TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2008 09:15 PM, CST
Part 2: From the Guestbook. Please read an earlier post from Tiffany that precedes this post. Thanks!Just wanted to let everyone know they did the epidural today and everything went well and we could see a visible difference in the swelling on his head as it has gone down. He is still scheduled for the surgery tomorrow so continue to pray that everything goes well with that. He had another good today as far as the responses go....he did some more winks; gave us some more thumbs ups; squeezed his left hand some more; he gave Anna some more kisses and smiled some today. Thank you God and thank you everyone for the continued prayers.Tiff
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2008 12:27 PM, CST
From the Guestbook.We got news this morning from the neurosurgeon that they are going to do some surgery to relieve some of the fluid on Ty's brain. He said it isn't a very risky surgery but as with any surgery there are some risks and there isn't a good plan B so the surgery is the best option. They are also going to give him a type of epidural to relieve some of the fluid build up. The doctor also explained the results of the brain scan....I don't think we totally understood what he was saying and explaining but we are still hopeful as most of the damage appears to deal with the left hemisphere. Let's continue to pray for Ty that his surgery tomorrow will be a success and that he has no infections or set backs and we can get him out of the ICU and on to rehab soon. Thanks for all of the continued prayer and support. We love you all. We continue to pray for all of the other military people and their families as Ty is not the only one suffering right now. We know God continues to be the ultimate physician and we pray that he will continue to heal Ty along with the others injured or in need of prayer and God knows their needs.Tiff
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
We Can't Afford Another "Jimmy Carter" - I Know I Barely Survived The First One
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Posted Wednesday, September 10, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Jimmy Carter became our 39th president at the young age of 52. He was a one-term governor from Plains, GA, where he managed the family peanut farm and taught Sunday school. He was also a graduate of the Naval Academy and served seven years in the Navy, leaving as a lieutenant. He came to power in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the resignation of President Nixon. The public wanted change and someone new, and Carter was an ambitious, hands-on politician who promised better days. As good as his intentions were, however, the things he tried were not successful. In fact, he created far more serious problems than he ever solved.
The centerpiece of Carter's foreign policy was human rights, and he did achieve one noble success---a peace treaty between Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin.
Unfortunately, that later led to Sadat's assassination at the hands of Muslim radicals. Many people felt Carter was a good man who worked hard and meant well. But he was naive and incompetent in handling the enormous burdens and complex challenges of being president.
He wrongly believed Americans had an 'inordinate fear of communism,' so he lifted travel bans to Cuba, North Vietnam, and Cambodia and pardoned draft evaders. He also stopped B-1 bomber production and gave away our strategically located Panama Canal.
His most damaging miscalculation was the withdrawal of U.S. support for the Shah of Iran, a strong and longtime military ally. Carter objected to the Shah's alleged mistreatment of imprisoned Soviet spies who were working to overthrow Iran's government. He thought the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini, being a religious man, would make a fairer leader. Having lost U.S. support, the Shah was overthrown, the Ayatollah returned, Iran was declared an Islamic nation and Palestinian hit men were hired to eliminate opposition.
The Ayatollah then introduced the idea of suicide bombers to the Palestine Liberation Organization, paying $35,000 to PLO families whose young people were brainwashed to kill as many Israelis as possible by blowing themselves up in crowded shopping areas. Next, the Ayatollah used Iran's oil wealth to create, train and finance a new terrorist organization, Hezbollah, which later would attack Israel in 2006.
In November 1979, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranians stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Not until six months into the ordeal did Carter attempt a rescue. But the mission, using just six Navy helicopters, was poorly executed. Three of the copters were disabled or lost in sandstorms. (Pilots weren't allowed to meet with weather forecasters because someone in authority worried about security.) Five airmen and three Marines lost their lives.
So, due to overconfidence, inexperience and poor judgment, Carter undermined and lost a strong ally, Iran, that today aggressively threatens the U.S., Israel and the rest of the world with nuclear weapons. But that's not all. After Carter met for the first time with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, the USSR promptly invaded Afghanistan. Carter, ever the naive appeaser, was shocked. 'I can't believe the Russians lied to me,' he said. The invasion attracted a 23-year-old Saudi named Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan to recruit Muslim fighters and raise money for an anti-Soviet jihad. Part of that group eventually became al-Qaida, a terrorist organization that would declare war on America several times between 1996 and 1998, before attacking us on 9/11, killing more Americans than the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Carter's watch, the Soviet Union went on an unrestrained rampage in which it took over not only Afghanistan, but also Ethiopia, South Yemen, Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique, Grenada and Nicaragua. In spite of this, Carter's last defense budget proposed spending 45% below pre-Vietnam levels for fighter aircraft, 75% for ships, 83% for attack submarines and 90% for helicopters. Years later, as a civilian, Carter negotiated a peace agreement with North Korea to keep that communist country from developing nuclear weapons. He also convinced President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to go along with it. But the signed piece of paper proved worthless. The North Koreans deceived Carter and instead used our money, incentives and technical equipment to build nuclear weapons and pose the threat we face today. Thus did Carter unwittingly become our Neville Chamberlain, creating with his well-intended but inept, unrealistic and gullible actions the very conditions that led to the three most dangerous security threats we face today: Iran, al-Qaida and North Korea.
On the domestic side, Carter gave us inflation of 15%, the highest in 34 years; interest rates of 21%, the highest in 115 years; and a severe energy crisis with lines around the block at gas stations nationwide. In 1977, Carter, along with a Democrat Congress, created a worthy project with noble intentions---the Community Reinvestment Act. Over strong industry objections, it mandated that all banks meet the credit needs of their entire communities. In 1995, President Clinton imposed even stronger regulations and performance tests that coerced banks to substantially increase loans to low-income, poverty-area borrowers or face fines or possible restrictions on expansion. These revisions allowed for securitization of CRA loans containing subprime mortgages. By 1997, good loans were bundled with poor ones and sold as prime packages to institutions here and abroad. That shifted risk from the loan originators, freeing banks to begin pyramiding and make more of these profitable subprime products.
Under two young, well-intended presidents, therefore, big-government plans and mandates played a significant role in the current subprime mortgage mess and its catastrophic consequences for the U.S. and international economies. Hardest-hit by the mortgage foreclosures have been the citizens that Democrats always claim to help most----inner-city residents who fell victim to low or no down payment schemes, unexpected adjustable rates, deceptive loan applications and commission-hungry salespeople. Now we're having to bail out at huge cost Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the very agencies that were supposed to stabilize the system.
Comment, not in IBD: But the party of Carter and Clinton that midwifed our mortgage mess now wants to be trusted to give us another, young, inexperienced, well intentioned, but misguided president who wants to raise taxes, tremendously cut our military spending, take away our missle shield, negotiate with our enemies and take over and have the government run our entire system of health care!
The road to hell is, without a doubt, filled with good intentions.
Jimmy Carter became our 39th president at the young age of 52. He was a one-term governor from Plains, GA, where he managed the family peanut farm and taught Sunday school. He was also a graduate of the Naval Academy and served seven years in the Navy, leaving as a lieutenant. He came to power in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the resignation of President Nixon. The public wanted change and someone new, and Carter was an ambitious, hands-on politician who promised better days. As good as his intentions were, however, the things he tried were not successful. In fact, he created far more serious problems than he ever solved.
The centerpiece of Carter's foreign policy was human rights, and he did achieve one noble success---a peace treaty between Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin.
Unfortunately, that later led to Sadat's assassination at the hands of Muslim radicals. Many people felt Carter was a good man who worked hard and meant well. But he was naive and incompetent in handling the enormous burdens and complex challenges of being president.
He wrongly believed Americans had an 'inordinate fear of communism,' so he lifted travel bans to Cuba, North Vietnam, and Cambodia and pardoned draft evaders. He also stopped B-1 bomber production and gave away our strategically located Panama Canal.
His most damaging miscalculation was the withdrawal of U.S. support for the Shah of Iran, a strong and longtime military ally. Carter objected to the Shah's alleged mistreatment of imprisoned Soviet spies who were working to overthrow Iran's government. He thought the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini, being a religious man, would make a fairer leader. Having lost U.S. support, the Shah was overthrown, the Ayatollah returned, Iran was declared an Islamic nation and Palestinian hit men were hired to eliminate opposition.
The Ayatollah then introduced the idea of suicide bombers to the Palestine Liberation Organization, paying $35,000 to PLO families whose young people were brainwashed to kill as many Israelis as possible by blowing themselves up in crowded shopping areas. Next, the Ayatollah used Iran's oil wealth to create, train and finance a new terrorist organization, Hezbollah, which later would attack Israel in 2006.
In November 1979, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranians stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Not until six months into the ordeal did Carter attempt a rescue. But the mission, using just six Navy helicopters, was poorly executed. Three of the copters were disabled or lost in sandstorms. (Pilots weren't allowed to meet with weather forecasters because someone in authority worried about security.) Five airmen and three Marines lost their lives.
So, due to overconfidence, inexperience and poor judgment, Carter undermined and lost a strong ally, Iran, that today aggressively threatens the U.S., Israel and the rest of the world with nuclear weapons. But that's not all. After Carter met for the first time with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, the USSR promptly invaded Afghanistan. Carter, ever the naive appeaser, was shocked. 'I can't believe the Russians lied to me,' he said. The invasion attracted a 23-year-old Saudi named Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan to recruit Muslim fighters and raise money for an anti-Soviet jihad. Part of that group eventually became al-Qaida, a terrorist organization that would declare war on America several times between 1996 and 1998, before attacking us on 9/11, killing more Americans than the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Carter's watch, the Soviet Union went on an unrestrained rampage in which it took over not only Afghanistan, but also Ethiopia, South Yemen, Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique, Grenada and Nicaragua. In spite of this, Carter's last defense budget proposed spending 45% below pre-Vietnam levels for fighter aircraft, 75% for ships, 83% for attack submarines and 90% for helicopters. Years later, as a civilian, Carter negotiated a peace agreement with North Korea to keep that communist country from developing nuclear weapons. He also convinced President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to go along with it. But the signed piece of paper proved worthless. The North Koreans deceived Carter and instead used our money, incentives and technical equipment to build nuclear weapons and pose the threat we face today. Thus did Carter unwittingly become our Neville Chamberlain, creating with his well-intended but inept, unrealistic and gullible actions the very conditions that led to the three most dangerous security threats we face today: Iran, al-Qaida and North Korea.
On the domestic side, Carter gave us inflation of 15%, the highest in 34 years; interest rates of 21%, the highest in 115 years; and a severe energy crisis with lines around the block at gas stations nationwide. In 1977, Carter, along with a Democrat Congress, created a worthy project with noble intentions---the Community Reinvestment Act. Over strong industry objections, it mandated that all banks meet the credit needs of their entire communities. In 1995, President Clinton imposed even stronger regulations and performance tests that coerced banks to substantially increase loans to low-income, poverty-area borrowers or face fines or possible restrictions on expansion. These revisions allowed for securitization of CRA loans containing subprime mortgages. By 1997, good loans were bundled with poor ones and sold as prime packages to institutions here and abroad. That shifted risk from the loan originators, freeing banks to begin pyramiding and make more of these profitable subprime products.
Under two young, well-intended presidents, therefore, big-government plans and mandates played a significant role in the current subprime mortgage mess and its catastrophic consequences for the U.S. and international economies. Hardest-hit by the mortgage foreclosures have been the citizens that Democrats always claim to help most----inner-city residents who fell victim to low or no down payment schemes, unexpected adjustable rates, deceptive loan applications and commission-hungry salespeople. Now we're having to bail out at huge cost Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the very agencies that were supposed to stabilize the system.
Comment, not in IBD: But the party of Carter and Clinton that midwifed our mortgage mess now wants to be trusted to give us another, young, inexperienced, well intentioned, but misguided president who wants to raise taxes, tremendously cut our military spending, take away our missle shield, negotiate with our enemies and take over and have the government run our entire system of health care!
The road to hell is, without a doubt, filled with good intentions.
Monday, October 27, 2008
What are 545 Politicians at the Bottom of the Sea?
A start ... read on ...
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300+ million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the speaker of the House?
She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.
If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300+ million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insolvable government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
And this column is from Charlie Reese a former columnist for the Orlando Sentinel and I thank him for writing it.
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300+ million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the speaker of the House?
She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.
If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300+ million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insolvable government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
And this column is from Charlie Reese a former columnist for the Orlando Sentinel and I thank him for writing it.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Latest on Ty Edwards
Latest on Ty Edwards from his wife Anna
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 06:50 PM, CDT
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Today, Ty began to follow us a bit with his eyes. It was wonderful to see! He appears to be focusing on us more. He is breathing entirely on his own. His lungs sound great and he's taking deep, full breaths. Tomorrow, he will have another EEG to assess brain activity. Please pray that we'll hear good results.
Also, I'd like to ask that you keep Mom, Dennis and the kids in your prayers as they will be traveling from Okinawa during the next couple of days. The support we've received from you all is beyond description. Today's service in the hospital chapel was titled "Humility"... such an appropriate message for us, as we continue to be humbled by the overwhelming love, prayers, and support we've received from family, friends, coworkers, the hospital staff, the US Marine Corps, fellow service members, and complete strangers! Thank you all.
Much love,
Anna
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 06:50 PM, CDT
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Today, Ty began to follow us a bit with his eyes. It was wonderful to see! He appears to be focusing on us more. He is breathing entirely on his own. His lungs sound great and he's taking deep, full breaths. Tomorrow, he will have another EEG to assess brain activity. Please pray that we'll hear good results.
Also, I'd like to ask that you keep Mom, Dennis and the kids in your prayers as they will be traveling from Okinawa during the next couple of days. The support we've received from you all is beyond description. Today's service in the hospital chapel was titled "Humility"... such an appropriate message for us, as we continue to be humbled by the overwhelming love, prayers, and support we've received from family, friends, coworkers, the hospital staff, the US Marine Corps, fellow service members, and complete strangers! Thank you all.
Much love,
Anna
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Latest Update on Ty Edwards
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008 05:38 PM, CDT
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Finally word from Anna!!!
