"A Short Course In Brain Surgery"

I just received this from a friend. This is a poignant and short independent film on government sponsored healthcare systems featuring a couple from Canada who had to come to the U.S. for medical care. Their story is heart breaking.

Everyone who plans to vote for our new President in 2008 NEEDS to see this. Regardless of the person for whom they would vote. Go to Free Market Cure for more information.

This is where we are headed. Wake up America!

Rivka's Take on The Recent Peggy Noonan Piece

I love Peggy Noonan, but I have been thinking about what she wrote about Bush and am amazed at how other conservatives are jumping on the wagon. I must say I disagree slightly and I am not a blind follower of any leader in our country.

I am having had a hard time blaming the demise of the GOP on Bush, or really any one man. Yes, he did some things that definitely put a dent in the movement, and he is definitely more moderate than I had hoped, but I think we have been in a free fall for a while since Reagan left.

One point I agree with Peggy Noonan on is that we need to re-assess what conservatism is and re-build the party to the way it was when we were all conservatives on every issue, not just one or two.

Bush did some things I disagree with, but overall he is a man of principle. The problem shouldn't be laid on one man's shoulders. Bush doesn't have that much power. Yes he has made some mistakes but remember that his hands have been hogtied by the libs on all the conservative issues he's tried to get through these past 7 years.

It is important that Presidents compromise. You can't get most of what you want if you don't, but Bush has had to compromise on almost everything and a few of his compromises I didn't like such as school vouchers. He can't even get his tax cuts made permanent and in my opinion that falls on the shoulders of the Republicans in congress and on the shoulders of the conservative voters who didn't vote because they were mad. Their anger gave us a Democratic controlled congress and now we are in danger of having a Democrat in the big man's seat as well.

I think it has been a slow erosion of both pressure from the beltway and pressure from our culture to go moderate. We are in a post-modern culture and there is a lot of wrong thinking that is pretty pervasive in our schools and every where else. It is influencing us whether we like it or not. That is why we need to get back to our foundation as a nation and back to Conservatism as our founding fathers saw it and as Reagan implemented it.

I think the Republicans in congress eventually caved to the winds of the times and went with what was more popular among the people instead of sticking to their principles and the base of their party for fear of backlash in the media led by the Democratic operatives.

True conservatism doesn't change. It is timeless, but the GOP has changed and it is reflected in the backing of McCain.

As Rush said, Conservatism is a movement and fear holds no part in true conservatism. We can't be afraid to put up a conservative. It is ultimately up to us. In my opinion, if we keep putting moderate conservatives in office we get what we deserve.

Bill Pulls McClinton Out of The Closet

Just in case you don't remember, I coined the new name for McCain.. "McClinton". At least I think I came up with it first. Now, Bill has forced McCain to come out of the closet and reveal his very close relationship with Hill. We all knew that for crying out loud, there isn't much difference between the two. It is no wonder they get along so well.

Wait a minute, I think there is a much more sinister plot involved in the outing of John. The Clintons don't arbitrarily do or say anything, it is all politically motivated. Bill is afraid McClinton could beat the Shrill and could be trying to turn off conservatives so that they won't vote for him in the primaries.

Any other guesses?

Hillary takeover preparedness...

MILITARY PREPARES FOR HILLARY TAKEOVER AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF:

BILL CLINTON IS LYING!

WHAT? THE CLINTONS LIE?

I think Chris Matthews had this guy on as his surrogate to trash Billary because Chris got a hand slap from the Stalinists, I mean Clintons, and had to apologize. So much for free speech.

Be prepared, the Clintons are against free speech. They are going to take away all the free speech rights of conservatives on talk radio if elected. Even Chris Matthews was threatened. Take note that Chris has never apologized to Bush for all the hate speech directed towards him which says a lot about the power the Clintons have over liberals. Libs, I really think you should think about this.

Does it bother you that Billary has so much control over the Democratic party? I have never seen anything like it since Stalin. That is why I refer to them as "Stalinists" because that is the kind of power they have and we have seen a small picture of it in this video.

By the way, Obama, you have plenty of ammunition against Billary. Listen to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity they have had some really good advice for you. You can slam her if you aren't too scared. I know the Clintons are big bullies, but you can go against the DNC and bring up all the scandals you like. That is the only way you can beat her.

Rivka disclaimer: Not that I want Obama to win because he would be harder to beat, but I hate seeing the bully get the upper hand.

