Will we stand for liberty?

There is a battle raging in this country against people of faith. The Housing and Human Services (HHS) mandate in Obamacare calls for all employers to offer healthcare insurance that covers free abortifacients and contraception. Hobby Lobby Stores along with Catholic Institutions have come out against this mandate as an assault on their first amendment right to freedom of religion. Hobby Lobby is wholly owned by the Green family, who are evangelical Christians. Hobby Lobby submitted a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency injunction against this mandate, but were denied Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. An attorney for Hobby Lobby Stores said Thursday that the arts-and-crafts chain plans to defy a federal mandate requiring it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill, despite risking potential fines of up to $1.3 million per day.

The mission statement of Hobby Lobby includes the following:

The foundation of our business has been, and will continue to be strong values, and honoring the Lord in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. 

Jeannie DeAngelis of The American Thinker says this about the decision to defy the mandate:

Despite facing millions in fines, the non-compliant Hobby Lobby and Mardel Inc. CEO and founder David Green refuses to surrender the companies' religious convictions. Green has said he'd rather abandon the business. A $2.2 billion-a-year company that is willing to close its doors rather than compromise its core principles? Now that's impressive.

This is a test - Are we willing to fight for religious liberty?

Regardless of our personal beliefs regarding contraception and abortion, this behavior by our federal government should give every liberty-loving American pause. If we allow the government to force businesses to act against their religious beliefs in this one case, where will it end? Isn't this precisely the reason we have the religious liberty protections afforded to us in the Bill of Rights?

It is hard to communicate these religious principles to abortion-advocates, but I will attempt to make it easier for those who are confused about the Hobby Lobby stance to understand how the Greens and other people of faith are so unwilling to subsidize abortifacients.

Imagine a law being passed that you must pay for your employees to kill their children. That you must not only condone the killing of these children, but you must actively participate in their killing by providing the weapons (free of charge) to facilitate the killing. Imagine that you are being forced to provide these weapons by federal mandate.. and if you deny that mandate, you will be forced into bankruptcy.

The Greens believe that abortifacients are killing instruments. Whether or not you share this belief, should we not tolerate this belief in America? Nearly 55 million abortions have taken place legally in America since 1973.  People of faith who believe abortion is murder have been forced to live in a society that condones the practice of abortion. Now they are being forced to participate by providing abortifacients to their employees?

Now is the time for every liberty loving American, regardless of their personal stance on abortion, to stand up against this tyranny. This over-reach of the federal government is a gross violation of their Constitutional authority. If we don't take a stand now, we can be sure that more unconstitutional federal mandates will follow.

Take a stand with Hobby Lobby on January 5th 

by participating in the Hobby Lobby shopping day.

Write your senators and representatives voicing outrage 

over this unconstitutional over-reach:

Addresses for Senators and Representatives

Educate your friends and family about this issue by sharing this blog post and other articles explaining the Hobby Lobby story.

We must not rest until this is made right. If Hobby Lobby is forced out of business by the federal government, other businesses owned by people of faith are sure to be targeted next. Don't stand by as our liberties are being destroyed. Stand up and fight to preserve the rights of American citizens and businesses. Our rights come from God; it is our government's duty to honor and protect those rights. When our government fails to secure our rights, we are obligated to stand up against it.

These are the times that try men's souls...

“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”

Boy, have times changed since those infamous words were first penned by Thomas Paine. Our Country was going through the last days of agony in a battle to free us from the clutches of tyranny. The hapless American soldiers of the American Revolution were not equipped with the best weaponry, in fact, many didn't have warm clothes or shoes to wear in the brutal winter battle at Trenton. The number who deserted far outnumbered the brave souls who stood with General George Washington. The British soldiers were far better equipped and were confident they would crush the rebellion. The patriots who fought then probably assumed they would never come out of the battle alive, but they pressed on regardless. The misery these men endured will likely never be fully appreciated.

I am in the middle of reading a book by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen entitled To Try Men's Souls. This is a work of historical fiction that is based upon real events surrounding the battle at Trenton. The characters developed in this novel give new meaning to what life was like for those who fought to establish this nation. I find myself tearing up often as I imagine what they must have been thinking as they pressed on in a battle that everyone said was hopeless. The phrase give me liberty or give me death was more than just hyperbole .. it was their anthem.  Many men died, but the ones that pressed on in spite of the most ridiculous odds achieved one of the most glorious victories in human history. They established the first nation on earth that was governed by ordinary men, that valued liberty, acknowledged that rights come from God Almighty alone and that it is the duty of government to preserve, protect and defend those rights.

We've come a long way since that battle in Trenton. As a nation we have grown disengaged, lethargic and somewhat selfish. None of those characteristics were common among the American survivors at the battle of Trenton. In fact, any one of those characteristics would have resulted in certain defeat.

The people during the time of the Revolution were very engaged in the public debate. Conversations in the home centered around this new government they were forming. Arguments about exactly how this new form of government should be organized were taking place between working class people from every profession. There was no cable-television or radio, so people were limited to the news received by word of mouth, pamphlets and newspapers. In spite of this, people in this country were very knowledgeable and engaged in the affairs of government. Perhaps more so than at any other time in this nation's history. Seems strange since news is so readily available in this 'information' age.

A sad reality is .. that a very small percentage of our citizenry today is knowledgeable or interested in government. They take for granted that everything they've come to expect from government will always be there. If they look at history, they would know that few governments survive over the long term. We are heading into dangerous territory.. and many of us are unaware of the fragility of this system.

The system of government we have in America today barely resembles the one set up by the founders. The size of the country alone means that the number of those working at the federal level to represent us are each 'representing' a huge number of people compared to the numbered they would have represented at our founding. We've capped the number of representatives for logistical purposes, but what we haven't done is put in safeguards to assure that the government is held accountable by we the people.  One person being sent to Washington, D.C. can represent millions of voters back home. That was unfathomable by our founders.

