Is your state driving away business?

Ohio is. It is ranked 47th for business climate, according to a new study by the Tax Foundation. Take a look at that map! Illinois is 30th, Indiana 12th, and Michigan 17th. And here sits Ohio at the bottom of the heap looking to big gambling interests (issue 3, slots at race tracks, lottery, etc.) instead of real tax reform to pull us out of this mess, created by both parties. The market is now global, but the Department of Labor reports most mass job relocations are from one U.S. state to another rather than to an overseas location. For instance, from Mt. Morris, Illinois to Florida, and 30+ years ago to another southern state. Sure, workers can move, but that doesn't help the schools or the local businesses that support the town. All ten of the states with the worst business tax climates voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, and five of the ten states with the best business tax climates voted for John McCain according to the Tax Professor. Ohioans plan to further destroy our economy in the Appalachian states by going along with the green global goals of the current administration in Washington.

HT to Patrick Poole of Soballiance who pointed to these sources.

The left coast

LA's Skid Row, one of the largest concentrations of homeless in the United States.

The buried history of the slave trade

The slave trade never ended, of course. There's more slavery going on today than in the 18th century, particularly among women and children. And especially for sex. More Africans have died from environmentalists allowing malaria to resurge than ever died in the Atlantic slave trade. Still, this piece by Black Informant is interesting commentary on the way the Africans and Europeans worked together to establish the 17th and 18th century slave trade. Our schooling in the 50s was less brainwashing and not as full of PC as today, so I knew some of this, but not Nigeria's role or what that nation teaches today.

Apparently our history began on January 20

At least the good stuff.

"The United States elected 43 presidents before the current occupant graced the office with his presence. We fought, and won, two world wars, liberated millions of people worldwide from tyranny, and worked cooperatively with other sovereign nations to rebuild entire continents. Some might even say the character of our nation is well established considering we have been a democracy for just over 230 years now.

Not President Barack Obama, who told the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, “For those who question the character and cause of my nation, I ask you to look at the concrete actions we [I] have taken in just nine months.” 230 years versus just nine months. No wonder, the New York Times reports, were UN delegates not only applauding Obama, but snapping photos of their hero like tourists. Read full piece."

Note: If you want to argue about the number: those before Washington weren't elected, and one guy was elected twice so he is counted once.

Obama just wants the world

"If there were ever a question about Barack Obama’s dedication to the concept of global governance, it has now been answered fully. His track record to date points toward his commitment to global governance; his speech to the United Nations removes all doubt." Canada Free Press To be fair, a world government that was NOT representative of any peoples or voters, but propped up by rules and regulations thought up by government officials, was not Obama's idea--it was our own President Woodrow Wilson and then embraced and tweaked by FDR.

Fall Art Show at the Church at Mill Run

One of the campuses of UALC, the Church at Mill Run, has the best hanging space for art in Columbus. The halls are the width of a high way, there is natural light, and the hanging system is Arakawa. The UALC members are having an art show this fall. The building is closed on Friday and Saturday to cut utility costs, but if you like to attend art shows Sunday through Thursday, this might be doable. And I'm in it. I don't enter many art shows. First, mine are always NFS, and some shows have rules that something has to be for sale. Second, I'm not competitive. If I like it, fine. I don't care what someone else thinks. I'm the same way with sports, link exchanges to up my stats, committee appointments and board games. Winning is not for me. But I stopped and looked at it last Thursday, and I think it is a very strong show. One of our pastors, Dave Drumel, has put some of his work in, Bev has entered some nice things (forgotten what that's called), my neighbor Joan has a lovely display of her photography of their most recent trip to Italy, and there's a variety of media.




The two on the end are my husbands, three in the middle mine. All are of Lakeside or Marblehead.




Our missionary to Haiti and pastor's wife, Pam Mann, is a very talented artist. These are some of her t-shirts, especially designed for our programming.

Michelle and Valerie lobby for Chicago Olympics

They've even got matching Olympian outfits. Oh that's so cute. So BFF. But guess what? Brazil says it will help their poor if it is chosen for the 2016 Olympics. What to do! Go with rich, spoiled Chicagoans, or consider Brazil's plea? Choose the Obama machine (do presidents usually get involved with this--has it ever been in Texas or Arkansas?) because he could be the coming Messiah? I read this in the WSJ, Matthew Futterman, 9-23, but here's another one.

Isn't this what the diversity czar recommends?

B. Joseph White, University of Illinois president, resigned amid reports the school admitted politically connected applicants over more qualified at the Urbana campus (my alma mater). Sounds like today's news stories about Mark Lloyd. And what a throw back to the 50s. When I went to school, there was a terrific dating ratio created by the school's policy on women. We were a rather select minority because standards were higher for women applicants--I think you had to be in the upper 10% of your graduating class, but for men it was probably upper third. Maybe that's an urban legend, but that's what I was told when I asked why it was 4:1, men to women. Really, if you couldn't get a date for Friday night. . . I'm just saying.

