You cannot make this stuff up. Attorney David W. Ogden is President Obama's choice for 2nd in command in the U.S. office of the Attorney General. So what?

Attorney David W. Ogden is pro-gays in the military, pro-p*orn, pro-abortion, and pro-children's access to unfiltered internet at libraries.

American Family Association is urging those that find Ogden's positions unacceptable to call their senators to vote against David W. Ogden's nomination. From the AFA:

Call your two senators and tell them to vote against the Ogden nomination. Ogden is no friend of the family.

• As an attorney in private practice, David W. Ogden has filed briefs pushing for gays in the military.
• He has litigated numerous obscenity and pornography cases on behalf of clients like Playboy, Penthouse, the ACLU and the largest distributor of hardcore pornographic movies.

In various cases, he has filed briefs opposing:
• parental notification before a minor’s abortion
• spousal notification before an abortion
• the military’s policy against public homosexuals serving in uniform
• the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act.

Take Action!

Make your phone call today! Get others to call. Tell your senators to vote against the nomination of David Ogden to the second position at the attorney general’s office. You can reach both of your senators at this number: 202-224-3121.

This is not the kind of "change" I "hope"d for.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki Mckenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, CNS News

Last Thursday, I posted Ad celebrates Obama's mother's choice. That very afternoon, I received an email from Focus on the Family Action urging Christians to "pray for a change of heart for President Obama" regarding his pro-abortion and pro Freedom of Choice Act positions

If you recall, during the 3rd debate with John McCain, Obama made an effort to appear that he too was against partial-birth abortion.  Obama stated, "With respect to partial-birth abortion, I am completely supportive of a ban on late-term abortions, partial-birth or otherwise, as long as there's an exception for the mother's health and life..." That statement sounded somewhat conservative.

Yet Candidate Obama also promised Planned Parenthood that he would make signing the Freedom of Choice Act, which would reinstate Partial Birth Abortion, among other changes, his TOP PRIORITY. And so, Christians in the United States are urging that believers pray that President Obama would have a change of heart.

I have not heard anything specific about the Freedom of Choice Act yet, but since Obama wasted no time in ending President Bush's executive order to ban Federal funding to groups that promote abortion internationally, I would expect Obama to fulfill his promise to Planned Parenthood too.

I am grateful that the Catholic Church spoke out against Obama's executive order: Vatican criticizes Obama on abortion issue.  The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life summed up Obama's actions, "Among the many good things that he could have done, Barack Obama instead chose the worst."

And now we get to pay for it.

As for The Freedom of Choice Act. It sounds so innocent. If you are unfamiliar with the Freedom of Choice Act, FOCA, will no doubt be coming our way. Here are just a few things that law would change: 

 This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

 A group called FightFOCA is collecting signatures of those opposed to the Freedom of Choice Act. You may sign the petition here. The "petition will be sent to key Members of Congress upon the re-introduction of the Freedom of Choice Act in the 111th Congress", and to the president.

If you are opposed, let your voice be heard, and don't forget to pray. With political leaders like Nancy Pelosi promoting the idea that adding "birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package ...will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government", implying "babies are somehow a burden on the treasury" we need all the help we can get.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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January 18 - 25th is Sanctity of Human Life week. It also marks "the 36th anniversary of the 1972 U.S. Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade opinion that struck down state restrictions on abortion, essentially installing that "right" in the Constitution."

WorldNetDaily posted a very thought provoking pro-life ad* from CatholicVote.org that celebrates "President Barack Obama's mother's decision not to abort the first black American president"  Click to watch. (It is very short and tastefully done.)

The promotion is sponsored by CatholicVote.org, a faith-based educational program. The organization website states that it launched its "Life: Imagine the Potential" campaign "to reach Americans who are either indifferent, or who have not yet thought about the great potential of every human life."

President Obama's agenda regarding "reproductive choice" has been posted on the White House website.

It states, Obama "has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration."

Remember, Obama promised Planned Parenthood during the campaign to make signing the Freedom of Choice Act, that reinstates Partial Birth Abortion his TOP PRIORITY. (See Obama, are you for or against Partial Birth Abortion? Yes for more information.)

I am glad CatholicVote** is speaking out on this issue and promoting their Life: Imagine the Potential campaign. Like the bumper sticker states, "You cannot be Catholic & Pro-abortion".  I hope these efforts cause people to really think about what it means to be pro-choice and embolden other Christians to speak out more against it too.

*Heard about the ad on Vicki McKenna's show Thursday. 

**Although I am not a Catholic, this is an area of common belief. 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Wednesday, Jan. 14th, 8:30am to 4pm, is the last official day for interested Elmbrook residents to review the Human Growth & Development sex-ed materials. The HGD committee meets this Thursday to discuss the review comment forms. If you have looked at the sex ed materials, make sure your comments are submitted to Elmbrook's school offices by noon, Thursday, Jan. 15.

I was at the district office to look through the curriculum again yesterday. That makes about 7 hours for me. I started at the kindergarten level last week and so far have only gotten to the middle school materials. Even spending that amount of time, I have not seen everything covered in the classes. I realize I need more time.

Parents have been stopping in. One man came yesterday asking where he could pick up the class materials for his wife. After we (the 5 of us in the room) informed him there was no take home packet, he said his wife would come Wednesday.

I have been told there are over 188 hours of classroom instruction to be reviewed but far less time was offered to look through the curriculum. Plus, it takes time to look through something you are not familiar with.

Elmbrook's HGD program is said to be abstinence based. So far, I have not seen much evidence of this emphasis. I strongly encourage you to take a look for yourself--especially if you have children in the middle school and high school.

I realize the HGD committee must move on so the board can vote on the curriculum toward the end of the month, but considering the bins of materials are just sitting on tables in the board room, with no interaction between office staff and the viewers, I see little reason to limit reviewing time at this point. With additional review time, at least you could read through and watch what the board will be approving or rejecting.

Contact Director of Learning Melanie Stewart at 262-781-3030, extension 1112 or email her, stewartm@elmbrookschools.org to request more time.

The administrative offices are located at 13780 Hope Street, just a few blocks north of Capitol Drive.
 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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For the second time in a few weeks, another atheist acknowledges God as an important factor in helping people. The first time was in an email I received from an atheist in California concerning my Are you naughty, nice? Stingy, generous? blog on giving. In that blog I concluded "the real litmus test on giving is religion." My atheist emailer then replied, "Never thought I'd say this, but thank God for religion then, if it makes Conservatives altruistic."

Today, I received an email newsletter from my missionary cousin*. He included this article from Times reporter Matthew Parris with the question, "If you've EVER wondered, does it really matter, do missionaries really have an impact, does the Gospel change lives at the heart level, PLEASE read, As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God, Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset."

I did read it. It was quite remarkable. Writer Matthew Parris opens with: (My emphasis)

Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it's Malawi, [Africa] and The Times Christmas Appeal includes a small British charity [Pump Aid--for clean water] working there...

It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But traveling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God.

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

He used to chalk up the good work of missionaries as, "if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but what counted was the help, not the faith."

But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.

First, then, the observation... In the city we had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.

...

Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away...

I believe their confidence came from knowing they were forgiven, God was working in their lives, and ultimately, they had a place in eternity with God. 

This time in Malawi it was the same. I met no missionaries. You do not encounter missionaries in the lobbies of expensive hotels discussing development strategy documents, as you do with the big NGOs. But instead I noticed that a handful of the most impressive African members of the Pump Aid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were, privately, strong Christians...

It would suit me to believe that their [the African Christian's] honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in turn, influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that Christianity had taught.

...

Anxiety - fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature and the wild, of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things - strikes deep into the whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place and, call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual spirit, stunting curiosity. People won't take the initiative, won't take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.

...

Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God... smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual [passive] framework I've just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious to cast off a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it liberates.

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.

And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.

Pretty remarkable comments coming from an avowed atheist! Writer Parris stumbled on a truth: Christianity elevates and frees a society in a way that just throwing money and education at it cannot.

His observations are also sobering. The United States used to be unquestioningly a Judeo/Christian nation. As our nation refuses to acknowledge God in more and more segments of our society, God will withdraw His hand of blessing, just as He did with the Israelites when they refused to give up idol worship. (His chosen people, the Jews, were carried into captivity as a judgment.)

There are some who will protest the prayer at the Inauguration. Prayer was removed from public schools in 1962. Prayers aren't even allowed at most graduation ceremonies. Some think In God We Trust shouldn't be on our money. All I can say is, be careful what you ask for. 

I hope you take the time to read Parris' complete article. If an atheist can see the benefits of Christianity, maybe it will inspire others. 

* Cousin Matt, producer of The Enemy God movie.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Our state capitol in Madison has a Christmas tree (I am using last year's term), a menorah for Hanukkah, and I think something for Kwanza too. I am fine with that. They are holidays celebrated in December by people of various religions and cultures in our state.