We have little discourse about governmental affairs in homes anymore, and decisions about what laws are crafted and passed are left to professional politicians. Most of us assume that politicians will 'do the right thing' and ignore all those crazy extremists who suggest that the legislation being crafted and passed is undermining the Republic  Maybe we don't believe politicians always 'do the right thing' .. but believe that the system will survive in spite of bad laws.

But, they are both wrong. We are a nation of laws. Our entire system of government rests upon one founding document along with various amendments to that document .. that is our United State Constitution. If you read our Constitution and then examine the sorts of legal decisions handed down and laws routinely passed today (and unconstitutional executive orders), you'd see little of what goes on in government is remotely similar to what is described in our Constitution. We keep creating new 'roles' for the federal government that were never even imagined by our founders under the pretext of 'helping' people. But what we are not understanding, is that the Rome Republic followed a very similar path.  The Roman Republic collapsed when it ignored its laws and traditions and began to do more things and promise things to curry favor with voters. The cycle ended with tyranny under Julius Caesar. Are we headed for a similar fate?

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the brave men who fought at the battle of Trenton. They gave up everything to secure this nation for us. Many even gave their lives in defense of an idea of freedom. We wake up every day in the greatest and most free nation on earth, yet most of us take it for granted. We can't afford to take it for granted anymore. Our liberties are slowly being dissolved. The Constitution is being ignored and those who favor a continued weakening of our Constitutional government in favor of a European-style socialism are growing in numbers and influence inside our government.

Complacency is no longer an option. We may not have to sacrifice our lives to restore this nation like the brave souls at Trenton, but we are not going to be able to sit idly by if we expect a change in course. The time is NOW to speak out and begin the hard work of restoring what is left of this Republic. These are the time that try men's souls.  Are you up for the battle?

People who live in glass houses...

The election is over and conservatives are still trying to make sense of the election results. Why do we still have the same balance of power in Washington, D.C. after the election?  How did so many incumbents keep their jobs when the economy is so bad and the fiscal cliff is looming?  There are several issues being raised by conservatives that have me thinking. Maybe it is time for us to look inward and get our own house in order .. before we start championing candidates for the 2014 mid-terms.

You should vote straight-ticket GOP  

The GOP promotes straight-GOP ticket voting habits (of course) because it increases the likelihood of their candidates winning in races that are competitive because of the coattails of other GOP candidates on the ballot. This increases the power of the GOP in government. Many who call themselves conservatives believe this is a laudable goal, but I disagree. Voting straight-ticket sends the message that we are choosing the party to govern us, not the candidates who happen to be in that party. It does not allow for voters to hold incumbent candidates accountable for their voting records while in office.  It perpetuates the status quo .. keeping incumbents in office (even when they are doing a lousy job).  91% of representatives in the U.S. House were re-elected (this is with a 9% approval rating). Could it be that every single Republican on the ballot is the best option in an election cycle?  Perhaps .. but voting without thinking by clicking 'all Republican' is never what our Founders intended when they gave us this government of 'we the people'.

The exact same behavior happens inside the Democratic party. The Democratic Party has a full-on propaganda campaign against Republicans at every level.  Republicans are being painted as racists, crazy, intolerant, and haters of working men and women. The number of voters choosing to vote straight-ticket-Democrat has risen because of this demonizing of the GOP. I heard a complaint this week from a Republican voter about Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Democrat), who was easily re-elected earlier this month after being on medical leave (for months) for treatment of bipolar disorder and other medical issues. Jackson is also facing multiple legal problems, including a reported federal probe into possible misuse of campaign funds. The GOP voter lodging the complaint said that the only way Jackson got re-elected was because "the democrats don't even care who the candidates are, they all just vote straight-ticket-Democrat."  Ironically, this GOP voter cast a straight GOP-ticket.

People are too dependent on government

The number of people on food-stamps in this country has skyrocketed. Government programs are now giving away free birth-control, free cell phones and free or reduced-cost housing. The list goes on and on of the benefits the government is handing out with plans to include even more give-aways in the future. I hear complaints from conservatives daily about how more Americans are growing lazy and unproductive and blame these government programs for our decline as a nation and for bankrupting this country.

But what about us? How many of us are currently accepting some sort of hand-out or assistance from the Federal Government? I currently have a FHA loan on my house. Could I have afforded a conventional (more expensive) loan? probably. If I am going to lambaste these government programs, perhaps it is time to refinance this house into a conventional loan.

How many of us are taking advantage of some federal program that cost taxpayers money? If we aren't willing to give up the freebies or benefits we currently enjoy, how can we expect to convince a majority of voters to do that in 2014? ...or 2016?

The mainstream media is in the tank for Obama

This is probably the one that angers conservatives the most. The Benghazi scandal has been totally mishandled by the media. Liberal news outlets have been openly promoting Obama since he first came on the scene. Mistakes made by this president have not only been glossed over by the mainstream media, but it appears they are actively covering up his mistakes. There is really no excuse for their behavior .. and I believe it has permanently damaged the little credibility that remains with the legacy media.

But what about conservative news?  Weren't the majority of conservative 'news' outlets openly campaigning for Romney during this last election? Even most of the new media blog sites had jumped onto the Romney bandwagon. If we are going to be pointing fingers at a liberal mainstream media that is producing propaganda to prop up their dear leader, then we had better not turn around and do the exact same thing!

It is time to put our house in order. Perhaps another four years of Obama is the motivation we need to turn ourselves into better citizens before the next election cycle rolls around. We can't afford to stay on this path to tyranny and destruction. The only way we can restore the America that we love is if those of us who are willing to tell the truth will lead the way in practicing what we preach.

A Survey of the Wreckage ...

Well, the votes have been counted (if you want to call it that), and it appears that we will have another four years of destruction and despair courtesy of our commander in chief. The lamenting within the conservative movement and the GOP is ongoing, which isn't unexpected. Fingers are being pointed in every direction. The establishment is blaming the tea party, the liberal media is saying Republicans are too conservative to govern, some even suggest that the balance has tipped and those taking from the government now out-number those paying the taxes, but I suppose I have a different view of the landscape.  Here is my summary of the debacle of the GOP in this year's presidential race.

