Lyndon Baines Johnson and the 1957 Civil Rights Act

LBJ was one of the best and cagiest politicians and presidents America has ever known.  He was a consistent racist and fought Civil Rights legislation, but as the Republican president and war hero Dwight Eisenhower  pushed the 1957 Civil Rights legislation Johnson became convinced he needed to throw African Americans a bone, not unlike modern day Democrats who keep blacks on a short, tight leash.  Today he is hailed and admired for the 1964 Civil Rights Act.  And children are not taught an accurate version of U.S. history.  To the victor belongs the archives, as we librarians say.

"These Negroes, they're getting pretty uppity these days and that's a problem for us since they've got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we've got to do something about this, we've got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference. For if we don't move at all, then their allies will line up against us and there'll be no way of stopping them, we'll lose the filibuster and there'll be no way of putting a brake on all sorts of wild legislation. It'll be Reconstruction all over again."

Johnson was recorded on a White House taped (and saved) conversation claiming, “I’ll have them niggers voting Democratic for the next two hundred years.”  How true and perceptive.

http://www.fdfny.org/blog/2011/09/18/these-uppity-negroes-lbj/

The new flag of the left

Obama’s campaign is selling the flag on the right—the red stripes sort of resemble the bloody finger prints on the wall of the compound in Libya where our ambassador and 3 other Americans were killed.

Saturday Night Live plugs Obama

Just so I'm clear, the Middle East is in flames over Obama's policies there, the ambassador to Libya is dead along with three other Americans, Obama is finally called out on his broken promises, lies and horrible policies and SNL is in non-stop attack mode on the Romneys? Really?—Joe Pags

Just another Chicago politician

Dr. Conrad Worrill is an African-American educator, activist and former radio talk show host on Chicago's African-American-oriented station WVON. He told the Examiner that Obama was an inspirational speaker who moved people. But in the end, he became just another Chicago politician.

"His rise in politics, his trajectory in politics has led him to make adjustments in his political decision-making. And that's the case with many politicians. So he's no different from many others in that regard. He's a politician," Worrill said.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/chapter-vi-the-poor-people-obama-left-behind/article/2508422

If you could go back and interview your 2008 self

He never counted, but it was very profitable

“Unlike some of the other speakers, I have never been involved in a large-scale abortion mill, a business (and it is a business, don't kid yourselves) that was set up for the sole purpose of performing abortions. My experiences are perhaps a little more universal in terms of obstetricians and gynecologists in the country who were trained to do abortions during their residencies and then continued doing so as a part of their private practice, but not even the major part. Certainly it was never a major part of our private practice.

My partner and I, however, were relatively important in the Albany area for one infamous fact, which to this day I regret. Our group was just about the only group that was performing late abortions, D&E procedures, Dilatation and Evacuation. And we received referrals from all over the area in our part of the state from not only just the doctors in Albany and Schenectady, but from neighboring counties 70 to 80 miles away. We had a lot of patients.

I've never actually counted. I'm glad I can't say that I'm responsible for 50,000 plus abortions, but I know I've done hundreds of the procedures, and that's direct, hands-on involvement, as Mr. Scheidler said, with the forceps in your hand, reaching into somebody's uterus and tearing out a baby.

People ask, why do doctors do abortions? Many of the reasons have come out already, and I am going to amplify them. It's profitable, a lot of money in it! One way to make abortion less available is to make it unprofitable, and there are probably a lot of ways you can do that. . .

In my practice, we were averaging between $250 and $500 for an abortion, and it was cash. That's the one time as a doctor you can say, either pay me up front or I'm not going to take care of you. It's totally elective. When a woman comes to me and is pregnant, and her husband's lost a job, and maybe their insurance isn't in effect, we won't turn her away. But when somebody's going to have an abortion, it's an elective procedure. Either you have the money or you don't, and they get it.

You can go in on a Monday morning, do three or four abortions (the procedure itself doesn't take five or six minutes), clean up the room, make room for the next patient, put her in. I'll be out of there in two hours; be out in time for lunch; nobody's going to call me at night; and I almost never, never have to worry about her lawyer ever bothering me. And I'm going to make the same amount of money as if I did one delivery with all those months of work [for a live birth]. Now, who's the fool? The ProLife obstetrician or the abortionist?”

http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimonies/1127-testimony-of-dr-anthony-levatino---former-abortion-provider

Scroll down for a link to a video where he demonstrates an abortion using a fetal model.

Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson created the problem

There has never been a politician smarter and more sly than Lyndon B. Johnson who as senator in 1954 is the one who stuck this trick into the tax code, to keep some non-profits from campaigning him. Before that, churches were not 501C3 organizations. However, even though churches use the tax code as their reason for NOT speaking out against abortion or same sex marriage and other issues even those on the local scene like bond issues, I personally think it is the collection plate they fear.

This is why it’s important to read the bill, Nancy.

This will never happen

Paula Priesse fantasizes a bit now that Romney has shown his tax records showing 30% for charity.

“Mr. President, your party has falsely accused me of not paying taxes. I have proven otherwise. Since you brag about being the most transparent administration ever, Americans demand to see your college transcripts! NOW!!!”

Me too, Sister (editorial by Sister One of 2 Sisters on the Right)

As the Presidential election approaches, and we see that the polls show the candidates to be either neck and neck or with a variance of one or two points we, wonder how this could be possible. President Barack Obama has proven himself to be inept, unprepared for the presidency, and above all he has a background of socialist indoctrination. His family, his mentors, all taught him to resent capitalism and to embrace Socialism.

As someone who grew up in the United States of America enjoying all the freedoms guaranteed by our United States Constitution, I am baffled, astonished, bewildered, that so many Americans seem to have accepted and support the tenets of socialism which are so opposite to our values as a constitutional republic.

The War on Poverty has created dependency which in turn creates poverty which creates. . .

War on Poverty began January 1964.   Birth control pills were  introduced in the early 1960s which increased the need for abortion which became legal in 1973. 

Let’s make it easier for military to vote; harder for dead and illegals.

“Military members and their spouses have long faced challenges when they vote. Unlike many Americans, military families are constantly on the go moving from one duty location to another. The frequency and unexpected nature of these moves have increased as our men and women in uniform have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. For most military families, if they have any hope of voting, they are forced to navigate a confusing state absentee ballot process.