Last year I heard they also included a Winter Solstice plaque. They have it this year too.

The Winter Solstice is Dec. 22. It is marks the point in earth's orbit that we have the longest period of night time hours and shortest period of daylight hours in our year (because of the earth's tilt on its axis.) It is a fact in our astronomical calendar. (Southern hemisphere has the summer solstice at this same time.)

It is also the day for many ancient pagan celebrations. The Romans would celebrate Saturnalia during the solstice. The Druids and Celts also had celebrations; many groups did and still do. Today, those in the earth goddess movement or atheists often acknowledge or celebrate the solstice.

OK, put up a display at the Capitol. But does it have to be this?

At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail.  There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.  There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.

I could go along with the 1st and 3rd sentence. It is their opinion and they have the right to it. That doesn't mean I believe it is true, but we still do have the right to free speech.

But that 2nd and last statement? That to me is negative and hate speech. There is no reason to insult those of other beliefs. I don't think this should be allowed--certainly not in a display of holiday celebration. Holiday displays should be positive.

This is a classical example of the bias against Christianity and religion in government and the media. Have you heard anything about this? I only heard about it last year and this because of talk show host Vicki McKenna. She describes herself as not particularly religious, but this hateful statement must have violated her sensibilities too.

Christians could post a Bible verse stating how those who reject God are destined for eternal separation from Him (and I believe it is true), but this would not be appropriate for a holiday celebration display. They might even post a positive verse about Jesus' birth, that He would save the people from their sins. 

But posting anything from the Bible would probably not be allowed. Why, we cannot even call what is obviously a Christmas tree a Christmas tree, and there is nothing religious about it except its adjective!

Yet the atheists can post this? "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Christians, in case you haven't been paying attention, your rights are quickly slipping away. If you don't bother to start speaking up for yourselves, expect to see more of this blatant bias against your beliefs.

Contact page for Gov. Doyle  (I asked the Governor to restore the term, "Christmas tree" and remove the Solstice plaque until a more positive statement was crafted.)

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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It is true; I don't get out much. But even I notice that the retail world goes directly from Halloween to Christmas decorations, totally ignoring Thanksgiving. Every year, the Christmas decor comes out earlier and earlier.

This year I observed Mayfair Mall donned its Christmas decor BEFORE Halloween! I had gone there on Oct. 24th to get my monthly 5# bag of Sumatra whole bean coffee. The mall was decked in reds and greens.

Last Saturday I went to Mayfair again. (Yup, for coffee.) While I did not shop the entire mall, I did walk past many stores and breezed in a few just to look.

Only one store that I saw on the main floor featured an autumn or Thanksgiving theme. That store was Williams-Sonoma, a.k.a. a cooks heaven. Ah, great! A store that acknowledges the season of Thanksgiving.

As I walked through the store it came to me. People cook for Thanksgiving. It is probably one of the major cooking holidays of the year. Of course the store would be pushing Thanksgiving--it is one of the few times a year people cook! Thanksgiving is a BIG day in the culinary retail world. None the less, it was nice to see the displays.

I think it is a sad commentary that Thanksgiving gets squeezed out as a holiday, and more importantly the reason we are celebrating ignored. The day set aside to thank God for His provision has devolved into Turkey Day, football, shopping (I thought I heard a radio ad say Gander Mountain was open Thanksgiving day) and preparing a strategy for Black Friday sales.

Yesterday I saw a Christmas wreath lit on a home. I understand people wanting to put up the decorations while the weather is still nice. But please, can we just hold off lighting them until after Thanksgiving?

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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File this under: Plan ahead. Human Growth and Development team member Cheri Mastel left a comment reminding us of these upcoming HGD meetings. Since I don't want any interested parents or residents to miss this opportunity, I am posting portions of her comments here:

Soon we [team members] will give of time, effort, and talent to the HGD parent advisory committee again.  

Three 2-hour meetings are scheduled FOR ALL PARENTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE K-12 CURRICULUM, OR ANY PORTIONS THEREOF.  Personally, I do not believe 6 hours is sufficient to review the entire k-12 curriculum including videos, DVDs, printed materials, etc, for this would imply 1/2 hour of instructional materials per grade level. Even viewing one video or DVD may use most or all of the time alloted.  More time has been requested of the district.  

The district has also been asked to provide copies of the not-yet-approved high-level-outcomes as a check-off-list for matching each of the instructional materials to their proposed outcomes during the review.