What was missed by all the political elites in this election cycle is just how poorly Romney was playing within the conservative base of the Republican party. I am sure the talking-heads chalked up all those nasty speeches about Romney emanating from Gingrich as Santorum as pure political bluster. Could it actually be that those messages had a ring of truth to them?  Was the GOP establishment ignoring the cries from the conservative base because they just wanted to continue to believe their own lies?

So what exactly was so bad about nominating Romney as the standard-bearer for the GOP?  He was, after-all, a really nice guy. Romney had the cash, the organization, the GOP birthright by being the 'next in line'.  He was well groomed, articulate, handsome. He had the business credentials that would appeal to the Wall street execs.  He had a lovely family, a beautiful wife .. and honestly the Romneys looked just like those family portraits you see adorning the frames in the gift-shops.  Well I am sure I'll incur the wrath of all establishment types and their minions, but I am not about to shut up now.  If we don't learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.  Oh wait, I forget..  the GOP nominated McCain in '08.  Perhaps Republicans will  never learn.

Here are the top 5 reasons Mitt Romney was destined for failure as the GOP nominee:

Nobody trusts a serial flip-flopper

When a person changes positions on one or two issues, that is evolving. When they change positions on every core issue, sometimes in mid-sentence, that is called spineless. Romney was everything to everyone .. which means he was nothing to everyone. You have to have a set of core principles that guide you. If voters don't sense that, they don't trust you. Even with Obama's incessant lying, he still beat Romney on trust, because regardless of what actually happened during the last four years of the Obama administration, no one doubted that Obama deep down was an uber-liberal. I'm still not sure what's at Romney's core.

Nominating Mr. 1% plays into the liberal narrative

When the liberals talk day and night about how the Republican party is nothing but a bunch of uppity elite super-rich white men, it isn't exactly genius to nominate a man who fits that model exactly. Romney is very white, very rich, and very out of touch with the average Joe. He also was a great target for incessant ridicule online. The constant stream on Google + and twitter about how "Romney only cares about his rich friends" was repeated day and night for months. No matter how Romney might have felt in reality, his resume' provided all the liberals needed to keep that story front and center. Democrats did a good job making sure that was the message heard most often about Romney.

Isn't Mormonism a cult?

The fact that Mitt is a Mormon is a touchy subject. Even bringing up the topic is like throwing a grenade. Well, the election is over, and Mitt lost. I can't help but believe that there were Christians who were very uncomfortable voting for a person who is not a Christian. I know of few (actually none) of my Christian friends who believe Obama is Christian. But, at least Obama professes that he is one. I am not sure how these individuals who had an issue with Mitt's faith voted; perhaps they stayed home.  Not having the enthusiastic support of evangelical Christians is a disaster for any GOP nominee. Evangelicals make up one of the largest block of campaign workers. Now, there were plenty of evangelicals working on Romney's campaign, for sure, but there are reports that up to 21% of evangelical Christians voted for Obama. One has to wonder how Mitt's faith played in the hearts and minds of Christian voters.

Nobody wants to drink a beer with Romney .. er coffee... er ..?

Romney isn't a pal.  He comes across as very sophisticated and 'proper' .. but that means he comes across as stuffy and unapproachable by the average voter. The sad truth is, few voters actually vote for leaders based on issues, they choose who they like and trust.  The race for the presidency is the biggest popularity contest of them all.  If you don't look good, sound good, and seem like a person who is 'fun' to be around, there is a large block of voters who will never vote for you regardless of your stand on the issues.  We live in an 'American Idol' culture where everything is based on who is likable.. not who is most talented.  We have to face it, the only way a Republican is ever going to win, is if they are liked by people who have no knowledge or interest in politics. Hmm, I wonder if Tim Tebow is interested in running?

Ignoring the Tea-Party is really NOT so smart

The final nail in the coffin was dissing the tea-party. Sarah Palin was not invited to speak at the GOP convention in Tampa. Some say.. "well, there were other tea-party types speaking so the GOP embraced the teaparty in Tampa", well..  I say hogwash. There is little doubt the elites inside the GOP have great disdain for the teaparty. They continue to blame Sarah Palin for the loss in 2008. They believe (wrongly) that the teaparty is dragging down the GOP. What about 2010? Did they forget how the teaparty brought in new faces and brought the GOP back into power in the House of Representatives? The teaparty increased the GOP margin in the Senate? And this is how the GOP thanks them? ..being dismissed, dissed, disrespected? The teaparty was railroaded at every turn by the GOP establishment during the nomination process to get the 'anointed' Romney into position while continuously ridiculing those candidates who would challenge him. Did the GOP party bosses honestly believe these people who had been treated so poorly would turn around and campaign for their candidate?  Sadly, many did, and, in my estimation, some of those people lost a lot of the passion that once made the teaparty movement so powerful. But, many more decided to reluctantly go along, or just stay out of the Romney campaign altogether (I was in the latter group). If the elites think they can win without us, then by all means, they should be given the opportunity to try. I guess we see how well that worked out. The teaparty is all that is left of Reagan's conservative coalition. If the GOP succeeds in stamping out the movement, it will be the end of the GOP. The elite succeeded on one front. They have definitely soured much of the teaparty on the GOP.

This election is over. I am sure the pundits will be talking about this race for many years to come. Calls to 'moderate' and be more 'reasonable' will be the talking points to the GOP inside the beltway. Hopefully someone with good sense can break through the elite narrative to knock some sense into these people before we lose the whole country. Perhaps it is already lost.

Dignity Destroyed

There was a time in America when our politicians put the integrity of our government above politics. That day is long gone. Now political viability seems to dictate nearly every action taken by those in leadership. The action taken, or lack thereof, by the Obama administration in Benghazi is the most recent episode where decisions were made not based on what was best for American citizens, but what was politically expedient for our president.