Anyway, back to my point. We now have within the Obama administration a "diversity czar," Mark Lloyd, who believes in order to move minorities (apparently don't have to be poor or disadvantaged--just have to have the right skin color) to positions of power, some in the majority group (i.e., people of European roots who haven't co-mingled their genes) will have to voluntarily (or not) step down. Nothing about qualifications, skills, merit, intelligence. Just ethnicity. Just color. Hmmm. Call me crazy but I think America went that route and decided it wasn't right. This should make some of Obama's closest associates a little nervous, like Buffy and Toes and Dr. Death. I'm not sure being a Jew gets you any points with Mr. Lloyd, or even being a white, female union activist. Unless Buffy is a lesbian, then she's safe. Being a well connected to radicals and communists, wealthy black Chicagoan will "move you on up to the East side."

I'm really not familiar with White or the allegations, but when Blago and Rezko's names come up, the crumbs always seems to lead to Obama, so I'm sure it's best for all if he just fades to gray.

Female marines wear scarves under helmets

But it's for a good cause, they say: counterinsurgency.

Sarah Palin is called "an act" by WSJ

Jonathan Cheng and John McKinnon couldn't hide their dislike in reporting on Palin's speech at a conference sponsored by investment firm CLSA Asia Pacific Markets--must have mentioned money 4 or 5 times. Smart women are really a threat to the MSM. They said foreign policy was her weak spot. Surely they haven't been listening to the Obama-Biden dog and pony show where three of our allies have been tossed overboard in the past week. Also, they listed possible contributors to her speech. Do they do that for Obama's speeches or Bill Clinton's speeches (and don't you wish Biden would stay on script)? Look what she's been able to accomplish without a full cheerleading team in the media!

Demonstrators and Protestors by the thousands

Iranian Americans of all stripes, political views and agendas rallied against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad near the UN yesterday. Remarkably, Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi and Jimmy Carter have not called them racists and Nazis for using free speech and assembly.

But then, they weren't protesting taxes, health care and cap and trade, either.

Lutherans leaving ELCA

Alternative church fellowship for Lutherans to be formed as 1,200 gather in Indianapolis, Sept. 25-26 for Lutheran CORE convocation. http://lutherancore.org/ The turn out and interest has been so great, the registration is closed and they've moved it to a larger church.

My first impression at this web site is that I hope they can soon hire a professional web designer. But the information is good.

My church, UALC in Columbus (3 campuses, 9 services),

"Our future is not in the ELCA. Moving toward wherever our future will be is a fairly lengthy but a critically important process, and one that will be given all the time it needs. . . No funds whatsoever have been given to the ELCA since July. . . We will spend our effort and our energy where they matter most, on people, for Jesus' sake." Senior Pastor Paul Ulring, report to the Congregation, Cornerstone, Sept. 20-26, 2009

There are a number of other options in addition to CORE for ELCA congregations planning to distance themselves from their misguided synod which has been wandering in the wilderness for about 10 years.

• Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (this probably isn't an option for UALC since 7 of the 9 services are informal/contemporary or too loud for me to attend (drums, electric guitars, etc.) If you've heard any good music from Lutherans, it's probably from this synod.
  
• The Lighthouse Covenant (Ulring is one of the founding members)
  
• LCMC Word Alone (UALC is a member)
  
• ARC Alliance of Renewal Churches
  
• AFLC and AALCAssociation of Free Lutheran Congregations and American Association of Lutheran Churches

The most anti-Israel speech ever by an American President

That's what former ambassador John Bolton said. And how can you go into negotiations if Obama has already determined the outcome?

Citizens of the world, you need to be very, very worried about this man's grab for global power. Bolton said Obama is naive. I don't think so.

Reasons to home school

Children singing "Barack Hussein Obama" clap, snap, rock, and telling him he's number one. Don't recall seeing this paean of praise and adoration during the Bush, Clinton, Reagan or Carter years. Dress them in crisp white shirts with a red scarf and they could be Young Pioneers. What ever happened to separation of church and state during school hours?

Would you want him in your back yard?

ABC News reports: "Shunned Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi slept in the Libyan diplomatic mission last night as officials in the suburban town of Bedford, N.Y., issued a stop work order on his palatial tent being erected on property owned by Donald Trump.

Gaddafi arrived in the United States Tuesday evening, the first time he has entered this country or addressed the U.N. since he took power 40 years ago.

His reception in the United States has been as chilly as a desert night and his aides have wandered around the metro region trying to find a place to pitch their leader's tent.

After being rejected by New York City's Central Park and by the town of Englewood, N.J., the Libyans posed as Dutch diplomats to rent a Manhattan town house that had a large roof that could have accommodated a tent."

Anyone not a foreign dictator would know you don't just waltz into an American town and put up a giant tent without clearing it first with the local zoning board and licensing office. Where was his advance team?

Obama bundler to go under the bus with Grandma, Wright, Jones, ACORN, etc.

". . . Hassan Nemazee pleaded not guilty to an indictment accusing him of carrying out a $292 million Ponzi scheme.

Nemazee’s brief appearance in U.S. District Court in Manhattan was his first since he was indicted this week on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Prosecutors say Nemazee cheated three banks out of the money to live an affluent life and pose as an influential fundraiser.