Unfortunately, most military families do not successfully navigate this process—a fact repeatedly evidenced in recent elections. In 2008, for example, less than 20 percent of 2.5 million military voters were able to request and return their absentee ballots and have that ballot counted. In 2010, that number dipped to 4.6 percent.”

http://www.heroesvote.org/

Family Friday Photo—Third Cousins once removed

About a decade ago Jeanie decided to research her roots, and discovered the George family of Pennsylvania from which I am also descended.  Her great-great grandfather Cornelius and my great grandfather David were brothers and both settled in Illinois.  Their sister Mary Anne lived in Iowa in the mid-19th century,  and in the 1990s her granddaughter wrote a huge family genealogy.  Jeanie’s family wasn’t in it, we think because her grandmother married outside the culture, and we knew nothing about her branch of the family tree.  But we’re all connected now, in part because of the internet which makes things much easier.  I had some family memorabilia from Cornelius’ family (the woven blanket, pottery from the 1840s, 1850s) and a pastry wheel from the early 19th c.  that was made for Mary Knopp George, a Danner descendent, the brothers’ mother.  So I gave them to Jeanie and she has two small museums in mind for them. We had such a delightful day together looking over old photos and comparing notes.  She’s a much more determined genealogist than I am and actually goes to historical sites, cemeteries, and court houses—and to distant cousins several states removed.

The Food Stamp King

The 1996 Welfare Reform was working. More people had jobs; the government got more taxes; families had more hope. BUT. That made fewer people depending on the government, and for Obama that was bad, so he changed the definition of work. The Congressional Research Service, not Fox News, not Rush Limbaugh, found that the number of able-bodied Americans on food stamps exploded following changes to the work requirement by the Obama administration.

Thank you, Mitt Romney, for drawing attention to the culture of dependency. Romney's 47% comments offended some conservatives because those on Social Security and Medicare have already paid for those benefits, but the fact remains, the direction we're going is unsustainable.

What did you do to fight for America?

David Webb writes:  “Someday my child may ask me ... Dad what did you do to fight for America? My answer will begin with, I took a stand, I took action as best I could, I brought others to our righteous cause, I wanted to be able to answer your question.

             

What’s a little crime among Democrats?

TEN-TERM Congresswoman Maxine Waters? Her ethics charges are being dropped by the Democratic leadership of the HOUSE. She didn't MEAN ANY HARM WHEN SHE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT to advocate for loans for the bank where her husband is on the BOARD OF DIRECTORS. But her Chief of Staff, who is also her grandson, might be in a little trouble.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444032404578010142825845284.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The Ethics Committee paid the lawyer $1.3 million—that’s our money.  If a Republican has his foot over the line in the men’s room, he’s history.  She gets to steal . . .

We could use Calvin Coolidge today

Obama demeans and criticizes the successful—except the crony capitalists and celebrities who are contributing to his campaign.

Liberals can mock Mormons, not Muslims

Why the double standard? It's OK to mock Mormons, to even attend the play, but Muslims need TLC?

The Book of Mormon—a performance of which Hillary Clinton attended last year, without registering a complaint—comes to mind as the administration falls over itself denouncing Innocence of Muslims. This is a film that may or may not exist; whose makers are likely not who they say they are; whose actors cl aim to have known neither the plot nor purpose of the film; and which has never been seen by any member of the public except as a video clip on the Internet. No matter. The film, the administration says, is hateful and offensive (Susan Rice), reprehensible and disgusting (Jay Carney) and, in a twist, disgusting and reprehensible (Hillary Clinton).

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304388004577528931414701856.html?mod=opinion_newsreel

Vote for Mitt

And you are serious about voting for this?

The creepy cultic Obama flag

I’m not going to post a scan of this flag.  It’s too insulting, too narcissistic to be believed.  There’s no penalty for no patriotism, no common sense, no decency.

The United States Flag Code, which clearly states in part:

The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq). This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with it. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.[1]

This etiquette is as applied within U.S. jurisdiction. In other countries and places, local etiquette applies.

The flag must not be marked with any insignia, letter, word, signature, picture or drawing [like the Obama logo].

I’ve seen one photo which uses the bloody fingerprints on the wall of the Libya murders against the stripes of this flag. Sickening.

The 47% flap

“According to an informal, unscientific, online poll (enough qualifiers?) on the mainstream outlet CNBC, 76% actually agree with Mitt Romney’s comment, and are not shocked in the least about its import. We can’t draw too many conclusions from just this one online poll, but it backs up the initial reaction of some that the left’s initiation of this debate is actually a good thing.”

http://www.ijreview.com/2012/09/16633-cnbc-poll-75-agree-with-romneys-47-comment/

Swoon

Democrats, please respond

One billion in false claims?

After the housing collapse some of the same "community" organizations that pushed unqualified people into unsafe loans and took a cut from the top, then got government grants to help the same people with preforeclosure and refinancing. This article doesn't give enough information, but remember little ACORNs continue to grow under new names.

Washington Post story here.

Some ACORN members were encouraged to stay in their foreclosed homes. http://socialistworker.org/2009/02/05/taking-on-foreclosures

http://www.guidetolenders.com/adjustable_rate_mortgage/articles/foreclosure_help_mortgage_lenders_join_forces_with_non_profit_groups.jsp

http://www.acgov.org/cda/hcd/documents/mls_foreclosure_resources_for_homeowners.pdf

I’ll do what I can to clean up Obama’s mess

because I love you!

Real help for the poor is on the way!

"The American system of limited government and free enterprise has done more to help the poor than any other economic system ever designed. We don't want to replace that. We want to renew and revitalize that." Paul Ryan

A good summary of Democratic voters

On September 5, Namaste an African American blogger I've been following for years decided to look at some liberal blogs after watching the convention. Sounds like the Romney tape that Jimmy Carter's grandson turned up. "As Americans, we're gonna just have to agree to disagree. The victims, the saviors, the martyrs and the entitled citizens on the left are so deeply entrenched in their beliefs about this country, all I can say is God bless. No speech, no editorial, no news story is going to make a smidgen of difference between now and November."

It’s the “saviors” that drive me whacko.  They don’t even see how they are hurting people.  Just as long as they get their jollies—that’s all that matters.

http://myvoiceonthewingsofchange.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-race-is-on.html

Abby Johnson, pro-life advocate talks to a pastor

She’s a former Planned Parenthood worker, now trying to lead other women out of this cesspool. She wonders why more is not said in churches about life issues.  I’ve been a member of our church since 1976 and have never heard a word about abortion.