When did our political leaders begin to destroy the integrity of our government?

During the presidential election of 1960 there was a very close race between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Charges of voter fraud were rampant in Illinois and Texas. The vote in these states gave a narrow margin of victory to the eventual winner, John F. Kennedy, but most agreed that the presence of voter fraud in both states likely tipped the balance in his favor. Many in the Nixon campaign thought he had a good case to make that the outcome of the election would have been different absent the voting irregularities in these two states. But, in spite of clear evidence of voter fraud, the advisers closest to Nixon recommended he accept the outcome of the election in the name of preserving our democracy. And so it was .. John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President of the United States.

In June 1972, a break-in occurred at the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The perpetrators worked on behalf of a fund-raising group for President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign. The subsequent cover-up by the Nixon administration led to his eventual impeachment by the House of Representatives, and this was likely to be followed by a conviction in the Senate. Many of those close to Nixon suggested that he fight the battle in the Senate to remain in office, but Nixon believed his resignation was necessary to preserve the democracy. And so it was .. President Richard Nixon resigned the office of the presidency in 1974 and Gerald Ford was sworn in as our 38th president.

My how these two episodes differ from the politics of today.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice because of his failure to testify truthfully about a scandal involving an illicit affair with a former White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. Clinton's run-in with a special prosecutor, Ken Star, began over allegations of sexual harassment by former government employee Paula Jones. During sworn testimony about these allegations, President Clinton lied about his Lewinsky affair which led to his impeachment. Unlike Nixon, Clinton was determined to fight the battle in the Senate and in 1999 fifty out of one-hundred senators voted to uphold the charges filed by the House. This was below the two-thirds threshold required for conviction, so Clinton was acquitted.

Many thought that it may be in the best interest of our democracy for Clinton to resign his office not only because of his impeachment in the House, but because of his behavior in the Lewinsky affair. The scandals that plagued Clinton were an embarrassment at home and abroad. But, in spite of this, those within Clinton's inner circle and President Clinton himself stubbornly refused to entertain the idea of resigning. Thus began the destruction of our integrity.

In 2000, we had a very close election between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush for the office of the presidency. The race was so close, in fact, that the votes in just a few counties in the state of Florida determined the outcome of the race. On election night, the vote totals, as reported by the election commission in the state of Florida, gave George W. Bush the edge and the 25 electoral votes needed to seal the victory. Initially Al Gore made a phone call to George W. Bush to concede the race, but after campaign staffers alerted Gore to the close counts in several counties in Florida, Gore made a second phone call to rescind his concession. Thus began a long battle in the courts that eventually landed in the Supreme Court on December 12th who decided in favor of George W. Bush. And so it goes .. George W. Bush was sworn in as our 43rd President.

Many thought that it would be in the best interest of our democracy for Gore to initially accept the outcome of the election. In fact, there was great concern that the controversy would undermine the integrity of our electoral process both here and abroad. But, in spite of these concerns, Gore pressed ahead with the legal challenges that delayed the outcome of the election for over a month. A subsequent recount that had been demanded by the Gore campaign showed that Bush had an even larger margin of victory in the disputed precincts.

Now we come to the latest Benghazi scandal.

We find out this week that our government officials sat idly by while American citizens were being murdered by Al Qaeda terrorists in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012. Even though calls for reinforcements had been requested weeks in advance and calls for help occurred during the attacks, it appears the Obama administration made the decision not to intervene, but to allow the violence and killing to continue for several hours. Ironically, a mob, that was initially blamed for the killings, took a severely injured ambassador Stevens to the hospital where he would later die. As our ambassador lay dying on the ground in Benghazi, our government made no attempt to save him. Many others were killed and injured during the attacks, but thanks to the heroism of two former Navy Seals (Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods), at least thirty victim's lives were spared. Sadly, the two Seals lost their own lives as they worked to save others. According to the father of one of the Seals, these men disobeyed orders to save lives. Why would anyone order these Seals to stand down?

Many think that the decision to not send help to the victims of the Benghazi attack was to avoid political fall-out because of the presidential election coming up in November. Some thought that fighting terrorist attacks would force Obama to admit he'd done little to stem the growth of Al Qaeda. Perhaps they were afraid to showcase conflict in the middle east during the election season .. or perhaps intervening in the Benghazi attack would indicate that the toppling of Qaddafi had not been handled correctly by the Obama administration. Whatever the reason, there doesn't seem to be any legitimate reason for refusing to aid American citizens under attack.

The dignity of the office is no longer respected by our elected officials. In order to preserve their own political skins, politicians will say and do anything to hold onto power. It is time for us to look more closely as the character of those we choose to lead us. Politicians who are willing to undermine our entire system of government to cover up their own failures are destroying this country. We need to choose honorable people to lead us again, before we have nothing left to lead.

Conservative Voice Network

The Great Awakening?

In America, we find that most people are unaware of the workings of their government.  This is in spite of the 24/7 news cycle and more access to news and information than at any other time in our nation's history.  

What accounts for this lack of interest and knowledge in governmental affairs?

We have grown complacent as a people. Much of this stems from the endless stream of entertainment news that permeates our days via radio, internet, and television. I suppose it is more enjoyable to follow the antics of the Kardashians than to keep up with what President Obama and members of Congress are doing and saying. Most Americans avoid news stories about governmental affairs. And, to make matters worse, the news media as a whole has ceased reporting 'news' and has decided to create 'news' that furthers their own political agenda. Citizens may be unaware of what is going on, but most agree that the media really doesn't present unbiased information anymore.  The bias has grown so deep and so pervasive, that even those who are not regular consumers of news have become skeptical of what they are seeing in mainstream news coverage.  Newspapers, political magazines, cable and network news broadcasts are seeing record low viewership.  American's are tuning out. This is a dangerous time to be out-of-touch with the news of the day.

