This is just shameful

Regardless of who you voted for for president, I would hope that you would find this video not only alarming but shameful as well.



There is NO REASON a teacher who would do that to a child should EVER be allowed back in the classroom. EVER.

Well, if I were to say I wasn't disappointed, I'd be lying.

HOWEVER, it is my DUTY as an American citizen to pray for our president elect whether I voted for him or not. I encourage everyone else to do the same. REGARDLESS of how I feel about Barack Obama's political leanings, his associations, or his ideas, it is my RESPONSIBILITY to bring our future president before the Lord in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father-

Lord, you knew the outcome of this election before Barack Obama or John McCain ever even existed. This election has been part of your plan all along. I don't understand why it turned out the way that it did, nor is it my job to understand. You, Lord, know why one man triumphed over another, and you alone know how this future president will affect our nation and the world.

You promise in Scripture that you will take care of your children, Lord, and I believe you. In Matthew 6:25-34, you remind us not to worry, because you take care of so many other things that are less important than we are.

I pray for our nation today Lord, that all of its' people will be pulled together in unity and not further divided. I pray for our leaders, that their decisions will be guided by your hand. I pray for each of the newly elected members of our government, that they would be willing to work with each other to better our nation. I pray that every single member of each political party would be able to understand, and even agree with each other on legislation that will be in the best interest of ALL of the residents of the United States, not just a select few. I pray that John McCain and Sarah Palin will continue to work with the Democratic party to institute positive changes in our country.

I pray, Lord, that you will be glorified in how those who set their faith in you handle situations that may arise because of this election.

Lord, to me this request seems a daunting, even impossible task, but I know you can work miracles. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. You have the ability to make a situation go from a hopeless disaster to an unexplainable success. I don't know what your will is, and I may never know why this election turned out the way that it did. I have trust in you, Lord, that you have the best interest of your people at heart. I just pray for the ability to see that, even when things don't go the way I think they should!

I thank you, Lord, that I live in a nation where I can pray to you freely. I thank you for the number of people who turned out to vote yesterday. I thank you that John McCain was able to set aside his disappointment in order to concede victory to Barack Obama in a respectful manner last night. I thank you for allowing the people of the US to know the results of the election in a timely fashion instead of having to wait days or even weeks to know who won.

Most of all, Lord, I thank you for the peace that I feel this morning, the peace that I asked you for last night. You are a gracious God, and you care for your people beyond measure. I ask that your will be done, and that you will be glorified by Christians throughout the nation.

In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Okay, or maybe later...

I just dropped the kids off at the bus stop, and thought I'd swing by my local polling location to see if I could vote before Ande has to go to work this morning. Even though the polls weren't supposed to open for another 15 minutes, I thought I might be able to get in line and get through fairly quickly.

Judging by the number of cars parked in the parking lot, across the street in the bank's parking lot, in the hair salon parking lot, down the side road on which the building sits....well, let's just say that there were at least several hundred OTHER people who had the same idea. (WHICH IS A GOOD THING!)

So, I'm thinking that I might just walk up there a little later with the girls to cast my vote, because:

1. It's only 1.02 miles from my house.
2. The weather today is supposed to be beautiful (read 70 - IN NOVEMBER - IN MICHIGAN!).
3. The girls love going for walks (or rides, really, since at least one of them would be in the stroller).
4. There's probably still going to be nowhere to park, and if I don't drive, I won't have to find a spot.
5. Always a great excuse to show off the girls, because they're so darn cute! Puckey LOVES having a captive audience, too...LOL.
6. Let's face it, I could use the exercise.
   

Voting CAN be good for you!

GO VOTE!

YEAH, YOU! You who are sitting in front of your computer! GO VOTE!

(If you've already voted, please disregard this message...)

I'm off to try to get my vote in before Ande has to go to work this morning...Tuesday Tip O' the Day to come....

So, this is "free speech" in West Hollywood, California?

"A mannequin portraying U.S. Republican vice-presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin hangs by a noose as a mannequin portraying U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain protrudes from the chimney of a private residence in West Hollywood, California October 27, 2008. Part of a Halloween display, the likenesses drew complaints on Monday, but local officials said the homeowner was covered by free speech rights. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)"

Now, I am all for freedom of speech, but who else believes that if this were a scene depicting Barack Obama and Joe Biden that the owners of this home would have been forced to remove it immediately? I mean, can you even IMAGINE how the democrats and the liberal media would react to something like that?