The 59-year-old Manhattan resident was the national finance chairman for Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. He later raised money for President Barack Obama.

He is under house arrest on $25 million bail and is wearing an electronic bracelet.

From Breaking news

If he'd been a fund raiser for a Republican, it would have been the end of that politician's career.

Add a year for cost increases

"The U.S. Navy has changed the terms of its ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program. Graduates now must serve five years on active duty, instead of four. The main reason for this increase is money. ROTC cadets have all their tuition costs covered by the navy, plus money for some living expenses and books. Some 150 universities have navy ROTC programs, which produces 1,100 ensigns (the lowest ranking naval officer) each year. The Naval Academy has always required five years of active duty from its graduates. The army and air force still only require four years active service from their ROTC graduates." Strategy Page

McChrystal’s recommendations

Remember the good old days, just a few months ago, when the leftists proclaimed this one the “good war” just so they could bad mouth Bush?

It seems we're "underresourced." And we have a president who has declared he doesn't believe in "victory." The anti-american, pro-islamist club/clutch within the White House must be rubbing their hands with glee.

“Lukewarm public support for the Afghan conflict could stop Obama from implementing McChrystal’s recommendations—and lose us the war in the process.” More at National Interest Online

Some say this could distract from the health care push; maybe it's the other way around. Get people so focused on the government take-overs in the economy, they won't notice what he's doing in the middle-east.

Update: Who's behind Islam on Capitol Hill?

Update 2: Summary of news links on this story.

Obama takes us backward 60 years

The U.S. is an unreliable ally under Obama. Who could possibly trust us now?

“Russia's unchanging goal since the end of World War II has been to weaken or sever the Atlantic Alliance; to separate the United States from NATO. After 1991, the liberated countries attached themselves to the West. They would be "Central Europe," their historic designation next to "Western Europe," and would no longer be regarded as "Eastern Europe." They joined NATO. They went to Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States inside the NATO alliance was supposed to be the guarantor of "Europe whole and free." While the Russians were trying at a minimum to restore themselves as a superpower with a sphere of influence in Europe.

It took the Russians 20 years, but they're back. Russian President Medvedev said, "Naturally, we will have to conduct substantial, expert consultation... we will work together to develop effective measures...that take into account the interests and concerns of all sides and ensure equal security for all countries in European territory." He said President Obama had a "responsible attitude."

Russia and the United States, together "ensuring" security for the "European territory." How secure do the Poles feel today, or the Czechs? How do the Romanians or the Hungarians feel about Russia assuming the role of their "security guarantor"? Do the Georgians and Ukrainians think President Obama is being "responsible" with their future? Did the President of the United States think it would be easier to deal with one dictatorial country rather than more than two-dozen free countries in various messy states of political evolution?” More at JINSA Report Sept. 18, 2009

International affairs and radicalism links

David Durant, Heretical Librarian, turned in his blogger keys and left the building a little over a year ago. In a profession that is 223:1 liberal to conservative, he is missed. But here's a refresher list on some of the links he followed. With the O-Admin moving quickly to silence critics through increased regulation who are very slowly waking up to the wasp nest of marxists surrounding this President, this will be a handy list to browse. Not all are working, but I'll try to weed out those that have given up, changed direction, or lost their domain name.

The War on Terror and International Affairs

Across the Bay
American Enterprise Institute
American Footprints
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Committee on the Present Danger
Council on Foreign Relations
The Counterterrorism Blog
Defend America
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
The Jamestown Foundation
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA)
Long War Journal
Michael Yon
The National Interest
9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America
Small Wars Journal
StrategyPage
Threats Watch
Victor Davis Hanson's Private Papers
Winds of Change

Radical Islamism, The Middle East and Reforming Islam

Ali Eteraz
Apostasy and Islam
Arab Media & Society
Asharq Alawsat
Big Pharaoh
Center for Liberty in the Middle East
Center on Islam, Democracy, and the Future of the Muslim World
Daily Star (Lebanon)
Daniel Pipes
Faith Freedom International
Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism
Hammorabi
Healing Iraq
Initiative for an Open Arab Internet
Interfaith Strength
Iraq Blog Count
Iraq the Model
Iraq Updates
Irshad Manji
Islamist Watch
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Jihad Watch
Martin Kramer on the Middle East
The Mesopotamian
Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
Middle East Transparent [click on English]
Secular Islam
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Watch

Featuring today: MEMRI, where you can stop by and read or hear Osama bin Laden's September message to the American people, which sounds extremely close to our own leftists; he even recommends reading Jimmy Carter.-- "The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) explores the Middle East through the region's media. MEMRI bridges the language gap which exists between the West and the Middle East, providing timely translations of Arabic, Persian,Turkish, Urdu-Pashtu media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends in the Middle East.

Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501 (c)3 organization. MEMRI's headquarters is located in Washington, DC with branch offices in London, Tokyo, Rome, Baghdad, Shanghai, and Jerusalem. MEMRI research is translated to English, German, Hebrew, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese."