Book Review: Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!

Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed is a funny look at the Liberal side of politics. It is written from a conservative point of view, in a way that children can understand what is going on. Being a conservative myself, this book really brought home things that are going on, and also reminded me of so many of the liberals in goverment today!

Two little boys want a swing set very bad. Mom and Dad are trying to teach the boys that you don't really appreciate things, if they are always given to you. It is better to work for what you want, and it would mean more. So, they decided to sell lemonade to make the money to buy the swing.

They had a dream they were selling their lemonade in Liberland, saving their money, helping others, like ‘good little boys’, and in stepped the politicians (liberals) and started telling them how to run their business, what they could do and couldn’t do. Before the dream was over, the liberals had taken over.

I believe the book shows how government seems to get bigger and bigger, and wants to run every thing in our lives. We see it happening over and over in the real world. But, these little boys didn’t let their dream of owning their swing set die. So they decided they’d sell lemonade and have that set by summer. The liberals weren’t going to stop them!

I highly recommend this as a reader for the youngsters in your family.

The author of the book is Katharine DeBrecht. It is also very well illustrated by Jim Hummel.

Note: Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed! was given to me by the publisher, World Ahead Publishing, Inc, as a free gift for reviewers.

Tom Delay Steps Down Permanently As House Majority Leader

Tom Delay has adamantly denied any wrong doing, and says he has always acted in an ethical manner. He was forced to step down in September, due to his indictment. But, the Texas Republican decided to step down permanently on Saturday after two House Republicans initiated a drive to keep Delay from ever reclaiming his seat.

Delay will keep his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, and he plans to run for re-election. His stepping down might help House Republicans, but it might also make their popularity take a dive, since Delay always played a role in that.

Delay's resignation from the leadership threw the House into an unpredictable phase that will test House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. Hastert is well regarded by his colleagues, but the House Republican caucus was already stirring with demands for greater leadership changes.

"We don't just need new leaders, we need a major course correction," Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., one of the two lawmakers who prompted the effort to replace DeLay, said in an interview Saturday.

In stepping down, Delay said he could 'no longer let their adversaries divide and distract their attention.'House Speaker Dennis Hastert says that the vote for a new house majority leader will likely take place during the week of January 31.

Linked at Basil's Blog - Picnic 1-07-2006
Thanks to Jo's Cafe - Saturday Specials

Tags| Tom Delay, Republicans, House Majority Leader, Texas

Prime Minister Sharon's Survival Prospects Good

Prime Minister Sharon's doctor says that the prospect of him surviving this latest stroke is very high. But, the doctor also says that his ability to think and reason have been damaged.

The 77 year old Sharon is still in a medically-induced coma, and the doctors will decide on Sunday when to start lifting that coma. The swelling in his brain has gone down slightly and his vital signs stable, but he is still in critical condition.

Dr. Jose Cohen, one of Sharon's surgeons, told Channel 2 TV was quite optimistic about his survival. But, he also said that there is probably cognitive impairment. It would not be looking to reality to think there wouldn't be.

The comments reinforced a widespread assumption that Sharon will never return to power. Israelis from all walks of life have lamented Sharon's likely departure from the political scene. With his larger-than life persona and warrior credentials, he was seen as the man most capable of disentangling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Prime Minister Sharon was feeling weak Wednesday. While being rushed by ambulance to Hadassah, a blood vessel on the right side of his brain burst, causing massive cerebral hemorrhaging.

Sharon was probably sure to win a third term before his collapse. Now, it is doubtful that he will ever return to office.

Linked to Conservative Cat
Stop The ACLU - Weekend Open Trackbacks
Thanks to Point Five

Tags| Prime Minister Sharon, Stroke

Dottie Rambo To Be Inducted Into Kentucky Music Hall of Fame

Dottie Rambo, a gospel singer, will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame on February 23, 2006. Lily Tomlin, a friend of Rambo's and one of the funniest women ever along with Lucille Ball, will be presenting the award.

Its halls are lined with former inductees who have made consequential strides in advancing the heritage and broadening the audience of music. Past recipients of this prestigious honor have been such recognizable Kentuckians as Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. Hall and "The Coal Miner's Daughter" Loretta Lynn.

Dottie Rambo is the undisputed Queen of gospel music and probably is the most prolific songwriter of this age. Rambo is a dedicated follower of Christ, and, due to that unwavering commitment, she was shunned by her father at the age of 12. She has certainly had her share of heart aches.

Check out Dottie Rambo's website.
Kentucky Music Museum

HT: Southern Gospel Beat

Tags| Dottie Rambo, Gospel, Music, Award

Why Is This Professor Teaching In Our Colleges?

With the untruths coming out of this man's mouth, America better wake up! Instead of allowing Abdullah Mohammad Sindi to preach his 'hate' in our American colleges/universities, he needs to be sent back to Saudi Arabia.

He has taught at the University of California at Irvine, California State University at Pomona, Cerritos College and Fullerton College – all in the Los Angeles area. He also taught political science at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah Mohammad Sindi, who lives in Placenta, CA, with his wife, who is an American middle-school teacher, and their two children, says that "the Holocaust is a "myth" and says America eventually will collapse like the Soviet Union."

In an interview for IRIB on the 26th Anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution, he lauded the late Ayatollah Khomeini for calling the United States the "Great Satan."

Iran's Islamic revolution, he said, "stands as a unique example in the last century."

"It is in the Quran, and Imam Khomeini was very clear in [emphasizing] that we are Islamic people ... and we are not going to follow the capitalist imperialist West [nor] the communist and socialist East," he said.

All Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya and Africa, he said, "now know that Khomeini was right [in] saying that Washington and the United States of America is the Great Satan."

Wake up, America! Read the entire story on this Professor at WorldNet Daily.

Most Dangerous Nation On Earth

Linked at Conservative Cat
Thanks to Stop The ACLU - Weekend Open Trackbacks

Tags| Iran, Professor Sindi, California, Los Angeles

Judge Has No Feelings for Victims

Judge Edward Cashman says he 'no longer believes in punishment'. I thought the work of a judge was to hand out punishment that fit the crime, not decide that no punishment was needed for a convicted criminal. But, apparently, Judge Casham sees his job differently.

When he took the bench 25 years ago, he handed down stiff sentences. But, now he thinks this "accomplishes nothing of value." Now, he is more into rehabiliation.

His reasoning?

• "It doesn't make anything better; it costs us a lot of money; we create a lot of expectation, and we feed on anger," Cashman explained to the people in the court, WCAX reported.

Mark Hullet, of Vermont, pleaded guilty to raping a young 7 year old girl over a period of 7 years. Prosecutors said he deserved 8 to 20 years in prison. But, the judge disagreed and gave him only 60 days. What message does this send to other rapists in Vermont?

I believe in 'Do the crime; pay the time'. It's outrageous that this judge is allowed to give out such sentences to a professed rapist on a young child.

Cashman said he wants to make sure Hulett gets sex-offender treatment.

Under Department of Corrections classification, however, Hulett is considered a low-risk for re-offense, which means he doesn't qualify for in-prison treatment.

Cashman, therefore, issued a 60-day sentence and ordered Hulett to complete sex-treatment when he gets out or face a possible life sentence.

Needless to say, member's of the child's family were outraged!

HT to Mr. Minority with his post on 'What Liberal Judges Have to Offer - Freedom For Criminals.'

Tags| Judges, Punishment, Rapists, Sex Offender, Sex Crime

Let It Go In 2006

This should be the year of new beginnings, not new resolutions. Have things been bad with you during 2005? Are there problems you haven't been able to overcome, a relationship failed, a friend who left you and never calls, or life, in general, has just been terrible?

Go read Let It Go For 2006 by T.D. Jakes, posted at Nanny's Rocking Chair. Drown your sorrows in the Word of God. Visit the Audio Bible Online.

Tags| Bible, God

Review of The Book Of Daniel

Unless you've seen the show, you cannot really know for sure what it's about, or why so many have come out against it being shown on TV. Well, I endured 2 hours of this show tonight, but not again.

There was no real plot, but a ploy to show a Christian family in a bad light. You have a pill-popping priest, who eventually gives the pills to a woman in his church; a wife with an alcohol problem, an adopted son who is making out with another Bishop's 15 year old daughter; a gay son whom they see as 'okay' (nothing to guide him to the saving knowledge of Christ - hey, son, this is wrong); a drug-pushing daughter; a father-in-law with a wife with Alzheimer's, and he commits adultery with another woman in the church. It's as thought they take pride in committing sin, and just letting it slide, rather than doing anything about it.

After watching this show, I want to say it's not a show for Prime Time TV. It's a mockery of what Christianity is all about. I know all these problems happen in real life, but I think you're going to have a hard time finding one family where all these things happen together - one or two, maybe three, but not all.

To me, this is a very sleazy show - drug users, drug pushers, lesbian lovers, gay lovers, adultery, and more. The priest hands out drugs to others, counsels a couple on marriage who decide to live together rather than marry and give HIM credit for that decision. All the while, Jesus is portrayed as being passive! This is not the way I see Jesus at all. He is not going to tell a Dad, whose son is committing sin, that 'he's just a kid'. That goes against what the Bible really teaches! Therefore, it's offensive to me, that Jesus was portrayed in this way.

Other good links about The Book of Daniel are:
Book of Daniel: A Mean-Spirited Holy Mess
Plenty of Behavior Worth Of A Prayer Session
Controversy rages over "Book of Daniel"

Linked at Conservative Cat
Thanks to the Uncooperative Blogger
Linked at The Bullwinkle Blog

Tags| Book of Daniel, Christian, Jesus, Sleazy

Huge Win For Wal-Mart Workers

On December 22, a California jury ordered Wal-Mart to pay $172 million in damages to more than 100,000 current and former Wal-Mart workers, who had been unjustly and routinely denied meal breaks.

The plaintiff's lawyer said that Wal-Mart violated the lunch break 8 million times during the period from January 2001 to May 2005. They are also facing similar lawsuits in 40 other states. The California verdict could have a huge impact on Wal-Mart. Their stock is already down 8% this year.

Tags| Wal-Mart, California,

Christ Is Coming Back

But, it won’t be the GOD that some expect. And, things won’t happen the way some envision His return. He is coming back for HIS people.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told crowds of theological students that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon “has joined his ancestors and others will soon follow suit”.

I believe, according to the piece, entitled “Iran Focus”, that Iran's President is expecting the return of ‘their god’, and they are working towards heading the world. The president said they must ‘prepare themselves to rule the world’.

“Our interpretation is that the hand of the Almighty is putting every piece of the jigsaw puzzle of the future of the world in place in line with the goals of Islam”, the hard-line president said.

Ahmadinejad cited the United States occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, both Iran’s neighbours, as proof of his assertion.

“The Global Oppressor [the U.S.] occupied these countries with the aim of putting pressure on Iran, but God let the fruit of this fall on the lap of the Iranian nation”, he said.

God is a God of love. But, He hasn’t promised 72 virgins to anyone in Paradise, if they kill someone with a human bomb, and become a martyr for their religious beliefs. His Word does not tell us to ‘obey man and his laws’, but to obey the Word of God – His commandments.

Matthew 22:32 says He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And, ‘living’ here means to be one of God’s children – a born-again believer, and living the life of a Christian – a follower of God.

His Word says His sheep know His voice. And He tells us to preach the gospel to all the world; then the end will come. But, the Word also says for us to keep our eyes on Him, our minds occupied, working until He comes. In Luke 21, He tells us of all the things that will occur before His return, and when these things start happening, to ‘lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth night.’ Luke 21:28

Instead of fighting among ourselves, we should be preparing for His return. The Church is ‘going up’, when He comes. And, if we aren’t ready, we’ll be left behind. The Church is us – the true believers, the faithful ones, the ones who adhere to His commandments, who live according to the dictates of scripture. So, we better prepare our house now, for He is coming, and we know not the day nor the hour.

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Linked at Jo's Cafe - Thursday Specials
John Surber - Best Post For Thurday

Tags| God, Christ, Christian, Church, Redemption, Iran,

How Worker-Friendly Is Wal-Mart?

Wal-Mart used to be the place everyone wanted to go, where you bought everything, and many looked to them for a stable job. Now, what you begin to hear is how Wal-Mart is treating their employees, especially cutting working hours. This makes it hard for workers to pay their expensive insurance premiums, or even live on what little they make.

In one rural Florida town, over 20 percent of workers in the local Wal-Mart had their hours cut. In response, workers went into their community with a petition to reinstate the workers’ lost hours, and collected 390 signatures in three days. Their hours were returned.

In South St. Petersburg, a popular third-shift employee was accused of theft and fired. The next day, half the day shift quit in protest. In another store, 20 workers marched on management after a 70-year-old workplace leader had her schedule changed. Her schedule was returned within days.

A group of 300 workers, in over 40 stores, which is growing - of current and former Wal-Mart workers are part of an organization called Wal-Mart Workers Association. This protest action of the group is intent on making their lives better through work and in their communities.

Some Wal-Mart stores have enforced an “open availability” policy, where supervisors ask employees to sign a document stating that they will be available for any shift at any time. Those who refuse, out of family obligations or self-respect, have been retaliated against with a cut in hours or firing.

I have a friend whose hours have been cut two weeks at a time, and she's been told that the computer makes the schedules. I informed her that computer cannot make schedules; it takes a human to run these computers and to put in a program that generates schedules.

The WWA has plans to expand and become the American Workers Association, a nationwide non-majority union for retail and other chain workers. A second chapter of the WWA recently began in Dallas, Texas.

Go read the other facts in this story. You can also find lots of great information at Wal-Mart Watch.

Linked at TMH's Bacon Bits
Thanks to Euphoricreality.net - Open Post
Linked at Basil's Blog - Picnic 01-01-2006

Tags| Wal Mart, Schedules, Wal-Mart Workers Association, Union

Christianity Is Not An Offense

Some of the "offended" sit in houses of worship and intone "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they who dwell therein." Well, is it or isn't it? I guess except for several thousands of acres of public domain.

This is an article to be read and pondered.

Linked to Conservative Cat
Stuck on Stupid - Overdue Opening Linkfest
Bacon Break at TMH's Bacon Bits

Tags| Christianity, Worship, Lord

NBC Affiliate Says No To Book of Daniel

Viewers who respond can make a difference.

Due to emails and calls from viewers, WTWO will not be airing NBC's The Book of Daniel.

The American Family Association Online has viewed the pilot episode that is to be shown on NBC.

“This show is poorly written and formulaic, and has a definite sleaze factor that would offend most Christians,” said AFA spokesman Ed Vitagliano, who screened the program with a small group of clergy at NBC's Memphis affiliate WMC-TV.

The shows creator and writer is not a Christian. He describes himself as a 'recovering Catholic' who is interested in Buddhism. Vitagliano wondered why NBC would think this man would write anything that would accurately reflect the life of Jesus.

AFA is recommending that Christians not watch this show, if it comes on your NBC station. And, they are also watching what advertisers might sponsor this show.

Linked to Conservative Cat
Thanks to Quietly Making Noise
Stuck on Stupid - Overdue Opening Linkfest
Bacon Break at TMH's Bacon Bits

Tags| NBC, Book of Daniel, Jesus, Christians, Sleaze,

Blog Editor For Firefox

I just came across the neatest thing for Firefox 1.5 and above. Performancing for Firefox is a full-featured blog editor that is within Firefox. You don't have to login to your blog in order to use the editor. And, it supports categories, if you have a site that utilizes categories. I wish Blogger did, but, for the time being, they do not. There is also an option to place technorati tags within the text without having to go to Technorati. That is a great feature - now for the fonts!

There is one drawback that I see, and that is the absence of different fonts. For those of us who stick to one font throughout our blog, this may prove to be a problem. But, it really is neat to try! And, I had to come to my blog in order to change the font - a problem, since I didn't want it to look different.

Tags| Firefox, Blog

Will Washington Post Give Father Equal Time?

The Washington Post is usually seen as a liberal newspaper.

The Post is generally seen as being politically liberal, particularly on its opinion pages.

They published a story yesterday from one father of a son who was killed in Iraq. The story was ‘A Life Wasted.’ Crazy Politico’s Rantings has a story written from another father whose son was also killed in the war. But, his views on war are completely different than those of the man quoted in the Washington Post. The question is now, will the Post print this story, which has been sent to them, for equal representation? We’ll wait and see.

MacsMind is also asking the question, "Will the Washington Post give equal time?" MacRanger has some good links in his post to others who have lost a child in the Iraqi war.

Tags| Washington Post, Iraq, War

Hal Lindsey Resigns from TBN

Hal Lindsey sent a resignation letter to TBN. He refuses to be subjected to censorship on what he says. He has to submit what he's going to say each week and, then, if rejected, he is out lots of money. And, he says he doesn't have money to do away in that regard.

TBN has decided that it's not feasible for ministries to say anything negative about Muslims. Lindsey was told by Paul, Jr, their decision, and they had also warned other ministries, such as John Hagee, Perry Stone, Jack VanImpe, and others. So, he realized they will not change their policy. And, he will not compromise his position.

I am sure of my calling from the LORD. One important part of that calling is to sound a prophetic alarm to America and the world about the dangers of the false religion of Fundamental Islam. It is a "Watchman on the Wall" kind of calling.

WDC Media has an article about TBN reaching out to Muslims with "Christian love". Below is some of their thoughts on the subject.

Responding to recent questions about TBN’s outreach to Muslims, Paul Crouch, Jr., Vice President of Administration and eldest son of the founders, said in an official statement, "TBN remains committed to presenting the Christian message to Muslims with a clear demonstration of love, joy, and peace in a way that embraces Christ’s love for them."