Abby: I grew up in a pro-life Christian home, but I never once heard my preacher talk about abortion.
Pastor: I preach about abortion every year during Respect Life month and the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.
Abby: It’s not enough. About 70% of women who have abortions come from the church.
Pastor: But Abby...really...how often do you think I should be preaching about abortion?
Abby: I don’t know, but I will say that when I worked at Planned Parenthood, it was not uncommon for a woman to be holding a rosary or Bible in her hands while she laid on the abortion table. So you tell me, how often should you preach about abortion?

From her FaceBook page.

Does the term "drinking the Kool-aid" come to mind?

I guess we know who Democrats are listening to--the MSM and their echo chamber friends on FaceBook. It worked with youth in 2008.  Pew Report:  "Just 15% of Democrats say recent economic news is mostly bad, down from 31% a month ago and among the lowest percentages over the last four years. Six-in-ten Republicans (60%) say news about the economy is mostly bad, as do 36% of independents."

What happened in just a month?  The lies told in Charlotte is the only thing I can think of.  None of the numbers have changed.

http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-pdf/9-11-12%20Econ%20News%20release.pdf

Holder needs to go . . . forward his mail, too.

“Internal Department of Justice emails obtained by The Daily Caller show Attorney General Eric Holder’s communications staff has collaborated with the left-wing advocacy group Media Matters for America in an attempt to quell news stories about scandals plaguing Holder and America’s top law enforcement agency.

Dozens of pages of emails between DOJ Office of Public Affairs Director Tracy Schmaler and Media Matters staffers show Schmaler, Holder’s top press defender, working with Media Matters to attack reporters covering DOJ scandals. TheDC obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/18/emails-reveal-justice-dept-regularly-enlists-media-matters-to-spin-press/#ixzz26x3PyciY

The choice is clear, redistribution of your wealth or free enterprise

George Soros donates millions to Obama’s cause to bring down our nation

Soros, who spent $27 million trying to defeat President Bush in 2004, has ties to more than 30 mainstream news outlets – including The New York Times, Washington Post, the Associated Press, NBC and ABC--that could account for what you Democrats are believing—your  news sources are screwed up.

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/05/08/george_soros_hes_all_in_for_obama_in_2012

The brown savior with Muslim ties in 2008 is being burned in effigy in 2012

Man of the World

“Flash forward to 2012, and his brown face is being incinerated in effigy on several continents, while mobs of hysterical Muslims shout death to his African name. George W. Bush never saw such an outbreak of fury. If an Iraqi once threw a shoe at President Bush, this is an entire store full of footwear. The man of the world found the world turned against him. What in the world had gone wrong?

What could and did was foretold in his 2008 speech in Berlin, when he told the hysterical crowds in attendance that the Wall had come down when (and because) "the world stood as one." But the world was never as one, then or ever: The world was as two, and the Wall had come down because one world (that led by the United States and the Atlantic Alliance) had, through force, threats of force and several hair-raising near-clashes, forced the communist world to its knees.

It was in the failure of this man of the world to embrace his role as the leader of one part of the world against the more dangerous other that the seeds of his failure were planted. Instead of raising the West, he has tried to merge the two sides and make them seem equal, stressing the flaws of the West and its allies, not taking democracy's side.”

Truth—it’s tough for the media to parse

Romney told the truth about the 47% who would not be reached by a message about increasing taxes, and the media pounced.  How dare he point to an empty chair which so many love and will vote for.

And it was President Carter’s grandson who worked so hard mining search terms on the internet to find it.  Grandpa is so proud.  I don’t think the Fourth has a job, but he can sit in his jammies and dig stuff up.

A war against women led by the king of food stamps

You want fair? This is fair?

A tower of champagne bottles

Wonder how many poor children 800 bottles of $350 champagne could have fed?  Oh well, they were probably just poor black children—the ones who got away from the abortion clinics.

The Middle East is going up in flames, and like Nero Obama grins and laughs while celebs pay the bills.  He pulled in $6 million at Jay-Z’s event.  How many campaign events since 9/11 when the middle east riots started?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/beyonce_jay_host_ny_bam_ba_5wud17kNBMEiV8wim9YYJK

Didn’t he say he’d be accountable? Another lie?

If there are socialists in the teachers’ unions

there are socialists in the classrooms teaching the kids of Chicago.

“. . .socialist factions of the union blasted union president Karen Lewis for failing to disclose the full deal to members. A socialist leaflet distributed on Sunday accusing her of issuing a “package” summary of the deal to sell it to ignorant members.

The socialist statement accused the union leadership of conceding too much to the school system, allowing, for example, evaluations that “victimize teachers.””

http://freebeacon.com/socialists-stall-contract-agreement-in-chicago/

This is recovery?

Since Obama took office: 692,000 more women are  unemployed; 321,000 more young Americans are unemployed;  293,000 more Hispanic Americans are unemployed ;  329,000 more African-Americans are unemployed.

Didn’t he promise a one term presidency if he couldn’t turn things around?  Let’s help him keep at least one promise. Send him back home to Chicago.

Forward his mail after the election.

Only Israel

I have visited Israel.  Have you? Compare the freedom the Israeli Palestinians have there to what Palestinians have in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria or Egypt.  Even if born in those countries—even if their grandparents were—they are not citizens, can’t work, can’t vote, can’t own property.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/world/middleeast/05iht-m05-lebanon-camp.html?pagewanted=all

http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/8643

http://www.forcedmigration.org/research-resources/expert-guides/palestinian-refugees-in-egypt/fmo028.pdf

Where are you getting your news?

A friend writes:  “I just returned from the UK last night; turned on the 5:30 news - flipping back & forth between MSNBC and FOX to see how they were covering things. MSNBC spent it's time criticizing Romney nearly exclusively, FOX covered the events unfolding. “

So, I don't have a paper copy of the Washington Post, just on-line. I see 2 stories about how Romney has messed up his message and is floundering, but nothing about Obama's mistakes which are critical to our security. Hey guys, which one is the president? Really, the MSM is beyond lapdog stuff, they have sunk to puppy pads.

Media in full attack mode, but. . .