There is one bright spot in the world of journalism, and that is the rise of independent news reporting. Americans of all types are turning to the blogosphere to find out what is going on in the world.  Many bloggers spend all their time promoting an agenda, but many news stories would never have seen the light of day if bloggers didn't push those stories out via social media. This is a new day in journalism, because news consumers now have to discern between fact and fiction. They have to turn to a variety of sources to read all sides of a story, but perhaps this is a good thing. Sitting back and letting the mainstream media direct a narrative and shape our thinking must end if we intend to preserve this nation.  It may take a bit more time and patience to learn the facts today, but perhaps this is the first time in our history that we actually have the facts, because we are not being spoon-fed the news by an elite few.  

This places a great deal of responsibility on the shoulders of citizen-journalists who choose to participate in news-gathering. We can not assume that most people hear about what is going on in this world anymore. With hundreds of cable TV channels to choose from, few American's choose to watch news coverage daily.  Many American's never stumble across much of the relevant news stories online either, because Reuters and The Associated Press (who are the primary sources of news for most news agencies) are also pushing a liberal agenda. It is our responsibility to search out and report the news of the day and share all sides of these stories. It may be a clumsy endeavor, but I contend it may the best way to reach the masses with the real news. 

The next time you are on Twitter, Facebook or Google+, extend a thank you to the friends of yours  who send out links and report on news stories of the day. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to spread these news stories. Few of these individuals receive any reward for their efforts. They do it because they love America and feel a duty to inform fellow citizens of what is going on and what is at stake in this country.  I thank God every day that we have the freedom to inform and be informed about what is going on in the world.  Let's not take that for granted. 

Let's help usher in the great awakening in America.  It is time for every American to see what is going on around them. We must share the truth to those who are not paying attention and encourage everyone who cares about the future of this country to get involved and stay informed.

Are Liberals Bailing on Obama?

 

 The reaction to Obama's poor debate performance took me by surprise. Prior to the first debate, I had become convinced that the verdict by the mainstream media and liberal Hollywood was predetermined.  That is, no matter how badly Obama performed, Obama's loyal subjects would step up to proclaim him the victor. But something quite interesting happened.. I think Obama's poor performance opened the eyes of some of those in the land of the liberal.  Could it be they are finally seeing what has been obvious to conservatives all along?  ..That Obama really isn't a gifted orator, that he doesn't know how to defend his liberal policies, and that he doesn't know the answers to most of the questions that face this nation?

I've gathered together some of the more interesting negative reactions to Obama's debate performance from traditionally liberal quarters for your enjoyment.

Chris Matthew's Epic Meltdown

Al Gore blamed the thin air



Jon Stewart - Slamming Obama (and Romney)

Saturday Night Live Poked Fun at 'Distracted Obama'

Bill Maher actually Criticizes Obama - Warning: Very Salty Language

Michael Moore tweeted his disapproval

He couldn't say ANY of these words: "47%" "BainCapital" "FlipFlop" "Bush" "Detroit" "Women(&women's issues)" Fire all debate consultants now
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 4, 2012 

Is Bill Clinton coming in to sub for the next quarter? O! Wake up! Attack! That is not john McCain over on that podium!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 4, 2012

Wow, so finally, we all agree.  Obama didn't perform well in the debate.  Now if liberals will just open their eyes and see that Obama hasn't done any better in his presidency.

The Cat's Out of the Bag ...

Well, it looks like the Democrats finally slipped up. The war against Christians and Jews waged by liberals has been denied and dismissed by those in Democratic leadership and in our mainstream media for a very long time. But apparently, someone forgot to tell the delegates at the Democratic National Convention this was supposed to be a secret, because today they actually boo'd GOD and JERUSALEM when an amendment to the party platform was introduced to reinstate the words 'God' and 'Jerusalem is the capital of Israel' to the Democratic Party platform.

Guy Benson's report at Townhall.com sums up the chaotic scene...

We wrote about the extreme 2012 Democratic platform this morning, noting that it excludes God and Jerusalem, yet includes taxpayer-funded late term abortion.  Even the media found these decisions slightly unusual, leading to a noisy chorus of criticism that eventually built to a critical mass.  The decision was made to uproot the platform and undo the controversial language and omissions.  The problem?  The platform was formally adopted yesterday.  Democratic officials couldn't just quietly tweak the document behind closed doors; they had to put the modified platform up for another vote.  When they did so, chaos erupted.  In three separate voice votes, delegates were asked whether they supported the inclusion of God and the recognition of Jerusalem in their party's guiding policy document.  Three separate times, loud shouts of "no" grew in volume and intensity.  A flummoxed Chairman Villaraigosa ultimately just declared that the "ayes" had it -- even though multiple reports indicated that the consensus was nowhere hear the requisite 2/3 majority.  As God and Jerusalem were inserted back into the Democratic platform, the hall exploded in boos -- a humiliating disaster for the party.  The stunning video:

Are people of faith and Israel supporters listening?  Even some DNC delegates were astonished and disturbed by that spectacle, which is guaranteed to find its way into GOP attack ads.  Every last Democratic candidate for office -- at every level of government -- should be asked where they stand on these issues, and whether they'll repudiate the large element within their own party whose hostility toward the Almighty and our great Israeli allies was on full display at their national convention.  

This episode raises a very important question: How can a follower of Jesus support a party that is so hostile to His gospel?   Until this moment, I suppose it might have been possible to deny that many in the Democratic party held such offensive, controversial views about Christianity, Judaism and religion, but doesn't the scene in this video remove all doubt that this hostility exists?

I think it's time for those who are still hanging onto the Democratic party to wake up and realize it is no longer the party of Kennedy and Carter .. it has morphed into something far more dangerous. 

November is just the beginning ...

This weekend marks the start of the Republican National Convention in Tampa. The delegates are coming into town, bloggers and news media are setting up to broadcast the speeches and events, and the coronation of Mitt Romney as the GOP nominee will soon commence. Notably absent from speaking roles at the GOP convention are Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and several other stalwart conservative warriors, much to the dismay of the tea party faithful. The absence of these voices is a lesson to all of us ... November is just the beginning.

