Google Truths re Obama?

I have set up Google alerts on various topics, Obama being one. In today's compilation of stories on Obama the following were listed in the order I've printed and when I read the titles one after the other, found it funny and possibly closer to the true state of things than I'd like.

Latin America leaders tell Obama to end Cuba embargo
Washington Post - United States
By Raymond Colitt COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil (Reuters) - Latin American leaders called on President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday to lift the 46-year-old US ...

Russia Plans to Test Obama, US Diplomat Says
New York Times - United States... a missile shield in Europe, and it looks ready to test the administration of President-elect Barack Obama, a senior American diplomat said Wednesday. ...

Obama focuses on alternative energy and environment
Reuters - USA
By Deborah Charles CHICAGO (Reuters) - Insisting on the need to develop new forms of energy, US President-elect Barack Obama on Monday chose as his energy ...

Interesting Comments on the Call to Boycott Alabama Due to Bailout Stance

In Response To BoycottAlabamaNow.com Part 1
Dec 11th, 2008
by Bradley Hankins.
BoycottAlabamaNow.com was developed in response to Alabama Senator Richard Shelby response to the Big 3 Automakers (Chrysler, GM, and Ford) asking for the United States government to bail them out of the current mess they have gotten themselves in. They state that their mission is “to demonstrate Senator Shelby what the result will be by not supporting the state of Alabama and its industries.”
http://kayloo.com/2008/12/11/in-response-to-boycottalabamanowcom-part-1/#comment-528

The Big Divide

I saw the post on the Read My Lipstick Network blog about the liberal on-line pub writing about Steve Maloney, Team Sarah and our Network. I clicked the link and went wandering around the website. (http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_fundamentalist_120308)

A few things really jumped out at me as I read some of the headlines and bits of the articles.

There are some mean, mean people in this world.

I just don't find that on the "right". Maybe it's there on the extreme fringes with some of the more radical groups. I haven't found any of those sites and haven't gone looking for them so may never come across them! On occasion I'll find a comment from someone on "our" side of the divide that I think crosses the line, but they are so obviously kooks that it's hard to take them seriously.

However, when I hit the Daily Koz, this new one that I've never heard of that RMLN was mentioned in, the Huffington Post and similar they seethe with hatred, snobbery, irritation and nastiness.

It's my way or the rocky highway with a boot to your butt to make you go faster.

The other thing that struck me is just how divided our country has become. There is no middle ground.

I'm not giving up my religion and I'm not going to deny it just to make happy with the libs.

I'm not going to say it's OK to kill babies just to make happy with the lib left.

They're not going to give in when it comes to trying to shut me up about God and my beliefs.

They're not going to be happy until everyone believes that it's OK to kill babies in the womb to make life easier for some women.

Most of us believe like Reagan that it's best to come from a position of strength not weakness.

Most of us know it's impossible to negotiate with terrorists and extremists.

We also know that spewing hatred at those who disagree with us isn't going to build any bridges. So why don't they understand that?

I don't know how to fix this one. I have many friends who are libs and we get along just fine. We agree to disagree. However, they don't have a problem with my belief system and they don't feel the need to make me deny God. They wouldn't dream of putting up a sign denying God next to a Nativity scene (like they're doing in the state of Washington). We don't talk about abortion as we know neither of us is going to convince the other to change their mind. No vitriol, no hatred. We've found a middle ground and I think of them as "true" liberals, not the hate mongers that wear that label as a badge of dishonor.

However, we're in a small town and the vast majority, including the libs, still cling to their guns and religion. Most have a respect for other points of view and don't see the need to slash and burn.

We're an aberration I think, based on what I see in the media, what I read on the self-designated liberal blogs and websites and what I see on television.

The divide is reaching into middle America, too, I think. It's probably just a matter of time before my liberal and conservative friends and I are sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch commiserating about the good old days when people could disagree with honesty and respect.

The New Capitol Visitor's Center, God and the Constitution

I saw the bit that Fox News Sunday did about the new visitor's center in our Capitol. It looked really cool and I thought it looked like a great place to visit. I was appalled at the cost ($621 million). Can you imagine what could be done with $621 million? Then I thought, well, if they're preserving history and teaching children and adults something they might not otherwise learn in school or elsewhere, if it might get someone interested in finding out more about our country and its' workings, maybe there was some justification (still not $621 million worth, but some).

Now I'm hearing what they've included and what has NOT been included. There will be a time in our world where God is no longer a part of our history or our present day if we don't stop this kind of revisionist history. The Godless are winning without ever having to fight simply because we don't pay attention. We have let so much already slide. If we were standing completely outside this world looking at a long timeline, would we be able to see how our freedom of religion is being eroded? Someday will someone be able to point the decisions that resulted in this country's downfall? How do we get past the apathy?

I received this earlier today from the Heritage Foundation. I've also seen some other things floating around these past few days about it. It's downright scary.

A Capitol Travesty

Like everything else that comes out of Congress, the initial intentions were good: to build a visitors center that shields citizens from extreme heat and humidity and provides greater security for people working in or visiting the U.S. Capitol. But what began as a $265 million project in 2000 ballooned into a $621 million boondoggle that finally opens today . Like far too many legislative proposals that pass through its chambers, Congress could not help but add its own priorities. Even though not included in the original design, the structure now features new offices for lawmakers, a theater, media studios and even a tunnel to the Library of Congress. This all-too-familiar runaway Washington spending is not even the worst part of the final product. That honor goes to the violence the center's "educational" exhibits do to the Constitution.

Article I of the Constitution begins: "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." Section 8 of Article I then goes on to enumerate those powers, of which James Madison wrote: "If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions."

But according to the Capitol Visitors Center, the Constitution is not about limiting powers. Instead, it created six "aspirations" that Congress is charged to realize. The explanation for the first aspiration listed, "Unity," falsely identified "E Pluribus Unum" as our nation's motto. Wrong. "In God We Trust" is our nation's motto. But do not expect to find any discussion of God in the new visitors center. "Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and righteous war" gets a mention, but any other indication that the Founding Fathers believed that all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights," like it says in the Declaration of Independence, has been safely sanitized by the political correctness thought police.