Jennifer Rubin of Right Turn at the Washington Post:  “Yesterday, virtually the entire liberal media and some on the right as well made the story of the day not about the murder of our diplomats, not about why we did not prepare for a potential assault, not about whether President Obama’s halting policies had come home to roost, but about why Mitt Romney, after a day of silence from the White House following an atrocious apology issued in Cairo (we now know issued without authorization), spoke out when he did.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/whos-to-blame-for-the-original-cairo-apology/2012/09/12/8aecf7ca-fd26-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_blog.html

Blacks are on the move

They are moving to the suburbs and they are moving to the sun belt, to the south where their grandparents lived and left early in the 20th century.  The big cities of the north have failed them, the Democratic power house, big liberal, keep ‘em in the projects, cities run by the Democrat machines. Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and New York are losing college educated, middle class, two parent black families to warmer, friendlier, economically freer climes. And those not headed south are moving to the suburbs.  Blacks are about 13% of the voting population, they have about 40% of the abortions, and voted 95% for the first black president, first American president ever supported by Planned Parenthood and NARAL.

http://www.city-journal.org/2012/22_3_great-remigration.html

Joe Pags plays the national anthem

Joe Pags occasionally substitutes for Glenn Beck.  Interesting guy.

Our puppy pad media—all they can soak up

Oh gosh, don’t you feel so sorry for him!

A spin journalist for WaPo reported:

President Obama went through with a campaign appearance in Las Vegas on Wednesday evening and, after laboring to quiet an exuberant crowd, began his speech with a somber tribute to the four Americans killed Tuesday in Libya.

I wonder what sort of day the family members had finding out the ambassador was raped, or that bloody hand prints were found on walls as 4 Americans were dragged to their death.

And our glorious president couldn’t even be respectful enough to stick around Washington to see if anyone else was in danger (they were, as it turned out).  I think he could get more “undecided” votes by being presidential.

The Story, Chapter 4, Deliverance

Our church is using “The Story,” a retelling of the famous stories of the Bible from Creation to Redemption to Resurrection.  There are several opportunities during the week to participate in a small group using this resource. Today we were on Exodus 3 and Moses.   In today’s sermon by Pastor Paul we heard about Moses--and God's plan of deliverance.  Pastor Buff says this is the center piece—the story of how God will save and rescue through the shed blood  (door posts).  Lots of sub-texts, like how a Pharaoh who didn't know about Joseph decided the population of the Hebrew slaves was becoming too great, so he killed their babies to limit their population growth.  Obama isn't the first (or last) ruler to take population control into his own hands. The government wasn't greater than God then either.

                                 

Under Obama our credit rating continues to fall

Ratings agency Egan-Jones on Friday downgraded the U.S. country rating to AA-minus from AA, citing the Federal Reserve's latest stimulus program to boost the sluggish economy.

The Fed on Thursday said it would pump $40 billion into the U.S. economy each month until it saw a sustained upturn in the weak jobs market.

"(The) Fed's QE3 will stoke the stock market and commodity prices but in our opinion (it) will hurt the U.S. economy and, by extension, credit quality," Egan-Jones said in a statement about the latest quantitative easing program.

"The increased cost of commodities will pressure profitability of businesses, and increase the costs of consumers thereby reducing consumer purchasing power."

Moody's Investors Service currently rates the United States Aaa, Fitch rates the country AAA, and Standard & Poor's rates the country AA-plus. All three of those ratings have a negative outlook.

Source

Biden and Ryan—the debate

Some are rubbing palms to see this debate. And two Catholics? Unlike Protestants (I’m a Lutheran in a new synod, but have been a member of two other denominations), who get stuck with boring, endless, everyday sin--fornication, gossip, stealing--they get to have levels and degrees of sin. And there's a difference between tolerating sin and promoting sin, says this author:

"Biden promotes (and does not merely advocate toleration of) things the Church considers to be intrinsic evils, something no Catholic can in any circumstances do. And he tolerates things no government ought ever to tolerate without the loss of legitimacy. Ryan, on the other hand, has never, so far as I know, advanced or promoted something the Church considers an intrinsic evil. There are two such areas that might be pointed out: abortion and homosexual "marriage."

This article contains full quotes from both candidates.

http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=47443

I thought Hillary was doing a pretty good job

until she came up with this question:

Today, many Americans are asking – indeed, I asked myself – how could this happen? How could this happen in a country we helped liberate, in a city we helped save from destruction? This question reflects just how complicated and, at times, how confounding the world can be.

Really?  Is that what we were asking? Does anyone outside the delegates in Charlotte who screamed to take God out of the party and hand over Jerusalem really think what the world got after Arab Spring (fundamentalist Muslim tyrants) was better than what it had before (secular Muslim tyrants)?

Complicated?  It was the anniversary of 9/11.  You guys had been reviewing gleefully the death of Osama bin Laden as the high point of a flat presidency.

Don’t go all girly on us, Hil.

From Paul Ryan

“We don't need sugar high economics. We don't need synthetic money creation. We need economic growth. We want wealth creation. We don't want to print money. We want opportunity and growth.”

Can’t say for sure, but I assume he’s talking about QE3, the fed’s plan to print more money to goose Obama’s campaign with artificially high profits for investments in the next 2 months, then of course, the plunge. Printing money makes the stock market look good and some crony capitalists might make a profit, but it doesn’t create solid jobs. Today a good friend confided her fears for the economy—she’s a single, professional woman and very scared.

Valerie Jarrett has better protection . . .

“The consulate in Benghazi was an interim facility, with only a standard door lock for security, and worse, Ambassador Stevens was traveling with only a light security detail, rather than in the heavily armed convoys our diplomats in the region usually employ. The attack on the Benghazi was no mere target of opportunity spurred by reaction to the “Innocence of Muslims” film; the film is just a pretext. The killing of Ambassador  Stevens was a premeditated hit, planned and carried out as retaliation for the recent drone strike that killed the number two Al Qaida operative in Afghanistan recently. The vulnerability of Stevens at the Benghazi compound was scouted out carefully. All the other embassy protest activity is just covering theater.”

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/09/chaos-at-the-state-dept.php

Obama’s supporters, not his detractors, are hurting him

“Before he became president, people were already naming their kids after him. Songs and poems were written about him. Women dreamed about being with him. Black men and children spoke about finally having a role model to look up to. Once he became president, a few public schools even changed their names to include Obama’s name. He was to be not just the Commander in Chief, but the Unifier of the World. Not even a year in his presidency and with no major accomplishment under his belt, he was handed the Nobel Peace Prize. The supernaturally high expectation trap for him was set not by his detractors, but by those who were too gullible to realize that he was just a politician.

