When I think of the United States Armed Forces….there are a few words that jump to the forefront of my mind. Hero, Patriot, Integrity, Self-Sacrifice, Family, and Accountability are few that of these words that rise to the top. These words aren’t to be thrown around lightly…..and I don’t intend to! Seemingly more and more….the words that come to the mind of the “Anti-American Left” are; criminal, brutal, thief, moron, poor, under-educated, and religious zealot. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL AGREE WITH ME….. Our soldiers are anything but these things….. They are the backbone of our culture; they are the symbol of morality, and they are the essence of the word “Rich” (Rich in Faith, Rich in Love, Rich in Family, and Rich in Knowledge).

    As many of you know; I have been in an ongoing debate with “The Port of Portland”, Alaska Airlines, and most of the liberal press in Portland lately over a piece of “Artwork” at the airport. If you haven’t seen the piece that I am speaking of….it’s linked below from several different sources. It’s a hate-inspired piece of anti-war filth; meant to stir the pot….and it succeeded in its goal. Since the first time I saw that piece of art in the airport; one prevailing thought has haunted me, “What about the service men/women, their family, and the veterans that have to walk by this on a daily basis?” It breaks my heart to think that this depiction from someone’s hate-filled mind would be the last thing a soldier would see before going off to defend his right to be Anti-American! I thought about it so much that I began to wonder, “What if I am overreacting?” So I sent out a simple request to three United States Marines that I know……Verbatim; here is what I asked,

“If a U.S. Soldier was heading to the Middle East to fight for our country....and this picture was the last thing that you saw before getting onto the plane......how who you feel? Also....what's your take on the fact that loved ones; family members, children, spouses, and veterans are subjected to this artwork 24 hours a day at PDX?”

Here are the responses that I received from the three HERO’s……

“I do believe in freedom of speech, like every other American, and I believe in freedom of religion. It does not bother me to see a “star and crescent moon” on a building, a menorah, or star David.

The ACLU, however, removes crosses or biblical quotes from public view all the time. If they are so determined on keeping a symbol like the cross off of publicly funded land, and/or out of public view; then why is it that the crosses that are surrounding a uninformed representation of what it is exactly service members do over there, allowed to be in a public airport on public property? Where is the ACLU on this one? I was in Iraq myself a few months ago, and in the kindest words I can think of, “I know that this is NOT AT ALL an accurate representation of anything WE do over there. I can’t speak for the terrorists though……perhaps this artist does?”

Mark Ellison SSgt

USMC 2001-2007

“This depiction is typical of the uninformed anti-US, "open minded" nut jobs out here. Let's start with the oil symbolism. If it is about oil; show me the spigot that has USA stamped on it. Personally, I think we should have subsidized the mission with oil proceeds. It would have reduced the deficit (in our record breaking economy, mind you) and brought down fuel pricing per gallon. Then let's talk about the rifle symbolism. They used the AK-47 (preferred weapon of the enemy) to aid in illustrating their point, which brings me to my third point...WHAT IS THEIR POINT? What are the crosses about? Numerically, they don't symbolized the number of U.S. deaths taken by Islamic-Fascists, sorry, "Muslim Youths" on foreign and domestic soil. Its juvenile characteristics are ridiculous and fodder for the thinking person. It certainly can be construed as a direct slap to the soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines that return home through those gates. Imagine the family members, of which I was one, which waited at those gates for their loved ones to come home alive, seeing that disgusting and incredibly disrespectful picture. But I also don't want to allow credit where it is not due. This is a sophomoric depiction by someone who knowingly or possibly unknowingly won’t acknowledge the credible threat that exists to our existence. All you need is to reference recent events of foiled attempts on our homeland. Are there pro-troop or pro-U.S. art works equally displayed in the airport? After all, liberals are about "fairness" and open minded behavior….right?”