And Now For Something Completely Different

PIXAR-JURRASIC FART
My boys will love this one.



This is another cute video from Pixar.

Rivka's "Reflection on The Election".. So Far

I thought this cartoon would be a cute read for you all.

I have been reflecting on politics lately and so far there isn't much to get excited about on the GOP side since McCain is doing so well, and then I hear Duncan Hunter on the Neil Cavuto show say that he likes Huckabee and McCain. That was a puzzling statement coming from one of the most conservative. However, I hear a "1 political point for Hunter" bell in my ear on that one.

To put a nail in the coffin of my "hope" for a real conservative, I also heard that Fred Thompson is going to drop out and then throw his support behind McCain. Even though Fred would support McCain his track record is solidly conservative so that doesn't change my view as to whether he would be a good president or not. Supposedly, this time the rumor is accurate but who knows what or who to believe these days in politics. I choose to believe people like Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. They are the best four political pundits I can think of who are usually spot on.

One thing I have always known, but has been thrust on me even more this election, is that there is a lot of corruption in politics. There is a lot of pandering and jockeying for position, especially if you are an ex-candidate wanting a position in someones administration. Politics has little to do with virtue, and good solid ideology much anymore.

Bush said something that I used to struggle with, but understand a little better now. Whenever these shenanigans went on he would say that it is just politics and he would separate himself from it. I am glad Bush has risen above it all because it just makes him a better president and I am sure his integrity will make a big impact on his legacy.

My guess for the candidates to go into super Tuesday are: McCain, Romney and Gulianni. I forgot Ron Paul.. Who's that?

At this point Romney has the most delegates and he seems to be the most conservative of the three. If Thompson drops out, going into super Tuesday, my top two picks are Romney and Gulianni.

We will see what February brings!

Waterdeep

This is one of my favorite groups Waterdeep, doing a sing a long in their tour bus.
The song writer playing guitar, Don Chaffer, is really ahead of his time in the Christian realm. He is a great songwriter. This video is kind of dark so it is hard to see, but it is great hearing them in their natural state!

If you have a chance to get any of their albums you won't be dissapointed.

McCain or Bust?

I found this link on Real Clear Politics to an article on National Review Online.

Any real conservative who reads this will not find this to be...Let's say, encouraging:


Bizarro Goldwater?
McCain can win.
By Wynton C. Hall

Republicans have a decision to make: Do they want a Barry Goldwater–style bloodletting that sacrifices political victory on the altar of ideological purity? Or do they want to beat the eventual Democratic nominee come November, even if the candidate best able to do that is the dubiously conservative senior senator from Arizona, John McCain?

Barry Goldwater, the patriarch of the modern American Right — who was so ideologically untainted that he came to be called “Mr. Conservative” — drove the Republican Party off the electoral cliff in 1964, winning only six states and 38 percent of the vote. John McCain, the perennial sandspur in the conservative sandal, may be precisely what it will take for a post-Dubya Republican to win the White House.

I totally disagree with this. This is what concerns me about our party.

What say you?

Let me remind you via our founding fathers on what true conservatism means while you are considering agreeing with a 'who could win' decision. I found this on the Mark Levin website:



"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."-- Thomas Jefferson

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare but only those specifically enumerated."-- Thomas Jefferson

"[T]he powers of the federal government are enumerated; it can only operate in certain cases; it has legislative powers on defined and limited objects, beyond which it cannot extend its jurisdiction."-- James Madison, Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention [June 6, 1788]

...[T]he government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
--James Madison

"...the opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch."-- Thomas Jefferson

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.-- Benjamin Franklin

"No nation was ever ruined by trade, even seemingly the most disadvantageous."-- Benjamin Franklin, Principles of Trade, 1774

"Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread."-- Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, 1821

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer."-- Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."--Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it."-- Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 4, September 11, 1777

"The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If 'Thou shalt not covet' and 'Thou shalt not steal' were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free."-- John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, 1787

"To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."
-- George Washington, First Annual Message, January 8, 1790

"One single object. . . [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation."-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Livingston, March 25, 1825

"Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."-- John Adams, letter to John Taylor, April 15, 1814

"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Joseph Milligan, April 6, 1816

" I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it."-- Benjamin Franklin, On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor, November 1776

"The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril that their acquiescence shall be construed into an intention to surrender those rights."-- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia [1782]

Huckabee's Character Lately- Does it matter?

O.K. O.K. Let's get past Huckabee's liberal record, which the Evangelicals and I can agree to disagree on. Yes, I do agree that Huckabee has at times been unfairly attacked, and I give him credit on his social stances, but has anyone been observing his behavior lately?

My concern is that Christians are being hoodwinked by Mike. The Reason why I have that concern? I have been observing his interviews with the media and his reactions to his opponents lately; To put it bluntly, it just doesn't square with how he presents himself as a Christian. I am NOT writing this post to assasinate his character. That is wrong. I am simply writing from an objective view of what I have seen lately.

If you need proof, here is what I am talking about:

"When Huckabee pre-empted an attack on Romney's mormon faith: “If a person is dishonest in his approach to get the job, do you believe he will be honest in telling you the truth when he does gets the job?,” Mr. Huckabee said at a campaign stop in Osceola, Iowa, adding that he was escalating his attacks on Mr. Romney in part because of his disparagements of a third Republican rival, Senator John McCain, “an American hero". (Huckabee is violating a scriptural principle to not take revenge on others. This is lightweight, but keep reading on.)

MIKE HUCKABEE, FRED THOMPSON (Link) This is a conversation Huckabee had with Joe Scarborough after the debate in South Carolina:

"Huckabee: 'Fred Needs Some Metamucil.' (This was a snide comment toward Fred's person, i.e. making fun of his age, NOT his record or his politics. Fred was addressing Huckabee's record when he called him a Liberal. Huckabee stabbed Fred in the back. It was fueled by anger and to me this isn't something a Christian should do, and by the way it isn't something Bush would have done).

Huckabee, asked about Thompson going after him last night:

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Last night, now tell me what was happening. It certainly looked like Fred Thompson was doing John McCain's bidding. You know Fred, I love him, I served with him up in Congress, but he's been asleep for the last couple months. He woke up last night, and he had a hatchet, and he used it all over your head now. What's going on here?

MIKE HUCKABEE: That he did.

SCARBOROUGH: Why?

HUCKABEE: Well, I think Fred needs some Metamucil. I think it would help a lot if he gets some. You know, he was in a bad mood last night. (Does this tone concern you at all?)

BRZEZINSKI: Did he just say that?

HUCKABEE: But the truth is he's going to have to hope that this writers' guild strike ends soon. He needs some new lines, and he needs to get some good research. Because when he was out there calling me things like a liberal, of all the things I've been called that's a laughable line, that's gotta be one of the great ones. (Huckabee is an ex-Baptist Preacher and claims he is against dirty political personal attacks.. Well, is he?)

The Thompson campaign's response:

So Fred Thompson criticizes Huckabee's political positions, and Huckabee's response is...a juvenile personal insult? You stay classy, Huckabee. "

Another concern I have with Huckabee was his recent ad pulling stunt. This is a huge character red flag with me. I have watched the ad and Huckabee said that he approves the message. He is on the ad speaking against Romney. It was well rehearsed and well-done. He pulls it the night before it is released, then calls a press conference to tell the reporters he pulled it because he just couldn't put it out. It wasn't right.. O.K. I can understand he was repenting, but right after that he showed it to the media to prove it was an attack ad! He is not dumb, he knew the media would replay it over and over again.

IF you still don't get what I am saying, consider Bush as an excellent example of how a believer should handle personal attacks.

Bush was very gracious to his opponents and when he was debating Al Gore and Al walked in on his space, Bush never got defensive about it, and when asked in an interview He just laughs and says, "that's politics". He never assaulted Gore's character, and he has never gotten defensive about the endless attacks on him while in office.

Bush is a believer and a man of integrity, and DID NOT feel the need to talk about having integrity or "taking the high road".. Bush didn't have to talk about HIS integrity. Huckabee does and that in and of itself is another concern I have about him.

This is just some of the evidence I have come up with. There is more. I urge evangelicals to keep a close eye on him and how he responds from here on out if you want to make the best decision. Don't be deceived.

(Picture source)

David Jeffers

David Jeffers, the author of "Understanding Evangelicals" A Guide to Jesusland, gets noticed by the 'new media' as an evangelical not influenced by the current push among believers to get behind Huckabee.

David has the opportunity to be a major force within the Christian community to help believers understand that there is another candidate besides Huckabee who stands for what is right and is on the right side of mostly every issue we care about. David is seizing this opportunity, hence I wanted to do this post to bring attention to him, albeit in a small way.

Of course, he already has had some attention from Mark Levin, Michelle Malkin, The New Media Journal, Free Republic and Christian Newswire. I am sure he has had his posts on other sites as well.

David Jeffers is not only an author, but a lay preacher, a retired Army Master Seargent and father to a hero, Eddie, who recently died in Iraq and who wrote a moving piece about life in Iraq and how he feels regarding those who have slammed the war and how it has impacted him. Mark Levin showcased this letter and as a result David was asked to be on his show a few times.

The letter has gotten into the hands of several prominent people and David was even contacted by Nancy Pelosi via the phone! Although not moved from his stance against what the liberals such as Nancy have done, he was humbled by her call and very gracious to her. He has a great story on that phone call and Michelle Malkin picked up the story and posted it on her website.

Recently, Jeffers has endorsed Fred Thompson and of course I am thrilled! The piece he did on why he is endorsing Fred has gotten out to the evangelical community, but it would be nice if he were able to get it out in larger venues so that the Huckobites could hear why Fred is the better choice.

David is a really humble guy as I have had the opportunity to e-mail him a couple of times. He comes across as really sincere about his concern for our country and where we are headed. His blog is listed on my side bar. It is called "Salt and Light" if you are interested in checking it out.

I am amazed I was able to do this post because I am swamped with the responsibilities of being a wife and also a mom to four boys, but I felt compelled to do this for David and to continue to honor his son and what he and so many others have done for us.

I will end with David's son, Eddie's, letter and hope you will take the time to read it. Trust me, it will move you and thank God for our men and women who are sacrificing their lives for us and remember to pray for them and their families.



Sgt. Eddie Jeffers was killed in Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was 23.

I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others.

I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there.

There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not.

And to think, I volunteered for this...

And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.

But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.

I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.

People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward’s war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.

Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.

It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.

America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It’s not like World War II, where people rationed food and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a service member, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.

But it affects us. And when it is over and the troops come home and they try to piece together what's left of them after their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.

We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.

Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't.

Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news and let's stand and fight!

Isn't that what America is about anyway?

Sergeant Eddie Jeffers is a US Army Infantryman serving in Ramadi, Iraq.

Mark Levin on "McCain"

Mark Levin wrote a great piece on John McCain. This is a must read:

The Real McCain Record

Obstacles in the way of conservative support.

By Mark R. Levin

There’s a reason some of John McCain's conservative supporters avoid discussing his record. They want to talk about his personal story, his position on the surge, his supposed electability. But whenever the rest of his career comes up, the knee-jerk reply is to characterize the inquiries as attacks.

The McCain domestic record is a disaster. To say he fought spending, most particularly earmarks, is to nibble around the edges and miss the heart of the matter. For starters, consider:

• McCain-Feingold — the most brazen frontal assault on political speech since Buckley v. Valeo.


• McCain-Kennedy — the most far-reaching amnesty program in American history.


• McCain-Lieberman — the most onerous and intrusive attack on American industry — through reporting, regulating, and taxing authority of greenhouse gases — in American history.


• McCain-Kennedy-Edwards — the biggest boon to the trial bar since the tobacco settlement, under the rubric of a patients’ bill of rights.


• McCain-Reimportantion of Drugs — a significant blow to pharmaceutical research and development, not to mention consumer safety (hey Rudy, pay attention, see link).

And McCain’s stated opposition to the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts was largely based on socialist, class-warfare rhetoric — tax cuts for the rich, not for the middle class. The public record is full of these statements. Today, he recalls only his insistence on accompanying spending cuts.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, McCain was consistently hostile to American enterprise, from media and pharmaceutical companies to technology and energy companies.

McCain also led the Gang of 14, which prevented the Republican leadership in the Senate from mounting a rule change that would have ended the systematic use (actual and threatened) of the filibuster to prevent majority approval of judicial nominees.

And then there’s the McCain defense record.

His supporters point to essentially one policy strength, McCain’s early support for a surge and counterinsurgency. It has now evolved into McCain taking credit for forcing the president to adopt General David Petreaus’s strategy. Where’s the evidence to support such a claim?

Moreover, Iraq is an important battle in our war against the Islamo-fascist threat. But the war is a global war, and it most certainly includes the continental United States, which, after all, was struck on 9/11. How does McCain fare in that regard?

• McCain-ACLU — the unprecedented granting of due-process rights to unlawful enemy combatants (terrorists).


• McCain has repeatedly called for the immediate closing of Guantanamo Bay and the introduction of al-Qaeda terrorists into our own prisons — despite the legal rights they would immediately gain and the burdens of managing such a dangerous population.


• While McCain proudly and repeatedly points to his battles with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who had to rebuild the U.S. military and fight a complex war, where was McCain in the lead-up to the war — when the military was being dangerously downsized by the Clinton administration and McCain’s friend, former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen? Where was McCain when the CIA was in desperate need of attention? Also, McCain was apparently in the dark about al-Qaeda like most of Washington, despite a decade of warnings.

My fingers are crossed that at the next debate, either Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney will find a way to address McCain’s record. (Mike Huckabee won’t, as he is apparently in the tank for him.)—

Mark R. Levin served as chief of staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese in the Reagan administration, and he is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host.

The lives of Others- Rivka's review

I give this movie a 10. This movie is so well done. I highly recommend renting it not only just for entertainment but as a reminder of what the U.S. could become if we are not wise regarding who we elect in 2008. This isn't a movie for children to watch.

Hillary and Obama ARE socialists, plain and simple. Half of our country is walking on the far left side not realizing what it is they are buying into and who it is they are rallying behind to run our country. They have allowed the drive bys' to inundate them with lies about President Bush, the war in Iraq, and really how dangerous the Democrats' ideology has become.

The liberals in the nanny states like California are passing laws that remind me of some of the ridiculous laws residents have to abide by in this movie. California has begun the "cause and effect" process of becoming similar to East Berlin when it was the GDR. Those of you living in the nanny state NEED to see this movie.

Just remember folks, if you allow one personal liberty to be taken away, many will come after and all you have to do is just do the math. You will live in a nanny state very close to the kind of control the Stasis' had over the Germans in East Berlin. If we elect a socialist as president in 2008 that will be a huge step in this direction nationally as well.

Bloviating Zeppelin did a great post on this detailing some of the personal rights California has already taken away.

Watch this movie, you will get fired up even more to do all you can to make sure Obama or Hillary don't become the next "President Elect".

The liberals are already messing our country up with their nanny state laws, let's not let them take it completely over.

Picture source: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Fred Thompson Should Be Our Nominee.

Above are a couple of clips from the debate last night. As you have heard, Fred clearly won.

My concern is that there are conservatives out there who will vote based on "Who can beat Obama", or "Who can beat Hillary". I think that is a huge mistake and could cost us a great candidate who stands for the principles I thought we wanted.

We should vote for the candidate for his core and his core needs to be RIGHT. He needs to be a man of integrity who will do the right thing regardless of the cost to himself. I believe Fred is that man. He has always been that man, but he showed the fire in his belly last night and as a result was able to get his message out to all conservatives.

Hopefully, Fred made an impact, but after hearing the 'focus group' after wards, I am beginning to wonder. It was unbelievable to hear conservatives say they won't vote for him even though he won last night, and they liked what he said. Why? Because they don't think he can beat Obama! Whatever happened to us making good decisions for the RIGHT reasons.

I think Fred has what it takes, just give him time to prove it. Yes, he exposed his fire a little late, but why throw in the towel on him. He can whip Obama or Hillary easily because he is SOLID on his conservative principles and they are the right principles and if you are smart you can poke a lot of holes in what the Liberals believe because what they believe is totally flawed and bad for America, but it takes a true conservative to do that. If the messenger isn't solid, then he will stumble.

If we listen to the drive by's and elect McCain or Huckabee as our nominee, you might as well get used to the term: "President Obama".

"McClinton": The Argument Against McCain.

NEED I SAY ANY MORE?

It's all About Tears for the Liberals

Tears work for the average Kool aide drinking Liberal.

Hillary proved it via the election results in New Hampshire. Notice Bill was noted to have a tear during Hillary's "Come back girl" speech.

Speaking of tears; The gal who made Hillary cry with her question at the cafe' didn't vote for her, she ended up voting for Obama. Why? Perhaps for substance? Nahh, she voted for Obama because he made HER cry. Hillary better step it up and go beyond being more 'sentimental' to 'inspirational' or Obama will beat her.

Nevertheless, be prepared, Hillary is changing her whole m.o. now that she has seen that this crying thing works. After all, she did say in her speech that because of her supporters she has 'found her voice'. You probably won't hear much more of the anger thing anymore, but more of a 'feeling' Clinton.