With the economy’s continuous slide downward, the Obama fan base has acted more like stage hands for cheap magic show in Vegas. No president is perfect. But because they (the fan base) already set the tone for his term as nothing less than perfection, they have used every excuse in the book to cover up his imperfections. Bad economy? It’s the Tea Party’s fault. High unemployment numbers? Blame business owners for not hiring. Middle East policy utterly fails? Blame Romney for criticizing Obama.

When Obama went to the Middle East not too long ago to apologize and to lecture those world leaders how to basically conduct themselves, his fan base gave him every accolade out there. Later, he was praised for his “leadership” in helping to create what they called “The Arab Spring”.”

From Duane at BlackInformant.com

And the Good News is . . .

This is great. He plans to be breaking out of his tomb. Me too. Don't know when, but for Christians, that's our hope--"We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. . . so we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen." Paul writing to the Christians living in Corinth in the 1st century A.D.

Will Obama go after other parts of the first amendment—he’s already taken out religion with the HHS Mandate

The president believes in free speech.  He didn't do anything about Dave Letterman making sexual remarks about Palin's young daughter; he didn't do anything about Bill Maher's film that insults Jews, Christians, AND Muslims; he enjoys sexist, racist hip hop music.  So really, is he going to go after a YouTube film?  Hmmm. That depends if it is politically expedient.

In Sydney, Australia, police used pepper spray against the protesters, who chanted "Obama, Obama, we love Osama" and waved placards saying "Behead all those who insult the Prophet."

And look who just last week was bragging about taking out Osama. And not giving Bush any of the blame.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/protests-anti-islam-film-spread-australia-200-clash-police-u-s-consulate-sydney-article-1.1160356#ixzz26Z2CetMv

Will Obama now give back PAC money from donor who insulted Islam in a film?

Bill Maher made a film that mocked Christianity and Islam. Bill Maher also contributed $1 million to a pro-Obama super PAC. Will Obama now give it back since the administration is blaming a youtube video that's been out for months for violence on 9/11?

Maher's film "Religulous" grossed over $13 million after having a production budget of $2.5 million. As of 2012, it's 15th among the highest grossing documentaries in the US and was the highest grossing documentary of 2008. [Wikipedia] "He takes shots at the three major monotheistic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Religulous also mocks the more bizarre elements of Scientology and Mormonism. Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism get a free pass." [Purple state of mind]

A Jew ridiculing Islam? That would have provoked a riot, if that's what this mess in the Middle East  is about.  But there’s always free speech for the Democrat. Just not for others.

Let’s blame an obscure film instead of the 9/11 anniversary and a careless President

The "producer" of the offensive internet film about Islam which has spurred violence in Mid-East? Created by a 55-year old man, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, convicted on bank fraud charges and banned from the INTERNET as part of his sentence.  Oh yes, that should stop it.

But then, the violence would have happened anyway. It was 9/11 and guess who had just finished several days in Charlotte celebrating the death of Osama, killed by Obama?  And who would ever think that even a small group would want to retaliate and pick that date.

Why ARRA didn’t pull us out of high unemployment

Have you wondered why the "stimulus" didn't stimulate? One tiny example. $200 million went to 22 locations to "implement evidence-based strategies to reduce tobacco use." Like much of ARRA, our money went to programs to change behavior, not to improve the business climate. To support the government employees working on those strategies, in 2011 another $100 million in another program was awarded to float anti-tobacco initiatives. And still we have a smoking president.

Although I think cessation programs are payment to Big Pharma, they are always listed as part of the success in reducing smoking (from 43% in 1964 to 19% in 2010). I must know hundreds of former smokers, heard stories of everything from cold turkey, to oxygen tanks, to miracles from God who took away the desire, but I've yet to hear one about a government paid for cessation program.

Smoking in federal buildings and spaces was outlawed under Clinton in 1997.  Someone big didn’t get the memo. In July 2011 HHS expanded this to any tobacco produce use, including in vehicles and any outdoor spaces.

Never forget. . .

And now we have a reminder of his continuing fumbles in the Middle East to add to the “values vote.”

Activist judges again

The unions are not giving up.

Obama volunteers are really, really special—it’s always about him!

“On Wednesday, President Obama compared his campaign volunteers to the embassy staff who were murdered by Islamist gunmen in Libya while speaking in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Washington Examiner reported.

"And obviously [our] hearts are broken for the families but I wanted to encourage those folks at the State Department that they were making a difference,” he said.

“The sacrifices that our troops and our diplomats make are obviously very different from the challenges that we face here domestically but like them, you guys are Americans who sense that we can do better than we’re doing….I’m just really proud of you,” he added.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/report-obama-compares-campaign-volunteers-to-murdered-embassy-staff

Rahmbo’s values in the news

As of August 6, 272 American and NATO troops had been killed in Afghanistan in 2012. In Chicago, 318 people had been murdered by that same date. . . Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel chose to strut in front of the national media about his outrage about Chick-fil-A executives and their opposition to gay marriage, saying, "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values."

And murder is?

http://www.nationalcenter.org/P21NVButlerMarriage90912.html

I don’t tweet

I don't have a Twitter account, wouldn't even know how to check this.  Is it true? "Obama's Twitter account was peddling campaign sweatshirts during the Andrews AFB ceremony to welcome home the four Americans murdered in Benghazi."

QE3

So what exactly is quantitative easing 3? (QE3) In layman's terms it is printing and distributing money right before the election to fool the American people.

“Historically, stocks have initially risen when the Fed has announced these programs only for the rally to run out of steam down the track.

Some economists believe the benefit to the economy will be modest this time, but fund managers are hopeful there will be a recovery in the housing market.

“QE3 is certainly a positive for markets in the short term [about the first week in November, I’m guessing ]” Financial Review (Australia)

Do you really want a president who will mortgage your grandchildren’s future for his election?

Have the Democrats or the President spoken out about this war on women?

Is this the best way to use this crisis?

Embassies attacked. Americans killed. Quantitative easing again to devalue our dollar and investments. And our brave, bold President is hiding behind Mitt Romney's tax returns for cover. Oh yes, and a YouTube video is to blame. Not bragging about killing bin Laden or how he directs drones into other countries. Not saying Egypt isn’t our ally (who knew?).

One source I read says it took the Administration 9 hours to retract the apology that appeared on Twitter from the Embassy staff about the YouTube film. I wonder if it would have ever appeared if Romney hadn't shown some leadership in this vacuum. There are conflicting news reports about whether the Marines had ammunition. As usual, the President and his media are focusing on Romney rather than Obama’s own gaffes and stumbles.