Matt Ellison
USMC 1994-2002

“In response to those pictures that are hanging in the airport I would like to tell you how painful it is to see something as disgusting as that hanging on the wall of the airport. Just talking from experience Leaving your home, family, and friends is hard enough. Emotions run high in places such as airports, especially if you are a soldier who is leaving and may never return to see your family or Friends. The last thing I would want to see is a picture that basically is spitting on me and everything I stand for and believe in. Last time I came home from Iraq I was at least able to make it out of the airport before getting slapped with an insult. These pictures are deeply insulting and should be removed immediately. I would like to know; is this in the Portland Airport? Hit me up and let me know so that I can contact someone in management. Thanks for the email Jake.”

Steve Ellison
USMC

…..Three brilliant responses from three Patriots…..

My Friends….

I am asking you once again…stand up for your service men and women! They gave us this country that we enjoy; the absolute minimum they deserve….is to be given our gratitude and respect.

Below are some links of what the media is reporting about this “Artwork” and what some commentators have said. Lars Larson and Michelle Malkin have been running stories on this topic for a couple of weeks now.

In closing; I leave you all with one last quote from a TRUE AMERICAN….

"America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.” Ronald Reagan

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/david_reinhard/index.ssf?/base/editorial/11849721522
85940.xml&coll=7

(The Oregonian’s response the controversy) Dave Reinhard is an editorial writer for the Oregonian and some say….a Oregon congressional candidate. He makes some good points, but stops short of condemning the artwork.

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=370389&category=22101

(The Portland Mercury blasts me, Lars, and Malkin for standing up to bigotry!) This is one of Portland’s commie-socialist news papers that obviously thinks that if you stand up for the military, our country, or Christianity…then you are Intolerant? How does that make sense? ….the “Jig-Saw Puzzle of Hate” was titled…. “In God We Trust”. How could any rationale person believe that it wasn’t meant to hurt those with whom he disagreed?

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/07/13/moonbat-art-in-portland-update-airport-authorities-say-it-
will-stay-put/ (Michelle Malkin’s Post of the PDX response to my Complaint) – She posted the response that I got from the Port of Portland.

http://dharmavision.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/the-attack-of-t.html

(Liberal website crying “CENSORSHIP”) Ha…don’t make me laugh! They obviously aren’t paying attention….I clarified a dozen times that I am anti-censorship….but in this case the artwork is being displayed in a publicly funded area….and U.S. service men and women are subjected to it daily. That’s just cruel, and furthermore…..where are the cries from the left about separation of Church and State? When it suits their sick view of the world they are all for it, or when it’s a positive image of Christianity….all symbols have to be removed. Hypocrites!!!

http://www.beloblog.com/KGW_Blogs/talkofthetown/archives/2007/07/pdx_student_art_1_lars_m
alkin_1.html

(More Anti-American types working themselves up into a frenzy)

I was recently accused by a life long Liberal of thinking that Republicans are better than everyone else. The accusers reasoning was simply that I was a… “Damn Republican!” The conversation then digressed into an incoherent rant about the “Imperialistic mentality” of conservatives. I know…I know…it sounds like one of the special feature scenes from Star Wars: when the hippie talks about the evil Empire….but I digress. His opinion was that Republicans think that they are better than everyone else; consequently, we like to keep others down when possible. His summary…. “Liberals are good for the down trodden, and conservatives are bad for the down trodden”. Naturally….he couldn’t have been further from the “Truth”.

The fact is; I do not believe that the way to help people in this country is to drown them in an endless supply of social programs, i.e. Welfare, food stamps, etc… I call myself a compassionate conservative….but not in the classic model. Being a “Compassionate Conservative” doesn’t make me a moderate conservative, or even a more liberal version of a traditional conservative….it simply makes me a more actionable conservative

You need not look further than the struggle of the American Indians. They are the greatest case study for this argument that has ever existed. Do I believe that the United States government is the single largest problem facing the American Indians today? Absolutely YES! However; it’s not due to the lack of attention or Federal aid…..it’s due directly to too much aid. Here is an ironic analogy, “You can’t teach a man to fish by dropping off a basket full of fish to his doorstep on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month.” Don’t get me wrong…the atrocities suffered by the Indians at the hands of settlers were unspeakable, but I truly believe that they pale in comparison to what is being done to them right now.