She emails: Today has been a busy and encouraging day. We walked into Ty's room this morning to see his eyes open and news from the nurse that he was really responding well. Yesterday was a day full of exams and more took place today. The injury seemed to be a graze to the top of the head rather than an injury with an entry and exit wound. But there was significant energy and force transmitted to the brain--enough to place him in the coma. He has undergone 2 operations. The first operation was to debride the wound and the second was to relieve pressure in the brain by removing parts of his skull. There will be a third to reconstruct these areas. He has been on a ventilator but is making a strong effort to breathe on his own. Now, he's only requiring minimal support from the ventilator. He has been opening his eyes spontaneously and appears aware of us and what we are saying to him. Initially, Ty was having a lot of problems maintaining a normal blood pressure. Since he's been here in Bethesda, it's been very stable. He has been having a lowgrade fever--we're not sure of the source and so far it does not seem to be infectious. It is being monitored closely and he is on strong antibiotics. The doctors have conducted several studies to look at his brain and the blood vessels. So far, the results are all encouraging. Tomorrow, he will have a tracheostomy and a feeding tube placed in his stomach. Hopefully this well help him be more comfortable and eventually he will be weaned off the ventilator. We are all very optimistic and have found the messages here to be a lifeline for us! Thank you, thank you for your support. We read your messages on the waiting room computer and then we go tell Ty all about them. We know that he's drawing so much strength and comfort from your love and prayers and so are we--more than we can ever express. We'll keep the updates coming as we find out new information
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Finally word from Anna!!!
She emails: Today has been a busy and encouraging day. We walked into Ty's room this morning to see his eyes open and news from the nurse that he was really responding well. Yesterday was a day full of exams and more took place today. The injury seemed to be a graze to the top of the head rather than an injury with an entry and exit wound. But there was significant energy and force transmitted to the brain--enough to place him in the coma. He has undergone 2 operations. The first operation was to debride the wound and the second was to relieve pressure in the brain by removing parts of his skull. There will be a third to reconstruct these areas. He has been on a ventilator but is making a strong effort to breathe on his own. Now, he's only requiring minimal support from the ventilator. He has been opening his eyes spontaneously and appears aware of us and what we are saying to him. Initially, Ty was having a lot of problems maintaining a normal blood pressure. Since he's been here in Bethesda, it's been very stable. He has been having a lowgrade fever--we're not sure of the source and so far it does not seem to be infectious. It is being monitored closely and he is on strong antibiotics. The doctors have conducted several studies to look at his brain and the blood vessels. So far, the results are all encouraging. Tomorrow, he will have a tracheostomy and a feeding tube placed in his stomach. Hopefully this well help him be more comfortable and eventually he will be weaned off the ventilator. We are all very optimistic and have found the messages here to be a lifeline for us! Thank you, thank you for your support. We read your messages on the waiting room computer and then we go tell Ty all about them. We know that he's drawing so much strength and comfort from your love and prayers and so are we--more than we can ever express. We'll keep the updates coming as we find out new information
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Specific Prayer Request for Ty Edwards
We have asked all our friends, colleagues and members in the Unity Church around the world via their International Prayer Line to join with us in prayer for Ty and Anna Edwards. As you recall Ty, Kay's cousin, was seriously inujred with a wound to the head while serviung in Afghanistan last week.
This means prayers from around the globe will be offered up for Ty's healing for the next 30-days, 24/7.
All my friends and colleagues in security and intel agencies also have been re-notified and are sending their prayers and best wishes during this time.
See details below.
Dr. L. Darryl Armstrong
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008 02:09 PM, CDT
From Ty's family:
I have a specific prayer request for Ty. He is currently running a fever and they have him packed down with ice. A fever is never good especially in brain injuries. Please pray for his fever to stop and for his body to continue to heal. Virginia left a message that Ty has had several procedures; therefore no significant responses from him (his body being tired from the procedures).
Mason and Alaina are doing well. Still in Japan with their grandmother (Virginia). They will leave for the states next week.
Anna, Tommy and Debbie are reading the guestbook entries. The words of encouragement, stories and prayers are helping them tremendously. Keep the emails coming!
This means prayers from around the globe will be offered up for Ty's healing for the next 30-days, 24/7.
All my friends and colleagues in security and intel agencies also have been re-notified and are sending their prayers and best wishes during this time.
See details below.
Dr. L. Darryl Armstrong
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008 02:09 PM, CDT
From Ty's family:
I have a specific prayer request for Ty. He is currently running a fever and they have him packed down with ice. A fever is never good especially in brain injuries. Please pray for his fever to stop and for his body to continue to heal. Virginia left a message that Ty has had several procedures; therefore no significant responses from him (his body being tired from the procedures).
Mason and Alaina are doing well. Still in Japan with their grandmother (Virginia). They will leave for the states next week.
Anna, Tommy and Debbie are reading the guestbook entries. The words of encouragement, stories and prayers are helping them tremendously. Keep the emails coming!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Ty and Anna Update
Your continued prayers are appreciated. Here is an update for everyone compliments of friends of Ty and Anna ...
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 12:51 PM, CDT
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Many have asked for Anna's address. She is currently booked at the Navy Lodge, but will relocate once the Fisher House has room. I will post her more permanent address soon. We haven't recieved any medical news and still waiting to hear from Anna direct, but i did get an email from Marijke Landon, a longtime friend of Anna and Ty's. She wrote the following:
Kristen Hicks, my husband, and I visited yesterday. I have to say I am in awe of both Ty's and Anna's strength. Ty was responding to Anna's voice and, in turn, Anna was there encouraging him. He has opened his eyes to her voice and was moving his arms and legs. He seems to be coughing on the breathing tube which Anna's sister-in-law (Katie) said it meant he was trying to breath on his own. All good signs! Anna despite being so tired had a smile for us (through tears on both our parts) and explained that Ty would not be happy to discover he didn't even get a sexy female nurse, but a male! Anna reassured him that he (the nurse) was still a 10! Oh so Anna!
I am amazed and humbled by how much has aligned in these last few days. From friends and family in far off places to people being here to support Anna and Ty. No human could have done a job or coordinating this so well. Please continue to pray and know that God is here with Ty, Anna and family.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 12:51 PM, CDT
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Many have asked for Anna's address. She is currently booked at the Navy Lodge, but will relocate once the Fisher House has room. I will post her more permanent address soon. We haven't recieved any medical news and still waiting to hear from Anna direct, but i did get an email from Marijke Landon, a longtime friend of Anna and Ty's. She wrote the following:
Kristen Hicks, my husband, and I visited yesterday. I have to say I am in awe of both Ty's and Anna's strength. Ty was responding to Anna's voice and, in turn, Anna was there encouraging him. He has opened his eyes to her voice and was moving his arms and legs. He seems to be coughing on the breathing tube which Anna's sister-in-law (Katie) said it meant he was trying to breath on his own. All good signs! Anna despite being so tired had a smile for us (through tears on both our parts) and explained that Ty would not be happy to discover he didn't even get a sexy female nurse, but a male! Anna reassured him that he (the nurse) was still a 10! Oh so Anna!
