the start, Mitt Romney had a clear strategy for winning the White House. He would run as the candidate of the ideological establishment, the Republican old-guard, the coalition of Ronald Reagan, with that three-legged stool of social, fiscal and national security conservatism. He would become the inside man in a presidential field filled with outsiders. So Romney played in nearly every early straw poll, and pandered to each conservative demographic. He joined the NRA. He talked tough on illegal immigrants, and became a crusader against gay marriage. "Strength" was his watchword. With an impressive gallery of high-profile endorsements, he was the only Republican candidate who seemed to be on the right side of nearly every issue for the plurality of the old GOP coalition. And yet, his candidacy sputtered. His narrow loss Tuesday to John McCain in Florida was just the latest in a series of disappointments that began in Iowa and New Hampshire, two states where he had outspent his rivals and once led in the polls. His failures have many causes, which will be raked over by historians. But they also suggest a broader shift: Romney may be running to lead a Republican Party that no longer exists. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59947 The 24 states holding primaries in next week's Super Tuesday have lost 1,568,600 manufacturing jobs in the seven years since President Bush took office, according to statistics provided WND by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, or AAM. "In the Super Tuesday states, "It's the economy, stupid,' is what voting is going to be all about," Kerri Houston, senior analyst at AAM, told WND. "It's also about 'It's the defense, stupid," Houston said, "given how many U.S. defense suppliers have now been outsourced overseas." "The Department of Defense now has graveyards full of broken-down equipment, including tanks, airplanes and missile launchers that are out of action for lack of a part," she continued. ... "Republicans who have opposed unions for decades don't want to talk about outsourcing as a problem, because they are afraid the unions would come back if the jobs came back, and the Republicans are happy to see Democrats denied campaign contributions that would be coming out of union dues," Houston emphasized. "But when the military can't find steel, tires or metal parts, and military procurement demands the Department of Defense look for a U.S. manufacturer, we're out of luck," she said. "The part the military needs may today only be made in China." According to AAM data, the 24 Super Tuesday states have lost 914,400 jobs across all sectors to China alone while Bush has been in office. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59935 "We want to expose and stop the manipulation of the gold market by the United States Treasury and Federal Reserve right now," Murphy said. "The purpose of this ad is to wake people up in the investment world as to what is going on behind the scenes in the U.S. gold and financial markets," Murphy told WND. He explained GATA has decided to pay the Wall Street Journal $264,000 for a one-time placement of the full page ad in the national edition because the financial press has not covered the story. "We have had two major international conferences since 2001; the mainstream financial press has blackballed our message," Murphy explained. "Anybody Seen Our Gold?" the ad is titled, charging U.S. gold reserves held at depositories such as Fort Knox or West Point may have been seriously depleted as they are shipped overseas to settle complex transactions utilized by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury to suppress prices. GATA further charges the U.S. government strategy to manipulate the price of gold has begun to fail. "The objective of this manipulation is to conceal the mismanagement of the U.S. dollar so that it might retain its function as the world’s reserve currency," the ad copy reads. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/romney_to_atten.html WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Mitt Romney, who rarely talks on the campaign trail about his Mormon faith, said today that he plans to attend the funeral of Gordon B. Hinckley, the church president who died yesterday at age 97 in Salt Lake City. At a news conference called in part to discuss Hinckley’s death, Romney recalled that he met with Hinckley three or four times to discuss planning for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and once before Romney decided to run for president. ... Romney said he did know Hinckley personally until he took over the leadership of the Winter Olympics and the two met to discuss the use of church assets, such as property next to the ski jump facility. Some of his requests were approved, others were denied, Romney said. ... Romney did not mention meeting with Hinckley to discuss his run for the presidency until a reporter asked him about it. ... He said he was not particularly close to Hinckley. http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_gordonbhinckley_section1.html#pub_1373785574 Example 1: When asked by King about the church's annual income being $5.9 billion, Hinckley responded, "Well, I don't know about that figure, but we get along." As the senior officer of the LDS church, with its many holdings, combined with tithing from thousands of members (or tens of thousands), it is unimaginable that Hinckley would not know whether $5.9 billion was the figure for church annual income or not. ... Example 9: When asked by King about the LDS church telling Catholics (for example) to leave their church and faith and become a Mormon, Hinckley said, "I say this to other people: you develop all the good you can. We have no animosity toward any other church. We do not oppose other churches. We never speak negatively of other churches. http://origin.sltrib.com/ci_8100480 "He was a tireless worker and a talented communicator who was respected in his community and beloved by his congregation," Bush said. "Laura and I will miss Gordon's friendship and wisdom. ... In 2004, Bush presented Hinckley with the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award, in recognition of his lifelong public service. GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney, who is Mormon, said in Florida he would take time off from campaigning to attend Hinckley's services. ... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat and a Mormon, called Hinckley a "phenomenal builder" for his focus on constructing new temples across the globe and new ward houses for worshipers. http://shop.wnd.com/store/item.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=7&SUBDEPARTMENT_ID=29&ITEM_ID=2261 In 2005, during a meeting in Waco, Texas, the leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada announced the establishment of the innocuous-sounding “Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America,” an announcement that was never submitted to Congress.Why? In this video, WND author Jerome Corsi offers convincing evidence the Security and Prosperity Partnership is laying the groundwork for the unthinkable – a merger of the U.S., Mexico and Canada into a European Union-type “North American Union,” complete with a shared judiciary, open borders and a new currency designed to replace the dollar – the amero. In his New York Times bestseller "The Late Great USA: The Coming Merger with Mexico and Canada," Corsi showed how a bureaucratically entrenched army of “world citizens” is working tirelessly toward this EU-like merger. In the brave new world they envision, the U.S. will no longer be a sovereign nation, but a market designed for maximum economic exploitation by multinational corporations and foreign governments, regardless what American citizens want. http://cuttingedge.org/videoroom.html View Samples of several of our DVDs here. These videos are included here with permission of the copyright holders and cannot be posted on other web sites or used in any way without permission of the copyright holders of each publication. http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2008/01/26/stocks-as-good-as-gold.aspx Even at the mention of gold, ideas of value, stability, and growth immediately pop into my head. This is largely thanks to the decades that the precious metal has been marketed as an attractive investment and a great way to hedge inflation, recession, and almost every other economic bogeyman. The reality, though, is that regardless of the allure of gold in down times, the long-term performance of gold lags stocks by a significant margin. But investors don't need to give up the shiny lure of stability to earn better returns in stocks -- there are stocks out there that are as good as gold. In fact, many are even better than gold. http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=3482&mn=20415&pt=msg&mid=3977865 So when you see the market gyrating wildly downward and hear some pundit saying it’s because of this or that data or this paradigm or that ratio, remember trader realism. The traders move the market any way they want, any way they think they can make money, and then they whisper a reason to journalists later in the day. Then the journalists print it or say it on television, and the amateurs believe it. And the traders snicker. These traders, not economists or securities analysts, can turn the world upside down, make governments tremble, give central bankers colitis and ruin the lives of ordinary men and women saving for their children’s college education or their own retirement. In America today, it is the traders, not the politicians or the generals or the corporate bosses, who have the power. This is what has become of the America of Thomas Jefferson. Lucky for the traders. Sad for the rest of us. And one thing’s for sure: With the traders running things, it won’t be a good time for amateurs until the traders cry “Switch!” and the market starts to rise. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326107,00.html LONDON - Princess Diana feared her boyfriend's father was spying on her as the couple took a luxurious Mediterranean cruise, Diana's sister said Monday. The princess believed the yacht she and Dodi Fayed were vacationing aboard had been bugged by Dodi's father, Mohammed Al Fayed, her sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale told an inquest investigating Diana and Dodi's deaths. "She thought the boat was being bugged by Mr. Al Fayed senior," ... Earlier Monday, a British detective said a box allegedly containing letters addressed to the princess from Philip (Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband) remains missing. Acting Detective Inspector Roger Milburn said the whereabouts of the box, which he said contained correspondence between the two, remained "an unanswered question." McCorquodale also said she had no idea where the letters had gone. http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/01/28/why-kennedy-s-endorsement-matters.aspx But it's not clear how Kennedy stands to gain politically by antagonizing Clinton, who remains the presumptive front-runner. Nor is there evidence of personal animus between the two. On the contrary, every account I've ever heard suggests Kennedy has a high regard for Clinton, going back to her days as First Lady. So my hunch -- and, to be clear, it's just a hunch -- is that this is mostly the real thing. It may reflect Kennedy's anger over the recent campaign tactics, about which Kennedy apparently complained directly to the Clintons. It may reflect Kennedy's sense that Obama has tapped into the same idealism that JFK once did -- a feeling the former president's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, wrote about in her own Obama endorsement on the Times op-ed page yesterday. But I also think it reflects Kennedy's belief that Obama will ultimately serve the liberal cause better than Clinton could. And given that Kennedy has seen both presidential contenders up close, as Brian Beutler notes, that judgment has meaning. Naturally, Kennedy's endorsement carries some risk, too. What will all those Republicans thinking about supporting Obama -- the Obamicans, as he has started calling them -- say when they see Kennedy embracing him? Then again, I bet that's a problem Clinton wishes she had today. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1008467&item_no=557361 This DVD follows the footsteps of the children of Israel in an unforgettable journey of discovery. A journey that reveals physical evidence for the Exodus including: the remains of 3800 year old Hebrew settlements in Egypt's Nile Delta, Egyptian records of the Israelite's bondage under Pharaoh; the precise route they may have followed to freedom; their crossing site on shore of the Red Sea; and the location of Mt. Sinai. This DVD brings to light the first significant archaeological "find" of the 21st century. Approx. 3 hours. DVD Extra Features: Who Was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? Where Are the Ten Commandments? From Egypt to Mt. Sinai - Cecil B. DeMille's Exodus. Timeline from Joseph to the Birth of Jesus Christ - Director's Cut http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1008467&item_no=09747 Author Michael Rood is a bearded Israeli who dresses in the sandals, head covering, tunic and robe from an ancient time and distant place. But don't let the authentic attire and humble introduction disarm you, for in the next split second, Michael shifts into high gear, grabs you by the hand, leads you on a journey back through your Bible, shakes you to the foundations of your soul, and changes you forever. What can a Jewish scholar and theologian teach a Christian about Christianity? Plenty! Michael Rood proves God's power with hold-in-your-hand evidence. He explodes the long held Christian traditions of Christmas, Easter, and Lent. He uses the Bible to lead us back to irrefutable truths from the Word of God. http://www.bethanybiblechurch.org/streaming/streaming.html Pastor Dave's messages are relevant, informative, scriptural and God-inspired. He keeps his messages firmly rooted in the Bible, and applicable to living life day to day in the 21st Century. Give them a listen and hear for yourself. You have a choice of messages recorded in the Sanctuary service or the Chapel service. You also have the following choices for listening to the messages: http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/29/bulge/ Oct 29, 2004 | George W. Bush tried to laugh off the bulge. "I don't know what that is," he said on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, referring to the infamous protrusion beneath his jacket during the presidential debates. "I'm embarrassed to say it's a poorly tailored shirt." Dr. Robert M. Nelson, however, was not laughing. He knew the president was not telling the truth. And Nelson is neither conspiracy theorist nor midnight blogger. He's a senior research scientist for NASA and for Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and an international authority on image analysis. Currently he's engrossed in analyzing digital photos of Saturn's moon Titan, determining its shape, whether it contains craters or canyons. For the past week, while at home, using his own computers, and off the clock at Caltech and NASA, Nelson has been analyzing images of the president's back during the debates. A professional physicist and photo analyst for more than 30 years, he speaks earnestly and thoughtfully about his subject. "I am willing to stake my scientific reputation to the statement that Bush was wearing something under his jacket during the debate," he says. "This is not about a bad suit. And there's no way the bulge can be described as a wrinkled shirt." ... Nelson stresses that he's not certain what lies beneath the president's jacket. He offers, though, "that it could be some type of electronic device -- it's consistent with the appearance of an electronic device worn in that manner." The image of lines coursing up and down the president's back, Nelson adds, is "consistent with a wire or a tube." http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/01/25/the-romney-whisper-mystery/ We’re linking to this over on the Video Feed too, but I just couldn’t pass up a chance to weigh in on the whisper-assist to Romney in last night’s debate. Tim Russert is asking Romney whether he’d do what Reagan did to solidify Social Security. Romney looks a little non-plussed until there’s an audible whisper from somewhere “…raised taxes,” after which Romney immediately starts in “I’m not going to raise taxes..." ... The fact that their is a second whisper “support” heard in another question shows that he was indeed cheating so sad that our great country is now under control of a corrupt few! http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/25/strange-whisper-before-romney-answer-perplexes-debate-viewers/ Right before Romney answered, somebody seemed to whisper: "He raised taxes." And then Romney responded, as if taking the cue, "I'm not going to raise taxes." So where did the whisper come from? ... Web site The Raw Story wrote in a brief article about the incident Friday that some are accusing Romney of “shenanigans” - like waiting for a prompt before answering the question. The Romney campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment from FOX News. Jeremy Gaines, a spokesman for debate sponsor MSNBC, said in an e-mail to FOXNews.com, "We heard the same thing you heard. There was obviously an open mike which picked up the whisper, but we have no way of knowing who did the whispering." The whispers about the whisper are reminiscent of the Internet speculation in 2004 over whether George W. Bush was wearing a wire during a debate, after photos showed what appeared to be an unusual bulge on his back. Bush denied he was getting a feed from his aides, and laughed off the rumors. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX3Xc8mA3B4 stevizal-NBC has UPDATED since then and Brian Williams wrote in his blog, he heard the "whisper" and does not know from where it came, but it wasn't from him whispering to Russert. Open mike was the first propaganda - but people weren't believing it - so they changed to "do not know" another lie. http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/30421 The sound of Romney's prompter was in the original broadcast. MSNBC even blogged about it, but has since removed the post. And to get busted on "Don't Raise Taxes" which is the answer regardless of the question! Would be funny if it weren't so tragic that not even his opponents will mention it. Are they cheating too? The media wouldn't mention Bush's cheating - can we force them to mention Romney's (which will, of course, bring up Bush's cheating)? Please contact the media. If there's another explanation, MSNBC knows what it is. There is the possibility that Tim Russert cheats. Could that be part of the explanation for the media's resistance to calling out cheating candidates? http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/05/12/opinion/opinion/doc4646456a35793079825792.txt “After months of conflicting signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews in coming days,” writes The New York Times. If true, it marks either the beginning of the end of the Giuliani campaign — or the beginning of the end of the Party of Ronald Reagan. For Reagan’s party was a pro-life party. Life defined the man. Life defined the movement he led. It was Reagan who insisted that his speechwriters include mention of the life issue in every State of the Union. At one lunch with senior staff, Reagan choked up as he read a letter from a woman who said she daily thanked God she had not had an abortion 45 years before, as she had considered doing, as now the son she had borne was taking care of her in her old age. Since Reagan, whatever GOP nominees have believed privately, they ran as pro-life . If Rudy were to be nominated as a pro-choice Republican, millions would stay home or vote third party. For it was the life issue that brought them into the party, or kept them there when they disagreed with the party on almost everything else. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JA26Dj03.html Industry sources have confirmed the shipment to "key partners" of an early version of Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista. The new Microsoft operating system was previously code named Blackcomb Vienna and is likely to be introduced in the second half of 2009. The version will be a "Milestone 1" (M1) edition for validation purposes only; two more Milestone builds are expected before the public Beta release. Microsoft's roadmap for release had slated 2010 for the debut; that has now been moved up a few months to second-half 2009. ... It will become clearer when Windows 7 will be going into production when Microsoft announces its Windows Logo Program Changes for the software; at present there is little information available on Vista's replacement http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/24/best.selling.christian.ap/index.html ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Donald Miller still loves God and Jesus. Don't misunderstand him. Five years after he wrote "Blue Like Jazz," Donald Miller's book on Christianity becomes a hit. His problem is with Christianity, at least how it's often practiced. "It's a dangerous term so I try to avoid it," said Miller, who considered giving up his career as a Christian writer and leaving the church in 2003 because he couldn't attend services without getting angry. For him, the word conjured up conservative politics, suburban consumerism and an "insensitivity to people who aren't like us." To quell his rage, he sat in his boxer shorts and banged out a memoir of his experiences with God, stripped of the trappings of religion. ... Then five years later, spurred by a grass-roots movement of 20-something Christians longing to connect to God without ties to the religious right, the book became a sudden hit. Fans were buying caseloads and passing out copies to friends. It peaked at No. 18 on The New York Times list of best-sellers among paperback nonfiction in November. He was mobbed by fans after a recent Young Life conference in Orlando where he addressed a crowd of roughly 4,000. Christians tired of the "life is perfect" mantra of some churches, revel in his ability to talk unashamedly about smoking pot, living in a hippie commune and the notion that God isn't a Republican. Supporters say Miller's authentic, graceful approach to God has finally given a voice to their brand of Christianity. The book also debuted at a time when the emerging church movement -- which emphasizes the individual's faith experience and varied worship styles -- is flourishing, signaling a fertile audience for such religious musings among more socially liberal evangelicals. http://webinsi5.webinsite.net/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=blessedhope&Product_Code=VID001&Category_Code=vid This video seminar is the most comprehensive music documentary exposing the Satanic influence behind yesterday and today's secular music. It contains irrefutable evidence that demonic beings are leading the world to destruction in fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Don't miss out on the opportunity to own your own copy of this eye opening exposé which is sure to convince even the hardest of skeptics! http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15125363/detail.html AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A deputy coroner has been arrested on accusations she stole gift cards from the body of a woman who had committed suicide. Investigators arrested Richmond County Deputy Coroner Charlena Graham on Wednesday. She has been charged with a felony count of theft by taking. Graham, 43, has also been fired from the coroner's office, where she worked for about four years, officials said. ... Shortly after, all personal items from woman were turned over to Graham, including five gift cards for Macy's, Target, Victoria's Secret and a local steak house, according to Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength. Authorities later learned from family members of the deceased woman that some gift cards might have been missing, Strength said. Sheriff's Lt. Jack Francisco said the total value of the gift cards was about $400. "I'm surprised, but not shocked," he told the Augusta Chronicle. Investigators have recovered evidence, including tapes of Graham using the gift cards at local stores, Sheriff Strength said. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/microsoft-ponders-offline-profiling-web/story.aspx?guid=%7BF0D7FACF%2D0072%2D43C6%2DB341%2DB934D7E84635%7D SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Microsoft Corp. is developing a method of using personal data such as credit-card information to target Internet users with advertising once they connect to the Web, according to a patent application filed by the company. In an application disclosed earlier this month, a Microsoft team including Chairman Bill Gates presents a method of collecting information about users' "cell phones, geolocation systems, credit-card information" and other data sources to select and display "targeted advertising." The technology described in the patent application touches on a delicate issue for Microsoft and other online companies such as Google Inc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNPDgudPmXE The actual RFID tag is shaped in a Nazi Iron cross and a swastaka. ... doen anybody notice how it makes a swastaka symbol on (frame) 1:15 in the video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2319009736647490350 ROBTV report on Radio Frequency Identification. http://f2a.org/radio/archive2003.htm Faith2Action Radio Program Archive: Listen to some of the most brilliant minds (our guests) and most effective organizations on the side of faith and family. List of Radio Stations that air our daily radio program: For our internet listeners, in any event where there is a problem with the site or live streaming, here are two alternative sources to hear the program live on weekdays at 2 PM ET: (www.vcyamerica.org) (www.reachfm.org) Our most recent broadcasts: http://www.apocalypsesoon.org/days-04.html For over two years we have been covering the moves of Applied Digital Solutions' VeriChip implants, and it looks that what we at first surmised is turning into reality. I remember how ADS, when news first broke out, denied forcefully that their "invention" was to be implanted into people. I personally sent them an e-mail (over two years ago) to ask them this very question and they were in total denial. Well, it turns out that they were lying through their teeth since they ARE now indeed implanting it into human beings. So much for truth and honesty. ... The Food and Drug Administration has cleared the way for a Florida company to market implantable chips that would provide easy access to individual medical records. The approval, which the company announced yesterday, is expected to bring to public attention a simmering debate over a technology that has evoked Orwellian overtones for privacy advocates and fueled fears of widespread tracking of people with implanted radio frequency tags, even though that ability does not yet exist. ... Tiny radio frequency identification, or RDIF, tags similar to VeriChip have been embedded in livestock and pets in the millions in recent years as a more secure form of identification than external tags. But no device maker has yet been able to create a market for human implantable tags like VeriChip, which are the size of a grain of rice and are inserted under the skin of the arm or hand with a syringe. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070904-california-outlaws-forced-rfid-tagging-of-humans.html Worrying that your employer will force you to stick a small chip beneath your skin ranks low on the list of employee concerns in most parts of the country, but that didn't stop the state of California from passing a bill last week to ban such forced tagging of humans. The state senator who sponsored the bill called forced RFID tagging the "the ultimate invasion of privacy," and his bill is now on its way to the governor's desk for his signature. ... "I think it's unfortunate and regrettable that the industry hasn't come out in support of SB 362," he said in a statement after the bill passed the Senate. "I understand why we're having a robust debate about the privacy concerns related to RFID, but at the very least, we should be able to agree that the forced implanting of under-the-skin technology into human beings is just plain wrong. I'm deeply concerned that this isn't a given for the industry." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47853 WASHINGTON - When former Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson joined the board of directors of a company promoting the broad implantation of microchips into Americans for identification purposes, he pledged to get chipped himself as an example. But Thompson doesn't appear to be in any hurry to get the implant. ... But when authors Liz McIntyre and Katherine Albrecht, who researched human chipping for their book "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID," contacted VeriChip Corp. earlier this month, they were told that the chipping never took place. VeriChip spokesman John Procter said Thompson has been "too busy" to undergo the chipping procedure, adding that he had no clear plans to do so in the future. "I wouldn't put any type of time line on it," Procter said. http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressmarket/tcs-expands-relationshipmicrosoft-to-deliver-rfid/280133 At the RFID Journal Live 2007 conference in Orlando, TCS' RFID practice experts will demonstrate its RFID solution accelerator for re-usable asset tracking, built using Microsoft BizTalk RFID. TCS is uniquely positioned to deliver RFID solutions seamlessly to any location worldwide through its Global Network Delivery Model™. TCS' RFID practice group is staffed by core RFID technology experts and industry consultants. It offers solutions and services that cover the full spectrum of RFID deployment including business consulting, architecture design, radio frequency equipment selection and installation, software development and implementation, systems integration, and maintenance. ... In 2003 TCS announced the establishment of a dedicated RFID practice to build technical competence and create assets around RFID solutions. Additionally, in June 2005 TCS launched its RFID Technology Center in Chicago , Illinois, to provide consulting services and solutions to enterprises pursuing business strategies that capitalize on RFID. http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/24/news/international/soc_gen.ap/index.htm PARIS (AP) -- French bank Societe Generale said Thursday it has uncovered a $7.14 billion fraud - one of history's biggest - by a single futures trader who fooled investors and overstepped his authority. The fraud destabilized a major bank already exposed to the subprime crisis. France's second- largest bank by market value said it would be forced to seek $8.02 billion in new capital. Trading in Societe Generale's shares, which have lost nearly half their value over the past six months, was suspended on the Paris bourse. It was unclear when trading would resume. The bank said it detected the fraud at its French markets division the weekend of Jan. 19-20. In a statement announcing the discovery, it called the fraud "exceptional in its size and nature." It said a trader at the futures desk had misled investors in 2007 and 2008 through a "scheme of elaborate fictitious transactions." The trader, who was not named, used his knowledge of the group's security systems to conceal his fraudulent positions, a statement from the bank said. The individual confessed to the fraud, the bank said, and was being dismissed. His supervisors were to leave the group. Chief Executive Daniel Bouton offered his resignation, but the board rejected it. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/11/romney-fund-raiser-resigns/ AMES, Iowa–A top fund-raiser for Mitt Romney who was indicted this week in Maryland on a $32 million fraud scheme has resigned from his position with the campaign as a national finance committee co-chair, a spokesman for Mr. Romney said. A federal grand jury in Maryland unsealed its 23-count indictment of the fund-raiser, Alan B. Fabian, 43, on Thursday for money laundering, mail fraud, bankruptcy fraud, perjury and obstruction of justice. Mr. Fabian, who had been one of 35 co-chairs on Mr. Romney’s national finance committee, allegedly ran up $32 million in fake purchases with his consulting company, Maximus Inc., based in northern Virginia, and pocketed the money for himself. He became a “bundler,” one of those who commit to bringing in large sums through their own networks of donors, for Mr. Romney's campaign back in January, having previously served as a major fundraiser for George W. Bush. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080123-9999-1n23field.html “I've never seen such an unsettled field two weeks before an election, at least in a presidential primary,” Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo said. The poll shows a sharp ideological split among Republicans considered likely to vote in the primary. “It's a tug-of-war between the moderate wing and the strong conservative wing, with Romney the favorite of the conservatives and McCain the favorite of the moderates,” DiCamillo said. Republicans who describe themselves as “strongly conservative” support Romney over McCain, 26% to 16%. Republicans who describe themselves as “moderately conservative,” “moderate” or “liberal” favor McCain over Romney, 27% to 9%. http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/23/news/companies/exxon_profits/index.htm NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, is within striking distance of setting an all-time profit record - again. Analysts are expecting the company to post solid quarterly and full-year earnings next Thursday - and if the results top forecasts, Exxon (XOM, Fortune 500) could end up reporting the highest profit ever for a U.S. company. With oil prices having recently crossed the $100 a barrel threshold, it comes as no surprise that Exxon is a whisker away from setting a new milestone. "Exxon is likely to have record quarterly earnings," said Fadel Gheit, a senior energy analyst at Oppenheimer. "For every $1 [increase] in the price of oil, Exxon makes [another] $125 million for the quarter." http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYdKtRycyOMk&refer=home Jan. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Two U.S. soldiers died in attacks in Iraq's western province of al-Anbar and Baghdad's Arab Jabour, a suburb where American forces have carried out air strikes against suspected al-Qaeda positions during a nationwide operation. A roadside bomb killed the soldier in Arab Jabour. The other soldier died while fighting in al-Anbar. Both incidents took place on Jan. 19, the U.S. military said today in separate e- mailed statements. Further details weren't available. ... A total of 3,926 U.S. military personnel have died in Iraq, of whom 3,194 were killed in action. More than 28,900 have been wounded, 12,942 of them so seriously that they couldn't return to duty, according to figures on the Department of Defense Web site. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYM8h8wNn4ccjLCLy7N8cyPwUcUA WASHINGTON (AFP) — Top US officials ran roughshod over the truth in the run-up to the Iraq war, lying 935 times in a two-year period leading up to the Iraq war, a study released Wednesday found. The Center for Public Integrity's founder Charles Lewis and researchers helping him write a forthcoming book, identified "935 false statements by eight top administration officials that mentioned Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, or links to Al-Qaeda, on at least 532 separate occasions" ahead of the March 18, 2003 invasion of Iraq, they said in a statement. With the fifth anniversary of the war looming, the center underscored that its work calls into question "the repeated assertions of (George W.) Bush administration officials that they were merely the unwitting victims of bad intelligence." Among those who made the false statements: Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, and White House press secretaries Ari Fleisher and Scott McClellan, the study said. "This is a report like no other, which calls into question more than 900 false statements that were the underpinnings of the administration's case for war," argued the CIJ's Executive Director Bill Buzenberg. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/misinformation_study WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks. The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses." The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism. ... "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59826 WASHINGTON – WND continues its industry trend-setting ways by acquiring World Ahead Media, a Los Angeles-based book-publishing company with which it has been partnered for the last 18 months. The new wholly owned subsidiary corporation will take on the name WND Books, the name that has become synonymous with best-selling and cutting-edge titles for more than five years. WND and World Ahead Media had recently partnered on Jerome Corsi's "Late Great USA," Joseph Farah's "Stop the Presses!," Kathleen Willey's "Target," and Aaron Klein's "Schmoozing With Terrorists." ... "This is a very exciting historical moment for WND," said Farah, WND's founder, editor and chief executive officer. "Not only does the acquisition mark the first major expansion for WND, but it represents a chance to join forces with some very talented people with whom we have had a chance to work closely over the last two years – people we respect and like and who add a new dimension to our growing media company." http://www.walkingintruth.org/index.htm Yet, in spite of the gross deception sweeping over the earth in this hour, God's command for His children to manage and direct their lives and affairs by His Holy Word is sounding out loud and clear. Those, who are heeding the call from heaven to "work out" their "own salvation with fear and trembling," are discovering that - in the very midst of great pretension, hypocrisy, phoniness, and deceit - God's grace is enabling them to have a walk that is true and a lifestyle that is upright. Heaven is rejoicing to see it happen. ... Using this verse of Scripture as a springboard, this website was designed with the sole purpose of strengthening, edifying, and building up God's precious saints with His Holy Word to the point where they would become excessively preoccupied with the Truth and, resultantly, live in perfect accordance with it. As you visit this site, I pray you that you will not leave the way you came. As you "feast" on the various messages, based solely on the Awesome and Life-Changing Word of God, I believe for your life to be totally transformed by the Spirit of the Living God. http://www.bostonnow.com/blogs/boston911truthorg/2008/01/09/major-allegations-of-vote-fraud-in-new-hampshire According to a voter in Sutton, New Hampshire, three of her family members voted for Ron Paul, yet when she checked the voting map on the Politico website, the total votes for Ron Paul were zero. {Their votes probably slid over to McCain.} ... Clinton would not have beat Obama without the aid of Diebold voting machines. In precincts where electronic voting machines were used, Clinton got a 7% swing over Obama, having gained 5% in comparison to hand-counted ballots and Obama losing 2%. {In summary the unverifiable electronic votes registered a 5% Hillary win while the paper ballets actually registered a 4% Barack Obama win.} http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/archives/cat_vote_fraud.html VOTE FRAUD EVIDENCE 122: Specifically, Bilderberg attendee and fixer-extraordinaire Hillary Clinton literally stole the nation’s first primary from the forward surging favorite, Barack Obama. Behind by double digits in every conceivable poll (including their own internal audits) while drawing significantly sparser crowds at her rallies, Hillary Clinton still pulled what major television pundits on MSNBC called “one of the most stunning upsets in the history of politics.” Others said the results “defied explanation,” while Keith Olbermann labeled it a “titanic upset victory” for Mrs. Clinton. Once again, the culprit in this messy affair was the Diebold optical-scan voting system, which was responsible for tallying (in secret) 81% of all votes cast in New Hampshire. This corrupt outfit—which has an exclusive programming contract for New Hampshire (as well as three other states in New England)—is LHS Associates, run by a man named John Silvestro. http://cuttingedge.org/newsletters/010908.html NEWS BRIEF: "Hillary stuns Obama in New Hampshire", XPress News, January 9, 2008. "Hillary Rodham Clinton won New Hampshire's Democratic primary Tuesday night in a startling upset, defeating Barack Obama. ... Have you not seen this flag, pictured here to the left? Virtually no one else has, either, as this is a very special flag with a most unusual type of star. Look carefully at the white stars in the upper left corner, which is the normal, traditional location for the stars. The normal type of star in the upper left corner of the American flag is the standard star with one point up -- which "White Magic" practitioners consider the "Good Pentagram". You can easily see this type of star in the traditional American flag, shown above to the right. However, the stars in this Hillary flag are the (point down) two points up variety -- which is the evil, Black Magick pentagram, a Pentagram considered to be one of the most evil symbols in the world. Only the Hexagram is considered to be a more evil symbol. Therefore, Hillary is using a Black Magic Pentagram Star for her victory celebration on the night of the New Hampshire primary celebration! How many people in her victory party even noticed that the stars were different? Since most people will look at a common symbol and see what they think they should see, I can guarantee that very few people -- if any -- noticed the difference. At first, I thought that, perhaps, someone had just hung the flag upside down. But, that cannot be, because then the star section would be in the bottom right of the flag, and completely hidden by the throngs of people in front. No, the star section was in the traditional upper left corner; the only difference was that the stars had been rotated so that two points are showing up, making this the evil "Goatshead of Mendez" pentagram. http://www.newsmax.com/morris/morris_hillary_mccain/2008/01/21/66236.html McCain is, of course, the Republican who, apart from Rudy, would have the best chance to defeat Hillary. She can’t pull the old experience gambit on this long term Senator and his record on everything from global warming to corporate reform to campaign finance to torture to tobacco regulation to immigration reform makes it very hard for Hillary to defeat him. And, because of his appeal to Hispanics left over from his battle for the McCain-Kennedy immigration plan, he is ideally suited to take minority voters, burned by Hillary’s scorched earth policy against Barack Obama, away from the Democrats. It’s too early to coronate McCain or Hillary but they have clearly moved to the level of front runners as a result of their victories on Saturday. © 2008 Dick Morris & Eileen McGann http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/5/7/191010.shtml Barring a Clinton indictment, however, Hillary's White House path is clear for 2008. ... A Big Boost From ... Bush In the end, however, it's President Bush who may have done more to make Hillary Clinton president than anyone else - by ignoring the scandals of the first two Clinton terms and ordering his Justice Department to slow investigations. "In retrospect it will look like a mistake on his part," Morris told NewsMax. "He's treating the scandals as an inconvenience, but that's because of one of the core convictions of the Bush family. They always oppose aggressive action against former presidents." He argues that, though some of the accusations leveled against his ex-boss were "garbage," the 11th-hour pardons were a different matter. "That scandal was very real. And if there is no action on the pardon scandal, Bush will ultimately regret that," Morris predicts. http://www.guerrillanews.com/threads/12471/Bush_Clinton_Bush_Clinton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush says Bill Clinton has become so close to his father that the Democratic former president is like a member of the family. Former President George Bush has worked with Clinton to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami and the hurricane disaster along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Asked about his father and Clinton, Bush quipped, “Yes, he and my new brother." "That's a good relationship. It's a fun relationship to watch,” Bush said in an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday. While attending Pope John Paul's funeral, Bush said, “It was fun to see the interplay between dad and Clinton. One of these days, I'll be a member of the ex-president's club. ... I'll be looking for something to do." ... Bush said he checked in with Clinton occasionally. "And you know, he says things that makes it obvious - that makes it obvious to me that we're kind of, you know, on the same wavelength about the job of the presidency. Makes sense, after all, there's this kind of commonality,” he said. Bush jokingly referred to speculation that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former president's wife, will seek the Democratic nomination for the presidency. He had earlier referred to the former first lady as “formidable." "Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton,” he said, referring to how Bill Clinton had followed his father, and Hillary Clinton could follow him. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iSbyJMxJrMQDs50v-VEU5TSIfz-Q WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, breaking his rule not to talk about presidential politics, says he believes Hillary Rodham Clinton will defeat Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries. Bush also predicts that Clinton will be defeated in the general election by the Republican nominee. "I believe our candidate can beat her but it's going to be a tough race," the president said. It has been difficult for Bush to remain silent about the 2008 president race, despite his promises not to be the "prognosticator in chief." He has been talking about the race and handicapping candidates during off-the-record chats with visitors to the White House. He finally went public with his Clinton prediction in an interview for a book by Bill Sammon, a reporter for The Washington Examiner. ... The White House did not challenge Sammon's account. ... Bush said Giuliani's popularity was a sign of how important the terrorism issue is to Republican voters, the newspaper said. It said Bush cautioned against ruling out Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying he had managed to revive his campaign after an implosion earlier this year. http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/01/22/apple-record-q1-earnings-fall-on-deaf-ears/?source=yahoo_quote As expected, Apple (AAPL) had a very merry Christmas, posting the best quarter in its 32-year history, with earnings up 58% over the same quarter last year. But the good news fell on deaf ears in a market roiled by the broader meltdown. And the company’s conservative projections for the next three months seems to have spooked investors attuned for signs of a coming recession. Apple’s shares, having closed at 155.64, down 3.5% for the day, plunged more than 12% in after-hours trading. At one point the stock hit 136.75, a four-month low. ... Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster confessed that in his five years of covering Apple he’s never seen anything like the market’s reaction to these earnings. "I talked to one of our technical analysts before the call and he told me that the stock was going down to 130 no matter what results Apple posted," Munster said in a phone interview. http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/TOP%20STORY/1002171/ The company reported a net loss of $1.772 billion, wider than the $576 million loss reported in the year-ago period. The net loss included charges equating to $1.675 billion. On a per share basis, the net loss for the quarter was $3.06 per share, including a charge of $2.89 per share, compared to a loss of $1.08 per share last year. If not for these charges, the company would have reported a loss of $97 million compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $25 million in the same period last year. ... AMD's full year net loss widened to $3.379 billion from a net loss of $166 million for 2006. The recent year's bottom line results included a non-cash charge of $2.007 billion. The top line growth for the fiscal year 2007 was 6% to $6.013 billion. On an adjusted basis, the company posted a mammoth loss of $1.372 billion for the full year [2007] versus a profit of $401 million last year [2006]. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5476938.html SAN FRANCISCO — The former director of a company specializing in teeth-straightening mouthpieces will pay nearly $3 million to settle an insider-trading lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the SEC said Tuesday. Saiyed Atiq Raza, 58, of Palo Alto, agreed to pay back $1.45 million in illegal trading profits and a $1.45 million penalty, the SEC said. He also agreed to a five-year ban on serving as an officer or director of a public company. The settlement does not include an admission of guilt. ... According to the complaint, Raza learned from OrthoClear's CEO that the company had settled a legal dispute with its primary competitor, Align Technology Inc., and that the settlement would benefit Align's stock. Raza bought 3,500 Align call options, or the right to buy Align stock in the future at a set price, and 60,000 shares of Align common stock, according to the complaint. When news of the legal settlement was made public, Align's stock price shot up 48 percent, netting Raza a $1.45 million profit. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/dark-side-trading-inside/story.aspx?guid=%7B1C3BE98F%2D1998%2D4AE0%2DAC0B%2D97712A28F5C0%7D Investment banks are trading on non-public information as is suggested by a new study, a regulatory probe and a Wall Street Journal story about the practice. Is this revelation really such a shock to investors? For a year, this column has documented a pattern of suspicious trading activity in the days before deal announcements. The options markets have been rife with pre-deal bets for companies and deals large and small. "The opportunities to do it are immense, not only because they have access but because there's so much noise in the market," said Jon Najarian, co-founder of OptionMonster Inc., an options research firm. "A lot of those algorithmic traders create cover because of the sheer volume of trades they make." ... Now, three professors argue that there is ample evidence that investment banks are trading on information gleaned in-house from investment bankers working with companies in deal talks. Note that the study came from European universities. Are U.S. schools losing their competitive edge to foreign rivals? http://www.apfn.org/apfn/enron_bush.htm A group of Harvard students and alumni have called for an investigation into possible links between an Enron director on the university's governing corporation and the timely selling of stock which netted an estimated $50m as the company's shares declined. HarvardWatch, which campaigns for more open governance of the university, admits it has no evidence of insider trading but is urging the suspension of Herbert "Pug" Winokur from the seven-member corporation pending the outcome of a "credible investigation into alleged financial improprieties regarding the management of the university's endowment". The university said Mr Winokur, who chairs Enron's finance committee, was a "valued member" of the Harvard Corporation. A Harvard alumnus, he has, since 1995, been on the board of the Harvard Management Company which oversees the university's $18bn endowment. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22786860/ NAPLES, Fla. - Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who attracted more attention as a potential presidential candidate than as a real one, quit the race for the White House on Tuesday after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states. ... Thompson's withdrawal capped a turbulent 10 months that saw him go from hot to not in short order. He began toying with a presidential run last March, emboldened by a fluid Republican nomination fight and a restive conservative GOP base. He also was charmed by resounding calls for him to get into the race — and his meteoric springtime rise to the top of national and state polls. Fans trying to draft him as a candidate launched an online effort, seizing on his conservative Senate voting record as well as his lumbering 6-foot-5 frame and deep baritone as they argued that he was right out of central casting. They painted him as the second coming of Ronald Reagan and the would-be savior of a Republican Party demoralized after electoral losses in 2006 at all levels of government. Expectations rose higher — and his standing in polls started to fall as he failed to meet them. Thompson played coy about his intentions all the while taking steps to prepare for a formal entrance into the race with a flourish. He cut ties with NBC, visited early voting states and delivered high-profile speeches. And, he started raising money and set up a preliminary campaign organization. http://grassfire.org/21/life.asp?RID=14417292 Over the last 33 years of legalized unlimited abortion, nearly 50 million unborn babies have been killed at the hands of abortionists. Grassfire is committed putting an end to abortion through our national "Petition For Life" initiative that includes raising awareness, concern and support for the rights of the unborn. Additionally, Grassfire remains the grassroots voice in Washington, as we seek to bring about a change in thinking among our elected lawmakers, and ultimately an end to abortion through legislation and the courts. The "Petition For Life" focuses on a number of key pro-life initiatives that we are pressing House and Senate leadership on: ... http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/ProLife.pdf The pro-life movement is the movement acknowledging that all human life is created in the image of God and is sacred to God. The individuals' lifespan is a work of God and needs to be committed to God. We as people do not end the life of other people no matter how young or how old or in what condition they are in. Being involved in Pro Life issues or any other good cause does not make us a Christian. Accepting the life of Jesus for our own personal sins reconciles us to God. There are many people who do not take part in an abortion and yet will never remain in the presence of God, because of their own sins apart from abortion. ... We can't make right an abortion but God can and has. He died for us and for the unborn as well, so that we can live together with Him in heaven. Let's not cheapen the sacrifice that Jesus has given for us by saying that God's blood is not enough to cover our sins. The fact is, sinner's sin. God is not surprised by our actions He knows mankind. It is up to Christians to stand in this gap and to "Choose Life". One of the First functions of the early Church in Rome was to rescue the babies and children left to die (their form of abortion) on the hills outside the city. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59812 A new report from the Barna Group warns political campaigns that assuming the evangelical vote is "splintering" over abortion would be a mistake, with 19 of every 20 members of that group citing that issue as their top concern. The report comes just as the United States marks the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in the U.S. Supreme Court that found in the Constitution a fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy at any time for any reason. "One of the myths about the 2008 election is that the evangelical vote is splintering over issues such as abortion and homosexuality. In fact, when defined based upon a consistent set of theological perspectives, evangelicals remain very united on abortion and homosexuality," said David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group and director of the study. "Evangelicals' top concern – by a wide margin – was abortion (94 percent). This was followed by the personal debt of Americans (81 percent), the content of television and movies (79 percent), homosexual activists (75 percent), and gay and lesbian lifestyles (75 percent,)" the report on the assessment of voters' values and morals said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22777641/ Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision, a pill that has largely faded from the rancorous public debate over abortion has slowly and quietly begun to transform the experience of ending a pregnancy in the United States. The French abortion pill RU-486, on the market since 2000, has become an increasingly common alternative, making abortion less clinical and more private. At a time when the overall number of abortions has been steadily declining, RU-486-induced abortions have been rising by 22 percent a year and now account for 14 percent of the total -- and more than one in five early abortions performed by the ninth week of pregnancy. The pill, often called "miffy" after its chemical name mifepristone and brand name Mifeprex, also has helped slow the decline in abortion providers, as more physicians who previously did not perform the procedure discreetly start to prescribe the pill. http://storiesinamerica.blogspot.com/2005/11/pro-choice-bush-family.html The SF Chronicle is running a piece that looks back at the Bush family's support for Planned Parenthood and family planning services. The article also highlights the fact that both Barbara and Laura Bush are against overturning Roe vs. Wade. "I agree with my husband that we should try to reduce the number of abortions in our country by doing all of those things, by taking responsibility, by talking about abstinence." Yes, pressed interviewer Katie Couric, but what about Roe vs. Wade? "No, I don't think that it should be overturned." http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11372/MEDIA/life/index.htm Washington, D.C. - Concerned Women for America's (CWA's) Dr. Janice Crouse, Senior Fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute, responded to President Bush's endorsement of Plan B, the morning after pill, by calling it "beyond the pale." In a press conference on Monday, the President announced his support of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach’s attempt to make this high dose of birth control available over-the-counter (OTC) for girls over 18. CWA strongly opposes making this drug available without a prescription because of its medical risks and the inability of the FDA to enforce an age restriction. ... "Of equal concern is the fact that any 18-year-old could buy Plan B OTC and give it to anyone else –– even underage girls –– without parental consent or knowledge. The ramifications of such distribution include sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. The amount of misinformation about Plan B is astounding. Those advocating OTC availability are touting the drug as a "silver bullet" for birth control. Yet, the easy availability that would come with OTC sales extends to those who are incapable of understanding the risks involved in any high-potency drug. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59509 The letter also criticized those in the conservative community who are supporting Romney, accusing them of "gross malpractice, ruthless ambition and dishonesty." "Behind the empty gestures and deceptive rhetoric, Romney was not pro-life or a defender of marriage by any stretch of the imagination. He was a disaster," said O'Gorman, of the board for Massachusetts Citizens for Life. He said Romney "deceptively" claims to have been awarded a pro-life award from the group. "The award Romney arranged for himself with the local Pioneer Valley Chapter was the Mullins Award for Political Leadership, not a pro-life award and not approved by MCFL's state board of directors," he said. "We're blowing the whistle to warn voters..." "For some bizarre reason the mere fact that Romney's never been divorced and goes to a temple regularly is supposed to negate the fact that he's extremely liberal," said Harvey. "He used his Republican and Mormon identity to push through radical policies on gay marriage, abortion and pro-homosexual school programs that Ted Kennedy always dreamed about." The Romney campaign repeatedly has declined to respond to WND requests for comment on such issues, including a failure to respond to multiple requests for a one-on-one interview in which the candidate would have been allowed to give his definitive perspective of the issues being raised. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/21/oliver-stone-sets-his-sights-on-bush/ (CNN) — He's tackled the assassination of John F. Kennedy and tumultuous presidency of Richard Nixon. Now Hollywood director Oliver Stone is preparing to take an in depth look at how President Bush came to power. ... I want a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world? It's like Frank Capra territory on one hand, but I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from. It includes his belief that God personally chose him to be president of the United States, and his coming into his own with the stunning, preemptive attack on Iraq," he added. Stone acknowledged Brolin and Bush do not bear too much resemblance, but he said the two share the same "drive and charisma." "Josh is actually better looking than Bush but has the same drive and charisma that Americans identify with Bush, who has some of that old-time movie-star swagger," he said. http://smh.com.au/news/world/no-bones-about-it-bush-favours-a-very-secret-society/2006/03/17/1142582522189.html President George Bush is alleged to have used its (Skull and Bones) connections to get his first job. Mr Bush and Mr McCallum (Bush's Nominee as Ambassador to Australia) are members of Skull and Bones, the Yale society said to have the skull of the Indian chief Geronimo, dug up by Mr Bush's grandfather, in a glass case. In 2004 both presidential candidates, Mr Bush and John Kerry, were members. Mr Bush, in his autobiography, A Charge to Keep, wrote: "My senior year I joined Skull and Bones, a secret society. So secret, I can't say anything." The Skull and Bones headquarters is in a windowless stone building on the Yale campus known as the tomb. ... Alexandra Robbins, author of Secrets of the Tomb, says it includes a devil, a Don Quixote figure and a pope with one foot in a white monogrammed slipper, resting on a stone skull. ..."What I find disturbing about Skull and Bones is that it's basically the most powerful elite alumni network in the US," says Robbins. "It's essentially a form of nepotism that keeps the same people in power, over and over and over again." ... Robbins said that before she stopped counting she knew of at least 11 Bonesmen whom Mr. Bush had appointed to government posts. {Actually they believe the bones are the bones of an un-resurrected Jesus Christ and that the bones came to them from the "Knights Templars" of Da Vinci code fame and celebrate what they believe to be Satan's triumph over God in the death of Jesus on the cross and of course deny and neglect the true resurrection of Jesus. That's the secret in secret society.} http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287855,00.html TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected a proposal by Oscar-winning movie director Oliver Stone to make a film about him because Stone is part of the "Great Satan" cultural establishment, a semiofficial news agency reported. "I sent a negative answer by Ahmadinejad to Oliver Stone," the Fars agency quoted Mehdi Kalhor, media adviser to the president, as saying Sunday. "It is right that this person is considered part of the opposition in the U.S., but opposition in the U.S. is a part of the Great Satan." The term the "Great Satan" dates back to Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who first called the United States that after the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the country's U.S.-supported shah. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22758159/ NEW YORK - They are some of the most famous words in American history: "I have a dream ..." And the man who said them has become an icon. ... But nearly 40 years after his assassination in April 1968, after the deaths of his wife and of others who knew both the man and what he stood for, some say King is facing the same fate that has befallen many a historical figure — being frozen in a moment in time that ignores the full complexity of the man and his message. ... "We're living increasingly in a culture of top 10 lists, of celebrity biopics which simplify the past as entertainment or mythology," he said. "We lose a view on what real leadership is by compressing him down to one window." ... By freezing him at that point, by putting him on a pedestal of perfection that does not acknowledge his complex views, "it makes it impossible both for us to find new leaders and for us to aspire to leadership," Harris-Lacewell said. http://www.basicchristian.org/ Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. -- Bible http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/2945/Steve_Camp There is a feminization going on in evangelicalism today that has recently spilled over to the blogosphere. ... These toy-soldiers carry what I call "a velvet covered sword." It's lightweight, easy to wield, isn't designed for battle, takes little strength to lift it, looks inviting, and won't cut too deep for fear of offending too greatly. It's like reading the ESV or NASB; and then one day you pickup up a copy of The Message thinking that it too is a Bible; when all that it is, is just a velvet covered sword. Speak the Truth in Love: To "speak the truth in love" beloved does not mean to be non-confrontational, passive, soft, or simply 'nice'. No question, Christ-like love is the godly compassion behind speaking the truth in an uncompromised and unadulterated way. As Paul said in warning of false teachers to Timothy and the church at Ephesus, "the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." - 1st Timothy 1:5 http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/01/what_happened_t_2.html What makes the allegations in the indictment so shocking, is that Siljander is a Born-Again Evangelical Christian. We had fast days in his office. There were prayer circles. So deeply religious and so deeply against the Islamic threat, Siljander was known, at the time, as the most pro-Israel Congressman on Capitol Hill, with many Jewish and pro-Israel Evangelical contributors from all over the world. My father was one of those contributors. His Chief of Staff, Robin Luketina, even served in the Israeli Defense Forces. Mark enlisted me to help him write a tough bill espousing sanctions against the Soviet Union because of its persecution of Soviet Jews. And he enlisted my help in pro-Israel and anti-PLO legislation. That's why it's so hard for me to read that he may have played for the opposite team--for the enemy. I'm truly shocked. And I hope it's not true. But--while I have a lot of distrust in the Department of Justice--on this one, I think there must be something there. It's crushing. I don't know if he knew the ultimate destination of the money. It's not apparent, since the Islamic charity "secretly" sent the money to Al-Qaeda. But what was he even doing lobbying for an Islamic charity? And he apparently lied about it to the FBI. That's not the Mark Siljander I knew and worked for over two summers and several spring breaks. It boggles my mind. It must have been the money, as I know that, after he lost his re-election bid (he was replaced by liberal Republican and pan-Islamist Fred Upton), he was engaged in a million different business endeavors trying to make a success of one. If Mark Siljander was helping Islamic terrorists against America, then no-one is immune from succumbing to these forces of evil. If true, it's extremely disappointing and demoralizing to me. http://cuttingedge.org/newsletters/011608.html Did you know that the Republicans changed the stars in their official elephant logo to two stars upward in the year 2000, the very year in which Skull & Bones George Bush was "elected" President? This Republican logo is the traditional elephant logo as this book front page cover demonstrates. The book is entitled, "The Pictorial History of the Republican Party", by Beryl Frank, published in 1980. As you can see, the stars on this elephant logo are the same as the traditional stars on an American flag, i.e., with one point upward. This style of Pentagram is a "good", White Magic type of star, the same type of star as in the traditional American flag. Now, carefully notice the new GOP elephant logo. The three stars are the Goatshead of Mendez Pentagram, with two points upward. This style of Pentagram is the "evil", Black Magick type of star. The Illuminati program for their Masonic Christ (Antichrist) is most definitely the Black Magick variety. The plans these Globalists have for this country and this world is literally the "worst case" scenario, from the planned destruction of 66% of all humanity, to the dissolution of every elected government on earth, to replacing those governments with the most repressive dictatorship in world history. This dictatorship will be supported by unprecedented level of modern technology, which will allow government authorities to monitor nearly everyone in the world at every moment of the day. This Plan fulfills prophecies exactly, especially those in the Book of Revelation and Daniel. When was this Republican elephant logo changed? The change occurred in the year 2000 ("The Party of Satan", Radio Left, Mon 17 Dec 2007, quoting the Thom Hartmann Show, of December 17). This is the year George W. Bush (Jr.) was elevated to the White House, following one of the closest elections in American history, an election not decided until December 13, when the Supreme Court decided that Bush had beaten Gore in Florida. Therefore, at the time the country was electing its second Skull & Bones President, the Republican Party quietly changed the stars on its official Republican elephant logo to the Goatshead of Mendez star. This reality means that America has been officially and deliberately set on a course of extreme evil since that momentous year. Have we ever been so beset, from without and within, than in the last 6 years? This is just a partial listing of all the evils which have beset us since 2000: ... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,323101,00.html The Times has seen a patent application filed by the company for a computer system that links workers to their computers via wireless sensors that measure their metabolisms. The system would allow managers to monitor employees' performance by measuring their heart rates, body temperatures, movements, facial expressions and blood pressure," Labor unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer's assessment of their physiological state. Technology allowing constant monitoring of workers was previously limited to pilots, firefighters and NASA astronauts. This is believed to be the first time a company has proposed developing such software for mainstream workplaces. ... The system could also "automatically detect frustration or stress in the user" and "offer and provide assistance accordingly." ... Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker's weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help. ... "This system involves intrusion into every single aspect of the lives of the employees," Hugh Tomlinson, an expert on data protection law at the London law firm Matrix Chambers, said. "It raises very serious privacy issues." http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9785337-7.html While Vista was originally touted by Microsoft as the operating system savior we've all been waiting for, it has turned out to be one of the biggest blunders in technology. With a host of issues that are inexcusable and features that are taken from the Mac OS X and Linux playbook, Microsoft has once again lost sight of what we really want. ... Microsoft's "Extras" blunder is just another reason why the company must abandon Vista before it's too late. The first indication that Microsoft should abandon Vista is its poor sales figures. According to a recent report titled "Windows Vista Still Underperforming in U.S. Retail" from NPD, Vista sales are significantly behind XP sales during its early days. Even worse for Redmond, some are reverting to XP, citing issues with compatibility and overall design. And if that wasn't enough, Macs continue to surge and with the impending release of Leopard, Microsoft may be in for a rough holiday season. With each passing day, it's becoming blatantly clear that Microsoft released Vista too early and the company's continual mistakes and promises that can't be kept are further annoying the Windows faithful. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59692 U.S. Treasuries should be downgraded to junk bond status, not given a "triple-A" government rating, economist John Williams says, supporting a warning issued by Moody's last week that the credit rating of the U.S. government may be plunging in the next decade. The issue surfaced recently when Reuters published a Moody's warning that in the next 10 years, the credit rating of the United States is at risk of being dropped below triple-A. "We decided to raise the flag," Tom Lemmon at Moody's told WND, "because the underlying credit rating of the U.S. government faces the risk of downgrading in the next 10 years if solutions are not found to our growing Medicare and Social Security unfunded obligations." Williams, author of the Internet newsletter ShadowGovernmentStatistics.com, said the credit-rating problem is immediate, not long-term. "The U.S. Treasury is currently issuing 10-year notes and 30-year bonds," Williams pointed out. "Yes, the U.S. government can always print money, but the question is whether the investors buying these Treasury securities will get paid off when they get their money back." http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/prince-charles-antichrist.htm The basic contrast between a Christ and antichrist or a Messiah and an antimessiah is like good and evil. Evil never presents itself as black vs. white or as death vs. life. Evil always attempts to imitate good and offers itself as an alternative. The results are in sharp contrast, but deception has its initial appeal ... Many prophecy students view the image of the antimessiah as a great charismatic figure who sweeps the world off its feet with power, offering himself first as a hero, then turning to evil. These are the vain imaginations of men. The Scripture presents the antimessiah as the person with no power who usurps and influences others. Those with power give it to him. To quote Prince Charles directly, he says, I have no power of my own, but I have influence. And you will have to see what I do with it." ... Prince Charles is not an elected official as the rulers of the European Union; he is a monarch. Therefore, as the prophecy says, he is different from them. Maybe you are wondering if Prince Charles has any interest in leading Europe? He does. He tried to influence the original definition of the ECM in its formation in 1992. He argued that the monarchy was the most stable form of government, but Europe was into democracy and they turned him down. But the prophecy says they will consider his offer when they become a group of ten kings. [And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. REV 17:12] There are two competing models for the definition of world globalism. One is the UN model and the other European. The UN wants one great big community of everyone helping everyone. The European model divides the world into three parts: developed nations, developing nations, and undeveloped nations. The European model contends that there are not enough resources in the world for all nations to be developed and, therefore, part of the world needs to be sacrificed to meet the need of the other part. The European model also contends that there is not enough food to go around and the world population should be significantly reduced. There are six billion people right now; they think two billion would be a better number. The language of Zechariah suggests that the antimessiah will be the guy who leads the world while a large number of people die from starvation and lack of resources. Prince Charles is a globalist. He is the leading proponent of the European model. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=379009&in_page_id=1770 The Official inquiry into the death of Princess Diana will conclude that she died in a simple car crash. Britain's former top policeman is to state publicly for the first time that he believes Diana was killed in an accident. The Daily Mail can reveal that following a two-year investigation, Lord Stevens plans to release an interim report saying there is no evidence she was killed unlawfully. His findings undermine the many conspiracy theories surrounding the 1997 car crash in a Paris underpass. ... They have found no evidence to contradict the French findings that Diana died in a tragic road traffic accident caused by excessive speed. They say even a skilled racing driver would have had difficulty controlling the Mercedes she died in as it hurtled through the Pont d'Alma tunnel. ... The official French inquiry revealed Henri Paul was three or four times over the drink-drive limit when he left the Ritz hotel in Paris with the couple and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, closely followed by the paparazzi. http://www.deepjournal.com/p/7/a/en/281.html The documentay also showed an interview with the journalist Patrick Chauvel. He spoke with frustrated French researchers of the death of Diana and Dodi who were under a lot of pressure of the Élisée, or the French government, to not reveal too much. They showed Chauvel proof that undermines one of the French lies, namely that the flash pole (speed photo trap) at the entrance of the tunnel would not have worked. Someone who had sped into the tunnel five minutes before the crash received a fine fifteen days later after having been flashed. Chauvel saw the photograph made by the flash pole of the Mercedes of Diana, saw the date, but also the flashed speed: 105 km/ph. With this, another lie about the very high rate of speed has been refuted. The legs under the proof for that very high speed had been previously sawed at by Mercedes Benz (see part two of this DaanSpeak series), as also told in the documentay by John McNamara, head security of Harrods after 26 years of service at Scotland Yard. He was rightfully astonished in the documentay about another remarkable fact, namely that during the very night of the accident, the tunnel was completely cleaned. In the documentary you see pictures of how the cleaners are very thorough using special machines. All traces were erased and are literally covered with sand. Journalist Dickey of Newsweek was amazed that he did not come across anyone in the tunnel at seven in the morning, and that the road was already open for traffic. [The next paragraph has been added on April 18, 2004 and comes from HUMO [14/3317, '04] which cites from the book 'Diana, death of a legend', written by, also the maker of the documentary 'Diana: The Night She Died'], Cohen: [... Patrick] Chauvel fell silent for a moment. Then he said nonchalantly: 'Yes, there was something else. They found cocaine in the handbag'. I was stupefied. Bewildered, I asked whose handbag he was talking about. 'There was only one woman in that car', Chauvel said with a wry smile. [...] The cocaine find probably filtered very quickly to the police top and their political superiors: a few hours later instructions were issued that the information was not to leak out. That probably also explains why Dodi's mobile phone was not found at the place of the accident: 'It is possible that conversations were registered on his mobile phone with people that were known to the police as drug dealers.' Via [Cohens colleague] David Carr Brown, Cohen met a policeman who could confirm the story'. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/14/ndiana514.xml Diana, Princess of Wales explored the possibility of a secret wedding to Hasnat Khan, the heart surgeon with whom she had a two-year relationship, her former butler told the inquest into her death. Aware of the constitutional and religious complications entailed in the Christian mother of a future king marrying a Muslim man, the Princess asked her butler, Paul Burrell, to find out "if it would be possible to arrange a private wedding". Mr Burrell, 49, discussed the matter in 1996 with his own Catholic priest Father Anthony Parsons at the Carmelite Catholic Church in Kensington, West London, without Mr Khan's knowledge. The Princess, who described Mr. Khan as her "soulmate" and "the man she loved more than any other", Mr. Burrell said, broke off her relationship with Mr. Khan in July 1997, after he said he did not want to become a public figure. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22645812/ LONDON - Princess Diana gave no indication that she intended to marry Dodi Fayed and made no arrangements to announce an engagement before she died, her butler testified Monday at a coroner's inquest. Paul Burrell, Diana's butler and confidant for a decade, said that if an announcement had been planned — as Fayed's father claims — he believes Diana would have put arrangements in place. "I think she would have cleared the decks and made space, certainly in the week preceding the announcement," he told the court. Burrell has previously disputed claims by Fayed's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, that Diana was pregnant with Fayed's child and that the couple were on the brink of announcing their engagement when they died in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. "I want another marriage like I want a bad rash," Burrell has quoted Diana as saying in a telephone conversation when she was with Fayed in France. Diana's friend Annabel Goldsmith, who testified earlier, also reported Diana comparing marriage to an unwanted rash. http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/01/mitt_happens_pr_1.html When I heard Mitt Romney, a week ago Saturday Night, in the ABC debate, claim that he's the only candidate who "understands radical jihad," I scratched my head. He refuses to ask his church to stop funnelling $20 million plus to a HAMAS charity, or even to say he disagrees with it. Plus, he made anit-American statements when he headed the 2002 Salt Lake Games that jihadists would love. And then, there was his statement at the ABC debate that he will take the Muslim world into "modernity and moderation." But, does he really believe "modernity" equals moderation? Um, I guess he's never seen a jihadist website or been to Dubai. They are more modern than we are. It's just their ideology that's back in the 7th Century and good luck to Mitt in bringing it up to date. Oh, and don't forget Romney's previous statement at a town hall meeting that he "admires Hezbollah." http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/14/romney-pledges-to-help-michiganders-survive-one-state-recession/ “Michigan voters shouldn’t be fooled by Mitt Romney’s latest campaign promises of economic development and job growth. They need to look closely at his record in Massachusetts, where manufacturing job growth was third-worst in the country and taxes and ‘fees’ increased by over $700 million per year,’ said McCain backer and former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, who withdrew from her re-election bid in 2002 under a cloud of voter anger. Her departure made way for Romney to win the nomination and state election. "Mitt Romney has a reputation of saying anything to win. A comparison of his record versus his rhetoric on the economy shows why," Swift said. http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=12482 Description: Milton Green shares a very strong penetrating message about the state of the church in the modern day. The devil and the powers of darkness have been having much control and infiltration into the church in the modern day. A much needed message to hear of things to come. Scripture(s): Psalm 74, Ezekiel 34, Lamentations 1. http://www.basicchristian.org/ O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips {smile - praise God}. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. -- Bible http://www.niagarafrontierbible.com/3407KillerC4.php Attack of the Killer C’s is a series revealing this cosmic battle we’re in and exposes the seductive weapons the devil uses to keep us from becoming a mighty army for God Almighty. These attacks are as follows. The Attack of the Casual Christian, the Cultural Christian, the Compromising Christian, the Corruptive Christian, and the Counterfeit Christian. People of God, there’s a war going on and its not just abroad but its right here in our own country. It’s a cosmic battle for the souls of men and women all around us. The stakes are high and millions of lives are at risk. And if we’re ever going to win this war then the American Church needs to once again shine for Jesus Christ. People, the alarm has been sounded. We are under attack! The Attack of the Killer C’s. Don’t let the enemy get you! http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-evangelicals_bdjan13,1,447671.story COLUMBIA, S.C. - Asked to assess the attitude of evangelical Christians as they mull over the current crop of presidential candidates, one pastor here paused, smiled and put it this way: "As Jesus said, be as innocent as a dove and as shrewd as a serpent." ... Eight years later, many evangelicals are tougher, more skeptical and far less trusting of the politicians who woo them, said de Treville "Det" Bowers, the silver-haired pastor of Columbia's Christ Church in the Carolinas, who emphasized "shrewd" in his biblical reference to the Book of Matthew. "I think in our community and in the South, which is what I know, evangelicals have been so burned by those who claim to be what maybe is not evidenced in the policies that come forth," said Bowers. "Because of that, there is a strength I would call it -- some might call it a hardening -- of attitudes toward the [faith] professions of candidates, what they're claiming." ... Trust in God: Electability isn't the only factor among evangelicals, many of whom say they trust that God will put the right person in the White House. "I'm interested in righteousness, what God sees as right" http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gopmoney13jan13,1,7362218.story?coll=la-headlines-nation WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidates, losing the fundraising advantage their party has enjoyed for decades, are starting to feel the pinch. Tight for cash, Mitt Romney has pulled television advertising in two key states. Rudolph W. Giuliani has cut his payroll and moved staff from states that he is writing off. Even Mike Huckabee, winner of the GOP Iowa caucuses, has fallen short of his fundraising goals. ... Republicans' fundraising has lagged far behind the Democrats' in a primary campaign that has no clear GOP front- runner. Many voters are dissatisfied with their choices, and many analysts are predicting a Democratic victory in the fall. One measure of Democrats' advantage: In the wake of her New Hampshire primary victory, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York received more than $6 million in cash and pledges in a matter of days. The Republicans' New Hampshire winner, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, raised less than $1 million, even though the day after the primary was his biggest fundraising day of the campaign. As of Sept. 30, the Republican candidates combined reported having $42.7 million in cash on hand, which was $8 million less than Clinton alone, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. http://blog.electromneyin2008.com/2008/01/12/after-michigan-whether-win-or-place/ Finally, many people realize that it’s been a confluence of fortunate circumstances for both Huckabee and McCain (and in part it’s due to their unholy alliance) to have stolen 2 out of the first 3 states from Mitt, and those circumstances would also account for a “place” in Michigan. Many understand those circumstances won’t apply to the rest of the country and it’s too early to crown a victor after 4 states. McCain has some real problems with the conservatives and moderates that make up the majority of the Republican party. And despite his claims to the contrary, McCain LOST to Mitt in the Republican vote in NH (it was independents that gave him the extra 5% he won by). Even if McCain won Michigan, a close second by Mitt would likely erode McCain’s already tenuous claim he’s the front-runner, and certainly slows the perceived momentum. http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/01/08/news/wyoming/29a97b5a76bbf407872573ca000952e7.txt CHEYENNE -- The results of Republican nonbinding straw polls in some Wyoming counties Saturday don't jibe with the statewide delegate selection results in favor of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. In Johnson County, for example, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee came in first in the straw poll, while Romney was in fourth place. ... Johnson County Republicans who contacted the Star-Tribune Monday, including Ruth Osborn of Buffalo, questioned why statewide straw poll results had not been publicized. Osborn, a state GOP committeewoman, said in a telephone interview Monday that people were asking why the national news media were reporting Wyoming voted for Romney when her county's straw poll gave him fourth place. ... In Park County's straw poll, Hunter outpolled Romney 26-20, according to the Cody Enterprise's online edition. But the county delegates chose Marilyn Taylor, a Romney supporter, as an alternate delegate to the national GOP convention. In Campbell County, Romney supporter Greg Schaefer won the delegate slot although Paul won the straw poll, according to published accounts. http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_7936816 BOSTON - Several months ago, W. Mitt Romney said presciently that he had only himself to fear. Despite his millions, the picture-perfect family and an overpowering campaign organization, Romney becomes his own worst nightmare every time he dishes half-truths and exaggerations and dissembles about his religious and political views, pointlessly trying to persuade the so-called Christian Right that he is one of them. If it continues, he may not win his party's nomination. ... Romney's inability to empathize with common folk is longstanding. As an LDS stake president, he was kind, though often impatient and patronizing, with members who didn't measure up. Once, he joked that a church-sponsored social group for older single adults he championed was a club for "quitters and losers." ... One would expect that no son-of-George would ever allow one of the more guileless members of his campaign team to take the fall for its misbegotten attempt to involve LDS Church leaders in its efforts to secure support from BYU-affiliated business school groups. But Mitt did. One would think no heir-to-George would pin blame on his eldest son for the illegal immigrants working in the family garden. But Mitt did. No loyal husband would gracelessly roll his own wife under the bus ("Her contributions are for her and not for me. Her positions are not terrible [sic] relevant to my campaign.") to dodge accountability for his own previous support for Planned Parenthood. http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Darwins-Plantation-Evolutions-Racist-Roots,5547,186.aspx Most people do not realize how intimately connected the idea of evolution and the worst racist ideology in history are. This fascinating book by Ken Ham and Dr. Charles Ware reveals the compelling history of the effect of evolution on the history of the United States, including slavery and the civil rights movement. It goes beyond politically-correct teaching to show the global harvest of death and tragedy, which stems from Darwin’s controversial theories. You will also learn what the Christian’s view of racism should be and what the Bible has to say about it. A compassionate and uniquely convincing book! Uncover: the origin of the word “race” and the tragic legacy of Darwin’s theory. Discover: the disturbing connection between evolutionary thought and the most ruthless (and bloody) dictators in history. Join: an eye-opening discussion on racism and its roots in the hearts and minds of millions. Step: beyond the legal precedents to find the true solution in the Bible—one that resolves this issue in the hearts of mankind. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321472,00.html Saints were psychotic and advances in modern medicine have essentially wiped them off the planet. That's "the view" of comedian Joy Behar, as expressed on national television Wednesday. "I have a theory that you can’t find any saints anymore because of psychotropic medication. I think that [in] the old days, the saints were hearing voices and they didn’t have any Thorazine to calm them down," Behar said on ABC's daily chatfest. "Now that we have all of this medication available to us, you can’t find a saint anymore." ... A spokesman for "The View" said Joy was just joking. "She said very clearly it was just a theory — she has lots of really funny theories that she kind of gives on a daily basis. She’s a Catholic, and she loves to talk about the Catholic Church. It’s one of her favorite subjects." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321385,00.html WARSAW - A Polish man visiting a brothel was surprised to find his wife working there, Reuters reported. The woman, who had told her husband she had been working at a store in town to make extra money, Reuters reported. "I was dumfounded. I thought I was dreaming," the husband told the Polish tabloid Super Express on Wednesday. The couple reportedly are getting a divorce. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004115091_nhgop09.html MANCHESTER, N.H. - Sen. John McCain of Arizona completed a stunning political resurrection Tuesday, decisively winning New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary and embarrassing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in his own backyard. ... For Romney, who has invested more than $20 million of his own money in his campaign, the second-place finish is devastating. His methodical campaign was built on the idea that victories in Iowa and New Hampshire would propel him to the nomination. But accusations that he is a flip-flopper dragged him down as he waged a multifront campaign against McCain and Huckabee. ... McCain's victory was aided by Huckabee's defeat of Romney five days earlier in Iowa. Huckabee came in third in New Hampshire behind Romney. Giuliani, who spent millions of dollars in the Granite State but never seemed committed to the race, virtually disappeared, finishing fourth, while Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, the anti-war conservative, finished fifth. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson placed sixth. State officials estimated Tuesday's record-breaking turnout exceeded a half-million voters. http://www.codyenterprise.com/articles/2008/01/07/news/news1.txt Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has Park County’s support. County GOP leaders selected Marilyn Taylor as their alternate delegate Saturday during the county convention at the Holiday Inn. Taylor, who said she has volunteered for the former Massachusetts governor’s campaign for the past year, will go to the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn. ... In a straw poll among Park County GOP precinct voters, Hunter beat Romney 26-20. "That was interesting," said Terry Hinkle, vice-chairman of the county Republican Party. "But we selected Marilyn as our county alternate delegate to represent Romney at the national convention." ... Hinkle said the event did run smoothly and they had a standing-room only crowd. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m01L_YZce78 Supporters of Mitt Romney removed McCain signs before a campaign event in New Hampshire before the primary. ... Comments: Desperate signs... literally... shame on them!!! Wow, just shows what tactics the Romney campaign will go through to win... You'd think that if Romney paid $250 per vote in Iowa, and still can't win, then he probably isn't the best candidate. Of course, he has a couple hundred million more in the bank, but hopefully NH voters aren't easily sold. ... Romney is a snake who was planted to take credit for the winter olympics in Utah. He smiled pretty and got credit by doing nothing. His clone Mike Leavitt was in big trouble up to his ears over the crooked shenanigans involved in obtaining the event for Utah. http://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/01/quote_of_the_day_former_huckab_1.php If this turns out to be true -- and I caution you that it may not be -- I think it would be extremely damaging to Mitt because there is absolutely no way, given the tight ties that Mitt has to that PAC, that they could be doing push polling like this without Mitt knowing that they were behind it. Here's a little info on Commonwealth PAC and its relationship to Romney, Friends and supporters of Governor Mitt Romney have established a political action committee that has lavished more than $250,000 on Republican candidates and county GOP organizations across the nation since July, apparently laying the groundwork for a potential presidential run for the Massachusetts politician in 2008. ...Funded largely by Romney's former colleagues at the venture capital firm Bain Capital, Commonwealth PAC has quickly established a strong presence in states that are crucial to any presidential hopeful. Romney has made time for appearances in most of those states, too. ... ''Governor Romney is fully aware of the Commonwealth PAC and is supportive of its mission," Fehrnstrom said. ''However, he does not participate in the management decisions of the PAC." Money for the PAC's donations is mostly coming from Bain executives, as well as Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Darrell Crate and Staples Inc. founder Thomas Stemberg. http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/business-leaders/article/report-bear-stearns-ceo-resign-remain-chairman_427987_4.html NEW YORK -- Bear Stearns Chief Executive James Cayne is resigning under pressure from shareholders upset over the firm's losses amid a slew of problems sparked by the collapse of mortgage markets, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. ... Some people point to the collapse last summer of two Bear Stearns hedge funds set up to bet on risky mortgage debt as the trigger for the subprime mortgage crisis, which began as people with tainted or weak credit history started defaulting on their loans. Cayne later came under fire after the Journal reported that as the two hedge funds were going bankrupt, he was playing golf and bridge without access to e-mail or a telephone. Bear Stearns Cos.' fiscal fourth-quarter loss, the first in its 84-year history, and the collapse of the hedge funds, prompted Cayne to pass on his 2007 bonus. Members of the company's executive committee also did not receive year-end bonuses. Bear Stearns' profit plummeted 89% in fiscal 2007 as the bank wrote billions of dollars of bad debt off its books. The company's stock had lost almost 47% of its value as of late December. http://www.minyanville.com/articles/bsc-consumer-spending-housing-foreclosures-cheech/index/a/14709/from/yahoo The Wall Street Journal this morning takes Bear Stearns CEO James Cayne to task for, among other things: Playing golf and bridge during the summer even as two Bear Stearns hedge funds were losing money. Cayne reportedly spent 10 of 21 workdays out of the office in July. Disappearing during August conference calls with investors. Eh, so what. All CEOs do play golf and bridge. BUT, do they: "After a day of bridge at a Doubletree hotel in Memphis, in 2004, Mr. Cayne invited a fellow player and a woman to smoke pot with him, according to someone who was there, and led the two to a lobby men's room where he intended to light up. The other player declined, says the person who was there, but the woman followed Mr. Cayne inside and shared a joint, to the amusement of a passerby," the Journal reported. "Asked more generally whether he smoked pot during bridge tournaments or on other occasions, Mr. Cayne said he would respond only "to a specific allegation," not to general questions. So that's what they mean by Cayne's "blunt style." http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/2007/February2007.html The new Majority Leader for the United States Senate is now U.S. Senator Harry Reid {a loyal (LDS) Mormon} of Searchlight, Nevada. When Reid was being interviewed in his home by reporters, he took them into his bathroom and pointed to his most prized possession. It was an autographed poster of the Grateful Dead. (38) The Grateful Dead is a notorious hard rock band noted for their heavy drug cult following. They are a satanic group of the first magnitude, and their followers are referred to as deadheads. Their emblem is a skeleton wearing a tuxedo and top hat with the skull wearing sunglasses. It is true, our Senate Majority leader is a deadhead, and this may explain the residue of the two lines of white powder on the glass top of the table, where he was seated with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, sometimes referred to as "Nasty Pelosi." I am now looking at a number of pictures of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on the day she took office. As she stood in front of all the dignitaries present, she held a black leather bull whip in front of her chest and proudly proclaimed, "I am the most powerful woman in America." Pelosi then made two clenched fists and held them in a tai kwon do karate position. In the next photograph, she is lifting a gavel high into the air with a look on her face that would scare the devil himself if he had a mind to look at her. The next picture shows Pelosi lifting her right fist above her head in the communist power salute that was so common during the riots and demonstrations of the 1960's. She then brings her fist slightly downward and turns her knuckles forward to the striking serpent salute used by Satanists. (39) The late high priest of the Church of Satan, also secretly known as the Hotel California, was often seen using the striking serpent salute. Without a doubt, hell has been raised, and hells children are now occupying the highest offices in our erstwhile great nation. http://www.dailypaul.com/node/22378 Jesus said that man cannot serve two masters -- but if Romney is elected President, he will have to serve two conflicting oaths. American Presidents swear an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. However, this Presidential Oath is in direct conflict with Romney's sacred oath to his Mormon Church -- a blood oath which puts Romney's life, fortune and obedience at the unrestricted service of his Church. This obedience is defined by the Church's Living Prophet, the President of the Mormon Church and-- as they believe -- the literal Voice of God on earth. According to author Mike Moody, "One of the LDS Church's basic tenets is a prophecy from founder and First Prophet Joseph Smith that in the latter days, the U.S. Constitution will 'hang by a thread as fine as silk fiber' until a Mormon leader rides in on his White Horse to save the U.S. and the Constitution -- then use his control of the United States to set up a world-wide theocracy, one based on the clearly unorthodox beliefs of the Church of Latter Day Saints." Author Mike Moody, himself a 7th Generation Mormon from a family of Church-founding patriarchs - men who served Joseph Smith and Brigham Young as they created this remarkable "church" -- uses his both insider knowledge of the LDS Church and his long-time personal ties to his one-time college fraternity brother, Mitt Romney, to point out the essential conflict between Romney's sacred Oath to the Church and the oath he seeks to take as President. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080107/gadget_show_blu_ray_triumph.html LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The International Consumer Electronics Show is turning out to be a celebration party for Blu-ray, the high-definition format that Sony Corp. backed, and a wake for a rival movie disc technology pushed by Toshiba Corp. ... The impasse was broken Friday by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the last major studio to put out movies in both formats. It announced it was ditching HD DVD, and from May on, would only publish on Blu-ray and traditional DVD. The decision puts a strong majority of the major studios, five versus two, in the Blu-ray camp. Asked Monday at the show if the Warner announcement decides the format war, Stringer said: "I never put up banners that say 'Mission Accomplished.'" But his cheerful delivery belied his words. By contrast, the main media event scheduled for the show by the North American HD DVD Promotional Group, which includes Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp., was canceled because of Warner's defection. "We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps," the group said in a statement. The shift in the format struggle isn't a reason to run out and buy Blu-ray players, however: today's players can't take advantage of the features planned for future Blu-ray discs. On Monday, Panasonic parent Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. demonstrated prototypes that can handle the new interactive features coming to Blu-ray. http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/lone_republican/index.php/2008/01/07/another-romney-flip-flop/ The ad features Romney speaking directly into the camera holding up three pieces of COMPARISON direct mail. He says, “Negative mudslinging does not belong in the Republican Primary.” ... Mitt Romney refused to sign the No New Taxes pledge in 2002. Now he is for it. Why didn’t he sign it in 2002? Because he raised corporate taxes, the gas tax and increased fees by half a billion. What do people say about him? The Cato Institute gives him a C as Governor. Mitt Romney you never know when he is going to change his mind again. So the Romney lesson of the day is that comparison or negative ads are only OK when Romney does them and when any one else does a comparison or a negative ad it is mud slinging or personal. Do as I say not as I do. http://www.tccm.org/ The Christian Care Ministry’s primary mission is to offer Christians an organized means by which medical bills can be shared across a broad membership, saving families thousands of dollars each year compared to high-cost insurance plans. There are now Christian Care Medi-Share® members in all 50 states and on every continent. In recent years, additional programs have been added to the Christian Care Ministry to further assist members with their health needs: http://medi-share.org/what_is_medishare.aspx The Medi-Share program brings Christians together to share the cost of their medical bills and save money. IS MEDI-SHARE NEW? No. The idea of sharing one another's needs is as old as the Bible itself (see Psalm 133, Galatians 6:2). Medi-Share has been bringing Christians together since 1993 and its members have shared more than $300,000,000 with each other over that period. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT MEDI-SHARE? There are several key differences between Medi-Share and health insurance that are fully explained in our Guidelines, but here are the basics: Medi-Share is NOT insurance. Unlike health insurance companies where you pay a premium to the company and they, in turn, either reimburse you or pay the doctor or hospital, Medi-Share brings Christians together to share medical bills with one another. The key here is that medical needs are SHARED among members. Medi-Share is based on the biblical principles of caring for and sharing in one another's needs as set forth in Galatians 6:2. http://www.kfuoam.org/WWB_Audio_Archive.htm Radio Show Archive (Mp3's) http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/Theology.pdf Studying Theology: Is just like piecing together a puzzle. Individual Theology pieces fit together and the picture begins to emerge. The picture Theology displays is the image of Jesus! http://f2a.org/radio/Download%202008-01-01.htm January 01, 2008 - The Criminalization of Christianity audiobook version - by Janet L. Folger "The most important book of 2006" for Christians on how to get our country back before it's too late. Buy a copy for yourself and one for your pastor! (Free Mp3 download) http://f2a.org/radio/Download%2012-28.htm December 28, 2007 - The Criminalization of Christianity audiobook version - by Janet L. Folger "The most important book of 2006" for Christians on how to get our country back before it's too late. Buy a copy for yourself and one for your pastor! (Free Mp3 download) http://f2a.org/radio/Download%2012-31.htm December 31, 2007 - The Criminalization of Christianity audiobook version - by Janet L. Folger "The most important book of 2006" for Christians on how to get our country back before it's too late. Buy a copy for yourself and one for your pastor! (Free Mp3 download) http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080107/bs_afp/lifestyleusitelectronicsconsumerdvd LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - HD DVD backers are reeling at the world's top consumer electronics show in the wake of a major blow by rival Blu-Ray in the battle to be the reigning format for high density DVDs. Warner Brothers studio pulled out of an alliance with Toshiba's HD DVD camp and switched sides, announcing on Friday that Hollywood's largest distributor of DVDs will do so exclusively in Sony's Blu-Ray format. HD DVD Promotion Group cancelled a press conference it had planned for the eve of Monday's formal start of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59550 Quiet steps by the federal government toward merger of the U.S., Canada and Mexico top the list of the 10 most "spiked" or underreported stories of the last year, according to an annual WND survey. At the end of each year, news organizations typically present their retrospective replays of what they consider to have been the top news stories in the previous 12 months. WND's editors, however, have long considered it far more newsworthy to publicize the most important unreported or underreported news events of the year – to highlight perhaps for one last time major news stories that were undeservedly "spiked" by the establishment press. WND Editor and CEO Joseph Farah has sponsored "Operation Spike" every year since 1988, and since founding WorldNetDaily in May 1997, he has continued the annual tradition. http://www.soniclight.com/study_cd/audio_bible_study_lessons.htm Below are samples of audio-based Bible study lessons from selected Study CDs. To begin, click one of the Bible Study titles below. To learn more about the MP3 technology used to create these lessons, click here. To see the available Discount Sets, click 'How to Order' above, then scroll down. To learn about the Sonic Light audio CDs, scroll down below the sample series. To learn about downloading to an iPod scroll down to the bottom. http://www.kfuoam.org/BS_Main.htm -- Audio Archives -- Free Mp3 Downloads. http://www.biblestudyguide.org/audiobiblelessons/mp3-archive-index.htm BibleStudyGuide.org is devoted to providing Bible study resources. It contains resources authored by a number of individuals. Some of the resources are from people of different religious backgrounds and beliefs. For example, when using the commentaries, encyclopedias, and dictionaries, you will be studying material written by individuals from different churches who have differing beliefs on a particular subject. http://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/20080104/cm_rcp/a_hard_loss_for_romney Where would you start? A large piece of the Romney campaign's failure was its unwillingness to discuss the major issues facing the country in substantive terms. He never said one interesting thing about how to defeat radical Islam in its war against the United States in particular and the developed world in general. In the midst of the greatest financial meltdown in at least two decades, he didn't offer up even the sketchiest proposal for national or international oversight of the global financial system. In the midst of a genomic revolution in biological science, one that impacts everything from energy to health care to national security, he said nothing at all. A large part of politics is framing the context in which one's candidacy is understood. Romney was never going to be a base candidate. He's a Mormon and the base is not. Romney was never going to be the "conservative" candidate, he was the former governor of Massachusetts, perhaps the most liberal state in the country, and campaigned there for the US Senate (in 1994) and for governor (in 2002) as a moderate. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/04/in_search_of_romneys_silver_li.html DES MOINES -- What do you say after a very costly trouncing? After spending $238 for each of their 29,405 votes -- a reported $7 million ... But like New Coke, which tested well in the labs and was a flop when it was introduced, the polls in Iowa were misleading. What they reflected was a part of the electorate which had not yet weighed in because they could not agree on a candidate: the evangelical base of the party. Then came Huckabee. And all of a sudden, the strength that Madden had been pointing to all year long evaporated. Madden is a veteran of political communications who used to work for embattled congressman Tom Delay. During that time, he was famous for saying that, no matter what, you have to have poise. He was the model of poise Thursday night, even as the bad news arrived in a torrent. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/candidates/#1187 Once CNN projects a winner in each state contest, the "Status" for that contest changes to reflect the candidate's position. If the candidate is the projected winner, the Status will read "Projected winner". If not, the Status will read "2nd place," "3rd place," etc. The placement is only a reflection of the vote or delegate totals being provided at the time, and not necessarily CNN's projection of the candidate's final placement in the contest. http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006202.cfm An attempt by leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to win friends and influence Muslims is alienating another group — evangelical Christians. Reactions have been negative and strong. Islam expert Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo has called it a “betrayal” and a “sellout.” Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary (Southern Baptist), termed it “naiveté that borders on dishonesty.” Others are just beginning to hear of it. In November, NEA President Leith Anderson and NEA Vice President Richard Cizik signed onto a Christian response to an invitation to dialogue from 138 Muslim leaders around the world. Their response — initiated by Yale Divinity School and endorsed by other liberal Christian leaders — apologized for the sins of Christians during the Crusades and for “excesses” of the global war on terror, without mentioning Muslim atrocities. It appeared to leave the fundamentals of Christianity — especially the deity of Christ — open for discussion. It even seemed to acknowledge Allah as the God of the Bible. “Before we ‘shake your hand’ in responding to your letter,” it stated, “we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world.” The very name of the Muslim communiqué — A Common Word between Us and You — is from a verse in the Quran that condemns “people of the Scripture” (Christians) for alleged polytheism (the doctrine of the Trinity). Mohler said the agreement “sends the wrong signal” and contains basic theological problems, especially in “marginalizing” Jesus Christ. He also condemned the apology for the Crusades. “I just have to wonder how intellectually honest this is,” he said. “Are these people suggesting that they wish the military conflict with Islam had ended differently — that Islam had conquered Europe?” http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59509 The letter also criticized those in the conservative community who are supporting Romney, accusing them of "gross malpractice, ruthless ambition and dishonesty." "Behind the empty gestures and deceptive rhetoric, Romney was not pro-life or a defender of marriage by any stretch of the imagination. He was a disaster," said O'Gorman, of the board for Massachusetts Citizens for Life. He said Romney "deceptively" claims to have been awarded a pro-life award from the group. "The award Romney arranged for himself with the local Pioneer Valley Chapter was the Mullins Award for Political Leadership, not a pro-life award and not approved by MCFL's state board of directors," he said. "We're blowing the whistle to warn voters..." "For some bizarre reason the mere fact that Romney's never been divorced and goes to a temple regularly is supposed to negate the fact that he's extremely liberal," said Harvey. "He used his Republican and Mormon identity to push through radical policies on gay marriage, abortion and pro-homosexual school programs that Ted Kennedy always dreamed about." The Romney campaign repeatedly has declined to respond to WND requests for comment on such issues, including a failure to respond to multiple requests for a one-on-one interview in which the candidate would have been allowed to give his definitive perspective of the issues being raised. http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/03/the-political-wire-thompson-denies-plans-to-drop-out/ Mitt Romney’s campaign again denied charges from Mike Huckabee’s camp Thursday that the Republican presidential candidate had anything to do with phone calls going out to Huckabee’s Iowa supporters giving them incorrect caucus locations. Romney aides denied the charge, ... Huckabee’s Iowa director Eric Woolson told FOX News Thursday mailers have been distributed giving Huckabee supporters “erroneous information” about their caucus locations. Woolson was very explicit about who’s to blame. It’s “obvious that Romney’s campaign is trying to suppress Mike Huckabee’s turnout by steering our supporters away from their actual precinct locations, trying to make this harder for them,” he said. http://www.newsmax.com/politics/huckabee_letters/2008/01/02/61273.html DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa pastors who support Republican Mike Huckabee for president have received letters warning them that getting involved in politics could endanger the tax-exempt status of their churches. Several pastors who have publicly backed Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister who has support from many evangelicals, said they have received the letters, which have no return address. They have arrived in the weeks leading to Thursday's precinct caucuses. Two letters were sent to the Rev. Brad Sherman, of Solid Rock Christian Church in Coralville. The first arrived a couple weeks ago and warned that he could be prosecuted for his support of Huckabee. "I just laughed. No one lands in jail for this," Sherman said. "Somebody is trying to intimidate Christians from getting involved." ... "I just encourage people to get out and vote and use their biblical principles," Hollinger said. "I don't tell people who to vote for." Hollinger said he doubted the letters would intimidate anyone. The Rev. Rex Deckard has received nine letters, including three on Wednesday. ... Jim Harris, a Huckabee spokesman in Little Rock, Ark., said the campaign was aware of the letters but did not know how many pastors have received them or whether they were just being sent in Iowa. "We are gathering more information even as we speak," Harris said. "I would not rule out that we would ask for a criminal investigation, and people who would send such threatening letters to ministers for purely political purposes are cowardly and reek of desperation." http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/worklife/12/31/cb.work.conflict/index.html Human resource managers report spending 24 to 60 percent of their time dealing with employee disputes. The number of violent incidents in the workplace has been increasing steadily, according to a study by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Nearly 60 percent of respondents said violence had occurred in their organization during the past three years, and they identified "personality conflicts" as the leading cause. Like birth, death, choice and change, conflict is a constant fact of life. It's also a fact of the workplace, especially when you deal or interact with people. While disagreements and differing opinions are normal, even healthy, in work relationships, conflict can cost your company productivity, money and employee satisfaction. ... "Understanding the nature of conflict, examining myths, and learning simple conflict-resolution skills can reduce friction and their negative toll on job satisfaction and productivity." Reasons for animosity at work run the gamut from weak communication to personality clashes to poor leadership. Whatever the reason, early intervention is the key to managing conflicts before they become crises, Stieber says. Make use of the following tips to resolve conflict at work: Choose your battles: How important is the dispute really? Does it truly affect you, and is it a chronic problem? If it's a one-time incident or mild transgression, let it pass, says Steven Menack, a professional divorce and business mediator. Expect conflict: Decide that friction will occasionally emerge in the course of human relationships, Stieber says. Don't fear it -- rather, learn to spot the symptoms early and see opportunity in the resolution. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0162664620080101 VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict ushered in the New Year on Tuesday by criticizing policies that undermine the traditional family, saying they eroded one of the most important foundations for peace in the world. The Pontiff, delivering a traditional New Year prayer for peace, appeared to take a swipe at efforts in several countries to grant legal recognition to gay and unwed couples -- although he did not single out any policies by name. He said the traditional family led by a husband and wife instilled values that promote peace, and added it was an "irreplaceable" institution. "Those who are hostile, even unknowingly, to the institution of the family ... make peace fragile for the entire national and international community," the Pope told crowds gathered in a sunny St. Peter's Square. http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ Perceptive Pixel, Inc. was founded by Jeff Han in 2006 as a spinoff of the NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences to develop and market the most advanced multi-touch system in the world. http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=77210 Between the Fall of Rome and the dawn of the Renaissance, Europe plunged into a dark night of constant war, splintered sovereignties, marauding pagans, rabid crusaders and devastating plague. That anything of value arose from this chaotic muck - much less the Renaissance - is nothing short of miraculous. Through masterful cinematography and ground-breaking research, THE DARK AGES brings to life this amazing and mysterious time. Relive in striking detail critical turning points in the Early Middle Ages including the fall of Rome to the Visigoths, the horrors of Bubonic Plague, the rise of Charlemagne and the launching of the First Crusade. http://www.visionforum.com/booksandmedia/productdetail.aspx?productid=86552&categoryid=159 This is Vision Forum’s top recommendation as a video training course for building loving, Christ-centered, unified, multi-generational families. In this eminently practical seminar, Michael and Susan Bradrick have provided Christians with an ideal training tool for use in the local church or during family devotions. http://jrpm.blogspot.com/2005/07/13-july-2005-heaven-and-hell.html C. S. Lewis drew us a mental picture of Hell, everyone was seated at a banquet table filled with wonderful food. The problem arose in that the food was several feet away, and they all had three foot long forks and knives. They could just reach the food, but the utensil's were too long to get the food into their mouths. There was anger, fighting, screaming and unpleasantness abounding. Think of the expansion of Moreso's law for eternity. Lewis also drew us a picture of Heaven, same huge banquet table filled with wonderful foods. The banqueters in Heaven were equipped with those same three foot long utensils. The difference was the joy, laughter, and excitement at the table; they were feeding each other, and enjoying a great feast. They had learned the joy of service on earth, and now they had eternity to enjoy it, only more so. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvox-lWanZU nice, love it, ppl should make their kids watch things like this not the violent stupid stuff that's broadcasted now everywhere that steals their inocence. {The gentleman in the cartoon is a nice person however he is not a very helpful person. This is much like today where people in the cults are dying of thirst, a lack of the living water of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not enough to be just a nice person in a thirsty world. Christians who have the truth need to assist others to help them to drink from the living water of the message of Jesus Christ. -- John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water.} http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_7785332 WASHINGTON - Presidential candidate Mitt Romney says in a videotaped interview that he doesn't know that God has spoken to anyone since the time of Moses. The comment appears to conflict with his Mormon faith that believes God spoke to founder Joseph Smith and other church prophets subsequently. In the interview with Boston's WCVB, a reporter asks Romney several questions about his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including how his faith would impact him if he is elected. "Should God speak to you, and ask you to do something that might be in conflict with your duties as president, or should He speak to your prophet who would speak to you, how would you make that decision, how would you handle that?" reporter Natalie Jacobson asks. Romney laughs and then replies, "Well, I don't recall God speaking to me. I, I don't recall God speaking to anyone since, uh, Moses and the [burning] bush, or perhaps some others, but, but I don't have that frequent of communication." ... Mormons believe in modern revelation and that the church's prophet communicates with God, a belief at odds with other mainstream Christian faiths. The faith was founded by Smith, who said he had spoken to God and that an angel led him to gold plates that became the Book of Mormon. The LDS Church, through a spokesman, declined comment. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/nuns.excommunicated.ap/index.html The Vatican has declared all members of the Army of Mary excommunicated. Hebert said the excommunication was the first in the diocese's 165-year history. "It is a painfully historic moment for this church," Hebert said. The six nuns are associated with the Good Shepherd Monastery of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in Hot Springs. Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, one of the nuns excommunicated, said the nuns will still live at the convent property, which they own. "We are at peace and we know that for us we are doing the right thing," the 82-year-old nun said. "We pray that the church will open their eyes before it is too late. This is God's work through Mary, the blessed mother, and we're doing what we're asked to do." At a news conference, Hebert said the nuns "became entranced and deluded with a doctrine that is heretical." He said church officials removed the Eucharist -- which Catholics revere as the body of Christ -- from the monastery on Tuesday night. Hebert said the sect's members believe that its 86-year-old founder, Marie Paule Giguere, is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary and that God speaks directly through her. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/leader-of-christian-iowa-group-gives-romney-his-vote/ BURLINGTON, Iowa—Wait, was he supposed to do that? Mitt Romney got a surprise endorsement on Saturday from the Rev. Morris Hurd, chairman of the Iowa Christian Alliance, a prominent conservative Christian group in the state, as he introduced the former Massachusetts governor at a rally tonight. Officials with the group typically avoid making public endorsements because of their tax-exempt status, but Mr. Hurd blurted out his decision tonight in what felt like a bit of an accident. "I'll tell you a little secret," he told the audience of more than 200 people. "I haven't told anybody else this. I’ll tell this secret out here. Next Thursday, when I go to the caucuses, I’m going to cast my vote for Governor Mitt Romney." Neither Mr. Hurd, nor Mr. Romney, who took the microphone afterward, identified Mr. Hurd as the chairman of the Alliance’s board. "I don't think I’m supposed to endorse a candidate," said Mr. Hurd afterward, when the Caucus approached him. "I hope I don't get in trouble." Mr. Hurd downplayed the weight of his endorsement, but Tim Albrecht, Mr. Romney's Iowa campaign spokeman, called it a "huge validator." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-H83tfCfP8 Yeah... it's hard to get elected President when you spent years BAPTIZING DEAD NAZIS!!!! I don't think I'd admit to having done it either. Then again, I wouldn't have joined his Cult to begin with. ... Oh, by the way, 19 year old Mormon missionaries, which he once was, have enough authority to speak for and behalf of the Mormon church, teaching and baptizing people daily, all around the world, but Mitt, a 60 year old man and former high up leader in Mormonism; claims he doesn't speak for his church. Just like you said...what a bold-faced liar!! http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/Pope:_Find_Time_for_God/2007/12/25/59632.html VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas early Tuesday by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world, Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for spiritual matters in their lives. "Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God," he said. ... Benedict drew parallels between what he perceives as modern society's refusal of God and the story of how Jesus was born in a manger because there was no space for his family at a nearby inn. "In some way, mankind is awaiting God, waiting for him to draw near. But when the moment comes, there is no room for him," he said. But the message of Jesus' birth, which is marked on Christmas, is also that "God does not allow himself to be shut out," Benedict said. "He finds a space, even if it means entering through the stable; there are people who see his light and pass it on." http://www.basicchristian.org/christmastraditions.html Christmas Day - "Savior Day" The Day Jesus Christ the Savior of the world entered into the world! Celebrating the Arrival (Birth) of Jesus Christ the Savior of Mankind Christmas time is a wonderful time it is a time of reassurance of God's love and of God's commitment for all mankind throughout all time. Enjoy the Christmas holiday season knowing that there is indeed a Savior-Redeemer for mankind and that Jesus Christ is the Savior-Redeemer. ... Luke 2:8-12 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm PLEASE NOTE.... The information placed on this site may not be the way all people celebrate traditions today many are over 100 years old. Many people change to suit their families. http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Love_Worth_Finding/ At the end of each year, LWF compiles an album of the most requested messages aired during the year. In celebration of 20 years in broadcasting, this incredible album includes the top 20 messages in the last 20 years. From prophecy to family, to personal and spiritual growth, Adrian Rogers shares powerful biblical principles that will bring hope to your heart, encouragement to your soul, and strength for your spirit. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2265140001538249264 A video clip from one of the great Billy Graham Crusades. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6692224365909804012 A video clip from one of the great Billy Graham Crusades. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8120408852913531095 I just watched the most Gospel-driven funeral I have ever seen. Here is a short video clip where Dr. Billy Graham stands to address those in attendance. The entire funeral was a powerful testimony to Christ. Visit the Billy Graham website for more information. http://www.billygraham.org/TV_Index.asp?QR=69&BA=1010 From the war-torn countryside of ancient China, to the impressive halls of America's White House, Ruth Bell Graham's life took her on a journey that few could imagine. Meet this unique woman who captured the heart of Billy Graham and gained the admiration of countless others. Discover why her husband called her, “…the greatest Christian I've ever known.” Laugh with those who knew her best and discover fresh insights from those who loved her deeply. Find out how her “behind-the-scenes” wit and wisdom helped produce an extraordinary legacy. Plus, be inspired by world premier music videos from Avalon and Fernando Ortega, and enjoy a special performance from the Gaither Homecoming Friends. Watch the Billy Graham Television Special this December as we celebrate the “very full life” of Ruth Bell Graham. http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-odd-666-exchange%2C0%2C2433186.story REEVES, La. - It's taken 40 years, but this southwest Louisiana village no longer bears the mark of the beast. Beginning this month, residents and businesses can change the first three digits of their phone numbers from 666 -- depicted in the Bible as the mark of the beast -- to 749. Mayor Scott Walker said one of the biggest hangups he's had, both as mayor and as a lifelong resident of Reeves, is the reaction he's gotten when giving people his number. He describes it as a pause, followed by the admonition: "Y'all have to change that." ... "This boils down to, this is a very, very religious community," Walker said. http://www.basicchristian.org/mark_beast_666.html There are at least three aspects to the Mark of the Beast as explained in the book of Revelation. It is an actual mark or marking and it is also an Image (Icon) a representation of the Antichrist (Satan) himself and it is represented in his personal name of, emptiness, which is referenced by the number 666. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/12/28/romney_administration_could_have_kept_killer_behind_bars/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed3 SHIRLEY, Mass.—A killer accused in the slaying of a newlywed couple in Washington state shortly after he was released from prison in Massachusetts should have been held behind bars for almost a year longer, but the Romney administration failed to file paperwork in time to take away his "good time" credits. more stories like thisA Department of Correction superintendent, under then-Gov. Mitt Romney, did not act on a disciplinary recommendation to strip 300 days of credit from Daniel Tavares after he was accused of threats to prison staff in 2003, state officials announced Friday in releasing results of a probe into the Tavares case. Because of the paperwork error, Tavares was allowed to keep nearly a year's worth of "good days" to complete his sentence June 14. Five months later, newlyweds Brian and Beverly Mauck were killed in Graham, Wash., allegedly by Tavares. "He would have still been incarcerated. We are very dismayed. He was violent," Correction Commissioner Harold Clarke said at a news conference Friday. "This is an individual who should not have been released any earlier than required." http://www.olivetreeviews.org/articles/Jans_eUpdates.shtml#newsitemEEAllykZyVhekqZQUs Joel Rosenberg asks, "Why does Bhutto's death matter? To be blunt: Pakistan and her nuclear weapons are in danger of falling into the hands of Islamic radicals. Such radicals have attempted to assassinate Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf multiple times in the last few years, hoping to seize control of the government and impose Sharia Law. The attack is a sobering reminder that Pakistan is just one coup d'etat away from Osama bin Laden or one of his fanatical, murderous allies suddenly gaining control. It is difficult to imagine a more nightmarish scenario than al-Qaeda in possession of Pakistan's nuclear arsensal, but this is not an impossibility." Gary Bauer reminds us, "Bhutto survived a previous assassination attempt in October involving coordinated bombings that killed more than 150 people and wounded hundreds more. She did not falter from her cause; she pressed on. According to press reports, a baby was turned into a human bomb in that failed attempt. The child was strapped with explosives and passed person-to-person through the crowd in the hopes that Bhutto would hug the baby, which is what any decent person would do. But Bhutto's enemies, our enemies, freedom's enemies, exploit our sensitivities and turn babies into bombs. "This is the evil Bhutto was confronting. Her voice has been silenced. The rest of the civilized world must take up her cause. We cannot ignore it. We cannot compromise with it. We must defeat it or it will defeat us." We are in perilous times (II Timothy 3) so stay tuned. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2232977,00.html One of the frontrunners in the 2008 presidential race, Mitt Romney, opted for a risky strategy today by running negative television adverts against his fast-rising Republican rival John McCain. With less than a week to the first real test, the caucus in Iowa, polls suggest that Romney's lead nationally is being eroded. Negative advertising is often effective but it can also turn off potential voters, especially in states such as Iowa. ... Romney, who has spent millions more on advertising than his Republican rivals, most of it from his personal fortune, aired an advert that focused on McCain's position on immigration and tax. ... Romney has spent $6.5m on more than 8,000 advertising spots in Iowa. McCain has repeatedly resisted personal attacks. He put out an ad of his own in New Hampshire quoting a newspaper saying: "McCain campaigns with decency." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/939112.html According to reports, the assassin managed to approach Bhutto and position himself within a short distance of her, before proceeding to shoot her and detonate the explosives with which he was strapped. Not only did the assassin want to cause maximum casualties, but he also hoped that authorities would later be unable to identify him and thus ascertain which organization he was working for. What makes the security failure all the more startling is the fact that it comes just weeks after the first assassination attempt following Bhutto's return to Pakistan from a lengthy political exile. In the attempt, suicide bombers killed 150 people, although Bhutto escaped unharmed. Under these circumstances, it was chiefly incumbent on her security guards to do all in their power to prevent direct access to her, even during the course of an election campaign in which a candidate seeks to come into contact with the public. http://linuxmint.com/ Linux Mint is one of the surprise packages of the past year. Originally launched as a variant of Ubuntu with integrated media codecs, it has now developed into one of the most user-friendly distributions on the market - complete with a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, a web-based package installation interface, and a number of different editions. Perhaps most importantly, this is one project where the developers and users are in constant interaction, resulting in dramatic, user-driven improvements with every new release. DistroWatch has spoken to the founder and lead developer of Linux Mint, Clement Lefebvre, about the history of the distribution. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DJO_XuM4eM About This Video Jan Mickelson of WHO 1040 exposes how Mitt Romney lied to CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. Added: December 19, 2007. Is there anything he (Mitt) doesn't lie about? http://trialsofascension.net/mormon/polygamy.html Ann Eliza Young, who had been married to Brigham Young, charged that Joseph Smith was guilty of adultery: "Joseph not only paid his addresses to the young and unmarried women, but he sought 'spiritual alliance' with many married ladies…He taught them that all former marriages were null and void, and that they were at perfect liberty to make another choice of a husband. The marriage covenants were not binding, because they were ratified only by Gentile laws...consequently all the women were free... "One woman said to me not very long since, while giving me some of her experiences in polygamy: 'The greatest trial I ever endured in my life was living with my husband and deceiving him, by receiving Joseph's attentions whenever he chose to come to me.' "This woman, and others, whose experience has been very similar, are among the very best women in the church; they are as pure-minded and virtuous women as any in the world. They were seduced under the guise of religion... "Some of these women have since said they did not know who was the father of their children; this is not to be wondered at, for after Joseph's declaration annulling all Gentile marriages, the greatest promiscuity was practiced; and, indeed, all sense of morality seemed to have been lost by a portion at least of the church." (Wife No. 19, 1876, pp. 70-71) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parley_P._Pratt He married Thankful Halsey in Canaan, New York on 9 September 1827. ... On a preaching mission in the southern United States in 1857, Pratt was being tracked by Hector McLean, who was upset with Pratt for marrying his legal wife Eleanor McLean. Pratt had met Eleanor a few years earlier in San Francisco, California, and she later left Hector and moved to Utah where she married Pratt. Though for religious reasons she considered herself "unmarried", Eleanor was not legally divorced from Hector at the time of her Celestial marriage to Pratt. McLean pressed criminal charges, accusing Pratt of coming between him and the woman. Pratt managed to evade him and the legal charges, but was finally arrested in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). He was tried before Judge John B Ogden, but was only charged with stealing children's clothes. He had helped his wife Eleanor retrieve her children who had been taken from her by McLean. Judge Ogden acquitted Pratt of the charges against him and released him. However, shortly afterward, on 13 May 1857, he was killed by Hector McLean on a farm northeast of Van Buren, Arkansas. Pratt was buried near Alma, Arkansas. Mormons viewed Pratt's death as a martyrdom, a view first expressed in Pratt's own dying words. Brigham Young compared his death with those of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and many Mormons blamed the death on the state of Arkansas, or its people. Due to his personal popularity and his position in the Council of the Twelve, Pratt's murder in Arkansas was a significant blow to the Latter-day Saint community in the Rocky Mountains, when they began hearing about it in June 1857. The violent death may also have played a part in events leading up to the Mountain Meadows massacre five months later. This massacre resulted in the deaths of the majority of the Baker-Fancher Party travelling to Southern California along the Mormon Road (a portion of the Old Spanish Trail). After the massacre, some Mormons claimed that rumors had circulated throughout the southern Utah Territory that one or more members of the party had murdered Pratt, poisoned creek water which subsequently sickened Paiute children, and allowed their cattle to graze on private property. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parley_P._Pratt Pratt then returned to Fayette, New York in October 1830, where he met Joseph Smith and was asked to join a missionary group assigned to preach to the Native American (Lamanite) tribes on the Missouri frontier. During the trip west, he and his companions stopped to visit Sidney Rigdon, and were instrumental in converting Rigdon and approximately 130 members of his congregation within two to three weeks. Pratt was later assigned additional missions to the Eastern United States, the Southern United States, England, the Pacific Islands, and to South America. He moved to Valparaiso, Chile to begin the missionary work there. They left after not much success and the death of his child Omner in 1852. In addition to his brother, Orson Pratt and Sidney Rigdon, he was instrumental in introducing the Mormon faith to a number of future LDS leaders, including Frederick G. Williams, John Taylor and his wife Leonora, Isaac Morley and Joseph Fielding and his sisters, Mary and Mercy Fielding. In addition to serving as an active missionary, Pratt entered the leadership of the early Latter Day Saint movement acting as an original member of The Quorum of Twelve Apostles under Joseph Smith. While on a mission to the British Isles in 1839, Pratt was editor of a newly created periodical, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star. While presiding over the church's branches and interests in New England and the mid-Atlantic states, Pratt published a periodical entitled The Prophet from his headquarters in New York City. He was also a noted religious writer and poet. He produced an autobiography, as well as some poems which have become staple LDS hymns, some of which are included in the current LDS Hymnal. After the death of Joseph Smith, Pratt and his family were among the church members who emigrated to Utah under the direction of President Brigham Young. Pratt was involved in establishing the refugee settlements and fields at both Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah, Iowa and personally led a pioneer company along the Mormon Trail to the Salt Lake Valley. Sometime in the mid 1850's, working with George D. Watt, he helped develop the Deseret alphabet. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/24/politics/washingtonpost/main3644765.shtml ... the fact of the matter is Willard Romney, descendant of Parley P. Pratt, the very architect of the plural marriage tenet of the (LDS) cult, is done for - his candidacy finished. ... For your information. What a "Jack Mormon" is. A Jack Mormon is not a Mormon who is less active or inactive in the Mormon Church. A Jack Mormon is a person who is not a Mormonn but is frinedly towards the Mormons. "Your president has already mentioned that Uncle George is not a Mormon. I hope you will forgive me—and I hope this is not a wrong expression—but Uncle George insists that he is a Jack-Mormon. He says that if you do not know what a Jack-Mormon is, to tell you that it is the closest thing to being a Mormon without being one." Assembly Honoring George Luther Barrett, BYU Speeches, October 14, 1960, p.8 Get a load of that! you amateurs. http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/12/mitt_romneys_not_dead_yet.php But his big asset is that, aside from anti-Mormon bigots, he’s still in the running -- he still draws second-choice voters; he has plenty of money; he is a supporting player in the stories right now. In Iowa and New Hampshire; he seems to be on the rise in some of the other early states. If he wins Iowa and New Hampshire -- not sure things, but not unbelievable, either -- he's probably going to win the nomination. The Christmas break was good for Romney, if only because it allowed him to get out of his own way. The MLK march gaffe was both silly, from an empirical perspective, because Romney probably relied on hazy childhood memory and didn’t filter his thoughts -- and damaging, in that it occupied about 72 hours of campaign time. Now -- the unprecedented personal attacks from two New Hampshire newspapers are kind of stunning and will serve to focus on the attention on Romney for the next few days…. But the world is his candy corn, and more than Huck or McCain, Romney determines Romney’s fate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEP0CdBVHo0 About This Video Patrick and James talk about the Mormon leader. Added: October 19, 2007. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/bhutto.photographer/index.html (CNN) -- The photographer who took the last known images of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto before her assassination Thursday told CNN he was "surprised" to see her rise through the sunroof of her vehicle to wave to supporters after delivering her speech. ... "I ran up, got as close as I got, made a few pictures of her waving to the crowd," Getty Images senior staff photographer John Moore told CNN's online streaming news service, CNN.com Live, in a phone interview Thursday from Islamabad, Pakistan. "And then suddenly, there were a few gunshots that rang out, and she went down, she went down through the sunroof," he said. "And just at that moment I raised my camera up and the blast happened. ... And then, of course, there was chaos." ... However, the Rawalpindi rally was announced beforehand, he observed. "Whoever planned this attack -- they had time on their hands to plan everything properly, and you saw the results today," he said. ... Moore said it was obvious that Bhutto enjoyed being with her supporters. "She was clearly in her element," he said. "She just wanted to get close to the people, and obviously whoever was after her -- they saw that coming." http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/bios/view.bg?articleid=1063102 The war in Iraq: Romney supported the invasion of Iraq but has called the post-invasion period “mismanaged.” He supported the troop surge and opposes plans to set a timetable for withdrawal of troops. To secure the nation, Romney calls for an overall increase in American troop strength by 100,000 service personnel and an increase in defense spending to at least 4 percent of GDP. Social Security: Romney calls for bipartisan leadership to reform Social Security and Medicare. Supports private savings account as an alternative to extending the retirement age. Would consider tying benefits to prices rather than wages for upper-income Americans only. ... Romney pledges to implement a plan of fiscal discipline and management in Washington by establishing spending limits, re-examining and evaluating all federal spending programs (identify waste, duplication and inefficiencies), working with Congress to reform entitlement spending and address the budget crisis. Romney also supports the presidential line item veto to strip unnecessary spending. Supports a zero tax on capital gains for middle-income Americans. http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee is out to show people the American dream is still alive. The former Arkansas governor recently formed a 2008 presidential exploratory committee because he feels the country needs a reawakening and a leadership to address an array of issues, including how to improve the nation's infrastructure, education system, environmental policy and failing health care system. In the past year, Huckabee visited nearly 30 states to campaign for Republican candidates and conservative causes — and to share his message of vertical politics that he says reflects American values and priorities. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hpi771Ak1gvJKFIxZusZ_hDCthCwD8TPALO00 Huckabee was favored in a head-to-head matchup with Clinton, 56 percent to 35 percent, in this heavily Republican state. Clinton also trailed McCain (61-31), Romney (51-30), and Giuliani (50-38). Edwards led against Romney (50-37), appeared slightly ahead of Giuliani (48-42) and was about even with Huckabee, but was 11 percentage points behind McCain. Oklahoma has not supported a Democrat in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CHSVC2nAl8 About This: Video Kennedy's speech at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. Added: December 26, 2007 http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/12/27/politics/fromtheroad/entry3649642.shtml Romney said. "At this stage, there are conflicting reports about whether Madame Bhutto has been killed or not. But there is of course the very risk that she has been killed." The Associated Press and other news sources had already confirmed that Bhutto had been killed at the time Romney made his statement, but earlier reports had indicated that Bhutto was in surgery. ... Romney was asked whether the U.S. has placed too much trust in General Musharraf. "I don't know that we can assess the political process that has been underway in Pakistan to determine exactly where we put our greatest support," Romney said. "Obviously we have also encouraged a political process which included Madam Bhutto and Mr. Sharif, and we have had interest in seeing a progression towards more democratic leadership and governance in Pakistan. Our nation was disappointed with the declaration of martial law." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318506,00.html OMAHA, Neb. — The teen gunman who killed eight people and himself in a mall this month once told social workers he was satanic and acknowledged that he often acted before thinking of the consequences, according to newly released court records. ... Hawkins became violent with a staff member at a residential treatment program in Omaha in August 2003 and had to be restrained, according to a letter from therapist Steven Moore. When it was suggested that Hawkins be sent to a residential facility, the teen said, "I'll burn that (expletive) place down with all of the people in it if you send me there," Moore wrote. A constant theme of court hearings was Hawkins' drug use. He told social workers he started using marijuana at age 13 and typically smoked twice a week. By age 17, he said, he smoked marijuana almost daily and had snorted cocaine four to five times. He was expelled from school in October 2005 for trying to sell drugs to classmates. Hawkins shrugged off criticism of his drug use and acknowledged selling drugs to pay for his marijuana habit, the documents said. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59199 The White House has left unexplained the president's decisions to grant pardons to drug dealers, carjackers, thieves and a moonshiner, but deny the same mercy to two former U.S. Border Patrol agents each serving more than a decade in prison for shooting at a fleeing drug smuggler. The issue arose during a news briefing at the White House, held by Dana Perino, the president's spokeswoman. "Both Republicans and the Democrat Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee have now deplored the president's pardoning of drug dealers and carjackers while refusing to pardon two U.S. Border Patrol agents who shot a Mexican drug smuggler who disobeyed their order to stop..." asked WND's correspondent at the White House, Les Kinsolving. ... Ramos and Compean are serving 11- and 12-year sentences, respectively, for shooting after fleeing drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila in an incident on the Texas border with Mexico on Feb. 17, 2005. Delahunt objected strongly to the mandatory minimum 10-year sentence Ramos and Compean are serving under 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c), a law Congress passed to increase the prison terms of federal felons, including bank robbers, who carried a weapon in the commission of their crimes. "It just isn't right, period," Delahunt said. "In this case there is bipartisan agreement in the House that Ramos and Compean have already served enough time." http://www.americandaily.com/article/21260 My disappointment with our current political and governmental administration reached an all-time high, today. The reason? While US Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are left to languish in jail for actually doing their jobs, President Bush has opted to pardon 8 (count them - eight) drug dealers. Note: Was this to ensure that the drug dealers' families and friends would have an even "jollier" time this time of year than they would have without certain 'products'? One can only surmise. And as continues to be the case, Agents Ramos and Compean were ignored; much the same as the building of a protective southern border security fence is being substantively ignored by our government “leaders”; leaders who are not only fighting against US citizens but, appear to be hoping that We-the-People will—at some point—forget about the border fence entirely. Hmmm. Drug dealers are now allowed, by our government. to infect our society and way of life with their viruses—even encouraged to do so with these latest pardons—while US citizens are punished for fighting against them. Could this be the real reason Compean and Ramos were prosecuted by US Attorney Johnny Sutton? Were they and are we being sent the unambiguous dictate that drug dealers must be allowed to ply their trade—which includes crossing our southern border to do so—without any interference from local and federal law enforcement and any of the US citizenry? Is this a warning to We-the-People to “back off” or also face jail time? Sure sounds like it. But, apparently, this mandate applies to only a certain class of drugs and their suppliers. http://www.massresistance.org/docs/marriage/romney/timeline.html More Flip Flopping from Mitt Romney - How Gov. Mitt Romney started same-sex “marriage” in Massachusetts - despite what he says now! Same-sex "marriage" is still NOT legal in Massachusetts, and was NOT created by the Supreme Judicial Court's Goodridge ruling. Timeline documents Mitt Romney's role in creating same-sex "marriages." In fact, it was Governor Mitt Romney who was ultimately responsible for same-sex "marriages" taking place. The Supreme Judicial Court only issued an opinion and advised the Legislature to act (which it never did). Even the Court acknowledged that it had no power to change the law. Governor Romney created these "marriages" through an unconstitutional and illegal directive to his Department of Public Health (to print new "marriage" licenses), and through his legal counsel threatened to fire any Town Clerk or Justice of the Peace who failed to implement the (non-existent) "new law". He was not required by any constitutional mandate to do these things. On the contrary, his actions clearly violated his oath to uphold the laws of Massachusetts. Robert --, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Thursday, December 27, 2007 9:53 AM) Source: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/27/534654.aspx http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/27/us.pakistan.ap/index.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration scrambled Thursday with the implications of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination after investing significant diplomatic capital in promoting reconciliation between her and President Pervez Musharraf. ... Those concerns were compounded by the rising threat from al Qaeda and Taliban extremists, particularly in Pakistan's largely ungoverned tribal areas bordering Afghanistan despite the fact that Washington had pumped nearly $10 billion in aid into the country since Musharraf became an indispensable counter-terrorism ally after September 11, 2001. Irritated by the situation, Congress last week imposed new restrictions on U.S. assistance to Pakistan, including tying $50 million in military aid to State Department assurances that the country is making "concerted efforts" to prevent terrorists from operating inside its borders. Under the law, which provides a total of $300 million in aid to Pakistan and was signed by President Bush on Wednesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also must guarantee Pakistan is implementing democratic reforms, including releasing political prisoners and restoring an independent judiciary. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1062967 Romney said Wednesday she failed to follow him into the governor’s office last year because either of her own shortcomings or those of her campaign. The former governor made the statement during a brief return to Bay State politics prompted by two questioners at a preprimary town hall meeting across the border at Thomas More College. ... In Massachusetts, though, Healey — then Romney’s No. 2 as lieutenant governor — was "demolished" by Democrat Deval Patrick even though he was a political neophyte and Healey had the endorsement of a sitting governor, the speaker said. "I think the endorsement of a candidate for the person that follows them is important, but I must admit, overwhelmingly, the most important is the candidate — him or herself — and their campaign," Romney said. Rather than elaborating, the former governor turned to his own presidential candidacy, noting that Healey was giving him her unbridled support. ... In particular, the speaker said Romney failed to trim a bloated bureaucracy, reduce the state budget, revive a "corrupt" court system and reign in the Democratically controlled Legislature. "Finneran and Travaglini handled you rather than you handling them," the questioner complained, referring to former House Speaker Thomas Finneran and former Senate President Robert Travaglini. Romney interrupted the speaker as he made each point, insisting his record was positive on every count. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59373 George W. Bush ran for president proclaiming himself as a born-again believer in Jesus of Nazareth. And, like it or not, Christmas, though it is an artificial, extra-biblical holiday instituted centuries after Jesus' death on the cross and Resurrection, is about one thing to Christians – the birth of their Lord and Savior. President Bush's 2005 non-Christmas card (inside) It's not about Santa Claus. It's not about consumerism. It's not about pretty lights and decorated trees. It's about that baby in the manger and who He became and what He did. I just got tired of seeing the Bushes tiptoe around the reason for the season. Even in the Bushes first year in the White House, his friend and counsel Harriet Miers, later a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, rejected the text of an official Christmas card written by Ned Ryun, son of Rep. Jim Ryun, because it was "too Christian" and might offend those of other faiths. "Miers," explained the younger Ryun, "purposefully sought to dilute the Christianity of the message." And that's point. For Christians, Christmas is about one thing. It's about the Son of God coming to Earth in human form to atone for our sins so we can share eternal life with Him. It's a serious matter – the most serious matter of all. Bush, for his part, has gone out of his way to pay tribute to faiths he does not call his own. That's all well and good. But why is he so uncomfortable expressing the joy Christians feel at this time of the year as they reflect on the miracles of their Savior? This isn't just a matter of the history for a lame-duck president. I'm not just beating a dead reindeer here. In 2008 we select Bush's successor. And there are more than a few controversies stirring already over religion. What we can learn from the Bush presidency is that Christians should not just accept what candidates say about themselves in determining who they are and what they believe – especially about the ultimate issues of life and death. Christians need to probe more deeply than sound bites that tickle their ears. http://www.constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=706 As the Christmas season is upon us, I am reminded of the countless blessings our Savior has bestowed upon this great country. I am also reminded of the immeasurable good fortune I have to count you as a friend, supporter and fellow warrior in the battle to restore as public policy those values that have made our great country the envy of the world. But I also cannot ignore the very real danger we face of losing everything that America has stood for. The major parties have created a political monopoly. Although they masquerade as two parties, they are really one, with two parts. Both are determined to promote the same agenda. Without the Constitution Party as a viable alternative, Americans will almost certainly be left choosing between two pro-abort, nanny state, open borders, deficit-spenders. America cannot survive much longer with that kind of "leadership." http://www.bloggernews.net/112667 How did candidate Romney respond to someone revealing what his church actually believes? He said, “But I think attacking someone’s religion is really going too far. It’s just not the American way, and I think people will reject that,” Romney told NBC’s “Today” show. ... Does this have anything to do with Mitt Romney and his qualifications to be president? Everyone will have to decide that in his or her own heart. I just wish the Mormons, including Mitt Romney, would simply be more candid and tell us the straight truth about their religion. And who ran 2002 Winter Olympics when the Mormons were busy repackaging their religion for public (read MSM) consumption? Romney. The only way John Fund, Hugh Hewitt, Charles Krauthammer and other pundits can call people who are asking inconvenient questions (in other words, doing their jobs for them) “bigots” is to choose to remain ignorant by confined their “research” on Mormonism to marketing materials sanctioned by the Mormon Church. They have abrogated their responsibilities as journalists by not bothering to delve into the “doctrinal folklore” that Fund’s colleague Riley briefly touches on in his column – unwritten, passed orally from Sunday school teacher to future priests and missionaries. For instance, Fund once dismissed the “White Horse Prophesy” as a fantasy. Perhaps he ought to bestir himself to look further into it. To answer Burney’s question, if a man can lie about his core beliefs he will lie about everything else – and Romney’s record of flip-flopping on abortion and other fundamental issues certainly bears this out. If the pundits weren’t so busy ascribing character flaws to people who balk at voting for Romney, the candidate’s reluctance to forthrightly discuss Mormonism - further, to lie about its doctrines (second item) – would have raised red flags a long time ago. As Parker bluntly puts it: “Republicans can win back the hearts and minds of Americans. But they have to get real and get honest. Unlike the former governor of Massachusetts.” http://christiannewswire.com/news/85505174.html "Mitt Romney's Christmas present to the homosexual lobby disqualifies him as a pro-family leader," LaBarbera said. "Laws that treat homosexuality as a civil right are being used to promote homosexual 'marriage,' same-sex adoption and pro-homosexuality indoctrination of schoolchildren. These same laws pose a direct threat to the freedom of faith-minded citizens and organizations to act on their religious belief that homosexual behavior is wrong. "Romney may have had a late conversion on abortion, but it appears his ninth-inning flip-flop on homosexuality is falling short due to his strong commitment to 'gay rights,'" LaBarbera said. (See the 'Mitt Romney Deception' report) "Now some pro-family leaders –– who have raised millions of dollars over the years opposing 'gay' activism –– will need to explain how they can go on supporting an openly pro-homosexual-agenda candidate." LaBarbera said it is "inconceivable after Massachusetts' twin disasters involving homosexual 'marriage' and homosexual adoption that Romney now is recommending pro-homosexual 'orientation' laws –– long derided as "special rights" among social conservatives — to the rest of the nation. "In Romney's own state of Massachusetts, the state 'sexual orientation' nondiscrimination law laid the groundwork for homosexual activists' campaign to legalize 'same-sex marriage' –– which then-Gov. Romney brought to fruition with his unnecessary and illegal directive granting marriage licenses to homosexual partners," LaBarbera said. "The same pro-gay state law also forced Boston's Catholic Charities to shut down its century-old adoption agency because it would not pledge to place children in homosexual-led households against Catholic teaching. http://christiannewswire.com/news/85505174.html "Given Romney's extensive pro-homosexual record and willingness now to depart from principle on this crucial issue, should we trust a 'President Romney' not to reverse course again on federal pro-homosexual laws such as 'Hate Crimes' and ENDA (Employment Nondiscrimination Act)?" LaBarbera said. http://www.alliednews.com/statenews/cnhinsall_story_360004721.html Republicans are known for closing ranks around a candidate. But former Gov. Paul Cellucci and Treasurer Joseph Malone and all but one Republican state senator aren’t lined up behind Mitt Romney, the Massachusetts Republican running for president. Instead, they’re supporting former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In past years, it would be unthinkable that a Massachusetts candidate for president would not coast to victory in the Bay State primary. But seven full weeks out from the Republican primary, a Romney triumph in Massachusetts on Feb. 5 is hardly assured. ... Bill Ryan, a Haverhill Republican and former mayor, said Romney can't count on a home-field advantage. "I don’t think he'll be a favorite son," Ryan said. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/12/1/172623.shtml Anderson said the three Republican governors considering a 2008 presidential campaign - Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and George Pataki of New York - had good records on controlling spending and improving health care in their states, issues important to voters. ... Democrats dispute that and noted the Republicans loss of governorships under Romney's tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, including in Romney's home state of Massachusetts, where his handpicked successor lost by more than 20 points. Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda cited complaints from Republican gubernatorial candidates that Romney had not done enough to aid their cause. "He put his own presidential aspirations ahead of his own party," Miranda said in a telephone interview. http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee is out to show people the American dream is still alive. The former Arkansas governor recently formed a 2008 presidential exploratory committee because he feels the country needs a reawakening and a leadership to address an array of issues, including how to improve the nation's infrastructure, education system, environmental policy and failing health care system. In the past year, Huckabee visited nearly 30 states to campaign for Republican candidates and conservative causes — and to share his message of vertical politics that he says reflects American values and priorities. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318211,00.html BOSTON - The family of a woman killed when the ceiling of a Big Dig tunnel collapsed on her car last year has agreed to a $6 million settlement with the company that supplied the epoxy blamed for the accident, an attorney said Monday. Milena Del Valle, 39, was killed July 10, 2006, as she and her husband drove through an Interstate 90 connector tunnel. Her husband, Angel Del Valle, escaped with minor injuries. Investigators determined that the ceiling collapsed because workers secured the ceiling with a fast-drying epoxy that was not safe to use for overhead loads. ... Del Valle's death led to tunnel and road closures and caused a public furor over the Big Dig project, which has been plagued by leaks, falling debris, delays and other problems linked to faulty construction. The Big Dig, the most expensive highway project in U.S. history, buried the old elevated Central Artery with a series of tunnels, ramps and bridges. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/03/01/6m_more_okd_for_big_dig_repairs/ The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority yesterday approved an additional $6 million to pay for Big Dig repairs, increasing the price tag from last summer's fatal tunnel ceiling collapse to $31 million -- with more potentially to come. ... About a month after Del Valle's death, Big Dig officials sought and received $15 million for fixes, but warned that the amount was a preliminary estimate. In December, the turnpike authority board approved another $10 million at the request of Big Dig officials. The Turnpike Authority board's chairman, John Cogliano , who presided over the aftermath of the tunnel collapse as transportation secretary under former governor Mitt Romney , said any initial estimates made on repair costs were based on limited information. "If you go back to July, we didn't know," he said. "We didn't know what the problems were. I would be hard pressed to come up with an estimate back then." ... The money has come from the state government's bond account. Attorney General Martha Coakley is contemplating a lawsuit against Big Dig contractors to recover the money. http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=The+Romney+backlash%3A+Conservatives+are+coming+home&articleId=bc5bd60b-68a2-4427-93aa-d0fc2548ba3d THERE IS A reason Mitt Romney has not received a single newspaper endorsement in New Hampshire. It's the same reason his poll numbers are dropping. He has not been able to convince the people of this state that he's the conservative he says he is. ... In this primary, the more Mitt Romney speaks, the less believable he becomes. That is why Granite Staters who have listened attentively are now returning to John McCain. They might not agree with McCain on everything, as we don't, but like us, they judge him to be a man of integrity and conviction, a man who won't sell them out, who won't break his promises, and who won't lie to get elected. Voters can see that John McCain is trustworthy. Mitt Romney has spent a year trying to convince Granite Staters that he is as well. It looks like they aren't buying it. And for good reason. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/12/four_pinocchios_for_romney_on.html After news reports challenged Mitt Romney's repeated accounts of his father marching with Martin Luther King, his campaign put a reporter from Politico in touch with eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen the former Michigan governor "hand in hand" with the civil rights leader. But their memories are almost certainly flawed as contemporaneous news reports show that King was addressing a meeting in New Jersey at the time the eyewitnesses supposedly saw him in Grosse Pointe, MI. ... "I was fifteen feet away from them [Romney and MLK]," said Robertson, 64, who attended Grosse Pointe high school. "You don't forget that kind of thing." When I told Robertson that news reports placed Martin Luther King in New Jersey at the time, he replied: "Well, it was somebody who certainly looked like him." The Romney campaign did not respond Sunday to requests for comment. http://thephoenix.com/TalkingPolitics/PermaLink.aspx?guid=ff666446-0340-417d-9520-5c7b030bed55 All of this evidence is important to present to the general public, but it is unnecessary for the Romney campaign -- it has been clear for some time that they know perfectly well that the two men never marched together. Bear in mind that the Romney team has a substantial research team (and vast resources for outsourcing more). Bear in mind that the campaign has compiled vast documentation about the candidate's father, particularly his civil-rights activities, long before the Phoenix posed the question earlier this week. Bear in mind that the campaign has direct access to George Romney's materials and documents, his family members, his friends, his former staff, etc. Believe me, they know the two men never marched together. This is an attempt to rewrite history. And even if it is a small rewriting, it is offensive. It is offensive because of people like Russell Peebles. ... Peebles, and many others like him, deserve to have the history of what they did told honestly. Changing that history by mistake -- which is quite possibly how this began -- is unfortunate. Changing that history intentionally -- which is what the campaign is doing now -- is offensive. {Taking into account the initial Mormon misinformation in the Stephen Hess and David S. Broder 1967 book "The Republican Establishment: The Present and Future of the G.O.P." this misinformation was no accident it was clearly a plant in an attempt to hijack history for the benefit of the LDS lies.} http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=2&threadid=241493&currentPage=4 A couple days ago, I wrote in this thread that Politico is a Republican house organ that wouldn't check the facts even though they were easily checkable. I also wrote that someone else would do it. Oh, it's nice to be right! And Politico, stop being such obvious conduits and shills for Republican dirty tricks. It's unseemly, transparent, stupid, and laughable. It hurts your reputation, Politico, such as it is. p.s.: The Post gave Romney's lie "four Pinocchios," its top distinction for campaign lies. Nice going, Mitt! What's next? That you actually ARE Martin Luther King, reincarnated and rebaptized in your faith, complete with the long underwear? You are on the verge of becoming a national punchline to every joke about a lying politician. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/24/hoover.mass.arrests/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In 1950, 12 days after the start of the Korean War, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover had a plan "to apprehend and detain persons who are potentially dangerous to the internal security of the country" -- thousands of them, almost all American citizens. According to the plan, the United States was to round up suspects, detain them at federal prisons or military facilities and eventually allow them a hearing that would not be bound by the rules of evidence. While parts of Hoover's approach are reminiscent of the way the Bush administration has tried to battle terrorism following September 11, 2001, author Ronald Kessler said he sees a big difference between that plan and the detention of suspected terrorists now. Kessler has penned several books about the FBI, including "The Bureau." "The court has allowed all the measures that the Bush administration has used to find terrorists to continue," he said. "Congress has allowed all the measures to continue as well. So it's quite a contrast with the days of J. Edgar Hoover." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/21/timeline-romneys-mlk-co_n_77888.html 1967 - Stephen Hess and David Broder author the book "The Republican Establishment: The Present and Future of the GOP," in which they write that George Romney, "has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb of Detroit." ... 1978 - Mitt Romney, in an interview with the Boston Herald about the Mormon Church and racial discrimination, puts himself into the narrative. "My father and I marched with Martin Luther King Jr. through the streets of Detroit," he is quoted as saying. ... December 21, 2007 - Stephen Hess, author of "The Republican Establishment," tells the Boston Herald, "The point we were making [in the book] was that the issue of Mormonism had to do with its civil rights record. Did he walk with Martin Luther King? Today, I have no idea." http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14020.html At this point, far too much ink - digital and analog — has been spilled covering Mitt Romney's bizarre exaggeration about his father marching with Martin Luther King, but let's just add one closing note. To briefly recap, Romney, hoping to defend his civil rights and record and his church’s racist past, has repeatedly claimed that he saw his father march with Dr. King. An investigation indicated that George Romney, who was strong on civil rights, never marched with MLK, prompting Romney and his campaign to start parsing the words "saw," "march," and "with." It looked like the embarrassing flap had just about ended, until the Romney campaign directed reporters to two women who corroborated a story that Romney had already conceded wasn't literally true. ... A ha, the Romney campaign said, the story that wasn't literally true may be accurate after all. Except that's still wrong. Worse, it's part of a pattern. The Boston Phoenix, which helped get this story started a few days ago, found that the witnesses must be remembering the decades-old event incorrectly. http://www.mrm.org/ Mormonism Research Ministry is a missionary/apologetics organization that was organized to propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to critically evaluate the differences between Mormonism and biblical Christianity. ... Not Familiar with MRM? In a 15-minute interview with a Salt Lake City radio station, Bill McKeever, Mormonism Research Ministry's founder and director, outlines the goals and purpose of MRM. He also offers some suggestions when speaking with your LDS friends and acquaintances. To listen to the broadcast click here (MP3). http://www.mrm.org/topics/rebuttals-rejoinders/follow-questions-we-wish-larry-king-had-asked-gordon-hinckley Perhaps King felt it would be best to go soft with the Mormon prophet. After all, he recently made a member of the LDS Church his sixth wife (not all at the same time). Perhaps he understood all too well that offending your wife's prophet does not make for a very good marital relationship. After experiencing Mike Wallace's puff piece with Gordon Hinckley back in April of 1996, I guess I wasn't expecting much more from Larry King. After all, these men are not experts in Mormonism. Their lack of experience dealing with the semantical game many Mormons play would make it difficult for them to ask tough rebuttal questions. Asking the Mormon prophet questions about his retirement, the amount of countries Mormonism is in, the wealth of the LDS Church, genealogy, Mark McGwyre's 62nd homerun (hit the same day), and the problems of President Clinton hardly make for a hard-hitting interview. At times King appeared very ignorant of basic LDS positions. For instance, King was apparently unaware Mormons claim to be Christians when he asked, "You don't call yourselves Christian, right." Hinckley did make some interesting statements that are worthy of comment. When King asked if people are "ever thrown out of your church," Hinckley responded affirmatively. When asked for what reasons, he said, "Doing what they shouldn't do, preaching false doctrine, speaking out publicly. They can carry all the opinion they wish within their heads, so to speak, but if they begin to try to persuade others, then they may be called in to a disciplinary council." ... Good follow-up questions could have been: "What would happen should someone openly question your teachings?" http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/07/romney-and-dodd.html The potential impact of Mitt Romney's Mormon religion already looms as a key political question surrounding both his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and, were he to win the nod, his prospects in the general election. But the matter would take an intriguing twist should he end up next year facing Democrat Chris Dodd (that part of the equation looks doubtful, we admit). Although Dodd himself is Catholic, his wife, Utah native Jackie Clegg Dodd, is Mormon. With the senator from Connecticut addressing the Utah Democratic Party convention this weekend --- and with his wife accompanying him --- the Norwich Bulletin in his homestate took the occasion to write about their inter-faith marriage. The story notes that they are raising their two daughters, ages 5 and 2, in both religions. Across the country, the Salt Lake City-based Deseret Morning News used the same hook of the candidate's convention appearance to write a short feature on Jackie (the couple met 20 years ago when she helped him down a ski run in Utah, according to the article). http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59088 Yes, he clarified, regarding his Mormon faith, that "no authorities of my church" would influence his presidential decisions. But this tells us who he is not. We need to know who he is. And here Romney left us with platitudes about religion in America with which few of any stripe would disagree. Despite his assurance that his commitment to religious liberty does not mean that he sees no place for religion in public life, he ducked the hard questions about what this means. The boldest he could get was to say we should continue to acknowledge the Creator on "our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history," and in public displays during holidays. But despite noting family breakdown as one of the challenges of our generation, he never mentioned the importance of the preservation of the traditional family, never mentioned abortion and never mentioned his personal concern about either. It feeds the doubts about Romney in that, in my experience, those who have had a change of heart about abortion are among the most passionate and committed. It certainly is my personal experience, and what I have seen in the work I do with crisis pregnancy centers around the country. But Romney didn't give a hint that this is something that keeps him up at night. Comparisons have been made with John Kennedy's speech during his 1960 presidential campaign in which he addressed concerns about his Roman Catholic religion. Romney could have clearly contrasted himself with Kennedy, who made a point to say that religion did not belong in public life and decried the fact that questions about religion were diverting attention from the "real issues" of the campaign. And he might have pointed out that the Kennedy presidency marked the beginning of a great cultural decline in America. Just one point of comparison: In the early 1960s, 3 percent of white babies were born to unwed mothers, compared with almost 30 percent today, and 24 percent of black babies were born to unwed mothers, compared with 70 percent today. Romney's observation that "freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom" and that "freedom and religion endure together or perish alone" was not something I would expect to hear from someone of deep faith. Religion endures any circumstance. Faith exists independent of freedom. It survives the darkest, dankest prison cell. But freedom allows it to flourish. I think Romney, with this speech, confirmed rather than dispelled the doubts about his faith and conservatism that have troubled his campaign. If the point was to fix his credentials as a bona fide conservative leader, he failed. http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/12/20/boffins-stick-bible-pinhead According to AFP, this makes it the world's tiniest Bible as the nearest rival, in the Guinness Book of World Records, is 50 times bigger." The bible was etched into the surface of the chip using focused beams of gallium ions. The big idea was to get kids interested in Nanoscience. The team's next project is to take pictures of the miniature Bible and blow it up to a seven-by-seven metre poster, which will make it possible to read the entire Bible with the naked eye. http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-uscamp235512521dec23,0,207024.story From 1984 until 1999, Romney led Bain Capital, a Boston-based private equity group that earned jaw-dropping profits through leveraged buyouts, debt hedge funds, offshore tax havens and other strategies. In some cases, Romney's team closed U.S. factories, causing hundreds of layoffs, or pocketed huge fees shortly before companies collapsed. ... But in 1996, Damon pleaded guilty to massive overbilling of the Medicare system and paid $119 million in criminal and civil fines. No one at Bain was implicated in the fraud. Asked about the case during his gubernatorial campaign, Romney told reporters that he "blew the whistle" on the overbilling scheme while still on the Damon board, and had taken "corrective action." Donald K. Stern, who was U.S. attorney at the time, said he had no recollection of Romney alerting investigators or taking other action. Romney's aides now argue that reporters misunderstood his claim back in 2002. http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2007/12/22/witnesses-say-mitt-romneys-father-martin-luther-king-marched-together/ Witnesses have come forward to say they remember seeing Martin Luther King Jr. and presidential candidate Mitt Romney's father marching together in 1963, Politico reported, after questions were raised about whether such a march ever happened. The issue drew attention after Romney said during a major speech on faith in College Station, Texas, earlier this month that "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." ... Lisa Says: Mitt has already backpedaled on this and admitted that he did not "see" see them. Who is to say that either of these two witnesses are any more honest or reliable in their memories than Mitt is? The one thing we do know is that Mitt says a lot of things that don't mean what most people assume that he means. Like when he said that he wouldn’t raised taxes in MA, but instead raised FEEs because “Fees aren’t taxes or else they would be called taxes and not fees”. I think what is worth noticing is how MA doesn’t support Mitt. The newspapers are not endorsing him. Hmm, and outsiders thought he did such a great job as governor, wonder why MA doesn't? ... Ken Says: I just talked to someone who saw Mitt and his Dad on the Mayflower... Amazing what you can get people to say with a six pack of beer. ... Demetrius Says: My greatest concern about Mitt is the fact of his “evolving social views” in light of his decision to run for President. For YEARS he had held the same views, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-tax increase, but two years prior to running his views begin to “evolve”. If he’s had this much evolution in such a short period of time then what can we expect to evolve within his first 4 years in office? Honestly, Mitt Romney scares the bejesus out of me. If we thought Carter and Clinton were bad, my god what have we got to look forward to? At least if Hillary got it we’d know what to expect and be prepared. http://bostonist.com/2007/12/20/the_year_in_mit_1.php As any Massachusetts resident well knows, former governor and Republican presidential aspirant Mitt Romney can transform himself overnight. One minute, he's the moderate governor of a liberal state. The next, he's a staunch conservative who claims that he somehow tamed the residents of that state. In the second and last installment of the Year in Mitt Mashups, we'll look at the various disguises Romney wears: ... A Gay (briefly) Despite his effort to squash gay marriage in the state of Massachusetts, the Romney campaign somehow wound up advertising on gay.com. It was an accident, he swears. Then again, he was governor of Massachusetts ... When Romney finds his foot in his mouth, ... he plays dumb. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/concord-monitor-not-romney/ Under the headline, "Romney should not be the next president," the newspaper's editors devoted 13 paragraphs to laying out the case against Mr. Romney. It traced Mr. Romney's switches on positions on various issues, and ends with a tough judgment on the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts. "When New Hampshire partisans are asked to defend the state’s first-in-the-nation primary, we talk about our ability to see the candidates up close, ask tough questions, and see through the baloney,” the editors wrote. "If a candidate is a phony, we assure ourselves and the rest of the world, we’ll know it. Mitt Romney is such a candidate. New Hampshire Republicans and independents must vote no." http://www.michaelroodministries.com/ Through his multi-media seminars, ... dubbed "A Rood Awakening!", Michael has invited hundreds of thousands of people around the world to "Leave your western, Gentile mentality behind, and explore the Scriptures from a Hebrew perspective." ... Most people who hear Michael Rood’s teachings experience for themselves the paradigm shift from pagan practices into Bible truth, and quickly discover the need for sound, fundamental "how to" teachings about walking the reality of Torah in their everyday lives. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1008467&item_no=557361 This DVD follows the footsteps of the children of Israel in an unforgettable journey of discovery. A journey that reveals physical evidence for the Exodus including: the remains of 3800 year old Hebrew settlements in Egypt's Nile Delta, Egyptian records of the Israelite's bondage under Pharaoh; the precise route they may have followed to freedom; their crossing site on shore of the Red Sea; and the location of Mt. Sinai. This DVD brings to light the first significant archaeological "find" of the 21st century. Approx. 3 hours. http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/moses_pharaoh.htm Although the bible never specifically identifies the pharaoh of the Exodus by name, it does tell us the exact date of the Exodus. 1Kings 6:1 states that Solomon began building the Temple in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after the Exodus. Most bible scholars agree that the fourth year of Solomon's reign was 967 B.C. So the date of the Exodus can be calculated: 967 + 480 = 1447 B.C. And according to history, Pharaoh Ramesses did not begin his reign until around 1290 BC., so he couldn't have been the Exodus pharaoh. Depending upon which history book you read, there are two possible candidates. The first is pharaoh Amenhotep II who may have ruled from (1450-1425 B.C.). He was the son of Thutmose III, who ruled from either (1490-1450) or (1490-1436 B.C.), the other possible candidate. Scholars disagree as to the exact dates that these two men ruled which makes it difficult to pin point the exact one. To get some clues, lets look at what the bible says about the events surrounding the life of Moses. The first place we will start is with the date of his birth. According to Exodus 7:7 "Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh." Adding 80 years to the date of the Exodus in 1447 B.C equals 1527 B.C., the approximate year in which Moses was born. The ruler of Egypt at this time was Pharaoh Thutmose I (1540-1504 B.C.). The fascinating thing about his name is that if you remove THUT from his name you are left with MOSE. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318017,00.html In June Egypt announced that Hatshepsut's mummy had been found, and about a month later the Discovery Channel aired the documentary — showcasing scientific breakthroughs including CT scans and DNA testing. The mummy is now on display in a glass case in the Egyptian Museum's royal mummy room. Hawass, other Egyptian officials and the Discovery Channel all stand by their findings, even though the DNA testing is incomplete. "So far there is some agreement and no discrepancies. The results are quite encouraging," said Yehia Zakaria Gad, a molecular geneticist who heads the ancient-DNA lab at the Egyptian Museum. Most of evidence that led Hawass to declare the mummy to be Hatshepsut did not come from DNA but from CT scans. Those scans showed that a tooth found in a relic box displaying the pharaoh's insignia matched a gap in the mummy's jaw. CT scans also showed facial similarities between the mummy and already identified mummies of Hatshepsut's royal relatives, as well as evidence of a skin disease that the queen may have shared with some of them. "The reason why we went with such a strong claim was because the CT scan was conclusive and the fact that the missing tooth provided the missing clue. ... I don't think that the DNA testing will indicate otherwise," said Peter Lovering, Discovery's senior programming executive. http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b1hatshepsut_3hm.htm Hatshepsut was the daughter of Pharaoh Thutmose I (a.k.a. Thutmosis) of XVIII th Dynasty during the New Kingdom, Egypt's Golden Age. Her reign was in ca. 1490 - 1468 B.C. Some historians believe that she was the Pharoah's daughter that drew Moses out of the Nile.2 She married her half-brother Thutmose II, a son of Thutmose I by a secondary wife. Thutmose II was sickly and only reigned 4 years. Before he died, he married his daughter by Hatshepsut to his daughter's half-brother. The half-brother was the son of one of the harem women by Thutmose II . At Thutmose II's death, Hatshepsut was appointed regent until her nine-year old nephew/stepson Thutmose III was old enough to rule, even as Ahmose's wife Nefertari had acted as regent for Amentotep I, the Pharoah before Thutmose I. ... But Hatshepsut's reign came to a quick and mysterious end. Some believe that she died of natural causes. Others believe that Thutmose III escaped his palace prison and murdered her. Either way, she died. Thutmose III, thirty years old now, was so angry with the woman who had kept him from the throne of Egypt for years that he tried to destroy her most famous accomplishments. He had her beautiful temple at Deir el Bahri smashed and destroyed. The tomb of Hatshepsut's favorite architect was ravished and placed in a total wreck. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59328 "Mr. President, as of this writing, Ignacio Ramos will have served his punishment for all the crimes for which he was found guilty – except the charge imposing the mandatory minimum," members of Congress said. "Jose Compean will be halfway through his prison term – except for the charge carrying the mandatory minimum." "These men have already lost their jobs and had their lives ruined, and their families have suffered terribly," the letter said. "No useful purpose is served by their incarceration." "Mr. President, we respectfully request that you correct this injustice," the letter ended. "We ask that you immediately commute the sentences of Ramos and Compean to time served so that they can spend Christmas at home with their families." Ramos and Compean were convicted for firing after Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, an admitted drug smuggler, who brought 750 pounds of marijuana across the Mexican border, into Fabens, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2005. Aldrete-Davila is now arrested and indicted for a "second load," which he allegedly brought into the U.S. in 2006 just prior to the trial for Ramos and Compean. At that time, Aldrete-Davila was under a grant of immunity to testify at the Ramos-Compean trial and in possession of a border pass card signed by DHS special agent Christopher Sanchez. http://artlaction.com/video/romney-fairytale National RTL's legal strategist exemplifies his career-long betrayal of the unborn by supporting pro-choice liberal Massachusetts candidate Mitt Romney. The president of American RTL, Brian Rohrbough, responds to James Bopp's recent anti-personhood memo: http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid53414.aspx He didn't just use imprecise language, as his campaign is now spinning it. His language — in at least three different nationally televised instances, including this past Sunday's Meet the Press with Tim Russert - was precise enough: he had direct, personal first-hand knowledge that his father had marched with Dr. King. The precision, in fact, is the problem: the sincerity with which he offered the memory, the emotion that led his eyes to well up. This was not a man simply passing along something he had once come across in a David Broder book. ... Then, as now, (Mitt) Romney tried to buttress his statement with weak documentation at odds with the precision of the claim: in that case, Romney provided the Globe with a vaguely-worded campaign document that could be read as supporting the pre-Roe v Wade status quo, in which abortion was a felony in Michigan. "I support and recognize the need for more liberal abortion rights while reaffirming the legal and medical measures needed to protect the unborn and pregnant woman [sic]," the document read. Again, at that time, Romney did not just pass along falsehood as fact. He sold it as personal truth, speaking of the painful memories of a close relative's death, from complications of an illegal abortion. Romney was telling that tale, of course, when it was politically expedient to be pro-choice. Today, needing to be pro-life, he has a new, highly personal and emotional tale of personal conversion after a doctor showed him how stem cells are handled in research — another specific but uncorroborated story, about which even the doctor involved has expressed skepticism. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/22/MNMQU316H.DTL McCain pressed his appeal heading into the last weekend before Christmas with a campaign commercial that recalled his experience as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Against the backdrop of black-and-white footage of the shot-down Navy pilot lying injured in bed in North Vietnamese custody, McCain recounted his own "Christmas story." A guard who had loosened his ropes in the past approached him on Christmas and "without saying a word, he drew a cross in the sand," McCain recalled. "We stood wordlessly looking at the cross remembering the true light of Christmas. I'll never forget that no matter where you are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, there will always be someone who will pick you up." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004045195_broder02.html WASHINGTON — If the Republican Party really wanted to hold on to the White House in 2009, it's pretty clear what it would do. It would grit its teeth, swallow its doubts and nominate a ticket of John McCain for president and Mike Huckabee for vice president — and president-in-waiting. Those two are far from front-runners. They trail Mitt Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire and lag behind Rudy Giuliani in national surveys of Republican voters. But, in a series of debates, including last week's CNN/YouTube extravaganza. McCain and Huckabee have been notable for their clarity, character and, yes, simple humanity. From everything I have heard on the campaign trail, it's obvious that they are the pair who have earned the widest respect among the eight Republican candidates themselves. McCain is the eldest and the most honored, not only for what he endured as a Vietnam prisoner of war but as a principled battler for what he considers essential on Iraq and other national-security issues. Huckabee, who previously was known only to those of us who cover state government and governors, has been the surprise discovery of the campaign season. His combination of religious principle, good humor, tolerance and his clear passion on education and health care complements McCain's muscular foreign policy and aversion to wasteful domestic spending. The two of them seem often to be operating on a different — and higher — plane than the quarrelsome Giuliani and Romney, whose mutual contempt is as palpable as it is persuasive. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/22/romney_praise_of_bush_proving_a_key_strategy/ More than any other Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney is running as the candidate friendliest to President Bush, surrounding himself with former Bush advisers, delivering his most closely watched speech at the presidential library of the president's father, and this week launching a staunch defense of Bush's Iraq policy. ... "I think the feeling among the Romney people is that this is a prudent strategy that will activate the people who still line up with the president and that it doesn't involve much of a risk," said Ross K. Baker, a Rutgers University political scientist. http://www.newsone.ca/ottawarecorder/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=504 BOSTON - Republican Mitt Romney is heading a presidential campaign stocked with Washington insiders, even as he proudly casts himself as a political outsider on the campaign trail. ... Romney has ceded his polling, advertising and large chunks of his communications and strategy to specialists from inside the Beltway. ... "I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician," the former Massachusetts governor declared Feb. 13 in his campaign announcement speech. "There have been too many deals, too many favors, too many entanglements and too little real world experience managing, guiding, leading." ... the former Massachusetts governor is being advised by a core group similar to that which served him in the Statehouse, even as he imports Washington talent to his campaign headquarters overlooking Boston Harbor. http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9831235-7.html The embattled electronics retail chain was dealt its final blow Friday when it was sold to Specialty Equity, an affiliate of private equity firm Gordon Brothers Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the immediate result is that Specialty Equity will close all 103 CompUSA stores in the United States, according to a press release issued late Friday. Gordon Brothers will "initiate an orderly wind-down" of each of the stores, the company says. That's great news for consumers looking for bargains. CompUSA will remain open through the holiday shopping season, presumably with "Everything Must Go!"-style signs. It was clear all was not well at the retailer when in March it closed half of its stores due to pressure from bigger chains like Best Buy and Circuit City. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/06/28/246818.aspx The Globe also notes that despite Romney pledging to not take severance pay for his work at the Olympic Games, “public records indicate he did otherwise. Romney not only accepted a $476,000 severance package from the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, according to federal tax records, but he helped to lobby the committee for similarly large pacts for his 25 senior managers, 17 of whom contributed to his 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign or the state Republican Party soon after the Winter Games." Romney’s campaign says he donated the money to charity. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/us/politics/21cnd-romney.html?hp Mr. Romney’s latest concession is that he only “figuratively” saw his late father, George, march with Martin Luther King Jr., something he claimed in his highly publicized speech about his Mormon faith earlier this month. Some publications have raised doubts that the event ever happened at all. ... On Thursday, for instance, at a campaign stop in Indianola, he ran into trouble when talking about his record on illegal drugs while governor of Massachusetts. ... But both the ad and Mr. Romney's claims on his record were misleading. Mr. Romney’s office proposed legislation that would have toughened penalties on those in possession of the drug and chemicals to manufacture it, but the bill stalled in the state legislature. After The New York Times pointed out Mr. Romney’s misstatement in a posting on its politics blog, he made sure to correct himself before taking questions from reporters at his next campaign stop here. "If I said this morning that we 'got tough' on methamphetamines, I proposed we get tough on methamphetamine and I’ve corrected that right here for all of you," he said. "You don’t need to make any error of reporting that somehow Governor Romney actually got it done." http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=19478&PN=1&TPN=1 David's heart, however, was very different from that of Saul. David search for the presence of God. He longed to be with God and commune with Him. Shortly after the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul and an evil spirit came upon him, David was brought to Saul's house to play his harp so that the evil spirit would depart. What an awesome opportunity for David. He must have been the envy of all they young men in Israel. He was living in the house of Saul - king, prophet, and anointed man of power. - David left the great life and ministry that he was enjoying with Saul. For what? To go to a bigger ministry? No. He left everything behind so that he could return to Bethlehem and take care of his father's sheep. Bethlehem speaks of the place where the glory and presence of God was revealed. It was the place where David first knew God. Thus David was leaving behind the glory of ministry and the opportunity of a lifetime to back to the place where he knew he could be in the presence of God. He gave up everything so that he might be in the presence of God and there commune with his LORD. While others were seeking the bright lights and the big ministry. David chose to seek the face of God. Looking at the heart of David in these events, one can easily imagine what the priority of his kingdom might be. - Saul represents the generation that once knew the reality of God's presence and saw great manifestations of the moving of God, but has now lost that presence and in its place now has an empty ministry that is but a shadow of the reality that once was. David, on the other hand, represents the new generation that is willing to leave everything behind in order to find and walk in the reality of God's presence. It is also interesting to note that Saul tried to kill David and that the spirit of Saul in the church today continues to do the same. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/roland.martin/index.html?iref=mpstoryview (CNN) -- This whole push to remove Christ from the Christmas season has gotten so ridiculous that it's pathetic. ... Its time that we return to traditional values, and end this ridiculous charade. It's important that we take a fuller account of WHY we celebrate Christmas, as opposed to falling for the barrage of ads that tell us what is most important. Parents, don't be so consumed with the notion that your children will have a terrible Christmas because the tree isn't overflowing with gifts. The true love that you show them is more important than anything else. America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded. http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2007/12/20/top-two-boston-newspapers-endorse-mccain-not-romney/ John McCain has been endorsed by both of Mitt Romney’s hometown newspapers, a blow to the former Massachusetts governor who often taunts his opponents with negative e-mails titled, “Those who know him best.” The Boston Herald, the state’s conservative tabloid, endorsed Arizona Sen. McCain for president in an editorial posted online Thursday. “There are times in this nation’s history so perilous that they cry out for a steady, experienced leader, a person so trusted that we would put the fate of this country in his hands. This is one of those times, and Sen. John McCain is that person,” the newspaper said. It did not mention Romney, who led Massachusetts from 2003 to January of this year. The newspaper also did not endorse anyone in the Democratic presidential race, breaking its tradition of choosing candidates in both parties. Both the Herald and The Boston Globe, which announced its backing of McCain earlier this week, circulate in vote-rich southern New Hampshire, which holds the nation’s first presidential primary on Jan. 8. Romney maintains a sizable lead there, but McCain is hoping to repeat his primary victory in 2000. McCain also has been endorsed by the Union Leader, New Hampshire’s largest newspaper. http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/964/install_osx_tiger_on_intel_usb_drives_windows Many of the guides for installing OSX Tiger are complicated and use linux. You can install OSX using public-domain free windows only tools. Leopard instructions and links included as well. If you wish to install OSX tiger to your intel machine or usb drive, you can follow these few steps. http://lifehacker.com/software/hack-attack/build-a-hackintosh-mac-for-under-800-321913.php If the high price tag for Apple hardware has kept you from buying a Mac but you're willing to roll up your sleeves and get adventurous, you can build your own "Hackintosh"—a PC that runs a patched version of OS X Leopard. What?!, you say. Apple's move to Intel processors in 2006 meant that running OS X on non-Apple hardware is possible, and a community hacking project called OSx86 launched with that goal in mind. Since then, OSx86 has covered major ground, making it possible for civilians—like you and me!—to put together their own Hackintosh running Mac OS 10.5. Today, I'll show you how to build your own high end computer running Leopard from start to finish for under $800 (must also purchase the OS X). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/20/romneys-claim-that-fathe_n_77644.html Asked about the specifics of George Romney's march with MLK, Mitt Romney's campaign told the Phoenix that it took place in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. That jibes with the description proffered by David S. Broder in a Washington Post column written days after Mitt's College Station speech. Broder, in that column, references a 1967 book he co-authored on the Republican Party, which included a chapter on George Romney. It includes a one-line statement that the senior Romney "has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb of Detroit." But that account is incorrect. King never marched in Grosse Pointe, according to the Grosse Pointe Historical Society, and had not appeared in the town at all at the time the Broder book was published. "I'm quite certain of that," says Suzy Berschback, curator of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society. (Border was not immediately available for comment.) Berschback also believes that George Romney never appeared at a protest, march, or rally in Grosse Pointe. "We're a small town," she says. "Governors don't come here very often, except for fundraisers." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS07/712200442 The Boston Phoenix reported Wednesday it could find no evidence that Romney and King ever marched together. Mitt Romney's older brother, Detroit attorney Scott Romney, said he recalls his father telling him the elder Romney marched with King, possibly in 1963, but he could not remember exactly when the event took place. Fehrnstrom called the Romney brothers' recollection and the historical materials a "pretty convincing case that George Romney did march with Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders in Michigan." The governor's record was one of supporting civil rights. He helped create the state's first civil rights commission and marched at the head of a protest parade in Detroit days after violence against civil rights marchers in Selma, Ala., in 1965. Mitt Romney's campaign planned today to further research George Romney's papers for evidence of his march with King. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-20-romney-mlk_N.htm In a major speech on faith and politics earlier this month in Texas, Mitt Romney said: "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." He made a similar statement Sunday during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press. He said, "You can see what I believed and what my family believed by looking at our lives. My dad marched with Martin Luther King. My mom was a tireless crusader for civil rights." Romney's campaign cited various historical articles, as well as a 1967 book written by Stephen Hess and Washington Post political columnist David Broder, as confirmation that George Romney marched with King in Grosse Pointe in 1963. "He has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb," Hess and Broder wrote in "The Republican Establishment: The Present and Future of the GOP." Free Press archives, however, showed no record of King marching in Grosse Pointe in 1963 or of then-governor Romney taking part in King's historic march down Woodward Avenue in June of that year. George Romney told the Free Press at the time that he didn't take part because it was on a Sunday and he avoided public appearances on the Sabbath because of his (LDS) religion. Romney did participate in a civil rights march protesting housing bias in Grosse Pointe just six days after the King march. According to the Free Press account, however, King was not there. Broder could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7767605 The Hucka-boom has finally reached California. Mike Huckabee, the affable ex-Arkansas governor who is campaigning for Christian conservative support, is now in second place, 7 percentage points behind former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani among likely California GOP primary voters, a new Field Poll released today finds. Without any formal campaign operation in the state, the one-time Baptist minister has seen his support quadruple, from 4 percent to 17 percent, since late October. His meteoric campaign, which took off in Iowa and then nationally about a month ago, has awakened Republicans here. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317562,00.html Frederick Dominguez and the children, who vanished while looking for a Christmas tree, were rescued Wednesday by a helicopter from a snowy ravine, just as another storm was bearing down in the foothill region about 100 miles north of Sacramento. "You just want your kids to be safe and you're just praying, `God, keep my kids alive,"' Dominguez told reporters at Feather River Hospital in Paradise. The rescue came as relatives and friends were starting to lose hope. One snowstorm had covered the family's tracks, and an even bigger storm was hours away from burying the four even deeper. http://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/20071219/cm_rcp/romneys_mtp_turn ... was the Mormon church's policy toward blacks wrong prior to 1978? Romney's continued refusal to answer the question directly will be interpreted as an answer in and of itself - one that may prove to be quite damaging. The second point concerns Romney's position on abortion. On Meet the Press, Romney characterized the reasoning behind his effectively pro-choice position this way: "And the question for me was, what is the role of government? And it was quite theoretical and, and philosophical to consider what the role of government should be in this regard." Romney then explained his conversion saying that when a bill relating to life came to his desk as governor, "the theoretical became reality, if you will." The problem, such as exists for Romney, is that in the 1994 clip Tim Russert played directly preceding these comments, Romney explained his pro-choice position by citing the story of a "dear close family relative...who passed away from an illegal abortion." Far from being "theoretical" or "philosophical," then, Romney's pro-choice position on abortion was derived from a very real and personal experience. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzAxZjUxMzUwNzdkZDk0MmJlM2QzMTI3ODYwODE3MmY= Dr. Judith Dushku, a professor of government at Suffolk University. She tells of speaking with Romney (whom she knew from (LDS) church) after he announced he would run against Sen. Kennedy in 1994, and writes, "I congratulated him on taking a pro-choice position, one of the reasons I had been open to working with him. I remember his response was something like: "Well, this is Massachusetts. I realized I had to take this position," which was the first indication to me that what I had understood to be his personal view was a stance he was actually taking pragmatically. He went on that day to talk about an aunt of his who had died during a botched abortion and how he thought legalized abortion was important. But those around him, and people who knew him closely in the ward, knew that it was a position he had taken because he thought he had to in order to win." ... It's hard to know quite what to do with this suggestion that Romney was pro-life before he was pro-choice before he was pro-life. You have to wonder, though, if the Romney campaign got Dushku in touch with the Post (as they presumably did with the others who wrote) in the hope of planting the notion that Romney has actually always been pro-life. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/19/btsc.tuchman.roadsideprayer/index.html DALLAS, Texas (CNN) -- If you turn to the Bible -- Isaiah Chapter 35, Verse 8 -- you will see a passage that in part says, "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness." Now, is it possible that this "highway" mentioned in Chapter 35 is actually Interstate 35 that runs through six U.S. states, from southern Texas to northern Minnesota? Some Christians have faith that is indeed the case. ... Some of the faithful believe that in order to fulfill the prophecy of I-35 being the "holy" highway, it needs some intensive prayer first. So we watched as about 25 fervent and enthusiastic Christians prayed on the the interstate's shoulder in Dallas. They chanted loudly and vibrantly, making many people in the neighborhood wonder what was going on. They prayed that adult businesses along the corridor would "see the light" and perhaps close down. They prayed for safety and freedom from crime for people who lived along the interstate. They prayed that all Americans would accept Jesus into their lives. http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/new/Dishonest_Reporter_Award_2007.asp This year's Dishonest Reporter voting marks a change for HonestReporting readers. Previous awards went to large, impersonal news services, but not so this year. One journalist made herself such a lightning rod in 2007 she easily defeated BBC and Reuters – the traditional disfavorites. The results didn't surprise us, but the depth of anger and lingering resentment indicate that readers weren't just outraged by our winner's work; on some level, they were personally offended in a way far exceeding the rest of the MSM’s Mideast coverage this year. Which is why the 2007 Dishonest Reporting Award goes to Christiane Amanpour, for her in-depth, but tragically flawed CNN special series, God's Warriors. The series sought to examine Jewish, Muslim and Christian extremism. ... Addressed radical Islam with kid gloves. ... Unfortunately, the sense our readers and we have is that Amanpour didn't spend a year researching religious extremism, but rather reinforcing her own world views. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/23/amanpour.honor/index.html LONDON, England (CNN) -- She has reported from the front lines of conflicts around the world, interviewed world leaders, and investigated the important issues of our time. And on Tuesday, CNN's Christiane Amanpour receives an honor from Britain's Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her work. Christiane Amanpour's award recognizes her services to journalism. Amanpour is set to receive a CBE, or Commander in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, "for services to journalism." "I'm really, really thrilled and I'm really proud," Amanpour told CNN when the award was announced earlier this year. "But I think I'm really proud of the simple citation which says 'for services to journalism.'" As CNN's chief international correspondent based in London, Amanpour has reported on most crises from the world's many news hotspots including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans. She recently completed a year-long investigation into religious extremism titled "God's Warriors." The CBE ceremony is formally called an "investiture" and is held in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace. About 20 investitures are held each year for those receiving the award. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1214071wnbc1.html The WNBC exclusive, which is reprinted below, was posted seven minutes after an identical list of names was published by the sports blog Deadspin, which reported that it had been forwarded the names by "about 25 different people" during the preceding hour. The list, which was whipping around via e-mail, "could very likely be one of those Web urban legends that somehow got around," Deadspin cautioned. WNBC, though, showed no such reserve. The station reported that it had received the list from "two separate sources" (which was still 23 "sources" fewer than Deadspin). But after WNBC posted the list, baseball officials began refuting the story, with the station reporting that Major League Baseball brass said there were "several discrepancies between the list posted and Mitchell's list." As it turned out, it was several dozen "discrepancies," with nearly half the names in WNBC's story not appearing in Mitchell's report. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/19/romney_working_the_small_crowd.html MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Campaigning at the end of a long, frenetic day, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney ended his rally here Tuesday night by telling the crowd how appreciative he was that they took the time to attend. "I want to say hi to each of you, if I can," he said. And that's the problem. He could. In the 30,000-square-foot airplane hanger at the Myrtle Beach airport were about three dozen people, who listened politely and then crowded around to shake Romney's hand after he finished the 10-minute talk. To be fair, it was 7:30 p.m. on a chilly South Carolina night in an unheated airplane hangar. So perhaps it's not surprising that there wasn't an overwhelming crowd. And Romney has been drawing somewhat bigger crowds in New Hampshire and Iowa, sometimes facing as many as 100 or 200 people. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/careerbytes/CBArticle.aspx?articleID=780 2. Blaming someone else for your mistake: It’s dishonest, childish and tacky. Very tacky. Sure, having to admit you made a mistake is embarrassing, but not nearly as embarrassing as it would be to have to admit you lied about it or tried to cover it up. 3. Spreading gossip: Who knows why people get a certain high from hearing juicy gossip. Many of us are guilty of passing along at least a few rumors at times, but the more you can avoid doing so, the better off you will be. Try to avoid it. In addition, if you hear it, don’t repeat it. http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/worklife/12/18/cb.career.killers/index.html 1. Not having a life plan. All very successful people have a clear life plan, whether memorized or actually written down. They create it, massage it and refer to it often. Nearly 85 percent of people who are satisfied with their life overall have a personal action plan, McKee says. "Without a plan, we leave our success in the hands of others who may or may not have time to look after other people's successes," he says. ... 5. Believing you are irreplaceable. There is no room for "divas" in the workplace. As soon as you convince yourself that you and only you can do the job "right," your star will surely start to fall. ... 9. Failing to self-promote. Bragging is one thing, but letting colleagues in your industry know of your success through case studies, promotion bulletins or other such tools is another. Labor losers often fail to recognize the importance of letting others know about their successes, or they go about it in the entirely wrong way. 10. Losing perspective. Intuitive business people recognize that, despite their best attempts to do everything right, sometimes they approach roadblocks and seek the advice and perspective of a respected friend, colleague or even a business coach. Those who fail to recognize their shortcomings are destined for the unemployment line. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/19/cia.tapes.ap/index.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- Alberto Gonzales and other top White House lawyers took part in discussions about destroying CIA videotapes of interrogation of two al Qaeda suspects, the New York Times reported Tuesday night on its Web site. Also involved, according to the Times' sources, were David Addington, who was the counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney and is now his chief of staff; John Bellinger III, who until January 2005 was the senior lawyer at the National Security Council; and Harriet Miers, who succeeded Gonzales as White House counsel. One former senior intelligence official told the Times there had been "vigorous sentiment" among some top White House officials to destroy the tapes. Other officials asserted that no one at the White House advocated destroying the tapes, the newspaper said. Those officials added that no White House lawyer gave a direct order to preserve the tapes or advised that destroying them would be illegal. U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy on Tuesday ordered Justice Department lawyers to appear before him at 11 a.m. Friday to discuss whether destroying the tapes, which showed two al Qaeda suspects being questioned, violated a court order. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/09/white.house.emails/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House is being accused of improperly trying to hide e-mails about government business by using unofficial e-mail accounts. Congressional investigators say they found communications on one account from top White House aides about official matters, like the December firings of eight U.S. attorneys. Those e-mails were discovered on a Republican National Committee e-mail domain called gwb43.com. That domain is not part of the official White House communication system. The Presidential Records Act, passed during the Nixon administration, requires the preservation of all official records of and about the president. A White House spokesman defended the use of outside e-mail accounts as an appropriate method of separating official business from political campaign work. But the use of those accounts by officials discussing the firings -- and one from now-imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff -- have led a liberal watchdog group to accuse administration of trying to skirt the law governing preservation of presidential records. "They wanted to make sure that no record could ever be found of what they were really up to in the White House," Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told CNN. http://www.lifenews.com/state2673.html Hodari gave the local Medical Students for Choice group a talk entitled, "Why I Am An Abortion Provider" to motivate the pro-abrotion medical students. The national pro-life student group Students for Life of America obtained a copy of the speech, in which Hodari says, "I have great satisfaction of what I do, and I never feel bad or worried about doing abortions." Hodari also spoke about how little he washed between abortions because it chafed his hands, even though his doing so puts women's health at risk. Most upsetting to SFLA director Kristan Hawkins is Hodari's claim that being an abortion practitioner gives him "license to lie" to women who seek him out for abortions. "To hear Hodari speak, one wonders if Michigan is the third world," Hawkins says in a statement she provided LifeNews.com. "Planned Parenthood complains about 'back-alley' abortions, even though Hodari is running a business where he's barely washing his hands between abortions." Ashley Tyndall, the president of the pro-life student group, noted that Hodari is responsible for multiple women's deaths from his legal abortions. "Several women have died while getting abortions with Hodari, and yet the Michigan board of health has never investigated him," she said. "How many women have to die before the bureaucrats start telling Hodari to wash his hands and tell patients the truth." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59264 "Many people feel betrayed by my actions, and they have every right to feel that way," Morrison read. "Because of my actions in my personal life, many people stopped believing in me." Morrison announced his resignation less than a week after reports in the Topeka Capital-Journal revealed he had carried on an affair with a woman who worked in the Johnson County district attorney's office first while Morrison held the post, then later when Kline was appointed to fill Morrison's unfinished term. Linda Carter disrupted Morrison's political tenure by filing a sex harassment complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and alleging that among other things, Morrison, after he moved from the county office to the state position, tried to have her spy on Kline's developing criminal investigation involving the Planned Parenthood in Johnson County. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6528/cult.htm Mormonism: Non Christian group which has been doing everything in it's power to make itself look and sound more Christian. Will use Christian terminology and deliberately deceive by agreeing or being vague with prospective converts or during media interviews. They believe God was once a sinful man who lived on another planet but who earned his salvation and became a god (as will all good male Mormons). He lives on an unnamed planet near the star Kolob with his many wives sexually procreating 'spirit babies' which will go on to have a pre-existence on that same planet and then be born on earth to human parents. Their birth circumstances will depend on how good they were on their birth planet. This god's first two sons were satan and Jesus, so they believe satan and Jesus are brothers, and we are all somehow related to them through the same spiritual parents!. http://packham.n4m.org/lying.htm Lying, I will show, although piously condemned by Mormon scriptures and in sermons by Mormon leaders, has been used by the church and its leaders from the very beginning to the present day. Such use of falsehood is completely incongruous with its claims of being led by God in righteousness, as the source of truth. Would God (or God's messengers) need to lie? Lying, "is not of God." ... What is true with these two subjects is, if anything, doubly true in the field of religion. ... The Lord made it very clear that some things are to be taught selectively and some things are to be given only to those who are worthy. It matters very much not only what we are told but when we are told it. Be careful that you build faith rather than destroy it. [My Comment: In other words, don't tell the "whole truth" if it would lead anyone to doubt the claims of Mormonism.] ... Paul Richards, 57, who left BYU last year, ridiculed that notion.... 'I worked in public affairs for the (LDS) church for 13 years, and I had to lie all the time....' http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/romney-attended.html That event, Nichols Gamble said, was the occasion where Ann Romney wrote her $150 check -- drafted on a joint checking account she had with her husband -- to Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts. "They were both there, and I remember very well chatting with both of them, and talking about his support for the pro-choice agenda," she said. "We talked about the fact that he was taking a pro-choice position on the issues, and we were very pleased about that." When asked by reporters earlier this year whether the former governor had ever donated money to Planned Parenthood, the Romney campaign said no. Aides subsequently conceded that Romney's wife, Ann, wrote a $150 check to the group in 1994. Romney spokesman Kevin Madden told ABC in May 2007 that Romney had "no recollection" of the circumstances under which the check was written, and stressed the fact that the donation was made by Ann Romney. "The governor has not donated to Planned Parenthood or abortion-rights groups," Madden said in May. Madden on Tuesday maintained that neither of the Romneys recalls how and why Ann made her donation in 1994. "As Mrs. Romney has stated previously, she is unfamiliar with the circumstances of a check she wrote close to 14 years ago," Madden said. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/generational-fight-century-looms-taxpayers/story.aspx?guid=%7B52DEF8AE%2DE29F%2D4E35%2D829F%2D531289F138ED%7D The most outrageous examples of the Aging Boomers class are the "greed-is-good" guys whose lobbyists just killed a bill that would have plugged a huge tax loophole granting special capital gains treatment to private equity, hedge funds, leveraged buyouts and Wall Street power players, guys who hate paying ordinary income tax like the rest of working Americans. They are the extreme "poster boys" for the Aging Boomers. Gordon Gekko coined their motto: "Greed is good." They're not satisfied making a few hundred million, getting rich at the rate of ten thousand bucks an hour. Their egos need to be billionaires! ... Next 'great generation' gaining power and wisdom Here's how "60 Minutes" described them: "The workplace has become a psychological battlefield and the Millennials have the upper hand because they are tech savvy, with every gadget imaginable almost becoming an extension of their bodies. They multitask, talk, walk, listen and type, and text. And their priorities are simple: they come first." Yes, and soon they'll take control. One ad exec who's been following Millennials for years told " 60 Minutes:" "Some of them are the greatest generation. They're more hardworking. They have these tools to get things done. They are enormously clever and resourceful. Some of the others are absolutely incorrigible. It's their way or the highway. The rest of us are old, redundant, should be retired. How dare we come in, anyone over 30. Not only can't they be trusted, they can't be counted upon." Battle lines are drawn: Wake up, you old fogies! http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/worklife/12/07/cb.freaks.at.work/index.html Natural disasters, revolutionary technology, pro-athlete scandals and national calamities marked 2007 as an unforgettable year. Yet, amid these major happenings arose stories that were overlooked, unseen or ignored altogether: tales of our nation's work force. Understandably, these pieces weren't as newsworthy as Michael Vick's dog fighting charges or Paris Hilton going to jail. But these stories held an angle unlike any other: They were just plain weird. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/romney-again-seeks-huckabee-apology/ Mr. Romney once again accused Mr. Huckabee of using “the language of a Democrat” in an article he wrote for the January/February 2008 issue of Foreign Affairs in which he asserts that “the Bush administration’s arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad.” During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Mr. Romney said that Mr. Huckabee should apologize to President Bush for his comments, but so far, he has declined. “I don’t have anything to apologize for,” Mr. Huckabee said Sunday on CNN’s “Late Edition.” “I’ve got to show that I do have my own mind when it comes to how this country ought to lead, not only within its own borders but across the world.” For several days, Mr. Romney has been seeking to associate Mr. Huckabee’s views with those of the Democratic presidential candidates, and he did so again today. (The Romney campaign has even sent out a mailer, linking Mr. Huckabee to former President Clinton.) http://www.firesociety.com/article/20083/ Maxwell, IA . The nation's largest statistically valid survey of grassroots conservatives has found that Mike Huckabee now enjoys a 2-to-1 margin of support over his nearest competitor -- a dramatic shift from a similar poll conducted in September. ... "Grassroots conservatives are taking a closer look at Huckabee and apparently like what they see," said Steve Elliott, President of Grassfire.org. ... Huckabee's Support Has Wide, Deep Potential The poll also found that grassroots conservatives find Hucakbee among the most trustworthy on the issue of stopping illegal immigration -- in a statistical dead-heat with immigration stalwart Tom Tancredo with each at 20 percent. "Grassroots conservatives at this point in time trust Mike Huckabee with their most important issue -- securing our borders," says Elliott. In addition, 25% of grassroots conservatives now think Huckabee will win the nomination -- up from just 2 percent in September. And among the major Republican candidates, Huckabee is the least likely to spark an exodus if he wins. "All these factors indicate Huckabee's surge may have staying power and his upside potential is high," says Elliott. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/17/contractor.assault/index.html (CNN) -- A House panel on Wednesday is scheduled to examine a woman's accusations that she was drugged and raped by co-workers at a contracting firm in Iraq two years ago. ... Jones said Monday that the alleged rape occurred on her fourth night in Iraq, at the U.S.-controlled Camp Hope in Baghdad. She said she had met with some of her co-workers, one of whom gave her a drink. She believes it was laced with the date-rape drug Rohypnol. ... Jones said a security guard provided her with a cell phone, which she used to call her father. Her father then contacted Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, "to get me out of Iraq," Jones said. In a statement, KBR says it investigated Jones' allegations but was "instructed to cease by government authorities because they were assuming sole responsibility for the criminal investigations." The U.S. Justice Department has said it is investigating the case but will not comment further on it, according to The Associated Press. On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will look into the case, examining who is responsible for enforcing federal law to protect Americans working for U.S. contractors in Iraq. The AP reported last week that the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee had asked the Justice Department to give a full account of its investigation into the case. Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey if Jones' claims had been investigated, the AP said. Conyers also asked whether the Justice Department has jurisdiction to prosecute under military provisions of the USA Patriot Act, AP reported. http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/news/dubai.html WASHINGTON, March 12 (HalliburtonWatch.org) -- “With various ongoing investigations, Halliburton's sale of KBR and the move to UAE are tantamount to fleeing the scene of a crime,” said Jim Donahue, co-director of Halliburton Watch, in response to the company’s announcement today that it will move its headquarters to Dubai, UAE. Halliburton is moving to UAE at a time when it is being investigated in the U.S. for bribery, bid rigging, defrauding the military and illegally profiting in Iran. It is currently in the process of divesting all of its ownership interest in the scandal-plagued KBR subsidiary, notorious for overcharging the military and serving contaminated food and water to the troops in Iraq. Although Halliburton will still be incorporated inside the United States, moving its corporate headquarters to UAE will make it easier to avoid accountability from federal investigators. The company has proven adept at using offshore subsidiaries to circumvent restrictions on doing business in Iran and to elude responsibility for paying benefits to former employees. Halliburton has also used its operational structure for contracts in Iraq and post-Katrina -- especially multiple layers of subcontractors -- to elude oversight and accountability to taxpayers. http://www.alternet.org/story/70794/ The more Mitt Romney evades speaking about his Mormon beliefs the more you want to ask him questions about it. ... But Mormonism isn't as flexible as Catholicism. It's a hook, line and sinker deal. You buy it all -- every word of the Book of Mormon and its supplement, the Book of Abraham -- or you're not a Mormon. ... But if Romney were to admit to such doubts and reservations, the (LDS) Church of Latter Day Saints would be forced to say he is no longer a Mormon. And a candidate for president without a religion ... well, that could only happen on The West Wing. ... Many evangelicals believe and have said publicly that Mormonism -- contrary to Romney's assertions -- is not a Christian religion but an abomination of Christianity. Here's a sampling of why: Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri; that Jews were the first people in America; that Indians descended from Jews and are a lost tribe of Israel; that Jesus came to America; that after the next coming of Christ (which will be the second or third, depending on how you count his trip to America), the world will be ruled for a thousand years from Jerusalem and Missouri; and to answer Mike Huckabee's now famous question, yes, they believe "Jesus and Lucifer were brothers, in the sense of both being spiritually begotten by the Father." When Matt Lauer asked Romney the Huckabee question about Jesus and the devil being brothers, Romney refused to answer and handed the question off to the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Church issued a deceptively worded statement that most reporters incorrectly read as a denial of the brotherhood of Jesus and Satan. In fact, the Church could not and did not deny it. The Church did correctly point out that attackers (meaning critics) of Mormonism often use the brother bit. Critics also use the Church's 70 year delight in polygamy and sex with very young girls, which also happens to be true. Critics of Mormonism have plenty to work with without inventing anything. ... http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/17/nj.jailbreak/index.html (CNN) -- Two inmates at New Jersey's Union County Jail made a movie-style escape Saturday and remained at large Monday, according to Union County Prosecutor Ted Romankow. ... Twenty-year-old Jose Espinosa and 32-year-old Otis Blunt, who are considered armed and dangerous, were discovered missing from their cells at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Romankow said. The men left behind dummies in their beds, cinder block dust and a note wishing authorities "Happy Holidays." Espinosa, who recently pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, was to be sentenced on January 25 and faced a minimum of 17 years in prison. Blunt was being held in lieu of $75,000 bond on weapon and robbery charges. Both men were being housed in the high security area of the multilevel jail, Romankow said. ... At a news conference Monday, Romankow read the note that was found in Espinosa's cell, saying it represented the "arrogance of these two men." "Thank you officer -------- for the tools needed, you're a real pal, Happy Holidays," the note read, with a smiley face drawn next to it. Authorities are investigating the note's claims about the guard, the Associated Press reported. The guard has not turned in a report and disciplinary action has not been taken, Romankow said, according to AP. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20071217_Corzine_to_sign_NJ_death_penalty_ban.html TRENTON - Gov. Corzine is expected today to sign into law today a bill abolishing the death penalty in New Jersey. With his fellow Democrats providing most of the votes, the General Assembly and State Senate last week approved the measure under which convicted people facing death would instead receive life without parole. Once Corzine signs the bill at the statehouse at 10 a.m., New Jersey would become the first state to legislatively end capital punishment since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Before that, the high court had halted all executions for four years and overturned all death sentences in the nation. Corzine has long been on record as opposing the capital punishment. He says he doubts it has any deterrent effect and is concerned that an innocent person might be executed by mistake. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1669866,00.html If you tried to come up with the best way to enrage the nativist right in America, you might dream up something like this: a Mexican immigrant, convicted of raping and murdering two adolescent girls, has his execution stayed by President Bush out of deference to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Believe it or not, that's the storyline in the controversial case of Medellin v. Texas, which the Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday. The Administration is siding with Jose Ernesto Medellin and his lawyers, arguing that he along with 50 other Mexican nationals should have their convictions reviewed because, in what the International Court has ruled a violation of a treaty signed by the U.S., they were not offered access to Mexican consular officials after their arrest. The raucous right is in an uproar, stunned that their onetime hero, George W. Bush, is going against them on a case that combines three of the issues closest to their heart: immigration, the death penalty and international sovereignty. http://hotair.com/archives/2007/10/10/the-medellin-case-what-is-bush-thinking/ If not for the fact that Medellin is a Mexican citizen, the ICJ would not have intervened in the case and Bush wouldn't have sided with them. So we're once again in the position of seeing our president extending legal protections to foreign nationals who commit crimes against Americans that Americans don't have. And he's probably wrong on the merits. ... If the president's argument wins, then as Ramesh points out, the Senate's advise and consent role in ratifying treaties becomes meaningless: The president can just do whatever he wants. That's too much power for any president to have, and in this case it's being misused to stay the execution of a brutal criminal who shouldn't even be in the US at all. The president ought to lose this case, and he ought to be asked why he has intervened on behalf of a child killer. http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/12/muslim-saves-4-jews-from-subway-holiday.html Hassan Askari from Bangladesh jumped to Walter Adler's aid while a group of thugs allegedly pummeled and taunted him on a New York subway this weekend. ... A Brooklyn man whose "Happy Hanukkah" greeting landed him in the hospital said he was saved from a gang of Jew-bashing goons aboard a packed Q train by a total stranger - a modest Muslim from Bangladesh. Walter Adler was touched that Hassan Askari jumped to his aid while a group of thugs allegedly pummeled and taunted him and his three friends. So Adler has invited his new friend over to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The two new pals - Adler, 23, with a broken nose and a fat lip, and Askari, 20, with two black eyes - broke bread together and laughed off the bruises the night after the fisticuffs. http://www.constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=699 To make matters worse, they saw a president who, while wearing his Christianity on his sleeve, appointed more open homosexuals to high office than Clinton. They watched as their president bowed to a Shinto shrine, declared Islam a religion of peace and declare that Muslims, Jews, Christians and – by a fair interpretation of his remarks – all other religions, worship the same God and their various paths all lead to salvation. It is not coincidental that many religious conservatives are now saying, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me," and are no longer willing to follow lockstep with GOP leadership. All of this presents an unparalleled opportunity for the Constitution Party. Can we rise to the challenge? Can we be the bulwark in this political storm where the disenfranchised can find refuge? If we are successful in marshalling those who have been betrayed by their party leadership into a “Third Force” as Richard Viguerie calls it, but organized as the Constitution Party (which is not what Viguerie recommends), we can re-shape the political landscape. http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/12/13/politics/fromtheroad/entry3616266.shtml George Romney was considered by some to be the frontrunner for the 1968 GOP nomination, but his campaign was torpedoed after he made an ill-advised comment about being brainwashed during a visit to Vietnam. “He really should have been President of the United States, I gotta tell you,” Romney said. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3945/is_200007/ai_n8922399/pg_12 Smith made the formal announcement of his candidacy on January 29, 1844. At first, James A. Bennett, a New York businessman, was selected as Smith's Vice Presidential candidate. However, after it was discovered that Bennett had been born in Ireland and was therefore ineligible for office, the number two position fell to Sidney Rigdon, Smith's close friend and advisor. ... Indeed, the Mormon founder openly admitted that the campaign was partially motivated by his desire to make the Saints' political clout felt on the state and national level. Smith stated that: "I do not care so much about the Pres[idential] election as I do the office I have got. We have as good a right to make political party to gain power to defend ourselves as for demagogues to make use of our religion to get power to destroy ourselves. We will whip the mob by getting up a President. Smith then quipped, "When I look into the eastern papers and see how popular I am, I am afraid I shall be President." http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/14/s.carolina.poll/index.html (CNN) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has shot to the top of a new poll in South Carolina, leading Republican presidential candidates in the key Southern state. Huckabee garnered 24 percent in the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, conducted by phone between Sunday and Wednesday. The survey was released Friday. When the same poll was conducted in July, Huckabee was in the lower tier, with 3 percent of support from registered GOP voters. The survey suggested that Huckabee's personality was among his strengths. In particular, he tops the list when likely GOP voters are asked to name the candidate who is most believable. The South Carolina poll showed Huckabee rocketing ahead of his GOP rivals, including the former front-runner in the state, ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. http://www.ocala.com/article/20071213/OPINION/212130323/1030/OPINION Mitt Romney gave his long-anticipated speech about religion, which he called "Faith in America." The purported purpose of the address was for the Republican presidential candidate to dispel festering doubts about himself because of his Mormon faith. Unfortunately, I believe it was a failed performance. I think that Romney and his team overestimated the extent to which his Mormonism has been what is troubling his candidacy and underestimated the extent to which his credibility has been the real problem. Despite outspending all the other candidates, the Romney candidacy hasn't ignited. By contrast, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has maintained his lead in national polls, despite a background of three marriages, estranged children, pictures of himself in drag, support for gays, support for abortion, having endorsed a Democratic candidate for governor of New York, and support for gun control. But Giuliani has not been running as a traditional conservative candidate. Romney has. What dogs Romney is a sense that he is not being honest about who he is. In an election such as this, where voters clearly are concerned about honesty and transparency, candidates who do not score well in these areas are paying a price. In Romney's case, that price reflects his credibility challenge in convincing religious conservatives that his changed positions are for real. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0817moonshiner.html Randall Leece Deal was a millworker and twice convicted moonshiner when he got his big break in 1972. He was cast in a bit part in "Deliverance" and delivered a single line so repellent he later told his mother it had been dubbed. On Wednesday he got maybe the second biggest break of his life: A presidential pardon. Deal, 66, was convicted in 1960 and in 1964 for moonshining in North Georgia. He was among 16 pardons announced by the White House in what is an annual tradition. He is at least the second moonshiner pardoned by Bush. Deal said when he heard about that one - a Tennessee man pardoned in 2003 - he decided to apply for his own. "I figured if that guy could get one, then why not me? We're the same age." When reached by a reporter Wednesday afternoon, Deal said somebody had called yesterday telling him he got the pardon, but he had not received official word. http://www.proparanoid.net/nwo.htm In the beginning, there were many Satanic religions set apart from the Jewish worship of Jehovah, God of Abraham. It may serve the reader to realize the God of Abraham is also the God of both the Christian and {not} Islamic faiths. All contentions between these three great faiths, I believe, are the results of manipulative efforts by the Satanic churches and, in our times, those of the NWO movement. The Masonic 'Bible,' Morals and Dogmas proclaims it clearly as a means to establishing control. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/14/steroid.report/index.html (CNN) -- A lawyer for Roger Clemens strongly denies the seven-time Cy Young Award winner used steroids to pump up his body and his pitching statistics. Clemens, considered a shoo-in for the Baseball Hall of Fame someday, was prominently featured in the report on performance-enhancing drugs that former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell released Thursday. "Roger Clemens adamantly, vehemently, and whatever other adjectives can be used, denies that he has ever used steroids or ... improper substances," Clemens' attorney, Rusty Hardin, said Thursday. "He is really, really concerned and upset that he has been named in this report. It's based on the allegations, apparently, of a trainer that he's had in the past. ... That's not a standard someone should be held out in public to have done something as serious as using steroids in baseball." http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/13/steroid.report/index.html NEW YORK (CNN) -- Illegal steroids have been in widespread use in Major League Baseball for more than a decade and used by some of the game's top stars, former Sen. George Mitchell said in releasing a report Thursday. "This has not been an isolated problem involving just a few players or a few clubs," Mitchell said. "Many players were involved. Each of the 30 clubs has had players who have been involved with such substances at some time in their career." Mitchell said while action should be taken against the most egregious abusers, it will be in baseball's best interest to put the past behind it. "The commissioner should give the players and everyone else the chance to make a fresh start," Mitchell said. "That's what baseball needs." ... "Hundreds of thousands of our children are using" performance enhancing drugs, he said. "Every American, not just baseball fans, ought to be shocked into action by that disturbing truth." Mitchell embarked on his multimillion-dollar task at the behest of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who felt an inquiry was necessary after reading "Game of Shadows." ... Mitchell's investigation was a difficult one because he had no subpoena power, meaning he had no way to force players or witnesses to cooperate with his investigation. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59171 Only weeks after voting for a resolution that "recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world," nine Democrats in the U.S. House refused to vote for a Christmas resolution that condemns the worldwide persecution of Christians. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., was on the list of those who endorsed the statement recognizing Islam but refused to support the Christmas resolution that noted the holiday "is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and around the world." The Christmas resolution, like the Ramadan resolution, decried the violence that targets religion around the world. A spokesman for DeGette told WND her vote was because the Ramadan resolution, which she endorsed, was about "rejecting religious extremism and promoting of religious tolerance." The spokesman, Chris Aaron, however, said DeGette is a "strong supporter of separation of church and state and her view was that Congress should not favor one religion over another. "She felt this resolution (recognizing Christmas and condemning persecution of Christians) promoted Christianity over other religions," he told WND. Other Democrats who supported the acknowledgment of Islam's Ramadan but refused a similar recognition for Christianity's Christmas included Gary Ackerman and Yvette Clarke of N.Y., Alcee Hastings, Fla., Barbara Lee, Fortney Stark and Lynn Woolsey, Calif., Jim McDermott, Wash., and Robert Scott, Va. Both resolutions, carrying similar wording, ultimately were approved. But the American Family Association of Pennsylvania also raised the issue of representatives supporting Ramadan, but refusing to offer the same support for Christmas. ... According to Liberty Counsel, the Christmas resolution was approved with nine "no" votes. Ten others voted "present" and 40 refused to vote at all. "Amazingly, all but two of the representatives who answered "present" or voted against the Christmas resolution voted in favor of a resolution recognizing Ramadan, even though much of the language was similar," the group said. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004066596_gunman12.html DENVER — Between his two shooting sprees, church gunman Matthew Murray apparently posted online threats about killing Christians. But whether the warnings reached police was unclear Tuesday. ... I'm coming for EVERYONE soon and I WILL be armed to the @%$ teeth and I WILL shoot to kill," one threat posted Sunday by nghtmrchld26 said. At least one visitor to the site contacted the FBI before the second attack, the site's administrator said. The FBI would not confirm that. Nghtmrchld26 made at least 11 posts between the two shootings on a site run by the Association of Former Pentecostals, a nonprofit group that says it was created to help people who have left Pentecostal and charismatic churches. The threats appear to include passages lifted from a manifesto written by Eric Harris, one of the teens who carried out the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/13/513775.aspx If anything is certain about the GOP presidential primary, it's that Romney really, really wants to win Iowa. Desperately. ... Funny enough, when Romney was wrapping up his remarks, he said the following: "You're going to do something which people don't expect, which is give me a victory. And then I'm going to New Hampshire, where I'm pretty solidly in the lead in New Hampshire, and then I'm going to be in Nevada, and I'm going to win Nevada, and then I'm going to be in Wyoming, and I'll win that one, and then Michigan, and we're going to end up doing real darn well. That's at least what I plan. Brian over here was afraid I was going to scream as I was saying that -- the Howard Dean moment, but I'm not doing that. No predictions like that, no screaming allowed…. I'm going to find you, track you down, make sure you vote in the caucuses." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004068513_campdig13.html An ordained Southern Baptist minister, Huckabee asked the question in an article to be published Sunday in The New York Times, which released his quote Tuesday. Romney, a Mormon, retorted that "attacking someone's religion is really going too far." Huckabee apologized Wednesday, saying he had asked an innocent question during a lengthy conversation and was shocked to see it taken out of context. "I was horrified when I read that, and I apologized to Mitt Romney, because first of all, I don't think that his being a Mormon or not being a Mormon has a thing to do with his being president." Huckabee said Romney responded graciously to his apology, which he offered after a Republican presidential debate in Des Moines. http://cuttingedge.org/detail.cfm?ID=937 The "attack of the Killer 'C's" -- This 3-hour, 5-DVD set covers the Casual Christian, Cultural Christian, Compromising Christian, Corruptive Christian, Counterfeit Christian. In today's society, when these types of "Christians" are literally opening the door to Antichrist, this video is a breath of fresh air. This disaster is of such magnitude that it makes the Titanic look like "chump change"! This video reveals the cosmic battle in which we are engaged and exposes the seductive weapons Satan uses to keep us from being the mighty army of God. Over 100 years ago, Christian Churches stopped teaching this material, opening the door for the current terrible spiritual state of both our churches and our society. This video sounds the alarm as a good "Watchman On The Wall". We are under attack! Rise up, oh men of God, to battle for the millions of souls deceived and in risk of Hell. http://www.getalifeinternational.org/sermons.php These streaming files require RealAudio: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316322,00.html COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The gunman believed to have killed four people in a pair of shooting sprees at a megachurch and a missionary training school had been thrown out of the missionary school about three years ago and had been sending the place hate mail, police said in court papers Monday. The gunman was identified as Matthew Murray, 24, who was home-schooled by his family and raised in what a friend said was a deeply religious Christian household. ... Senior Pastor Brady Boyd of New Life Church said the gunman had no connection to the church. "We don't know this shooter," Boyd said. "He showed up on our property yesterday with a gun with the intention of hurting people, and he did." ... Harris said he saw the gunman. "I was in the military for about three years, and the way he was holding the rifle looked just like the way we were taught to when I was in the military," he told NBC's "Today" show. They stayed in the vehicle and prayed for the gunman. "It was obvious that he was in some sort of pain and going through a lot," Gibbs told "Today." "I just prayed God would bring him peace." ... The Colorado shootings came days after a 19-year-old gunman opened fire at a busy department store in Omaha, Neb., killing eight people and himself. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/colorado.shootings/index.html COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- "It seemed like it was me, the gunman, and God," said Jeanne Assam, describing her feelings as she confronted a man who charged into her Colorado Springs church Sunday firing a weapon. Assam, a church security guard with law enforcement experience, fired her own weapon at the invader and stopped his attack, police say. Police on Monday identified the gunman as Matthew Murray and said he was also responsible for an attack earlier Sunday at a missionary center some 70 miles away. The two incidents left four people dead, in addition to the gunman, and five wounded. Boyd said Assam was a hero in preventing further bloodshed, rushing to confront the gunman just inside the church. "She probably saved over a hundred lives," Boyd said. http://www.truthnews.us/?p=1170 It was a coincidence, no doubt. Not only did Bush visit Omaha prior to the massacre, but so did the Ministry of Homeland Security. ... As Alex Jones reported in May, 2004, FEMA had arrived in New York on September 10th (2001) to set up a command post located at Pier 29 under the auspices of a “biowarfare exercise” (Tripod) scheduled for September 12, a fact revealed to Dan Rather by Tom Kenney of FEMA's National Urban Search and Rescue Team. For some odd reason, a Google News search does not return a repeat of the ABC News admission that a Ministry employee was at the mall the same day as the massacre. However, comrade Chertoff, in remarks after the event, admitted that the Ministry had an employee at the West Roads Mall prior to the incident, although the corporate media did not find this worthy of mention. http://cuttingedge.org/news_updates/newsupdatemain.html Can you believe that another government operation was reported occurring very close and/or parallel to a major public disaster? "It is clear that at least five if not six training exercises were in operation in the days leading up to and on the morning of 9/11," write Paul Joseph Watson and Alex Jones. 'This meant that NORAD radar screens showed as many as 22 hijacked airliners at the same time. NORAD had been briefed that this was part of the exercise drill and therefore normal reactive procedure was forestalled and delayed'." "These exercises included Operation Northern Vigilance, the biowarfare exercise Tripod, Operation Vigilant Guardian, Operation Northern Guardian, and Operation Vigilant Warrior. Of course, such exercises, including simulated airliner hijackings and flying planes into the twin towers." Do you remember the London terrorist attack of July 7, 2005? Read all the details in our archived article, NEWS2054, "LONDON TERROR ATTACKS CARRIES STRONGEST 'OCCULT SIGNATURE' IMAGINABLE". After the attack, British government officials admitting that, at the time of the bombing, some of their elite "anti-terrorist" units were simulating exactly the type of attack which was actually being carried out. One of the key indicators that a terrorist attack might be a government operation is when you see government officials and/or elite units in the same area at the same time as the attack. Homeland Security Chief, Michael Chertoff, admitted that one of his Ministry employees was, indeed, at the mall. "We also have our protective security advisors who go and visit various facilities. We actually had one, by coincidence, at the mall in question at the time of the incident, discussing reaction to IEDs and what you can do to prevent or reduce your vulnerability to IEDs." This information begs the question, "was this Homeland Security employee" acting as a Mind Controlled handler for the shooter? This next segment alludes to the real, hidden agenda behind these attacks. "In other words, heavily militarized cops will scare the dickens out of shoppers, same as New York's Intelligence Division is 'in the business of scaring people', as Popular Mechanics recently reported ... A few more mall incidents by deranged teenagers cranked up on pharm drugs – and maybe even a well-placed terrorist event – and the American people will be begging for surprise SWAT raids at the local mall ..." Americans are being conditioned to accept two formerly "off-limits" concepts: 1) Confiscation of all guns 2) Acceptance of heavy police and para-military presence in all areas of civilian life. Once both of these dictatorial concepts are firmly planted in most citizen's minds, it will be far easier to clamp a harsh dictatorship upon the people. http://cufi.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=learn_teachings#special_message Given my long years of preaching the gospel to so many, it simply never occurred to me that anyone would question my belief in the fundamentals of the faith. I chose to use challenging language that I hoped would confront the body of Christ to consider events from the Jewish and historical perspective and therefore develop greater empathy for our Jewish friends. Over the centuries, Christians have been quick to condemn the Jews for failing to recognize Jesus as Messiah. This approach led to replacement theology and the viewpoint of some that God has rejected and broken covenant with the Jewish people. These ideas, in turn, opened the door to a vicious Christian anti-Semitism that led to the Crusades, the Inquisition and countless pogroms. I tried to challenge this view by highlighting a distinction that has been long recognized in Christian theology between the role Jesus played in His first coming, and the role He will play in his second coming. Jesus came the first time as the suffering Messiah, as exemplified by His persecution, rejection and crucifixion. Jesus will come back as the reigning Messiah, who will rule the world from His throne in Jerusalem as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. ... I am deeply grieved for any confusion my writing may have caused the body of Christ. It was never intended. I trust this letter and the expanded edition of In Defense of Israel will clarify what I believe. I also hope that we can return our focus to what I had anticipated to highlight all along, the fact that we Christians must shift from condemning the Jews for what they missed to thanking them for what they gave. http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerdc/article_272617632.shtml Columbia, S.C. - With bickering and tensions rising in the Republican Party, a Mitt Romney nomination could force Evangelical Christians to call for a South Carolina secession from the Union. That simple call for secession could result in a following by other southern states, leading to a domino effect that could result in another bloody Civil War. ... "Mormons say they're Christians," fired Marvin Smith, a 44-year old accountant from Charleston. "Let Romney come down here and I'll show him what a real Christian is like! I've never trusted Mormons and I never will!" The start of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began in upstate New York 180 years ago. Missionaries have been spreading the message that Christianity lost its way and Mormonism restores the Christian church to its rightful path. The first prophet of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, told the other churches where they could stick it. He was later killed by snakes at the hands of an Evangelical mob, brewing a religious battle that has lasted for nearly two centures. Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 12 million members. Over 5 million of those members are American, less than fifty percent. Internationally, about 70 percent of Mormons are converts, cultivated through television ads, hotel rooms and missionaries. ... As the battle for a theocracy continues, many conservatives will see it as a grown-up Mormon missionary versus Southern Baptist preacher, ending in what may be the biggest bloodbath in American history. --Satirical Analysis by Chris Davis http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316292,00.html COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Authorities searched a home in the U.S. state of Colorado early Monday, seeking any link between two deadly shooting sprees at Christian religious centers that left both communities baffled and stunned. Five people, including a gunman, died in the attacks Sunday at a megachurch in Colorado Springs and at the Youth With a Mission missionary center in the Denver suburb of Arvada. Five others were wounded. "Violent crimes of any sort are tragic enough, but when innocent people are killed in a religious facility or a place of worship, we must voice a collective sense of outrage and demonstrate a renewed commitment to keeping our communities safe," said Gov. Bill Ritter. http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/12/tempting-faith-christian-conservatives-duped-by-bushco-part-ii/ In Kuo's eyes, today's national Christian leaders were being used. They didn't have the same shrewdness Billy Graham had in the '70s, to question whether Nixon was using him for his appeal to religious voters. In fact, Christians who voted for Mr. Bush based on his religion, may have ended up hurting the very people Jesus sought to help: the poor. [video] Bush — "I urge the Senate to pass the faith-based initiative for the good of America. But when Senator Chuck Grassley tried to rewrite Mr. Bush's 1.7 trillion dollar tax cut to include six billion in tax credits for groups helping the poor — tax credits that Mr. Bush himself had publicly proposed — Kuo says Bush's assistant told Grassley to drop the charity tax credits. The White House had no interest. **The cuts Mr. Bush did want made things worse for charities. Kuo claims that the estate tax cuts discouraged charitable giving, costing charities an estimated 5 billion dollars. The ultimate impact of Mr. Bush's tax cuts, he says, was to brutalize the very charities Mr. Bush once identified as his top priorities. After only a year, charitable donations were down dramatically, and some charities had shut down. Kuo says the White House was more concerned with the appearance of doing something. http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=17918 Whatever you believe about the envasion of Iraq, after veiwing this video you will definitely come away with a deeper understanding of the current engangement that the US and Britian are committed too. http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/march2005/150305bushnazis.htm Journalist John Buchanan discusses how his research led him to uncover the deep and historical ties between the Bush family and the Nazi war machine. Buchanan's endeavors led to highly respected newspapers such as the London Guardian covering the story. ... Exposing the Neo-Con movement by documenting the Republican National Convention, and chronicling the phony war on terror {How the Bush family is not fighting terrorism but is actually promoting radical Islam and furthering global and domestic terrorism.}, this movie stretches the boundaries between what should be said, and what must be heard." http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7468036928744736416 Interest Guaranteed! Talented Simon Reeve travels the US to find the real cause for going to war with Iraq and now possibly with Iran. ... Unbiased and gripping, looks into the control of oil to mysterious organizations, from people silenced to the eye opening petrodollar cycle. A must-watch. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/hillary-has-what-it-takes-to-be-real-first-lady-in-white-house-1242066.html But Hillary! She was tough, cold, calculating, was riding on her husband's coat-tails and was a rigid and doctrinaire feminist blue-stocking. Yet, on the occasion when I saw Hillary speak in the flesh, I was impressed with her. I thought her both sensible and principled. No, she didn't have that touchy-feelie way with her, but I don't always judge politicians by their touchy-feelie qualities: brains and judgement impress me more. As Hillary Clinton's campaign to be the next president of the United States has gained momentum, I have found myself hoping that the lady will win the prize. If she was a doctrinaire Leftist (as some of her critics have claimed) in her callow youth, she has mellowed and matured, at 60, into recognising the dynamics in a market economy and the necessity of both respect and compromise. Last year, she was excoriated by extremist feminists for alluding to the abortion issue in a more nuanced way than they would like. This was called "moving to the right" -- in truth, it is more like moving to respect the fact that this is a complex ethical question. On foreign affairs, and especially the cauldron of the Islamic world, Hillary has struck me as commendably prudent. ... Some Americans also dislike the notion of political dynasties arising in a country which is supposed to be genuinely "republican" and "democratic". That president George W Bush is his father's son represents, in their eyes, an undesirable tendency to dynasty-building. Thus, no woman should get to the White House mainly because she has been a president's spouse. http://cbs2.com/politics/Tsunami.Trip.Raises.2.247533.html WASHINGTON (AP) ? Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has emphatically ruled out a 2008 bid to replace his brother in the White House, but his profile-raising tour of tsunami-wrecked countries has rekindled talk of a third Bush presidency. Florida political experts and Bush family friends said they take the governor at his word — "I'm not going to run for president in 2008," Bush pledged in October — but believe the 51-year-old Bush is leaving his options open for a White House bid in 2012 or beyond. "He's never ruled it out, and he's a young man," said Charlie Black, political adviser to former President George H.W. Bush, the governor's father. Jeb Bush's trip with Secretary of State Colin Powell to Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka seems tailor-made for a White House aspirant looking to pad his resume. Traveling with a press secretary and two security guards, Bush is getting equal billing at news conferences with Powell, the pair standing side-by-side at podiums or in trio with a foreign leader. Powell typically refers to Bush in the first sentence or two of any public remarks, saying "we" are doing this and "we" will do that. Bush seems to take his cues from Powell — they even dress alike, wearing khakis and open-necked shirts. http://rationalrevolution.net/war/bush_family_and_the_s.htm There are several ways in which the Bush family plays into the Savings and Loan scandal, which involves not only many members of the Bush family but also many other politicians that are still in office and still part of the Bush Jr. administration today. Jeb Bush, George Bush Sr., and his son Neil Bush have all been implicated in the Savings and Loan Scandal, which cost American tax payers over $1.4 TRILLION dollars (note that this is about one quarter of our national debt). ... The S&L scandal is by no means the only incident of questionable, and actually illegal, financial activity that the Bush family has been involved in. The line of questionable, illegal, and unethical businesses practices goes back at least to Prescott Bush Sr., George Bush Sr.'s father. Prescott Bush was a Senator from 1952 – 1963. Previous to his time as a Senator Prescott was a banker and businessman. Prior to the American entry into WWII Prescott Bush was director of Union Banking Corporation. Union Banking Corporation helped to finance Hitler's regime. The Concentration Camps of Nazi Germany were labor camps that the Nazis used to make products for their regime as well as for sale to raise money. Prescott profited directly from the Auschwitz labor camp. In 1942, after Hitler declared war on America the United States government seized the Union Banking Corporation under the Trading with the Enemy Act as a front operation that was supporting the Nazis. Much of the profits from the operation were already pocketed by Prescott however, and $1.5 million was put in a trust fund for George Bush Sr. For more on Prescott Bush's ties to the Nazis see: ... http://www.guerrillanews.com/threads/12471/Bush_Clinton_Bush_Clinton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush says Bill Clinton has become so close to his father that the Democratic former president is like a member of the family. Former President George Bush has worked with Clinton to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami and the hurricane disaster along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Asked about his father and Clinton, Bush quipped, “Yes, he and my new brother." "That's a good relationship. It's a fun relationship to watch,” Bush said in an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday. While attending Pope John Paul's funeral, Bush said, “It was fun to see the interplay between dad and Clinton. One of these days, I'll be a member of the ex-president's club. ... I'll be looking for something to do." ... Bush said he checked in with Clinton occasionally. "And you know, he says things that makes it obvious - that makes it obvious to me that we're kind of, you know, on the same wavelength about the job of the presidency. Makes sense, after all, there's this kind of commonality,” he said. Bush jokingly referred to speculation that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former president's wife, will seek the Democratic nomination for the presidency. He had earlier referred to the former first lady as “formidable." "Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton,” he said, referring to how Bill Clinton had followed his father, and Hillary Clinton could follow him. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iSbyJMxJrMQDs50v-VEU5TSIfz-Q WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, breaking his rule not to talk about presidential politics, says he believes Hillary Rodham Clinton will defeat Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries. Bush also predicts that Clinton will be defeated in the general election by the Republican nominee. "I believe our candidate can beat her but it's going to be a tough race," the president said. It has been difficult for Bush to remain silent about the 2008 president race, despite his promises not to be the "prognosticator in chief." He has been talking about the race and handicapping candidates during off-the-record chats with visitors to the White House. He finally went public with his Clinton prediction in an interview for a book by Bill Sammon, a reporter for The Washington Examiner. ... The White House did not challenge Sammon's account. ... Bush said Giuliani's popularity was a sign of how important the terrorism issue is to Republican voters, the newspaper said. It said Bush cautioned against ruling out Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying he had managed to revive his campaign after an implosion earlier this year. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/5/7/191010.shtml Barring a Clinton indictment, however, Hillary's White House path is clear for 2008. ... A Big Boost From ... Bush In the end, however, it's President Bush who may have done more to make Hillary Clinton president than anyone else - by ignoring the scandals of the first two Clinton terms and ordering his Justice Department to slow investigations. "In retrospect it will look like a mistake on his part," Morris told NewsMax. "He's treating the scandals as an inconvenience, but that's because of one of the core convictions of the Bush family. They always oppose aggressive action against former presidents." He argues that, though some of the accusations leveled against his ex-boss were "garbage," the 11th-hour pardons were a different matter. "That scandal was very real. And if there is no action on the pardon scandal, Bush will ultimately regret that," Morris predicts. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46744 On May 17, 2000, while Harriet Miers was managing the law firm of Locke Liddell from the firm's Dallas office, she contributed $415 to the law firm's political action committee. Federal Election Commission reports show that two days later, Locke Liddell's PAC contributed $1,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate Campaign Committee. For an unexplained reason, Harriet Miers listed herself as a "self-employed attorney," according to the FEC Report on her 2000 contribution to the Locke Liddell PAC. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5icmAb7HtPSZILnARnAsUsWnn6gJQD8TBG4K80 COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — George H.W. Bush will introduce Mitt Romney and lend the prestige of his library for his fellow Republican's speech Thursday focused on religion. The former president's aides and friends say it isn't a tacit political endorsement. "President Bush is truly neutral in this primary race," {Except George Bush did shill for Hillary Clinton saying he thinks she will win her primary. George Bush Jr. doesn't seem to want a Republican to win the White House in 2008 especially if that Republican has any ties to the religious right.} said Jean Becker, the former president's chief of staff. "He thinks highly of most of the candidates and considers most of them good friends. And he would be happy to host any of the other candidates for a major address here." The nation's 41st president (G.H.W.B.) enjoys attracting prominent figures to this remote community, giving students at neighboring Texas A&M a chance to hear from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and former White House pastry chef, Roland Mesnier. Other speakers in the past year have included two of Romney's White House rivals, Sen. John McCain and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. The former president also offered speaking slots this fall to Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, but both Democratic presidential contenders said their schedules did not permit a stop in Texas. The state doesn't hold its primary until March, by which time both parties' nominations may be settled. Romney previously spoke at the library in April. On Thursday, the man trying to become the first Mormon president will try to use the bully pulpit to allay concerns of Christian conservatives who may be breaking toward rival Mike Huckabee, a one-time Southern Baptist minister. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/12/most_revealing_fibs_mitt_romne.html Most Revealing Fibs: Mitt Romney - All political candidates make mistakes, but some mistakes are more revealing than others. A candidate's fibs and exaggerations, and his or her willingness to correct them, tell us something about that person's character and approach to campaigning. To coincide with "The Front Runners" series in the newspaper this week, The Fact Checker is taking a look at the "most revealing fibs" of each of the candidates. ... It is also a stretch for Romney to claim that he lowered taxes while Governor of Massachusetts. See my post here. http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/12/tempting-faith-christian-conservatives-duped-by-bushco-part-ii/ In Kuo's eyes, today's national Christian leaders were being used. They didn't have the same shrewdness Billy Graham had in the '70s, to question whether Nixon was using him for his appeal to religious voters. In fact, Christians who voted for Mr. Bush based on his religion, may have ended up hurting the very people Jesus sought to help: the poor. [video] Bush — "I urge the Senate to pass the faith-based initiative for the good of America. But when Senator Chuck Grassley tried to rewrite Mr. Bush's 1.7 trillion dollar tax cut to include six billion in tax credits for groups helping the poor — tax credits that Mr. Bush himself had publicly proposed — Kuo says Bush's assistant told Grassley to drop the charity tax credits. The White House had no interest. **The cuts Mr. Bush did want made things worse for charities. Kuo claims that the estate tax cuts discouraged charitable giving, costing charities an estimated 5 billion dollars. The ultimate impact of Mr. Bush's tax cuts, he says, was to brutalize the very charities Mr. Bush once identified as his top priorities. After only a year, charitable donations were down dramatically, and some charities had shut down. Kuo says the White House was more concerned with the appearance of doing something. http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=1460 Karl Rove is not a believer, and he doesn't shout it from the rooftops, but when asked, he answers quite honestly. I think the way he puts it is, “I'm not fortunate enough to be a person of faith.” ... What must Bush make of that? I think it's false to say that the president acts as if he believes he has God's instructions. Compared to Jimmy Carter, he's nowhere. He's a Methodist, having joined his wife's church in the end. He also claims that Jesus got him off the demon drink. He doesn't believe it. His wife (Laura Bush) said, “If you don't stop, I'm leaving and I'm taking the kids.” You can say that you got help from Jesus if you want, but that's just a polite way of putting it in Texas. http://www.unknownnews.org/06A08-A14d-412Cassandra.html Rove's father was actually his stepfather [he didn't know this growing up] so there wouldn't be a genetic connection anyway -- although Rove has spoken of his respect/affection for the man who took on this responsibility. Papa Rove walked out on the family on Karl's 19th b-day [also xmas day] and his mom committed suicide when he was 30. One of those happy nuckulur families we hear about. ... Rove's grandfather was Karl Heinz Roverer, the Gauleiter of Oldenburg. Roverer was Reich-Statthalter -- Nazi State Party Chairman -- for his region. He was also a partner and senior engineer in the Roverer Sud-Deutche Ingenieurburo A. G. engineering firm, which built the Birkenau death camp, at which tens of thousands of Jews, Gypsies, dissidents and other were slaughtered en masse. ... But according to sources I'm more familiar with and much more confident in, Karl Rove isn't even of German ancestry. He's Norwegian-American, and his grandfather was Norway's Vice-Consul in Milwaukee. http://www.geocities.com/bushfamilynazis/ In 1952, Prescott Bush was elected to the U.S. Senate, with no press accounts about his well-concealed Nazi past. There is no record of any U.S. press coverage of the Bush-Nazi connection during any political campaigns conducted by George Herbert Walker Bush, Jeb Bush, or George W. Bush, with the exception of a brief mention in an unrelated story in the Sarasota Herald Tribune in November 2000 and a brief but inaccurate account in The Boston Globe in 2001. ... George W. Bush's grandfather (Prescott Bush) helped finance the Nazi Party. Karl Rove's grandfather allegedly helped run the Nazi Party, and helped build the Birkenau Death Camp. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Austrian father volunteered for the infamous Nazi SA and became a ranking officer. http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24047_Jimmy_Carter_Interceded_for_Nazi_Murderer&only Well, here's that confirmation, as Daniel Freedman publishes the actual handwritten note from Carter: Exclusive: Handwritten Note From Jimmy Carter Interceding for Nazi SS Guard. ... UPDATE at 1/18/07 1:36:27 pm: The handwriting matches. This is from the letter published at the New York Sun: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=119732 "We had an extraordinary piece of evidence against him - a book that was kept by the SS and captured by the American armed forces when they liberated Mauthausen," Sher said. "We called it the death book. It was a roster that the Germans required them to keep that identified SS guards as they expended (ammunition) weapons to murder the inmates and prisoners." An entry in the book for October 10, 1943 registered the shooting death of Max Oschorn, a French Jewish prisoner. His murderer was also recorded: SS guard Martin Bartesch. "It was a most chilling document," Sher recalled. The same evidence was used by the U.S. military in postwar trials as the basis for execution or long prison sentences for many identified SS guards. ... On the upper corner of the letter was a note signed by Jimmy Carter saying that in cases such as this, he wanted 'special consideration for the family for humanitarian reasons.' ... it always stuck in my craw. A former president who didn't do what I would expect him to do - with a full staff at his disposal - to find out the facts before he took up the side of this person. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/12th-annual-lump-coal-awards/story.aspx?guid=%7BBBB167E7%2D4516%2D4334%2D8B59%2DDEF8AB5F8FE3%7D Cox has talked like a champion of the consumer, speaking favorably on a number of issues, most notably on the reform of the 12b-1 fee. He promised to get these reforms done in 2007, and none of them are coming to pass this year. Some, like the rule requiring an independent board chairman, now appear dead. http://www.sec.gov/about/commissioner/cox.htm Christopher Cox is the 28th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was appointed by President Bush on June 2, 2005, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on July 29, 2005. He was sworn in on August 3, 2005. During his tenure at the SEC, Chairman Cox has made vigorous enforcement of the securities laws the agency's top priority, bringing ground breaking cases against a variety of market abuses including hedge fund insider trading, stock options backdating, fraud aimed at senior citizens, municipal securities fraud, and securities scams on the Internet. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/09/16/tsurumi/index.html "I don't remember all the students in detail unless I'm prompted by something," Tsurumi said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "But I always remember two types of students. One is the very excellent student, the type as a professor you feel honored to be working with. Someone with strong social values, compassion and intellect -- the very rare person you never forget. And then you remember students like George Bush, those who are totally the opposite." ... Trading as usual on his father's connections, Bush entered Harvard in 1973 for a two-year program. He'd just come off what George H.W. Bush had once called his eldest son's "nomadic years" -- partying, drifting from job to job, working on political campaigns in Florida and Alabama and, most famously, apparently not showing up for duty in the Alabama National Guard. Trading as usual on his father's connections, Bush entered Harvard in 1973 for a two-year program. He'd just come off what George H.W. Bush had once called his eldest son's "nomadic years" -- partying, drifting from job to job, working on political campaigns in Florida and Alabama and, most famously, apparently not showing up for duty in the Alabama National Guard. ... Bush, by contrast, "was totally the opposite of Chris Cox," Tsurumi said. "He showed pathological lying habits and was in denial when challenged on his prejudices and biases. He would even deny saying something he just said 30 seconds ago. He was famous for that. Students jumped on him; I challenged him." When asked to explain a particular comment, said Tsurumi, Bush would respond, "Oh, I never said that." A White House spokeswoman did not return a phone call seeking comment. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/09/506920.aspx Whiteley is the director of One Potato Productions, and he obtained his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University, as Romney did. He explained that there was a Romney sighting at a showing of his recent documentary, New York Doll, which is about a former musician who converts to Mormonism and has a job at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's Family History Center library but reunites with his band for a concert. Whiteley said that he later spoke to Romney, who told him he saw it “not once, but twice” and was complimentary of it, which spurred the moviemaker to ask the candidate if he could gather footage on him. After the former governor hesitated, Whiteley tried the same trick that apparently worked in getting Romney to head to Utah for the Olympics -- he went to Ann Romney, who, according to Whiteley, convinced her husband to let him proceed. ... Romney thanked volunteers for the work they've done for his campaign in Florida – everything from the calls they've made, to the signs they've put up, to the pins they circulate and the bumper stickers they've handed out. He said he enjoyed meeting his volunteers and shaking their hands and added, “I like the hugs, too. The girls in particular. I appreciate that.” http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/colorado.shooting/index.html (CNN) -- At least four people at a training center for young Christian missionaries were wounded by a gunman who walked into their building in suburban Denver early Sunday and opened fire, a police spokeswoman said. The gunman apparently ran away after the shooting at the Youth With A Mission center in Arvada, Colorado, said Arvada police spokeswoman Susan Medina. There was no immediate word on the condition of the four people who were wounded. It was unclear how many of the wounded were staff members and students, Medina said. About 50 people were in the building at the time of the shooting, she said. The center is home to dozens of young people from all over the world who are being trained as Christian missionaries, according to the center's Web site. http://www.ywam.org/contents/abo_introduction.htm Youth With A Mission is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced "WYE-wam"), our calling is to know God and to make Him known. Back when we began in 1960, our main focus was to get youth into short-term mission work and to give them opportunities to reach out in Jesus' name. Today, we still focus on youth, and we also involve people of almost every age (even many people who choose to spend their "retirement" in active service). Our many ministries fit into three main categories: evangelism, training and mercy ministry. We are currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 149 countries, with a staff of nearly 16,000. http://www.jesus.org.uk/ja/mag_radicalbiblelatest.shtml The fact is that this prayer Jesus taught His disciples contains the heart of His mind-blowing teaching about the “kingdom of heaven” revolution He was bringing about. Consider: The prayer features in the middle of some of Jesus' teaching about the kingdom (Matthew 5-7). And in it there is a startling, radical definition of the kingdom: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” The implications of this are mind-blowing. For a start, it means a life of total commitment to one another – who says “I'm off” in heaven (“I'm moving out to hell”)? It means love, forgiveness, grace, fearless truth. It means a life of radical sharing – who calls anything “mine” in heaven? Consider. This prayer, famously, starts with “Our Father”. Note – not “my Father”, but “our Father”. In fact, the words “my” or “mine” don't feature in the prayer at all. This is a drastically communal prayer. Jesus teaches us to come to God as “Our Father”: that is to come together as a family, a brotherhood. Not that this means we don't have an individual relationship with God. We do. But the kingdom is about a people. Furthermore, it's a family which prays for “our daily bread”: a sharing people. Even the basics – “bread” – are shared. And if we share our basic subsistence, it surely follows that we should share everything else. God provides; we share. This is what the first church did: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3945/is_200007/ai_n8922399/pg_1 Most contemporary scholarship on Mormonism may be seen as falling roughly within one of two schools of thought. The first was best expressed in Fawn M. Brodie's 1945 biography No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith the Mormon Prophet. Brodie's goal was first and foremost to understand Joseph Smith the man through the social and psychological forces that shaped his life. As Brodie herself put it: "The source of his power lay not in his doctrine but in his person, and the rare quality of his genius was due not to his reason but his imagination. He was a myth-maker of prodigious talent. And after a hundred years the myths he created are still an energizing force in the lives of a million followers. The moving power of Mormonism was a fable - one that few converts stopped to question, for its meaning seemed profound and its inspiration was contagious."3 As a historian, Brodie separated Smith's personal motives from his symbolic role within the larger Mormon movement. Ultimately, Brodie concluded that Smith was a brilliant con artist who came to believe in the delusion that he himself had engineered, all the while presiding over a growing community of faith motivated by values far different than his own. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316224,00.html SAN FRANCISCO — An Episcopal diocese in central California voted Saturday to split with the national denomination over disagreements about the role of gays and lesbians in the church. Clergy and lay members of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin voted 173-22 at their annual convention to remove all references to the national church from the diocese's constitution, according to spokeswoman Joan Gladstone. The Fresno-based congregation is the first full diocese to secede because of a conservative-liberal rift that began decades ago and is now focused on whether the Bible condemns gay relationships. ... The decision is almost certain to spark a court fight over control of the diocese's multimillion-dollar real estate holdings and other assets. The head of the U.S. denomination had warned Bishop John-David Schofield of the Fresno-based diocese against secession. "I do not intend to threaten you, only to urge you to reconsider and draw back from this trajectory," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, head of the U.S. denomination, wrote in a letter to Schofield earlier this week. Schofield responded that the Episcopal Church "has isolated itself from the overwhelming majority of Christendom and more specifically from the Anglican Communion by denying Biblical truth and walking apart from the historic Faith and Order." http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071207/30385_Breakaway_Anglicans_Move_Forward_with_Orthodox_Initiative.htm The first annual meeting of a flourishing breakaway Anglican group opened Thursday, marking the "coming of age" for the orthodox Anglican initiative, said one bishop. Hundreds of clergy and lay delegates representing more than 60 congregations in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) converged in Herndon, Va., for the first council addressing the current state and future growth of the orthodox group. "This is the first time that we have been able to gather so many CANA clergy and lay leaders together and I would be most remiss if I did not express my personal gratitude to all of you for your remarkable faith," CANA missionary bishop the Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns said in his opening address Thursday. "Your willingness to step out of the boat and become part of this community of faithful Anglicans called CANA is a source of continuing encouragement." ... In 2003, The Episcopal Church widened rifts when it consecrated its first openly gay bishop – V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Some Episcopal leaders also affirmed the practice of same-sex blessings. "These specific actions revealed that those in control of The Episcopal Church were ready to separate themselves from the 'faith once and for all delivered to the saints' and embrace innovations that were essentially a new religion," Minns said. "This was a step too far for many orthodox believers." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3945/is_200007/ai_n8922399/pg_12 Smith made the formal announcement of his candidacy on January 29, 1844. At first, James A. Bennett, a New York businessman, was selected as Smith's Vice Presidential candidate. However, after it was discovered that Bennett had been born in Ireland and was therefore ineligible for office, the number two position fell to Sidney Rigdon, Smith's close friend and advisor. ... Indeed, the Mormon founder openly admitted that the campaign was partially motivated by his desire to make the Saints' political clout felt on the state and national level. Smith stated that: "I do not care so much about the Pres[idential] election as I do the office I have got. We have as good a right to make political party to gain power to defend ourselves as for demagogues to make use of our religion to get power to destroy ourselves. We will whip the mob by getting up a President. Smith then quipped, "When I look into the eastern papers and see how popular I am, I am afraid I shall be President." http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/12/07/germany.scientology.ap/index.html BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- Germany's top security officials said Friday they consider the goals of the Church of Scientology to be in conflict with the principles of the nation's constitution and will seek to ban the organization. ... "From a number of sources, some of them not available to the public, it has been determined that (the organization) seeks to limit or rescind basic and human rights, such as the right to develop one's personality and the right to be treated equally," the report said. ... The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It first set up in Germany in 1970 and officials estimate it counts some 6,000 members in the country. http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/12/huckabee-tells.html In a Q&A posted online today by GQ magazine, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has this to say about Pat Robertson (who has endorsed GOP contender Rudy Giuliani) and others who he refers to as Christian leaders "of the past:" It seems that the leaders of the past, those who have been looked to as the bell cows of the movement, are completely out of step with their own followers lately. But if you talk about the people in the rank and file, there's not any confusion at all. The people haven't abandoned their principles. In giving that answer, he's specifically referring to the willingness of Robertson to endorse Giuliani, even though the former New York City mayor has said he does not think a woman's right to choose to have an abortion should be outlawed. Huckabee believes otherwise. He says those, like Robertson, who have chosen to support candidates with different positions on abortion are "thinking in terms of political expediency and not in terms of the principles that supposedly got them involved in the movement to begin with." http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2007/1224/036.html The Internal Revenue Service says that Morton L. Topfer, one of FORBES ASAP's Tech's 100 Highest Rollers when he served as Dell (nasdaq: DELL) vice chairman, owes $65 million in gift taxes and penalties for undervaluing asset transfers benefiting his heirs. Topfer, 71, is fighting the bill in U.S. Tax Court. The feds say that in 2002 and 2003 he put $105 million of cash and stock into trusts for his children and grandchildren but valued the largesse at a mere $3.5 million. Among the dealings that the IRS nixed on grounds of "no business purpose": option trades between Topfer and the various trusts. Court filings for Topfer, who retired from Dell and now sits on the board of chipmaker AMD while running a family investment firm in Austin, Tex., defend the complicated dealings as "bona fide, arms-length transactions." --Janet Novack http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2007/12/early_review_th.html Frankly, I thought the movie was long and boring, and I didn't like it on its own artistic merits, religion aside. For young kids, I think it will be a little too scary. There is blood and fighting and it's not a cute, cuddly movie. In fact, cute cuddly things are routinely choked to death or otherwise executed. ... As for the Christian stuff, the movie doesn't come out and say it's "the Church," or "there are religious leaders" who are against us. But to adults, it's obvious. A group of men in long Black robes and collars (which look like Catholic religious leaders' garb) are evil and the villains ones in this film, and they are from the Magisterium. And although their "symbol" is not a cross, it looks like a cross buried betweem several shapes. Although it is never really explained what the Magistereum is, I know that it's a Catholic term. ... In the movie, everyone has a "demon," a soft, cute, cuddly animal that represents their alter ego. But a "demon" is supposed to be like your bad influence within your mind. We have that concept in Judaism, as well. It's an evil part of your mind--not an external, cute, cuddly animal. ... That's the essence of the anti-religious portion of this movie. It is populated by a lot of battle and fight scenes and computer-generated special effects and images, and has occasional appearances by Kidman and new James Bond, Daniel Craig. But over all, it is boring. http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120620071727587129&page=2 According to Sir Tim, research on the future of the web needs to draw on experts from a mix of backgrounds, including technologists, economists, psychologists and sociologists. What is lacking are "the people who could be really rethinking a new form of web interaction, a new way of organising society, something to replace the existing forms of democracy", he said. The analysis needed to back this long-term thinking also requires "a very large amount of computing power and a very large amount of mathematics", he added. Sir Tim is himself trying to raise up to $100m to back a joint research initiative launched a year ago by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches, and the University of Southampton. http://www.liveprayer.com/cnn120607.cfm ***COMING IN THE MONDAY DEVOTIONAL, a special one paragraph recap of MittRomney's "faith" speech from Thursday. I did a ton of media Thursday on this issue, USA Today, New York Times, Miami Herald, KABC radio, and a host of other print and electronic interviews including CNN Headline News. I also have an interesting personal tidbit about FOX News and how they handled this story that I will share with you. The link to that interview is: http://www.liveprayer.com/cnn120607.cfm http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-romney07dec06web,1,7198965.story Rev. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said he believed the speech provided a strong statement on Romney's intent to be fair to all people. Page said he also appreciated Romney's honesty in stating that the Mormon church's beliefs about Jesus Christ differ from mainline Christianity. But, Page said he felt Romney didn't go far enough in explaining his Mormon faith. Page said he would advise Romney to give another speech in the future that spoke more specifically about his personal faith. "Because of who he is, and because Mormonism is not a mainline religion traditionally in our country, people still have questions and he still has not dealt with some of the questions people have. So I think at some point, he will need to do that," Page said. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shill A shill is an associate of a person selling goods or services or a political group, who pretends no association to the seller/group and assumes the air of an enthusiastic customer. The intention of the shill is, using crowd psychology, to encourage others unaware of the set-up to purchase said goods or services or support the political group's ideological claims. Shills are often employed by confidence artists. In the UK the term plant is used. Shilling is illegal in many circumstances and in many jurisdictions because of the frequently fraudulent and damaging character of their actions. However, if a shill does not place uninformed parties at a risk of loss, but merely generates “buzz,” the shill's actions may be legal. For example, a person planted in an audience to laugh and applaud when appropriate (see "claque") or to participate in on-stage activities as a "random member of the audience", is a type of legal shill. 'Shill' can also be used pejoratively to describe a critic who appears either all-too-eager to heap glowing praise upon mediocre offerings, or who acts as an apologist for glaring flaws. In this sense, they would be an implicit 'shill' for the industry at large, as their income is tied to its prosperity. http://www.challengemin.org/temple.html Strange as it may seem, only about 20% of the Mormon population have been through the temple ceremony and fewer than that attend regularly. Because the Mormon Church considers the temple ceremony as "sacred," they have never published a dialog of the temple ritual or filmed the ceremony for benefit of the public or even their own people. The devout LDS will almost never talk about the secret activity that goes on behind temple doors. However, there are numerous eye-witness accounts by "Temple Mormons" who became alienated from the church and have exposed all that goes on in the ceremony. Dozens of these accounts have been published over the years. One such testimony comes from a former temple "Veil Worker" who had performed over 1,000 temple ordinances! As recent as 1990 actual recordings have been made of the temple ceremony. ... The late Mormon Apostle, Bruce R. McConkie, gave this information about the "Temple Ordinances": "Certain gospel ordinances are of such a sacred and holy nature that the Lord authorizes their performance only in holy sanctuaries prepared and dedicated for that purpose....They were given in modern times to the Prophet Joseph Smith by revelation,..." (Mormon Doctrine,1979, p. 779) Even though Mormons believe that God is the source of these so called "sacred" and "holy" ordinances, the evidence that will be presented in this tract clearly shows that the Mormon Temple Ceremony is far from holy or Biblical and certainly NOT from God. http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/t/TEMPLESQUARE.html Temple Square is the most visited site in the state of Utah. Its popularity can be attributed to its central geographic location in the capital city, to the national popularity of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and to the general interest in the historic tabernacle and Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--the Mormons. Though it now enjoys a position of notoriety, it was never really the intent or hope of the early Mormon settlers that it would become a state, national, or even internationally known site. Temple Square began with a simple declaration by Brigham Young that it was the future site for the Salt Lake Temple. It then gradually evolved into the present sanctuary that houses within its protective walls three significant pioneer buildings, two visitor centers, and historic monuments--all within a beautifully manicured garden setting. Temple Square began with Brigham Young's location of the temple building site four days after the arrival of the main body of Saints into the Salt Lake Valley on 24 July 1847. Young originally called for the site of the temple to be forty acres but later reduced it to ten acres to make it compatible with the ten-acre blocks proposed for the city. The reduction in the lot size left the Salt Lake Temple on what is the northeast quadrant of the present site rather than what would have been the middle of the originally proposed forty-acre site. ... The focal point of Temple Square is the impressive Salt Lake LDS Temple. Unlike the other buildings on Temple Square, it is closed to the general public because it is used by the LDS Church for sacred rites exclusive to those church members deemed worthy to receive them. For this reason, it, along with the other LDS temples, is given prominence within Mormonism. The temple sits on the northeast corner of square, which is also the highest point within the square. Its overall size and vertical elevation give it a dominating position. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315623,00.html But, if today becomes the unraveling point of his candidacy, it will be because Mitt Romney did not have the courage or wisdom to say what he, as a Mormon, actually believes — all of it, without pretending his creed is no different than the Christian creed. Don't get me wrong. His speech would have been excellent had it been given by any other candidate. It was deep, passionate and presidential. He even ended with, “God bless America.” The problem is that the much-hyped speech did nothing to achieve his goal of convincing doubting Evangelicals and Catholics that his Mormon beliefs will not hinder him from being a good president. Instead, for the most part, he pretended he wasn't Mormon, or that being Mormon was so strange it is in his interest to keep it secret. In this speech about Mormonism, he uttered the word “Mormon” just once, while saying “Jews” and “Muslims” two times each and “Catholic” three times. Still more abrasive to Christian sensibilities was the attempt to pass off Mormon doctrine about Jesus Christ as equal to that of Christianity. He said, “What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the savior of mankind.” OK, Mitt. But do you really want to get into what that means for you? http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/theelephant/archive/2007/12/06/romney-to-americans-evangelical-republicans-i-believe-in-jesus-christ.aspx Today is a very big day for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the first [4th] Mormon to seek the White House. [The (Mormon founder) Joseph Smith 1844, (Mexico born - ineligible) George Romney 1968, Orin Hatch (Mormon Bishop) 2000, and Milton Romney (Mormon Bishop) 2008.] ... Criticized at times for shifting his views on policies like abortion, immigration and gay rights, Romney left the impression he is very firm in his own convictions about religious faith - and its place in the public square. Still, it's difficult to believe such a speech would be required of, or offered by, a candidate for the prime minster's office in Canada. [There are approximately 16 active Mormons in the Congress and the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (Democrat - Nevada).] http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/06/post_228.html COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Dec. 6 -- Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, seeking to allay public misgivings about his Mormon faith, pledged here Thursday to serve the common good and no single religion if he is elected president, while also making an impassioned plea for the importance of faith and religion in the public arena. ... But he also explicitly declined to distance himself from his church. "I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it," he said. Should he lose because of that, "so be it," he said, while adding that he believed the American people prefer politicians who are true to their faith rather than "believers of convenience." Romney praised the practices of many faiths and underscored repeatedly the religious heritage that was at the heart of the Founding Father's vision of the new country. ... But he said the strength of the nation is in its collective moral heritage, not a single strain of religion but, as he put it, "our nation's symphony of faith." http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/12/romneys_faith_in_america_speec.html Romney spent very little time on the specifics of the Mormon faith (more on that below), focusing instead on what he shared in common with other religious people rather than what was different about his faith. "It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions," he said at one point. Romney's goal in this sort of rhetoric is to take the emphasis off of his personal faith and put it more broadly on his status as a person of faith in hopes that will be enough to satisfy skeptical voters. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/12/romneys_faith_in_america_speec.html Romney spent very little time on the specifics of the Mormon faith (more on that below), focusing instead on what he shared in common with other religious people rather than what was different about his faith. "It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions," he said at one point. Romney's goal in this sort of rhetoric is to take the emphasis off of his personal faith and put it more broadly on his status as a person of faith in hopes that will be enough to satisfy skeptical voters. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/06/first_look_at_romneys_speech.html The former governor stresses that Americans are bound by moral convictions that transcend any single denomination or faith and says those beliefs are what should guide a president. "Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people," he says. ... Romney and his advisers have spent months debating whether and when he should deliver it. A full team of advisers accompanied Romney to Texas for the event and his campaign treated the preparations in the way White House or state house officials treat a major presidential or gubernatorial address. http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/12/06/romney_ohehir/ As the most prominent Mormon presidential candidate since his father, George, 40 years ago, or since [Joseph] Smith himself ran on a platform of "Theodemocracy" in 1844, Romney must negotiate between two opposing forces. The theology and tangled history of Mormonism is at odds with the quasi-theocratic nature of the contemporary Republican Party ... [Joseph] Smith moved toward an intriguing mishmash of post-Christian theology drawn in part from Swedenborgian mysticism, [Islam], Masonic ritual and Hinduism ... In fairness, the Mormon church has tried to have it both ways on the question of whether it is or isn't Christian for a long time, and Romney is simply inheriting many generations of waffling. Since at least the late 19th century, Mormons have proclaimed that they belong to a larger Christian fellowship whenever it was socially or politically expedient to do so, all while hewing to a set of prophetic teachings most Christians find outrageous and following a visionary founder who insisted they were the only true Christians. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071204201458.kpchakap&show_article=1 An overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God and signicant numbers also think that UFOs, the devil and ghosts exist, a poll showed Tuesday. The survey by Harris Online showed that 82 percent of adult Americans believe in God and a slightly smaller percentage -- 79 percent -- believe in miracles. More than 70 percent of the 2,455 adults surveyed between November 7 and 13 said they believe in heaven and angels, while more than six in 10 said they believed in hell and the devil. Almost equal numbers said they believe in Darwin's theory of evolution (42 percent) -- the belief that populations evolve over time through natural selection -- and creationism (39 percent) -- the theory that God created mankind. Seventy percent of Americans said they were very (21 percent) or somewhat (49 percent) religious, while around one-third of those polled also said they believe in UFOs, witches and astrology. http://www.videopile.com/God's%20Aura A variety of on-line Christian videos. http://www.dittytalk.com/video/?hyT5olrSaWW2 VideoPile - (4:40 min). http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3226424.ece Immigration is a red-hot issue, especially between Republican runners. Mr Romney has arguably been the harshest, advocating a fence the length of the US-Mexico border, tamper-proof ID cards for legal immigrants and cutting off federal funds to "sanctuary cities" that refuse to track down illegal immigrants. The garden affair, however, illustrates vividly if not the outright hypocrisy of such positions then at least the reality that even as conservatives crank up their crusade against illegal immigrants even they continue to employ them. ... Fred Thompson accused Mr Romney of flip-flopping on the issue as well as on whether illegals in the country should be granted an amnesty. "First Mitt Romney was for illegal immigrants working on his lawn, and then he was against it, then for it, and now I guess he's against it again. Sounds like his position on amnesty." ... At the most recent debate, Mr Romney accused him of turning New York into a "sanctuary city" for immigrants when he was mayor. Mr Giuliani said Mr Romney had been running a "sanctuary mansion". http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315491,00.html But Saenz told FOX25 in Boston that Romney did not demand that the company not employ illegal immigrants. "They never asked me. I present my bid for the price and they say to me, '(Come) back,' that's it," Saenz said, speculating that the presidential race drove the high-profile termination after 11 years of service. The lawn service company has provided endless fodder for Romney's rivals on the campaign trail — frontrunner Rudy Giuliani said during a debate last week that Romney ran a "sanctuary mansion" by allowing illegals to work on Romney's home. Giuliani's criticism came in response to claims that as mayor of New York, Giuliani permitted a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants. Saenz also insisted to the Globe that the workers he hired were legal, but he did not show reporters their papers. http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/lawn_work_at_ro.html Standing on stage at a Republican debate on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, Mitt Romney repeatedly lashed out at rival Rudy Giuliani for providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants in New York City. Yet, the very next morning, on Thursday, at least two illegal immigrants stepped out of a hulking maroon pickup truck in the driveway of Romney's Belmont house, then proceeded to spend several hours raking leaves, clearing debris from Romney's tennis court, and loading the refuse back on to the truck. In fact, their work was part of a regular pattern. Despite a Globe story in Dec. 2006 that highlighted Romney's use of illegal immigrants to tend to his lawn, Romney continued to employ the same landscaping company – until today. The landscaping company, in turn, continued to employ illegal immigrants. ... Questioned this afternoon during two campaign stops in New Hampshire about the use of illegal immigrants on his property, Romney declined to answer. An aide said he would issue a statement, and Romney, emerging from a Concord restaurant, said, "Did you hear him? We'll give you a statement." Later, the campaign issued a statement saying Romney had just learned – apparently from Globe reporters – of the company's continued practice of employing illegal immigrants, and immediately fired it. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/mitts_hamhanded_campaign.html So, Mitt is going to give that Mormon speech. Is this a surprise? Of course not. His position in the Iowa polls explains the decision entirely. He's trailing Huckabee in Iowa. A few weeks ago he was up by 14% - and he wasn't going to give the speech. Now that he's down, the speech is back on. This is par for the course for the Romney campaign, in my estimation. His candidacy has been the most transparently strategic this cycle. McCain is up? Go after McCain. McCain is down? Leave McCain alone. Thompson enters the race and seems a threat? Take a cheap shot about Law and Order. Thompson fades? Ignore him. Rudy is up? Go after Rudy. Huckabee is up? Go after Huck. You need to win a Republican primary? Make yourself the most socially conservative candidate in the race. And on and on and on. ... This kind of transparency is, to me, a sign of political inexperience. He's only won one election, and it shows. ... There is little subtlety to the Romney campaign. Too much of what it does is obviously strategic. The "flip-flopping" on the Mormon speech is just another example of this general tendency. I wonder if Republican voters -- who are quite worried about Hillary Clinton and her tactical "brilliance" -- will punish Romney for this kind of obvious strategery. Can a one-term governor who makes such rookie mistakes be trusted to handle the Clinton "machine?" Imagine what the Clinton campaign would do in response to such a clumsy maneuver in September, 2008! http://larison.org/2007/12/02/the-speech/ The impossible balancing act is stressing the political irrelevance of the theological differences Mormonism really does have with Christianity while simultaneously claiming that this very same religion, whose distinctive substance is supposed to be irrelevant, informs and shapes his “values” that he will rely on to make judgements about policy. ... I agree that the timing of this couldn't be worse, but I wonder whether the timing makes that much difference. The extensive opposition to a Mormon candidate wouldn't have disappeared had he given the speech earlier. However, by giving the speech now he may be exacerbating what is already a bad situation for himself. Had he done it three or four months ago and laid the issue to rest, at least as much as he could, he could have reduced the publicity surrounding the speech and tried to contain the damage. Now that there is just a month left until the caucuses, he is using valuable time and exposing himself to the backlash that we knew was coming at a time when he cannot afford to shed any more support. In the end, Romney has always been in an impossible position: a sizeable percentage of his own party will never vote for someone of his religion, and these are the same people he needed to win over to become the unchallenged social conservative consensus candidate, which is why Romney's campaign has always been a fool's errand as I've said from the beginning. My guess is that Romney gives the speech on Thursday and his campaign in Iowa begins to implode, as his shallow support there evaporates. http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/12/whats-new.html Related story by The Politico -- Speech is a "huge gamble:" "Mitt Romney decided to deliver a major speech about his religious faith after concluding attention to his Mormonism would only intensify in potentially unflattering ways in the crucial weeks ahead. But even some of his top aides see the speech as a wildly unpredictable gamble" because it also could lead him primarily being known as "the Mormon candidate in a Republican race dominated by Christian voters." http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1048512 Former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney's decision to give a long-awaited speech on Mormonism is a desperate attempt to regain his foothold in Iowa just as GOP rival and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee moves ahead, some political watchers say. Romney's decision to speak on Thursday about his faith comes after months of internal debate within his campaign over the wisdom of talking about the issue and just days after Huckabee jumped ahead in the Iowa polls for the first time. Some political scientists believe the speech will be a make-or-break moment for Romney's campaign. “There's real concern for the Romney campaign in Iowa,” said Dante Scala, an associate political science professor at the University of New Hampshire. “Mike Huckabee is grabbing a lot of support from evangelical Christians and Romney has to find a way to make his peace with that group and that's the dilemma. If Iowa unravels for him, then there's a good chance the whole campaign unravels for him.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6807329,00.html MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Thursday he'll probably deliver a speech explaining the role his Mormon faith plays in his political life, but he argued he's made strong gains among evangelicals despite questions about his religion. "I have thought about that," Romney said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I haven't made a final decision, but it's probably more likely than not." ... In March, a Gallup poll found that 46 percent had a negative opinion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant group, considers the LDS church a cult and many [all] other Christian denominations also do not recognize Mormon baptism. http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/winter/von-trapps.html Maria Augusta Kutschera was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1905. She was orphaned as a young child and was raised as an atheist and socialist by an abusive relative. While attending the State Teachers' College of Progressive Education in Vienna, she accidentally attended a Palm Sunday service, believing it to be a concert of Bach music, where a priest was speaking. Years later she recalled in her autobiography Maria, "Now I had heard from my uncle that all of these Bible stories were inventions and old legends, and that there wasn't a word of truth in them. But the way this man talked just swept me off my feet. I was completely overwhelmed." Soon after, Maria graduated from college, and as a result of her religious awakening, she entered the Benedictine Abbey of Nonnberg in Salzburg as a novice. ... When the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938, the von Trapps realized that they were on thin ice with a regime they abhorred. Georg not only refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house, but he also declined a naval command and a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party. They were also becoming aware of the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda and policies, the pervasive fear that those around them could be acting as spies for the Nazis, and the brainwashing of children against their parents. They weighed staying in Austria and taking advantage of the enticements the Nazis were offering—greater fame as a singing group, a medical doctor's position for Rupert, and a renewed naval career for Georg—against leaving behind everything they knew—their friends, family, estate, and all their possessions. They decided that they could not compromise their principles and left. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_von_Trapp Trapp lost his fortune in 1935. Previously, it had been safely invested in a bank in London. The Captain, to help Mrs. Lammer, a friend in the banking business, withdrew the money from the English bank and deposited it in Mrs. Lammer's bank, which promptly failed. Austria had been experiencing economic pressure as a result of German pressure and other factors. To survive, the Trapps sent away most of their servants, moved into the top floor, and rented the empty rooms to students of the Catholic University. The Archbishop sent Father Wasner to stay with them as their chaplain, and the family began turning its love of music into a career. After performing at a festival in 1935, they became a popular touring act. Shortly after the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938, the family moved to Italy and then to the United States. The family home became the headquarters of Heinrich Himmler. http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/11/29/why-real-men-cant-make-money-in-the-market.aspx An amazing number of male investors are -- how can I put this delicately? -- half-thinking alpha monkeys who want to grunt and club their way to riches. ... In short, too much testosterone got in the way of their making the most obvious, and profitable, financial decision. ... If you refuse to sell your shares of faltering GM (NYSE: GM) because you're insulted by the market's low bid, or because you want to defend American enterprises against the likes of foreign producers like Toyota (NYSE: TM), the market doesn't notice. When you make a decision to buy Under Armour (NYSE: UA) instead of old-school Nike (NYSE: NKE) because your favorite bone-crushing linebacker is sporting that UA logo, the trader across the table doesn't care which team you think you're on. ... Are you trading on testosterone? Short of heading to the lab for a check, none of us knows for sure. But we can work hard to be certain that every stock pick we make is driven by dispassionate data rather than unbridled hormones. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58978 The founder of the Liberty Dollar, which had its Evansville, Ind., offices raided by federal authorities recently, says it appears the investigation was timed to damage the campaign of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who is running for president. "It defies logic to think that it would be unrelated, quite honestly," Bernard von NotHaus told the Evansville Courier Press. "I think they knew about it … It does look suspect. And I think that's an infringement on his campaign. Because now we don't have the 60,000 Ron Pauls to go out there to publicize his campaign." Von NotHaus earlier said the government raid on his company was just the "first battle of a long war that I intend to win!" The company makes and distributes Liberty Dollar barter currency in various denominations and announced that it had been closed down by a raid of FBI and U.S. Secret Service officers who confiscated gold, silver, platinum, medallions, documents, "everything but the desks and chairs." "For approximately six hours they took all the gold, all the silver, all the platinum, and almost two tons of Ron Paul Dollars that were just delivered… They also took all the files and computers and froze our bank accounts," von NotHaus wrote in an urgent notification of the situation to supporters. ... Von NotHaus said seizing the 60,000 Paul medallions, which had been sold, was like destroying campaign posters. "Would anybody suspect that maybe that was politically motivated?" he said. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14740712/detail.html COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- It's one thing to bounce a check and it's another to be so far in the red Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Donald Trump combined couldn't come close to bailing you out. A Cobb County man got a letter from his bank with that very shocking news. “And I open up the letter and I look at it and I'm like, ‘No, you've got to be kidding me,' said Joe Martins. Martins said he recently closed an account at Wachovia Bank and made good on an outstanding check. He just got a letter about the closure and his negative balance -- $211,010,028,257,303.00. That's $211 trillion. The letter includes the clarification, “no cents.” “I didn't know what to think. Obviously $211 trillion is a little above what I put in my bank account,” said Martins. ... “I don't own $211 trillion but because it is automated and reported to check systems, I assume it will be reported to my credit at some point,” said Martins. He said Wachovia had made mistakes on his accounts before so he called Channel 2 first. Wachovia blamed the letter on a word processing error and the office of the president is sending a letter of apology. “They tell me it's going to be resolved but I'm not sure that it will,” said Martins. “I closed my account today.” Since it is a closed account it is now safe to say the dollar figure in the letter matched the account number. Martins said Wachovia told him late Friday afternoon they never did report him for his negative balance. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58942 I may not be pastor of a mega-church, but, I've got to tell you, Rick Warren's priorities and sensibilities and his biblical literacy and standards are upside-down, inside-out and twisted beyond anything remotely connected with Scripture. And I'm not afraid of his threats of ex-communication from the new papacy he apparently seeks to create. Warren cites Paul's advice in II Timothy 2:23-26 as the basis for when and how "pastors" should draw the line on disagreements among the flock. However, Paul was addressing Timothy not as a "pastor" or "priest," but rather as an itinerant evangelist doing his utmost to spread the Gospel to non-believers. ... That happens to be excellent advice for anyone attempting to evangelize unbelievers. It is not, however, a call for church "professionals" to declare themselves as founts of unlimited wisdom and infallibility in spiritual matters. ... No, Satan's greatest weapon is hardly disunity. His greatest weapon since his fall and since the Garden of Eden has been deception. In fact, Satan loves unity – as long as those unified are knowingly or unknowingly serving him. He'd love for all of us to "go to hell in a handbasket." Are more people led to death by debate within the body of Christ or by spiritual leaders who demand absolute obedience to themselves? ... For heaven's sake, nothing could be clearer from Scripture than that no man has a monopoly on truth. That is why Paul even had to correct Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Besides worshipping God, this would seem to be one of the principal purposes of the church. The church is warned over and over about false teachers throughout the Bible. Surely Rick Warren is familiar with those warnings. Why would he assume all pastors to be righteous and assume all lay dissenters to be unrighteous? And, equally curious, why does Rick Warren eagerly seek to find common ground with Muslim leaders while, at the same time, so ruthlessly advocating the disfellowship of Christian believers? http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/swank/071129 Evangelicals who are into researching biblical theology versus cultic dogma are on to Mitt Romney's Mormonism like no other religious grouping. Evangelicals study Scripture and also delve into those groups which do not measure up to biblical data. Mormons are regarded as in the latter slot. Mormons not only have doctrines counter to biblical detail but also add another book as divine revelation — the Book of Mormon. This is anathema to evangelicals who hold that the Bible is the only divinely inspired writ. Evangelicals conclude that the Book of Mormon is not only bogus but dangerous to the formulation of biblical theology. ... "'I'm concerned a lot of Christians are thinking about the values issues and forgetting about the creator behind the values issues,' Ms. Gherkey said. 'I guess I feel like this country and this world needs a president who would be able to pray to the God of the Bible and he would be able to hear his prayers.' "She wondered, Would Mr. Romney's prayers 'even get through'?" Evangelicals who conclude Mormonism a cult do conclude that Mormons' prayers to God do not "get through" because they are not actually petitioning the God of the Bible but a deity of a cultic base. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1047740 “This is ridiculous. The Romney people didn't do their investigation,” Governor's Councilor Marilyn Pettito-Devaney said. Romney has not responded to numerous requests for comment about the case of child rapist Daniel Parra, who walked free after prosecutors headed by Tuttman missed deadlines in their failed bid to have him committed as a sexually dangerous person in 2005. Romney nominated Tuttman as a judge just six months later. Pettito-Devaney said she was “shocked and outraged” to learn in yesterday's Herald that Tuttman was the head of a sex crimes prosecution unit in Essex County that flubbed the Parra case. ... Information about the Parra case was not mentioned in Tuttman's nomination questionnaire reviewed by the council just months later - a crucial omission the councilors say should have been included for consideration during her confirmation hearings. Former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who oversaw the council under Romney, called the Parra case "very disturbing" and acknowledged that the connection to Tuttman was missed by the administration in the nomination process. http://massresistance.org/romney/ As former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney runs for President of the United States, his powerful (and well-funded) campaign machine uses revised history and misleading statements to portray him as a solid social and fiscal conservative with a track record of successes as governor. Much of this is exacerbated by fawning (and lazy) conservative media. However, the truth is different. We present the following documentation of Romney's actual record in Massachusetts. We think that the facts will speak for themselves. [Note: We still have a great deal of material we haven't yet posted, which we're still preparing! We will thus be updating this page regularly.] http://massresistance.blogspot.com/ The citizens of Massachusetts have had enough! End judicial tyranny, homosexual "marriage", and homosexual activist recruitment of our children in the public schools! Preserve our Judeo-Christian heritage, the Culture of Life, and free speech! CAUTION: We deal openly and graphically with the Culture of Death. R-rated subject matter. http://www.slate.com/id/2178568/ According to Byron York, who has been riding around with Romney for National Review, it's working, as well. Most journalists have tacitly agreed that it's off-limits to ask the former governor about the tenets of the Mormon cult. Nor do they get much luck if they do ask: When Bob Schieffer of Face the Nation inquired whether Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden is or was or will be in the great state of Missouri, he was told by Romney to go ask the Mormons! ... It ought to be borne in mind that Romney is not a mere rank-and-file Mormon. His family is, and has been for generations, part of the dynastic leadership of the mad cult invented by the convicted fraud Joseph Smith. It is not just legitimate that he be asked about the beliefs that he has not just held, but has caused to be spread and caused to be inculcated into children. It is essential. Here is the most salient reason: Until 1978, the so-called Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was an officially racist organization. Mitt Romney was an adult in 1978. We need to know how he justified this to himself, and we need to hear his self-criticism, if he should chance to have one. ... So phooey, say I, to the false reticence of the press and to the bogus sensitivities that underlie it. This extends even to the less important matters. ... and Romney can be asked whether, as a true believer should, he wears Mormon underwear. What's un-American about that? http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=52906154239 This conference is not at our church, it is listed here for the interest of those who have been blessed by Paul Washer's preaching. Reality Check is a Student Discipleship Conference in Chattanooga, TN. Paul Washer will be the key note preacher. Also there will be Jonothan Sims, Jeff Noblit, Matt... http://www.revivalhymn.com/index-3.html Have We No Tears for Revival? "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Ps. 126:5). This is the divine edict. This is more than preaching with zeal. This is more than scholarly exposition. This is more than delivering sermons of exegetical exactitude and homiletic perfection. Such a man, whether preacher or pew dweller, is appalled at the shrinking authority of the Church in the present drama of cruelty in the world. And he cringes with sorrow that men turn a deaf ear to the Gospel and willingly risk eternal hell in the process. Under this complex burden, his heart is crushed to tears. The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church, grieved at the blindness of the Church, grieved at the corruption in the Church, grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church. He is disturbed that the corporate prayer of the Church no longer pulls down the strongholds of the devil. He is embarrassed that the Church folks no longer cry in their despair before a devil-ridden, sin-mad society, "Why could we not cast him out?" (Matt. 17:19). http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5802098235622738454 Exposes links to the corporatocracy that hindered an investigation by John O'Neil which may have very well prevented the 9-11 attacks ... exposed the reall roots of the problem which lie far farther from Bin Laden and closer to home than we'd like to believe. ... well done, this is a superb film, it not only points out the mountains of evidence on all sorts of issues but it explains to people who haven't looked at anything how you feel when you do. To all you people who commented that it was too long, i'm very sure it could have been double the length and still only scratched the surface with all the evidence available. heres a link related: http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/160907_buried_interview.html thanks for this film it is superb. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1046515 When George H.W. "Poppy" Bush used the tactic some 20 years ago against Michael Dukakis, it immediately entered the political lexicon as an active verb: "To Willie Horton". ... To be fair, circumstances of the current fandango shadowing Mitt are not quite the same as the situation that ensnared Dukakis. They're worse. In his one and only stint as a tough-on-crime governor, Mitt Romney appointed Kathe M. Tuttman to the bench. All Judge Tuttman did was set free a mad dog by the name of Daniel Tavares Jr. Even though he completed a 16-year sentence for hacking up his mother with a carving knife, prosecutors in Worcester were fearful about Tavares resuming his place in polite society. Something about the way he attacked a couple of prison guards compelled prosecutors to seek a $50,000 cash bail on Tavares in the hopes of keeping him behind bars and away from the rest of us for a few more years. ... Ah, but while Daniel Tavares Jr. may be a maniac, he is no slouch. He knows his way around an appeal and struck gold when his case landed in the lap of Mitt's superior court appointee, Kathe M. Tuttman. Last summer, Judge Tuttman freed Tavares on personal recognizance. The rest, as they say, is history . . . gruesome history. Tavares crossed the country with his jailbird groupie/wife and proceeded to kill a pair of newlyweds in a rural town in Washington. http://vitalsignsblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/uhabout-those-judges-romney-appointed.html Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney defended passing over GOP lawyers for judicial appointments when he was governor of Massachusetts. Of the 36 lawyers Romney nominated, 23 were registered Democrats or independents who donated to Democratic candidates or voted in Democratic primaries, according to a Boston Globe analysis that was circulated by rival Fred Thompson. Two appointees supported expanding gay rights. 'Romney's clear affinity for liberal activist Democrats on the bench in Massachusetts doesn't match well with the Federalist Society's belief in judges who 'say what the law is, not what it should be,' ... This revelation, however, did not stop Paul Weyrich, one of the pioneers of the conservative movement, from giving his endorsement to Romney yesterday. Weyrich thus joined Bob Jones III (the son of the founder of the Christian college in South Carolina that bears the family name), former House leader Rep. Dennis Hastert, Mark DeMoss (a prominent evangelical activist from Atlanta), evangelical theologian Wayne Grudem, and John Willke (founder of the National Right to Life Committee) in Romney's camp. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/25/pakistan.sharif/index.html LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Former Pakistani prime minister and leading opposition figure Nawaz Sharif arrived in Lahore Sunday, where he hopes to end seven years in exile and directly participate in upcoming elections. ... Saudi authorities have been pushing Pakistan to allow Sharif back in the country, and the Saudi royal family provided the aircraft for his return to Lahore, according to one of his deputies and a government source. The Saudis also have provided him with a bulletproof car in Lahore. Sharif was overthrown by Musharraf in a bloodless military coup in 1999 and was promptly convicted of tax evasion and treason. He was released in 2000 in exchange for agreeing to 10 years of exile in Saudi Arabia. He retained his Pakistani citizenship, but has not been allowed to travel to Pakistan or directly take part in Pakistani politics. On his arrival, Sharif plans to visit the shrine of a Sufi saint, then go to his home in Lahore. He also plans to visit the burial site of his father, who died while Sharif was in exile. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/11/25/2007-11-25_enough_cliches_about_faith_mitts_mormoni.html Let's quit tiptoeing around the question of whether Republican Mitt Romney's Mormon religion will be an issue in his bid to become President of the United States. Of course it will matter. And it should. Voters have every right to be curious and concerned about a candidate's beliefs - especially a candidate like Romney, who keeps talking about the importance of faith in his life. Romney's not a run-of-the-mill believer. Before entering politics, he served as a Mormon bishop, presiding over several congregations in Massachusetts. There's little chance that a devout follower of Rastafarianism, the Unification Church or the Nation of Islam - not just a believer, but a leader - could expect to run for high political office and not get a couple of questions about what they believe and what public actions they took as a church leader. Romney has gotten a few. He told CBS News he is a "true-blue through-and-through" believer, but also said, "My church wouldn't endeavor to tell me what to do on an issue, and I wouldn't listen to them on an issue that related to our nation." Those contradictory statements won't cut it. And they don't sidestep the plain fact that Mormonism, like the other faiths I mentioned, is not a Christian religion. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_7404421?source=most_emailed Claremont Graduate University will welcome a new professorship in Mormon studies beginning in the fall 2008 semester. Richard Lyman Bushman, a leading historian of the Mormon faith, will fill the post. Bushman has written several books on the Mormon faith, including a 2005 biography of Joseph Smith, the faith's prophet. Bushman holds a fellowship at the Huntington Library in Pasadena. ... Q: Why did Claremont Graduate University establish a dedicated professorship for Mormon studies? A: Claremont is attempting to incorporate religious diversity into the faculty of its School of Religion. The Mormon chair joins the chair of Islamic Studies, and eventually there will be chairs representing other religious traditions. Q: Was the decision to establish the professorship influenced by the region's ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? A: It made more sense to include a comparatively small religion among the traditions represented because of the Mormon presence in California and the West. Q: Mormon studies is a new and growing field of study at secular universities. Why do you feel the faith should be studied? A: As one early scholar noted, Mormonism presents the opportunity to study a religion at the moment of its founding. The steady growth of the church since its organization in 1830 has made it an evermore influential religious body. Mormons now have a place in virtually every area of American society including among the candidates for the presidency. http://www.basicchristian.org/thanksgiving.html 2nd Corinthians 4:13-18 We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present (in heaven) us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the *Thanksgiving* of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man (soul) is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen (physical realm), but at the things which are not seen (spiritual realm): for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=3128 The secular TV world of November 2007 is a VERY different world than just 57 months ago when we started the program. Consolidation has taken place in a big way, and well over 90% of what is on secular TV today is controlled by 4 major entities. You have Viacom, which owns CBS and a host of the major cable channels like MTV and VHI, Disney, which owns ABC as well as their own group of major cable networks like ESPN, General Electric, which owns NBC and another group of the major cable channels like MSNBC, and News Corp which owns FOX and their own group of cable networks like FX and the Fox News channel. These are the four broadcast giants who now control virtually everything you see on secular television. ... We will do our last Liveprayer AM program on the ION affiliate in Tampa this coming Friday to end this great season of ministry. The program will be off the air for 6 weeks and return on Monday, January 7th "live" from 10 p.m. to Midnight EST on the new Liveprayer TV Network on Liveprayer.com. The great thing is it will be the same powerful program people have come to love and depend on over these years, impacting the lives of those who tune in each night. Instead of just one hour, it will be 2 hours! There may be some nights that the Holy Spirit is flowing and instead of having to end the program like I had to in the past, I will be able to continue as long as we want. WE NOW OWN THE NETWORK!!! http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58836 Former agent Abraham Bolden, 72, told Chicago ABC affiliate, WLS-TV, Kennedy was waved off from a much-publicized visit to Chicago on Nov. 2, 1963, to attend the Army-Air Force football game at Soldier Field and ride in a parade after the Secret Service received a report from a motel manager who told of seeing several automatic weapons with telescopic sights on the bed of a room rented to several Cuban nationals. They had an outline of the route Kennedy was to follow from O'Hare airport that would take his motorcade past the motel. The route had been printed in Chicago newspapers. Bolden, a former Illinois state trooper, was the first black agent to protect a president. ... News reports at the time blamed the change in plans on illness and a diplomatic crisis. South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem [also a Catholic] was assassinated in Saigon on that same day. ... Following Kennedy's murder in Dallas three weeks later, Bolden said he tried to inform the Warren Commission of the Chicago plot and misconduct by Secret Service agents, including on-duty drunkenness, but his efforts were thwarted when he was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to prison for soliciting a bribe from a counterfeiter. Bolden, who served six years, claims he was set up to silence his criticism of agents' behavior and is hoping to clear his name after the main witness against him recanted his testimony. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/11/23/romney_calls_on_judge_to_resign_after_releasing_alleged_killer/ Twenty months after he put a career prosecutor on the Massachusetts Superior Court, confident in her law-and-order credentials, Mitt Romney called today on the judge to resign because she released without bail a convicted killer who went on to allegedly kill again. Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney spokesman, said that Judge Kathe M. Tuttman should never have freed Daniel T. Tavares Jr. on personal recognizance in July, after he was charged with assaulting two prison guards. Tavares, 41, was near the end of a 16-year sentence for stabbing his mother to death in 1991 and had threatened in a letter —- intercepted by prison officials in February 2006 - to kill Romney and other state officials, Fehrnstrom said. ... "‘There was a system-wide failure in this case starting with the judge," Fehrnstrom said in a statement. "Her decision represented an inexplicable lapse in judgment and was inexcusable. Unless there are facts unknown to us, Governor Romney believes Judge Tuttman should resign." http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7526333 When news broke about alleged push poll calls in Iowa and New Hampshire critical of Mitt Romney's Mormon faith, the presidential candidate's campaign referred reporters to a few voters who had received the calls. But the campaign didn't disclose those voters were also on Romney's payroll. Marshan Roth, a Fairfield, Iowa voter, told The Salt Lake Tribune she received a pollster call that asked positive questions about Sen. John McCain but negative slanted questions about Romney. When asked if she was a Romney supporter, Roth said she was leaning toward backing him, but not sure. Roth didn't disclose, nor did the campaign, that she has received $3,000 since April from the Romney camp as a grassroots field organizer. Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said Wednesday there were several people who were supporters who received the calls and then contacted the campaign to alert them to the poll. ... Madden had suggested The Tribune contact Roth when asked who had received the calls. The revelation that the voters were on Romney's payroll has further fueled critics' charges that the Romney campaign is actually behind the calls, hoping to cast McCain in a bad light while making Romney the victim. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/view.bg?articleid=1046435 WASHINGTON, Iowa - Republican Mitt Romney said he disagrees with New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg and his assessment of Iowa's presidential caucuses. Gregg, a Romney supporter, told CNN that he wasn't worried about Governor Mike Huckabee's standing in Iowa polls. He said Romney remained strong where it counts: New Hampshire. "I've always, being from New Hampshire, viewed Iowa as being a place where they pick corn and New Hampshire being a place where we pick presidents," Gregg said. When asked about the comment on Wednesday, Romney said he disagreed and said he doesn't "subscribe to (Gregg's) comment." http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1529102720071121 DALLAS (Reuters) - When a pair of Mormon missionaries knocked at the door of Jerry Pierce's home in a north Dallas suburb last month, he marshalled his arguments and stood his ground. "I look forward to encounters like that. I like to talk to them about the nature of Christ and who Jesus is," said Pierce, a staunch Southern Baptist, the biggest Protestant denomination in the United States. ... Not only do many Southern Baptists regard the Mormon church as a cult, they also regard it as a competitor that is winning -- or poaching -- converts from among the evangelical flock. "There are now more Mormons that used to be Southern Baptist than any other denomination," said Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, a 16-million strong group. "As a consequence, Southern Baptists and other evangelicals have taught their people what Mormons believe and why it's beyond the boundaries of the Christian faith, to inoculate them against those Mormon missionaries," he told Reuters. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2007/11/defending_ones_faith_1.html Supporters of the Mormon Republican presidential candidate say voters in New Hampshire have been cold-called by "pollsters", who point out that the Mormon faith is odd. At a party here in Washington recently, I conducted a scientific survey of my own. I asked all those I met what they thought of Mormonism. The respondents (including a very senior member of a mainstream Christian denomination) all thought it was weird, weird, weird. ... He (Mitt Romney) would, after all, be taking a cue from Mormon culture, where the missionary aspect of the faith is hugely important. ... To continue my (un)scientific thought: the Latter Day Saints approached me more than a year ago through a Washington-based public relations company. I have no particular sympathy for religion (as some have noted!), or indeed for public relations companies, but the experience was, well, transformative. I met many Mormons, and not one I didn't like. I do not care, and more importantly I do not think Americans will care, about their belief that the Garden of Eden might be located in Indiana. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/21/mystery-deepens-several-_n_73647.html Yet another connection, albeit an indirect one, now ties Mitt Romney's presidential campaign to the recent spat of anti-Mormon phone calls made in New Hampshire and Iowa. Several recipients of the calls, which raised questions about Romney's Mormon faith and military deferments, are prominent supporters of the former Massachusetts governor. Marshan Roth of Fairfield, Iowa, who is paid $500 a month as a GOTV (get out the vote) consultant for the Romney campaign, received a call on this past Wednesday night. Rose Kramer of Dubuque, Iowa, who co-chairs Romney's Iowa faith & values steering committee and is a $1,000-a-month GOTV consultant, received a call either that same day or a day earlier, depending on conflicting reports. ... And yet, during subsequent press interviews, neither Roth nor Kramer disclosed the positions they held on Romney's team. In fact, as several other reporters have pointed out, both individuals drastically downplayed their campaign associations. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/20/cia.leak.mcclellan/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan says top administration officials -- including President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney -- were involved in his "unknowingly" passing along false information about the leak of a CIA operative's identity. ... In October 2003, as controversy grew about the leak of Valerie Plame's name, McClellan stood at the White House podium and told reporters that Karl Rove, the president's top political adviser, and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Cheney's chief of staff, had not been involved. "There was one problem. It was not true," McClellan writes in his new book, "What Happened," which is to be released in April. ... "The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White House briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. "There was one problem. It was not true. "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice president, the president's chief of staff, and the president himself." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102138/ He's a District Attorney. He will risk his life, the lives of his family, everything he holds dear for the one thing he holds sacred... the truth. http://basicchristian.org/ Did you know that the Mayor of Dallas, Texas on 11/22/63 was Earle Cabell, and that his brother, (Dallas born) Gen. Charles Cabell (CIA deputy director connected to the anti-Castro Cubans) along with the CIA Director Allen Dulles had recently been fired from the CIA by JFK for their unauthorized 'Bay of Pigs' invasion attempt on the nation of Cuba. The CIA & the Dallas police department then re-routed the Kennedy motorcade by sending the cars off of the originally intended straight path of Main Street and onto Elm Street, slowing the car and driving JFK past the Texas School Book Depository building and in front of the grassy knoll located on Elm Street. It would later be claimed by the CIA and Dallas police, that the President was shot by a sniper at a window on the 6th floor of the School Book Depository building although no wittiness's, photos or film have supported that accusation and people in the building at the time said no shots were fired from that location but that multiple shots were fired from behind the fence on the grassy knoll. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312572,00.html A man who used a carving knife to murder his mother also threatened to kill Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney when he was released from prison, the Boston Herald reported Thursday. Daniel Tavares Jr. was released from prison in July after Romney's judicial nominee in Massachusetts overturned a bail decision of a lower court on charges he assaulted prison guards to set him free, the Herald reported. Romney said Wednesday that the convicted killer should have never been released from prison. "This is a dangerous man who killed his own mother. He should have been held on bail, given his violent record, attacks on correction officers and a history of threats against public officials, ... Tavares now faces two counts of aggravated murder in the killing of a newlywed couple in Washington state. Tavares moved to Washington state after his release from prison to marry a pen pal. Court records show that in February 2006 Tavares threatened to kill the governor, attorney general, Bristol sheriff and other officials when he was released from prison, according to the Herald. In Washington state, the father of the newly-married bride who police say was murdered by Tavares wants Romney held accountable for Superior Court Judge Kathe M. Tuttman, his judicial nominee whose decision set Tavares free. "He was the governor — he picked this judge,” said Beverly Mauck's father, Darrel Slater, 51. “He should be answering for what happened." http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/12/1/172623.shtml Anderson said the three Republican governors considering a 2008 presidential campaign - Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and George Pataki of New York - had good records on controlling spending and improving health care in their states, issues important to voters. ... Democrats dispute that and noted the Republicans loss of governorships under Romney's tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, including in Romney's home state of Massachusetts, where his handpicked successor lost by more than 20 points. Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda cited complaints from Republican gubernatorial candidates that Romney had not done enough to aid their cause. "He put his own presidential aspirations ahead of his own party," Miranda said in a telephone interview. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312249,00.html "It was a necessary evil to bring us back to a God-consciousness," said the younger Paulk, explaining that the church had become too personality-driven and prone to pastor worship. The flashy megachurch began in 1960 with just a few dozen members in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. Now, it is in the suburbs on a 100-acre expanse, a collection of buildings surrounding a neo-Gothic cathedral. For years the church was at the forefront of many social movements — admitting black members in the 1960s, ordaining women and opening its doors to gays. At its peak in the early 1990s, it claimed about 10,000 members and 24 pastors and was a media powerhouse. By soliciting tithes of 10 percent from each member's income, the church was able to build a Bible college, two schools, a worldwide TV ministry and a $12 million sanctuary the size of a fortress. Today, though, membership is down to about 1,500, the church has 18 pastors, most of them volunteers, and the Bible college and TV ministry have shuttered — a downturn blamed largely on complaints about the alleged sexual transgressions of the elder Paulks. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/19/photographer.detained/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military says it has "convincing and irrefutable" evidence that an award-winning Associated Press photographer is connected to the insurgency in Iraq. ... Hussein, an Iraqi who lives in the western Anbar province city of Ramadi, has been held without charge by the U.S. military since April 2006, when bomb parts and insurgent propaganda were found in his house after the U.S. military asked to use it as an observation post during an operation. Hussein was already under suspicion by the U.S. military because he arrived at terrorist attack sites so quickly that they suspected he had advance knowledge of attacks, according to Morrell. ... Morrell said the reason for the delay in charging the man was that "additional evidence had come to light that the man was a media operative who had infiltrated The Associated Press." ... One of Hussein's photographs was among a series of 20 AP photographs that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography in 2005. http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=609 Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, two former Border Patrol agents, are each serving more than a decade in federal prison for shooting an illegal alien as he was fleeing to the Mexican border. The illegal alien, Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, was smuggling approximately a million dollar's worth of marijuana into the U.S. However, rather than be commended for doing their jobs and trying to crack down on the endless flow of illegal immigration, Ramos and Compean were prosecuted. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton granted immunity to the illegal alien drug smuggler in exchange for testimony. Ramos and Compean were sentenced to prison, and Aldrete Davila was released. We all know where Ramos and Compean are now, but guess what happened to Osvaldo Aldrete Davila? As reported by CNSNews.com, Aldrete Davila was arrested on Thursday on a "drug smuggling offense at a U.S. port of entry." That's right... Johnny Sutton's prime witness against Ramos and Compean is back in jail. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312222,00.html The audit was triggered this spring, after gun battles at Islamic University in Gaza pitted Fatah forces, loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, against their rival, Hamas, which controls the university and has been designated a terrorist group by the United States. After the shooting stopped, Fatah displayed large caches of weapons recovered from inside the university, and the Washington Times reported the school had received more than $140,000 in USAID funding. Questionable Aid "In the basement of Gaza Islamic University, a U.S.-funded institution," said Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and requested the audit, "Palestinian police found several Iranian agents and an Iranian general teaching the students in the U.S.-funded chemistry lab how to make suicide bombs." The audit found at least two other troubling cases. Last year USAID learned it had granted $180,000 to a Bosnian group whose president was, since 1997, included on a "watch list" barring his entry into the United States. And before that, a man sentenced to four years in prison for lying about his dealings with a disciple of Usama bin Laden had been part of a group that received $1 million from USAID. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/opinion/19pletka.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Early in his term, President Bush jettisoned the crown jewels of the Clinton administration's foreign policy — the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the North Korea Agreed Framework. In each case, experts still disagree about whether he was right to do so. But the fact is that Bill Clinton had gone the extra mile in the Middle East and achieved nothing. And revelations that the North Koreans had been cheating on their 1994 commitment to abandon nuclear weapons made manifest the fraud underlying that “breakthrough.” Seven years into the Bush presidency, however, what was old is new again. The “blackmailing” Pyongyang regime is now one with which the United States can do business. Nevermind that in 2002, American and Spanish warships discovered a North Korean vessel carrying Scud missiles to Yemen or that in 2005 the Treasury Department designated the Macao-based Banco Delta Asia as a “primary money-laundering concern” for its role in North Korea's illegal weapons, counterfeiting and drug businesses. ... Back in 2001, the newly minted Bush administration was scornful of Bill Clinton's efforts to build a Palestinian state with a terrorist government in place. Mr. Bush refused to allow Yasir Arafat to darken the White House door and said he would “not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists.” Now Hamas is in control of Gaza, Mahmoud Abbas is the powerless president of a Palestinian Authority and members of his Fatah forces tried to assassinate Israel's prime minister. Nonetheless, Ms. Rice has been to the region repeatedly and recently sought advice from not just Bill Clinton but, of all people, Jimmy Carter. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312098,00.html For years, it was thought that there was only one known image of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. But now that may not be the case. A rare 3-D image of what is believed to be the 16th president, astride a horse wearing his signature stovepipe hat with a white gloved hand raised in salute was presented Saturday on a large screen at the annual Lincoln Forum Conference in Gettysburg. The photograph is one of two images thought to have been taken just before Lincoln made his historic address on Nov. 19, 1863, four months after the bloody battle. Last December, historian John Richter found the photo while sifting through the Library of Congress' digital archives. The photos, made available to the public online, were among more than 5,000 Civil War images. http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDc5MGJiYzQ0YjA2MTQ4ZTA2ZmY5NDVkZDExMjdkMmM= Hart also emphasized that while he (Hart) doesn't know the person behind the calls, his source said that he would be very surprised if it were connected to Romney & Co. Then he said: "our client is not political. At best we're a third party vendor in this." As Hart notes, TargetPoint would fit the definition of being a third party, but despite their corporate and consumer research work, I have a hard time believing anyone would contend that they're "not political." If Hart's source is accurate, what "not political" client would want the information collected on Romney and the Mormon issue? http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NGE0MjJiNjc4MTI4MjkzOWY3M2QxNmRjMGM2ODk3ODQ= Today's unfortunate article written by Mark Hemingway concerning allegations over anti-Romney push-polling that suggests that TargetPoint Consulting was somehow involved is both inaccurate and inexcusable. To set the record straight: TargetPoint Consulting has absolutely nothing to do with the calls in question. To be even clearer: TargetPoint Consulting has NEVER and will NEVER conduct a push-poll. TargetPoint is in the business of promoting Governor Romney, not manufacturing fantasy plots that involve smearing him. ... “If there is a relationship between the two firms, then Alex Gage and TargetPoint should immediately clarify the extent and nature of the work that it has contracted out to Western Wats to end speculation and exonerate Romney.” http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Y2ZkMWNkZDkzOTk1YTM0NTNkNmJlZThmYjJmM2ZmOGE= A Western Wats-Target Point connection sets off alarm bells since the Romney campaign has paid Target Point consulting $720,000 (see here and here). Target Point's president, Alex Gage, is a pioneer in the direct-marketing data-mining technique known as microtargeting. The Bush campaign spent nearly $3 million on Gage and Target Point's services in the 2004 election. In the 2008 election cycle, Gage has been working closely with Romney. The Washington Post headlined an article about Gage “Romney's Data Cruncher” and has elsewhere identified Gage as part of “Mitt Romney's Inner Circle.” ... However, there's a growing chorus of voices speculating Romney push polled himself. “I smell a dirty trick. I suspect a pro-Romney motive to inoculate against future use of the religious issue and to breed sympathy for Romney … a 20-minute call is the work of an amateur. The long call is designed to get ALL the negatives out, to put them off limits for future attacks,” Roger Stone - a master of Republican dirty tricks - told The Politico's Jonathan Martin. Stone pointed out that Robert F. Kennedy was behind anti-Catholic campaign tricks - calls and literature - to help get the first Catholic president elected. An anonymous website attacking Fred Thompson with ties to the Romney consultants in South Carolina earlier this cycle suggests such earnestness may not be below Romney campaigners. Asked if it's reasonable to think a campaign would do such a thing - push poll itself - one political consultant familiar with phone banking and dirty tricks who asked not to be identified told NRO, “I've done it,” he said. “But it's usually the kind of thing that you do in a close state-senate race, not a stunt you pull under the scrutiny a presidential campaign is subjected to.” http://www.eyeon08.com/2007/11/17/state-of-play-of-romney-poll-scandal/ Well, we seem to be in day 3 of this scandal. The calls went out Wednesday or Thursday. The AP's Phil Elliott and the Politico's Jonathan Martin reported on it on Thursday. Friday, all sorts of speculation abounded. The solid facts appear to be that: First, Western Wats, an Orem, UT based phone vendor made the phone calls. They have refused to deny these claims. The Lindorf family - Ron Lindorf is the Chairman and Founder of Western Wats - refuses to answer questions about why they are placing anti-Mormon phone calls. Note that the Lindorf family is Mormon. This suggests that, at least, Ron Lindorf, a Mormon, is complicit in anti-Mormon phone calls. Second, Western Wats has worked for a number of people in the Romney political network. This includes Romney state leadership in Florida, Michigan and Utah. Third, calls were placed into IA, NH, and SC. In IA, the calls appear to have hit people who are politically sophisticated enough to push the story. It is unclear that politically sophisticated people were hit in other states. Fourth, the calls were probably not push-polls. Instead, as Mark Blumenthal explains, they were likely merely ethically-questionable, nasty polling: ... Lets note some other facts too. It was the Romney campaign's slimey consultants who were behind the PhonyFred.org site. Oddly, it was hosted by a company in Orem Utah, bluehost.com. The owner of that business is also a Romney donor. Ron Lindorf is also a professor at BYU's Marriot School of business. The Romney campaign was seeking support from that school's alumni, and had held meetings with the Dean and with church leaders when they were exposed by the Boston Globe last year. (Both are tax exempt which made such collusions illegal.) Its all a web that will soon be unwound. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004019288_pushpoll17.html The calls reportedly were placed by Western Wats, an Orem, Utah, survey firm. A spokesman for the company would not comment on whether it made the calls. However, its client services director, Robert Maccabee, said, "Western Wats has never, currently does not, nor will it ever engage in push polling." ["Western Wats has done push polls in the past. A quick google search uncovers a push poll for Lieberman against Lamont and two in Florida"]. ... There was no clear evidence, however, that any opponent was behind the polls. http://race42008.com/2007/11/18/western-wats-details-negate-the-romney-did-it-theory/ Yes, there are plenty of rumors and speculation swirling, and it would be helpful to have a copy of the script. I am not even sure at this point that it should be called “anti-mormon” because I have not read any negative comments about mormonism. But there are some actual facts: 1. Western Wats made the calls. 2. Western Wats has done push polls in the past. A quick google search uncovers a push poll for Lieberman against Lamont and two in Florida. 3. In this instance and one of the races in Florida, Western Wats claimed it could not release the name of its client and that it did not write the questions. 4. Romney has both personal and political connections (in the form of contributions) to Western Wats. ... Also, why doesn't Western Wats just release the script for the calls? Its hard to call it confidential when it has been used. http://www.eyeon08.com/2007/11/16/romneys-friends-with-western-wats-family/ If someone is trying to slime Mitt Romney with his religion, do they really go to a Utah-based call center run by people in Romney's world? Wouldn't they know that it would get out? What does it tell us if it doesn't? Something didn't square. After all, it seemed likely that the people running Western Wats were in the same social circles as the Romneys. I was right. Check out this picture from the blog Elect Romney in 2008: The caption says: Romney's last greeting with friend Teena Lindorf before entering car (sister-in-law of Ron Lindorf, the Founder and Chairman of Western Wats). The author of the blog post is a friend of the Lindorf family. He writes: Today I attended an “Ask Mitt Anything” townhall meeting at Chapman University in Orange, CA (where Hugh Hewitt teaches law) with my daughter Bree and friends Paul & Teena Lindorf. So let's get this straight. Mitt Romney is friends with the family of the Founder and Chairman of the company that is placing anti-Mormon and anti-Romney phone calls? This morning Hugh Hewitt said: If the campaign that used appeals to religious bigotry is identified, it will be over for that candidate. Let's hope someone inside Western Wats tips the MSM. I wonder if Hugh still thinks that. ... UPDATE: David Freddoso and Allah Pundit want to make it very clear that they did not suggest that the Romney campaign is behind it. I am not making that claim either. Just that people in Romney's circle appear to be responsible for it. http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1107/Romneys_Western_Wats_connections.html Soren Dayton, Liz Mair and David Fredosso all find Romney links to Western Wats. And here is another, courtesy of a Utah reader: Neil Hahl. He's listed by the state of Utah's Department of Commerce as a director of the company. He gave Romney the maximum, $2,300. On the FEC report and the state's business entity listing, he's down as a Mesa, Ariz., resident. A voicemail left at the only listing of that name was not returned today. When told of some of the speculation that they may be behind the calls, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden replied, "That's preposterous" before flatly denying any involvement. Another Utahan who said he did calls for the firm in both high school and college (and has evidence of doing such) e-mails to point out the obvious: There are many Mormons nearby and thus many Romney supporters on the payroll. http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1557928.html The first "push-poll" scandal of the 2008 season has surfaced, forcing two leading campaigns to deny their involvement and raising questions about the tenor of what could be a nasty final stretch in the race for the Republican nomination. ... Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire on Thursday began receiving telephone calls that at first appeared to be part of a poll but quickly moved into offering exceedingly negative views of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his Mormon religion. The calls were typical of a "push poll," which is not a survey but is instead a political telemarketing call meant to pass along rumors and innuendo. ... Romney's campaign spokesman Matt Rhoades said: "Whichever campaign is engaging in this type of awful religious bigotry as a line of political attack, it is repulsive and, to put it bluntly, un-American." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2891073.ece Speculation was intensifying this weekend about who was behind the push-polling calls. The calls praised McCain's Vietnam record while knocking Romney's. But McCain was the first candidate to condemn them. “It is disgraceful, it is outrageous and it is a violation, we believe, of New Hampshire law,” he said. The New Hampshire attorney-general is investigating the affair. ... Hewitt believes that, “if the campaign that used appeals to religious bigotry is identified, it will be over for that candidate”. The polling was carried out by Western Wats, which is based in Utah, the centre of the Mormon faith. It has declined to discuss its clients. A spokesman for Romney was forced to deny “insinuation” that “we would support phone calls attacking our own campaign” to engender sympathy after members of the company were revealed to be Romney donors. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/03/americanidol.htm According to Washington Post television reporter Lisa de Moraes, the Federal Trade Commission has announced that three Utah-based telemarketing firms have agreed to pay $40,000 to settle charges that they scammed "American Idol" fans into paying for what they thought were free calls to vote for their favorite performers during the first two editions of the Fox-TV hit show. The telemarketing companies "took advantage of callers who inadvertently misdialed the 'American Idol' phone numbers by buying numbers that were very close to--but not the same as--the correct numbers," said the FTC in a statement on Thursday. ... his is what happened: When "American Idol" fans dialed the wrong number that was actually one of those fake numbers set up by the bad-boy telemarketers, they were connected to a recording telling them to dial a 900 number that would connect them to a "voting line." If the fans followed those instructions and did that, they were charged $1.99 per call during the first edition of "American Idol" and $2.97 per call during the second edition of "Idol" to hear yet another recording that gave out the real toll-free number. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2889309.ece Two weeks ago the 39-year-old surfer physicist astonished the scientific world when he announced that he might have found an answer. Lisi describes it, with disarming frankness, as an “exceptionally simple theory of everything”. Of course the theory isn't at all simple. It is based around one of the most complicated symmetrical structures ever studied, a 248-dimensional shape known as E8 secrets of this geometric entity were revealed only in March, leaving mathematicians with 60 times as much information as was contained in the human genome. E8 has long intrigued academics since it was devised in the 19th century and it has been suspected that its symmetrical properties might be intimately linked to underlying patterns in creation in some way. ... The hunt for a single theory that underpins everything has been the ultimate goal of physics for centuries. As they revealed the rules that dictated how the different facets of the natural world functioned, many of the first true scientists came to believe that the cosmos worked like clockwork. They insisted that science would ultimately reveal the entire mechanism and be able to account precisely for everything within it. While that certainty foundered with the discovery of quantum mechanics and relativity, the quest has gone on. Einstein, the discoverer of relativity, dedicated much of his later life to discovering what became known as the Grand Unified Theory. But despite claiming four times to have made the crucial breakthrough, his efforts came to nothing. http://bellathemovie.com/ An international soccer star (Eduardo Verástegui) is on his way to sign a multi-million dollar contract when something happens that brings his career to an abrupt end. A waitress (Tammy Blanchard), struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she's unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down...until an impetuous action brings them together and turns an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience. Once a famous athlete, and now a cook at his brother's Mexican restaurant, José has retreated from the world but he recognizes something in Nina, a young waitress, and reaches out to her. In the course of a single day, he not only confronts his past but shows her how the healing power of a family can help her embrace the future. Written by M. Robertson http://ministryhelpworld.com/greeters/greeters.htm "I recommend these materials for church leaders who want their congregations to be more productive." ... Many of us are experts at what local churches “ought to do” in order to be effective, but few of us are capable of explaining “how to do” what needs to be done…Great Commission Resources has produced a series of materials that show dedicated Christians exactly how to do some of the jobs that they already know they ought to do. ... When it comes to getting the job of evangelism and church growth done, I have come to appreciate material that has come out of years of successful ministry. Every congregation that is serious about the Great Commission should seek out this material and other good resources produced by Great Commission Resources. http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=15259 Tell us about stores that refuse to recognize Christmas -- post a comment on our blog for others to read. http://www.javaforjesus.com/flash/atheist800x600.html A Thanksgiving Flash - I hope it gives you a smile. http://basicchristian.us/CMS/index.php FYI – The BasicChristian Info-News RSS feed was researched in 2003 and started broadcasting in 2004 for the main purpose of broadcasting Christian resources, information and current events. The feed has shifted focus into a more secular news, political and info resource; something that has never been the intention of the Basic Christian website. The main purpose of Basic Christian is to celebrate Christianity - our Living, Loving Savior Jesus Christ. I think that it would be important and responsible for a newsfeed that is active now in Nov. 2007 to remain active throughout the presidential election of Nov. 2008. I personally would rather spend the time working on Christian – Doctrine and Theology instead of posting more news about society. Therefore it is the shift back to Christian – Doctrine and Theology and the desire not to devote time blogging throughout the 2008 elections that have brought the BasicChristian Info-News feed to a close. - God Bless you, David Anson Brown http://basicchristian.us/CMS/index.php I would like to send out my personal thanks and gratitude to a tremendous audience of basicChristian subscribers who have stayed the course and have endured through a lot of difficult news items from throughout the last few years since the beginning of the newsfeed in 2004. I pray that with this coming election our great nation can get back on track and that our troops will depart from harm's way and finally come home, that there will be some stability in our finance markets and the housing market, that the price of gas will come back down to a reasonable level and that in general our great nation will prosper and be secure all in the faith and knowledge that Jesus is God in heaven above and that He is devoted to mankind and is watching over us with His loving kindness. – God bless you, David Anson Brown http://basicchristian.us/CMS/index.php -- http://basicchristian.us/CMS/index.php -- http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58495 In the midst of a messy divorce from his wife, Ritchie, Dick Scaife stunned many in his own community of Pittsburgh by joining hands with Clinton, George Soros, Rep. Jack Murtha, Sen. John Kerry and other former political foes in anti-war activism. In a July 15 editorial in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Scaife's editorial writers pushed for an immediate pullout from Iraq and called President Bush "delusional." "Perhaps Jack Murtha put it best: The Pennsylvania congressman, among the first to make the cogent argument that staying the course in Iraq was the exercise in futility that indeed the war has become, says President Bush is delusional," they wrote. "Based on the president's recent performance, we could not agree more. 'Staying the course' is not simply futile – it is a prescription for American suicide. We've urged for months to bring our troops home. Now is the time." The editorial went on to question Bush's "mental stability." NewsMax magazine Scaife's NewsMax, a popular and once enthusiastically pro-Republican news website co-owned with Christopher Ruddy, who famously investigated the mysterious death of Clinton's deputy White House counsel Vincent Foster and the strange death of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, also began attacking the war in Iraq following Scaife's personal metamorphosis. Whatever has caused the change in Scaife, it appears infectious. In an interview with Bill Clinton published in NewsMax, Ruddy has nothing but kind words for the "new Bill Clinton": http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/98035?cp=199 Lamborn, a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who said his research into church history gave him “thousands of reasons the church can't be what it claims to be.” ... Lamborn, a member of the Thunder Mountain Ward, said his Mormon roots go back generations, with a great-grandfather in the famed Mormon Battalion that trekked from Iowa to San Diego in 1846 and 1847. Lamborn served a two-year Mormon mission in 1977-79 in Belgium, was elders quorum president four times and led a Mormon Boy Scout troop. Most recently, he said he was assigned to teach older men in his ward and held other roles. But everything changed in early 2005. Lamborn, an engineer employed at Boeing in Mesa for nearly 25 years, was asked by a work colleague about the wives of church founder Joseph Smith. She had read “Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith” by John Krakauer and asked Lamborn if what she had read was accurate. Smith, the first LDS prophet and president, had at least 33 wives by many accounts. “Well, I had no knowledge of multiple wives, so I did some research, including using the church's own genealogical Web site, familysearch.org,” Lamborn said. He found the information concurred with the book. “Nonmembers seemed to know more about the personal life of Joseph Smith than me,” he said. Lamborn conducted further research, which led him to question many church teachings. He said he went to Molina with his questions, but received no definitive answers. Lamborn has been attending the three-hour ward meetings with his wife and 16-year-old son. His two daughters, 22 and 24, “are totally out of Mormonism.” He said he learned that his five brothers “were doing the same research and arriving at the same conclusions” and doubts, he said. The same was true for his best friend since childhood. In a meeting earlier this summer with Molina, Lamborn acknowledged that he wanted to give up his church membership. “I was planning to leave the church quietly, but was denied that opportunity, presumably because I was speaking openly to other members about my findings and (was) writing things down,” Lamborn said. Lamborn has compiled his research into a lengthy testament called, “Search for Truth 6/07,” in which he states: “There comes a time in the life of many church members when the desire to know the truth about the church becomes stronger than the desire to believe the church is true.” http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58425 WASHINGTON – It started in 1952. Nearly every person elected as president of the United States since then – and nearly every opponent – has belonged to a secretive, globalism-oriented organization known as the Council on Foreign Relations. Some presidents and their challengers have belonged to additional clubs of internationalists – the Bilderberg Group and the Trilateral Commission. Running mates, too, more often than not have had ties to the groups. That the groups exert enormous influence on public policy is indisputable. What is disputed is whether such groups are, as adherents and members argue, just discussion forums for movers and shakers, or, as critics have long alleged, secret societies shaping a new world order from behind the scenes. On that last point at least, no one could challenge the critics: All these groups operate in considerable secrecy, away from the scrutiny of the American public. Regardless of how one characterizes them, the fact that virtually all presidents belong to the same secret clubs prompts the author of a new book to wonder if the 2008 election will also be a contest between globalist insiders. Judging from the list of frontrunners of each party, Daniel Estulin, author of "The True Story of the Bilderberg Group," may be on to something. According to a variety of sources, the following presidential candidates are either members of one of the groups or have strong ties: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, John McCain, John Edwards, Fred Thompson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson. Mike Huckabee, though not a member, spoke to the CFR in September. Since then, his political star has risen to the point that he has become a top-tier candidate. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/halloween.teeth.recall.ap/index.