Join us Tonight as the New Hampshire Results Come in!

Thanks to those of you who joined in with us tonight on the live chat, it was a blast.

If you cry, you have my vote!

I don't know about you, but I was completely shocked when I saw the Clinton machine at work and how people were taken in by Hillary's apparent showing of emotion.

Even Bill O'Reilly and his body reading expert claimed it was a sincere cry. It was a brilliant move by the Clintons. I would have fallen for it too had it not been for the timing of it.

I am sorry, but I don't buy into the sincerity of it all. I don't think it was a sincere cry on Hillary's part. How easy is it to break down into tears when everything you have lived your life for is falling apart. It doesn't show sincerity on her part for how much she cares about our country, but how upset she is that she could possibly lose this election.

Whether the crying was authentic or not, I believe it is an indication of the Clintons becoming desperate.

Nevertheless, there is one thing that I think bears more attention and that is how idiotic the left has become.

The liberals have always been 'emotional' voters, but it is really getting bad when you hear that a few of these women who were going to vote for Obama switched their vote to Hillary based on the fact that she cried. Come on!

Sometimes I think sharing this country with liberals is akin to a "parent-child" relationship with us being the parents. The Democrats are the black sheep of the family who don't know what is best for them. They are rebellious, make dumb decisions and end up hurting themselves and everyone around them. It takes us to set them straight and sometimes even pull them from the train wreck they are headed into.

I am deeply concerned that this upcoming election could be the one train wreck that we won't be able to prevent. If a Liberal wins, it will be the most damaging thing to happen to our country and we could very well be in a position to lose our freedom and our status as the super power.

This election must be decided on substance rather than emotion because of what is at stake. We have Alqaeda, but we also have Iran, Russia and China to be concerned about. By the way, I don't think Iran and Russia would be as emboldened as they have become had it not been for the left in this country softening our resolve and destroying our unity after 9-11.

Now our enemies watch with abated breath as we go through the process of choosing our next President. They are hoping we go for Hillary or better yet, Obama. If we do, they will make their next move and it will be big.

New Hampshire Debate: Fred Thompson and Rudy Gulianni the winners!

When ABC kicked off the republican side of the debate, they had a very biased clip about President Bush. I assumed the rest of the night would be a biased nightmare. I was wrong.

I have grown used to the drive by bias and I was able to put it aside last night because the layout and the questions were so good. I liked the way the questions drew out where the candidates really stood and how they were able to challenge one another.

I must be honest and say this upfront that I wish we had a George Allen standing up there, but as Rush would say, "It is what it is". We need to make a choice and I think we have some good candidates.

I was disgusted at how Huckabee laid into Romney right off the bat. It was really the way he did it, more than what he said. He was actually being kind of a jerk. When McCain railed Romney it didn't come off so bad because McCain isn't going around saying he is an angel while at the same time doing the evil deed he says he is against.

Nevertheless, some strengths and weakness' were brought out last night.

Fred and Rudy were the strongest in my opinion. McCain was strong as well, but I don't trust him based on his record and when ANY candidate says they are going to 'come together' with the Democrats to 'get things done' that concerns me.

I really believe Rudy when he says he is going to appoint strict constructionists to the bench. This sounds bad, but he convinced me last night because of his passion when he said it and when Rudy says he is going to do something, his record shows he does.

When confronted about illegal immigration Rudy didn't lie. He didn't twist it, but was honest about where he is coming from. I disagreed with some of it, but Rudy is honest and when a weakness is exposed he doesn't twist it around so you will agree with him. You get what you get when you listen to Rudy.

I preferred Romney's immigration plan, and it was great hearing someone say they need to go back and come in legally, but unfortunately it may be impossible to implement. I still like Romney. I am not sure about his health plan. It sounded good until Thompson challenged him about the income cut off and whether or not it is mandatory. Nevertheless, Romney's intelligence and his ability to debate issues is very good. However I must say that last night seemed to be 'pick on Romney night'. I got the sense that his peers didn't like him.

In the grand scheme of things whomever we elect as the Republican nominee will have to go against Obama or Hillary. After watching the Republican debate and most of the Democrat debate, we have much stronger candidates with very strong visions and experience. IF we pick the right person, we should be able to win every debate we have with Obama or Hillary. ( I think it is going to be Obama still, but we will wait and see).