I’m really torn.  On the one hand, I think Obama’s place is in Washington right now conferring with advisors and experts and not out campaigning in Vegas and Columbus, but on the other, I’m sort of glad he’s leaving it to people wearing big boy pants who don’t whine, moan and blame, and will just do what has to be done to protect us and Americans over seas.

http://gerarddirect.com/2012/09/13/arab-spring-shows-its-true-face-two-embassies-attacked-us-ambassador-killed/

Friday Family photo—Remembering 9/11/2001

You're never too old to want to hear a reassuring word from your parents. Can you stand just one more 9/11 memory? In 2001 my father was still alive (my mother died in 2000). His 3 surviving children (my sister Carol died in 1996) were all over 60. We all called him, "just to talk." When someone has lived through the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, been a Marine in WWII, created a business, sent you all to college debt free, visited his own parents daily, and rarely complained about his own pain or discomfort, well, you just hope he might have some answers. He didn't. But it sure was reassuring to hear Daddy's voice.

Dad looks like he’s sporting a halo, but it was a dish on the book shelf. In April 2000 he bought the Lustron built by his parents in 1949 and left his lovely apartment at Pinecrest where he had been living with my mom and where his adult children naively believed he was safe and secure.  I think this photo was taken at Easter when we drove to Illinois to help him settle in the house.  We returned there for our 40th anniversary celebration with Illinois family in September, he flew to Columbus, Virginia and Florida (the grand tour to visit children and grandchildren) in December 2000, and we returned to Illinois in April  2002 to help him move to assisted care.  He really couldn’t handle the cooking part of living alone.  He died May 18, 2002. 

He was always independent and feisty to the end.  No halo would have fit.

Why are you surprised?

Campaign 2012 snippets

Alan Dershowitz predicted on 9/11 that President Obama’s apparent snub of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will put the critical swing state of Florida [large Jewish vote] at “substantial risk” in the November election.

************

What voter fraud? Wendy W. Rosen, the Democrats' hand-picked candidate in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District, was forced to drop out of her race on September 10 after she admitted to illegally voting in both Maryland and Florida in 2006 and 2008. Tampa Bay Times

************

"For those of us who were counting, in his coronation speech, Obama, the consummate narcissist, said "I" (not in reference but in credit to himself) 55 times and "we" (that's the socialist collective "we" not as in "We, the people...") 75 times. Moreover, in the 40-page Demo platform, Obama is cited on 38 pages more than 200 times. By way of comparison, the 2012 GOP platform makes reference to Mitt Romney once." Mark Alexander, Patriot Post.

************

More middle east cities in flames, our "free press" journalists caught off mic spinning the news to make Romney look bad, Hillary and some obscure Florida preacher being blamed, and Obama is off campaigning. Did I get that right? Oh, and apparently our ambassador was raped/sodomized by his captors before he was killed. Shouldn't the president stick a little closer to the White House and just float on his own stupendous record rather than campaign? None of his followers will leave him.  This is making him look really, really bad. Unprepared. Unrepentant. Unpresidential.

***********

The other night, before the middle east went up in flames on phony film charges, Glenn Beck had 3 people on his internet TV show talking about security of the American people. I think it was a 9/11 special. He asked, "What is the greatest threat to our security today?" One said, warrantless wire taps, one said the Patriot Act, and the third said, infiltration of our government by the Muslim Brotherhood. Given recent events, I'd choose door #3. I think his name was Patrick Poole, but I'm not sure.

***********

Last night we attended the Upper Arlington GOP gathering at the Greek St. restaurant in Kingsdale--learned 2 things--local candidates are awesome and this is a great place to eat. Mostly women candidates--one an immigrant, one had enlisted in the military when she was 17 later became a lawyer and is running for judge. Another, Stephanie Kunze, is the daughter-in-law of our good friends Wes and Sue. Even if you're sick of the national scene and aren't happy with your party's choice, look around for where you can help a local candidate.

Finally, proof. . . an empty chair

Sebelius violates Hatch Act

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel informed President Obama yesterday that it found his controversial Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius violated the federal Hatch Act back in February.

It’s been referred to Obama—and I’m sure will go nowhere. Based on Geithner and the attorney general and Barney Frank, and just too many to recall.

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2012/09/13/his-blog-abcs-tapper-notes-obamas-hhs-secretary-violated-hatch-act-bro#ixzz26OBQ6mu1

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/316772/secretary-sebelius-violates-hatch-act-scott-coffina#

Where’s the racial outcry over these murderers?

Life is awfully cheap and there’s not much of an outcry or nationwide coverage if a white or Hispanic person doesn’t do the crime. No Trayvon Martin here.  No Dr. Phil show for the parents of these victims.  Move along.

Two and a half years older now than when they (men in the Washington Post photo) murdered five and wounded nine,  these young black men were sentenced on September 11 for multiple murders committed in March 2010. Lamar Williams (24)--30 years;  Jeffrey Best (23) and Robert Bost (23)--life no parole; Orlando Carter (22)--life no parole, and his brother Sanquan Carter (21)--54 years. Killed in the violence were Jordan Howe, 20, Brishell Jones, 16, 17-year-old Tavon Nelson, 18-year-old Davaugn Boyd and 19-year-old William Jones. 

I struggled to figure out the ridiculous, complex crime, but about all I could find out was that Sanquan Carter was having sex with a 15 year old girl and lost his bracelet -- which he’d stolen from someone. He accused various people, called for back up, and a bunch of people were shot, including 3 at a funeral of one of the other victims all because Sanquan was feeling “disrespected.”

And I never did find out what happened to the 15 year old girl.  She seemed to be collateral damage. And the sentencing ended up in the “local” section of the Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/march-2010-shootings-five-men-face-sentencing-tuesday/2012/09/11/d25ec562-fb6d-11e1-b2af-1f7d12fe907a_story.html

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/05/south-capitol-street-murder-trial-verdict-reached-75692.html

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/04/06/the_invisible_ward_8_105054.html

Obama’s failures in the Middle East

which he can’t blame on Bush.

“Across the Arab Spring, the U.S. has done little to shape events and is increasingly irrelevant. The U.S. angered Saudi Arabia by calling for the ouster of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and now has little sway in Bahrain. Mr. Obama has washed his hands of Syria, allowing Russia and Iran to keep their proxy in power and stir up trouble for Turkey and Lebanon. The Chinese have brazenly occupied disputed territories in the South China Sea, hinting at war if the U.S. intercedes on behalf of its Asian allies.