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government announced an 11th-hour recall Wednesday to warn consumers that fake Halloween teeth sold by the tens of thousands since last year contain excessive amounts of lead. Paint on the "Ugly Teeth" have 100 times the allowable amount of lead, according to CBS News. The $2 packages of "Ugly Teeth" are only the latest in a long line of Chinese-made toys and novelty items recalled because of lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on Halloween, in a late-morning news release. The agency estimates that since January 2006, retailers have sold about 43,000 eight-piece packages of the party favors. There were no immediate reports of injuries or illness. Amscan Inc. of Elmsford, New York, imported the fake teeth. A message left with the company was not immediately returned. ... CBS News reported Monday that a chemistry professor at Ohio's Ashland University tipped off the agency about the joke teeth after testing a variety of Halloween-themed items for lead content. Paint on the teeth contained 100 times the allowable level of lead, according to the broadcast report. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/christian.scientology/index.html Critic Rick Ross, a court-certified Scientology expert, sees something more sinister at work. He warned that mainstream acceptance makes it easier for the Scientologists to achieve their ultimate goal -- new recruits. "Their hope is that through these programs, people will become more interested in L. Ron Hubbard, what else Mr. Hubbard had to offer, and this will lead them eventually to Scientology," Ross said. The church has long been in the headlines for practices critics say are little more than cult-like mind control. It is also known for its stable of devout celebrity followers. And according to published reports, Scientology has been recently diversifying its outreach to include other religions and ethnic groups. Kennedy, McLaughlin and a handful of other Christian church leaders -- no one can say how many -- are finding answers to their communities' needs in Scientology's social programs. For Kennedy, it began two years ago when he attended a meeting at the Church of Scientology's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. He was introduced to a book called "The Way to Happiness" -- Hubbard's 64-page, self-described "common sense guide to better living." ... Though Jimirra Kennedy insists she does not ascribe to the religious side of Scientology, she still considers herself, at least in part, Scientologist. "We say this all the time and I know my father says this, but I am like a Pentecostal Scientologist, that's what we are." Critics like Ross are alarmed by such a blurring of the lines. They consider it a marketing win for Scientology. http://www.goodfight.org/hwtcruise.html Hubbard's occult ties have as of late come under more frequent exposure. Biographer Bent Corydon explains that the Satanist Aleister Crowley's Book of the Law was "perhaps the most important book in the life of L. Ron Hubbard." Before starting Scientology, Hubbard was closely associated with occultist Jack Parsons, the head of Aleister Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientis in California. Known as his "magick partner," Hubbard and Parsons embarked on eclectic occult missions in pursuit of the demonic New Aeon spoken of by Crowley. At Scientology's headquarters in New York, the group's historical records contain letters between Parsons and Crowley that mention Hubbard several times. According to Parsons, Hubbard was ready and willing to bring about the kingdom of the antichrist in accord with Crowley's Magick. Jack Parsons wrote to Crowley early in 1946: ... One of Crowley's teachings was that in order to effectively spread his philosophies one would need to start a new religion. Hubbard's aptitude as a Crowleyian occultist applied this insight, thereby giving birth to his Church of Scientology. Consequently, Scientology's teachings are fully base upon the whole of Crowley's satanic dictums. In his book, Magick in Theory and Practice, Crowley wrote: "The whole and sole object of all true magickal training is to become free from every kind of limitation." Adopting the same stated purpose for Scientology, Hubbard said in a taped Scientology lecture: "Our whole activity tends to make an individual completely independent of any type of limitation.... Old Aleister Crowley had some interesting things to say about this. He wrote the Book of the Law." Crowley's diabolical plan for the New Age was to be renamed and giftwrapped for the new generation under the guise of Scientology. Hubbard copied a distinctively marked cross from the back of Crowley's Tarot-cards, which he used as the main cross and symbol for the Church. Hubbard even boasted to a group of Scientologists of his friendship with Crowley. http://www.slate.com/id/2165373 For those of you who didn't study it in school, Battlefield Earth takes place in the year 3000, when the human race is nearly extinct and the planet stripped of its natural resources. Mankind has been enslaved by evil aliens with very bad breath that explodes when it comes into contact with radioactive material. A young slave wielding lasers and draped in a tennis cardigan leads a rebellion and retakes Earth, only to be attacked again by a series of foes including a race of interstellar bankers trying to collect on bad debts. ... The whole tumbling horror of the Battlefield Earth experience is so profound it nearly comes out the other side and achieves a kind of perfection of awfulness. ... voters may not want to vote in another administration that believes in alternative realities-even if it's just in their nighttime reading-but these are minor concerns. http://www.basicchristian.info/ And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. -- Bible http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aU_vOirVlXhY Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) -- As Mitt Romney scours the South for endorsements from evangelical leaders, he is getting some unusual advice on how to explain his Mormon faith: Don't try to be one of us. "I told him, you cannot equate Mormonism with Christianity; you cannot say, 'I am a Christian just like you,'" said Representative Bob Inglis of South Carolina, which is scheduled to hold the first primary among the Southern states. "If he (Mitt) does that [claims to be a real Christian], every Baptist preacher in the South is going to have to go to the pulpit on Sunday and explain the differences." This advice, which reflects the views of many Southern Baptists and other evangelicals, makes Romney's co-religionists bristle. "The fact that we are Christians is non-negotiable," said Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=102803214754 Brief Sermon Overview: What does Halloween "cover up?" The answer is on October 31, 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on Wittenberg Castle Church door which exposed the errors of the Roman Catholic Church when compared with the Bible. Dr. Brown encourages believers to go back to pre-1850 times when Halloween was unknown in the United States and focus on the Reformation, which was in essence marked the rediscovery of the Gospel and the teaching of Salvation by Grace through faith. http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=11140523305 Brief Sermon Overview: Enfield, Connecticut July 8, 1741 'Their foot shall slide in due time.' Deut. 32:35. In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as ver. 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following doings, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed. ... 3. he that believeth not is condemned already ... The law of God is against mankind. 4. God is a great deal more angry with those now at ease than those who are in hell. ... This is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been Born Again. ... Would you be content to be children of the Devil when so many children in the land have joyfully been converted and become the holy and happy children of (Jesus) the King of Kings ... behold now is the acceptable day of the LORD – the day of opportunity ... haste and escape for your lives, least you be consumed [by hell]. http://www.basicchristian.org/halloween.html Christians everywhere are rejecting Halloween's message of Death, Disobedience, and Despair and instead are using this opportunity to proclaim the Truth about God's Love for mankind and about His Biblical plan of Life, Hope, and Salvation for us in Jesus Christ. http://www.atstracts.org/downloads/newsletter.pdf Halloween isn't just for kids anymore. More adults than ever are taking part in Halloween activities. What a perfect time to hand out the greatest treasure on earth--an introduction to Jesus Christ. Don't miss this great evangelism opportunity! http://www.constitutionparty.com/ QUOTE: "Impress upon your children the truth that (voting) is a... duty of as solemn a nature as man can... perform; that a man may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every elector is a trustee as well for others as himself." ~ Daniel Webster, 1840 http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071028/29871_Huckabee_Rise_Triggers_Strong_Response.htm WASHINGTON – Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is on the rise as his campaign gains momentum, drawing stronger response not only from voters but also a fellow contender. This past week the ordained Southern Baptist preacher bumped former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney from his first-tier position and caused the best financed Republican contender to take a personal shot at the not-so-well financed Huckabee. ... Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani holds the top position with 20 percent of likely Republican primary voters nationwide, followed by former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson with 19 percent, Arizona Sen. John McCain with 14 percent, Huckabee with 12 percent, and Romney with 11 percent nationally, according to Rasmussen. http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/10/want_to_pay_cas.html In an apparent effort to curb the reselling of unlocked iPhones, Apple has instituted a new policy that forbids customers from paying cash--you know, the stuff that says "legal tender for all debts public and private"--for iPhones. And it has dropped the limit to two per person. I don't think Apple is going to get away with this one. Starting Thursday, Apple began requiring that people interested in purchasing iPhones use credit or debit cards to make their purchase, which ties an identity to the iPhones bought. They also will no longer allow people to buy up to five iPhones, and have instituted a two-per-person limit. ... Apple was blunt in saying that this is an attempt to prevent people from buying multiple iPhones, unlocking them and reselling them. iPhones that are used on networks other than AT&T (NYSE: T)'s prevents Apple from collecting on the monthly revenue it has worked out with AT&T. This sounds like a protectionist policy to me. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58349 The National Park Service has banished God from a key display of America's Christian heritage in Washington, and a California pastor who regularly leads teams of visitors to see markers of the nation's religious history wants Him restored. The reference is an engraving of "LAUS DEO," which is Latin for "Praise be to God," and is on the east side of the 100-ounce aluminum cap of the Washington Monument. Since the actual inscription on the cap, which on the other three sides provides other information, is unviewable atop the 555-foot stone column, the National Park Service has created a replica, which is on display inside the white-colored obelisk of marble, granite and sandstone. The following photograph shows how the display was seen in 2000, when that inscription could be seen by visitors, even if at an angle: But the following photo, from this year, shows how the cap replica has been straightened and moved close to the wall so that visitors are unable to see the inscription at all, a point raised by Pastor Todd DuBord of Lake Almanor Community Church following his recent visit in Washington. ... It was the second time in just the past few weeks there have been reports "God" no longer is allowed in Washington. WND reported earlier on the architect of the Capitol banning religious references in certificates that accompany flags flown over the Capitol. But that ruling later was rescinded. DuBord, whose past research shows that Thomas Jefferson actually advocated a "gate" between church and state, and uncovered officials at the U.S. Supreme Court lying about the nation's Christian heritage, also uncovered a "reinterpretation" of history at Monticello. http://www.afa.net/flagfolding.htm It is time for Christians to say enough is enough - In the latest attack on Christianity, the U.S. government has banned the flag-folding recitations at all 125 national cemeteries. The banning came as the result of one complaint! The situation is similar to that in which one person removed prayer from schools. This article from The Associated Press explains the situation: Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries. At thousands of military burials, VA volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The 12th glorifies "God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost." Citing a need for uniformity, the National Cemetery Administration has prohibited unpaid VA volunteers as well as employees from conducting the recital at all 125 national cemeteries. American Legion attorney Rees Lloyd calls it "another attempt by secularist fanatics to cleanse any reference to God." Following one complaint, the Veterans Administration has made anti-Christian bigotry the law of the land. The U.S. government has bowed to pressure from one radical anti-Christian secularist. Allowed to stand, the action by the Veterans Administration, in essence, means that anti-Christian bigotry is now the accepted and approved law of the land. http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004744.htm Reader Maria L. C. sends an update on a case I blogged about last year--the schoolgirl who was sent home for wearing red, white, and blue jewelry she handcrafted as a tribute to her relatives in the military. The student, Raven Furbert, is suing the school district and the case has advanced: http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58358 Klein obtains unprecedented access to some of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world, traveling into hazardous terrorist zones and talking directly to the militants themselves about some of the most pressing issues today. Why schmooze with the professed enemies of Western civilization? States Klein: "In the midst of America's war on terror, in the midst of our grand showdown with Islamofascism, with our boys and girls deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world to defend liberty, it is crucial for all of us to understand the adversary we are up against. "It is crucial for us to know how our enemy thinks and what they want to do with us. Even how your tax dollars – no, how you! – fund terrorism." Klein explains he believes America is in trouble. While the U.S. has made enormous advances in the war on terror over the past few years, "our great nation is encouraging terrorists to attack us and we don't even know it," he professes. "If the American approach to identifying, understanding, and dealing with terrorism is not reexamined in the very near future, if we don't immediately begin to understand how the terrorists think and respond to our policies, we face a devastating reality, with global jihad beating down our doorstep before we even realize what happened," states Klein. http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN2523981920071025?rpc=44 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior Securities and Exchange Commission official said on Thursday insider trading appeared to be "rampant" among Wall Street professionals and the agency has formed a working group to focus on it. "I believe we're going to see more insider trading cases," Linda Chatman Thomsen, the SEC's enforcement director, told reporters on the sidelines of a securities fraud conference. "I am disappointed in the number of cases we are seeing by people who make an abundant livelihood in the market that they are sort of abusing by insider trading," Thomsen said, referring to cases already brought against professionals this year. Insider trading "appears to be rampant" among Wall Street securities professionals, she added. ... Also, in March U.S. prosecutors charged 13 people, including employees at top Wall Street banks UBS, Morgan Stanley and Bear Stearns Cos Inc. in what they called one of the most pervasive trading rings since the 1980s. The SEC also brought civil charges against 11 people, as well as against three hedge funds. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html?ex=1338609600&en=55a03ad8230fe973&ei=5088 But Mr. Romney's Bain career - a source of money and contacts that he has used to finance his Massachusetts campaigns and to leap ahead of his presidential rivals in early fund-raising - also exposes him to criticism that he enriched himself excessively, sometimes by cutting jobs to increase profits. He made his money mainly through leveraged buyouts - essentially, mortgaging companies to take them over in the hope of reselling them at big profits in just a few years. It is a bare-knuckle form of investing that is in the spotlight because of the exploding profits of buyout giants like Bain, Blackstone and the Carlyle Group. In Washington, Congress is considering ending a legal quirk that lets fund managers escape much of the income tax on their earnings. ... Mr. Romney learned the perils of campaigning on his business career in his first run for office, when accusations that Bain Capital had fired union workers at an Indiana company it controlled derailed his effort to unseat Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat, in 1994. “Basically, he cut our throats,” a laid-off worker said in a commercial attacking Mr. Romney. (He has said he had nothing to do with the firings.) Mr. Romney, in an interview, acknowledged that Bain Capital's acquisitions had sometimes led to layoffs but said that he could explain them to voters. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/20767.html "He's a big government guy,” said Stephen Slivinski, the director of budget studies at Cato Institute, a libertarian research group. The numbers are clear, credible and conclusive, added David Keating, the executive director of the Club for Growth, a budget-watchdog group. "He's a big spender,” Keating said. "No question about it." Take almost any yardstick and Bush generally exceeds the spending of his predecessors. .. Discretionary spending went up in Bush's first term by 48.5 percent, not adjusted for inflation, more than twice as much as Bill Clinton did (21.6 percent) in two full terms, Slivinski reports. .. But Bush's super-spending is about far more than defense and homeland security. Brian Riedl, a budget analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research group, points to education spending. Adjusted for inflation, it's up 18 percent annually since 2001, thanks largely to Bush's No Child Left Behind act. http://www.basicchristian.us/downloads/Christian_vs_Mormon.pdf Why would otherwise legitimate Christian Ministers and Ministries be so quick to disqualify themselves from ministerial services by supporting Mitt Romney? It's tough to tell what kind of Christian ministry is going to be provided by the Mitt Romney supporters after all they are now busy comforting and strengthening the hand of the deceiving-manipulating cultist, the abortion provider, the pornography distributor, the alternate family representative, and the alcohol, tobacco and casino investor. It makes little sense that these ministries would now attempt to be understanding and sympathetic to the problems and situations that people are facing daily in society and are struggling to overcome. Strange how those publically claiming to want to help are actually privately supporting Mitt Romney a person who has personally laid many of the traps that people now find themselves in and are desperately attempting to free themselves from. ... With the candidate Willard Mitt Romney we will never know what the truth is or what to expect because Mitt Romney makes certain that he does not present a clear, precise plan of what his actual intentions are. Romney instead chooses to promote only the vaguest suggestions while cluttering his campaign with innuendo making the Romney campaign as substantive as vapor and totally void of any realistic public agenda. The facts are that Willard Mitt Romney is a secret man, living a secret life and unfortunately Americans will never accurately know in Mitt just who is representing us. Mitt Romney consistently says one thing and does another therefore it is impossible to accept the word of Mitt Romney as a valid representation of Mitt Romney. Christians have an obligation to society and to each other to be open and honest, as a candidate the (LDS) Mormon Mitt Romney fails to meet our Christian obligations. http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/10/don_wiltons_turnaround_how_it.php The decision by Pastor Don Wilton to retract his endorsement of Mitt Romney will probably have a chilling effect on pastors across South Carolina who have always played right up to the line. Wilton's decision to endorse Romney's policy record provoked an intense backlash among his fellow Southern Baptist pastors, and word in South Carolina is that Wilton was sending signals as early as this weekend that he had not forseen how controversial his endorsement would be. http://www.lesfeldick.org/ There are 3 columns for audio on the right side of the table below that can be used in these ways: By left-clicking in the "MP3" column, you can listen to the MP3 audio files. By right-clicking in the "MP3" column, you can download the MP3 audio file to play it later. By left-clicking in the "Listen" column, you can play live streaming RealAudio with RealPlayer. By right-clicking in the "Download" column, you can download the RealAudio file to play it later. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/looking-devils-street/story.aspx?guid=%7B5ED9F803%2D6811%2D4F79%2D9113%2DE7A128D1B4E0%7D I've been trading for 17 years and have used an assimilation of four primary metrics fundamentals, technicals, structural and psychology to shape my risk profile. I continue to use this recipe, as we did in front of earnings, to help guide my decision-making process. It's a useful guide but truth be told, it's lost a bit of its predictive power. See column Something has changed with regard to the DNA of the tape. I've felt it for a few years but naturally assumed that I, not the tape, had shifted course. The notion that there was an unnatural tone to the market, an underlying tenor, if you will, felt like forced validation or post-rationalization. But still, it persisted. Internally at first and then in select circles. We used to huddle in hushed tones and talk about "the invisible hand" or the "plunge protection team." We did so for fear of being called conspiracy theorists or, worse, unpatriotic. The thought that there was a hidden force seemed bizarre. I was taught that nobody was bigger than the market. Most certainly, if there were games being played, it would eventually come out. Still, some of my most trusted and widely respected sources confided in me that they saw it as well. They did so in confidence, as Wall Street is a small place where credibility is the gateway of continuity. I, too, held my tongue for fear of retribution or consequence. Even still, to this day, there are folks that will view this column as financial sacrilege. So what now gives this topic license for discussion? Paulson, who recently said, matter-of-factly, that there is indeed a Working Group on Financial Markets in force and at play. Further, he has openly held discussions with Wall Street firms and hedge fund managers in an attempt to gain leverage in the financial equation. http://www.hvjournal.com/articles.php?id=2265 Rockwell was one of the first people to be baptized into the Mormon Church. He was baptized along with Joseph Smith's parents and Martin Harris. Throughout his life, Rockwell earned many reputations. In addition to being a bodyguard to the prophet Joseph Smith, Rockwell was also known for his gun-shooting skills and accuracy. ... On Christmas 1843, Rockwell appeared at Joseph Smith's house after escaping from jail. Anderson related that Rockwell was able to escape prison because he was so thin he was able to climb up through the chimney. He was dirty and disheveled. It took a moment for Smith to recognize his friend Rockwell, but he soon did. ... Rockwell was once in a tavern and encountered a man who didn't like him. The two got into an argument. The man held a gun to Rockwell and shot, point blank. It is said the bullet came out of the barrel, bounced off Rockwell's chest and fell to the ground. Rockwell moved west with the Saints (Mormons). He was also a bodyguard of the Prophet Brigham Young. ... Young led a large group of people and animals down the steep and treacherous cliffs of Hurricane. When he got to the bottom, he looked up and watched as Rockwell descended. Rockwell was a bit drunk and barely made it safely down the steep cliffs. ... Rockwell died of a heart attack at age 65. He was found in his bed with his boots still on his feet. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304576,00.html The former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention has retracted his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The Romney campaign has agreed to withdraw all references to Pastor Don Wilton's endorsement of Romney, the Baptist Press reported on Tuesday. Wilton said the endorsement - first announced by the Romney campaign last Friday - was a "mistake." "While I did give my consent to the local campaign to use my affirmation of the governor's stance on family values in my capacity as an individual citizen, I made the mistake of not realizing the extent to which it would be used on a national basis," Wilton told the news agency. "It was my personal error to agree to support Romney's campaign. Until this incident I had never endorsed any person running for any elected office, Democrat or Republican." http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58253 We will never get better candidates if we accept lesser candidates. It's simple market politics. If Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican nomination, it will represent the first time in 30 years that an avowedly pro-abortion candidate did so. Don't expect that pendulum to swing back for another 30 years. And, if Giuliani should, by some twist of fate, win the presidency, it will mean the end of Reaganism. It will represent a turning point in the history of the Republican Party and our nation. It will mean the continued deaths of tens of millions unborn babies when we are closer than ever to defeating the abortion culture that Roe v. Wade initiated in 1973. Should Giuliani succeed, it will represent the end of any hope for the Republican Party to serve as an alternative to the Democratic Party for millions of people like me and Dr. Dobson. That's bigger than two terms of Hillary Rodham Clinton. That's worse even than four or eight more years in the wilderness. I'll go even further than Dr. Dobson. Not only will I not support any candidate who is pro-abortion, I won't support any candidate who is not doing his or her absolute best to uphold, support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That shouldn't just be my prerequisite. It should be the prerequisite of every American. Yet, it is very difficult to find among the front-runners candidates who respect and revere and understand the Constitution. I also won't vote for any candidate who says he's against abortion and same-sex marriage and higher taxes and Second Amendment restrictions but whose actions as an elected public official betray his words. That means you, Mitt Romney. As voters, we should raise our standards. Otherwise, we will get candidates whose standards reflect the lowest common denominator – not the ideals of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Dr. Dobson is right. More of us should take that principled stand. More of us should let the whole world know what that stand is. More of us should hold politicians accountable to higher standards. If they want our votes, they should have to earn them. What is so hard to understand about that? http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58278 There are now two major polls that put Gov. Mike Huckabee in a 5-to-1 lead among values voters: the Values Voter Presidential Debate and the Values Voter Summit. ... For those who missed the event, let me give you a glimpse into what was said. I'll summarize Rudy Giuliani's speech with these words: "You'll always know where I stand." Yeah, against us. That's why, Mayor Giuliani, you won't be getting our vote. Gov. Mitt Romney was introduced by Jay Sekulow with the words: "I know his judicial philosophy." Yeah, so do I. ... Actions are what you believe, and when Romney appointed judges as governor, he "passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of the 36 judicial vacancies he has faced, instead tapping registered Democrats or independents – including two gay lawyers who have supported expanded same-sex rights." Those are the kind of judges we can expect from Romney. He said he'd be a pro-life president "just like I was a pro-life governor." This guy doesn't know when to quit. Watch for yourself what kind of governor he was. Then he promoted his Massachusetts Health Care as a model for the nation – that's the one that had abortion as a "health care benefit." Then Romney, who sat on the Marriot board while they pumped the sewage of pornography into hotel rooms, said he had a "one strike and you're out" policy on pornography – placing an "ankle bracelet for life" on those responsible. I'm not sure if he applies that policy to himself; he didn't lift his pants leg. ... The clear winner was Gov. Mike Huckabee who remarked that he comes "from us rather than to us." He told the group he sings from his heart, and doesn't "just lip-sync the words." He spoke of the threat of Islamofascism, and he's right – it shouldn't be easier to cross our border illegally than for us to get on an airplane in our own hometown. He said "no" to amnesty and sanctuary cities. He said we must secure the border – and "do it now." Sounds like he's coming along. Huckabee also talked against the outsourcing of jobs to China and being free of our dependence on oil from Saudi Arabia within 10 years. He spoke against U.N. treaties like the "Rights of the Child," which would mandate abortion, and the "Law of the Sea," which surrenders our ocean's riches to U.N. control. Almost as if he'd been listening to Phyllis Schlafly speeches. He also held firm to what he called the "non-negotiables" of life and marriage and encouraged attendees not to spell G-O-D as the G-O-P. http://www.alternet.org/story/65829/ In 2004, in an ingenious move, Log Cabin ran a $1 million TV ad campaign against amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage: Footage from the 2000 vice presidential debate showed Dick Cheney, loving dad of a lesbian daughter, making their argument that the states -- not the federal government -- should govern marriage. The Romney flip-flop ad is Log Cabin's most daring high-wire act: If Romney become president, the group faces even further exile as the lavender sheep in the GOP family. But if early voters decide Romney has a closet full of flip-flops and Log Cabin's ad gets remembered as helping to doom his campaign, it'll have succeeded in turning itself into a gay version of the Republican Party's widely feared Club for Growth, which bankrolls primary challengers if officeholders don't toe its anti-tax line. Plus, it also will have helped nominate a Republican less intent on courting social conservatives by making anti-gay promises. "We are a Republican organization that cares about the future of our party," http://americansfortruth.com/news/mitt-romneys-1994-letter-to-log-cabin-republicans.html Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (Republican and Mormon) wrote this friendly letter to the pro-homosexuality Log Cabin Republicans on Oct 6, 1994. Click HERE to read the letter in its entirety or peruse the excerpts below. And as you're reading this, keep in mind that his opponent was none other than ultra-liberal Senator Ted Kennedy ... “…As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever before that as we seek to establish full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent." I am not unaware of my opponents [sic] considerable record in the area of civil rights… For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponent's record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will. "We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and a bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns [grammar in context] President Clinton's “don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share..." http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/IBD-0001-20414179.htm Regulation: The Federal Trade Commission has declined to open a formal antitrust probe of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) -- good news for those who believe the market, not a bureaucracy, is the best arbiter. The details of the case are actually irrelevant. But here's the short story: Rival Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD) , lawmakers and some FTC commissioners have asked the agency to begin a formal investigation of Intel. They allege that the company is engaging in anti-competitive behavior with its 80% to 90% market share -- to squeeze AMD by offering computer makers discounts if they won't use AMD products. What is relevant is the foolishness of antitrust laws. Should they not be more appropriately called Punish Success Laws? Don't the laws exist simply to penalize thriving companies? Certainly no failing company has ever been subject to an antitrust probe. If the goal of antitrust law is to discourage or eliminate monopolies, then the market is best equipped to do that. The market abhors a monopoly, and as long as there are no government barriers to entry, it will allow a monopoly to exist for only a short time, if at all. Should someone build a better product -- and someone inevitably will -- the market eventually will reward its creators, especially if the product can be sold at a lower price. This is the essence of competition. In some cases the competition might arrive later than the dominate company's rivals would like. But there's no objective standard as to how long is too long. The point 19, it will happen. The public has been conditioned to believe that antitrust laws were made for consumer protection, that free enterprise could not exist without them. But history reveals a different story. Antitrust laws actually have been used as weapons by businesses having difficulties competing. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/23/amanpour.honor/index.html LONDON, England (CNN) -- She has reported from the front lines of conflicts around the world, interviewed world leaders, and investigated the important issues of our time. And on Tuesday, CNN's Christiane Amanpour receives an honor from Britain's Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her work. Christiane Amanpour's award recognizes her services to journalism. Amanpour is set to receive a CBE, or Commander in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, "for services to journalism." "I'm really, really thrilled and I'm really proud," Amanpour told CNN when the award was announced earlier this year. "But I think I'm really proud of the simple citation which says 'for services to journalism.'" As CNN's chief international correspondent based in London, Amanpour has reported on most crises from the world's many news hotspots including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans. She recently completed a year-long investigation into religious extremism titled "God's Warriors." The CBE ceremony is formally called an "investiture" and is held in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace. About 20 investitures are held each year for those receiving the award. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/22/murphy.medal.of.honor/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- His mother describes Lt. Michael Murphy as "someone who always stuck up for the underdog." His father says he was "honest, kind, caring -- probably the antithesis of what you would call a warrior." Murphy is the first U.S. service member to receive the Medal of Honor for action in Afghanistan. Two years after he was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan, Dan and Maureen Murphy and their son John on Monday received Lt. Murphy's Medal of Honor for heroism on the battlefield from President Bush. Murphy's honor is the first to be awarded from the war in Afghanistan. Two Medals of Honor have been awarded to soldiers serving in Iraq. In June 2005, Murphy, 29, led his four-man Navy SEAL team into the 10,000-foot peaks of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush to search for a terrorist thought to be in the region. But they were soon spotted and started taking fire from more than 40 insurgents. According to a Navy report on the incident, the insurgents held the advantage of terrain and launched a well organized, three-sided attack on the team, forcing them deeper into a ravine. All four men were soon wounded, said the SEAL team's lone survivor, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct13/0,4670,NavySEALKilled,00.html CORONADO, Calif. - A Navy SEAL sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi insurgents tossed into their sniper hideout, fellow members of the elite force said. Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor had been near the only door to the rooftop structure Sept. 29 when the grenade hit him in the chest and bounced to the floor, said four SEALs who spoke to The Associated Press this week on condition of anonymity because their work requires their identities to remain secret. "He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it,"said a 28-year-old lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day."He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him." http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c166.html A false prophet. He first predicted the end of the world to take place in 1994, and now claims the church age has come to an end. Phil Johnson notes: Harold Camping has finally gone completely off. Having proved himself a false prophet by predicting that Christ would return to earth on September 6, 1994, Camping continues to make false prophecies. His most recent one is the absurd claim that the Church age has come to an end, and the Tribulation has begun. God is through with the church, Camping insists. He wants all Christians to leave their churches and trust Family Radio to be the vehicle through which the gospel is preached to the whole world. (You can guess where Camping thinks you should send all your money.) This once-fine ministry is a tragic example of what can happen when one man is given too much control with no accountability. Source: Family Radio entry, Phil Johnson's Bookmarks : Really Bad Theology ... Camping's aberrant and extra-biblical teachings and behavior (including his lack of accountability) place him outside the boundaries of orthodox, evangelical Christianity. http://www.alankeyes.com/articles/071021frc.php Those who followed last week's (FRC) "Values Voter Summit" of the Family Research Council, which had invited Republican presidential candidates to address an audience of moral conservatives, might consider this - Former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani once said, "Most of [Bill] Clinton's policies are similar to most of mine." On another occasion, he highly praised the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, and offered up a citywide proclamation honoring the infamous racist eugenicist. As governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney used his executive power to unconstitutionally and unlawfully institute gay marriage; signed into law socialized medicine, complete with taxpayer-funded abortions; presided over the thorough implementation of the radical gay agenda in the public schools; and signed a permanent "assault" weapons ban. John McCain and Fred Thompson spearheaded passage of the so-called "campaign finance reform" which was originally known as "McCain-Feingold-Thompson," the worst-ever attack on free political speech in American history. ... For weeks prior to the event - in advertising, and in the radio and television pronouncements of FRC leaders - FRC claimed that all the candidates in both parties were invited. This claim was patently false, since Dr. Keyes was excluded, and yet they refused to correct it even after its untruthfulness was pointed out to them repeatedly. Keyes staffers, seeing the claims that "all" the candidates had been invited, even the Democrats, thought perhaps an invitation for Ambassador Keyes had been lost in the mail. It could happen. So, they contacted FRC organizers just to be sure there was no misunderstanding. To their surprise, no such misplaced invitation had ever been offered. And none was ever forthcoming. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/10/contested_vote.html Immediately after Tony Perkins announced the result of the FRC Action straw poll, in which Mitt Romney edged Mike Huckabee by 30 votes out of 5,775 cast, Huckabee boosters cried foul – and reporters peppered Perkins with questions about the legitimacy of the poll. Turns out that Huckabee won a majority of the votes cast in person at the Values Voter Summit, 51 percent, and Romney only took 10 percent. Some unknown number of votes were cast online by people who also attended. But other votes were cast anytime online between August and Saturday. That's how Ron Paul showed up in third place with 865 votes even though he was picked by only 25 in-person voters. ... Perkins wouldn't tell reporters who he had voted for. http://www.mbn.org/Media/podcasts/talking_it_over_pods.asp Janet Parshall talked with James Walker, author of THE TRUTH BEHIND THE SECRET, about the New York Times Bestseller that is leading millions astray. In our second hour, Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs gave us an update on the Persecuted Church. Janet also talked with author Michael Behe about the flaws in Darwinism as evidenced in God's design of the world of DNA. ... On our inaugural program, Janet Parshall talked with two men who are familiar with Islam, Dr. Ergun Caner and Dr. Samuel Naaman. We looked at the theology in Iranian President Ahmadinejad's recent speeches in the U.S., and examined this religion, as well as the Church's role in responding to it. During our second hour, Janet Parshall talked with Joe Dallas, former homosexual, about whether you can be both gay and a Christian. http://www.truthforlife.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6081&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=tls Many Christians remain stunted and limited in spiritual things and never seem to make progress from year to year. No surge of growth and spiritual interest is seen in them. They exist but do not "grow up in every way into him." Should we be content with being in the green blade when we might advance to the ear and eventually ripen into the full corn in the ear? Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ and to say, "I am safe" without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fullness that is to be found in Him? It ought not to be so; we should long as good traders in heaven's market to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men's vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be wintertime in our hearts? We must have our seedtime, it is true, but oh, for a springtime-yes, a summer season that will give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus-in His presence-ripened by the sunshine of His smiles. We must hold sweet communion with Him. We must leave the distant view of His face and come near, as John did, and rest our head upon His shoulder; then we will find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope-in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountaintops and gilds them with its light and presents one of the most charming sights to the traveler's eye, so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to observe a spiritual glow on the head of some saint who has risen in stature, like Saul, above his fellows until, like a mighty snow-capped Alp, he reflects among the chosen the beams of the Sun of Righteousness and bears the glow of His radiance high for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father who is in heaven. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/20/opponents_say_romney_is_stacking_straw_poll/ Mitt Romney's campaign figured out a way for supporters to help him do well in a closely watched straw poll of Christian conservative leaders without showing up at the event: Donate at least $1 to the Family Research Council Action, then vote online. A top Romney supporter sent an e-mail to other backers Thursday, urging them to use the online option. "Let me tell you how simple this is!" read the e-mail from Mark DeMoss ... DeMoss defended the online campaign yesterday, but aides to rivals John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson said they were not asking their supporters to vote online. They also noted that, typically, straw polls measure the support of people in a place, in this case a summit of prominent conservative leaders. "Our campaign is focused on winning votes and not buying straw polls," one McCain aide said. http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/07/young_republicans_defend_their.php Young Republican convention organizer Brian Graham defended the straw poll against the accuastions it was rigged for Mitt Romney. Graham, a Romney supporter, sent key Young Republican officials this e-mail, which this column has obtained. Some folks have gone on to some blogs to try to make our convention look bad. They are complaining about non-YRs voting in the Straw Poll. ... After asking a female member of the YRNC Planning Committee specifically who had assisted with registration about this issue, she initially confirmed that she thought only Delegates, Alts. and registered guests for the Convention could vote. She later changed her mind to confirm that anyone could vote who paid to attend the dinner. ... Hence, the audible booing and hissing by YR Delegates as the Straw Poll results were announced at the closing YRNC2007 Sunday meeting. http://www.frcaction.org/ FRC Action (formerly American Renewal), the non-profit and tax-exempt legislative action arm of Family Research Council, was founded in 1992 to educate the general public and cultural leaders about traditional American values and to promote the philosophy of the Founding Fathers concerning the nature of ordered liberty. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/20/romney.values/ WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney narrowly won a straw poll of mostly Christian conservative voters at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit held this weekend in the nation's capital. The former Massachusetts governor won almost 28 percent of the 5,776 votes cast, edging out former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who finished 30 votes behind him. ... Texas Rep. Ron Paul finished in third place, with 15 percent of the vote, and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson finished in fourth place with 10 percent. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani finished with 107 votes, just under 2 percent of all ballots cast, and Arizona Sen. John McCain was just behind Giuliani, with 81 votes. "It's hard to gauge how big a victory this is for Romney because we're not entirely sure whether these voters represent the larger Christian conservative constituency," CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider said. http://www.constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=668 In his endorsement of Mitt Romney, Dr. Bob Jones III also said, "This all about beating Hillary." Oh, really? Since when does a preacher of the Gospel and Christian educator put electing charlatans (of any political party) ahead of standing for truth and doing right? And this leads to another problem. Our Christian "leaders" have forgotten what it means to stand on principle. They have gotten so bogged down in politics that they have forsaken the divine call to be watchmen on the wall. If Bob Jones III would be as concerned about standing for truth and principle as he is about "beating Hillary," many others might be encouraged to do the same--and we preachers might actually be able to have a positive impact upon the direction of our country. As it is, our Christian "leaders" are not only not helping to lead our nation out of its current mess, they are actually contributing to the problem, as Dr. Jones' endorsement of Mitt Romney illustrates. Furthermore, what is Dr. Bob going to say to the students and graduates of Bob Jones University? How can he justify all the years of "separation" preaching that BJU is known for? Where is his consistency? How can he now turn around and convince his students that all those Christian "standards" regarding the fellowship of light with darkness, reproving evil, contending for the faith, etc., apply only to areas outside politics? Obviously, BJU students now know that when it comes to politics, we can cast all those principles aside. It makes one wonder what other areas of the Christian life are exempt from Biblical principles. Maybe our business life? But that's a subject for another day. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303760,00.html NEW YORK - Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall. After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members. She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love." "Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause. http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1169209.ece A Norwegian film director has sparked a debate in Norway over whether JK Rowling really is the enormously successful author who launched the Harry Potter craze, or whether she's just a good actress fronted by multinational commercial interests. A Norwegian film director has doubts as to whether JK Rowling is really behind the story of Harry Potter. http://www.kalibu.org/newsletters/newsletter_2001_12b_harrypotter.htm Occultists use fiction to separate the true seekers from the common "herd". This article (and particularly the second part next week) will prove that Harry Potter is truly satanic. Although I have tried to make sure there is nothing crude or profane in this article, it is written and intended for adults only. This is an in-depth review (primarily) of J.K. Row ling's first Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (1999) from a Biblical perspective. It is divided into sections. Christians reading and defending Harry Potter books (Chuck Colson, etc.) are part of the "falling away" predicted for these last days (2 Thess.2:3, 1 Tim.4:1). This article will explain why. I pray many will be convinced and turn from this deception. Part two of this study will deal with the deep occult themes and symbolism used by Rowing that is meant for the 'seekers" and "initiates". Rowling is more than familiar with Balvatsky, Pike and Crowley. Her Potter books are abundantly laced with pure occultism. Rowling is not a naive author who simply wrote a best-selling fantasy. She is part of a larger movement that is helping to bring in the New Age "messiah". http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/19/reid%e2%80%99s-slam-on-limbaugh-fetches-21-million/ WASHINGTON (CNN) – What's the going price for a letter signed by 41 Senate Democrats officially condemning conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh's recent controversial 'phony soldiers' comments? $2.1 million, apparently. That was the winning eBay.com bid Friday for a letter sent to Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays officially calling on him to condemn the comments in question. The letter was written by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and signed by 40 Democratic senators, including White House hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Mays refused to condemn the remarks and Limbaugh placed Reid's letter on the popular auction Web site last Friday, pledging to match whatever it fetched and donate it all to The Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation. ... "The government tried to take away my living, by sending this letter to Mark Mays at Clear Channel and asking him to confer with me about my remarks," Limbaugh said on his show Friday announcing the winning bid. "Private citizens, of their own accord - without a government mandate, without an Al Gore pledge - responded with creativity, and charity, and a sense of fun." Limbaugh identified the winning bidder as Betty Casey, a philanthropist and trustee of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation "We cannot thank her enough for her support in this, and I am honored, and proud, and happy to be matching her," Limbaugh said of Casey. And in a unique twist of fate, Reid took to the Senate floor Friday complimenting Limbaugh for his use of the letter. (Watch Reid on the Senate floor) ... “I asked Senator Reid to go on the program and discuss his discussion of me as ‘unpatriotic,'” Limbaugh said on his show Friday after Reid's speech. "He did not accept my offer to do that, and now has the audacity to climb aboard this, praising the effort, saying that 'he' never knew that it would get this kind of money. It got this kind of money because it represents one of the most outrageous abuses of federal power in modern American history, and that is what makes it a collector's item." http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14937/53/ #1 It makes using your PC a breeze. The cliché literally is true: Ubuntu just works. You install it and it runs. In fact, you can test it out. Without harming your computer in any way, you can boot from the Ubuntu CD and give it a complete whirl on your machine. If you don't like it, nothing's lost. You just remove the CD and boot back in to your existing operating system. Ubuntu is the operating system your granny can use. And what a dutiful grandchild you'd be setting her up with it. Imagine not having to explain blue screens of death, or UAC, or program crashes and lockups. Thanks, Microsoft, for these top 10 reasons why we should upgrade. Let's take up that advice. Time to load Gutsy Gibbon. http://indystar.gns.gannett.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/TECH03/703080741/1001/TECH A Leopard is set to join the Apple family, the latest in a string of animal-named products aimed at taking a bite out of the competition. Apple calls Mac OS X Leopard its biggest operating system upgrade ever. At $129, it's due in stores Oct. 26 and promises 300 new features. Leopard, which replaces OS X Tiger, arrives as Apple is having a record year. Its stock has doubled in 2007, from about $85 a share in early January to nearly $170 now. It has sold more than 1 million iPhones, the year's most hyped and discussed tech product. And Apple's iPod business remains strong. New iPod units recently introduced include a video-capable Nano, a small media player that is the most popular in the line. While much of Apple's attention has been focused on non-computer activities, Leopard is aimed at a core goal - selling more Macintosh computers. The new operating system has loads of new stylistic bells and whistles, with two notables: • Time Machine automatically backs up files without your involvement and lets you "turn back time" to retrieve a lost file. It's different from other backup utilities in that with "a couple of setup clicks, you're done," says Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller. "Everything is automatic." • Boot Camp gives you the ability to run Windows on a Mac. All you need to do is buy a copy of Windows software, and you can run both platforms on one machine. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303421,00.html WASHINGTON - A congressionally mandated panel that promotes religious freedom is recommending the Bush administration close a Virginia-based Islamic school run by the Saudi government if school officials don't comply with demands to turn over textbooks that may include lessons on jihad and intolerance toward other religions. "Significant concerns remain about whether what is being taught at the (school) promotes religious intolerance and may adversely affect the interests of the United States," said a report released Thursday by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. ... The panel's findings focuses on a number of areas of concern with Saudi Arabia, including a 2003 study showing that Saudi texts encouraged violence toward others, "misguides the pupils into believing that in order to safeguard their own religion, they must violently repress and even physically eliminate the 'other.'" A separate study last year conducted by The Center for Religious Freedom, run by Freedom House, and the Institute for Gulf Affairs, found that a ninth-grade Saudi textbook "teaches teenagers in apocalyptic terms that violence towards Jews, Christians and other unbelievers is sanctioned by God," the report reads. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/DN-romney_18nat.ART.State.Edition1.429fe4e.html Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, said that Mormonism is a false religion and that Mr. Romney was not a Christian. "Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise," Dr. Jeffress said in a sermon Sept. 30. "Even though he talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult." Some in the large crowd began to applaud as Dr. Jeffress continued with his remarks. "What really distresses me is some of my ministerial friends and even leaders in our convention are saying, 'Oh, well, he talks about Jesus, we talk about Jesus. What's the big deal?' " he said. "It is a big deal if anybody names another way to be saved except through Jesus Christ." Mr. Romney's campaign said Wednesday that despite such attitudes by Christian conservatives, the former Massachusetts governor has won the support of many conservatives and that his religion is not a political liability. http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=578 FOX News focused on this third party dilemma in their latest poll, saying that when a third party Christian conservative is in the mix for the White House, "the candidate captures one of four Republican votes and a small minority of the overall vote." What is the result? According to FOX News, "That significantly decreases support for Republican Rudy Giuliani and increases Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's lead to double digits." ... What does this all mean? Does this mean we should all jump on the Giuliani bandwagon right now? Of course not. This is the primary election season. We should be out there working and campaigning hard for the candidate that most reflects our values. These candidates will battle it out in state primaries and caucuses. When the dust settles, one will emerge as the Republican nominee. I will support that nominee. Supporting a third party candidate in 2008 will ensure that Clinton wins. The country can not afford the damage that will be done if the Democrats hold the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/10/clinton_widens.html Interestingly, the poll's findings also rebut the thinking that Clinton, the former first lady, is the "default" candidate and does not draw passionate support from Democrats. If she is the nominee, 64 percent of Democrats said they would vote for her enthusiastically, 22 percent said they would support her mainly to oppose the Republican nominee, and 10 percent said they would vote for the Republican or stay home. ... For Romney, the poll numbers aren't as encouraging. While he is leading narrowly in New Hampshire and by a wider margin in Iowa polls, he remains stuck in fourth nationally with 10 percent, trailing Rudy Giuliani with 32 percent, Fred Thompson with 18 percent, and John McCain with 14 percent. Romney is also in fourth in terms of voter enthusiasm. Only one-fourth of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they would enthusiastically for Romney if he were the nominee, while 38 percent said they would support him mostly to oppose the Democratic nominee, and 22 percent said they would either vote for the Democrat or stay home. http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-uscamp165414437oct16,0,3086044.story WASHINGTON - Seeking to catch national GOP presidential frontrunner Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney spent $6 million on radio and television advertising in the past three months, 12 times as much as Giuliani expended on media, campaign finance reports filed yesterday show. Romney outspent all of his Republican rivals, sinking a total of $21 million into his campaign, compared with Giuliani's $13.3 million in expenses and newcomer Fred Thompson's $5.7 million, according to the reports to the Federal Election Commission. ... Romney ran 10,893 ads this year, including 10,199 local TV ads - nearly half of them in Iowa, the Nielsen Co. reported yesterday. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g1MPzP4uRnuJ1ldRR7SFBHb5GnNAD8SAKM500 Romney and Jones would appear to be a political odd couple, with the Southern fundamentalist Christian throwing his support behind the Mormon who was governor of Massachusetts. But Jones said his endorsement came after he decided Romney would do the most to represent the average conservative American. "As a Christian I am completely opposed to the doctrines of Mormonism," Jones told the newspaper. "But I'm not voting for a preacher. I'm voting for a president. It boils down to who can best represent conservative American beliefs, not religious beliefs." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301216,00.html columnist Ann Coulter shocked a cable TV talk-show audience Monday when she declared that Jews need to be "perfected" by becoming Christians, and that America would be better off if everyone were Christian. Coulter made the remarkable statements during an often heated appearance to promote her new book on advertising guru Donny Deutsch's CNBC show "The Big Idea." In response to a question from Deutsch asking Coulter if "it would be better if we were all Christian," the controversial columnist responded: "Yes." "We should all be Christian?" Deutsch repeated. "Yes," Coulter responded, asking Deutsch, who is Jewish, if he would like to "come to church with me." Deutsch, pressing Coulter further, asked, "We should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians?" She responded: "Yeah." Coulter deflected Deutsch's assertion that her comments were anti-Semitic, matter-of-factly telling the show's obviously upset host, "That is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071016/ap_on_sc/new_marine_species MANILA, Philippines - Scientists exploring a deep ocean basin in search of species isolated for millions of years found marine life believed to be previously undiscovered, including a tentacled orange worm and an unusual black jellyfish. Project leader Dr. Larry Madin said Tuesday that U.S. and Philippine scientists collected about 100 different specimens in a search in the Celebes Sea south of the Philippines. ... Madin said the Celebes Sea, being surrounded by islands and shallow reefs, is partially isolated now and may have been more isolated millions of years ago, leading scientists to believe that "there may be groups of organisms that have been contained and kept within" the basin since then. "That makes it an interesting place to go and look to see what we might find," he said. http://thomasmore.org/ ANN ARBOR, MI - The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, asked all Christians today to join the Catholic League's national boycott of Miller Brewing Company for its despicable anti-Christian ad promoting the Folsom Street Fair, an open-air pagan sex orgy featuring homosexual depravity at its most base in San Francisco. The offending ad depicts a sadomasochistic poster mocking DaVinci's “The Last Supper.” The poster features the Miller logo, half-naked homosexuals in leathers and chains seated around the table adorned with various sex toys. Internet photos of the Fair show naked men publicly performing oral sex and all kinds of sadomasochistic acts on one another. For a collection of the more mild photos, you may visit the Catholic League's website to judge for yourself. Bear in mind that these are the more mild photos. Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented, “The depraved sexual acts performed in public and in front of children were truly obscene. ! Where were the police? Where were the public officials? Clearly, lunatic liberals are controlling city government. Moreover, I'm surprised by the adamant anti-Christian direction taken by Miller Brewing that has placed it on a collision course with Christians." http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1670621,00.html The continuing search by evangelical leaders for a Republican presidential candidate they can believe in took an intriguing turn this week when a handful of evangelical notables started to lean more publicly - and more urgently - in the direction of former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney ... The latest move came on Thursday when Mark DeMoss, a well-known publicist for a variety of religious or conservative groups and causes, sent a five-page letter to friends and colleagues explaining that he had decided to back Romney, a Mormon. "As a Southern Baptist evangelical and political conservative, I am convinced I have more in common with most Mormons than I do with a liberal Southern Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic or a liberal from any other denomination or faith group. The question shouldn't be, 'Could I vote for a Mormon?' but, 'Could I vote for this Mormon?' After all, Mitt told me there are Mormons he couldn't vote for (I presume Harry Reid, for example); and there are Southern Baptists I couldn't vote for (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, to name a few)." DeMoss, an unpaid adviser to the Romney campaign who worked for years for the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, and actually arranged a meeting between Romney, Falwell and other evangelical leaders last year, added, "I fully recognize some evangelicals take issue with me for supporting a Mormon for the office of President, and I respect their concerns. Indeed, I had to deal with the same concerns in my own heart before offering to help Gov. Romney. But I concluded that I am more concerned that a candidate shares my values than he shares my theology." http://biblicaltraining.org/index.php?page=speakers&PHPSESSID=097d5262d81fda55ce85b2a6c14eae2a And while some right-wing activists are hoping that the Religious Right will coalesce around one of their second-tier favorites-such as Mike Huckabee-Perkins seemed to downplay that option, panning them as unacceptable to economic- and foreign policy-oriented Republicans. In fact, Perkins spoke glowingly of Mitt Romney, saying that “in my opinion, [he's] the strongest on these core social issues”-and not only that, but his “conversion” on wedge issues has been “genuine.” In fact, Perkins said Romney is stronger than Huckabee and the others on such issues. During the campaign cycle, he has made these issues more front-and-center in his message than I think other candidates who are social conservatives have, I mean that have a track record of social conservatism. I think he has staked out ground on these issues so much so that he would have a very difficult time ever backing away from them; he would lose all credibility. He has really brought emphasis to these issues. And I do think, yes, more than Mike Huckabee and some of the others. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/us/politics/11repubs.html?ref=politics A prominent evangelical supporter of Mitt Romney has written a memorandum to 150 conservative Christian leaders, warning of the prospect of Rudolph W. Giuliani or Hillary Rodham Clinton in the White House and making the case to rally around Mr. Romney. The writer, Mark DeMoss, a publicity agent whose clients include the Rev. Franklin Graham, wrote the five-page letter, urging the recipients to “galvanize support around Mitt Romney, so Mr. Giuliani isn't the unintended beneficiary of our divided support among several candidates." Or, "worse yet," Mr. DeMoss added, "so we don't abdicate the presidency (and the future of the Supreme Court) over to Hillary Clinton." http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/06/tvcs_lou_sheldon_backing_romne.php Sheldon, the outspoken chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, has agreed to serve as one of the co-chairs of the "Romney for President Faith and Values Steering Committee." Sheldon says he has met with Governor Romney on a number of occasions since October of last year, and has been impressed with the governor's "intelligent" positions on the issues and his relationship with his wife Ann. According to Sheldon, Romney's Mormon faith should not be a hindrance to Christian voters. "He reads the Bible regularly. He has said -- and I asked him -- that he has received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior," the pastor declares. "He believes that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, only Son of God divine, and was crucified, buried and raised from the dead for our behalf. So, I think as he addresses those issues, that's certainly going to ignite good feeling [among Christians]." http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer The Bible commands us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), to speak out for Zion's sake (Isaiah 62:1), to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6) and to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3). These and so many other verses of the Bible that have one overriding message-- as Christians we have a Biblical obligation to defend Israel and the Jewish people in their time of need. Israel's time of need is now. There is a new Hitler in the Middle East --President Ahmadinejad of Iran -- who has threatened to wipe out Israel and America and is rapidly acquiring the nuclear technology to make good on his threat. If we learned anything from the Holocaust, it is that when a madman threatens genocide we must take him seriously. During the Holocaust, too many Christians were silent, and we were left to mourn the slaughter of 6 million Jews. Today, Bible-believing Christians must speak up and stand up for Israel. We must act to do whatever we can to protect Israel's 6 million Jews from the second Holocaust. We must get it right this time. Our faith demands it. The times require it. Silence is not an option. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301116,00.html The "survival of the world" is at stake if Muslims and Christians do not make peace with each other, leaders of the Muslim world will warn the Pope and other Christian leaders today. In an unprecedented open letter signed by 138 leading scholars from every sect of Islam, the Muslims plead with Christian leaders "to come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions" and spell out the similarities between passages of the Bible and the Koran. The scholars state: "As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them - so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes." The phrasing has echoes of the New Testament passage: "He that is not with me is against me" - a passage used by President George Bush when addressing a joint session of Congress nine days after 9/11. The Muslims call instead for the emphasis to be on the shared characteristics of world's two largest faiths. http://www.ntslibrary.com/Christian-PDF-Books.htm Note to All Users: All of these free Christian pdf books are opened with Adobe Reader®. All copyright laws must be adhere to on all the individual materials. ... Additional Free Book Web Search Links. The Online Books Page: An index of more than 25,000 English works available for free in various formats. Project Gutenberg: - Online Book Catalog An index with over 10,000 electronic books (e-books) available at no cost in the web. World Wide School Library: The library contains over 2,000 online texts organized by subjects, author, title, and genre. http://www.ntslibrary.com/apologetics-PDF-books.htm You are the generation that has seen the largest increase ever in 2,000 years of the Christian history. But you are also the generation that is watching the churches begin to mimic the world's thinking. God has called you to help insure that the gains of the past century are solid enough to be multiplied in the twenty-first century. We seek not just saved souls, but transformed lives and a transformed culture. Western civilization as it once stood is dead or dying, and a new synthesis of religion and society is being born. A new civilization is arising, and you today have an enormous opportunity to impact it, mold it, and press the stamp of Jesus Christ deeply into it. One hundred years from now, what will the world look like? If the numbers of conversions are accurate, we have a better opportunity than ever before to be salt and light in the world. Christ's kingdom is expanding, and the future looks bright so long as the church doesn't lose its saltiness. http://www.hwy777.com/video.html Your guide to Christian video on the web. Music Videos; Christian TV; Flash Presentations; Free Downloads; Video for Kids; Special Presentations; Internet Evangelism and more. http://www.walkingintruth.org/Walkingintruth/devotions/october_2007/wit101007.htm Throughout the Scriptures, we find such verses as - "The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth"(Proverbs 10:30). Proverbs 10:25 tells us - "As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation." And again, Psalm 112:6 says of the man who fears the Lord - "Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." ... The Holy Spirit used the illustration of a mountain to prove the firmness and stability of the believer who places his total trust and confidence in the Lord. We all know that a mountain cannot be easily moved. So it is with the believer who has abandoned all other confidences and depends totally on the Lord Jesus. This believer cannot "be removed." In other words, he cannot be shaken or overthrown. He cannot totter or slip out of course. The "prince of the power of the air"(Ephesians 2:2), who is his enemy, cannot - with all of his subtlety and strength - move him. This man is trusting in the Lord, and he is "blessed"(Jeremiah 17:7). He heard "the word of Truth" and has placed his total trust in the Lord(Ephesians 1:13). God is his "rock," "salvation," and "defense" (Psalm 62:2). Therefore, nothing - no lie, no physical, mental, or emotional attack - can move him. He is trusting in the Lord, knowing that he resultantly shall not be desolate(Psalm 34:22). He shall never be ashamed nor shall his enemies triumph over him(Psalm 25:2). His overall attitude is - God is in my midst; therefore, I will not allow any assignment or trick of the devil to shake me(Psalm 46:5). http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/bush_confidant_brutally_critiq.html Dan Bartlett, former counselor to the president and longtime advisor to President Bush, acknowledges that Republicans face a tough contest for the White House next year -- so tough that Republican voters are likely to be highly pragmatic in their choice of a candidate. And that, Bartlett says, bodes well for Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, or for John McCain, who has what it takes to "go toe to toe'' with the likely Democratic nominee, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. Bartlett doesn't have much good to say about the rest of the Republican field, however -- based on remarks he made on the speaking circuit recently. ... "People are not going to step out and say, 'I have a problem with Romney because he's Mormon.' What they're going to say is he's a flip-flopper," said Bartlett ... Bartlett did not predict a GOP nominee. But he did say Republicans are so concerned about losing the White House after losing both houses of Congress that "I think this is going to be the season of the pragmatic Republican voter." http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hw5aUHaxqhs-AuM9BTVmuR5Q7Z6wD8S67TGG0 DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Fred Thompson remembered his lines in his first stage performance. The newcomer to the Republican presidential field neither stood out nor bombed Tuesday in his inaugural debate of the 2008 White House race. He largely held his own but hardly came off as the Ronald Reagan-like savior of the GOP that backers have long built him up to be. An intense squabbling between GOP rivals Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani over taxes and spending took some of the focus - and heat - off Thompson while overshadowing John McCain and the other five Republicans on stage. Thompson was literally stuck between Romney and Giuliani as they sparred. http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=661 I told Dr. Corsi, "A lot of conservative Christians will never vote for Rudy Giuliani." I will even go so far as to say that no genuine Christian conservative could possibly vote for Giuliani. And, no, it does not matter that Hillary Clinton might be elected President as a result. A Giuliani or Clinton choice is tantamount to a choice between Nero or Caligula. Let me say it plainly: a Hillary Clinton administration would be no worse than a Rudy Giuliani administration. In some ways, it might not be as bad. At least, with a Democrat in the White House, conservatives might try to act like conservatives and muster the energy to actually oppose some of her liberal proposals. The record is clear: when a Republican is in the White House, conservatives not only lose their backbone, they also lose their brain cells. They walk around in a daze without the ability to even see what is going on right before their eyes. They become "mind-numbed robots" with no commitment to principle whatsoever. Why? Because one of "their own" is in office. At that point, it becomes a "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil" situation. If two George W. Bush administrations have taught us anything, they have taught us that. http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20071010/cm_thenation/1241385 Asked whether he would obey the Constitution and consult Congress before sending U.S. troops into combat, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney says he would consult his lawyers first. Just as President Bush turned to Gonzales for legal opinions that the disgraced former White House counsel and Attorney General wrote with the purpose of absolving the commander-in-chief of any duty to uphold the Constitution, so Romney says that he would take his cue from contemporary counselors rather than the Founders of the American experime. ... Romney's responded, "You sit down with your attorneys and (they) tell you what you have to do. But obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States to protect us against a potential threat. The president did that as he was planning on moving into Iraq and received the authorization of Congress..." Matthews interjected: "Did (President Bush) need (a go-ahead from Congress)?" "You know," Romney replied, "we're going to let the lawyers sort out what he needed to do and what he didn't need to do." http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2007/10/john_withers_bl.html On Sunday, America lost a great hero--John Withers. The Black World War II veteran risked a dishonorable discharge and the loss of his academic career in order to hide and save two dying Jewish teens he liberated from the Dachau concentration camp. It was an especially great risk in those days of segregation. In 2003, the Wall Street Journal ran this incredible front page story by Bryan Gruley about Withers' heroic efforts risking his future for two strangers and how decades later he was reunited with one of them, now an American citizen. ... He lost touch with them after he returned to the U.S. in 1946. But in 2001, Mr. Withers was reunited with Peewee, by then a successful Connecticut businessman named Martin Weigen. The reunion inspired Mr. Weigen to unburden himself of his own stories of losing his parents and sister during the Holocaust, and time he spent at Auschwitz and other camps. Mr. Weigen died in October 2003 at the age of 75. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58052 Former Mexican President Vicente Fox confirmed the existence of a plan conceived with President Bush to create a new regional currency in the Americas, in an interview last night on CNN's "Larry King Live." It possibly was the first time a leader of Mexico, Canada or the U.S. openly confirmed a plan for a regional currency. Fox explained the current regional trade agreement that encompasses the Western Hemisphere is intended to evolve into other previously hidden aspects of integration. According to a transcript published by CNN, King, near the end of the broadcast, asked Fox a question e-mailed from a listener, a Ms. Gonzalez from Elizabeth, N.J.: "Mr. Fox, I would like to know how you feel about the possibility of having a Latin America united with one currency?" Fox answered in the affirmative, indicating it was a long-term plan. He admitted he and President Bush had agreed to pursue the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas – a free-trade zone extending throughout the Western Hemisphere, suggesting part of the plan was to institute eventually a regional currency. "Long term, very long term," he said. "What we proposed together, President Bush and myself, it's ALCA, which is a trade union for all the Americas." http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jR80ylRipRFz_BSPltSUJ06-lMegD8S2LKLG0 The poll highlighted public discontent with Bush on issues across the board as well as a dour public mood that could signal an uphill fight for the GOP in next year's elections. A record low 34 percent said they approved of his handling of the economy, battered by a major credit crunch and a feeble housing market. His prior low in the poll in that area was 37 percent. Bush also hit a new low with 31 percent approving of his work on domestic issues such as health care, just below June's 32 percent. The latest poll was taken as the president was about to veto a measure adding $35 billion to children's health coverage. Twenty-nine percent approved of how Bush is handling Iraq, a slight dip from last month's 33 percent and virtually even with the record-low of 27 percent last December. Bush last month approved a plan to gradually reduce the number of troops in Iraq from more than 160,000 to just above the 130,000 who were there when this year's force build up began. On foreign affairs and terrorism, 36 percent approved, just below September's 40 percent measure and about tied with the 35 percent low point he hit in December. In a gauge of the public's grim mood, just 26 percent said they think the country is heading in the right direction, about where it has been stuck since late last year. Only 43 percent of Republicans, and less than 20 percent of Democrats and independents, said they think things are going well. Ominously for Republicans, just 25 percent of moderates and 38 percent of conservatives are satisfied with the country's direction. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1669866,00.html If you tried to come up with the best way to enrage the nativist right in America, you might dream up something like this: a Mexican immigrant, convicted of raping and murdering two adolescent girls, has his execution stayed by President Bush out of deference to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands ... Believe it or not, that's the storyline in the controversial case of Medellin v. Texas, which the Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday. The Administration is siding with Jose Ernesto Medellin and his lawyers, arguing that he along with 50 other Mexican nationals should have their convictions reviewed because, in what the International Court has ruled a violation of a treaty signed by the U.S., they were not offered access to Mexican consular officials after their arrest. But the real lesson the right wing should take from the case is that the Presidential power they so jealously defend when it is used against foreign nationals looks a lot less attractive when it's applied at home. http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=570 Last week's column entitled Would I vote for Rudy Giuliani? generated a ton of feedback. There are passionate voices on both sides of the debate, but what was refreshing for me (and an indication that there is hope for the future) was the number of people who realize the consequences of staying home on Election Day or voting for a third-party candidate. Some people, however, still don't get it, and their actions could literally hand the radical left the keys to the country. The only way to stop the Democrats from taking over is for grassroots conservatives to unite. http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/jude.htm I don't know what clearer way he could have said, "Once saved is not always saved." He would not desire to remind them of this if they were not themselves in danger of the same thing. In addition to "causing division" and being "worldly-minded" (cf. 1 John 2:15), Jude plainly says that these men do not have the Spirit. By this statement he is saying that "they are not one of us" (cf. Rom. 8:9). ... Jude gives three different ways we are to treat those who go astray. 1. Show some of them mercy; 2. Some must be snatched out of the fire; 3. Still others need a combination of mercy and fear. ... Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, - I quote this verse to God when I am struggling. His word says he is able to keep us from falling (KJV). http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/balance/stories/DN-balance_09edi.ART.State.Edition1.41f8b90.html The commentariat continues to monitor Republicans' frustrations over trying to nurture a consensus conservative candidate. The latest convulsion is a vow among a group of about 45 high-profile Christian conservatives to consider a third-party candidate if neither party nominates an abortion opponent – a virtual rejection of front-runner Rudy Giuliani, who supports abortion rights, albeit reluctantly. "To their credit, these leaders are unwilling to sacrifice conviction for political expediency, but they may be creating their own worst nightmare by dividing the party and making a Democratic victory more likely," Kathleen Parker writes. ... "The only hitch: He's a cultist," she writes. "Or so some Christians think. Even though Mr. Romney shares their belief in Jesus Christ as God, other doctrinal differences tied to his Mormon beliefs apparently cause deep conflicts for evangelicals." The columnist tells them to get over it. "Ultimately, Christian leaders (some of whom make off-the-record, supportive calls to Mr. Romney, I'm told) most likely will back the Mormon," she writes. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/06/28/246818.aspx The Globe also notes that despite Romney pledging to not take severance pay for his work at the Olympic Games, “public records indicate he did otherwise. Romney not only accepted a $476,000 severance package from the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, according to federal tax records, but he helped to lobby the committee for similarly large pacts for his 25 senior managers, 17 of whom contributed to his 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign or the state Republican Party soon after the Winter Games." Romney's campaign says he donated the money to charity. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58048 A public access television station in Aspen, which boasts of being the first such station in the nation, for the first time in remembrance has decided to squash a movie – at least for now – targeting an Australian production that denies the Holocaust happened and affirms the gas chambers saved lives by disinfecting prisoners. The controversy has stirred up the trendy Aspen, where the local public access television station, after 35 years of service, rarely creates turmoil and more often features the heart-pounding action of the local high school football team, or local school theatrical productions. But in this case, the words have been strong. The video is "very offensive," GrassRoots TV board president Alan Feldman told the local Aspen Daily News. "Especially with my background. I'm Jewish. My family was murdered in the Holocaust." .. It was created by Australia's Adelaide Institute, which conducts Holocaust denial campaigns, and is hosted by institute founder Fredric Toben, who was featured at a Holocaust denial conference attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last December. ... In the film, Toben describes the "alleged" concentration camp gas chambers as a life-saving procedure in which prisoners were disinfected. http://www.modbee.com/life/faithvalues/story/86158.html The presidential candidacy of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has brought new attention to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because Romney would be the first Mormon president. ... Mormons are required to tithe 10 percent of their income to the church each year. They are also expected to fast for two meals a month and donate money saved by that, along with many volunteer hours, to the vast Mormon program to help the needy inside and outside the church. The church also owns ranches, farms and canneries and has extensive investments in businesses. ... But Mormons also believe that authentic Christianity vanished a century after Christ and was restored only through Smith. Smith revised -- and in his view corrected -- large sections of the Bible. Other sacred Mormon books contain Smith's revelations. And Mormons consider their church presidents to be prophets. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/08/diana.inquest.ap/index.html PARIS, France (AP) -- Jurors in a British inquest have begun tracing Princess Diana's last moments before the Paris car crash that killed her 10 years ago. Inquest jury members inspect the tunnel in Paris where the car carrying Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed crashed. Two lengthy investigations on both sides of the Channel have left many questions unanswered and raised suspicions about the deaths of Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul on August 31, 1997. ... Diana, 36, and Fayed, 42, were heading from the Ritz Hotel to Fayed's private Paris home near the Arc de Triomphe when they were killed in the crash. Dodi Fayed's father, Egyptian-born billionaire Mohamed al Fayed, has said it was their engagement night. Whether Diana and Fayed planned to announce their engagement the next day -- and whether she was pregnant with Fayed's child -- are questions for the jury. Mohamed al Fayed alleges the couple was murdered in a plot directed by Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, to keep a Muslim out of the royal circle. A French investigation concluded that the car was traveling at an excessive speed and the driver had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. Tests showed the presence of two prescription drugs, including the antidepressant Prozac, in his system. http://www.basicchristian.org/jesusnowife.html President George Bush might actually believe he is a descendant of Mohamed. It would explain allot of his comments and his actions. Comments like he believes the Quran (Koran) "to be the word of God" and actions like his complete and total worldwide proxy war on behalf of the Muslim Shiite sect. President Bush has removed all the Iraq oil revenues from the Sunni people of Iraq and has given it to the Shiite sect. Bush has also helped place three radical Iranian-Shiite Politicians in charge over Iraq meanwhile he privately finances and supports the radical Shiite groups of Hamas and Hizb'allah. England's Tony Blair and Prince Charles are also strong Shiite supporters with Prince Charles all but openly admitting that he is a convert to Islam. No wonder we live in days with so many strange events occurring because our world leaders have such strange beliefs. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/3/21/92810.shtml They were hosted by the grand sheik of Al-Azhar, Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, the top Islamic cleric in Egypt, who awarded the prince an honorary doctorate in recognition of his work to promote the understanding of Islam in the West. Some Al-Azhar clerics had criticized the decision to bestow the degree on the prince, arguing he had not done enough to deserve it. As if to answer these critics, Sheik Tantawi went out of his way to quote the prince's views of Islam and Muslims, repeatedly citing a speech given in Oxford in 1993, and adding that the prince's ideas were the fruit of "serious study." ... The prince {wrongly} harped on the fact that Islam, Christianity and Judaism share the same origin in the Prophet Abraham. "There are differences, and we should celebrate them. But in the things that matter most, we have a common root," he said. http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/119 In a 1997 Middle East Quarterly article titled "Prince Charles of Arabia," Ronni L. Gordon and David M. Stillman looked at evidence that Britain's Prince Charles might be a secret convert to Islam. They shifted through his public statements (defending Islamic law, praising the status of Muslim women, seeing in Islam a solution for Britain's ailments) and actions (setting up a panel of twelve "wise men" to advise him on Islamic religion and culture), then concluded that, "should Charles persist in his admiration of Islam and defamation of his own culture," his accession to the throne will indeed usher in a "different kind of monarchy." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/04/10/ncor10.html THE Prince of Wales could be crowned King in a multi-faith inauguration ceremony rather than the 1,000-year-old (Christian) Coronation service, under proposals to tackle "religious discrimination" being considered by the Government. http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/dpatton/2007/dp_10081.shtml Recently, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was attacked by Democrats on the floor of the United States Senate. Why? Their claim was that Limbaugh had referred to military personnel who disagree with our country's policies in Iraq as "phony soldiers." The statement, put forth by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is a lie designed to lay the groundwork for reinstatement of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine." ... When anyone expresses a point of view contrary to theirs, liberals want to silence that person. In this case, it is Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, Michael Reagan, Neal Boortz, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager, Mike Gallager and a host of lesser known radio talk show hosts who have flourished in the marketplace of ideas over the last twenty years since the Fairness Doctrine was repealed. Democrats have ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle (and most other big-city newspapers), the faculties of most universities and the left-wing blogosphere. Balancing all this, Republicans have Rush Limbaugh and those who have followed in his footsteps down the trail he has blazed on AM radio over the last twenty years. It can also be argued that without Limbaugh, conservative Internet bloggers and the balanced format of Fox News might never have come to prominence. Today's Dems cannot abide the popularity of conservative talk radio. They are reminiscent of similar authoritarians who have gone before them. Those who fight their tactics and express opposing points of view must be silenced. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7108791 In the late 1800s, when the pressure was on Mormon polygamy, several families left for a place where they could worship, and marry, according to their conscience. Mexico's laissez faire style of governing appealed to these religious Pilgrims from el norte. Their Plymouth Plantation was nine farming communities that came to be known as The Colonies. Unlike the modern polygamist havens along the Utah-Arizona border, these towns maintained a strong connection to the mother church in Salt Lake City. Two of the nine towns still remain and look like a little bit of La Verkin plopped down in Latin America. In 1884, Miles Park Romney moved his family south to avoid being tossed in the state penitentiary in Sugar House. Gaskel Romney, born in St. George in 1871 to Miles' first wife (he would eventually have five) married Anna Amelia Pratt. Mitt's father, George Romney, was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan, Galeana, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The family came north for good in 1912 to to escape the troubles stirred up by the Mexican Revolution. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzAxZjUxMzUwNzdkZDk0MmJlM2QzMTI3ODYwODE3MmY= Dr. Judith Dushku, a professor of government at Suffolk University. She tells of speaking with Romney (whom she knew from (LDS) church) after he announced he would run against Sen. Kennedy in 1994, and writes, "I congratulated him on taking a pro-choice position, one of the reasons I had been open to working with him. I remember his response was something like: "Well, this is Massachusetts. I realized I had to take this position," which was the first indication to me that what I had understood to be his personal view was a stance he was actually taking pragmatically. He went on that day to talk about an aunt of his who had died during a botched abortion and how he thought legalized abortion was important. But those around him, and people who knew him closely in the ward, knew that it was a position he had taken because he thought he had to in order to win." ... It's hard to know quite what to do with this suggestion that Romney was pro-life before he was pro-choice before he was pro-life. You have to wonder, though, if the Romney campaign got Dushku in touch with the Post (as they presumably did with the others who wrote) in the hope of planting the notion that Romney has actually always been pro-life. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/07/craig.hof.ap/index.html BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Sen. Larry Craig has been chosen for induction into the Idaho Hall of Fame, despite his well-publicized arrest and guilty plea in an airport sex sting, officials said. ... Craig vowed Thursday to serve out the last 15 months of his term, despite a court ruling that left intact his guilty plea in the sex sting operation. ... About 100 people have been inducted into the hall since 1995, including the late Nez Perce Tribe leader Chief Joseph, Coeur d'Alene writer and historian Louise Shadduck, World War II fighter ace Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and newspaper and hospitality magnate Duane Hagadone. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58026 President George Bush has repeated his belief all religions, "whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God" – an assertion that caused outrage among evangelical leaders when he said it in November 2003. Bush made the statement Friday in an interview with Al Arabiya reporter Elie Nakouzi. Al Arabiya is Al Jazeerah's top competitor in the Mideast. ... "We are having an Iftaar dinner tonight – I say, 'we' – it's my wife and I," Bush told Nakouzi. "This is the seventh one in the seven years I've been the president. It gives me a chance to say 'Ramadan Mubarak.' The reason I do this is I want people to understand about my country. In other words, I hope this message gets out of America. I want people to understand that one of the great freedoms in America is the right for people to worship any way they see fit. If you're a Muslim, an agnostic, a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, you're equally American. "And the value – the most valuable thing I think about America is that – particularly if you're a religious person – you can be free to worship, and it's your choice to make. It's not the state's choice, and you shouldn't be intimidated after you've made your choice. And that's a right that I jealously guard. "Secondly, I want American citizens to see me hosting an Iftaar dinner." "That's a strong message for the Americans," said Nakouzi. http://www.ezsoftech.com/ramadan/ramadan04.asp Iftar, refers to the evening meal for breaking the daily fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Or a meal served at the end of the fasting day during Ramadan, to break the day's fast. Literally, "breakfast." Iftar during Ramadan is often done as a community, with Muslims gathering to break their fast together. The time for Iftar is 12 to 15 minutes after Sunset. It is better to offer 'Magrib Namaz/salat' and then break one's fast, preferably with water, milk or dates. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299917,00.html WASHINGTON - President Bush, who presided over 152 executions as governor of Texas, wants to halt the state's execution of a Mexican national for the brutal killing of two teenage girls. The case of Jose Ernesto Medellin has become a confusing test of presidential power that the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears the case this week, ultimately will sort out. The president wants to enforce a decision by the International Court of Justice that found the convictions of Medellin and 50 other Mexican-born prisoners violated their rights to legal help as outlined in the 1963 Vienna Convention. That is the same court Bush has since said he plans to ignore if it makes similar decisions affecting state criminal laws. "The president does not agree with the ICJ's interpretation of the Vienna Convention," the administration said in arguments filed with the court. This time, though, the U.S. agreed to abide by the international court's decision because ignoring it would harm American interests abroad, the government said. Texas argues that neither the international court nor Bush has any say in Medellin's case. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/05/romney_increases_overtures_to_disenchanted_evangelicals/ Dobson's statement is viewed as significant in the Romney campaign because Dobson has ruled out supporting GOP candidates John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson, but has left open the possibility of supporting Romney. "Dr. Dobson is keeping an open mind on Mitt Romney, and I think that is because they do share in common so many values," Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said yesterday. ... Romney has sought for more than a year to convince evangelicals that they should support him despite their concerns about his Mormon faith, which many evan gelicals see as a non-Christian religion, and his past support for abortion rights and some forms of gay rights. The leaders of major evangelical groups have been respectful but noncommittal. Increasingly, however, Romney has benefited from the battering that his main opponents have taken from evangelicals. http://www.gopconvention.com/ From September 1-4, 2008, an anticipated 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, party officials, volunteers, members of the media, and convention guests will gather in Minneapolis-Saint Paul for the 2008 Republican National Convention. The host cities will be showcased on an international level as the Republican Party highlights its strong principles - and nominates the next President of the United States. The Republican National Committee's Committee on Arrangements (COA) is charged with the planning and management of the 2008 Republican National Convention. RNC Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson is Chairman of the COA and Maria Cino is the COA President and CEO. The COA and the 2008 Minneapolis-Saint Paul Host Committee are working together to plan every aspect of the four-day event. In addition, COA staff is working closely with Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar, Mayors R.T. Rybak (Minneapolis), Chris Coleman (Saint Paul), and Gene Winstead (Bloomington), and the Convention and Visitors Bureaus. http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=71741 MINNEAPOLIS, MN (NBC) -- When they came home from Iraq, 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard had been deployed longer than any other ground combat unit. The tour lasted 22 months and had been extended as part of President Bush's surge. 1st Lt. Jon Anderson said he never expected to come home to this: A government refusing to pay education benefits he says he should have earned under the GI bill. "It's pretty much a slap in the face," Anderson said. "I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership... once again failing the soldiers." Anderson's orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days. Had they been written for 730 days, just one day more, the soldiers would receive those benefits to pay for school. "Which would be allowing the soldiers an extra $500 to $800 a month," Anderson said. http://powerlineblog.com/archives/015725.php I hadn't intended to post this classic photo, simply because I assume pretty much everyone has already seen it. But we have received several messages from readers identifying at least some of the eight soldiers as members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division (MN National Guard). They're smart, they're funny as hell, and they're giving it up for the USA. We salute them with hometown pride. ... As for Kerry - how quick the 24-hour metamorphosis from smugness to defiance to purported contriteness! At his earlier blame-the-wing-nuts-and-Rush-Limbaugh press conference, he thought he was a strutting, strong-jawed Napoleonic general leading his troops to rout the evil Bush-Cheney Prussians, and then, alone, suddenly turned around - and Mein Gott in Himmel!! - his Old Guard was heading for the hills. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/02/bridge.structure/index.html In another report two years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory database concluded the bridge was "structurally deficient." Jeanne Aamodt, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, told the Star Tribune, a Minneapolis newspaper, that the department was aware of the 2005 assessment, which gave the bridge a score of four on a scale of zero to nine. A bridge receives a four when there is "advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour." Spalling is a term used to describe cracking, chipping, crumbling or fraying, while scour is a term used for erosion caused by flowing water. During a Wednesday news conference, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty described the bridge deficiencies as "minor" and said the state was told that the bridge's deck may need to be rehabilitated or replaced in 2020 or later. ... One expert said that it was baffling how the bridge collapsed. ... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said the collapse should trigger action. "I think we should look at this tragedy that occurred as a wake-up call for us. We have -- all over the country -- crumbling infrastructure, highways, bridges, dams, and we really need to take a hard look at this," Reid said Thursday. ... As of 2003, there were about 160,570 bridges deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The number represented 27.1 percent of the nation's bridges. {Probably Harry Reid sees a get rich quick scenario here and if he does anything it will be just to funnel some money. Most likely very little will be done to help America's infrastructure as little has been done.} http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/05/appendix.purpose.ap/index.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut. That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week. For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous. Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely. People live fine without them. ... The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most are good and help digest food. But sometimes the flora of bacteria in the intestines die or are purged. Diseases such as cholera or amoebic dysentery would clear the gut of useful bacteria. The appendix's job is to reboot the digestive system in that case. The appendix "acts as a good safe house for bacteria," said Duke surgery professor Bill Parker, a study co-author. Its location _ just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large intestine in a sort of gut cul-de-sac -- helps support the theory, he said. Also, the worm-shaped organ outgrowth acts like a bacteria factory, cultivating the good germs, Parker said. http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=660 "For over 200 years, this nation has adhered to the rule of law - with unparalleled success. A shift to a nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited," Judge Aiken wrote. "The Patriot Act should never have been enacted in the first place. It passed with both 'Big Box' parties rushing headlong to allow frightening expansions of government power. What happened to Mr.Mayfield could have happened to any other innocent American; and he is an attorney!" said Constitution Party national Committee Chairman Jim Clymer. The Constitution Party, unlike the Republican or Democratic parties has decried the Draconian Patriot Act which gave law enforcement agencies the power to search telephone and e-mail records in addition to conducting warrantless searches and seizures on American citizens. Judge Aiken's ruling on the Patriot Act's unconstitutionality comes on the heels of another blow to the Patriot Act. Just weeks ago, another federal judge barred the FBI from snooping on Americans. The federal agency had been requiring companies to turn over computer and phone records. US District Judge Victor Marrero, in New York, said that part of the act was "the legislative equivalent of breaking and entering." http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=567 Granted, there is so much to be frustrated about over the last six years with many Republicans in leadership positions. With a focus on holding power and playing politics rather than delivering on conservative values and legislation, the Republican Party has seen itself swept from control of the U.S. House and Senate. Now, all that remains for the Democrats is the White House and a filibuster-proof Senate -- both of which are within reach. Conservatives must eventually come together and get a clue! There is too much at stake. .. The Post notes that a third-party run "would be a long shot, requiring millions of dollars and challenges to ballot access. Such a bid could prove disastrous for the GOP by splitting the vote." Disastrous? Yes! Impossible? Yes! The country is not set up for third-party candidates to succeed. That is just a fact. Arguments about the role of government fall naturally into two camps: conservative and liberal -- those who feel more power should reside with the people and those who feel more power should reside with the government. And thus, we have the Republicans and the Democrats. http://www.valuesvoterdebate.com/ The First Ever Values Voter Presidential Debate Straw Poll, held last night at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, declared Governor Mike Huckabee as the pro-family winner. "The big losers last night were the no-show candidates Fred Thompson who placed at 4 percent, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain who each received 1 percent and Mitt Romney who was the only candidate to receive zero votes at the end of the night." "While many very good candidates attended the event, Governor Mike Huckabee was the clear winner," said Janet Folger, President of Faith2Action (F2A.org) and member of the Values Voter Debate committee. Huckabee received nearly five times the votes of the other candidates. http://www.coralridge.org/CRMResCtrDetail.asp?ID=crm&pc=103296&ec=I1301 Truths That Transform Listener's Choice Volume 1 contains a collection of 12 of the most-requested messages from the Truths That Transform radio broadcast. The audio messages cover topics such as dating, witnessing to cult members, overcoming life's obstacles, submission, building a strong marriage, the Bible and science, and more. It features nine notable speakers including Dr. Kennedy, Bunny Wilson, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, Josh Harris, Janet Parshall, Ken Ham, and others. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57980 BankIntroductions.com, a Canadian company that specializes in global banking strategies and currency consulting, is advising clients that the amero may be the currency of North America within the next 10 years. "The amero would compete against other regional currency blocks," BankIntroductions.com says. "At present, with the Canadian dollar approaching par, more talk for an amero currency unit will become popular in Canada." The company says that with the successful implementation of NAFTA, "the one dragging component for the amero will be Mexico, but in time this will change." "Implementation of the amero currency may actually give Mexico an economic boost, thus helping to alleviate Mexican immigration pressures into the United States for those Mexicans seeking financial gain," BankIntroductions.com advises. http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/oct/07100410.html NEW YORK, October 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Once again the pro-life views of Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the only conservative woman on ABC's "The View," have landed her in trouble after a heated exchange with Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell's replacement, on Wednesday's program edition. Hasselbeck noted her opinion that presidential Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's proposal to give $5,000 for a new birth could help reduce abortions in the United States. "I feel like this could maybe cause less abortions in the world. You know, people would keep having kids instead." Goldberg then took the opportunity to attack Hasselbeck's pro-life views by asking her if she had ever been in a position to abort a child. Hasselbeck responded "never." Goldberg then said, "Okay, then back off a little bit. Back off a little bit. Very few people want to have abortions." Goldberg's "very few people", however, have aborted nearly 50 million children since Roe v. Wade legalized it in 1973. According to one Goldberg biographer, Goldberg has had at least 6 abortions and used to joke perversely that she had a do-it-yourself coathanger abortion at 14 years-old. Goldberg then lectured Hasselbeck that Americans ought to "revere" women, who have had abortions. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/05/bush.torture/index.html The 2005 legal opinion was issued after then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales took over Justice, the Times reported, and authorized using a combination of techniques such as head slaps, freezing temperatures and simulated drownings, known as waterboarding. The Times said the memo was strongly opposed by then-departing Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who had repeatedly clashed with the Bush White House over terror-related policies. The Times said its investigation over three months had included interviews with more than two dozen current and former officials. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino confirmed the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel wrote a previously undisclosed February 5, 2005 memo, but she insisted the classified document did not undercut or reverse a 2004 memo that rejected torture. "U.S. policy is not to torture -- and we do not," Perino told reporters. "Regardless of where we are, we do not torture anybody, but getting information from them is critically important to protecting this country." Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse issued a statement declaring the December 2004 anti-torture memo remains binding on the executive branch. "Neither Attorney General [Alberto] Gonzales nor anyone else within the department modified or withdrew that opinion," Roehrkasse said. http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=27370_Bush_Hosts_Ramadan_Dinner President Bush welcomed Muslim leaders to the White House Thursday evening for an Iftaar dinner breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story. The special guests at this year's Iftaar dinner were American Muslim women who have contributed to the nation's science, education, arts, and culture. Mr. Bush said Ramadan is a time of charity and service to those less fortunate and a time to celebrate Islam's learned and vibrant culture which he says he enriched civilization for centuries. “Ramadan is also a good time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold in common including love of family, gratitude to the Almighty, devotion to community, and a commitment to religious liberty,” he said. Today, the president said, the world is at war with violent extremists who seek to stop the advance of freedom in Muslim societies around the world. "They attack holy sites, destroy mosques and minarets, and kill innocent men, women and children including Muslims who do not share their radical views. They believe that by spreading chaos and violence they can frustrate the desire of Muslims to live in freedom and peace. We say to them, ‘You do not represent Muslims. You do not represent Islam. And you will not succeed,'" he said. http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/ramadan/ "According to Muslim teachings, God first revealed His word in the Holy Qur'an to the prophet, Muhammad, during the month of Ramadan. That word has guided billions of believers across the centuries, and those believers built a culture of learning and literature and science. All the world continues to benefit from this faith and its achievements." Remarks by the President George W. Bush At Iftaar Dinner - The State Dining Room, Washington, D.C. November 19, 2001 http://www.submission.org/George_W_Bush/islam.html December 10, 2002 - President Bush: Koran is God's word. http://www.lifenews.com/state2523.html Hyannis, MA (LifeNews.com) -- Two weeks ago, a Massachusetts woman may have died from an abortion at an abortion business in this southeastern city. The unnamed woman apparently died after suffering hemorrhaging caused by an abortion obtained at Women Health Center in the Cape Cod town of Hyannis. It appears that abortion practitioner Rapin Osathanondh, did the abortion that may have caused her death. He made headlines in 2001 when he threatened to kill staff members because of misplaced paperwork. Massachusetts Citizens for Life first informed LifeNews.com of the possible abortion death and the pro-life group Operation Rescue has looking into it as well. LifeNews.com contacted the Women Health Center and did not receive a response to a request for comment on the story. Operation Rescue contacted the abortion business as well and a receptionist was upset when asked about the incident and responded "I can't help you." The pro-life group says it has learned the name of the victim and that she is a Christian who attended a Calvary Chapel church in a nearby town. She has a space on the social networking site MySpace and is a cosmetologist who was born in Honduras and was adopted by a family in the U.S. The organization says a complaint has been filed against Osathanondh with the Massachusetts Board of Registration In Medicine regarding the abortion death. "Our nation is facing a crisis of dangerous abortionists operating in unsafe abortion mills, killing innocent babies -- sometimes illegally as we have seen in some states -- and injuring and killing unsuspecting women" http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/05/10/critics_complain_about_romney_record/ AGAWAM, Mass. --Conservative activists criticized Mitt Romney over his abortion record Thursday as the Republican presidential contender received an award from an anti-abortion group that also used to complain about his support for abortion rights. ... A coalition including the leaders of the Pro-Life Federation, the Michigan Conservative Union and Massachusetts Resistance was especially critical of the revelation that Romney's wife, Ann, had donated $150 to Planned Parenthood during her husband's 1994 U.S. Senate campaign. The group also complained because a universal health care bill Romney signed into law while Massachusetts governor includes a seat for Planned Parenthood -- which includes abortion among its family planning services -- on a payment policy board. "His commitment to the pro-life cause has been called into question because of his frequently changing position on the issue of abortion and his signing into law a bill that provides taxpayer-funded abortion in Massachusetts," the group said in a statement. ... Romney contributed $15,000 to the group, a past critic of his record, last December. http://www.fixed-point.org/billboard/billboard.asp?ItemID=41 Remaining true to our goal of engaging secular culture on critical issues in a thoughtful, respectful manner, Fixed Point Foundation will sponsor a debate on what is arguably the most critical question of our time: the existence of God. The decision one makes regarding this question has implications that reverberate throughout eternity to be sure, but it also affects temporal existence from government policy to the individual. Historically, man's belief in the transcendent has served as a restraint on his conduct and provided hope for his future. Now, it is argued, “God is dead”, and man can do very well without him. The debate will feature Professor Richard Dawkins, Fellow of the Royal Society and Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and Dr. John Lennox (MA, MA, Ph.D., D.Phil., D.Sc.), Reader in Mathematics and Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science, Green College, University of Oxford. Dawkins, voted by Europe's Prospect Magazine as one of the world's most important intellectuals, is regarded by many as the spokesman for the "New Atheism." BBC has labeled him "Darwin's Rottweiler." ... Lennox, a popular Christian apologist and scientist, travels widely speaking on the interface between science and religion. Like Dawkins, he has dedicated his career to science, but he has arrived at very different conclusions. "It is the very nature of science that leads me to belief in God," he says. Lennox possesses doctorates from Oxford, Cambridge, and the University of Wales. He has written a response to the notion that Science has exposed the Bible as obscurantist in a book titled God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? The book will be published this fall. http://www.nationnews.com/editorial/295250321379266.php IT SHOULD BE more difficult for evolutionists to hold to their already inadequate theory. A new study by British researchers at the University of Cambridge (published in Nature, July 19) proves that all humans originated from a single point in Africa. This is far removed from the primordial soup + time + chance theory that humans evolved from different parts of the world. The origins of anatomically modern humans have been the focus of much heated debate. Our genetic research shows that the further modern humans have migrated from Africa, the more genetic diversity has been lost within a population. However, some have used skull data to argue that modern humans originated in multiple spots around the world. "We have combined our genetic data with new measurements of a large sample of skulls to show definitively that modern humans originated from a single area in sub-Saharan Africa," says Andrea Manica. Fellow researcher Francois Balloux added: "To test the alternative theory for the origin of modern humans, we tried to find an additional, non-African origin. We found this just did not work. Our findings show that humans originated in a single area in Sub-Saharan Africa." The Garden of Eden perhaps? http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299421,00.html Idaho Sen. Larry Craig refused on Thursday to resign from office despite a judge's ruling that denied his efforts to withdraw the guilty plea he entered in August in connection to an airport bathroom stall sex sting. ... Earlier Thursday, Minnesota District Judge Charles Porter's decision was released by the court. Porter denied Craig's motion to withdraw his Aug. 1 guilty plea to a single misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Guilty pleas often have a difficult legal barrier to overcome because of their voluntary nature. While Porter did not dismiss the case outright on its timeliness, he picked apart Craig's claims in a 27-page decision. In his ruling, Porter said the case overwhelmingly fell against Craig. "Because the Defendant's plea was accurate, voluntary, and intelligent, and because the conviction is supported by the evidence, the Defendant's conviction for disorderly conduct occurring on June, 11, 2007, in the men's public restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota, is valid," Porter wrote, adding that Craig's "motion to withdraw his guilty plea is DENIED," Porter wrote. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295748,00.html BOISE, Idaho - Sen. Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to resign after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting and may still fight for his Senate seat, his spokesman said Tuesday evening. "It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign," said Sidney Smith, Craig's spokesman in Idaho's capital. "We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight - and stay in the Senate." ... A telephone call Craig received last week from Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., urging him to consider fighting for his seat is affecting Craig's decision to reconsider his resignation, Smith said. http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/10/michigan_tax_hike_could_sting.php Among the very few Republicans who voted for the largest tax increases in Michigan's history this week: two endorsers of ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney. They are: State Sen. Valde Garcia, a member of Romney's mid-Michigan leadership team, and State Sen. Ron Jelinek, a member of Romney's West Michigan leadership team. Presumably, these two state senators would have been called to campaign for Gov. Romney in Michigan... but if the tax hikes prove unpopular with conservatives -- and, here's a guess -- they will -- you may not see Jelinek or Garcia on the trail with Romney. Note, too, that the next Republican debate will be held in Dearborn and will focus on economic issues. Michigan's 11.5 percent income tax hike and its sales tax extention will almost certainly be the subject of a question or two. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-29-2007/0004556158 But Romney has already tried -- and failed -- to smooth talk the voters into ignoring his real record on taxes. Despite signing a "no new tax" pledge he once mocked as "government by gimmickry," and despite bragging about supporting President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy despite opposing them, Romney has failed to gain any ground among Republican primary voters. Romney remains stuck in single digits in just about every poll -- including the latest USAToday/Gallup poll which has him stuck at three percent among Republican voters. Romney now trails two people who aren't even running yet. http://www.alankeyes.com/articles/071003michigan.php Des Moines, IA - In the wake of the exclusion of presidential candidate Alan Keyes from next week's Dearborn, Michigan, Presidential Debate, conservative leaders in the Wolverine State today criticized Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis, whose neutrality in the presidential race has been repeatedly called into question. (See footnote.) "I think it is shameful that someone with Dr. Alan Keyes' experience in government and credentials in the conservative movement is being kept out of the debate," said Judy Zabik, Genesee County Republican Party Board member. "Voters in Michigan and across the country deserve to hear what this man has to say about where this country is and where it's going. He brings a principled, moral perspective to this race that nobody else brings." ... One McCain ally noted Anuzis's 'ties' to the Sterling Corp, which is assisting Mitt Romney in the state and whose consultants managed Mike Bouchard's Senate campaign. "There's no way Saul can be with the Sterling Corp., which is running Romney, and still be neutral in the presidential race." Anuzis's executive director, Jeff Timmer, is a former VP of the Sterling Corp, and the party has paid the group more than $1M this cycle, making it one of five vendors to receive state party contracts. - November 8, 2006, National Journal's Hotline blog: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1b1f4d3e-71db-11dc-8960-0000779fd2ac.html US military officials in Baghdad on Wednesday defended their support of local anti-insurgent volunteer organisations, the day after the country's largest political bloc attacked the programme as an “adventure” and accused participants of kidnap and murder. The controversy over the scheme, which is a centrepiece of the US military's new strategy in Iraq, has flared as these local alliances against al-Qaeda spread from their point of origin in the western province of al-Anbar to other Sunni and even some Shia parts of Iraq. US military spokesman Major General Kevin Bergner said the US forces worked with "concerned citizens" groups in conjunction with Iraq's government and security forces. He said Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, "has specifically given guidance to support these efforts in a number of provinces". On Tuesday, however, the prime minister's United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) put out a statement condemning the policy of giving armed groups the authority to "do security work, outside the authority of the government". It said that they contained “terrorist elements who have perpetrated the most heinous crimes against the people”, and specifically accused groups operating in the southern Baghdad district of Sayediya of kidnap and murder. http://www.firstbaptistchurchoc.org/Sermons01/spiritual.htm We have been studying the Biblical strategy for spiritual victory. Let's review what we have covered so far. If you will be victorious in the Christian life, you must... Realize that you are in a spiritual battle; Recognize that you cannot be neutral; Become acquainted with the character and strategy of the enemy; Know and use your weapons. Our weapons are... The (Bible) Word of God; Heavenly Wisdom; Prayer; The Power of God, Not The Arm of The Flesh; Our Christian Testimony Backed Up By A Godly Life; Putting Our Life In The Hands of God. http://www.spiritwatch.org/faq.htm Countercult ministry is a militant response to this challenge of Satan. Dr. Gordon Lewis' remarks on this are sobering and to the point as he sought to highlight the high stakes involved: " .. we are led to specialize in delivering people from counterfeit religions. .. we seek to expose (1) deceptive teachings, (2) immoral ways of life, and (3) oppressive ministerial, missiological tactics, like heavy-handed shepherding of every detail of life in religions, cults and the occult. But these are two-edged swords that have a way of cutting against aberrant Christians as well as cultists. Our battle is not only against the religious oppressors of this dark world, but also against 'the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms' (Eph. 6:12) .. Among the evils we deplore in the cults are abuses of human rights, destructive violence, institutionalized violence, and the undermining of the family and the inhuman exploitation of people in the cults. We must deplore those evils even more if they occur among missionaries to the cults or aberrant Christian groups." "Lone Ranger" heroes will not survive long in this atmosphere, and the high turnover of countercult workers and ministry is proof of this. Only within the context of the Christian community of faith can such a ministry be conducted, and only among Christians united together can countercult workers "be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." It is nothing less than warfare in the spirit, a conflict that is invisible to all but discerning believers. It is a contention for the truth of the Gospel in the face of false prophets and teachers, to both evangelize and restore the deceived and to edify and defend the Body. We contend there are few more demanding ministries and disciplines required than for the countercult ministry. And it goes way beyond simple argumentation with cult missionaries: the countercult ministry requires an integrative approach that can easily demand of the countercult worker a dear price: the patience of the pastor, the aptitude of the teacher, the zeal of the evangelist, the discernment of the prophet, and the mission mindedness of the apostle. http://www.churchsolutionsmag.com/articles/381cover1.html This fall, you'll pick a weekend. You'll gather your members and set up tables. They'll sell jams, jellies, pies, homegrown produce, country crafts and an assortment of other treats made with love. Maybe you'll even host a barbecue, organize sack races and give hayrides on this festive day. Without a doubt, the harvest festival is one of the most notoriously popular church events of the year. Orchestrated to thank God for food and farmers, these festivals bring entire congregations together for fellowship and fun. But autumn also brings another not-so-blessed event: Halloween. Short for "All Hallows Eve," this day represents quite a challenge for many Christian parents. Every year, they struggle to come up with an equally fun night for their children, who might otherwise feel “punished” for their beliefs. According to retailer Hallmark, 50 million Americans participate in Halloween every year. Additionally, it is the third-largest party day annually, surpassed only by New Year's Eve and the Super Bowl, and reaps nearly $6 billion in costume, candy and decoration sales. Yes, Halloween is a definite hurdle. Still, experts like Steve Russo, internationally known evangelist and best-selling author of Halloween: What's a Christian To Do?, say it's not insurmountable. "The worst thing churches can do is present an option to kids that's just like every other Halloween event in town," Russo advises. "In your planning, don't see how closely you can copy the world. Instead, make it appealing by being different. Alternatives are limited only by your imagination." http://www.cbn.com/special/halloween/ The views expressed on this page are the opinions of the various authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Leading Christian thinkers have disparate views on Halloween and how Christians should respond to it. We have offered several different viewpoints so that you, the reader, can prayerfully decide what is the correct response for your family. http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/09/russianbased_group_will_help_p.php The announcement comes 18 months into the boycott that began in the United States, and WOW says it will now help spread it to Russian-speaking countries near its headquarters in Latvia. The Watchmen help to "coordinate pro-family opposition to the international homosexual movement," according to spokesman Dr. Scott Lively, who says the organization will promote the boycott using its network of activists in more than ten countries. Lively says people of the former Soviet Union's Russian-speaking countries are among the strongest opponents of the homosexual agenda in the world, and he expects the automaker's sales to significantly shrink once news of the boycott reaches InVictory.org, a Christian news service in those same countries with an estimated one-million readers. American Family Association began the boycott in 2006 after Ford reneged on an agreement to withdraw its active corporate support of the homosexual agenda. More than 700,000 people have now signed a pledge not to buy the automaker's vehicles. http://www.afa.net/ford100207.htm Ford Motor Company sales dropped 21% in September compared to that month's sales a year ago. Ford sales have dropped in 17 of the 19 months since AFA began a boycott of the company. AFA began boycotting Ford in March 2006 when the company reneged on a pledge to stop supporting homosexual organizations and same-sex marriage. While not totally responsible for the decline in sales, the boycott is having an impact. When the boycott began, Ford was approximately in the same financial condition as that of General Motors and Chrysler. But because of the boycott, Ford is now in much more of a serious financial situation than GM and Chrysler. Ford continues to consider support for the homosexual agenda and same-sex marriage more important than making a profit for the company. Ford has rebuffed repeated attempts by AFA asking the company to remain neutral in the culture war. http://www.boycottford.com/ Yes, I'm supporting the boycott of Ford Motor Company automobiles until Ford stops supporting homosexual groups which are pushing homosexual marriage. ... Ford hired a D.C. marketing firm to target the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender market and developed a plan to involve Ford in the day-to-day business of selling vehicles worldwide to gay and lesbian customers. Ford was an executive sponsor of the 2004 "Out & Equal Workplace Summit Conference." The purpose of the event was to advance the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage, in major corporations. ... Ford has been an "Emerald Sponsor" of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG), a national organization promoting the homosexual lifestyle including homosexual marriage. Ford has been an annual sponsor of the "Reaching Out MBA Conference" that promotes the education, visibility, and networking capabilities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender business leaders in the United States and around the globe. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57786 A website paid for and authorized by the Massachusetts Democratic Party has posted a picture of a flier reportedly passed out at a 2002 'gay pride' event by then-gubernatorial candidate Mitt Romney expressing support for homosexual rights. The flier, on red [pink] paper, claims to have been paid for by "the Romney for Governor Committee and the Kerry Murphy Healey Committee" and reads, "Mitt and Kerry wish you a great Pride Weekend. All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of sexual preference." ... "This is quite disturbing," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, who had praised Mr. Romney as a champion of traditional values at the group's conference one year ago. "This type of information is going to create a lot of problems for Governor Romney. He is going to have a hard time overcoming this." http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/10/03/politics/horserace/entry3323276.shtml Politico displays some of the projection maps for various GOP candidates in the general election which look to be wildly optimistic considering recent electoral history. The maps projects Electoral College breakdowns for four GOP candidates against Clinton. In these scenarios, Romney fares poorest, according to the Giuliani camp. ... Mitt Romney has run over 10,000 TV ads so far this year, mostly in Iowa and New Hampshire. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57926 The mayor of Aurora, Ill., has concluded that there's no legal reason to keep a new $7.5 million Planned Parenthood mega-clinic abortion facility closed, after an investigation into deceptions by the abortion provider during the permitting and construction process. However, members of city's board of aldermen say they will raise the issue again, because the corporation was not up-front in its dealings with the city. Aurora is where city officials ordered the Planned Parenthood abortion mega-clinic to remain closed while they investigated the impacts of deceptive statements Planned Parenthood provided to city officials during its project process. Mayor Tom Weisner said although the company was not "forthright," there were no legal grounds on which to prevent the mega-clinic's ultimate opening. ... "Lawrence said they were supposed to have a discussion before a decision was made, which did not happen. This is a matter that all the elected officials were supposed to be involved in, not just one," she reported. Her report also confirmed that a lawsuit is expected to be filed almost immediately against the clinic's opening, based on the issue of the building's permits. The 22,000-square-foot facility was supposed to open in September, but city officials delayed that when it was revealed that Planned Parenthood willfully concealed its intentions for the building from local residents and officials. After admitting the project was sought under the corporate name of Gemini Office Development in order to hide its identity from pro-life protesters, Planned Parenthood officials said there was no intent to mislead or defraud. http://thenewamerican.com/ Continental Merger - A coalition of groups warns that President Bush's Security and Prosperity Partnership will lead to a merger of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but Bush claims that the pact is not threatening. Who is being truthful? http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d54da5f4-7035-11dc-a6d1-0000779fd2ac.html The spectacle of US President George W. Bush exhorting other countries to follow his lead in tackling climate change came as a puzzle last week to many. Since a 2001 speech in which he questioned the science of global warming, he had barely mentioned the subject until his State of the Union address this January, when a single mention crept in. Now the White House is seeking to be portrayed as leading the pack. ... According to US officials, Mr Bush has been sorely misunderstood on the issue. They maintain that, while presented as a wrecker of international agreements on global warming, his administration has been quietly forging ahead on plans to cut emissions. ... Mr Bush last week acknowledged climate change as one of the "great challenges of our time". Tellingly, he even quoted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN-convened body that has been attacked by many in Mr Bush's Republican party for perceived political bias... http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-6-22/43075.html The world's largest protected marine sanctuary off the coast of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands was created last week with the stroke of a pen. President Bush has signed a proclamation designating an area more than seven times bigger than all other U.S. national marine sanctuaries combined. ... The 10 islands and atolls whose coastal waters will be protected cover 140,000 thousand square miles. For comparison, that's the size of Montana, the fourth-largest U.S. state, and 12 times bigger than land mass of Hawaii itself. ... Commercial fishing will be phased out in the area within five years, but it is possible permits will still be granted for recreational activities such as diving and sport fishing. - Some Opposition from Locals - Sunny Rivera, a local fisherman in Honolulu, is very happy about the new designation and hopes the government will ensure that people have a way to truly enjoy it. He also believes, however, that fishing should be allowed to coexist with the preserve in some areas, because of its importance to trade and local cuisine. http://www.vnunet.com/crn/news/2199790/top-firms-form-group-boost-gen-3507354 Firms including Microsoft, NEC, Texas Instruments, HP, Intel and NXP Semiconductors, which created the original USB, have now formed the USB 3.0 Promoter Group to create a superspeed version. The group claimed USB 3.0 is needed because digital content files are now too big for fast handling by USB 2.0. USB 3.0 will target fast sync-and-go transfer applications in the PC, consumer and mobile segments and will be backward compatible. The group is aiming for greater performance to help USB overtake the less popular, but faster, Firewire interconnect. USB 3.0 will also use less power and offer improved protocol efficiency and quality of service when dealing with multiple flows of data. The completed USB 3.0 specification is expected by the first half of 2008 and the first implementation will be in the form of discrete silicon. The arrival of USB 3.0, sometime in 2009, will no doubt spark the creation of thousands of new PCs, laptops, peripherals and consumer electronics products. http://www.intel.com/design/storage/raid6.htm Data protection is a growing concern for businesses of all sizes. Current solutions for data protection utilize Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) technology in a variety of implementations and form factors. RAID enables a bunch of disks to be treated as one large volume and also protects data from internal component failures by making copies of data and rebuilding lost or damaged data. The most popular RAID levels are 0, 1 and 5. ... RAID 6 is defined as additional disk drive failure tolerance provided by a second independent distributed parity scheme. RAID 6 offers another level of protection that has been in existence for some time, but has, until recently, been available almost exclusively in proprietary devices. By using additional parity calculations, RAID 6 can protect mission-critical data from two concurrent disk drive failures. With the growth of disk array sizes, increasing disk densities and the introduction of Serial ATA (SATA,) drives (said by some to have lower reliability) into the storage market, the likelihood for two concurrent failures is increasing. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iSbyJMxJrMQDs50v-VEU5TSIfz-Q WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, breaking his rule not to talk about presidential politics, says he believes Hillary Rodham Clinton will defeat Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries. Bush also predicts that Clinton will be defeated in the general election by the Republican nominee. "I believe our candidate can beat her but it's going to be a tough race," the president said. It has been difficult for Bush to remain silent about the 2008 president race, despite his promises not to be the "prognosticator in chief." He has been talking about the race and handicapping candidates during off-the-record chats with visitors to the White House. He finally went public with his Clinton prediction in an interview for a book by Bill Sammon, a reporter for The Washington Examiner. ... The White House did not challenge Sammon's account. ... Bush said Giuliani's popularity was a sign of how important the terrorism issue is to Republican voters, the newspaper said. It said Bush cautioned against ruling out Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying he had managed to revive his campaign after an implosion earlier this year. http://www.guerrillanews.com/threads/12471/Bush_Clinton_Bush_Clinton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush says Bill Clinton has become so close to his father that the Democratic former president is like a member of the family. Former President George Bush has worked with Clinton to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami and the hurricane disaster along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Asked about his father and Clinton, Bush quipped, “Yes, he and my new brother." "That's a good relationship. It's a fun relationship to watch,” Bush said in an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday. While attending Pope John Paul's funeral, Bush said, “It was fun to see the interplay between dad and Clinton. One of these days, I'll be a member of the ex-president's club. ... I'll be looking for something to do." ... Bush said he checked in with Clinton occasionally. "And you know, he says things that makes it obvious - that makes it obvious to me that we're kind of, you know, on the same wavelength about the job of the presidency. Makes sense, after all, there's this kind of commonality,” he said. Bush jokingly referred to speculation that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former president's wife, will seek the Democratic nomination for the presidency. He had earlier referred to the former first lady as “formidable." "Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton,” he said, referring to how Bill Clinton had followed his father, and Hillary Clinton could follow him. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/30/gingrich-good-chance-clinton-will-win-in-08/ Gingrich said his party does face a tough road in its quest to re-capture the White House. "I think the odds are 80 per cent that Sen. Clinton is the next president; I think she is almost certainly going to win the Democratic nomination," he said of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York. "And I think unless the Republicans can find a way to represent real change for the current situation in Washington, unless they can convince the American people they represent fundamental change, I think they'll have a very hard time." On the current field of GOP candidates, Mr. Gingrich said he found them all to be "hardworking, smart people." He said he would hold off on endorsing any particular candidate until after the Republican National Convention next summer in Minneapolis. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/5/7/191010.shtml Barring a Clinton indictment, however, Hillary's White House path is clear for 2008. ... A Big Boost From ... Bush In the end, however, it's President Bush who may have done more to make Hillary Clinton president than anyone else - by ignoring the scandals of the first two Clinton terms and ordering his Justice Department to slow investigations. "In retrospect it will look like a mistake on his part," Morris told NewsMax. "He's treating the scandals as an inconvenience, but that's because of one of the core convictions of the Bush family. They always oppose aggressive action against former presidents." He argues that, though some of the accusations leveled against his ex-boss were "garbage," the 11th-hour pardons were a different matter. "That scandal was very real. And if there is no action on the pardon scandal, Bush will ultimately regret that," Morris predicts. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48079 Explains Tyrrell: "Amazingly key Republicans in these negotiations agreed [to the amendment], Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Joe Knollenberg. As things stand now, the expurgated report will appear and the public will be none the wiser as to how the IRS and Justice Department can be used to obstruct justice and harass private citizens." http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Wicca%20&%20Witchcraft/signs_of_satan.htm Associated Press and Reuters called the above Bush family hand signs the 'Texas Longhorn or 'Texas UT' symbol. People still seem to think the signal is solely the 'hook 'em horns' UT symbol. We know this to be true but this doesn't answer our primary questions. 1) If the symbol denotes Texas football or UT, why are people like Silvio Berlusconi and Bill Clinton doing it too? They have no links with Texas. 2) Why is the Bush family so obsessed with the signal, displaying it dozens of times during both the inauguration and the evening ball? A few times maybe we could accept, but why this many? What has Texas sports got do with a national inauguration? 3) By Bush being an occult member of Skull and Bones and Bohemian Grove, it certainly shouldn't be surprising that people would suspect him of praising Satan. Why would any Christian belong to an occult organization? Below are some photos where the hand gesture is used in a clearly Satanic context: {Besides President Bush and family all went to Yale and not Texas UT}. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52519 A man arrested as a terror suspect for allegedly trying to transport $340,000 from a group tied to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and who reputedly had connections to Osama bin Laden, helped write the "Religious Expression in Public Schools" guidelines issued by President Clinton during his tenure in office. And that could explain why students at a California school were told as part of their required classes they would become Muslims and pray to Allah – and a federal judge approved that, and why an Oregon school this year is delivering similar lessons to its students, as WND has reported. ... Those are the same guidelines that the ACLU's Nadine Strossen referred to for authority when supporting organization lawsuits to restrict Christmas celebrations and the removal of the Nativity from public display, the reports said. http://www.constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=620 To believe that the Bushes and Clintons are political and philosophical opponents is the height of absurdity. Both have the support and do the bidding of the international elite. Both families are imbedded in secret societies and globalist agendas. And mark my words, the Bushes will be working behind the scenes for a Hillary victory in 2008. I will even be so bold as to say that the Bushes and Clintons are as close as America has gotten to a crime family dynasty. If you are brave at heart, do a little personal research into the connection between these two families and the CIA's infamous "extra curricular" C-130 flights to Central and South America originating in and out of Mena, Arkansas back in the '90's. Barak Obama needs to pray he doesn't get too close to the Democratic nomination. And the American people need to pray for a "Great Awakening," because another four or eight years of the Bush-Clinton dynasty might turn this once-great constitutional republic into just another banana republic. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/03/AR2007040301879.html For a Democratic presidential candidate whose support in voter preference polls hovers around the margin of error, the announcement from the Bush White House yesterday was a gift: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) will co-head a private bipartisan delegation to North Korea next week to retrieve the remains of U.S. troops lost during the Korean War, receiving logistical support and technical expertise from the U.S. government. ... For that reason, the statement issued in the name of White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino caused much bipartisan head-scratching yesterday. "Talk about retreating to a Clinton policy," said Republican political consultant Ed Rogers. "Next they will want Hillary to sponsor heath-care legislation," he said, referring to the Democratic front-runner, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), and her ill-fated bid to overhaul health insurance as first lady. Rogers said he was puzzled about why President Bush would complain yesterday about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visiting Syria while praising Richardson for going to North Korea. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46744 On May 17, 2000, while Harriet Miers was managing the law firm of Locke Liddell from the firm's Dallas office, she contributed $415 to the law firm's political action committee. Federal Election Commission reports show that two days later, Locke Liddell's PAC contributed $1,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate Campaign Committee. For an unexplained reason, Harriet Miers listed herself as a "self-employed attorney," according to the FEC Report on her 2000 contribution to the Locke Liddell PAC. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57908 WASHINGTON – Some of the top leaders in Christian pro-family activism – including James Dobson of Focus on the Family – met in Salt Lake City yesterday to plot a strategy if Rudy Giuliani or another supporter of legalized abortion is nominated by the Republican Party as its presidential candidate. Not only was there a consensus among activists to withhold support for the Republican nominee, there was even discussion about supporting the entry of a new candidate to challenge the frontrunners. It's no secret that Dobson, founder of one of the largest Christian ministries in the country, has no use for Giuliani. ... Dobson reportedly drove from his headquarters Colorado Springs to the private meeting, held between sessions of the Council for National Policy in Salt Lake City this weekend, just to weigh in with other leaders of family groups, including the Family Research Council, Bott Broadcasting, Capitol Resource Institute, Salem Communications, Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America. ... While some of those present found candidate Mitt Romney acceptable as a nominee because of his current positions, others were skeptical of him because of his past positions on issues of life and death. Some of those present, including Dobson, have expressed skepticism about Fred Thompson's bona fides as a leader on the key social issues of concern to the groups. Perhaps the most surprising development in the meeting was the floating of an idea to recruit yet another candidate to enter the fray. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57908 WASHINGTON – Some of the top leaders in Christian pro-family activism – including James Dobson of Focus on the Family – met in Salt Lake City yesterday to plot a strategy if Rudy Giuliani or another supporter of legalized abortion is nominated by the Republican Party as its presidential candidate. Not only was there a consensus among activists to withhold support for the Republican nominee, there was even discussion about supporting the entry of a new candidate to challenge the frontrunners. It's no secret that Dobson, founder of one of the largest Christian ministries in the country, has no use for Giuliani. ... Dobson reportedly drove from his headquarters Colorado Springs to the private meeting, held between sessions of the Council for National Policy in Salt Lake City this weekend, just to weigh in with other leaders of family groups, including the Family Research Council, Bott Broadcasting, Capitol Resource Institute, Salem Communications, Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America. ... While some of those present found candidate Mitt Romney acceptable as a nominee because of his current positions, others were skeptical of him because of his past positions on issues of life and death. Some of those present, including Dobson, have expressed skepticism about Fred Thompson's bona fides as a leader on the key social issues of concern to the groups. Perhaps the most surprising development in the meeting was the floating of an idea to recruit yet another candidate to enter the fray. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/29/gingrich/index.html ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Two days after hinting he wanted to try for the White House, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich decided he would not run for president, his spokesman said Saturday. ... Gingrich, 64, has hinted for months that he would join the GOP presidential race if he determined no other candidate appeared able to take on the Democrats in 2008. His hinting has become louder in recent weeks, with his suggestion that Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York is destined to be the Democratic nominee and that he would be the best Republican to debate her. Gingrich said, however, that he has no desire to personally raise campaign funds. ... He resigned suddenly from Congress four years after his party lost five House seats in the 1998 elections. In the nine years since, Gingrich has not sought public office, but he has remained vocal as an author and speaker for hire. http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/03/gingrich_had_affair_during_clinton_probe_/ The AP reports that Newt Gingrich was cheating on his wife while leading the impeachment against Bill Clinton for lying under oath about adultery. I had presumed everyone knew that several years ago but, judging by the attention it's getting around the blogosphere, apparently not. ... Gingrich, who frequently campaigned on family values issues, divorced his second wife, Marianne, in 2000 after his attorneys acknowledged Gingrich's relationship with his current wife, Callista Bisek, a former congressional aide more than 20 years younger than he is. His first marriage, to his former high school geometry teacher, Jackie Battley, ended in divorce in 1981. Although Gingrich has said he doesn't remember it, Battley has said Gingrich discussed divorce terms with her while she was recuperating in the hospital from cancer surgery. Gingrich married Marianne months after the divorce. While Gingrich is perhaps the most innovative conservative thinker and its most effective orator, at least among actual officeholders, since Barry Goldwater, he also happens to be a sleazeball of a man. I'm apparently not alone in this assessment, if a recent Gallup poll is any indication: http://parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2007/0925.asp LOS ANGELES (September 25, 2007) – The Parents Television Council™ today announced the launch of a new website, www.HowCableShouldBe.com, that allows consumers to see for themselves just how much they are paying for cable networks they don't want or don't watch. The new website also allows visitors to calculate what their cable bills should be if they were allowed to "vote with their wallet" by selecting only the cable networks they wanted. The new website presents a typical expanded basic cable package, together with the approximate amount each network is estimated to receive from every subscriber's monthly bill. Visitors to the site can click to vote for the networks that they no longer want to purchase. After voting, the site then calculates what their cable bill should be based on the networks he or she has elected to keep. Visitors to the site can also watch an amusing new online video, "Tad's Bundling Bummer," about a high school student who tries to sell magazine subscriptions in a bundle despite the customer's insistence that she only wants one magazine. "With this fun and revealing new tool, consumers will see for themselves just how much they pay each and every month for networks they do not want. The cable industry is doing everything they can to keep this cozy little secret from its customers, and we hope this website will help raise national awareness for Cable Choice. Why should families have to subsidize MTV, FX or Spike if they find the content harmful or inappropriate? And why should those who do not like sports be forced to pay over $80 a year for half a dozen – and often even more – national, regional or league-specific sports networks? Consumers are paying for what they do not want, watch or need; and it is time for this to change," said PTC President Tim Winter. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq BAGHDAD - The U.S. Embassy on Sunday criticized a Senate resolution that could lead to a division of the country into sectarian or ethnic territories, agreeing with a swath of Iraqi leaders in saying the proposal "would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed." ... The unusual statement from the Bush administration came just hours after representatives of Iraq's major political parties denounced the U.S. Senate proposal calling for a limited centralized government with the bulk of the power given to the country's Shiite, Sunni or Kurdish regions, saying it would seriously hamper Iraq's future stability. "Our goal in Iraq remains the same: a united, democratic, federal Iraq that can govern, defend, and sustain itself," the statement said. "Iraq's leaders must and will take the lead in determining how to achieve these national aspirations. ... attempts to partition or divide Iraq by intimidation, force or other means into three separate states would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed." The nonbinding Senate resolution adopted last week calls for Iraq to be divided into federal regions under control of Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis in a power-sharing agreement similar to the one that ended the 1990s war in Bosnia. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., was a prime sponsor of the measure. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/27/iraq.blackwater/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Private military contractor Blackwater USA "delayed and impeded" a congressional probe into the 2004 killings of four of its employees in Falluja, Iraq, the House Oversight Committee said Thursday in a report. ... "According to these documents, Blackwater took on the Falluja mission before its contract officially began, and after being warned by its predecessor that it was too dangerous. It sent its team on the mission without properly armored vehicles and machine guns. And it cut the standard mission team by two members, thus depriving them of rear gunners," the report states. In a written response to the report, Blackwater called it "a one-sided version of this tragic incident." ... The report notes that members of the now-defunct Iraqi Civil Defense Corps "led the team into the ambush, facilitated blocking positions to prevent the team's escape, and then disappeared." Blackwater did not discuss details of the report's findings, noting the incident is still the subject of a lawsuit by the slain contractors' families. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdMpMla3A7P7PUbQx-344i6agLbA As Defense Secretary Robert Gates laid out his case for the extra money in a Senate hearing, senior Democrat Robert Byrd said the "nefarious, infernal war in Iraq" had now cost more than 450 billion dollars on its own. "In the fifth year of this terrible, misguided conflict, this senator -- yes, this man from the hill country -- believes that it is time for a thorough evaluation of the Bush war in Iraq," the West Virginia senator told Gates. "If we're serious about supporting our troops, we owe them nothing less." ... The UN has been under strong pressure also from the United States to adopt a higher profile in Iraq, with the Bush administration under intense military strain from the costly war. The Pentagon's budget submission was 42.3 billion dollars greater than the administration's estimate when it presented its first 2008 budget request to the Democratic-led Congress in February. "This additional 42.3 billion dollars puts us at just under 190 billion dollars for the global war on terror supplemental request for 2008 -- 189.3 billion dollars," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters. http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=656 "Americans have lost faith in the two parties that have a stranglehold on this country," said Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer. "The massive defections from both parties (www.rasmussenreports.com) coupled with the phenomenal growth of the Constitution Party (up 40% since 2004) should surprise no one. The winds of political change are blowing at gale force and by November, 2008 we'll be in the midst of a Category 5 hurricane," predicted Clymer. Former Republican R.I. Sen. Lincoln Chafee recently stated, "It's not my party anymore." Chafee joined the exodus from the GOP saying he left because the party had drifted off course on critical issues, including the war in Iraq, and the economy. According to polls taken by ccAdvertising, as many as 26 percent of likely Republican voters have not decided which candidate will get their vote in 2008. "That speaks volumes about conservative voters' dissatisfaction with the current crop of media-anointed front runners, like Giuliani and Thompson," Clymer noted. Influential conservative leader Dr. James Dobson has stated he will not vote for former D.C. lobbyist and Tennessee senator Fred Thompson because of his unacceptable positions on critical issues like abortion. Dobson also vowed not to vote for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani for the same reasons, stating he'd vote for a third party candidate instead. "More Americans realize a third party candidate is going to be the ticket out of this mess." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57815 The father of one of the victims in the 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado has triggered a battle of words with his choice of inscription for the newly completed memorial for the 13 students killed in that murderous rampage. Brian Rohrbough, who now serves as president of Colorado Right to Life, submitted an inscription for the memorial in a park close to the school that blames the violence in today's culture on the choice society makes to remove God from the equation. ... Rohrbough, in 2006 when a lone gunman attacked and killed students at an Amish school, said there are no limits on such tragedies because of the nation's choice to eliminate God from schools and public life. "When my son Dan was murdered on the sidewalk at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, I hoped that would be the last school shooting. Since that day, I've tried to answer the question, 'Why did this happen?'" he told CBS at the time. "This country is in a moral free-fall. For over two generations, the public school system has taught in a moral vacuum, expelling God from the school and from the government, replacing him with evolution, where the strong kill the weak, without moral consequences and life has no inherent value. "We teach there are no absolutes, no right or wrong. And I assure you the murder of innocent children is always wrong, including by abortion. Abortion has diminished the value of children. "Suicide has become an acceptable action and has further emboldened these criminals. And we are seeing an epidemic increase in murder-suicide attacks on our children. "Our children have become a target of terrorists from within the United States," he said. http://mediamatters.org/items/200610030004 ROHRBOUGH: I'm saddened and shaken by the shooting at an Amish school today and last week's school murders [in Bailey, Colorado]. When my son Dan was murdered on the sidewalk at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, I hoped that would be the last school shooting. Since that day, I tried to answer the question, "Why did this happen?" This country is in a moral freefall. For over two generations, the public school system has taught in a moral vacuum, expelling God from the school and from the government, replacing him with evolution, *where the strong kill the weak without moral consequences*. And life has no inherent value. We teach there are no absolutes, no right or wrong, and I assure you the murder of innocent children is always wrong, including by abortion. Abortion has diminished the value of children. Suicide has become an acceptable action and has further emboldened these criminals. We're seeing an epidemic increase in murder/suicide attacks on our children. Sadly, our schools are not safe. In fact, we now witness that within our schools, our children have become a target of terrorists from within the United States. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/24/polygamist.trial/index.html The easy thing would have been to do nothing, but I followed my heart," she said, urging other girls and young women who feel trapped by polygamy to come forward. Prosecutor Brock Belnap praised Wall's courage. "It has been an honor to stand alongside a woman who spoke out to stop a practice of abuse against enormous odds and against enormous power," he said. The conviction on two counts could send Jeffs to prison for the rest of his life. Sentencing was set for November 20. The five men and three women returned the verdict shortly after 4 p.m. ET following about 16 hours of sometimes tumultuous deliberations. One juror was replaced Tuesday morning with an alternate. Jeffs, 51, is president and "prophet" of the [Mormon] Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). The sect, based in the twin border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, claims some 10,000 members. Because of the possibility of a hostile reaction from Jeffs' followers, police sharpshooters were posted on top of nearby cliffs after it was announced the jury had reached a verdict. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298003,00.html ST. GEORGE, Utah - A jury found polygamous-sect leader Warren Jeffs guilty Tuesday of being an accomplice to rape for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin. ... Authorities captured Jeffs in a 2006 traffic stop outside Las Vegas after he was on the run for 18 months. ... Jeffs succeeded his father in 2002 as president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Former members say he rules with an iron fist, demanding perfect obedience from followers and exercising the right to arrange marriages as well as break them up and assign new spouses. The church has a large complex near the West Texas town of Eldorado, about 40 miles south of San Angelo. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57812 I have reflected that Howard Phillips was probably right when he urged Ronald Reagan to form his own, new political party. I'm not sure the moral Christians belong in the same party with the Rockefeller Republicans. At any rate, George W. Bush in his second term seems determined to destroy the Reagan coalition once and for all. Moral conservatives, including myself, are getting tired of being told we need to vote for Republican candidates, even if the candidates have a history of supporting abortion, such as Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney. Why is it that once Republicans like George W. Bush win office, they ignore the agenda of the conservatives and moral Christians who elected them, to the point of ridiculing our goals and objectives? I wrote in Human Events that if President Bush had campaigned openly in 2004 about his plans to create the SPP, he might not have won a single red state. Now, apologists like Medved and Babbin tell us that a North American Union could never happen because we would have to vote to amend the Constitution. The argument is non-responsive. In Europe, the elite and multi-national corporations who favored creating regional government did so incrementally, creating a fait accompli before anybody got to vote. That's the point. We now have 10 percent of Mexico's population living in the United States as Mexican nationals. As a result, we have already become a dual country, whether we like it or not, and I don't remember that anybody was ever given the chance to vote on it. So, when President Bush signed in October 2006 a law requiring that a fence be built on our border with Mexico, was the point only to achieve a public relations edge before the November voting? Why does Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., have to write President Bush reminding him that we have so far built fewer than 20 miles of that fence and are behind the congressionally mandated schedule specified in the legislation? We voted to secure our borders, and look where that got us – nowhere. I was also shocked when President Bush neglected to attend the recent funerals of the Reverends Jerry Falwell and D. James Kennedy. Neither President Bush nor his father would most likely have been elected president had it not been for the active support of ministers of national prestige such as Falwell and Kennedy. http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=504 Come on folks, get real! A politician is not a pastor. The American people have a sacred duty to the principles of freedom and their posterity to hold their civil magistrates accountable for their policies and actions. Furthermore, if the civil leader is a true Christian, he would have it no other way. ... As Theodore Roosevelt said, "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else." ... Pastors would not be able to get by with the lying, deceit, and dishonesty that politicians routinely get by with. Many believers give politicians much more honor than they give to their pastors. How foolish! ... It is time that Christian people begin seeing their politicians, not as saints who can be blindly trusted, but as sinners whose works must be constantly analyzed and scrutinized in the light of the U.S. Constitution. http://www.wiesenthal.com/atf/cf/%7BDFD2AAC1-2ADE-428A-9263-35234229D8D8%7D/RESPONSE_FINAL_07.PDF • Hamas Thanks Jimmy Carter • Bali Religious Summit: History in the Making • SWC Leads Campaign for Polish Priest's Removal • Schismatic Catholic Group Still Promotes Theological Jew-Hatred • Israel Boycott: Functionally Anti-Semitic. http://www.wiesenthal.com/atf/cf/%7BDFD2AAC1-2ADE-428A-9263-35234229D8D8%7D/RESPONSE_FINAL_07.PDF If you can keep it to 1,250 words, the next time you want to communicate directly to the American people, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and New York Times want your byline. Inconceivable? Consider Hamas' summer hot streak. Not only has it driven Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas out of Gaza, threatened Israeli civilians and bombarded fellow Palestinians, but it has scored the ultimate media trifecta. First, the New York Times and the Washington Post simultaneously ran Op-Ed articles by Ahmed Yousef, a senior leader of Hamas who defended his group's bloody putsch in Gaza. Now, the Los Angeles Times has opened its Op-Ed page to Hamas political bureau deputy Mousa Abu Marzook for his insidious take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ... But this is a dangerously flawed and naive approach. Hamas, an offshoot and affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, is as committed to its vision of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law as Hitler was to his "1,000-year Reich." And the editors turn a blind eye to Hamas' founding charter, which invokes the infamous forgery "The Protocols of the Elders Of Zion." Also ignored is the reality that Israel is in a struggle with a group of religious fanatics who embrace a culture of death, preferring the next world to this one; whose ideology abhors compromise; and who surely view their newfound status in the U.S. media as a complete capitulation by a crucial segment of America's elite. This is the issue before us -- should the nation's Op-Ed pages be thrown open to everyone? Are there no constraints or red lines? Whatever happened to the basic standards that civilized people are expected to live by? Like a belief in the reverence and sanctity of all human life; an abhorrence of violence toward others, especially innocents; the desire and ability to be reasonable and avoid extremes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press AP was formed in May 1846[2] by a group of newspapers who wanted to pool resources to collect news from Europe. Before this, the newspapers had competed by sending reporters out in rowboats to meet the ships as they arrived in the harbor. The owners of these newspapers realized that they were all paying for essentially the same information, and they decided it would be cheaper to have a service collect and pay for the information once from the telegraph company. Their organization was originally called the Harbor News Association; it was later renamed the Associated Press. The driving force in its formation was Moses Yale Beach, publisher of the New York Sun, when he invited the other New York publishers to join the Sun in a cooperative venture in covering the Mexican-American War. The five New York papers who joined in the agreement were the Sun, the Journal of Commerce, the Courier and Enquirer, the Herald, and the Express. In 1849 the Harbor News Association opened the first bureau outside the U.S., in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to meet ships from Europe before they docked in New York. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djhighlights/200709232239DOWJONESDJONLINE000301.htm As more newspapers make the mistake of eliminating reporting jobs, they fall into the pit of redundancy with nothing special to offer. There are no foreign correspondents anymore. There are hardly any stringers on the site of a breaking story anymore. The only papers or news organizations that can expect to survive will be those with lots of original content available only at their individual sites. The operations that rely more on universally available news feeds will be at the mercy of a fickle public -- one that doesn't care where they read a particular story, especially if it is the exact same story with the exact same headline. It's telling that local news organizations seldom seem to put the effort into at least rewriting the often-dull headlines from the wire services. I can assure you that the online public notices this. Years ago, this lazy model worked. The wire services used to provide local papers with a wide range of stories that local editors could use to enliven their news mix. Over time, many newspaper owners saw the savings they could realize from loading up on wire stories while minimizing their original editorial content. Once the Internet arrived, this model was dead, as the Net revealed that many newspapers weren't actually contributing anything new or unique. The fact that people all over the country subscribe to the New York Times, rather than to a local paper, says it all. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20955146/ Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis told Hoyt that an advertising sales representative shouldn't have agreed to the discounted price. The ad seemed to disregard internal advertising standards that ban ads involving attacks of a personal nature, Hoyt wrote. ... Hoyt said he was asked to investigate the ad rate by FreedomsWatch.org, which advocates a strong national defense and a powerful fight against terrorism, because it said it wasn't offered a similar rate. Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn.org, told Hoyt his group had called three days before the ad ran and asked to place it, and was told the ad would cost $65,000. "We paid this rate before, so we recognized it," Pariser told the Times. http://www.valuesvoterdebate.com/order.cfm?host_id=f2a This DVD is a "ValuesVoter" guide to the candidates and their responses to questions that the mainstream press is afraid to ask! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297732,00.html Israeli commandos seized nuclear material of North Korean origin during a daring raid on a secret military site in Syria before Israel bombed it this month, according to Sunday Times report citing informed sources in Washington and Jerusalem. ... Israeli special forces had been gathering intelligence for several months in Syria, according to Israeli sources. They located the nuclear material at a compound near Dayr az-Zwar in the north. Evidence that North Korean personnel were at the site is said to have been shared with President Bush over the summer. A senior American source said the administration sought proof of nuclear-related activities before giving the attack its blessing. Diplomats in North Korea and China believe a number of North Koreans were killed in the strike, based on reports reaching Asian governments about conversations between Chinese and North Korean officials. Syrian officials flew to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last week, reinforcing the view that the two nations were coordinating their response. http://www.constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=654 Yet, Rudy Giuliani wants people to believe that he is "liberals' worst nightmare"? Who is he kidding? Giuliani is a liberal. Actually, Rudy Giuliani is worse than a liberal. He is a liberal that likes to hurt people. I tell you the truth, Rudy Giuliani scares me far more than Hillary Clinton does. Far more. I'll say it right here: if the 2008 Presidential election comes down to Hillary vs. Giuliani, Hillary is the "lesser of two evils." That's how bad Giuliani is. Any Christian who would vote for Rudy Giuliani needs to check out his or her salvation. And before a conservative could vote for Giuliani, he would have to surrender every conviction and principle he ever held. As for the Republican Party, if it nominates Rudy Giuliani as its Presidential candidate next year, conservatism will be forever vanquished from the Party. George W. Bush has already just about destroyed conservatism within the GOP. A Giuliani nomination would finish the job. http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/09/crickets_for_romney.html "I think we'd have to admit that the blame doesn't all belong to the other party," Romney said of the unanswered challenges of recent years. "We Republicans have to put our own house in order. We can't be like Democrats -- the party of big spenders. We can't pretend that our border is secure from illegal immigration. We can't have ethical standards that are the punch line for Jay Leno. When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses." Romney was reading from a teleprompter and punctuated his statement with emphasis -- clearly indicating that it was meant for applause. But there was none. A bit later Martin says there was "an awkward moment when one person began to clap but nobody else in the crowd joined." That doesn't sound like a very impressive showing, especially for a candidate who is the state's favorite son. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/23/blackwater.probe/index.html BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi government will file criminal charges against employees of U.S. security firm Blackwater who are blamed for a gun battle in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said Sunday. ... It is unclear how Iraqi courts will attempt to bring the contractors to trial. A July report from the Congressional Research Service said the Iraqi government has no authority over private security firms contracted by the U.S. government. The Iraqi government claims that as many as 20 civilians were killed by the private contractors, who were guarding a U.S. diplomatic convoy. Iraqi officials, who claim the shootings were unprovoked, dispute the U.S. claim that the guards were responding to an attack and said on Saturday they had a videotape that showed the Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation. The incident prompted the Iraqi government to call for Blackwater's expulsion from the country and sparked anger among ordinary Iraqis. http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/22/romney-blackwater/ Several presidential candidates have spoken out in support of tighter regulations governing private security contractors in Iraq after the recent shooting involving Blackwater USA. Former Republican Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has remained silent though. Not only has his campaign not issued a statement, but as the Politico reports, it has refused to even answer any questions: ... Romney has a clear interest not condemning Blackwater. Cofer Black, vice chairman of Blackwater, currently serves as a Senior Adviser for counterterrorism and national security issues on the Romney campaign. From the April press release announcing that Black would be joining the campaign: "I am pleased to welcome Cofer Black to our campaign." http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/22/iraq.blackwater.ap/index.html BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in an incident last week in which 11 people died, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday. He said the case had been referred to the Iraqi judiciary. Iraq's president, meanwhile, demanded that the Americans release an Iranian arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling weapons to Shiite militias. ... Al-Maliki is expected to raise the issue with Bush during a meeting Monday in New York. It is doubtful that foreign security contractors could be prosecuted under Iraqi law. A directive issued by U.S. occupation authorities in 2004 granted contractors, U.S. troops and many other foreign officials immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law. Security contractors are also not subject to U.S. military law under which U.S. troops face prosecution for killing or abusing Iraqis. Iraqi officials said after the Nisoor Square shooting that they will press for amendments to the 2004 directive. A senior aide to al-Maliki said Friday that three of the Blackwater guards were Iraqis and could be subject to prosecution. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. http://www.anglicansforlife.org/resources/index.asp?topicid=29&resource=afp As believers, Scripture becomes our authority. It starts with the basic facts; God is the Creator of everything; day, night, sun, moon, mountains, trees, animals, birds, insect and human life. Scripture defines His laws. It explains His covenant with His people. It communicates His love and promises. It also is explicit in describing His judgment. The Bible is our relationship manual with the Triune God. Therefore if we call ourselves Christians, and conduct our lives as His Church, we must adhere to His Word. We don't get to choose what parts of Scripture we like and want to obey. The point of being a Christian is to walk by faith in His Word. Logic no longer is our god. For Christians, every idea, concept and theory must be brought captive to Him and screened through Scripture. Believing that all Scripture is inspired by God and designed to teach Christians how to live, our worldview is formed based on the entire Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God's teaches us everything we need to know so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16) The most common theme revealed in an in-depth study of Scriptures is the sanctity of life. (See AnglicansforLife.org website for a full list of references.) http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57772 The question now is whether Kathy Griffin will pay a similar price for her outburst. And as we have learned, her verbal assault was calculated." The Miracle Theater organization said: "Our attempt is not to throw stones at Ms. Griffin, or anyone else. It is every American's God given right to worship freely and to speak freely. We believe, however, that as Christians, we should not accept her mockery of our Lord quietly! What is shocking to us is how people tend to respond to comments like this about Jesus Christ. It made our heart sick to see people in the audience at the Emmys laughing at Griffin's remarks." The idea for its petition effort, "Million Voices for Christ," came about after many people saw the original ad, and called to express their thanks. The group then purchased a second ad to announce its petition plans. "It seemed that many were looking for a way to speak out on the matter. If we together stand up and say, 'Enough is Enough!' we can show the media that there are MILLIONS OF US that love our Lord! With a million signatures, together, we can remind Hollywood that this country was founded on the principles of God's Holy Word," the group said. "The message of this petition is simple respect. Our primary objective is to give any person who wants to speak out in support of Christ an outlet to do so," said Russ Hollingsworth, general manager of The Miracle Theater. "There is strength in numbers. One million people speaking up just can't be ignored." He said every American has the right to worship freely and to speak freely. "We believe, however, that as Christians it's time for us to take a stand for our faith and ask for respectful treatment from the media and the entertainment industry." The petition is on the organization's web page. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/humbard.ap/index.html ATLANTIS, Florida (AP) -- The Rev. Rex Humbard, a former itinerant preacher whose televangelism ministry once reached more parts of the globe than any other religious program, died Friday, a family spokeswoman said. He was 88. The Rev. Rex Humbard was a pioneer in using television to spread the Gospel. Humbard died of natural causes at a South Florida hospital near his Lantana home, family spokeswoman Kathy Scott said. "He was the ultimate role model in showing love and caring about other people over and above himself," grandson Rex Humbard III said. The son of evangelists, Humbard evolved his ministry from revivals across the country to a permanent home in Akron, Ohio, and television. He realized the potential of the new medium in the early 1950s and became known to millions by the 1970s. But financial overreaching eventually eroded his organization. ... "The vast majority of people do not go to church, and the only way we can reach them is through TV," he said in his autobiographical book, "Miracles in My Life." "We must go into their homes -- into their hearts -- to bring them the gospel of Jesus Christ." http://www.ldolphin.org/Faith2.shtml In 1962 my then-roommate's parents invited me one day to church where for the first time in my life I heard what the Bible had to say about reality. All my attention immediately shifted to That Book No One Reads Anymore. I started at the end---in the Book of the Revelation. This new phase of My Search went on intensively for several months until I decided to see the pastor---so that I could ask him all my hard questions, and once and for all find the loopholes and inconsistencies I was sure made Christianity a man-made religion like all the other religions in the world. The pastor refused to give me his own opinion on things, but answered every question by pointing me to various passages in the Bible. I was especially moved by such statements as "The natural man does not understand the things of the spirit...they are foolishness to him," and "Unless a man humbles himself and comes like a child he will in no way enter into the kingdom of God." Evidently, "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a ransom for all." I realized I had never prayed in my whole life. What if you called out to God for help and He helped you? If He were more intelligent than I was (that thought had just dawned on me), then mere outward profession of faith wouldn't do. The pastor said that anytime I decided I would like to become a Christian, he would be glad to be a witness. It was then I realized that God must be a living Person and that He was apparently ready to meet me if I would but give Him my permission. I decided that then and there was as good a time as ever. My first prayer went something like this, "OK God, if you are there, I think I may need to be forgiven. And, you can have the rest of my life. Please help me." I waited no more than a millisecond until I felt flooded and overwhelmed with love---God's love. There in that office, and now in my heart, was the same Jesus I had read about in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Grandmother had been right and the Bible was no ordinary book. It seemed as if all the lights had been turned on in what had been a very dark house. To this very day, (43 years later) that experience of my Christian conversion stands out in my memory like night and day---"If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new." http://www.ldolphin.org/Names.html CHRIST: is equivalent to the Hebrew 'Messiah' (Meshiach), "The Anointed [Alive-Living] One." Other NT Titles for Jesus: Shepherd of the Sheep; Master; King of kings; Lord of lords; Bishop and Guardian of our Souls; Daystar, Deliverer, Advocate, Last (or Second) Adam, Ancient of Days, Branch, Chief Cornerstone, Immanuel, First Born, Head of the Body, Physician, Rock, Root of Jesse, Stone, Potentate; Chief Apostle; Great High Priest; Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (or Author and Finisher); Lamb of God; Lamb Slain before the Foundation of the World; Lord God Almighty. http://www.allaboutgod.com/Names-Of-God.htm Names of God: A Way to Understand His Nature and Character - The Names of God used in the Bible act as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He chooses in scripture are meant to reveal His true nature to us. Names of God: His Titles Revealed in Scripture - "ELOHIM" (or Elohay) is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power", and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form. In Genesis 1:1, we read, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth." Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/staticarticles/article57178.html Catholic churches in the Netherlands should use the name Allah for God to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians, says a Dutch bishop. Tiny Muskens, the bishop of Breda, told the Dutch TV program "Network" Monday night he believes God doesn't mind what he is called, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported. The Almighty is above such "discussion and bickering," he insisted. Muskens points to Indonesia, where he served 30 years ago, as an example for Dutch churches. Christians in the Middle East also use the term Allah for God. "Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years," Muskens said. "In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?" Muskens thinks it could take another 100 years, but eventually the name Allah will be used by Dutch churches, promoting rapprochement between the two religions, he said, according to Radio Netherlands. However, a survey published today in the Netherlands' largest newspaper, De Telegraaf, showed 92 percent of the more than 4,000 people polled oppose the bishop's view, the Associated Press reported. http://www.basicchristian.info/ Saint Luke 1:26-35 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. -- Bible http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/21/news/international/bc.china.taintedproducts.ap/index.htm BEIJING (AP) -- U.S.-based toy giant Mattel issued an extraordinary apology to China on Friday over the recall of Chinese-made toys, taking the blame for design flaws and saying it had recalled more lead-tainted toys than justified. The gesture by Thomas A. Debrowski, Mattel's executive vice president for worldwide operations, came in a meeting with Chinese product safety chief Li Changjiang, at which Li upbraided the company for maintaining weak safety controls. "Our reputation has been damaged lately by these recalls," Debrowski told Li in a meeting at Li's office at which reporters were allowed to be present. "And Mattel takes full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to you, the Chinese people, and all of our customers who received the toys," Debrowski said. Mattel (Charts, Fortune 500) ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. The recalls have prompted complaints from China that manufacturers were being blamed for design faults introduced by Mattel. http://antichristexposed.googlepages.com/witch Harry Potter books have taken the world of children's fantasy literature by storm. Over 200 million have been sold in 40 languages. One study shows that over half of the children in the western world have read at least one of the Potter books. Many reported rereading each book several times. -- PASTOR D.J. MEYER ... Now it is the year 2000. All of the foundations for occultism and witchcraft are in place. The Illuminists have to move quickly, because time is running out. It was the Communist revolutionary Lenin who said, "Give me one generation of youth, and I will transform the entire world." Now an entire generation of youth has been given to a woman named J.K. Rowling and her four books on witchcraft, known as the Harry Potter Series. As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that I have examined the works of Rowling and that the Harry Potter books are training manuals for the occult. Untold millions of young people are being taught to think, speak, dress and act like witches by filling their heads with the contents of these books. Children are obsessed with the Harry Potter books that they have left television and video games to read these witchcraft manuals. http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/09/romney-too-many.html Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign just posted his latest TV ad online, and it's as much an attack on his fellow Republicans as it is a shot at Democrats. Called "Change Begins With Us," Romney uses the ad to criticize his GOP rivals on their immigration positions, to make a veiled reference to Republican Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho and others in his party ("we can't have ethical standards that are a punch line for Jay Leno") and tosses in this double-barreled shot: "When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses." The Associated Press says the ad goes on the air today in New Hampshire: http://www.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.3358623/k.7D86/Speaking_Truth_to_Power.htm As a result, the world's worst regimes escaped condemnation and continue their crimes. When UN Watch testified before the UN Human Rights Council, we asked them why they only condemn Israel, ignoring 191 other countries and the victims of the world's worst abusers. They refused to answer. Instead they declared our speech "inadmissible" and expunged it from the UN website. http://amd-member.com/campaigns/black/ Dare to feel your heart pound, your pulse race, and your breath catch in your throat? To open yourself up for a jolt of sheer adrenaline that just might eat you alive? To bring home a beast that's leaping and snarling on the end of its leash? Like Mother Nature, AMD has a dark side - and on September 25, 2007 it will be revealed to the world. So what it really comes down to is, do you dare? http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/AboutAMD/0,,51_52,00.html AMD (NYSE: AMD) is the customer-centric innovation company, a processing powerhouse that offers smarter choices for its customers and makes technology more accessible to the world. AMD is focused on best meeting the needs of leading computing, wireless and consumer electronics companies to help them deliver high-performance, energy-efficient and visually realistic solutions. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ftse-group-throws-fund-managers/story.aspx?guid=%7B68BE192A%2DB817%2D44F9%2DB658%2DA36CBEC040FD%7D TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- FTSE Group, a major securities-index operator, threw the world's fund managers a sharp curve on Thursday, choosing to upgrade Israel to developed-market status instead of South Korea, the world's biggest emerging market. Many mutual-fund managers and international-stock analysts had expected the London-based FTSE Group, which runs 100,000-plus indexes covering more than 48 countries, to upgrade South Korea from emerging-market status to a developed market. But the FTSE Group instead chose to upgrade Israel and its technology-heavy economy to developed from advanced-emerging status. In June 2008, Israel will join the U.S., Europe and Japan in the FTSE indexes that investment managers use to track stocks in established markets, the FTSE Group said in a statement on Thursday. http://www.basicchristian.info/ Isaiah 10:12-14 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed His whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria [a type, foreshadow of Antichrist], and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I [Antichrist] gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing [resisted], or opened the mouth, or [complained] peeped. -- Bible http://www.watch.pair.com/new-business.html PROGRAM OF SATANIC DUPLICATION: OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD - King Solomon provided wheat, barley, oil and wine for the builders of the Temple. And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying... And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil... Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants... - II Chron. 2:3,10,15. CHURCH AGE: The occult societies planned to standardize/regulate all goods, prices and wages. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/18/student.tasered/index.html CNN) -- Two University of Florida police officers have been placed on leave with pay after using an electronic stun gun to subdue a student who was questioning Sen. John Kerry at a campus forum, the school's president said Tuesday. Student Andrew Meyer is surrounded by university police in Gainesville, Florida, on Monday. The Florida Division of Law Enforcement will investigate Monday's arrest of student Andrew Meyer, said J. Bernard Machen. Machen called the incident "regretful for us." "The thing that I regret is that civil dialogue and civil discourse did not happen," Machen said. "That's fundamental to a university campus. Why it didn't happen is what we're trying to sort out" ... Meyer had about a minute and a half at the microphone before police stepped in to haul him away. As he tried to escape their grip, Kerry protested, "That's all right, let me answer his question." But as Meyer repeatedly questioned why he was being arrested, officers dragged him to the back of the auditorium and then used a Taser on him when he continued to struggle. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57717 EuroMoney PLC, the UK-based company that arranges dozens of financial conferences around the world each year, has refused to allow WND staff reporter Jerome Corsi to attend next week's "North American PPP (Public-Private Partnership) & Infrastructure Finance Conference" in New York, even though WND offered to pay the $1,999 conference fee required to attend. "When government officials want to go behind closed doors with investment bankers and lawyers to discuss selling our public infrastructure to foreign investment leaders, investigative reporters need to be there to tell the public what is really going on,” Corsi said. "Why is it that all these PPP and SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership) meetings are behind closed doors," Corsi asked, "and government officials and their supporters think that's normal? But when investigative reporters want to attend and report on what is being said, we are the ones who get accused of being the conspiracy theorists?" http://archive.democrats.com/view.cfm?id=1603 In his last days as President, Bush Sr. sold U.S. government asset worth $10 billion to a friend for a mere $10 thousand dollars, pardoned his business colleagues, and then went on the company's payroll for seven years. At the very end of his presidency Papa Bush gave a sweetheart deal to the Canadian company Barrick Goldstrike. They got the rights to US land worth $10 billion in return for a nominal payment to the treasury of $10,000. But that does not seem to be all they got, or all they paid for either. The money behind Barrick is from Saudi arms dealer and Bush family friend Adnan Khashoggi, who was identified as conduit in the Iran-Contra conspiracy. In 1986 he was arrested and charged with fraud but failed to be convicted. In one of his last acts as president Bush pardoned Khashoggi's alleged co-conspirators, who were key members of Bush's own cabinet. As a result, no case could be made against Khashoggi – or against Bush himself. To express its gratitude for these favors Barrick Goldstrike hired Papa right after he left office and donated $148,000 to the Republican Party, at least that is the amount that can be traced. As reported by Gregory Palast this is hugely more consequential for justice than anything presidential pardon before or since, so slowly once again let's connect the dots: ... So Khashoggi gets his cover up, Barrick gets its gold mine, Bush gets a high paying no show job, the Republican Party gets a huge contribution from a foreign company and we the taxpayers and law abiding citizens get the shaft. How much of this "deal" was all pre-arranged, scripted and "in the bag" before the selling of the gold rights and the pardons? This also helps explain why the current Bush in the White House wants the stink about Clinton's pardons to go away! It is simply amazing the press has given Bush Inc. a free ride on this! He must be in terror that somebody will connect the dots and his father's culpability in Iran Contra scandal will leak out. How much longer will these ghosts in the Bush closet remain silently out of sight? http://www.minutemanmedia.org/JUHASZ%20011806.htm Amid all the talk of training Iraqi soldiers, heading off a civil war, and protecting a fledging democracy, one overriding agenda has been ignored in the debate over the timetable for bringing U.S. troops home. President George W. Bush will not withdraw our forces until U.S. oil companies have secure access to Iraq's resources. The process of securing this access involves three steps. The first, put into motion with the December 15, 2005, election, is the formation a legitimate Iraqi government with the authority to, among other things, sign contracts with foreign oil companies. The second step is the completion and passage of a new national oil law that is set to conclude at the start of 2006. The third, having enough security on the ground for U.S. oil companies to get to work, is uncertain, and therefore the timeline for full U.S. troop withdrawal remains unknown. Prior to the 2003 invasion, foreign companies had limited to no access to the Iraqi market. Only Iraqis or citizens of Arab nations could own a business in Iraq, the oil sector was fully nationalized, and other than a few deals through the U.N. oil-for-food program, no U.S. companies had oil contracts. Following the invasion, the Bush administration implemented orders that have the effect of law allowing for the privatization of Iraq's state-owned enterprises, 100 percent foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses, and repatriation of 100 percent of profits earned in Iraq by foreign companies. These orders were enshrined in the October 15 Iraq constitution. Before new oil contracts can be signed, the existing contracts had to be erased. In May 2003, "Energy Intelligence” reported that the U.S.-appointed senior adviser to the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Thamer al-Ghadban, announced that few, if any of the dozens of contracts signed with foreign oil companies under the Hussein regime would be honored. In June 2004, after being appointed Iraq's Minister of Oil, al-Ghadban told Shell Oil in-house magazine that 2005 would be the “year of dialogue" with multinational oil companies. The Bush orders laid the groundwork for U.S. oil companies in Iraq, but a new national law currently making its way through the Iraqi Parliament will seal the deal. The law has its roots in the U.S. State Department's Future of Iraq Project's Oil and Energy Working Group, which found that Iraq “should be opened to international oil companies as quickly as possible after the war" and that the best method for doing so was through Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs). Ibrahim Bahr al Uloum, a member of the Working Group, succeeded al-Ghadban as Minister of Oil in early 2005. None of the top oil producers in the Middle East use Production Sharing Agreements because they favor private companies at the expense of the exporting governments, including terms of 25 to 40 years and agreements that lock in the laws in effect at the time the contract was signed. Meaning that future Iraqi governments could change their laws, but the changes would not affect these oil contracts. http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSL1984868620070919 JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to reopen a chip plant in Jerusalem it had closed earlier in the year, Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported on Wednesday. ... The Jerusalem plant produced chips for the automobile industry. Intel, which has operated in Israel for more than 30 years, is one of Israel's largest exporters. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/19/israel.gaza/index.html JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The Israeli security Cabinet declared Hamas-controlled Gaza a "hostile entity" Wednesday in response to continued Palestinian rocket attacks. - Members of Hamas' armed wing, Izzedine al Qassam, train in Gaza's Jabalya refugee camp Thursday. - The unanimous Cabinet vote represents a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Under a plan proposed by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Israel would disrupt electrical supplies, reduce fuel shipments to a bare minimum to run hospital generators, and choke off shipments of goods to allow only essential food and medicine to enter Gaza. In addition, it will continue military operations "against terror organizations." The ministers, however, voted not to disrupt the water supply to Gaza, the home of 1.4 million Palestinians. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/09/17/st_vincents_no_safe_harbor_for.html What better place to attack New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's new health care plan than standing in front of a New York hospital? shortly after his comments to reporters, the hospital issued its own statement, taking issue with the venue Romney chose "We find it unfortunate that Mr. Romney misappropriated the image and good will of St. Vincent's Hospital to further a political agenda," a hospital spokesman said in a statement. Oops. In response, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said his candidate had done nothing wrong and never intended to link the hospital to the blunt message he was offering. "It was a public sidewalk, in front of a hospital, and we didn't use hospital property," Madden said. "It's a public place, we had an event open to the press." http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr12/0,4670,RomneyHealthCare,00.html The program, which Romney signed into law a year ago Thursday, includes a requirement that everyone in Massachusetts get some form of health insurance by July 1. If they don't, they face a series of increasing tax penalties.That mandate amounts to an "unprecedented expansion of government power," says Michael Tanner, a health policy expert at the Cato Institute, a libertarian Washington think-tank. The law also created the "Connector," a program for providing low-cost policies aimed at attracting younger and healthier residents who currently do not have insurance. Critics have questioned demands by the Connector's overseers for prescription drug coverage, as well as policies with premiums capped at $200 per month. "There is a likening of this central concept of his _ the Connector _ to managed competition, which was at the heart of the 1993 Clinton health care proposal," Tanner said. "In essence, you have Romney embracing 'Hillarycare,' and that doesn't play well on the right." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57685 Last night, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Tom Tancredo, businessman John Cox, Sen. Sam Brownback, Rep. Ron Paul, Rep. Duncan Hunter and Ambassador Alan Keyes (in the order of their random podium placement) faced 53 questions from pro-family leaders at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. ... The questions asked of the candidates are below. Their answers can be seen at www.ValuesVoterDebate.com. Prediction No. 6: This election just took a turn in the right direction. http://www.alankeyes.com/ On Friday, Sept. 14, Alan Keyes filed a Statement of Candidacy (Form 2) with the Federal Election Commission--thus officially announcing as a Republican candidate for President of the United States. Keyes told Janet Parshall, host of a nationally syndicated radio show, that he's "unmoved" by the lack of moral courage shown by the other candidates, among whom he sees no standout who articulates the "key kernel of truth that must, with courage, be presented to our people." He added, "The one thing I've always been called to do is to raise the standard . . . of our allegiance to God and His authority that has been the foundation stone of our nation's life"--and he decried the lack of "forthright, clear, and clarion declaration" from the other candidates concerning this issue. As a result, Keyes said, "We're putting together an effort that's not going to be like anything before, because it's going to be entirely based on citizen action. We're going to be challenging people to take a pledge for America's revival," and elevate them from spectators in the political arena to participants. http://www.afa.net/debate/registration.asp What makes this debate different? The candidates will be asked questions related to abortion, immigration, marriage and other issues Values Voters consider important. If you want to see where they stand on the traditional, pro-family issues, don't miss this debate. The debate will be moderated by Joseph Farah who is the founder of the very popular website WorldNetDaily. Looking forward to the event, Farah said, "So often in presidential debates, questions are asked and answers don't address the questions. When that happens, I'm going to try to persuade the candidates to focus more precisely on what was asked." Live video or audio streaming can be found at www.afa.net. http://1857massacre.com/MMM/Brigham_Youngs_Involvement.htm When the Baker/Fancher wagon train arrived in Early August George Smith had been down in southern Utah as a messenger from Brigham Young advising the Mormon along the southern route on how to handle the next wagon train south. No supplies were to be sold to the wagon train, and the ambush of the wagon train had been set for Mountain Meadows. The Baker/Fancher train encamped outside of Salt Lake City while the Captain's Fancher and Baker rode into Salt Lake City looking for supplies. They were met with hostility and were unable to purchase necessary supplies, so they could continue their trip on the northern route crossing seven-thousand-fort Donner Pass before late October. After the wagon train Captains returned to camp, Apostle Charles C. Rich a member of the Council of Fifty arrived, with an order for them to leave the subsequent day and talked them into taking the southern route coolly setting up the train for their eventual fate. The emigrant company would be the first to take the southern route that summer. ... When the cold blooded butchery had stopped the Mormons had killed everyone old enough to be a credible witness, which left seventeen children survivors under the age of five to be taken to the nearby Hamblin Ranch. http://1857massacre.com/MMM/childcare.htm One of the most outrageous facts of the aftermath of this tragedy was the fact that the US Government paid Mormon Jacob Hamblin $600.50 for the care of Sarah, Rebecca and Louisa Dunlap from Sept. 10, 1857-April 17, 1859. ... It was Captain Lynch, U.S. Army who finally collected the children and took them to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas where they were met by Senator Mitchell and returned to relatives in Arkansas. Senator Mitchell had lost three sons in the massacre. It was undoubtedly the senator who kept the heat on that led to the rescue of the children and bringing to justice at least one of the guilty, John D. Lee. ... Lee was executed for his part in the affair. Lee was definitely at the massacre and he is credited with killing Rachel and Ruth Dunlap. http://shop.wnd.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=1754 Originally published in 1898, "Christianity and the American Commonwealth" is one of the best summaries of the impact of Christianity on America. Galloway leaves no historical fact unturned in his demonstration that America was founded as a Christian nation. Furthermore, he proves that without the Gospel and the application of all of God's Word to all of life, civilizations turn despotic and crumble. In a day when Christian leaders call for the abandonment of politics, Galloway's book is a breath of fresh air. In many ways this book was prophetic. He saw what would happen if America rejected her Biblical foundations or if Christians retreated from their engagement in society. Although written more than 100 years ago, Galloway's arguments are persuasively modern and must be heeded by today's church. There's no doubt that the ACLU will be terrified when this book gets back into circulation! Over one hundred images have been added in this newly republished version. Hardcover, 192 pages. http://www.tbn.org/index.php/8/1.html The movies that brings the Gospel message and the climactic battles of the Book of Revelation to life like never before. Stunning visuals and gripping performances explode across the screen, chronicling the Great Tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ, and the ultimate triumph of God over Satan. http://www.lostseed.com/audio/index.php I burned many Compilations from the Audio Section on CDs so we can hand them out to people. I had several opinions in which order to place the tracks; I think they turned out good. I give the red one to anyone, but the blue one to younger people because the first track is a bit intense. You can download the entire CD's with the things I printed, the link is below. More information is at the bottom. http://lifespringonline.com/original/?m=200606 It is the most natural thing in the world to want, even chase after, joy and happiness. (And by the way, those, to me, are two different things). As a matter of fact, the American Declaration of Independence talks about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." So this isn't new. It's been important to people since the dawn of man. What's the difference between joy and happiness? To me, happiness is an emotion you feel from an outside event. Joy is something that comes from within, it's based not on present circumstances, but on, well, that's what the show is about today. I talk about the chase, the pursuit of happiness and joy, on this show. http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,150197,00.html WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors are investigating whether employees of the private security firm Blackwater USA illegally smuggled into Iraq weapons that may have been sold on the black market and ended up in the hands of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, officials said Friday. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Raleigh, N.C., is handling the investigation with help from Pentagon and State Department auditors, who have concluded there is enough evidence to file charges, the officials told The Associated Press. Blackwater is based in Moyock, N.C.. A spokeswoman for Blackwater did not return calls seeking comment Friday. The U.S. attorney for the eastern district of North Carolina, George Holding, declined to comment, as did Pentagon and State Department spokesmen. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/21/blackwater/index.html (CNN) -- The security firm Blackwater USA is starting to resume normal operations in Iraq after a hiatus sparked by concerns among Iraqi and U.S. government officials over its actions. ... The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday the creation of a joint commission to examine issues of security and safety in the aftermath of the shooting incident. The commission, co-chaired by an American and an Iraqi with equal representation from both countries, will receive the results of both the State Department investigation and the separate Iraqi investigation, Casey said. He said the commission will look at both the Sunday incident and the broader issue of "personal security details" and the use of private contractors to provide security in Iraq. The commission "is not an investigative body doing field forensics on this particular matter," Casey said. "The focus of this is to look not only at that incident but at the broader question ... and help us come up with joint recommendations." http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/17/iraq.main/index.html Blackwater is one of many security firms contracted by the U.S. government during the Iraq war. An estimated 25,000-plus employees of private security firms are working in Iraq, guarding diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials. As many as 200 are believed to have been killed on the job, according to U.S. congressional reports. ... People close to the company estimate it has lost about 30 employees during the war. ... Iraqi authorities have issued previous complaints about shootings by private military contractors, but Iraqi courts do not have the authority to bring contractors to trial, according to a July report from the Congressional Research Service. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18887713/ WASHINGTON - Employees of Blackwater USA, a private security firm under contract to the State Department, opened fire on the streets of Baghdad twice in two days last week, and one of the incidents provoked a standoff between the security contractors and Iraqi forces, U.S. and Iraqi officials said. ... Degn said he was concerned the incident "could undermine a lot of the cordial relationships that have been built up over the past four years. There's a lot of angry people up here right now." Details about that incident remained sketchy. The Blackwater guards said the victim drove too close to their convoy and drew fire, according to the three American officials. http://www.abbaswatchman.com/ WESLEY CLARK EXPOSED BUSH's 7 NATION WAR PLANNED IN 2001 BEFORE SEPT 11. For example, he says he learned from military sources at the Pentagon in November 2001, just two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, that serious planning for the war on Iraq had already begun and that, in addition to Iraq, the administration had drawn up a list of six other nations to be targeted over a period of five years. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2461421.ece IT was just after midnight when the 69th Squadron of Israeli F15Is crossed the Syrian coast-line. On the ground, Syria's formidable air defences went dead. An audacious raid on a Syrian target 50 miles from the Iraqi border was under way. ... Soon the bunkers were in flames. ... But why would nuclear material be in Syria? Known to have chemical weapons, was it seeking to bolster its arsenal with something even more deadly? Alternatively, could it be hiding equipment for North Korea, enabling Kim Jong-il to pretend to be giving up his nuclear programme in exchange for economic aid? Or was the material bound for Iran, as some authorities in America suggest? http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97487 Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is prompting a surge of interest - or at least curiosity - about the Mormon faith, according to national church executives. The surge has been so strong, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has bolstered its public outreach efforts and established a 24-hour hot line for political writers and commentators seeking the most basic information about the church. ... In response, the (Mormon-LDS) church assembled a [propaganda] media guide outlining the church's core beliefs, history, organizational structure, welfare programs and related topics. Furthermore, church executives have been meeting with news reporters in Washington, D.C., and nationwide to provide background information about the faith. "We just felt the need to get out and meet face-to-face with a number of the strong regional newspapers and press individuals and just say, 'If you get to that point where you're going to write, please just include us,'" Taylor said. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/137208/microsoft_downplays_stealth_update_concerns.html In fact, the practice has been going on for some time, Clinton claimed. "The Windows Update client is configured to automatically check for updates anytime a system uses the WU service, independent of the selected settings for handling updates. This has been the case since we introduced the Automatic Update feature in Windows XP. In fact, WU has autoupdated itself many times in the past," he said. That would be news to the majority of people who filled several threads on Microsoft's own support newsgroups starting in late August. "I found this information by myself, checking the Windows directories," griped someone identified as Frank. "But the point is that I didn't allow the update (Automatic Update properties on 'notify') and there is no information about this update on Microsoft [Web pages]. Why [didn't] Microsoft publish any information about this update?" http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296938,00.html America's elder statesman of finance, Alan Greenspan, has shaken the White House by declaring that the prime motive for the war in Iraq was oil. In his long-awaited memoir, to be published tomorrow, Greenspan, a Republican whose 18-year tenure as head of the US Federal Reserve was widely admired, will also deliver a stinging critique of President George W. Bush's economic policies. However, it is his view on the motive for the 2003 Iraq invasion that is likely to provoke the most controversy. “I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil,” he says. Greenspan, 81, is understood to believe that Saddam Hussein posed a threat to the security of oil supplies in the Middle East. Britain and America have always insisted the war had nothing to do with oil. Bush said the aim was to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and end Saddam's support for terrorism. http://www.afa.net/debate/registration.asp Mark the date! September 17 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The Values Voter Presidential Debate held in Fort Lauderdale will be streamed live by the American Family Association. What makes this debate different? The candidates will be asked questions related to abortion, immigration, marriage and other issues Values Voters consider important. If you want to see where they stand on the traditional, pro-family issues, don't miss this debate. The debate will be moderated by Joseph Farah who is the founder of the very popular website WorldNetDaily. ... "Unlike other straw polls where candidates have bussed in supporters or paid for their tickets, the Values Voter Straw poll conducted at this Presidential debate promises results consistent with the largest voting block in America-the Values Voter," said Mat Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel and member of the host committee. "This will be the most important straw poll yet." http://www.coralridge.org/CRMResCtrDetail.asp?ID=crm&pc=115056&ec=I1297 This lavishly illustrated look at Dr. Kennedy's life and ministry features pages of stirring photographs and touching tributes from friends and fellow Christian leaders. The companion DVD, D. James Kennedy: His Life and Legacy, offers a one-hour documentary with never-before seen footage and interviews to give you new insight into this servant of Jesus Christ. As an added bonus, the DVD includes a moving message Dr. Kennedy preached about Heaven. The book, A Lamplighter for Christ, and the special DVD, D. James Kennedy: His Life and Legacy, are yours for your memorial gift to Coral Ridge Ministries of $50 or more. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57628 Saying he is convinced "the Bush administration has a master plan to erase all borders and to have a super-government in North America," James P. Hoffa, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, celebrated the Senate's 75-23 vote Tuesday night to block the Department of Transportation's Mexican truck demonstration project. In an exclusive interview with WND, Hoffa argued that the Bush administration push to allow Mexican trucks into the U.S. is symptomatic of a larger administration plan advanced by multi-national corporations to create a European Union-style regional 'super-government' in North America. "Congress has now spoken out and said Mexican trucks cannot come into the United States until they meet our standards," Hoffa told WND. He noted the Senate seconded the House's overwhelming 411-3 vote to pass the Safe Roads Act of 2007, a bill also targeted to block the Mexican truck project. "We're very excited about the Senate vote," Hoffa told WND. "We worked very hard on it. We thought we already had this Mexican truck demonstration project stopped three times before this year, and every time the administration comes right back trying to press this idea of opening the borders to unsafe Mexican trucks." http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1661896,00.html But Bush's trumpeting of what he called a "return on success" could end up backfiring. Bringing the war into America's living rooms is never a safe political bet. And if news of a slow drawdown may be popular, Bush himself still is not. Some key Hill Republicans, in fact, were upset that he returned front and center on the issue at a time when the White House had so carefully ceded the selling of the surge to Petraeus and Crocker. "Why would he threaten the momentum we have?" says one frustrated Capitol Hill Republican strategist with ties to the GOP leadership. "You have an unpopular President going onto prime time television, interrupting Americans' TV programs, to remind them of why they don't like him." Republicans in Congress who were finally breathing a sigh of relief after months of bludgeoning on Iraq felt Bush was risking the progress he had made with those closely following the war by thrusting it in the faces of those who may not be paying attention. It didn't help that Bush said American forces would be on the ground in Iraq, as part of an "enduring relationship," well past the end of his term in office. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6994405.stm After a crowded week of evidence sessions on Capitol Hill from the US commander in Iraq and Washington's ambassador there, plus news conferences and briefings, President George W Bush has now delivered his verdict. The current US strategy in Iraq will continue, though some US troops will be coming home, a measure according to Mr Bush, of the success already achieved. President Bush is not for turning. He believes his strategy in Iraq is succeeding. And he clearly has no intention of changing course now. By offering the prospect of limited troop cuts, he hopes to disarm his domestic critics, especially those voices in his own Republican Party who have argued for a fundamental shift in the US approach. http://www.suntimes.com/news/greeley/552416,CST-EDT-greel12.article Here's the question that senators ought to have asked General Petraeus (the current Colin Powell): Could you give us a rough estimate, general, of how many more American men and women will die in Iraq? Not a precise figure, just an approximation? That is an important question. Chicago political guru Don Rose has pointed out that Bush's war in Iraq has caused the deaths of more Americans than died in the Sept. 11 attacks and probably more Iraqis than Saddam Hussein killed. What is the point of all this slaughter? ... This might be a good week to read Robert Draper's book Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush. Draper is sympathetic to Bush and tries to be favorable, but he wants to understand how the president can be so "dead certain" about everything. It is a question many Americans are asking. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/13/iraq.killing/index.html Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Reesha, 39, was head of the Anbar Salvation Council, a coalition of tribes that has been working with the U.S. military to counter al Qaeda militants in Sunni-dominated Anbar province. The afternoon attack near the sheik's home in Ramadi killed two bodyguards and wounded five other escorts, Ramadi police and Interior Ministry officials said. ... Bush has repeatedly cited successful efforts to bring Anbar tribesmen over to the coalition's side in the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq as evidence of overall success by the U.S. military in Iraq. Since the Sunni sheiks began cooperating with the U.S. military, violent attacks have significantly decreased in Anbar, once a hot-spot for al Qaeda attacks. Bush is expected to reiterate Anbar's success in a major address to the nation Thursday night. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/12/iraq.soldiers.dead/index.html Two U.S. soldiers whose signatures appeared on an op-ed piece in The New York Times critical of the war in Iraq were among seven Americans killed in a truck accident outside of Baghdad, family members said Wednesday. ... the op-ed piece that appeared in the Times on August 19. It called the prospects of U.S. success "far-fetched" and said the progress being reported was being "offset by failures elsewhere." "Four years into our occupation, we have failed on every promise, while we have substituted Baath Party tyranny with a tyranny of Islamist, militia and criminal violence," they wrote. "When the primary preoccupation of average Iraqis is when and how they are likely to be killed, we can hardly feel smug as we hand out care packages." ... American troops in Iraq are operating "in a bewildering context of determined enemies and questionable allies, one where the balance of forces on the ground remains entirely unclear." However, they concluded, "As committed soldiers, we will see this mission through." http://www3.capwiz.com/afanet/issues/alert/?alertid=10288746 CKE Restaurants, Inc. (Hardees/Carl's Jr.) is hitting new lows in their latest round of television commercials. After offending families with Paris Hilton and Hugh Hefner-driven ads over the past few years, the hamburger chain is taking its history of sleaze marketing to a new level. One of the latest ads, now on national television, depicts a sexualized female teacher in a high school classroom doing a stripper-style dance on top of her desk, while male students do a rap song about her "flat buns." ... In another ad, a scantly-clad woman gyrates to a countdown of things she wants a man to do to her. ... Take Action! These ads are airing on local television stations across the nation. These stations are licensed by the FCC to "serve the public interest." Enter your zip code and click "GO" to urge your local station(s) to stop or refuse to air these ads in support of local decency standards. We have prepared an email letter for you. This action alert requires you to select your local television stations as recipients of your email letter. Please do not select the newspaper and radio stations options. Hardees and Carl's Jr. have a solid history of completely ignoring consumer complaints. However, if you wish to contact them, we have supplied contact information here. You may also wish to contact your local restaurant manager by finding the store's number in your local yellow pages. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411389911&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado, one of 10 EU foreign ministers who signed a letter hinting at the need to engage Hamas, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that the initiative "was in the past." "The position of the EU is quite clear at this moment," Amado said at the end of a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. "After what happened in Gaza [the Hamas takeover in June], the commitment of the EU to support the government of [PA] President [Mahmoud] Abbas is total." Portugal currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, a position that gives it increased clout inside the EU for six months. "The letter was in the past, absolutely," Amado said, adding that he did not now think it wise to engage Hamas. Since the letter was published in July, Israeli officials have expressed concern that cracks were appearing in Europe's wall against dealing with Hamas. http://www.iris.org.il/blog/archives/2502-Evidence-that-Fatah-Payments-Cause-Terror.html We have on the blog a jaw-dropping graph from CAMERA that shows an almost-perfect correlation between the amount of money given to the Palestinian Authority (now Fatah) and the number of Israelis killed in terror attacks the following year. Given the large amount of evidence implicating Fatah in terror, the explanation shouldn't be much of a mystery, however. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003878217_tuelets11.html President Bush has perfected The Big Lie. He redefines his goals to fit his failures. With each new definition, more innocents die. When he failed to catch Osama bin Laden "dead or alive," he redefined the enemy as Saddam Hussein. When he failed to find WMD in Iraq, he redefined our goal there as democracy. When he brought chaos instead of democracy to Iraq, he redefined the goal again: "Fight them there so we don't have to fight them here." Outstanding police work in England and Germany proves that al-Qaida doesn't come from Iraq, and isn't defeated in Iraq. This is a struggle against international crime, this is not a world war. Bush's latest lie is the "surge." Six months ago, he clearly defined its purpose: to give "breathing space" to the government in Baghdad. In those months, the dysfunctional puppet government has utterly collapsed, proving the surge a failure. But Bush now claims the surge a success because one Iraqi province is more peaceful. The London Times of Sept. 9 shows how Bush's cronies use taxpayer dollars to bribe Sunni [& Shiite] sheiks in Anbar province [and throughout Iraq, Lebanon-Palestine the entire Muslim world]. Of course, when the bribes stop, they may turn against us again. Bush pours American blood in the sand just to save face. Ending this war is not a job for him, but for the American people. Will we passively accept The Big Lie for five more years, or will we cry "No more!" in the name of truth and the Constitution? - Fred LaMotte, Steilacoom http://www.believersresource.com/content.aspx?id=1 The complete King James Version Bible in mp3 audio format on a 2 disc set. This recording can be legally copied for non-commercial use. Voice narration only. Non-dramatized with no background music. 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