Outrageous.

Who's YOUR "Daddy"?

A reader who only identified herself as "Holly W." (I wonder if her last name is Wood?? You know...Holly Wood? That would be SUH-WEET.) Okay, sorry. I've regained composure. Anyway, Ms. "W" left me a comment on both this post and this post, but (conveniently enough) I can't get to her blog (if she has one) to leave a comment directly to her. So I don't know if she'll come back to see if I responded, but on the chance that she might, here's what I'm going to do. I am posting her comments, and I will post my responses embedded within what she wrote. It's easier for me to address her points then.

Here's her first set of comments, left in response to my link to "If You Like Michigan's Economy, You'll Love Obama's":

That's really dangerous to consider an opinion piece from Phil Gramm (remember, he's the McCain economic advisor who said that the economy is strong and that the US is just a nation of whiners) to be journalistic fact! He obviously has an agenda, and that is to make people like you scared of Obama. Unfortunately it's working! The best thing you can do during this election season is to read objective, fact-based articles- not opinion pieces, which are usually just that- opinions!

I'm not sure how one can dispute the fact that states under Democratic leadership have floundered, while states under Republican leadership have prospered. I don't see how Obama is going to help my family by raising taxes my husband's employer has to pay. I see that as a great excuse for employers to shrink their workforce to "make up" for the lost revenue paid out in taxes. I also don't believe that the government spending more money is going to stimulate the economy. I know that if I spend more than I'm bringing in, my personal economy is anything but stimulated. I'm thinking the government would have the same problem. That is, of course, my opinion, but I do try to base my opinion on factual information. As for it being "dangerous" - there is nothing more dangerous than singing. (Just wanted to make sure you were still paying attention)

I also want to comment on the other article you put up there about Democratic fundraisers backing McCain. Do you know how this woman is? She's married to a British noblemen, lives in England, and is very rich! Calling Obama "elitist" is simply ridiculous!!! How can Obama be elitist? He was raised by a single mother (partly with food stamps), he just recently paid off his student loans- he didn't get a free ride to Harvard because his daddy could pay tuition- he only has one house (compared to McCain's 7-9 houses- he can't even keep track), he only has one car (McCain has 13)! So what makes him elitist? Because he has a good education? Because he's smart? McCain finished at the Naval Academy at the bottom (or second-to) of his class. Our current president isn't all that smart, and look where that's gotten us!

Lynn Forester de Rothschild grew up in New Jersey, and worked her way up to her financial position in life. She was very wealthy before she even married her husband. That doesn't mean a whole lot. I know of other people who are very wealthy who are humble, and I know of people who don't have much but scorn others who are in their same situation.

The statement that Barack Obama was raised by his single mother who collected food stamps is a bit misleading. According to Time Magazine (April 9, 2008), "Obama's father had an agenda: to return to his home country and help reinvent Kenya. He wanted to take his new family with him. ... "In the end, Ann decided not to follow him." and "When her son was almost 2, Ann returned to college. Money was tight. She collected food stamps and relied on her parents to help take care of young Barack. She would get her bachelor's degree four years later. In the meantime, she met another foreign student, Lolo Soetoro, at the University of Hawaii." Sounds like Obama's mom made the conscious decision to stay in Hawaii (which I don't disagree with, I might have done the same thing), but she had the help of her parents, which is more than many single moms have today.

As for how Obama paid for college, Harvard won't release details of exactly how his entire tuition was paid for, and the Obama's tax records show them paying no interest in student loans after 2004. That's 4 years ago, and his income in 2005 was 1.6 MILLION dollars. He's not exactly "broke" As a matter of fact, the Obama's yearly income for 2000-2004 was nearly TEN TIMES what my family of 7 lives on.

In reference to the number of houses or cars owned by Obama or McCain - In my opinion, if they can afford what they have, let them have it. I personally would never want to own 7 homes or 13 cars, but more than what these people have done for themselves, what have they done for others? What kind of charitable contributions have they made? What have they done to better our world?

Regarding what makes Obama an elitist - how can someone who attended a church that appears to hold a racist view, as well as an anti-American position for 20 years think people will believe he doesn't harbor some resentment towards white people and the country he calls home? How can he not face the flag OR place his hand over his heart during our NATIONAL Anthem, and not be considered un-patriotic? How can his wife come out and say that she's "proud of our country for the first time" (or something like that) only because her husband has the opportunity to become president? What about all of the opportunities they were both afforded in being able to attend college and become successful lawyers? What about her husband becoming a US Senator? I'd say those are all things to be proud of being able to do.