He explained that TBN’s policy has always been to steer clear of criticism or conflicts over other religious faiths or beliefs, and instead to follow the clear example of Christ in the New Testament. "Our Lord never compromised the message of God’s Kingdom when He walked this earth," said Crouch. "He never approached others with anything but a spirit of love and humility. Likewise, here at TBN we are very sensitive about criticism of the beliefs of others. We view this as counterproductive to our mission."

I had previously written about Hal Lindsey's program being bumped for December. But, it looks like he is definitely leaving TBN and going on to other things.

Linked at Don Surber's Linkfest today.

Tags| Hal Lindsey, TBN, Censorship,

Update: Only One Miner Survived

The first initial response last night was that 12 miners had survived the mine explosion. But, this morning, they found that only one young man had survived. They all appear to have died from carbon monoxide.

The Sago mines was issued a total of 208 federal violations last year.That was up from 68 the year before.

When asked about the facility's safety record at a news conference yesterday, Ben Hatfield, International Coal's chief executive officer, said the Ashland, Kentucky-based company has improved safety conditions since acquiring the mine last year. ``We have no interest of getting into the finger-pointing of who is responsible for what, and what went wrong a year ago,'' Hatfield said. ``This is a mine that operated for some significant time before my company even had involvement with it; so much of the bad history that you're talking about was beyond our reach and ability to control.'

The tragedy in all this is the fact that the families were told three hours earlier that all 12 of the miners were alive. Then, they were told that, in fact, they were all dead. I cannot imagine the anger these people feel, having been told their relatives were alive, and then waiting 3 hours and finding this wasn't the truth.

The lone survivor was identified as Randal McCloy Jr. McCloy, 27, was hospitalized in critical condition, the Associated Press reported, citing a doctor.

Twelve West Virginia Miners Found Alive

Twelve of the 13 men trapped in the West Virginia mine was found alive. The one man who died was apparently let off by the others and was close to the explosion site. West Virginia officials had tried to keep hope alive among the families gathered at the Sago Baptist Church, saying they should pray for a miracle. And, the miracle came tonight!

Linked at Conservative Cat

My Thoughts On Dick Clark

I have admired Dick Clark for years. Like Pat Boone, he seemed never to get any older. Then, he had a stroke. Listening to some, it's like life ends with a stroke. I've heard so many comments on why he shouldn't be in public - 'I want to remember him like he was'.....'He shouldn't be on television in his shape'. It upsets me that people's disabilites are seen to make them inferior to the rest of the world.

I came across a great article over at California Conservative about this very topic.

Dick Clark chose to do what the late Pope John Paul II did: to show the world that a disability or ailment should not diminish the value of a person’s character or reputation, and that we should honor the disabled in the same way we in this society honor the young and beautiful among us. They should not be pushed into a corner to contemplate their own “quality of life”, but given every opportunity to continue functioning as the assets to humanity that they are, based solely on the fact that we are all made in the image of God, and remain that way to our death.

These are my exact sentiments. You don't lock up someone who has had a fruitful and satisfying life, just because he or she has had a stroke or any other disease. This is a 'killing process' - it kills the heart of a person, when they realize people don't want to look at them because they are not the way they used to be. To me, it was wonderful to see a person like Dick Clark, who was always so upbeat, debonair and a model for everyone - to come out in public with the inability to speak properly. But, I am sure it was medicine to him to be allowed back on television doing one of the loves of his life. I lived through the American Bandstand era and surely remember how he was, but it doesn't bother me one iota to see him in the shape he is in, at the moment. I admire him! In fact, it makes like worth living!

Stroke victims were inspired by Dick Clark's appearance on the show. Leean Hendrix, a former Miss Arizona, had a stroke at 26, three years ago. She thought it was awesome, and a very courageous thing for Clark to do.

"So for him to get up on national TV and say: "This is what I am now" - I have nothing but respect for him," she said.

Dick Clark is 76 years old, and has given no interviews since his stroke back in December of 2004. But, he began to immediately acknowledge his condition on the 'New Years' Rockin' Eve' show. He said it was a hard fight, learning to walk and talk again, but "I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

Tags| Dick Clark, New Years Rockin Eve

Update on New Orleans Superdome

Back in September, I had written about the possible destruction of the Superdome in New Orleans. I thought I would update the information, since a comment had been made on the subject.

In browsing the Internet, I found an article written in November, that a Superdome restoration design contract had been awarded. It will take 120 days for the team to assess the situation, and decide what all needs to be done. Work will begin on restoration during this period.

Preliminary cost estimates for the restoration range between $125 and $200 million

You can find the updated information on the restoration at the official Louisiana Superdome site.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Tags| New Orleans Superdome, Restoration