The liberal bias does not end there. The sixth aspiration, "General Welfare," celebrates the creation of Medicare in 1965. We can debate whether Medicare is, or is not, good public policy. But it is a travesty of history to pretend the Constitution requires it. Summarizing his thoughts after an early tour of the center, Heritage constitutional scholar Matthew Spalding wrote:

This exhibit is Congress' temple to liberals' "living Constitution," the eternal font of lawmakers' evolving mandate to achieve the nation's ideals. No fixed meanings here, only open-ended "aspirations." In this distorted view, the Constitution is an empty vessel, to be adapted to the times, as change requires. It means nothing -- or anything.

The center opens to the public today at 1 p.m. if you'd like to have a look at this travesty with your own eyes.

QUICK HITS

It appears increasingly likely that Al Franken will ask the Democrat-controlled Senate to intervene on his behalf in his recount fight with Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN).

When the 2008 campaign books are closed, President-elect Barack Obama will probably be the first billion-dollar candidate.

On top of $90 billion for mayors, Democrats are planning to give away another $500 billion to states.

The CEOs of Detroit's Big Three automakers are back in front of Congress with their hands out today.

The head of the congressional panel monitoring the gigantic federal bailout says the government still does not have a coherent strategy for easing the financial crisis despite having already spent billions of dollars.

Obamadummies...

(Thanks Steve M. for send via email!)

This is from Jack Kelly's column in last Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It makes some critical points, and I hope you'll forward it widely. (http://post-gazette.com/forum/)

A Zogby poll released last week casts doubt on the notion it's conservatives who reflect stupidity and ignorance. Mr. Zogby asked a dozen questions of 512 Obama supporters, 55 percent of whom have college degrees.

.• 94 percent correctly identified Sarah Palin as the candidate with a pregnant teenage daughter;
• 87 percent identified Ms. Palin as the candidate who said she "could see Russia from her house;"

• 86 percent identified Ms. Palin as the candidate associated with a $150,000 wardrobe purchased by her political party;

• 81 percent chose John McCain as the candidate who was unable to identify the number of houses he owned;

• 81 percent knew it was Barack Obama who said the government should redistribute the wealth;

• 53 percent knew it was Joe Biden who predicted that Mr. Obama would be tested by a generated international crisis during his first six months as president;

• 44 percent knew that it was Mr. Obama who started his political career in the home of two former members of the Weather Underground;

• 43 percent knew that Democrats controlled both the House and Senate

;• 28 percent knew it was Mr. Biden who had to quit an earlier campaign for president because he plagiarized a speech;

• 23 percent knew it was Mr. Obama who claimed to have campaigned in 57 states;

• 17 percent knew that it was Mr. Obama who won his first election by getting all of his opponents removed from the ballot

;• 12 percent knew it was Mr. Obama who said his energy policies likely would bankrupt the coal industry.

Only 46 percent of the Obama supporters were able to answer half or more of the questions correctly.

Apart from the appallingly low percentage of Obama supporters who could answer the basic civics question of which party controls Congress, the results reflect more what the news media chose to emphasize in their reporting than the awareness of respondents.

What the news media chose to emphasize was trivia, slanted against the Republicans in general, Ms. Palin in particular, not all of which was true. (Ms. Palin never said she "could see Russia from her house." That quote came from Tina Fey, who impersonated her on "Saturday Night Live.")

That Sen. Obama said his energy policy would bankrupt the coal industry is rather more important than Ms. Palin's wardrobe, but if the news media chose not to report it (and most did not), then the Obama supporters polled can't be blamed for not knowing it.

The poll was commissioned by conservative documentary filmmaker John Ziegler ("The Path to 9/11"). Random post-election interviews he'd done with a dozen Obama supporters indicated a deplorable lack of knowledge, and he wanted to see how widespread it was.

Liberals assert that if McCain-Palin supporters were asked the same questions, they'd display a comparable level of ignorance. Mr. Ziegler has a wager for them. If a liberal commissions the same poll of McCain supporters and they do not score significantly better than the Obama supporters did, then Mr. Ziegler will pay the cost of the poll.

But if McCain-Palin supporters do significantly better, then the liberal must reimburse Mr. Ziegler for the cost of the original poll. I doubt Mr. Ziegler will get any takers.

Jack Kelly is a columnist for the Post-Gazette (jkelly@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1476).

The Heritage Foundation --- Love this site!

I read about this on someone else's blog and had to go sign up for their "morning bell". Loads of good insights and info. I think this is the one Sean Hannity talks about all the time. I understand why!

The Perpetual Bailout Machine

Failure is a part of U.S. business culture. That is why Americans feel extremely comfortable buying tickets from bankrupt airlines, electronics from bankrupt retailers, and apartments from bankrupt builders. To paraphrase a popular bumper sticker: bankruptcy happens. Bankruptcy does not have to be the end for any business. Instead bankruptcy, under Chapter 11, offers court-supervised protection from creditors so that a business can reorganize itself into a new successful form. The larger and more complicated a company is, however, the more preparation it must do before it can enter Chapter 11. In fact the executives of businesses facing tough economic times have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders and creditors to develop a bankruptcy plan. Only the most irresponsible executives would shirk this duty, and only the most conniving would do so knowingly as part of an effort to blackmail the American taxpayer. Enter General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner.

Testifying before Congress yesterday, Wagoner admitted that GM has "put virtually all effort into avoiding" bankruptcy and has not worked out a detailed contingency plan. By contrast, Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli said his company has "looked at all aspects" of a potential bankruptcy filing and has "gone through advisers to help us think this through."

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Because of its refusal to make plans for a bankruptcy, GM is "courting a Lehman-like situation," said a person familiar with the matter. Lehman Brothers, the storied investment bank, collapsed into a court-protected reorganization unprepared to remain in business. "They are on the train tracks and won't get off them," the person said.

Moral hazard is the prospect that a party insulated from risk may behave differently from the way it would behave if it were fully exposed to the risk. By granting GM its desired bailout, the federal government would only encourage other CEOs to act as irresponsibly as Wagoner.

must also submit a working model for examination. If Congress, or the Obama Administration, grants GM its bailout, they will have created a perpetual bailout machine, one that prompts every troubled industry in the country to abandon their fiduciary duty to plan for the worst and, instead, come to Washington demanding their hand-out.

QUICK HITS

All three auto executives opted to fly their company jets to the capital for their hearings this week.

The NYPD is pressuring the Justice Department for a faster turnaround for getting warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The first independent investigation of the suspected nuclear site in Syria that Israel destroyed last year has bolstered U.S. claims that Damascus was building a secret nuclear reactor.