The primary battle for the GOP presidential nomination was brutal. It does appear that the fight was never particularly fair as conservative media outlets and party elites jumped into the Romney corner early on, which was just what the party bosses ordered. But, no matter, that is water under the bridge at this point. As much as many of the Newt Nation faithful and Ron Paul Revolutionaries are still holding out hope for some sort of miracle in Tampa, it's become pretty clear that the stage is already set for November. We're going to be seeing a battle between establishment candidates for the presidency. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, has been blacklisted by conservative media and ignored by the liberal mainstream media, so it is looking less likely that he will emerge as any real game-changer in November. But, I am still in Gary's corner at this point, and will remain there. My mission goes well beyond this election season, and that is because my mission is to shine light on the two-party system that is controlled by elites and has distanced our government from the voice and will of the people. I will continue to educate and sound the alarm. Casting my vote for either major party-establishment-player, in this case, is just contributing to the status-quo.. so, for the first time in my life, I'm going rogue.

As grassroots conservatives, we have a huge battle ahead of us, and it isn't just happening at the top of the ballot on November 6th. Regardless of who occupies the White House, we will have to work like never before to demand that our elected officials listen to us and not to their political advisers and party bosses. As our debt clock is now approaching $16 trillion for the first time in history, we are seriously looking at what could be the beginning of the end of life as we know it here in this country. A credit downgrade from one or more credit rating agencies is not only possible, unless something very substantial and dramatic changes in the way that our government spends our money within the next few years, it is inevitable that a downgrade will occur. We have sequestration, the end of the Bush-era tax cuts, the insolvency of Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security, sustained high unemployment, and we have a growing number of states facing financial collapse (California being an obvious example). We don't have time to ignore the failings of those who are 'in our party'.. we have to call out big-government progressives in both parties from day one of the new congress. 

The number of Americans who have become dependent on government is at an all-time-high. According to the 2010 Census data, 48.6% of Americans lived in a household receiving some sort of government benefit. Logically, when that number exceeds half the population of this country, we could begin to see people revolt against the government. Clearly those receiving these benefits are increasingly likely to vote for candidates who promise to keep those benefits in place. As the takers outnumber the makers, deficits will spiral, debt will grow, and the entire system will break down as the dollars needed to foot-the-bill for these ever-increasing government outlays are stretched thinner and thinner. Civil unrest will increase, people will begin to hide/hoard their money. Our already weak economy will grind to a halt. Simply put, the status-quo is unsustainable.

The Tea Party is the last best hope for this nation. There is much that conservative warriors can do to stem the tide of fiscal disaster in this country. We must wrestle control of our government away from the party elites and put it back into the hands of common-sense, patriotic, educated, grassroots conservatives. Here are some things we can do:

• Seek out and support candidates down ballot in November who support fiscally conservative policies, and who are not puppets of the party establishment

• Vote in November. But, first be sure to educate yourself on every single race on the ballot and choose candidates who support Constitutionally conservative principles, are laser focused on our fiscal situation, and are least likely to be controlled by the party elites. 

• Contact your elected officials routinely with calls, emails, letters and even personal visits to their offices in Washington, D.C. Demand a hearing, and make your voice heard.

• Stay connected to the army of grassroots conservatives who are fighting day and night to stop our out-of-control government. Join in the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social networking sites. Read the conservative blogs, and even start your own.

• Learn all that you can about our situation, and educate everyone you know about what is going on inside our government. 

• Above all, never, ever, give up. This country is far too precious to give up without a fight.

Chick-Fil-A is not a 'distraction from real issues'

This week I had an interesting exchange with a follower on Google+ about the recent Chick-Fil-A news story. I am sure you've heard about the Chick-Fil-A saga ad nauseum, so I'll not repeat it all here. What this Google+ follower intimated was that the Chick-Fil-A story was a distraction from the 'real issues' we should be talking about. That got me to thinking .. is it really? Aren't the core issues surrounding this Chick-Fil-A story some of the most fundamental principles of our Republic?

America has undergone a rather dramatic shift in thinking about religious liberty since the time of our founding. A good friend I follow on Twitter, Terry Sigmon shared this video with me yesterday. What an eye-opener...

Would Dan Cathy have received public ridicule if he had made those 'controversial' statements about traditional marriage during the founding of this country?  Of course not. Only a few years ago, our own president indicated his religious faith was the foundation of his own position on traditional marriage:

Mayors in several cities are threatening Mr. Cathy.. insinuating his business is not welcome in their communities and that building permits would be denied. The blasting of Christians and conservatives in our mainstream media is relentless. Christians are being called haters, intolerant, and worse. Liberals who disagree with the Christian stance on traditional marriage are boycotting any business that does not openly embrace the same-sex marriage ideology.  So what happened over the past few years to cause large numbers of our citizens to rise up to criticize long-held believes on traditional marriage and religious liberty? Could it be that we are relinquishing our religious liberties in America to try to 'fit in' with popular political culture? Isn't that the very purpose behind our first amendment, to protect the freedom to worship as we choose and express our faith openly?

Another peculiar twist to this story is how the same people who are blasting Christians for their stance on traditional marriage have openly supported building a mosque at a site that is only a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center disaster. Their argument? .. that we should be tolerant of different religious faiths. I don't suppose they realize the hypocrisy in this position, considering that Muslims reject same-same marriage, too. Muslims not only condemn the practice of homosexuality, the punishment for this 'crime' is death. Why the double-standard? Is Christianity the only faith that is no longer accepted in our political culture?

The Chick-Fil-A saga should be a warning signal to every American. We are entering unprecedented waters in our battle to retain our liberties. Our founders were wise in giving us the First Amendment to our Constitution to protect individuals who hold different views from the majority. If our political leaders ignore the Constitution and allow business owners to be targeted by the government simply because they openly express their religious beliefs, we are headed down the path to religious intolerance and tyranny.  Freedom of speech is not just the freedom to agree with the majority.