I am amazed and humbled by how much has aligned in these last few days. From friends and family in far off places to people being here to support Anna and Ty. No human could have done a job or coordinating this so well. Please continue to pray and know that God is here with Ty, Anna and family.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Please Pray with Us for Ty Edwards, a Brave Marine
Lake Barkley --- Ty Edwards, a family member, a fellow "brother" and Marine, while training troops last week in Afghanistan was ambushed and shot in the head. An update follows:
From Kay --- Hello everyone. I called and spoke this morning to Tommy Edwards. He seemed more hopeful today than last night. He said Debbie is holding up well.
They had learned a couple of additional things. When Anna's mother was coordinating with a Lt. Col. her plans to travel to Japan to pick up the kids, she learned that Ty had opened his eyes and been responsive at some point. Tommy wasn't sure whether that was in the field when he was injured, or later. But that was a hopeful sign.
Another sign of 'angels' watching over Ty is that his cousin-in-law (one of Tommy's nephews by marriage) is serving as a pilot with the Mississippi National Guard, and flies the medivac units. He was planning to look Ty up when he was in Afghanistan, and instead transported him to Germany.
Ty is safely in Germany and Anna is enroute there. When she arrives, the plan is to transport them both in the same plane to the states. That's all the details on that we have at this point.
We all know that treatment of head injuries has come a very long way in particular during this war, so we are all continuing to pray fervently that Ty's injury will be able to have good treatment, and we pray for his safe passage throughout this process.
I'm not sure where he will be located, but we are very grateful for our Miller cousin, Jake's kind offering of housing in the DC area for Ty's family, should that become helpful. Thank you, Jake.
I'll keep you all posted as I learn more.
From Kay --- Hello everyone. I called and spoke this morning to Tommy Edwards. He seemed more hopeful today than last night. He said Debbie is holding up well.
They had learned a couple of additional things. When Anna's mother was coordinating with a Lt. Col. her plans to travel to Japan to pick up the kids, she learned that Ty had opened his eyes and been responsive at some point. Tommy wasn't sure whether that was in the field when he was injured, or later. But that was a hopeful sign.
Another sign of 'angels' watching over Ty is that his cousin-in-law (one of Tommy's nephews by marriage) is serving as a pilot with the Mississippi National Guard, and flies the medivac units. He was planning to look Ty up when he was in Afghanistan, and instead transported him to Germany.
Ty is safely in Germany and Anna is enroute there. When she arrives, the plan is to transport them both in the same plane to the states. That's all the details on that we have at this point.
We all know that treatment of head injuries has come a very long way in particular during this war, so we are all continuing to pray fervently that Ty's injury will be able to have good treatment, and we pray for his safe passage throughout this process.
I'm not sure where he will be located, but we are very grateful for our Miller cousin, Jake's kind offering of housing in the DC area for Ty's family, should that become helpful. Thank you, Jake.
I'll keep you all posted as I learn more.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thanks Chuck - You Summarize My Positon Better Than I Can
Chuck Howell and I were managers with the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1980s. TVA is an outdated, outmoded and grossly mis-managed public utility that President Ronald Reagan would have been wise to have "sunset" during his tenure (my editorial comment). What follows is his take on the Presidential election. Please enjoy while I go and "clean my guns and cling to my religion".
From Chuck Howell:
As to the race for the presidency, I am disappointed in both candidates. The most recent debate was, in my view, a boring embarrassing spectacle. Here were two career politicians jabbering away, endlessly repeating their talking points, never giving a direct answer, never providing any clear and precise definition as to how their "programs" would work to benefit the American people without further spending us into bankruptcy.
Some of the pundits said that McCain's only hope to turn the tide of public opinion was to attack Obama. He didn't, of course, for U.S. senators do not do such things! These fellows are expected to always respect the decorum of the Senate, to promote a collegial atmosphere while debating "extremely important national policy" in a courteous and respectful manner. A prerequisite seems to be that members must be able to speak for at least forty-five minutes without saying anything of substance--both of these gentlemen surely demonstrated these attributes to the extreme. Senator Biden is tops in this category.
Thank goodness that the debate committee chose that old Liberal, Tom Brokaw, to serve as moderator. Tom seem more concerned about time-management than the debate itself--notice how he adroitly selected twenty questions from among Nashville's Corp of Undecided and the Internet, while narrowly avoiding the really important issues facing America today. For instance, where were the questions on the War on Terror (after all it IS only the survival of the Western Culture we are talking about when it comes to the agenda of the Radical Islamists)? How about illegal immigration (what DO we do about the twenty million illegals who are bankrupting our local health care facilities, local schools and other taxpayer-funded social services)? What about the failure of the president and U.S. congress to properly oversee our nation's financial system and markets?
I also wonder why the people chosen to ask questions seem only marginally articulate. Was there some strong weed dispensed at Belmont that evening? I'm sorry. That was crude and uncalled for. And to think that they were once a strong Southern Baptist school.
In my view of things, Senator McCain looked totally un-presidential. In fact, he looked tired and incapable of a good knock-down, drag-out political fight. Bill Clinton would have destroyed him. In the same format, Ronald Reagan would have verbally denuded Obama in about five minutes and showed him to be the novice that he is. Would someone please tell me what this guy has accomplished? Oh, I know how he (as he said on TV last week) "took advantage of the opportunities of this great nation" to get a world-class education. He does indeed appear to have applied himself and I do not question that he is a smart politician. However, what were his accomplishments as an Illinois state senator? Even his spoke people can't or won't answer this question. He has apparently been a non-entity in the U.S. Senate. He has championed no major bills nor has he headed any subcommittees within his purview. the Right Wing pundits all say that he has devoted his time since joining the Senate to running for president. I have found nothing to refute this statement.
The fact that he beat out Alan Keys, a second-rate, inexperienced Black conservative talk show host for the U.S. Senate isn't very impressive. With the political and financial clout of the Mayor Richard Daley's Chicago political machine behind him, Jeffrey Dahmer could have taken that seat.
Then there's his tenure as a Chicago community organizer. If my information is correct, his main objective was to help the under-served minority community to register to vote and get home mortgages which they couldn't afford to pay. Would someone please tell me how this shallow resume qualifies this dude to serve as the president of the United States?
Finally, I don't know about you but I'm more than a little concerned about the associations and political output of both McCain and Obama. While we know that McCain escaped the legal fallout from the Keating Five mess (the Dems own lawyer vindicated him), his votes on illegal immigration and campaign finance reform shows that he is not really attuned to the priorities of the American majority in the first case, and deserves criticism for stomping on the First Amendment in the latter.
Bipartisanship and cooperation is okay when it is in the best interests of the citizenry, however I would like to see a little more spunk from a person trying to win my vote. Frankly, I'm not enamored with McCain "The Maverick." We have a two-party system and when you get too far from the center of your party, you become marginalized and ineffective--I think this definition fits McCain to a Tee. If I hear him brag about "reaching across the aisle" one more time, I think I'll puke. I favor Sarah Palin's take on things....speak direct and with strength. Shoot the damn moose if you need meat in the freezer!
Then there's the extremely important issue of Barack's association with Bill Ayres, Reverend Wright, et al. There is a saying going around the Internet, "What does Obama and Osama have in common? Answer: They both have friends that bombed the Pentagon." How can we trust a person who knowingly associates with an unrepentant terrorist? Troubling.