You mentioned McCain's rank in his class at the Naval Academy. Someones grades (or lack thereof) do not necessarily reflect intelligence. My son is VERY smart, gets "A's" on nearly every test...his GPA is only in the "C" range.

Some people have a hard time taking tests, although they could give you a detailed (and correct) answer when questioned outside of a testing situation.

I graduated High School with a 3.98 GPA (4.0 was the best you could do back then...) and yet I was only in the top 10% of my class of 206. Things like that could be a matter of perspective.

Not saying that Obama ever cheated, because I have never heard that about him, but for another example...people can, and do, cheat to succeed sometimes, be it in school, sports, or business. Again, I am not saying Obama ever cheated, just to be clear.

Finally, I'm sorry to hear about your (husband's) grandmother. My thoughts go out to your family.

I appreciate your acknowledgment of Ande's grandma's death. She was a fine, God loving woman. Thank you.

p.s. I'm a concerned US citizen who just happens to live abroad. What I've learned by living in Europe is that government that can offer its people health insurance, a social safety net, free education (that includes college) is simply better in line with my ideology as an ethical Judeo-Christian- I don't need a lecture about God and Jesus. I'd really like to know why you think that health care for children and help for those who are having financial troubles are bad things. In today's economy, a lot of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, but you should know that better than me- I haven't been on American soil in over a year.

I don't think health care for children or help for those who are having financial troubles are bad things. Our family has been the beneficiary of both of those things. I don't have a solution to our country's problems, but I'm for sure not going to vote for someone who I believe will make them worse.

Now, for Ms. "W's" second set of comments, left under the "Like Rats Leaving a Sinking Ship" post:

I just don't get why Conservatives always try to claim that Liberals don't have any morals or are morally corrupt. What's wrong with wanting children to have health insurance, that is ALL children, or wanting those in need to be taken care of by the State when they're just not making it on their own.

Again, I don't see anything wrong with health insurance for everyone, or helping families in need. I just don't see Obama's plan being one that will work.

As for abortion rights and gay marriage- our founding fathers made it clear that in the US we have separation of Church and State- that means LEAVE YOUR BELIEFS OUT OF POLITICS!!!! I live in a country without separation of Church and State (Germany)- I am an American citizen, by the way- and even though religion is taught in public schools as a one of many subjects, they still manage to keep religion out of politics.

Separation of church and state means (simply stated) that our country will not force anyone to follow a "state" religion, and that our country does not claim to be a nation of a specific religion. (Although don't about 85% of Americans claim to be Christian? I'm just sayin') As for leaving religion out of politics - some of our laws are based on the Ten Commandments, and those same commandments are the basis on which much of society bases their morality (or at least used to). Separation of church and state does not mean, "Leave your beliefs at the door". I won't vote for someone whom I don't feel shares my beliefs.

As for abortion and homosexual marriage - murder is wrong. Most people agree on that, right? Then why is killing a baby okay? There are so many other alternatives out there. The homosexual lifestyle is wrong, as well. If it weren't, why did people (until recent times) hide it?? Why do people go to court to defend it?

Speaking of separation of church and state and religion being taught in school - did you know the first Bibles published in the US were for use in schools?

Anyway, I personally am also pro-life, but how can I claim to be in a position to judge a woman that feels like abortion is the only option? Why should I take that right away from her? Or better yet, let's start teaching our teens about safer sex or work on ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place. We only have to look to Bristol Palin to see that abstinence-only doesn't work. In short, let's start worrying about the people who are already on this earth and start taking care of them.

Using Bristol Palin as a defense for sex-ed seems like a good idea, until you think about the fact that NO form of birth control is 100% effective all of the time EXCEPT abstinence. So Bristol messed up, got caught up in a moment....do you honestly believe that knowing how to have sex "safely" helps? To me, it's like giving permission to have sex. Give a teenager a license, a car, and a set of keys. Do you think he's NOT going to want to drive? It's the same thing with sex. Sex outside of marriage has been glamorized more and more in the media. Promoting sex ed, which gives education on how to protect yourself from STD's and unwanted pregnancies, wouldn't even be necessary if people learned to keep it in their pants until marriage, and then remained faithful to their marriage partner for life. Maybe we should start teaching MARRIAGE Ed in schools.

Do any of you work with underprivileged children or people truly on the fringes of our society? I'd be interested to know.