Federal employee unions see a huge opportunity to push their agenda with Obama as president.
Iran has now produced roughly enough nuclear material to make, with added purification, a single atom bomb.

Nothing at all to do with politics... just cute and had to share

OK, it doesn't appear that the embed code works... so, here's a link: http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/PerthPurplePenguin/vids/?action=view&current=cvUMHvLZ.flv

It's cure. It'll make you smile. Unless you hate animals.

Four years of Egobama

It would be front page headlines on every newspaper and the leading story on the news for days and maybe weeks if President Bush had cracked a joke about Hillary Clinton talking to Eleanore Roosevelt.

Our "President Elect" has a first ever of its kind address to the nation BEFORE he takes the oath of office, complete with his little presidential placard, a cast of suits around him and flags in the background and he disses Mrs. Reagan.

Then he talks about his dog.

He shuts out the media he doesn't like (portends of things to come I'd venture to guess). He doesn't answer the question about higher taxes on the so-called rich. He runs away just as soon as he can after saying he was going to skip a question from a CNN reporter. He's twenty minutes late for the talk.

Everything out of his mouth seemed to start with "I".

This is a man who doesn't need people blowing smoke up his you-know-what, he's already there. Egobama is what I'm going to call him from now one.

I just saw that he'd called Nancy Reagan to apologize on the Fox scroll. I'm glad he did that, but what a way to start his Presidency. You'd have thought Joe Biden had taken the podium.

The No-Sense of Ad-Sense

I have been wandering around various conservative blogs over the past few weeks and have noticed that quite a few are using Ad Sense (Ads by Google). What struck me as I looked is that the majority of the ads are FOR Obama. Here's one that's on a strongly conservative, Pro-McCain, pro-Palin site:

All Barack Obama Videos
Free Videos. Barack Obama Speeches Including Democratic Convention
FORA.tv

Barack Obama Latest News
Latest News on Obama '08 – Find Local News & Media in Atlanta.
News.YellowPages.com/Atlanta

Barack Obama in 2008
Show Your Support! Buy Obama Tees, Stickers, Buttons, Yard Signs
www.CafePress.com

Obama Biden in '08
Barack Obama / Joe Biden buttons shirts, hats, and more. Shop Here.
www.DemocraticStuff.com

"#1 Wrinkle Cream Winner"
Over 200 wrinkle creams were tested Find out which cream took the award
AmericanAntiAgingAssociation.com

I had to wonder about the last ad, wrinkle cream? Is that a jab or just a coincidence?

One site I visited had the regular color ads on the side. I could go and donate money to Obama from the pro-Palin site by clicking the huge color ad.

Most of us are aware that Google is owned by a strong Obama supporter. Most of us are very aware that for some strange reason pro-McCain blogs just never get into the search engines unless you float back to the very back pages - maybe.

As conservative bloggers, we need to think about who and what is being advertised on our sites. I know we're good people and feel that it's the least we can do to somewhat offset the fact that we're using the blogs at no cost (how do they make their money? advertising?).

Maybe we need to ask for a way to tie the ads to our blogs a bit better. Right now they're simply picking up words that you type and grabbing associated ads. We should be able to ask for ads that fit our values, too.

Check your ads and think about the message you're sending and who you're really helping with those ads.

Ads from National Repubican Trust (PAC)

These ads are going to run in all the swing states this weekend.

Catholic Info, Snitched from Team Sarah Page

Dear CatholicVote.com member,

The following is a summary of the record and policy statements of Senator Barack Obama on the issues of life and marriage. Because we are sponsored by a 501c3 nonprofit organization, we are not permitted to endorse or advocate for or against a candidate.

We can however provide you with a candidate's record on the issues. Therefore, we present you with the following facts for your use to educate voters on the candidates and the teaching of the Church in these critical days prior to November 4.

The election is likely to be a subject of the homily for your parish priest this weekend. We encourage you to share this information with your priest soon so he can consider mentioning this information from the pulpit.

Make sure to pass along this information to your friends and family, too. Let's have an informed electorate on Tuesday.

We also have this Urgent Memo available online in flyer format for easy download so you can print it out and distribute this weekend. Download the flyer here: http://tinyurl.com/5a7mop

URGENT MEMO
TO: American Catholics
FROM: CatholicVote.com
RE: Barack Obama on the Issues of Importance to Catholics

1. Obama is undecided on whether life begins at conception - Saddleback Church Forum Aug 16th, 2008. Obama voted against born alive protections for abortion survivors four times, and voted against a ban on partial-birth abortion in the Illinois state senate
SOURCES: http://www.bornalivetruth.org
Audacity of Hope written by Barack Obama

2. Obama has pledged to Planned Parenthood to sign The Freedom of Choice Act, a law which would cancel every state, federal, and local regulation of abortion, no matter how modest or reasonable. It would even abolish all state restrictions on government funding for abortions. Catholics that pay income tax will be paying an abortionist to perform an abortion. It would also abolish state laws that protect Catholic doctors and nurses from losing their jobs if they refuse to participate in abortions. It would abolish requirements for parental notification and informed consent for mothers who consider the procedure. – Obama speech to Planned Parenthood, July 17, 2007
He is endorsed by pro-Abortion industry leader Planned Parenthood and has a 100% NARAL voting record. -
SOURCES: http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/campaigns/barack-obama-endorsement-111.htm
http://www.naral.org/elections/statements/obama.html

3. Obama would repeal the Mexico City policy, which bars federal funding for international nongovernmental organizations involved in abortion-related services and would pit the US against the Vatican on the international fight against abortion.
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

4. He strongly supports the 1973 Supreme Court decision on abortion rights and says he will oppose any constitutional measure to overturn it. -
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

5. Obama has pledged to choose Justices with a Pro Abortion agenda and he voted against Roberts and Alito.
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

6. Obama voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions and prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion.
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

7. Obama supports the destruction of embryos for experimentation and voted to expand research to more embryonic stem cell lines.
SOURCE: http://obama.senate.gov/press/070411-obama_renews_su/

8. He voted yes on $100M to fund contraceptives for teens and sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women.
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

9. Voted no on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP a program that gives funds to states in order to provide health insurance to families with children.
SOURCE: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/15942

10. He opposed the federal marriage amendment in 2006 and also favors repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which gives a state the right not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in another state.
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

PAID FOR BY CATHOLICVOTE.COM
A PROJECT OF THE FIDELIS CENTER FOR LAW & POLICY
Contact (312) 201-6559 or www.CatholicVote.com

Great video

Thanks to McCain-Palin 08 blog for this funny video from News Busters (if you've never been there, go right after you watch this video... this is humor, but most of what they do is expose the holes in the crud that's called "news" these days)

Stealing the election

If Barack Obama can't win the election by golly, he'll steal the election.

There are reports of tactics being used by Democrats across the country that are downright scary. They want this election so badly there are no lows to low for these shysters.

I heard today that they are sending operatives from states that Obama has in the win column to swing states to register as residents. They vote there then head home and vote in their home state, too. Even if they don't or can't vote in their home state, they've affected the outcome in a swing state.

They're going into prisons to register crooks and creeps and they're picking up the homeless and turning them into voters for one election.

It's not just ACORN out there trying to twist and steal the election, it's operatives across the country.

I've been through a lot of elections and I have never heard of one where someone was willing to go to such lengths.

Our country is in big trouble.

Go check out McCain Palin 2008 --- then send an email to Warner Bros.

Crock of **** Warner bros blocks pro-McCain film until after the election
posted by Paul at MCCAIN PALIN 2008 - 4 hours ago
This is outrageous: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/johnmccain/3200711/Warner-Brothers-block-release-of-pro-John-McCain-film.html For the thousands of you that visit this blog, ta...

------

I just sent an email to Warner Bros. letting them know how I felt. You'll find all the info you need on the McCain Palin blog linked above. Disgusting. Low. Outrageous.

Our future ala Bill Ayers and Barack Obama?

This is a series of YouTube videos of Bill Ayers in Venezuela talking about a lot of things that will interest those who really care about the future of our country. Videos are from about two years ago.

There is an interpreter so don't be put off by the language at the start. Ayers talks in English.

A walk with a friend and a talk about politics

I was walking with a friend yesterday trying to jiggle off a few stubborn pounds. The discussion turned to politics, which is not surprising if I'm walking and talking. Usually I'm the one who weaves it into a conversation, but this time my friend brought it up by saying things were looking bad for John McCain.

As the conversation progressed I realized she was a lightweight, typical voter. She only knew what she saw in the headlines and on the news. She was a surface skimmer.

It is scary to think about how many people across the country are thinking they know enough to vote based on what is spoon-fed to them by the main stream media. Very scary.

How do you get the word out when the media is blocking your every move? How do you reach people who only care about where they're going for dinner tonight or which show they'll watch on TV?

I talked with her at length about things, but I could tell she just thought I was a wonk. She didn't buy into some of the things I said, which is OK as I do understand that when you start talking about the media blocking and turning the news that it starts to sound like your a conspiracy theorist or going over the edge.

The good news is that she is voting for John McCain despite it all. I hope there are lots like her who will overlook the brainwashing and stand on principle.

Cool but not long enough!

I'm going to see if I can figure out how to add this to my sidebar!

See the commercial? Abortion Group, Rape Victims

Someone, and I don't remember who, had a blog about the charge that Governor Palin made people pay for pregnancy testing when raped? I can't remember the exact details. One of our sister bloggers talked about how she looked into it and basically Wasilla was doing what almost everyone does which is ask the insurance companies to pay for the test???

Anyway, an abortion rights group has a commercial and is throwing out the charge that Sarah Palin would charge rape victims. It's been proven to be incorrect.

Whoever wrote that blog, I'd love it if you'd copy it and post it as a response to this so we'll have the facts! I may copy and paste it into a blog (and give credit, of course).

Didn't our gal Sarah do a wonderful job tonight? Fox News has a poll that shows her winning the debate (86%). Of course, CNN has her losing (39%) with Biden at 51%. Very telling when it comes to showing the different audiences watching. Then again, Fox News blows CNN away on the ratings, so we know who does a better job .

OK, I have to get back in there to the TV and hear some more PRAISE for Governor Palin's performance tonight. WOW.

The Government Blob minus Steve McQueen

Does anyone remember the movie "The Blob"? I know there was at least one bad remake, maybe two.

The current Blob remake is the worst yet.

Has Washington ever, ever, ever gotten hold of anything that didn't blob? It grows, it consumes, it takes over and unfortunately once it's taken hold there's nothing that can kill it.

Currently those in Washington are trying to start another alien Blob, this time it is so alien to our American values that we are in the process of trying to freeze it before it takes hold. I'm not sure we are going to be successful given the collaboration between Nancy Pelosi, Barnie Frank, Henry Paulsen, President Bush and Chris Dodd (strange bedfellows, hmm?).

My favorite quote: Republican Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia described the bill as "a huge cow patty with a piece of marshmallow stuck in the middle. I'm not going to eat that cow patty."

Here's my HUH??? Say What??? for the day:

From Forbes Magazine on-line: After a week and a half of marathon
negotiations extensively modified the original $700 billion proposal from the
Treasury, and leaders on both sides of the House aisle had expressed their
support, the legislation was voted down 228-205. Had 12 legislators switched
their votes, the measure would have succeeded. The bill won the support of 140
Democrats and was opposed by 95. It was House Republicans that stymied
the legislation, voting 133-65 against it. (bold emphasis mine)
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/09/30/credit-bailout-bush-biz-beltway-cx_bw_jz_0930bailout2.html

How in the world can anyone write that 95 Democrats voted against it, 12 legislators yes votes were needed to pass, yet it was the Republicans that stymied the legislation???

I'm glad for the Republicans and Democrats who voted no, and frankly, I'm surprised that all of a sudden these free-market Wall Street guys who hate it when government steps on their toes is all of a sudden ready to cozy up with regulation, politics and oversight when they goof.

Let's hope that the cooling off time today and tomorrow (not sure about whether tomorrow is also a day off?) will have given Republicans a chance to fine-tune a different plan and tactic.

How John McCain came out of this mess looking bad surprises me, although I guess it shouldn't since the media isn't on his side.

Let Sarah be Sarah!

It is so clear that some of the guys who think they know everything are holding the real Sarah hostage! I've seen her past stuff, before she hit the VP trail. I saw her stuff before they finally got to her.