Look at our honorable Democratic Presidential candidate Barrack Obama. He has recently stated; that if elected he will include the payment of abortions in his national health care program; Oh…..it gets worse! He has also stated that he will introduce federally sponsored “SEX EDUCATION FOR KINDERGARDNERS!” That’s right everyone…..5 year olds getting taught Sex Ed without your supervision. What ever happened to Parental Accountability? I guess Mr. Obama just thinks that we are all too stupid to leave the education of children to parents on such issues. The comparison here is simple…..Liberals believe that it is impossible for anyone to be able to discern right from wrong….therefore; the government needs to take care of the important stuff. On the contrary; Conservatives believe that people can guide their own morality, and think for themselves. Translation….it’s the liberals that think they are better than everyone else……...Elitists!!!

Back to my Liberal attacker for a moment….

I asked a simply question in response to his accusation....

 “What have you done to make the world a better a place?”

You guess it folks…ZERO….NADA….A blank stare is what I got in response. Naturally he didn’t want to hear about the half dozen charities that my wife and I donate to annually, or the child we sponsor in India, or the volunteering that we did last year at Christmas tree lots to raise money for adults with disabilities. No….instead he angrily responded with this, “The reason you do those things is because you make more money than I do.”

Friends….If you ponder one sentence of this article after finishing…..let that response be the sentence. Think about it my friends…… The reason liberals complain and moan, and do nothing…….is because “I make more?” Hmmm…..Or……is it possible that Conservatives are the ones that actually care enough to make a difference? It’s not only possible….it’s the unequivocal truth!

There is a fantastic book out by Arthur C. Brooks, called, “Who Really Cares” that speaks to this very question. The overwhelming data shows that not only do conservatives give more to charity; they also volunteer more, and consider themselves happy. The data is irrefutable….and it has NOTHING to do with income. In every single income parameter….Conservatives are more generous. Conservatives volunteer more time; donate more money to religious as well as secular causes, they consider themselves happier, and consistently spend more time with family. Again….I must ask the question, “Who really walks the walk….who really makes the world a better place?” If wasn’t already obvious…hopefully it’s starting to become apparent.

In closing; let me offer one final thought to you all…..

I don’t think that I am better than everyone else…..I simply believe that the way to help “UP” our fellow brothers and sisters is to actually reach out your hand and pull! The answer is not to tell that person, “I realize that you are starving to death, but “I” can’t do anything about it. Let me go see if I can talk the government into making you a sandwich….if that doesn’t work….then I will start a coallision for the needy; that way we can sue the city on your behalf after your dead. Don’t worry….I’ll be right back!”

What! Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? But that’s the Liberal agenda, i.e. everyone except me needs to pitch in here! Helping one person, helping the person that is in front of you, and helping despite your hesitations is the choice that is honorable! Bottom line: deciding to follow the bleeding heart liberal standard of behavior is futile, and the results of such a philosophy are consistent…..no one gets the hand up they needed. (Remember the American Indians) If you want to truly embrace the essence of the Conservative movement...it is incumbent on each and every one of us that we “walk the walk”.

It is not only a “Conservative way” of living, but it is a “Godly way” of living….to live a charitable life, love deeply, and proudly place accountability upon your own shoulders…and then…only then….will you feel the joy of extending your hand to help someone in need!