Glenn Beck's first response after the Iowa Caucus'

"What would Jesus do?" Certainly not what Huckabee has done recently.

Glenn Beck, back from the hospital, points out exactly what I was saying about Huckabee. Yes, Beck is on pain killers coming off of a horrible experience with his surgery, but anyone with half a brain who has been observing Huckabee would come to this conclusion. I just liked the way Beck said it.

Iowa cont.

I don't have much analysis for last night because it wasn't a thrilling event for me. Obama was the big surprise and Huckabee was the dreaded "I told you so" by the pundits on t.v..

Bloviating Zeppelin gets the best guess award. He nailed it and guessed the winners! Great job! As a matter of fact, Blo has a great rundown of the nightmare of last night so I will defer to him. You must go to his blog and digest, I don't have much time or quite frankly the passion to work on it this morning.

I am hoping for the Republicans that last night wasn't a representation of all the voters in America. I was thinking the Huckasurge would end, but it could be gaining momentum. The good news for me is that Fred Thompson moved up and actually placed in third.

Nevertheless, we true conservatives must move on to bigger and better states. We will see if the Huckster is able to keep his momentum or if Fred continues to rise from the ashes.

JOIN US!

The chat room has been shut down for the Iowa caucus results. Thanks for being a part in this with us, it was a lot of fun!

George Bush- Man of the Year.. or Decade to be Accurate

I found this on American Thinker:

Man of the Year: President Bush
by Christopher Chantrill

Think about this for a moment. Who is the one individual who has made the biggest difference in the world in the last year?

That's the main criterion that Time magazine uses when selecting its "Person" every year. To quote, Time editors choose:

the man, woman, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that "for better or for worse, ...has done the most to influence the events of the year."

The answer is pretty obvious. It is President George W. Bush. He is not just Man of the Year. He is Man of the Decade. Whether it was the contested election of 2000, the response to 9/11, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the "mess in Iraq," and the surge, the guy in the middle was President Bush. Whether it's the success of the 2003 tax cuts, the mess of No Child Left Behind, or the gigantic expansion of Medicare, the go-to guy is President Bush.

But of course, our objective journalist friends in the mainstream media would die rather than give President Bush the time of day. They figure that by making him "Person of the Year" in 2000 and 2004 they have eaten their broccoli. As composer Richard Strauss said:

"Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them."

We certainly wouldn't want to encourage President Bush, now, would we? He might decide to go off and invade Iran.

Many conservatives would like to nominate General David H. Petraeus as Man of the Year, as a reward for commanding a successful "surge" that even the prophetic Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) failed to see in the stars. There is no doubt that General Petraeus' head should be crowned with laurels.

We should remember that it is presidents that appoint generals, and that normally it takes a couple of years of war to find the right general. As often as not, he's commanding a division at the beginning of the war. Think Montgomery, Rommel, Manstein.

Some war winners start even further back in the officer corps. Ulysses S. Grant began the Civil War recruiting a company of volunteers. Eisenhower was a one-star general at the start of World War II. General Petraeus went into Iraq in 2003 as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division

It was Lincoln who picked Grant, Roosevelt who picked Eisenhower, and Bush who picked Petraeus. Let's give credit where credit is due to the president that hired the general.

The astonishing thing about President Bush is that, pace his critics, he has not presided over a White House bunker mentality. He has not held onto policies inflexibly without ever changing strategy when he needed to. He did not go into Iraq without a plan for the aftermath. He did not refuse to face up to his mistakes.

What he did do was to formulate a grand strategy in the aftermath of 9/11 and coolly execute it while all around him everyone started losing their heads over quagmires, blunders, mistakes, intelligence failures, "domestic spying," and civil wars.

When things went wrong and -- earth to liberals -- they always do go wrong all the time in any serious endeavor, President Bush changed his strategy. That's how you do things in the world of grown-ups as opposed to the adolescent world of taxpayer-funded liberal sinecures.

Conservatives are disappointed in President Bush. He hasn't advanced our program of reform as far as we would have liked, and we grumble that Ronald Reagan would have done better. We probably underestimate the achievements of Bush and overestimate the legacy of Reagan. We may come to recognize that Bush didn't do too badly, given the hand he was dealt and the ferocious opposition of the Democrats to any reform of their entitlements.

Sensibly, President Bush has not wasted his troops in fruitless attacks against the entitlement citadels. Indeed, after the skirmishes of the last few years it may be time for conservatives to mention the "R" word, and take the advice of the Duke of Wellington: "to know when to retreat, and to dare to do it."

It takes daring to retreat because it exposes you the scorn of the armchair generals back home. Every army needs time to rest, retrain, and re-equip before a new advance.

That is for the future. For now, in this season of conservative discontent let us appreciate that in President Bush we have a leader who, while lacking the charm of a matinee idol, does not lack for courage, fortitude, coolness under fire, and a willingness to play "big ball."

Yet all of his achievements and mistakes thus far may count for nothing. This holiday season the ship of state is tossing in a perilous mortgage meltdown. Will President Bush manage to navigate the economy through the narrow channel between the Scylla of credit collapse and the Charybdis of ruinous inflation?

If he fails, his name in history will connect with that failure, as Carter connects with Stagflation and Hoover with Depression.

If he succeeds, we'll remember President Bush, Man of the Year, for something else.

Christopher Chantrill is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. See his roadtothemiddleclass.com and usgovernmentspending.com. His Road to the Middle Class is forthcoming.

The argument for Fred

"Evangelicals",

Fred is on the right side on many biblical issues including finances and illegal immigration. Huckabee is clearly on the wrong side of these issues and has shown he is questionable regarding his own personal integrity on other issues. Be careful, Huckabee is great at explaining away his poor decisions.

Huckabee is on the right side of abortion and marriage, but that is it. Fred was endorsed by the National Right to Life. I don't understand why more of us aren't backing Fred. Is it just because he hasn't claimed to be a Christian? How do we know he isn't, and even if he isn't should we pull the lever just because a candidate claims to be a Christian or goes to church? We pulled the lever for Carter and he was a disaster.

We aren't the judges of people's hearts so when it comes to the presidency we have to rely on their actions and their records regardless of their faith. Fred's record says it all. He is a Reagan conservative.

Fred was totally misunderstood when he stated he wasn't excited about campaigning. He meant he isn't power hungry and out for the office to serve himself. He is running because he loves his country and wants to champion the conservative principles as they were during the Reagan era. Fred is comfortable in his own skin and HAS NOT had a 'negative' campaign and he DOESN'T need to get on t.v. like Huckabee did to prove it either. That only solidifies the fact that Thompson is a man of integrity.

While I must admit that Fred does need to be out there more, I admire him because he is not willing to totally sacrifice his family due to a heavy campaigning schedule and he doesn't like the games politicians have to play to win. Some see this as not fighting hard enough to obtain the presidency and that would suggest that he would not fight hard while in office to further the conservative agenda. It also suggests that he may not be as strong fighting the war on terror. I disagree. I think his attitude about campaigning has nothing to do with being lazy. Lazy people tend to flip flop quite frequently on their views to make it easier to win, but the man who is steadfast on his views is pretty strong.

I just think Fred hates sleezy politics and how these days winning requires saying whatever it takes to pull in voters. He wants to serve the people, not himself and he is passionate about doing what is right to keep America free.

That is why I am confident that voting for Fred is the right thing to do.

The Huck, taking the high road?

Huckabee's 'inner man' is beginning to be revealed... That is the good news.

Here is my take on the latest news conference where Huck's intention was to convince the media and the world that he is a man of integrity, as opposed to the evil mormon Romney, by pulling a negative ad against Romney that was supposed to air in Iowa Yesterday at noon.

"He spoke at a dais in front of a huge banner that said, “Enough is Enough.” Placed around the room were poster boards criticizing Mr. Romney for various things." (Source)

Huckabee Thinks the posters trashing Romney are o.k., but not the commercial?

"At the end of the ad, Huckabee again makes the point that Romney’s attacks on him have been “desperate and dishonest.”
“If a man’s dishonest to obtain a job, he’ll be dishonest on the job,” Huckabee says in the ad."
(Source)

Unbelievable! Huckabee is doing a little projection of himself on to Romney. In my opinion, Huckabee has revealed that he will be dishonest on the job. What is most interesting is that he is doing exactly what he told Bill O'Reilly he doesn't like. He told Bill that the one thing that bothers him is when Christians don't walk the walk, they just talk the talk.

Huckabee really proved he has some Huckster in him. I am just amazed that he was foolish enough to actually try to deceive us this way.

This man can not win the Republican nomination.