I don't have personal experience with that, other than supporting charities like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. My husband worked in a homeless shelter/drug rehab facility for about a year, and I did interact with some of the clients there on occasion.

Anyway, what ever happened to "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone"? Or loving your neighbor as yourself?

No one is without sin. However, we (Christians) shouldn't look the other way when we know there is sin going on. You can love a person without loving the sins they've committed, but that is not to condone the sin.

In case anyone wants to respond, you can spare yourself any religious arguments- I've heard them all, I've thought about them, and I've studied Theology at the University. You'll just feel like your talking to a brick wall, which is how I'll probably feel by bothering to respond. I just get riled up when I see people telling lies and spreading misinformation about Liberals.

Father God does not lie. His word is the truth. Satan, however, is the Father of Lies. Who's YOUR "Daddy"?

Like rats leaving a sinking ship:

Found this article this morning on Yahoo! News. I have the distinct feeling that this won't be the first of these kinds of stories.

Top Democratic fundraiser backs McCain over Obama
Thu Sep 18, 12:54 AM ET

A former supporter and generous donor to Hillary Clinton announced she had endorsed Republican John McCain for president, saying she did so because the Democratic nominee Barack Obama was too elitist. (NO, REALLY????)

Even before jumping ship for the McCain campaign, Lynn Forester de Rothschild did not hide her dislike for Obama, who narrowly defeated Clinton in a months-long battle for the Democratic nomination.

In July she told CNN: "Frankly I don't like him. I feel like he is an elitist. I feel like he has not given me reason to trust him." (JOIN THE CLUB, SISTER, WE HAVE JACKETS!)

Rothschild, wife of British banker Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, and long-time member of the Democratic Party, gave more than 100,000 dollars to Clinton's failed bid for the party's nomination.

"Senator Clinton disagrees with her decision," said Clinton spokeswoman Kathleen Strand.

Appearing on CNN Wednesday, Rothschild backtracked somewhat to stress that she didn't not like Obama, but "I said critical things about him because I don't think he should be president in this election." (ME EITHER)

Rothschild said she was resigning Wednesday from the Democratic National Committee's platform committee, but that she would remain a registered Democrat.

Former president "Ronald Reagan might have said it right, the Democratic Party left me, I didn't leave the Democratic Party," she said.

As Rothschild announced her defection to McCain, the Obama campaign lauded an endorsement from Lilly Ledbetter, an Alabama woman whose fight for equal pay led her to the US Supreme Court. (EQUAL PAY IS A GOOD THING)

At a campaign event focusing on the economy in Richmond, Virginia, Ledbetter heralded Obama for supporting fair pay legislation that bears her name.

Speaking about Obama, Ledbetter said: "There is only one candidate who has stood up for women like me, who has consistently fought to help women who are working hard every day for our families and aren't being paid fairly." (HE DOESN'T FIGHT FOR THE LIVES OF INNOCENT BABIES, TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, ASSOCIATES WITH KNOWN TERRORISTS, WANTS TO RAISE OUR TAXES, AND HAS MADE SOME STATEMENTS RECENTLY THAT HAVE CAUSED MEMBERS OF HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HIM...BUT HE SUPPORTS EQUAL PAY, AND THAT WILL MAKE HIM A GOOD PRESIDENT. NOT)

Just doing a little experiment...

Well, I was checking out my visitor stats, and I noticed that in the days after I posted about Sarah Palin the number of people who checked out my blog increased nearly ten-fold. I'd love to think that it's because of word-of-mouth and that people are recommending my blog to their friends and family...but I DO live in the real world and have the feeling that it was because I posted about Sarah Palin.

So, as a little experiment, I decided to post again about Governor Palin, and include different things about her to see if it causes another upswing in the number of visitors.

Governor Palin has a son named Trig, who has Down Syndrome.

Bristol Palin, Sarah's 17 year old daughter, is pregnant and engaged to the father Levi Johnston.

Governor Palin and her husband were high school sweethearts and have five children. (All with pretty unusual names...Piper and Bristol were the only ones I had heard used as names before)

Todd Palin is apparently a REALLY REALLY good snow machine racer, having won the Iron Dog snow machine race something like four times.

Governor Palin is an AWESOME choice for Vice President, and I'm glad John McCain picked her.

Now...let's see if that "ups" my stats!! It will be interesting to see if it does. I'll probably add more tidbits of info as I think of them, but right now it's dinner time!!!