Meeting dates and times will undoubtedly be announced by the district but if you'd like as much advance notice as possible, and not risk overlooking a tiny notice on an obscure page, here is the info board members and HGD parent advisory committee members have received:

Tuesday, Dec. 9th 4:30–6:30PM, Friday, Dec,12th 1–3PM, and Tuesday, Jan. 6th 8:30–10:30AM

Again, many parents may be working at these times. The second meeting may be especially difficult to attend as it also coincides with school dismissal. Special arrangements may need to be made in advance, juggling schedules to attend.  I hope many will find it to be worth the effort.

I am glad there are a variety of times offered. I interested parents and residents should be at least able to attend one review meeting.

If I had a child in the district, I would want to know ahead of time what information my child would be given in class. You might be surprised by what is taught in the early grades.

Human Growth & Development (Sex Ed.) is a very personal issue. Opting out is always an option, but at what grade level do you need to start that? (For me, it would be K5, the school district's world view does not match mine.) The HG&D review should help you decide.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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We are all growing weary of the campaign ads, but there is one ad I love to hear. It is Yash Wadhwa's radio ad for Wisconsin's 22nd Assembly district.

Yash tells how he came to America in 1969 with just $5 in his pocket and a dream in his heart. His story reminded me of my own foreign born grandfather who came here at age 13.

Yash says, I believe in this country you could do anything you were willing to work for, and it was true. From a graduate student to an owner of a consulting engineering company, I have been blessed to live the American dream...

This is the best country on earth. When I became a citizen in 1982 it was the happiest day in my life. 

This country has given me so much I am eager to go to Madison and give something back. 

Listen to his complete ad: Yash Wadhwa and the American Dream

He gets it. Work hard and succeed. It worked for him, it can work for anyone.

I spoke at length with a Pakistani woman at a party last week. She has lived all over the world, and she appreciated what America had to offer too. No one else works (or plays) as hard as you do here in America, she said.  

My sister-in-law lived in Canada for a year. She often commented how people were so different up there. We tend to think we could easily adapt to life in Canada. Not so, she said. They don't possess that same sense of entrepreneurship. There is none of that go get 'em attitude up there. They wait instead for the government to do for them what they could do for themselves.

I agree with Yash. We are privileged to live in the best country on earth. It breaks my heart that the front runner in this presidential race doesn't agree. Worse yet, Obama wants to copy the failed economic policies of socialist countries and restrict the freedoms we take for granted.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Obama's I'm against same-sex marriage but against ending it's practice via California's Proposition 8 rings about as true as Wisconsin State Senator Jim Sullivan saying, he is for Voter ID but not for a state constitutional amendment referendum question requiring Voter ID. It's doublespeak for I don't want the current situation to change, but don't want to be on the record as saying so.

Obama Says He is Against Same-Sex Marriage But Also Against Ending Its Practice In Calif.:

Barack Obama's nuanced position on same-sex marriage is on full display in an MTV interview which is set to air on Monday.

Obama told MTV he believes marriage is "between a man and a woman" and that he is "not in favor of gay marriage." 

At the same time, Obama reiterated his opposition to Proposition 8, the California ballot measure which would eliminate a right to same-sex marriage that the state's Supreme Court recently recognized.

That's their Obama! Trying to be on both sides of the fence.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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People, you have a voice. Use it!

When you speak up in volumes to corporations or to Congress, it usually has a positive affect. McDonald's recently reversed its support for gay and lesbian political and social issues. Sen. McCain is talking about drilling domestically because Americans demanded it.

Just a week ago, I told you about 2 Choice Hotels in New Jersey that offered a $50 discount to women who were in the process of having an abortion in Stay in our hotels, aborting young mothers do.  

I urged you to contact the hotel chain. I did. Evidently many people called and emailed, because yesterday I received a reply: (My emphasis)

Dear Kyle Prast:

Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns about two hotels that are a part of the Choice Hotels franchise system.  We appreciate your input on this matter.  We have received several similar inquires. These two hotels, like all of our more than 4,600 franchised properties in the United States, are independently owned and operated. 

...While Choice as a franchisor develops national marketing programs, rates and promotion programs such as these are set locally.

As a result of inquiries like yours, The Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, upon reflection, has ended this practice of offering special rates to patients of the Cherry Hill Women's Center.

In addition, we have been advised by the Quality Inn in Maple Shade that any assertions of a similar discount at that hotel are false.

Thank you again for alerting us to this important issue. We hope you can now feel more comfortable about staying at our hotels.