Grow the economy .. by soaking the rich?

This attack on the rich and business by President Obama and other liberals is the cause of this economic malaise we find ourselves in. There is zero data to support the types of policies that Obama espouses, and plenty of data that show raising taxes on the top earners in America results in reduced hiring, reduced tax revenue for the government, and a reduction in overall economic activity.

Here are four case studies you can research:

John F. Kennedy


John F. Kennedy dropped the tax rate on top earners 15% and reduced corporate taxes 5%.  The result was an increase in the amount of money flowing into the federal treasury. Economic activity boomed after the tax cuts went into effect.

– John F. Kennedy, Nov. 20, 1962, president’s news conference
“Lower rates of taxation will stimulate economic activity and so raise the levels of personal and corporate income as to yield within a few years an increased – not a reduced – flow of revenues to the federal government.”

The State of California

California was facing a budget deficit in the early 90s and Gov. Pete Wilson raised taxes in 1991 to cover it. But, this increase in taxes did not result in a corresponding increase in revenue to the state treasury; the result was a decrease in revenue in 1992-93 (down 2.1%) and again in 1993-94 (down 2.1%). Only after the tax hikes expired in 1994-95 did the state see an increase in revenue to the state treasury. California provides a rich history of bad tax policy that has resulted in years of budget deficits. Ironically, in spite of this history, Governor Jerry Brown is once again proposing a tax hike on the rich to cover his states deficit woes. We now see some of the fallout in California for decades of punitive tax policies. California is swimming in red ink, and the wealthy (along with their businesses) are moving out of that state in record number.

President Jimmy Carter


Our economy during the Carter administration was a mess. Marginal income tax rates on the wealthy were at 70%. Although Carter had campaigned for office on a platform of cleaning up our tax system, he never suggested that the tax rate of 70% on the wealthy was one source of our economic woes. Carter also increased the capital gains tax rate 10%. This along with an energy policy that rationed the sale of gasoline and other ill conceived policies led us into a deep recession.

President Ronald Reagan


Ronald Reagan dropped the tax rates on the wealthy from 70% to 28%. Not only did Reagan lower taxes on the wealthy, he simplified the tax code in general and reduced taxes on businesses. During Reagan's presidency the unemployment rate dropped from 10% to 4%. The dramatic changes in tax policy under Reagan ushered in the second longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history. Interestingly, revenue into the U.S. treasury increased; the revenue continued to increased until George H.W. Bush increased tax rates in 1990.

It may make liberals feel good to soak the rich, but all the data we have and the historic precedent indicate that tax hikes on anyone, particularly the wealthy and business, only hurt Americans of all income levels by slowing down our economy, increasing unemployment and making it more expensive to live and do business here.

This video shows that soaking the rich to bail us out of our economic problems and our budget woes is more than not effective, it isn't even possible...

Rome is Burning

Edmund Burke once said, “Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” We find ourselves at a crossroads in America. Is this the beginning of the end of the government set up by our Founders?

I've been reading a book called Preserving Democracy by Elgin L. Hushbeck, Jr., and it's been quite educational.  The chapter about the rise and fall of the Roman Republic describes events that are alarmingly similar to those we see in our country today.

The Romans were pretty wise people. They set up a form of representative government with similarities to our own American republic. In the Roman Republic, citizens were governed by two consuls (which were elected annually by the people) and a senate. They developed a complex constitution that focused on separation of powers and checks and balances.  Theoretically, since each elected consul could only hold office for one year, this would preclude any one individual from having too much power over their fellow citizens.  There were ongoing struggles inside the Roman Republic between the patricians (aristocracy) and plebs (ordinary citizens) that resulted in an erosion of the power held by the aristocracy and an erosion of the checks and balances within the government that held the Roman Republic intact.  Over time, the system could not be maintained as the rule of law was replaced by the rule of man, and the Republic crumbled as Julius Caesar assumed power. The intricacies of the government of the Roman Republic are too complex to fully describe here, so I would recommend doing some research online or reading Hushbeck's book to learn more.

So what happened in the Roman Republic that caused its collapse?  What can we learn from their mistakes? Here are a few of the key factors that led to the demise of their form of representative government. We would be wise to learn the lessons of Roman Republic and return to the government laid out by our Founders in our Constitution.

The Ruling Elite and Birth of Populism

The aristocracy in Rome held most of the highest offices in the land. The senate was comprised of elites exclusively, and although the plebs had a voice in government, their power had been quite limited in reality. For the most part, order and peace were maintained for a long while in Rome, but slave labor used by the elites was driving plebs off the land and into the cities because they could not compete with the wealthy land owners for jobs. Unfortunately, even in the cities much of the work was being done by slaves leaving plebs with few jobs. In order to deal with the lack of jobs held by the plebs the rulers in the Roman Republic set about attempting to solve the problem by making numerous promises to them. The focus on the law was replaced by a focus on individual politicians. Populism was born as those voting began choosing leaders who would promise solutions to problems, even if those promises were not in accordance with tradition or law, and even if those promises would never be realized.

Moral Decline

As the politicians worked to curry favor with those voting, the immorality among the citizens and government was on the rise. The sexual immorality that existed inside the Roman Empire is legendary, but it got its start during the Roman Republic. The slaughter of slaves for entertainment was common as the leaders entertained the masses to appease a growing number of citizens who were out of work and out of hope. Children were not valued in the culture of Rome and reports of abuse were common. Some Romans believed themselves divine while others worshiped Greek gods, but their forms of religion did not translate into personal morality or responsibility. Marriage was on the decline and cruel treatment of slaves was pervasive in Rome.