The U.S. withdrew in toto from Iraq, and now its Prime Minister ignores Vice President Joe Biden's request to stop Iranian arms flights to Damascus. Even America's dependent in Kabul, Hamid Karzai, is refusing to honor his commitments on holding Taliban detainees. Perhaps he has heard Mr. Obama describe Afghanistan in his re-election campaign as if the U.S. is already halfway out the door.

Most of all, Iran continues its march toward a nuclear weapon despite the President's vow that it is "unacceptable." The U.S. says it has isolated Iran, but only last month the U.N. Secretary-General defied a U.S. plea and attended a non-aligned summit in Tehran. The Administration has issued wholesale exemptions to Congressional sanctions, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared on the weekend that the U.S. is "not setting deadlines" for Iran as it sprints to a bomb.”

WSJ Editorial: "The New World Disorder"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443884104577647282429229736.html

We’re number seven

I’ve seen better looking outfits at the Volunteers of America resale shop

http://eco-chick.com/

This is worse than corpse men

Russian ships were displayed at the DNC tribute to American  veterans.  How do things like this happen?

“On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the stage to pay tribute to veterans. Behind him, on a giant screen, the image of four hulking warships reinforced his patriotic message.

But there was a big mistake in the stirring backdrop: those are Russian warships.

While retired Adm. John Nathman, a former commander of Fleet Forces Command, honored vets as America’s best, the ships from the Russian Federation Navy were arrayed like sentinels on the big screen above.

These were the very Soviet-era combatants that Nathman and Cold Warriors like him had once squared off against.”

Then when the DNC apologized on Sept. 12, they used the opportunity to take a swipe at Romney for not mentioning veterans in his speech at the RNC.  Somehow if you lamely call attention to someone else in your apology, it just sounds so, so, Obamash.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/09/navy-russian-warships-displayed-dnc-veterans-tribute-091112/

"An open letter to Melinda Gates from Obianuju Ekeocha"

Why do rich liberals think they know better than Africans about their families or babies -- or everything? What?--we don't have enough unsolved problems in the USA or Europe? In the US babies increasingly (particularly in Democrat households) are seen as burdens. In Nigeria they are welcomed with joy and hope. After killing millions of Africans by yanking DDT off the market, now it's "family planning," and instead of pre-natal clinics, clean water, good roads, and schools for girls, liberals in their vast wisdom and deep pockets will distribute contraceptives and perform abortions. One Nigerian woman became so frustrated she wrote a letter to a TV program, and it's gone viral.  She writes (as recorded in Catholic Free Press) but it originally was read on Teresa Tomeo’s radio show www.teresatomeo.com

*                           *                             *                        *          

Growing up in a remote town in Africa, I have always known that a new life is welcomed with much mirth and joy. In fact we have a special “clarion” call (or song) in our village reserved for births and another special one for marriages.

The first day of every baby’s life is celebrated by the entire village with dancing (real dancing!) and clapping and singing - a sort of “Gloria in excelsis Deo.”

All I can say with certainty is that we, as a society, LOVE and welcome babies.

With all the challenges and difficulties of Africa, people complain and lament their problems openly. I have grown up in this environment and I have heard women (just as much as men) complain about all sorts of things. But I have NEVER heard a woman complain about her baby (born or unborn).

Even with substandard medical care in most places, women are valiant in pregnancy. And once the baby arrives, they gracefully and heroically rise into the maternal mode.

I trained and worked for almost five years in a medical setting in Africa, yet I never heard of the clinical term “postpartum depression” until I came to live in Europe. I never heard it because I never experienced or witnessed it, even with the relatively high birth rate around me. (I would estimate that I had at least one family member or close friend give birth every single month. So I saw at least 12 babies born in my life every year.)

Amidst all our African afflictions and difficulties, amidst all the socioeconomic and political instabilities, our babies are always a firm symbol of hope, a promise of life, a reason to strive for the legacy of a bright future.

So a few weeks ago I stumbled upon the plan and promise of Melinda Gates to implant the seeds of her “legacy” in 69 of the poorest countries in the world (most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa).

Her pledge is to collect pledges for almost $5 billion in order to ensure that the African woman is less fertile, less encumbered and, yes, she says, more “liberated.” With her incredible wealth she wants to replace the legacy of an African woman (which is her child with the legacy of “child-free sex.”

Many of the 69 targeted countries are Catholic countries with millions of Catholic women of child-bearing age. These Catholic women have been rightly taught by the Church that the contraceptive drug and device is inherently divisive.

Unlike what we see in the developed Western world, there is actually very high compliance with Pope Paul VI’s “Humanae vitae.” For these African women, in all humility, have heard, understood and accepted the precious words of the prophetic pope. Funny how people with a much lower literacy level could clearly understand that which the average Vogue- and Cosmo-reading-high-class woman has refused to understand. I guess humility makes all the difference.

With most African women faithfully practicing and adhering to a faith (mainly Christian or in some cases Muslim), there is a high regard for sex in society, especially among the women. Sex is sacred and private.

The moment these huge amounts of contraceptive drugs and devices are injected into the roots of our society, they will undoubtedly start to erode and poison the moral sexual ethics that have been woven into our societal DNA by our faith, not unlike the erosion that befell the Western world after the 1930 Lambeth conference! In one fell swoop and one “clean” slice, the faithful could be severed from their professed faith.

Both the frontline healthcare worker dispensing Melinda’s legacy gift and the women fettered and shackled by this gift, would be separated from their religious beliefs. They would be put in a precarious position to defy their faith – all for “safe sex.”

Even at a glance, anyone could see that the unlimited and easy availability of contraceptives in Africa would surely increase infidelity and sexual promiscuity as sex is presented by this multi-billion dollar project as a casual pleasure sport that can indeed come with no strings – or babies – attached. Think of the exponential spread of HIV and other STDs as men and women with abundant access to contraceptives take up multiple, concurrent sex partners.

And of course there are bound to be inconsistencies and failures in the use of these drugs and devices, so health complications could result; one of which is unintended abortion. Add also other health risks such as cancer, blood clots, etc. Where Europe and America have their well-oiled health care system, a woman in Africa with a contraception-induced blood clot does not have access to 911 or an ambulance or a paramedic. No, she dies.