Sincerely,

Mark Weiner
Vice President, Customer Care and Reservations, Choice Hotels International, Inc.

I emailed back a thank you. I don't know why the Quality Inn in Maple Shade, NJ was included in Family Research Council's alert, but they say they are not involved in the practice. Certainly the outpouring of negative public comment should keep other hotels in the area from offering similar discounts.

Money talks. Most businesses know they cannot afford to offend large groups of potential customers--especially in a depressed economy. Now if we could just get our government to be as responsive. It takes a lot of hammering by the public to make even the tiniest dent.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Family Research Council brought this very disturbing news to my attention: Choice Hotels' Quality Inn in Maple Shade, New Jersey and the Clarion Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey are offering a room discount up to $50 to women who are in the process of having an abortion. From Family Research Council:  

According to volunteers from the area's [New Jersey's] "40 Days for Life" campaign, many of the patients leaving the Cherry Hill clinic are "alone, crying, and in extreme pain." After their digoxin injections, these mothers are sent home or to area hotels to wait for their babies to die. The next day, they return to the clinic to deliver their dead children.

Do these area inns really want to facilitate the killing process? And, from a legal standpoint, are they prepared to incur the liability if any medical complications arise? Unfortunately, the reason these women need a place to stay is because the clinics don't care enough about their health to monitor them overnight, despite the medical risks. That should be a clear signal to these hotels that local abortionists are harming women.

Choice Hotels International is the parent organization for both Quality Inns and Clarion Hotels. My family uses the hotel chain as overnight stops when traveling. The individual hotels are owned and run by different owners, but each hotel is still part of the Choice Hotels corporation. I did email corporate headquarters with my concerns over this practice and I will probably call them as well.  

I have no plans to visit New Jersey, but the description of what is going on in these two hotels is disquieting. It is usually best not to know too much about what goes on in a hotel room. My husband and I once surprised the manager and gift store clerk when checking into our room in Kentucky. Nope, didn't want that room. But that experience pales in comparison to a girl waiting for her baby to die in a hotel room.

I'm thinking that if enough people contact Choice Hotel headquarters, the 2 New Jersey franchises may change their discount policy. After all, public pressure made McDonald's reconsider their pro-gay support.

Family Research Council hopes the same:

Join us in urging the Choice chain to choose life. Call the company toll-free at 800-300-8800 or log on to www.choicehotels.com. In the upper right corner, you'll see a tab for "customer support." Click through to voice your concerns. Rather than play a disturbing role in promoting abortion, encourage this company to start stocking pamphlets from nearby pregnancy resource centers.

Contact Choice Hotels Customer Support

LifeNews: New Jersey Quality Inn, Clarion Hotels Give Women Discounts for Abortions

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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I almost forgot about this: the McDonald's boycott ended about 2 weeks ago. Family Research Council reports:

The Big Mac attack on family values is finally over! After a five-month boycott, Americans finally got what they ordered-McDonald's agreement to stop financing the homosexual agenda. Back in May, the fast food giant joined the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to the dismay of millions of customers who did not feel served. At the time, company Vice President Richard Ellis refused to back down, even calling conservatives "haters" in a public statement.

The American Family Association launched a national campaign to force McDonald's to eat its words. And eat them, they did! This week, McDonald's announced that Ellis had resigned from the GLCC. In an email to franchises, the company said, "It is our policy not to be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same-sex marriage [and the] 'homosexual agenda...'" We thank McDonald's -- and those of you who used your buying power to encourage values on the menu and in company policy.

Additional Resources
Chicago Sun-Times: McDonald's cuts off gay chamber of commerce group

Ah, the power of the purse... Happy Meals are here again! 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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We value education in the United States. Parents often make sacrifices to send their children to good colleges. But do you know who is teaching your child? Do do you know what your young adult is learning at their school?

More and more information is coming out about William Ayers, the self proclaimed terrorist, member of the Weather Underground that bombed the Capitol, Pentagon, and police headquarters, and professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago. A terrorist, whose only regret about the bombings was "we didn't do enough," a college professor?

William Ayers has been in the news because of his connection to Barack Obama. I recently learned that Ayers hired Barack Obama to help distribute $50 million to Chicago schools, not to promote test scores or math, but to promote radicalism. 

In Ayers own words, he glorifies rebellion, "What is that spirit that we want to connect to? That spirit of rebellion, that spark of resistance, that spirit of insurgency." (Thanks Fairly Conservative) Don't you wonder what Ayers teaches in his classes?