Jeez, we don't care if she doesn't know everything there is to know about foreign affairs, she'd the veep for goodness sake, not the top guy. She knows more than a heck of a lot of our past Presidents did when they took office. All she has to say is that's John McCain's job and I'll be ready by the time we take office in January. She has from November 4th until January 1 to get up to snuff on all the stuff.

She's probably putting a ton of pressure on herself to try and be the whiz kid, too. She's used to excelling in everything she does and this is a big chunk of change to handle. Everyone else who has ever run for veep or for prez has thought about it for years and they've studied the issues knowing where they were hoping to end up someday. Sarah Palin hasn't had that luxury and so she's not up on every little stupid nuance or item that the press wants to trip her up on.

The ditsy Kathleen Parker on National Review should know she's now the darling of the liberal media for doing what they've wanted conservatives to do all along, which is to jump on Sarah Palin. Finally they have someone who's willing to jump ship on the conservative side and to me it's traitorous. Think what you want in the privacy of your home, but no conservative journalist should ever give the liberals something that inflammatory to crow about deliberately.

We don't want perfection, we want honesty. We don't mind someone who has a lot to learn. If Kathleen Parker had been thinking straight she'd realize that Palin has more experience than Barack Obama and has made fewer gaffs than Joe Biden.

John McCain's dudes and dudettes need to leave Sarah alone and let her be Sarah.

Going after Sarah Palin

The media is continuing to go after Sarah Palin. In this fragile world where polls fluctuate and the media rules the roost, every upward lift of Sarah's eyebrow is tracked and attacked.

I don't know how anyone can handle being in the political limelight these days.

Can you imagine having your family attacked continually? having every bit of your life parsed and dissected and then perverted to fit someones preconceived notions of how they want it to be? having every friend and enemy you've ever had put on television to talk about you?

On top of all that, imagine going non-stop with minimal sleep in strange places.

Imagine having your brain crammed full of data non-stop when all you really want to do is kick back and rest for fifteen minutes on the bus or plane between meetings.

Think about being followed everywhere you go by hoards of photographers and reporters who are willing to follow you into the toilet stall if they can get an exclusive photo or comment.

On top of all that, the people who are on your side have varying opinions they're not shy about sharing on your clothing, the way you talk, who you talk to, where you shop, how you fix your hair or makeup and probably the type toothpaste you use. They want to mold you into whatever image they think "sells" best to the American public.

I would think it might even be worse knowing you had huge numbers of fans who looked to you as a role model or had you up on a pedestal.

I hope that every praying person in this country is sending positive thoughts toward and positive prayers upward for Sarah Palin and her family.

John McCain and all the others are used to the trashy media and have developed thicker skins. Our Sarah seems to have pretty thick skin and be a strong, strong lady, but there are going to be times when she's down and needs all the support we can give!

Let's stick together and let's stick with Sarah!

Joe Biden's Double-back, twisty face with Katie I Love Biden Couric

So Joe Biden's biggest "problem" is that his mouth gets ahead of his mind at times. The Obamazombies call it "honesty", refreshing honesty. They've given it a name "bidenism". So what does Obama try to do with that "honesty"? He perverts it.

That is if you beleive in Biden's honesty in the first place . If George W. Bush made statements and gaffs like Biden it wouldn't be called refreshing honesty...

Katie Couric asked Joe Biden in lib-speak about the horrible ad Obama put out about John McCain not being able to do Rubic's Cubes and use a computer. (Note to those who don't know about the ad --- John McCain's war injuries don't allow him to type or do some of those actions. The ad made fun of him.)

Biden rightfully said initially that it as "terrible" and he didn't have anything to do with it, wouldn't have or something along those lines. There's the honesty. Then Katie asks another question about Obama approving the ad and Biden realizes what his mouth has just done.

He starts to do his double-back, about face, try to save face sputtering. You can see in his eyes that he realizes he has just gotten himself caught in another deep, deep hole so he starts spinning, goes on to attack

Later he released an official statement saying he was wrong. He stands by the ad, he hadn't seen it at the time he talked about it... It's the statement the Obama campaign made him put out. It's posted below. One comment on the so-called negative ads --- there are groups keeping tabs on who's put out more negative ads and who's stretching the truth the most and guess what? Obama's winning that particular race.

The body language and touching was something I found interesting. At one point Katie reaches over and lightly pushes Biden's leg in a jokingly chiding manner. Anyone think she'd be so chatty and cuddly cute friendly with John McCain or Sarah Palin? She's going to interview Sarah Palin so that one should be interesting. Think she's going to call her girl-friend?

Here's some info I found on the Internet about the interview (just the top 3 or 4 on Google's list when I put in "biden statement couric ad" while looking for the official statement (which I've posted at the end):

Couric Has Cushy Chat with Biden, Will She Be as Warm with Palin ...
Sep 22, 2008 ... COURIC: Did Obama approve that ad? He said he did, right? BIDEN: The answer is I don't think ... Katie's first statement to Average Joe was. ...newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2008/09/22/couric-has-cushy-chat-biden-will-she-be-warm-palin - 79k - 10 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Media Matters - Couric didn't challenge McCain's false claim that ...
Aug 24, 2008 ... John McCain, Katie Couric did not challenge McCain's false claim that Sen. ... BIDEN: I think I stand by the statement. [end video clip] ...mediamatters.org/items/200808240008 - 26k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Behind The Scenes With Joe Biden, CBS News Anchor Katie Couric ...
I just think that was- COURIC: Did Obama approve that ad? ... Politico - Joe Biden offered perhaps his most off-message statement yet since being tapped as ...beltwayblips.com/story/behind_the_scenes_with_joe_biden_cbs_news_anchor_katie/ - 48k - 10 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Video - Biden: Obama ad attacking McCain "Terrible" - White House '08
Sep 22, 2008 ... Joe Biden, D-Del., distanced himself from an Obama-Biden TV ad. Katie Couric asked Biden about the "tone of the campaign" adding that "you ...beltwayblips.com/video/biden_obama_ad_attacking_mccain_terrible/ - 10 hours ago - Similar pages - Note thisMore results from beltwayblips.com »

Biden Deplores Own Campaign's Ad - September 23, 2008 - The New ...
Sep 23, 2008 ... "I thought that was terrible," Mr. Biden told news anchor Katie Couric after she made reference to the ad while asking about the tone of the ...www.nysun.com/national/biden-deplores-own-campaigns-ad/86380/ - 8 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this

Biden's official statement:

“I was asked about an ad I’d never seen, reacting merely to press reports. As I said right then, I knew there was nothing intentionally personal in the criticism of Senator McCain’s views which look backwards not forwards and are out of touch with the new economic challenges we face today. Having now reviewed the ad, it is even more clear to me that given the disgraceful tenor of Senator McCain’s ads and their persistent falsehoods, his campaign is in no position to criticize, especially when they continue to distort Barack’s votes on an issue as personal as keeping kids safe from sexual predators."