And what about disposal of the medical waste? Despite advanced sewage disposal in the First-world countries, we hear that aquatic life there is still adversely affected by drugs in the system. In Africa, be rest assured that both in the biggest cities and smaller rural villages, sewage constitutes a real problem. So as $4.6 billion worth of drugs, IUDs and condoms get used, they will need safe disposal. Can someone please show us how and where will that be? On our farm lands where we get all our food? In our streams and rivers from whence comes our drinking water?

I see this $4.6 billion buying us misery. I see it buying us unfaithful husbands. I see it buying us streets devoid of the innocent chatter of children. I see it buying us disease and untimely death. I see it buying us a retirement without the tender loving care of our children.

Please Melinda, listen to the heart-felt cry of an African woman and mercifully channel your funds to pay for what we REALLY need.

We need:

• Good healthcare systems (especially prenatal, neonatal and pediatric care).

Needless to say that postpartum and neonatal deaths are alarmingly high in many Sub-Saharan African countries. This is due to the paucity of specialized medical personnel, equipment and systems. Women are not dying because they are having “too many” babies but because they are not getting even the most basic postpartum care. A childbirth or labor complication can very easily be fatal, for both mother and baby. To alleviate this problem new, well-equipped and well-staffed birthing centers with neonatal units need to be built in easily accessible parts of the poorest communities. And if Melinda Gates really insists on reducing population, she can have highly trained Natural Family Planning (NFP) instructors strategically placed in these women’s healthcare facilities. At least then there would be a natural and wholistic approach.

• Food programs for young children.

This would serve a two-fold purpose if it is incorporated into free or highly subsidized nursery school programs. It would nourish and strengthen the growth of these children, who are so, so vulnerable to malnutrition, and it would also serve to encourage parents to bring their youngsters, ages 3 or 4, to nursery school. In so many parts of Africa, children miss out on nursery school education because it is expensive and considered a luxury reserved for the rich and middle class. As a result, the children miss the first few crucial years when basic math and reading are easily learned. By the time they are considered “ready” for school, at age 7 or 8, they struggle academically. Many of them never quite catch up and so drop out after six or seven years. This is when a lot of young girls are married off as mid- to late-teenage wives who unfortunately would become the perfect recipient of the Melinda Gates comprehensive contraceptive care!

• Good higher education opportunities

Not just new school buildings or books, but carefully laid out educational programs that work – scholarships, internships at higher levels, etc. – are needed. Despite the problems and obstacles to primary and secondary education, a significant number of young girls make it into universities, polytechnics or colleges. The problem however is that, most of the schools and resources are substandard and outdated. As such, the quality of higher education is low and cannot compare to that of more privileged countries. Even though the teachers put in their very best and the students work hard, the system is inadequate and will always produce disadvantaged graduates who are not confident enough to stand with their counterparts who have studied in other parts of the world.

• Chastity programs

Such programs in secondary schools, universities and churches would create a solid support system to form, inform and reassure our young girls and women that real love is that which is healthy and holy. Many African girls are no longer sure about moral sexual ethics thanks to the widespread influence of Western media, movies and magazines. More support should be given to programs that encourage abstinence before marriage and fidelity in marriage. This approach would go a long way to combating the spread of HIV and other STDs through the continent. And it would certainly lead to happier marriages!

• Support for micro-business opportunities for women

The average African women is incredibly happy, hard-working and resilient. Any support both economic and through training would most probably be used well and wisely.

• Fortify already established NGOs that are aimed at protecting women from sex-trafficking, prostitution, forced marriage, child labor, domestic violence, sex crimes, etc.

Many of these NGOs do not have much success because they are not well-funded. Though most of them have good intentions, they lack professional input from those such as psychologists, logisticians or medical personnel needed to tackle various problems.

$4.6 billion dollars can indeed be your legacy to Africa and other poor parts of the world. But let it be a legacy that leads life, love and laughter into the world in need.

Palin on Obama’s performance

On 9/11 yesterday radical Muslims attacked—again in Egypt and Libya. Sarah Palin responds, since the president didn’t:

It’s about time our president stood up for America and condemned these Islamic extremists. I realize there must be a lot on his mind these days – what with our economy’s abysmal jobless numbers and Moody’s new warning about yet another downgrade to our nation’s credit rating due to the current administration’s failure to come up with a credible deficit reduction plan. And, of course, he has a busy schedule – with all those rounds of golf, softball interviews with the “Pimp with the Limp,” and fundraising dinners with his corporate cronies. But our nation’s security should be of utmost importance to our Commander-in-chief. America can’t afford any more “leading from behind” in such a dangerous world. We already know that President Obama likes to “speak softly” to our enemies. If he doesn’t have a “big stick” to carry, maybe it’s time for him to grow one.

The Planned Parenthood vs. Komen story

Karen Handel, former Susan G. Komen’s For the Cure Senior Vice President of Public Policy writes about how Komen was bullied back into supporting Planned Parenthood.  It was supposed to be on book shelves today.  We’ll see if it makes it to my public library.

HIV Infections and ART

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) represent approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by HIV.

• In 2009, (men who have sex with men) MSM accounted for 61% of new HIV infections in the US and 79% of infections among all newly infected men. Compared with other groups, MSM accounted for the largest numbers of new HIV infections in 2009.
• Among all MSM, white MSM accounted for 11,400 (39%) new HIV infections in 2009. The largest number of new infections (3,400) occurred in those aged 40–49.
• Among all MSM, black/African American MSM accounted for 10,800 (37%) new HIV infections in 2009. Whereas new HIV infections were relatively stable among MSM overall from 2006–2009, they increased 34% among young MSM—an increase largely due to a 48% increase among young black/African American MSM aged 13–29.
• Among all MSM, Hispanic/Latino MSM accounted for 6,000 (20%) new HIV infections in 2009. The largest percentage of new infections (45%) occurred in those aged 13–29.

I’ve looked through the guidelines given to doctors to combat HIV/AIDs in gay men.  They include counseling for condoms, screening and treatment for other sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis vaccine, and PrEP, short for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, the combination medication tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine (TDF/FTC).   PrEP was approved in July, 2012 and treatment costs about $14,000 a year, requires constant monitoring, and absolute adherence to the drug regimen. Giving it to uninfected people who don’t have HIV might prevent those already infected from receiving it. 

In the guidelines I saw nothing about chastity or celibacy, the only two methods which are 100% effective in combating HIV and have no toxic side effects.