Depending on the school, major, and class, some students are subjected to non-stop radical ideas and a strong liberal bias. UW-Madison is often referenced as the Communist Mecca of the Midwest or some variation on that theme. (Teachers stuck in the rebelious 70s was even spoofed in An American Carol.)

Often the bias isn't just in the classroom. Republicans at UWM found school policies to be different for them than for the Democrats when it came to voter recruitment. The Union told Republicans they couldn't even hang a poster! (I believe that has been remedied.) Last fall UWM tried to keep the Conservative Union group from bringing in former PLO member from speaking on "Why I Left Jihad."

I have heard students call up conservative talk radio programs such as Sean Hannity asking, what can they do about radical leftist teachers. If the student expresses his true conservative beliefs in an essay or on a test, they are penalized in their grades. Usually Hannity advises them to play along. It is still frustrating for the student.

But what about the student who doesn't even realize he is being proselytized?  

Talk to your college students about their classes--especially if they are taking classes such as sociology, philosophy, or history. You might be shocked at what their teachers are telling them. 

P.S. Radical agendas go on in elementary and secondary schools too. A Milwaukee school was reported to have Obama and donkey kicking McCain in the head posters in the halls. A Racine school is using Barack Obama's book in a class. Just this week School Field Trip to Teacher's Lesbian Wedding Sparks Controversy, but I'll save these for another day.  

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Adios Pedro's. Hola Hooters. UGH

We learned last week that Hooters restaurant won the auction for the bankrupt Pedro's restaurant. So much for Brookfield's image. 

A Brookfield Hooters makes an Aldis* look good, doesn't it? 

And what concerns the City of Brookfield with the prospect of Hooters? What goes on inside the building? No, the design and the color.

The city that pushed to have McDonald's abandon its Golden Arches and a grocer to paint over an objectionable shade of orange may have new challenges with an unexpected national restaurant chain coming to Brookfield: Hooters.

... 

He [Hooter's VP] said the chain would work with Brookfield to meet the city's architectural requirements as it renovates the building's exterior.

Dan Ertl, city development director, said he expected that, like McDonald's and other national chain restaurants that have sought to operate in Brookfield, Hooters "will most likely have to adjust their corporate architectural design to meet the standards of Brookfield, if not the landlord."

The chain's trademark bright orange might draw complaints from city plan commissioners who insisted that Fresh Market, an upscale grocer near Brookfield Square mall, repaint an orange trim to a more yellow color.

Alderman Jerry Melone did express some concerns over the Hooters franchise; other aldermen might have objected too. But the bottom line is, I don't think there is much the city can do to deter them from locating here. I can't picture them denying a  liquor license.

Let's face it, many other Brookfield businesses might go on the auction block in this troubled economy. What other unsavory businesses might be the winning bidder that the City of Brookfield would never have given the time of day before?

My family frequented The Bombay Bicycle Club and then Pedro's for lunch after church. Needless to say, Hooter's will not inherit our past patronage of that location. How about you?

"What do you think of Hooters coming to Brookfield? Share your views in an interactive forum at BrookfieldNOW.com."

With so many other more tasteful choices on Bluemound, it will be interesting to see if Hooters makes a go of it. Looking through the comments, people are split on whether the food is good or not. Time will tell. 

*The controversial Aldi's was in the Town of Brookfield, not the City. 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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I saw An American Carol on its debut, Friday, Oct. 3. Usually I wait for a movie to hit the Budget Theater, but with these more offbeat type films, often you better see them when you can. (Same thing happened with the movie, Expelled. It just came out on DVD in case you missed that one.)

The movie had some very funny lines, bits, and situations, but also contained some real points to ponder. Actor Leslie Nielsen plays a grandfather of a Navy man, the Bob Cratchit of the story, who is about to ship out to the Persian Gulf. The Navy man's uncle is the Michael Moore-like character, Michael Malone--the Scrooge.

During a 4th of July picnic, Grandpa Leslie Nielsen's grandchildren beg him for a story. He then tells them the American Carol story, how, anti-American Michael Malone (Scrooge) tried to abolish the 4th of July. (Malone cannot abide that holiday because it celebrates our war of independence, and he is a pacifist at any cost.) There is also a little of It's a Wonderful Life mixed in, where Michael sees what would have happened if President Lincoln had been a pacifist too.

Jacob Marley's ghost is John F. Kennedy. (If you remember, Director David Zucker was a Kennedy Democrat.) Kennedy comes out of the TV and scolds Michael for not listening to his inaugural address where he promises to stand by any country seeking liberty. 

There are also many funny scenes that involve the terrorists, who are plotting to blow up Michael Malone's anti 4th of July rally. (If you can call terrorists funny.) 

The same terrorist who said suicide bombers were getting harder to find because all the good ones were gone also said something about illegal immigrants: We need the Mexicans to do the jobs the Tali ban won't! (The audience roared at that one.)

The terrorists were searching for a movie director who hated America. Searching for a director who hates America? This won't be hard, all American directors hate America. Hollywood is full of them!

(Well, there is David Zucker, Stranger in a strange land: A conservative in Hollywood.)

Christians were to blame for all the world's ills too in some spoof bits, showing how Christians are the only group in a tolerant society that liberals won't tolerate. (How true.) 

There were times the movie was hokey and moved a little slowly, but overall, the message was very good. Zucker even got in a dig at the snobbish, anti-American stance of college educators. How they are really still stuck in the anti-American, anti-war era of 1968. (This is really true. Most teachers on college campuses, especially in the subjects of sociology and history are spewing anti-American garbage ala Professor Bill Ayers (terrorist) at University of Chicago...but that is another blog.)

There were other times when the movie was very touching and made you appreciate the sacrifice others have made for our country to give us the gift of Democracy and freedom.

The PG-13 rating was well earned. While there were no granddaddies of swear words, if you catch my drift, there were the usual crude substitutions for manure and calling people another word for donkey. There also was a situation that would imply gay sex in a men's room, but it wasn't. Some children wouldn't get the implication. Another caution was there was some violence that was treated as humorous. Overall, most teens are exposed to this type of thing in movies all the time if you allow them to see PG-13 fare.

Since the overall message is good and gives an appreciation of history, I would still recommend the movie for teens. BUT, if you are in doubt, I would advise that you see it yourself first before allowing your teen to see it.

An American Carol came in 9th in box office terms, taking in $3.7 million. Best of all, it beat out Bill Maher's anti Christian movie!  

So, how did a liberal Democrat become a conservative? The Weekly Standard's Hollywood Takes on the Left walks you through Director David Zucker's political journey. 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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What if I had a cure for Parkinson's, leukemia, diabetes, or paralysis caused by spinal cord injury? All you would have to do is take an infant, remove all of its stem cells (sorry, the infant dies), tweak the cells, and transfer them to the ill patient.

Would you do it?

Most people wouldn't and would consider that murderous act barbaric. Yet those who favor embryonic stem cell research are in effect doing just that in the eyes of those who are pro-life.

If you believe that life begins at conception, then even using an embryo for research purposes is an act of murder.

President Bush has been adamantly opposed to federal funding for embryonic stem cell research for that very reason. (The Bush stance only opposes federal funding--not outlawing private research.)

McCain has voted for existing embryonic stem cell research in the past, but those measures failed. John McCain is opposed to embryonic stem cell research that would encourage growing embryos for the purpose. The Republican platform is against any federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, but THEY ALL, BUSH, McCAIN, and PALIN FAVOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH! 

The outrageous Obama radio ad that distorts McCain's position includes a woman talking about her diabetic daughter. She says that John McCain is opposed to stem cell research. It goes on to say that medical research, benefiting millions, shouldn't be held hostage by a few.

So why do the Democrats constantly tell people that McCain and Bush are against stem cell research?

Two reasons: One, they want to portray the Republicans as heartless cretins, too stuck on religious principal to care about the ill. Two, if the Democrats can get people to buy into the necessity for embryonic stem cell research, it will dilute the anti-abortion/sanctity of life position of conservatives.

The issue should become moot in time, according to CNS, which is consistent with what I have seen reported*,

Stem cells obtained from adult humans have been widely acclaimed for their ability to promote human health and stave off dreaded illnesses. Stem cells obtained from human embryos, however, have not been successful in yielding results in scientific research thus far.

 

It will be wonderful to cure some of these diseases in the near future. McCain and Palin are in favor of curing these diseases too, just not at the expense of another individual! Remember that next time you hear an Obama ad saying they aren't.

PS Nick Reed (substitute for Vicki McKenna) called the mother, Jody Montgomery, from the ad to ask if she knew she was telling a complete lie. Turns out, this is the same woman who used the same type ad against Mark Green 2 years ago. Listen to the podcast from the 10am hour on Sept. 24th to hear more.

*Nick Reed just name some of the 73 benefits to human patients obtained from ADULT stem cell research on the same radio program. He continued the stem cell discussion into the 11am hour. He mentioned the 73 benefits at about 11:20am if you were listening to the podcast. See Stemcellresearch.org 

Brookfield District 7 Info meeting, Wed., Sept. 24, 2-3pm or 6:30-7:30pm City Clerk Kris Schmidt will be in attendance to answer questions or concerns regarding recent news about the Van Hollen lawsuit against the state elections authority.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

I would like to formally retract a comment I made on Cindy Kilkenny's Fairly Conservative blog. It was regarding Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live (Sept. 13th.) I said,

I did not see the program but heard about it today and read the script. Unbelievable. There is NOTHING funny about incest and certainly nothing funny about hinting at it going on in the Palin household. NBC's Saturday Night Live might think they can pass this sketch off as a slam on the New York Times, but I think it is just a disgusting attempt to further smear the Republican's VP pick.

Speaking of slamming the New York Times, today, McCain strategist Steve Schmidt called the New York Times a "Pro-Obama Advocacy Organization,"

Let's be clear and be honest with each other. Whatever the New York Times once was, it is today not by any standard a journalistic organization.

"It is a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day, attacks the McCain campaign, attacks Gov. Palin and excuses Sen. Obama."

"There is no level of public vetting. There is no level of outrage ... let's not be dishonest and call it something other than what it is. Everything that is in the New York Times that attacks this campaign should be evaluated from that perspective."

Don't forget, MS-NBC is "in the tank" for Obama too. 

No other candidate has been treated like Sarah Palin has--ever. To have the lefty media attack her and her family like this is truly vile.

If the liberal media keeps this up, soon they will have no independent minded or conservative viewers left. This election is certainly showing the media's true blue state colors.

Brookfield District 7 Info meeting, Wed., Sept. 24, 2-3pm or 6:30-7:30pm City Clerk Kris Schmidt will be in attendance to answer questions or concerns regarding recent news about the Van Hollen lawsuit against the state elections authority.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

I am a little puzzled by this statement, since the Democrat's presidential candidate and platform are pro-abortion too.

The Roman Catholic group, Fidelis, says Barack Obama's selection of pro-abortion Catholic Joe Biden to be his V.P. running mate "is a slap in the face to Catholic voters" and poses a major challenge for American Catholics.

In a press release sent out overnight, Fidelis president, Brian Burch, declared that Barack Obama has "re-opened a wound among American Catholics" by picking a pro-abortion Catholic politician like Joe Biden.

According to Burch, the American Catholic bishops have made it clear that Catholic political leaders must defend the dignity of every human person, including the unborn. 

The article goes on to state Joe Biden's "steadfast support for legal abortion" in the US Senate. 

This same issue came up in the 2004 election when John Kerry "sparked a nationwide controversy over whether Catholics who support legal abortion can receive communion." 

The Catholic group's president, Brian Burch stated, "Selecting a pro-abortion Catholic is a slap in the face to Catholic voters."

According to Burch, "The American bishops have instructed Catholic voters to consider many issues, but have characterized the defense of human life as foundational and have explained that the issue has a special claim on the conscience of the Catholic voter. This means that a political candidate like Biden, because of his strong support for abortion rights, forfeits any claim for support despite his views on other issues like health care and the economy."

I would agree with Mr. Burch that this issue is foundational.

What I don't quite understand is why would a pro-life Catholic (or a pro-life voter from any other religion) be voting for Barack Obama--the most anti pro-life candidate? 

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

If you remember, The American Family Association objected to McDonald's joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, making a $20,000 donation to that group, and placing a McDonald's executive on the their board back in April. McDonald's did not take the AFA's objections very seriously.

This month, the AFA is dialing up their objections a notch; they recently announced a McDonald's boycott because of McDonald's refusal "to stay neutral in the cultural war over homosexuality." From The Washington Post:

The [AFA] association asked McDonald's to remove itself from the chamber but the burger-maker declined, leading to the boycott. "We're saying that there are people who support AFA who don't appreciate their dollars from the hamburgers they bought being put into an organization that's going to fight against the values they believe in," Tim Wildmon, the association's president, said yesterday.

"Hatred has no place in our culture," McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman said. "That includes McDonald's, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment."

"Hatred?"  Who said anything about hatred? All AFA asked was that McDonald's stop supporting the Gay/Lesbian Chamber, a group the AFA sees as promoting anti-family values, such as same sex marriage.

To be perfectly clear about what this boycott is NOT and IS about, the AFA has stated their position in plain English on their boycott page:

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