And, some of you know, my dad was a Baptist preacher.....I sat under his preaching for over twenty-five years, and you can rest assured that what he had to say made a deep impression on me. Now, am I supposed to believe that Barack and Michelle attended Reverend Wright's church for twenty years, heard his virulent Anti-American and racist sermons and weren't effected? Ah, come on! Down home they would say "that dog won't hunt!"
I also find Obama not to be trustworthy. Like the career politician that he is, he parses his words when trying to explain where he stands on important issues. He was recently asked to give his position on the Fifth Amendment. He stated that he "supported the Fifth Amendment," but refused to explain whether or not he believed that the amendment's "right to bear arms" was an individual right or only a right pertaining to "state militias." Of course, Obama is a product of the Chicago political machine and has always voted against gun ownership--he scores a definite "F"by the folks at the NRA. I have no doubt that if given the opportunity, he would appoint supreme court judges who would act to overturn the recent Washington D.C. case where the court found that the rights under this amendment was an individual one, and D.C.s strict ban on handgun ownership was unconstitutional. Okay, if I needed a single issue to determine my vote, this would be it.
I'm one of the Great Unwashed who in times of trouble regularly "falls back on my religion and guns." Today I cleaned several of my guns. With the collapse of the banking system and the meltdown of the stock market, guns and cartridges may be valuable barter items in the coming months. Going dove huntin' on Saturday morning. Barring illness or other calamity, I'll be in church on Sunday. I will continue to pray for our nation and its leaders whoever they are.
Please forgive this wordy epistle. What say you?
God bless America.
Chuck Howell
"Blessed are the cracked for they let in the light"
From Chuck Howell:
As to the race for the presidency, I am disappointed in both candidates. The most recent debate was, in my view, a boring embarrassing spectacle. Here were two career politicians jabbering away, endlessly repeating their talking points, never giving a direct answer, never providing any clear and precise definition as to how their "programs" would work to benefit the American people without further spending us into bankruptcy.
Some of the pundits said that McCain's only hope to turn the tide of public opinion was to attack Obama. He didn't, of course, for U.S. senators do not do such things! These fellows are expected to always respect the decorum of the Senate, to promote a collegial atmosphere while debating "extremely important national policy" in a courteous and respectful manner. A prerequisite seems to be that members must be able to speak for at least forty-five minutes without saying anything of substance--both of these gentlemen surely demonstrated these attributes to the extreme. Senator Biden is tops in this category.
Thank goodness that the debate committee chose that old Liberal, Tom Brokaw, to serve as moderator. Tom seem more concerned about time-management than the debate itself--notice how he adroitly selected twenty questions from among Nashville's Corp of Undecided and the Internet, while narrowly avoiding the really important issues facing America today. For instance, where were the questions on the War on Terror (after all it IS only the survival of the Western Culture we are talking about when it comes to the agenda of the Radical Islamists)? How about illegal immigration (what DO we do about the twenty million illegals who are bankrupting our local health care facilities, local schools and other taxpayer-funded social services)? What about the failure of the president and U.S. congress to properly oversee our nation's financial system and markets?
I also wonder why the people chosen to ask questions seem only marginally articulate. Was there some strong weed dispensed at Belmont that evening? I'm sorry. That was crude and uncalled for. And to think that they were once a strong Southern Baptist school.
In my view of things, Senator McCain looked totally un-presidential. In fact, he looked tired and incapable of a good knock-down, drag-out political fight. Bill Clinton would have destroyed him. In the same format, Ronald Reagan would have verbally denuded Obama in about five minutes and showed him to be the novice that he is. Would someone please tell me what this guy has accomplished? Oh, I know how he (as he said on TV last week) "took advantage of the opportunities of this great nation" to get a world-class education. He does indeed appear to have applied himself and I do not question that he is a smart politician. However, what were his accomplishments as an Illinois state senator? Even his spoke people can't or won't answer this question. He has apparently been a non-entity in the U.S. Senate. He has championed no major bills nor has he headed any subcommittees within his purview. the Right Wing pundits all say that he has devoted his time since joining the Senate to running for president. I have found nothing to refute this statement.
The fact that he beat out Alan Keys, a second-rate, inexperienced Black conservative talk show host for the U.S. Senate isn't very impressive. With the political and financial clout of the Mayor Richard Daley's Chicago political machine behind him, Jeffrey Dahmer could have taken that seat.
Then there's his tenure as a Chicago community organizer. If my information is correct, his main objective was to help the under-served minority community to register to vote and get home mortgages which they couldn't afford to pay. Would someone please tell me how this shallow resume qualifies this dude to serve as the president of the United States?
Finally, I don't know about you but I'm more than a little concerned about the associations and political output of both McCain and Obama. While we know that McCain escaped the legal fallout from the Keating Five mess (the Dems own lawyer vindicated him), his votes on illegal immigration and campaign finance reform shows that he is not really attuned to the priorities of the American majority in the first case, and deserves criticism for stomping on the First Amendment in the latter.
Bipartisanship and cooperation is okay when it is in the best interests of the citizenry, however I would like to see a little more spunk from a person trying to win my vote. Frankly, I'm not enamored with McCain "The Maverick." We have a two-party system and when you get too far from the center of your party, you become marginalized and ineffective--I think this definition fits McCain to a Tee. If I hear him brag about "reaching across the aisle" one more time, I think I'll puke. I favor Sarah Palin's take on things....speak direct and with strength. Shoot the damn moose if you need meat in the freezer!
Then there's the extremely important issue of Barack's association with Bill Ayres, Reverend Wright, et al. There is a saying going around the Internet, "What does Obama and Osama have in common? Answer: They both have friends that bombed the Pentagon." How can we trust a person who knowingly associates with an unrepentant terrorist? Troubling.
And, some of you know, my dad was a Baptist preacher.....I sat under his preaching for over twenty-five years, and you can rest assured that what he had to say made a deep impression on me. Now, am I supposed to believe that Barack and Michelle attended Reverend Wright's church for twenty years, heard his virulent Anti-American and racist sermons and weren't effected? Ah, come on! Down home they would say "that dog won't hunt!"
I also find Obama not to be trustworthy. Like the career politician that he is, he parses his words when trying to explain where he stands on important issues. He was recently asked to give his position on the Fifth Amendment. He stated that he "supported the Fifth Amendment," but refused to explain whether or not he believed that the amendment's "right to bear arms" was an individual right or only a right pertaining to "state militias." Of course, Obama is a product of the Chicago political machine and has always voted against gun ownership--he scores a definite "F"by the folks at the NRA. I have no doubt that if given the opportunity, he would appoint supreme court judges who would act to overturn the recent Washington D.C. case where the court found that the rights under this amendment was an individual one, and D.C.s strict ban on handgun ownership was unconstitutional. Okay, if I needed a single issue to determine my vote, this would be it.
I'm one of the Great Unwashed who in times of trouble regularly "falls back on my religion and guns." Today I cleaned several of my guns. With the collapse of the banking system and the meltdown of the stock market, guns and cartridges may be valuable barter items in the coming months. Going dove huntin' on Saturday morning. Barring illness or other calamity, I'll be in church on Sunday. I will continue to pray for our nation and its leaders whoever they are.
Please forgive this wordy epistle. What say you?
God bless America.
Chuck Howell
"Blessed are the cracked for they let in the light"
How Our Tax System Really Works
Our Tax System Explained:
Bar Stool Economics
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.'
Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected.
They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!
''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too.
It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got' 'That's true!!'shouted the seventh man.
'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two?
The wealthy get all the breaks!
''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!
'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him.
But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important.
They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works.
The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
(True or not - it sounds about right to me!)
Spread the word
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Bar Stool Economics
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.'
Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected.
They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!
''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too.
It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got' 'That's true!!'shouted the seventh man.
'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two?
The wealthy get all the breaks!
''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!
'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him.
But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important.
They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works.
The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
(True or not - it sounds about right to me!)
Spread the word
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Hunter - One of Four New NRA Ads: "Defend Freedom, Defeat Obama"
I have never trusted the Democrats with my guns and I certainly Don't Trust Barrack Hussein Obama. See what BHO is attempting to keep you from seeing and hearing!
Cut and paste into your browser (or lick on the link below) to see the video that Hussein Obama would want to keep you from ever seeing!
http://election.newsmax.com/nra_Hunter.html?s=sp&promo_code=6BBD-1
Spread the word
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Cut and paste into your browser (or lick on the link below) to see the video that Hussein Obama would want to keep you from ever seeing!
http://election.newsmax.com/nra_Hunter.html?s=sp&promo_code=6BBD-1
Spread the word
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Sunday, September 28, 2008
AIG Bailout Plan - The We Deserve It Dividend - From My Friend Ronnie Wallace
I totally concur Ronnie, I totally concur!!!
AIG......why not do it this way?????
Hi Folks,I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child.
So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
1. Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
2. Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
3. Put away money for college – it'll be there
4. Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
5. Buy a new car – create jobs.
6. Invest in the market – capital drives growth.
7. Pay for your parent's medical insurance – health care improves.
8. Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else!
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back.
And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by Barrack Hussein Obama .
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale.
We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Spread the word
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AIG......why not do it this way?????
Hi Folks,I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child.
So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
1. Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
2. Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
3. Put away money for college – it'll be there
4. Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
5. Buy a new car – create jobs.
6. Invest in the market – capital drives growth.
7. Pay for your parent's medical insurance – health care improves.
8. Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else!
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back.
And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by Barrack Hussein Obama .
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale.
We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Spread the word
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
"Change" - I Don't Think We Can Afford Any More!
From my friend Harl Barnett ... I totally agree!
George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six the economy was fine.
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
5) American's were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large!...
But American's wanted 'CHANGE'!
So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--we got 'CHANGE' all right.
In the PAST YEAR:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
3) Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~ $2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS
EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YES, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT! ....
REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS.
AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
Spread the word
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George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six the economy was fine.
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
5) American's were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large!...
But American's wanted 'CHANGE'!
So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--we got 'CHANGE' all right.
In the PAST YEAR:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
3) Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~ $2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS
EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YES, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT! ....
REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS.
AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
Spread the word
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Friday, September 19, 2008
Biden to be Replaced by Hillary? Stranger things have happened!!!
Why is it that Joe Biden, the "Mouth of the Eastern Elite" is so quiet these days?
Could it be that the nomination of Governor Sarah Palin as vice president has dumbstruck the Barack Hussein Obama campaign?
Are they now scrambling as some DNC "insiders" are saying to dump Biden and "convince" Hillary to run as VP?
Well, maybe Rudy's quip at the RNC was right on spot: "Obama promised to take public financing for his campaign, until he broke his promise. Obama was against wiretapping before he voted for it. When speaking to a pro-Israeli group, Obama favored an undivided Jerusalem , like I favor and like John McCain. Well, he favored an undivided Jerusalem don't get too excited for one day he may change his mind. Well, I'll tell you, if I were Joe Biden, I'd want to get that V.P. thing in writing."
Stay tuned. Many believe that after the first debate Biden will be history with an "illness" that will require he step down. Can't happen? Don't forget that Thomas Eagleton was dumped for "mental illness" issues. I doubt though that BHO and JB will use the same excuse.
Sadly, it should have been Hillary all along.
Spread the word
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Could it be that the nomination of Governor Sarah Palin as vice president has dumbstruck the Barack Hussein Obama campaign?
Are they now scrambling as some DNC "insiders" are saying to dump Biden and "convince" Hillary to run as VP?
Well, maybe Rudy's quip at the RNC was right on spot: "Obama promised to take public financing for his campaign, until he broke his promise. Obama was against wiretapping before he voted for it. When speaking to a pro-Israeli group, Obama favored an undivided Jerusalem , like I favor and like John McCain. Well, he favored an undivided Jerusalem don't get too excited for one day he may change his mind. Well, I'll tell you, if I were Joe Biden, I'd want to get that V.P. thing in writing."
Stay tuned. Many believe that after the first debate Biden will be history with an "illness" that will require he step down. Can't happen? Don't forget that Thomas Eagleton was dumped for "mental illness" issues. I doubt though that BHO and JB will use the same excuse.
Sadly, it should have been Hillary all along.
Spread the word
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Fred Thompson on The Danger of Government Guarantees
The Danger of Government Guarantees
I’ll bet it came as a surprise to most folks that the financial stability of the world as we know it depends upon the survival of a couple of outfits called Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Yet that’s what the so-called experts are telling us. Moreover, we taxpayers are now being asked to guarantee Fannie and Freddie’s tab, one that could make the $124 billion S&L bailout of the late 1980s look cheap.
So how did we get stuck with this bill? Well, Congress wanted to “do something” about what it saw as a “housing problem.” To them that meant that they should create an even bigger problem.
So Congress passed laws that made it easier for hopeful home-buyers to buy houses … even when they couldn’t afford them. Then the Fed and other regulators helped, in the form of easy money and loose credit standards for mortgages.
Not surprisingly demand for houses grew, home prices rose, lenders financed additional questionable mortgages, fueling even higher prices and so on. You get the picture. This is called a bubble.
Then an amazing thing happened – apparently impossible to foresee. Home prices did not continue to rise forever! Home prices came down and easy money dried up, causing the above mentioned cycle to reverse. In other words, the bubble burst.
So you’d think the in-over-their-heads homebuyers and the mortgage bankers would take the hit, and the market would right itself. No reason for an international meltdown here, right?
Not so fast my friends. Years earlier Congress established Fannie and Freddie as purchasers of these mortgages, which they could bundle up, repackage and sell to investors, freeing up more mortgage money. As government creations tend to do, the two companies grew until they either owned or guaranteed about half the nation’s $12 trillion dollars in mortgages.
Fannie and Fred were “government sponsored enterprises” which means heads they win, tails you lose. If they make money stockholders, creditors and Fannie and Freddie employees – some making millions annually – get the benefit. But now that mortgages have hit the skids, with mounting losses, the taxpayers potentially face trillions in exposure. This is because there is an “implicit” (read “actual”) government guarantee of Fannie and Freddie’s obligations and both are now too big to be allowed to fail. This is called the “bailout phase,” which will probably lead to a bigger bubble in the future.
Lost in this immense, complex mess is the root problem most people are missing: the government is gradually becoming the guarantor of seemingly every important aspect of American secular life, creating incentives and bureaucracies that cause failure and invite fraud.
In Fan and Fred’s case, it was in no one’s interest to turn off the bubble machine. Just the opposite. The system induced borrowers to take on financial obligations they could not afford and lenders to lower lending standards. Fannie and Freddie went along because their managers’ compensation depended on the firms’ short term financial performance. And investors continued to buy complex security packages they didn’t understand, because the securities were viewed as government-backed.
Heavy campaign contributions by those benefiting from this scheme induced Members of Congress to avert their gaze from the ugly mess that was unfolding.
You’d think we’d have learned by now: when the backstop of the federal treasury makes it easier for politicians, lenders, borrowers, welfare recipients, government contractors, or anyone else, to serve their own self interest at the expense of the taxpayer, many will do just that.
That is why we continue to see self-dealing, moral lapses, outright fraud and lack of management and oversight in a wide array of programs and government-sponsored entities, from housing to Medicare, education and the Small Business Administration, all costing taxpayers billions, even trillions of dollars.
Our Founding Fathers knew more than a little bit about human nature. It is one reason why in the Constitution, the federal government was given certain delineated powers and no others. I hate to burst another bubble, but our government simply doesn’t have the authority or the capability to be the guarantor or insurer of our every need or desire. Isn’t it time we started sending that message loud and clear to the big enablers in Washington?
To read more of Senator Thompson's writings, please visit his site on the web at http://www.fredpac.com/
I’ll bet it came as a surprise to most folks that the financial stability of the world as we know it depends upon the survival of a couple of outfits called Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Yet that’s what the so-called experts are telling us. Moreover, we taxpayers are now being asked to guarantee Fannie and Freddie’s tab, one that could make the $124 billion S&L bailout of the late 1980s look cheap.
So how did we get stuck with this bill? Well, Congress wanted to “do something” about what it saw as a “housing problem.” To them that meant that they should create an even bigger problem.
So Congress passed laws that made it easier for hopeful home-buyers to buy houses … even when they couldn’t afford them. Then the Fed and other regulators helped, in the form of easy money and loose credit standards for mortgages.
Not surprisingly demand for houses grew, home prices rose, lenders financed additional questionable mortgages, fueling even higher prices and so on. You get the picture. This is called a bubble.
Then an amazing thing happened – apparently impossible to foresee. Home prices did not continue to rise forever! Home prices came down and easy money dried up, causing the above mentioned cycle to reverse. In other words, the bubble burst.
So you’d think the in-over-their-heads homebuyers and the mortgage bankers would take the hit, and the market would right itself. No reason for an international meltdown here, right?
Not so fast my friends. Years earlier Congress established Fannie and Freddie as purchasers of these mortgages, which they could bundle up, repackage and sell to investors, freeing up more mortgage money. As government creations tend to do, the two companies grew until they either owned or guaranteed about half the nation’s $12 trillion dollars in mortgages.
Fannie and Fred were “government sponsored enterprises” which means heads they win, tails you lose. If they make money stockholders, creditors and Fannie and Freddie employees – some making millions annually – get the benefit. But now that mortgages have hit the skids, with mounting losses, the taxpayers potentially face trillions in exposure. This is because there is an “implicit” (read “actual”) government guarantee of Fannie and Freddie’s obligations and both are now too big to be allowed to fail. This is called the “bailout phase,” which will probably lead to a bigger bubble in the future.
Lost in this immense, complex mess is the root problem most people are missing: the government is gradually becoming the guarantor of seemingly every important aspect of American secular life, creating incentives and bureaucracies that cause failure and invite fraud.
In Fan and Fred’s case, it was in no one’s interest to turn off the bubble machine. Just the opposite. The system induced borrowers to take on financial obligations they could not afford and lenders to lower lending standards. Fannie and Freddie went along because their managers’ compensation depended on the firms’ short term financial performance. And investors continued to buy complex security packages they didn’t understand, because the securities were viewed as government-backed.
Heavy campaign contributions by those benefiting from this scheme induced Members of Congress to avert their gaze from the ugly mess that was unfolding.
You’d think we’d have learned by now: when the backstop of the federal treasury makes it easier for politicians, lenders, borrowers, welfare recipients, government contractors, or anyone else, to serve their own self interest at the expense of the taxpayer, many will do just that.
That is why we continue to see self-dealing, moral lapses, outright fraud and lack of management and oversight in a wide array of programs and government-sponsored entities, from housing to Medicare, education and the Small Business Administration, all costing taxpayers billions, even trillions of dollars.
Our Founding Fathers knew more than a little bit about human nature. It is one reason why in the Constitution, the federal government was given certain delineated powers and no others. I hate to burst another bubble, but our government simply doesn’t have the authority or the capability to be the guarantor or insurer of our every need or desire. Isn’t it time we started sending that message loud and clear to the big enablers in Washington?
To read more of Senator Thompson's writings, please visit his site on the web at http://www.fredpac.com/
Spread the word
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Monday, September 15, 2008
143 Days of Experience - You Decide?
No matter what your political affiliation is….this is factual and to the point.
Some people need to really understand what this means come Nov. 4th.
You couldn't get a job at McDonald's and become District Manager after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't become Chief of Surgery after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the Superintendent after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't join the military and become a General after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the Nightly News Anchor after 143 days of experience.
BUT.... 'From the time Barrack Hussein Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate.
That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander in Chief, Leader of the Free World .... 143 days.
We all have to start somewhere.
The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a start,and strangely, a large sector of the American public is OK with this and campaigning for him.
We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet many are OK with this for the President of the United States of America?
Come on folks, we're not voting for the next American Idol!
Some people need to really understand what this means come Nov. 4th.
You couldn't get a job at McDonald's and become District Manager after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't become Chief of Surgery after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the Superintendent after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't join the military and become a General after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the Nightly News Anchor after 143 days of experience.
BUT.... 'From the time Barrack Hussein Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate.
That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander in Chief, Leader of the Free World .... 143 days.
We all have to start somewhere.
The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a start,and strangely, a large sector of the American public is OK with this and campaigning for him.
We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet many are OK with this for the President of the United States of America?
Come on folks, we're not voting for the next American Idol!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
And Yes, It Made Me Cry, Too
So many of you have been so kind to inquire about me and how I am coping with the loss of my best friend and constant companion of 14-years. Well, when I received the following and watched it my heart was at ease finally. A true story. Enjoy.
A remarkable phone call from a 12 yr- old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station has it posted on their website. Click below to listen to it. It's short.
Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY "
A remarkable phone call from a 12 yr- old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station has it posted on their website. Click below to listen to it. It's short.
Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY "
We Will Never Forget September 11, 2001
From my friend and colleague Lynn Beckman
MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke-filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'good-bye.'
I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK.... I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called, as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words, and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan... I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take My hand.'
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now, while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God
MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke-filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'good-bye.'
I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK.... I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called, as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words, and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan... I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take My hand.'
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now, while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God
Thursday, September 4, 2008
What is the Value of a NObel Prize? Not Much!
A Lady Named Irena Sendler
There recently was the death of a 98-year-old lady named Irena Sendler.
During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist.She had an ulterior motive...She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German).
Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of her tool box she carried, and she also carried in the back of her truck a Burlap sack, (for larger kids).She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.
The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.
During her time and course of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.
She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs and arms and beat her severely.Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.
After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it, and reunited the family.
Most, of course, had been gassed. Those kids she helped were placed into foster family homes or adopted.
Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize....She LOST.
Al Gore won for doing a slide show on Global Warming.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/sendler.asp
Please past this along and educate the socialist left and "Progressives" of this country!
There recently was the death of a 98-year-old lady named Irena Sendler.
During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist.She had an ulterior motive...She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German).
Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of her tool box she carried, and she also carried in the back of her truck a Burlap sack, (for larger kids).She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.
The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.
During her time and course of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.
She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs and arms and beat her severely.Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.
After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it, and reunited the family.
Most, of course, had been gassed. Those kids she helped were placed into foster family homes or adopted.
Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize....She LOST.
Al Gore won for doing a slide show on Global Warming.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/sendler.asp
Please past this along and educate the socialist left and "Progressives" of this country!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Unconditional Acceptance
The following story has circulated over the Internet for years. Yet each time I read it I am reminded of the powerful lesson it conveys. Just as Jesus Christ and Buddha told parables to explain morality so do such stories that come either from a real incident or the mind of those who would wish it to be true.
Breakfast at McDonald's
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring, with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around, I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me, were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling".
His beautiful, sky blue eyes were full of God's light as he searched for acceptance... He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged, and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all, Miss," because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me, to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
When I sat down, my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment, and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given, were we able to give.
We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read, and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, instructor,and every soul that shared the classroom, on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Breakfast at McDonald's
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring, with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around, I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me, were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling".
His beautiful, sky blue eyes were full of God's light as he searched for acceptance... He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged, and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all, Miss," because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me, to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
When I sat down, my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment, and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given, were we able to give.
We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read, and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, instructor,and every soul that shared the classroom, on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
John McCain - Not My First Choice But He Will Get My Vote
The time has come. I must cut bait or fish. I will be the first to tell you that Senator John McCain does not represent my conservative views, however, no one since President Ronald Reagan has. He will get my vote this year but I will no longer send any money to the Republicans or the Democrats because quite frankly the system is broken and neither party represents the grassroots of the American people. So, Senator I will vote for you and my wife and I will support you amongst my friends and even amongst your opposition.
The following letter sent to me by my dear friend Lynn Beckman and recently shared with her summarizes well why I will vote for the Senator from Arizona.
However, I will not stop with this vote. I want my country back from the extremists on both sides of the political aisle. I want the Sean "Vanities" of the world who purport to represent me as a conservative to stop "whining" and making money off his "Stop Somebody's Express" and I want my country to return to supporting the very constitution on which this great Nation was founded.
AN INTERESTING VIEWPOINT
This is very well written and I recommend everyone take a little time to read this entire write-up. You won't be disappointed!
Dear Friends:
My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign, Illinois. I'm 46 years old, a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not the Republican or the Democrat. I don't believe there are "two Americas" - but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be, if they'll just work to get there - and nowhere else on Earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government
should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.
The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this great nation. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long.
Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called "news", thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending. They don't want government handouts. They want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more government programs.
We are in the unique position in this country of electing our leaders. It's a privilege to do so. I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I'll wager that most of us don't even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job.
I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?
I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't get it . They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and calling it "change". Change what?, I ask. Well, we're going to change America, they say. In what way?, I query. We want someone new and fresh in the White House, the young exclaim.
So, someone who's not a politician?, I press. Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for Obama, they state.
So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news and win his party's nomination for the White House - that system's all wrong? No, no, that part of the system's okay - we just need a lot of change. And so it goes. "Change we can believe in." Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting. I live in Illinois, so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why - only that he's going to change a lot of stuff. Change, change, change.
I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth - other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change.
We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this, and for a moment put it all aside. Then ask yourself, what qualifies this man to be my president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?
CHANGE WHAT? Friends, I'll be forthright with you - I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to - can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one.
Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven't read his wife's thesis from Princeton, look it up on the web. This is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new taxes.
For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I've made my choice. Here's a question - where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6,000 meals, 20 give or take.
John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. When offered early release, he refused it. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A regimen of beatings and torture began. Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.
Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq. Barack Obama is fond of saying "We honor John McCain's service... BUT....", which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, "Let's forget this man's sacrifice for his country and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change."
I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn't simply want to be President - he wants to lead America, and there's a huge difference.
Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in 1981 and elected to the Senate in 1982.
Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe "likeability" is a higher priority for them than trust. Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.
Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, "ENOUGH." It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.
There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens.
I want a man who puts my family's interests before any foreign country.
I want a President who's qualified to lead. I want my country back, and I'm voting for John McCain.
The following letter sent to me by my dear friend Lynn Beckman and recently shared with her summarizes well why I will vote for the Senator from Arizona.
However, I will not stop with this vote. I want my country back from the extremists on both sides of the political aisle. I want the Sean "Vanities" of the world who purport to represent me as a conservative to stop "whining" and making money off his "Stop Somebody's Express" and I want my country to return to supporting the very constitution on which this great Nation was founded.
AN INTERESTING VIEWPOINT
This is very well written and I recommend everyone take a little time to read this entire write-up. You won't be disappointed!
Dear Friends:
My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign, Illinois. I'm 46 years old, a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not the Republican or the Democrat. I don't believe there are "two Americas" - but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be, if they'll just work to get there - and nowhere else on Earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government
should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.
The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this great nation. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long.
Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called "news", thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending. They don't want government handouts. They want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more government programs.
We are in the unique position in this country of electing our leaders. It's a privilege to do so. I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I'll wager that most of us don't even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job.
I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?
I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't get it . They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and calling it "change". Change what?, I ask. Well, we're going to change America, they say. In what way?, I query. We want someone new and fresh in the White House, the young exclaim.
So, someone who's not a politician?, I press. Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for Obama, they state.
So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news and win his party's nomination for the White House - that system's all wrong? No, no, that part of the system's okay - we just need a lot of change. And so it goes. "Change we can believe in." Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting. I live in Illinois, so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why - only that he's going to change a lot of stuff. Change, change, change.
I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth - other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change.
We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this, and for a moment put it all aside. Then ask yourself, what qualifies this man to be my president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?
CHANGE WHAT? Friends, I'll be forthright with you - I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to - can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one.
Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven't read his wife's thesis from Princeton, look it up on the web. This is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new taxes.
For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I've made my choice. Here's a question - where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6,000 meals, 20 give or take.
John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. When offered early release, he refused it. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A regimen of beatings and torture began. Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.
Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq. Barack Obama is fond of saying "We honor John McCain's service... BUT....", which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, "Let's forget this man's sacrifice for his country and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change."
I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn't simply want to be President - he wants to lead America, and there's a huge difference.
Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in 1981 and elected to the Senate in 1982.
Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe "likeability" is a higher priority for them than trust. Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.
Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, "ENOUGH." It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.
There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens.
I want a man who puts my family's interests before any foreign country.
I want a President who's qualified to lead. I want my country back, and I'm voting for John McCain.
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