Hope, Change and Lies, for distribution from McCain Palin '08 blog

Hope, Change, & Lies: Orchestrated "Grassroots" Smear Campaigns
********************DISTRIBUTE********************
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/194057.php

Hope, Change, & Lies: Orchestrated "Grassroots" Smear Campaigns Extensive research was conducted by the Jawa Report to determine the source of smears directed toward Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Those smears included false allegations that she belonged to a secessionist political party and that she has radical anti-American views.

Our research suggests that a subdivision of one of the largest public relations firms in the world most likely started and promulgated rumors about Sarah Palin that were known to be false.

These rumors were spread in a surreptitious manner to avoid exposure.

It is also likely that the PR firm was paid by outside sources to run the smear campaign.While not conclusive, evidence suggests a link to the BarackObama campaign.

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/194057.php

Moose Shootin' Mama Sarah Palin

The song is Written and Performed by Pat Garrett, his website is: http://www.patgarrett.com/

This is the Number FOUR download right now! Cool.

Obamatactics

Obama mobilizes rapid response on Web
Campaign targets media when attacks aired
By John McCormick Chicago Tribune reporter
12:32 AM CDT, September 17, 2008
Much of Barack Obama's political success can be traced to a database listing contact information for millions of people, a tool that has proved invaluable in raising record sums of money and organizing a national volunteer network.Now Obama's presidential campaign is increasingly using the list to beat back media messages it does not like, calling on supporters to flood radio and television stations when those opposed to him run anti-Obama ads or appear on talk shows.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-mediasep17,0,6325137.story

Tidbits of news on Sarah Palin, John McCain and Barack Obamation

Found this on another Read My Lipstick blog, Draft Sarah Palin I think (http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/) but I just read a bunch of them so could be wrong easily!

http://www.palinfightscorruption.com/palin/

Well worth tagging as a favorite and checking often.

They caught the guy who hacked into Sarah Palin's email!!! The son of a Democratic Representative, like we didn't know it was going to have ties to the Dems, right? Talk about messing up the rest of your life! Course, the Dems are going to make him a hero albeit a pretty dumb one given he only set up one proxy before hacking. Duh. The kid is in college? Must be making his dad real proud. One thing that is frightening is how easy it must be to hack into someone's email account!

Heard McCain gave a stellar, rousing speech this morning that was played on Fox News. I haven't heard it but I've rec'd emails and calls about it so it much have been fantastic.

Sarah's interview with Sean Hannity was great! So much better than the sham hit job Gibson's crew tried to do on her and failed. There were so many subtle ways Charlie Gibson set her up it's worth a study class in a college class. The lighting, the chair, the placement of the chair and Gibson, the way he asked his questions, the play on his face, the room setting, I could go on and on.

If you 're bored, go pull up the interview with Gibson and the one with Sean and pretend like you're playing that game where you try to spot the differences.

There are subtle things that are tells about how someone feels or thinks. For instance, in my last paragraph / sentence I called Charlie Gibson "Gibson" and Sean Hannity "Sean". I'm more comfortable and like Sean better thus I automatically call him by his first name.

Nobody calls Barack Obama "Barack". Even the people who like him don't like him .

The thing with the Spanish ad is typical and despicable. I heard Limbaugh did an op ed in the Wall Street Journal about it, not sure when it's going to run. I have to read it!

Is anyone hearing anything about Obama's talk with the Iraq mucky-mucks about not decreasing troops until after he's elected? I heard something about it but it sure hasn't been much of a news story (who's surprised?).

There is so much going on in the political world right now! I don't remember ever being this involved or concerned about the future of our country! I am fired up and out there working every which way I can go make sure people VOTE for MCCAIN-PALIN! We're not going to be able to do it unless we have enthusiastic people who're willing to put some action with their words.

Saw that one of our new Read My Lipstick Network members has a petition going. It's at www.McCainPalin2008.blogspot.com. Go check it out and sign it! After you sign it there's a page where they ask for money --- that is NOT money for the petition or the blog or blog owner, that's just a donation the site doing the petition is asking for and you do NOT have to donate.

Back to the grind for this gal. Have a wonderful day, go get a couple of votes for McCain-Palin!

Interesting discussion on Greta Van Susteren's program last night

I could have listened to an hour on this topic! Greta talked with Cathy Young, Reason Magazine on why the fems hate Sarah Palin. (I've included a link at the bottom of this post to the transcript from last night's show.)

I don't think they quite hit on the real reasons the Fems hate Sarah Palin but they did bring up some interesting thoughts.

There was a point in my life when I was a bra-burning-babe (well, I never burned it, just didn't wear it ;-) and considered myself a feminist. I realized fairly quickly that I didn't need group-think and that I was perfectly capable of being a strong woman without getting nasty (not that I was ever nasty, either).

Yes, women aren't necessarily paid the same as men in similar jobs. Yes, we need changes in some areas, but I don't subscribe to a one-size-fits all description of how women "should" be.

If the Fems were truly "liberal" they'd have a bit bigger umbrella and be willing to allow women to be the way they want to be, rather than trying to smush us all into one mold. It really does boil down to some core values. They want abortion. Period. Why that makes a woman more a woman I'll never understand. Seems to me that a "real" woman with any brains would make sure she didn't get pregnant in the first place.

I love the individuality of women who make choices that suit their abilities, values and lifestyles.

Sarah Palin is a woman's woman ;-) Whether I agree with every stance of hers is a moot point. She is very obviously a happy person and that just seems to steam some of the libs who are angry, angry people.

I'm out of time to delve into this any further. It's a huge topic and one that typifies the divide between angry lefties and the normal folks who make up the majority of the country. Unfortunately, angry people with a cause make a lot of noise and get a lot of attention. The rest of us go about our daily lives and don't need a group of irritated women who are out of touch with the mainstream to give our lives meaning.

---

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record ," September 16, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423847,00.html

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: ...
But first: They hate her. Yes, some feminists hate Governor Sarah Palin. There's no question many women love the governor, but some very vocal women have become downright nasty attacking her. Here's an example. A female religion professor at the University of Chicago named Wendy Doniger recently wrote this about Governor Palin. "Her greatest hypocrisy is in her pretense that she's a woman." Yes, that's a quote from a religion professor. Now, you might disagree with her political positions, but why the hate?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423847,00.html

99 percent say Sarah Palin is being picked on!

Greta Van Susteren had a poll tonight and asked:

It is one thing to disagree with Gov. Palin about her policies or her experience, but are some people just being downright nasty to her?

As of just a few minutes ago:

Yes 99% (41852 votes)
No 1% (600 votes)
Total Votes: 42452

Have you noticed the hype has died down just a bit? It's because they may be slow, real slow, real real slow, but finally some on the left are realizing they're kicking themselves in the butt. I don't think anyone's going to get through to the Huffington Post, Koz, Salon and all the rest, but the Dem's will get their talking points to their mass leaders and the masses will fall into step.

The poll is very telling about the perception of the public.

I watched the Todd Palin interview last night and tonight. It is clear he is one cool dude. Sarah and Todd are everyday Americans living on the frontier with the values some are working hard to make disappear. We need Todd, Sarah, Cindy and John in the White House!

One of the things Greta talked about tonight was why so many women's groups hated Sarah. I think it's because they are threatened by a truly strong woman. Women are the world's worst at being jealous of superior women. A lot of women have a hard time having a woman for a boss and you all know we pick on other women's clothes, their hair styles and the way they act unmercifully.

Groups like NOW spawn a sense of worth and give some women a cause. They are often bitter, mad and angry people who feel the world has hurt them and dumped on them. Rather than move ahead and do better they glomb into a group and yell together. They are weak but because they yell a lot and have others to support them and give them an identity, they feel strong.

Sarah Palin is independent, smart, a go-getter and she's pretty to boot. She has it all and they are jealous. It wouldn't matter whether she had their same values or not, just by virtue of being a strong woman she lost their vote and support.

"A Debate Obama Cannot Win" (but Sarah Palin & John McCain CAN!)

Barack Obama has two books out and a public record that is easy to follow, yet everyone seems to think he's going to do something different when he's in office than he has up to this point. The media has given him a pass and has not scrutinized him anywhere near the amount they've dissected Sarah Palin and skewered John McCain. They "say" SHE is an unknown and they're just doing their job. Right. I read the stories, I hear the slant and the way they couch their questions and comments. I know more about Sarah Palin after a few short weeks than I know about Joe Biden and Barack Obama combined and I listen and read and have been involved in politics for a long, long time (just call me a junkie!).

-----

"Many voters and critics are still asking: Who is Mr. Obama? He has told us who he is through his record and deeds: a liberal politician who will abandon all his principles at the drop of a hat in order to be elected. This is not new or fresh: It is precisely the 'failed policies of the past' that he brilliantly identified, but cannot surmount." -- The Washington Times

"A Debate Obama Cannot Win
"The Washington Times
Editorial
September 14, 2008

Mr. Obama's "new kind of politics" - which was based on telling the truth, being a principled politician and treating one's opponents fairly - collapsed once he secured the nomination in June. He reversed course with dizzying speed on NAFTA, FISA, public financing of campaigns, whether the D.C. gun ban was constitutional, meeting with rogue leaders without preconditions and the unity of Jerusalem. He even qualified his Iraq policy by stating it would be "refined" according to "conditions on the ground." Most recently, in light of the economic downturn, Mr. Obama stated he might reconsider implementing the tax increases in his economic plan.

Mr. Obama appeared authentic during the Democratic campaign as a liberal champion: In running to the left of Hillary Clinton, he was passionate, fiery and convincing. Yet since his mad dash to the center, he appears uncomfortable: He stammers and stutters in response to questions rather than speaking forthrightly. The polished, Ivy League-educated senator now uses "folksy" expressions. This downhome speaking manner is geared toward attracting white, blue collar voters - and is not in consonance with his impeccable oratory. He is now packaged and artificial.

Instead of being a genteel campaigner, Mr. Obama and his surrogates have spent days attacking Mr. McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, for her inexperience. He has been charged with leveling low blows and sexism. Highlighting Mrs. Palin's inexperience is a foolish strategy for one whose level of experience is, at best, equivalent to hers.

Mr. Obama has also assaulted Mrs. Palin for not being a true reformer. Yet it is he who has a record of requesting $936 million in earmarks. Mr. Obama's record reveals that he is part of the Washington problem, rather than its solution.

The Illinois senator no longer represents generational change and the future: He selected a vice president that is mired in the past. Sen. Joseph Biden is a Washington insider whose voting record is symmetrical to that of the nominee: liberal and partisan. Together, they fall far short of the "bipartisanship" that was pledged.

Instead of "The Dream Team" Obama-Clinton ticket many Democrats hoped for, the Obama-Biden ticket appears to be the "The Snooze Team," they dreaded.

Mr. Obama stated that voters need not be spooked by his thin foreign-policy resume, but should look to his judgment. These statements were cheered throughout the primaries when the Iraq war was going badly. But once the surge succeeded, Mr. Obama has been unable to convince Americans that his judgment is in fact sound.

For weeks, Mr. Obama refused to acknowledge the success of the surge. Now, he acknowledges it at last, but still does not admit that he was initially wrong in his opposition. Clearly, his judgment on foreign affairs is often overcome by prejudices or expediency. Again, he set the terms of the debate and then failed his own test.

Many voters and critics are still asking: Who is Mr. Obama? He has told us who he is through his record and deeds: a liberal politician who will abandon all his principles at the drop of a hat in order to be elected. This is not new or fresh: It is precisely the "failed policies of the past" that he brilliantly identified, but cannot surmount.

Read The Editorial

Tucker Bounds on Barack Obama Statement

"Only Barack Obama would take a statement about the strength, ingenuity and resilience of American workers and American industry and turn it into a political distortion and attack," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said. "Barack Obama's short career as a public servant has been defined by pessimism, defeatism, and weakness in the face of the great challenges of our time. His lack of faith in American workers may explain his willingness to raise taxes during a struggling economy, but it is no way to lead our country."