Rapid Expansion and Mob Rule

Military conquest was a hallmark of Roman society. As wars were waged, the Republic expanded in size and the defeated enemies were turned into slaves. As the Republic grew in size and population... the infighting within the government grew. Senators used partisan politics to keep power within the elite class, while the populists looked to the lower classes for support. This divided the people and classes into warring factions. For nearly 100 years, the climate was anything but civil. As time went on, the Roman citizens began to elect leaders who would put an end to many laws and traditions, in spite of the fact that this erosion would inevitably lead to the loss of their voice in government entirely in the Roman Empire. The politicians would not be truthful with the people because doing so would lead to certain defeat (sometimes death!). The mob was in control, if you could call it that.

What are the parallels?

The elite run this country. The number of people in power that are wealthy and very well educated far out-number ordinary citizens.

Immorality is on the rise. Over 54 million babies have been aborted in America since 1973.  Marriage is on the decline as couples choose to cohabitate or post-pone marriage.  Homosexuality is becoming more accepted and Biblical principles are rarely a guiding force in crafting public policy or in the personal behaviors of our citizens today.

Mob rule is showing up at Occupy Wall Street events as police are faced with an ever increasing number of violent protesters who destroy public and private property. Politicians promise voters the moon to get elected and then fail to deliver on those promises. Those casting the votes are kept in the dark about how the government is really operating, and more voters now support policies and programs that rob them of their tax dollars and their liberty.  Additionally, the very programs that are intended to help the poor are creating an ever increasing underclass of people who are dependent on these government programs.

The rule of law is being replaced by rule of man as our president issues executive orders and unilaterally decides which laws will be enforced.  Our Department of Justice is suing a record number of states because they are passing laws that do not conform to the ideology of the ruling party. This usurpation of power conflicts with the sovereignty of the states as laid out in our Constitution.

The Solution

The Tea Party rose up in America in reaction to Obama's Affordable Care Act. The size, scope, and expense of this new government program (dubbed Obamacare) is unprecedented in American history. These grassroots conservatives began to realize the tyranny of the elite was robbing us of our most basic rights. Tea Party conservatives have begun educating themselves and teaching others about the workings within our government; they have begun the work to restore our nation to the principles laid out by our Founders in the Constitution.

The fact that these ordinary citizens are not rising up to request benefits from the government is unprecedented as well. Unlike the mob rule in Rome, these citizens are wanting less government assistance and more personal responsibility. Most of those involved in the Tea Party movement are common citizens without wealth or power.  They realize that if we don't stem the tide of government spending, we may not have an America left for our children. The only solution to our problems in America is for the citizens of this country to turn back to God who gave us life and liberty ... and to do the job entrusted to us by our Founding Fathers. We must assume personal responsibility for our actions and for our nations problems. We must choose leaders and support policies that hold to Constitutional principles. We must insist our leaders value the sovereignty and liberty of the individual, even if that means losing some of the comforts of government assistance that have been put in place over the years.

The solution is not easy. Convincing people to give up benefits they enjoy will be a long struggle, but it is a battle we must win if we want to avoid the same fate as the Roman Republic.

News you can trust?

The last few days I have been analyzing the news coverage of the massacre at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight at a theater in Aurora, Colorado and it has occurred to me, conservatives are under assault by the mainstream media like never before. We have been and will probably continue to be the target of malicious lies and rumors by those who have a liberal ideology. The bias by the mainstream media against conservatives is not a new phenomenon, but I would offer that the wholesale attacks that are now taking place are much more widespread and have risen to a whole new level. Quite frankly, it is frightening.

On Thursday, July 19, 2012, in Aurora, CO James Eagan Holmes walked into a movie theater dressed in protective clothing, set off smoke or gas canisters and shot into the audience with multiple firearms, killing 12 people and injuring 58. Hundreds of reports of this incident are circulating on the internet, so I will not go into more detail here. 

What concerns me about this incident (besides the despicable nature of the crime itself) is the shockingly bad judgement of those in the media reporting on the event, who in their zeal to target conservatives and promote their liberal agendas began putting out the following 'reports'...

Brian Ross of ABC News wins the prize for worst offender.

On the Saturday version of the NBC Today show Michael Isikoff filed a report: "the powerful National Rifle Association has blocked any move for stricter gun laws," and that people will have to settle for "beefed-up security and greater vigilance," as if the NRA were preventing people from being safer.

The Associated Press, once thought of as a bastion for unvarnished truth, puts out this piece filled with language that clearly illuminates a liberal mindset:

Calls for gun control stir little support
By By DAVID ESPO and NANCY BENAC

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gun control advocates sputter at their own impotence. The National Rifle Association is politically ascendant. And Barack Obama's White House pledges to safeguard the Second Amendment in its first official response to the deaths of at least 12 people in a mass shooting at a new Batman movie screening in suburban Denver.

Once, every highly publicized outbreak of gun violence produced strong calls from Democrats and a few Republicans for tougher controls on firearms.

Now those pleas are muted, a political paradox that's grown more pronounced in an era scarred by Columbine, Virginia Tech, the wounding of a congresswoman and now the shooting in a suburban movie theater where carnage is expected on-screen only.

"We don't want sympathy. We want action," Dan Gross, president of the Brady campaign said Friday.

CNN's Piers Morgan dedicated a good portion of his Friday program to promoting his gun-control ideology:

And this is what constitutes journalism today? I am not so bothered by the fact that these individuals and organizations have a particular point of view that differs from my own, but it is alarming that they are planting seeds in the mind of the public suggesting this is the only viewpoint that is viable. Most concerning is that these news outlets allow a story that the killer in Aurora was a crazy right-wing tea party member, a story that was put out there to disparage conservatives. How many individuals saw the subsequent retraction and apology by ABC? I doubt most viewers ever saw that .. and the idea remains that conservatives, particularly tea-party conservatives, are deranged killers. We saw a similar rush to judgement in the Gabby Giffords shooting by liberal media outlets.

The lesson from this story is .. you can't trust the mainstream media. We must be on our guard and diligent in sharing the conservative viewpoint to the public, because we now know we can not trust the mainstream media to hold to any reasonable standard of journalistic integrity. As Sean Hannity has been saying for quite some time now: "Journalism, as we once knew it, is dead"