Watched part of the CNN smear show tonight

I watched part of the smear program CNN showed tonight on Sarah Palin. Their main source of info seemed to be the mayor she BEAT... TWICE... who doesn't like her quite obviously...

CNN let him say she tried to ban books at the library... then they said they tried to talk to her but she wouldn't... and they tried to talk to the librarian but she wouldn't... How funny. Other's have talked to the librarian and she's basically said it was a bunch of malarkey, that Sarah never tried to ban any books... she simply asked how the librarian would react if someone wanted to do so...

The third time they went back to the mayor Sarah BEAT... TWICE... for his take on her I had to finally click it off. I was hoping for fair and balanced but gee, I guess I was on the wrong station...

Last time I ever watch CNN. The libs can say Fox is to the right, but that's only because they are SO far to the left anything in the middle is right to them.

John McCain Proposes Service to America Initiative

Building On His Long Commitment To Expanding National Service, John McCain Is Proposing A Service To America Initiative.

As President, John McCain will create a Service to America initiative to strengthen the teaching and understanding of American history, culture and core ideas, and to inspire Americans to serve causes greater than their own self interest. Civic participation by citizens over a lifetime, working in neighborhoods and communities, and service of all kinds -- military and civilian; full-time or part-time; and national or international -- can renew America's civic purpose and heal our fractured patriotism.

John McCain's Record Of Supporting Service To Our Nation

· John McCain Was An Original Cosponsor With Sen. Bayh (D-IN) Of The Bipartisan National Call To Service Act That Established A National Service Plan With Incentives To Enlist In The Armed Forces. Under the plan, participants must meet all eligibility requirements for military service and may choose one of the following incentives: $5,000, payable after completing 18 months of active duty; and 18 months of reserve service; repayment of student loans up to $18,000; educational allowance at the Montgomery GI Bill monthly rate for one year; or educational allowance of one-half of the GI Bill monthly rate for three years. The bill also expanded volunteer opportunities in civilian organizations, including AmeriCorps. John McCain reintroduced the civilian components with Sens. Bayh, Kennedy and Mikulski in 2003, after the military service component became law in 2002.

· John McCain Sponsored The Troops-to-Teachers Improvement Act. The Act strengthened and extended the Troops-to-Teachers Program encouraging retired military personnel to become teachers, particularly in schools located in disadvantaged or rural areas facing a shortage of teachers.

John McCain Issues A New Call To Service -- The Service To America Initiative
Highlights

· Bolster volunteerism with an energetic and comprehensive national service initiative designed to increase opportunities for people willing to serve their communities and their country.

· Ensure coordination of all service efforts across the federal government and make certain that all these service programs are effective and on equal footing.

· Convene "Volunteerism Summits" so people can share with others the best ideas and most effective programs currently underway in their own communities.

· Increase focus of our volunteers on urgent situations such as the high school dropout crisis and job retraining.

· Boost opportunities for service overseas to increase understanding and communication among diverse cultures.

· Create opportunities for families to spend service opportunities together at home and abroad.
· Increase service opportunities for the disabled community.

· Coordinate a network of private sector "venture capital" funds matched with government grants to support job retraining or vocational training efforts in high schools and targeted communities where job loss persists.

· Allow faith-based organizations to improve their volunteerism numbers by allowing them to hire consistent with the views of the respective organization without risking federal funding.

Utilize The Wisdom And Experience Of Our Retirees And Veterans

· With Boomers entering the retirement ranks, provide more opportunities to senior Americans by expanding SeniorCorps with a focus on mentoring at risk students, assisting community-based homeland security programs, and overseas teaching of American history to bridge cultural divides.

· Develop opportunities for returning veterans to reintegrate immediately through a civilian service opportunity and continue to serve their country upon returning home.

A Call To Service Is A Call To Educate

· Engage more college students in community service through the Federal Work-Study program; current law only requires seven percent of recipients to perform community service.
· Engage Americans in disaster preparedness and response by providing education and training resources for effective community-based efforts.

· Use AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps volunteers as tutors and mentors to address the high school dropout crisis in America.

· Create a realistic teaching certification requirement for outstanding individuals with years of service and work so they have the opportunity to tutor or teach without jumping through unreasonable bureaucratic hoops.

· Strengthen the teaching of American history and civics education through volunteers in our communities and schools who are able to tutor and teach with a teaching certificate equivalency.

In The United States Senate, John McCain Is An Original Cosponsor Of The Hatch-Kennedy Service Bill That Includes:

· Service Learning: Authorizes new grant program to make direct competitive grants to eligible partnerships to carry out service-learning programs with disengaged youth in secondary schools and authorizes the Corporation for National Service to designate up 20 institutions each year as "Campuses of Service." While the grants authorized under this section come directly from the Corporation to the recipients, state service commissions and departments of education are listed as eligible applicants, allowing state agencies to compete alongside school district partnerships.
· Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Establishes a "Commission on Cross-Sector Solutions to America's Problems," Community Solutions Funds and Innovation Fellowships.

· Service Corps: Directs the Corporation to establish new accounts to fund grant programs including Education Corps, Community Health Access Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Opportunity Corps and Reserve Corps.

· Civic Health Index: The Corporation will establish a "Civic Health Index" and will provide data on the progress and effectiveness of various civic programs and initiatives.

· Serve America And Encore Fellowships: Serve America Fellowships are administered almost entirely at the state level, allowing the states to continue to be laboratories of innovation for volunteer service programs. Eligible organizations also include faith-based organizations. Encore Fellowships provide another incentive to Baby Boomers to utilize their experience in the volunteer sector. Reports indicate that the transferrable education award is a significant incentive for potential participants.

· Volunteer Generation Fund: Directs the Corporation to award competitive 3-5 year grants to support the recruitment, management, and training of volunteers to carry out activities benefitting low-income individuals.VGF will increase the capacity of smaller groups, including churches and faith-based organizations, to engage more Americans in helping their communities.

· International Programs: The bill will improve upon and expand the existing Volunteers for Prosperity Program, providing opportunities for international volunteer service. The bill will expand the Peace Corps, allowing for the improvement of its long-standing mission to provide service in developing countries.

Barack and his lipstick smear campaign

I was kind of leaning in a "so what" direction on Barack Obama's attempt to smear Sarah Palin's lipstick.

Until I saw the entire soundbite.

Whether HE intended it to be like it sounds or not, it's REAL obvious those listening to him took it as a smear against Sarah Palin.

He owes her an apology.