Excerpt from “Who Really Cares”

1. The Maxwell Poll, Page 206 - “% of people who believe that it is the governments job to reduce inequities…..Conservatives: 27% Liberals: 80%

Hello Friends,

I haven’t blogged lately; however I have been engaged in an ongoing battle with the Portland Airport about some bigoted, anti-Christian, anti-American, anti-Military artwork that is hanging in the hallway of the Alaska A-gate terminal. This artwork shows a human skull painted like the American flag; surrounded by guns, bombs, dollar signs, oil barrels, and Christian Crosses. I thought you all would like to know where your tax dollars are going these days in our beautiful state!

Earlier this week I forwarded a complaint to PDX and copied Lars Larson on the email. Well needless to say…..Lars was the hero of the day. He took the pictures that I had taken, and posted them to his website. He started talking about it on air, and the fury began. I have been responding to emails from the Oregonian, Alaska Airlines, friends, KXL 750, and PDX’s customer service department all week trying to get something done, and trying to make my opinion felt.

Naturally the progressives in Portland don’t see the problem with defacing our flag, spewing anti-religious hatred, and/or demeaning our men and women in uniform…..right before they get onto a plane and fly off to defend our freedoms. I have posted two links below that show the pictures in question. Michelle Malkin of Fox News, Lars, and several websites are now talking about this controversy. Malkin titled her article, “Moonbat at PDX”. If you are like me….you don’t see a controversy. I find it hard to believe that if this piece of art was directed at any other religion, or at any other specific nation….it would have never been allowed in the display. Every person that I have spoken to (close to a hundred) about this piece of art have agreed with me; there is no way this art can be interpreted in any other way; other than Anti-American and Anti-Christian. While I agree with the underlying premise of freedom of speech; I have to ask, “Did PDX take into account that everyday of the week there are United States Service men and women walking by that artwork?” Can you image going off to war, and having to leave from an airport that proudly displays Anti-American….Anti-Military bigoted displays? I truly hurt for our soldiers that have to walk down that hallway on their way to serve our nation. Image the family members that send their loved ones off to war, and then have to stare down a blatant attempt to denigrate their valor….. It’s truly a heartbreaking scenario……..but guess what……it’s happens at PDX!

I would like to know……at what point does the hypocrisy end? You know it, Oregonians know it, and the Nation knows it………if you were to hang a picture that defaced an Arab Nations flag, African Nation, or attacked a specific religion other than Christianity; that piece of art would have never made it onto the wall. If anyone were to create a “Piece of Art” that showed an American Soldier standing on the Iranian flag, or a border patrol officer standing on a Mexican flag…..you better bet there would have been hell to pay. Guess what my friends…..PDX doesn’t see the problem with bashing America, Christians, or our Military. They are leaving the painting up despite all the national pressure they are getting.

The primary argument that I have received has mostly been, “Hey man…its freedom of speech”. My response is….O.K…..then what about separation of Church and State? You can’t have it both ways. The airport is funded by public dollars. Bottom line; if you make a constitutional argument that this is the artist expressing his 1^st Amendment rights; then you also MUST make the constitutional argument that this infringes on the mandate to separate religious symbols from public spaces. I normally don’t like that argument (because 95% of the time it’s used to attack Christianity), but in this case it just adds to the profound hypocrisy.

A bloody Koran, a Star of David surrounded by Mr. Yuck symbols, a Crescent Moon leaning up against a stick of dynamite…… Enough said right? These images would be shouted down by the closest liberal activist, and the ACLU attorneys would be lining up for miles to take this discrimination case.

In conclusion…..just remember; we do have power if we speak out. I never thought this would get the attention that it did, but I was furious. I wrote one letter, and sent it to everyone I could think of. Lars isn’t done with PDX yet; we may get that piece of trash removed yet…..

God Bless America, and God Bless our Fighting Hero’s; each and every one of them!

http://www.larslarson.com/HotTopics/223201.aspx

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/07/11/moonbat-art-at-portland-airport/

It’s over done...right? It’s obvious...right? It’s no news to you...right?

Ya ya ya....we know.....we know.........parenting is important!


I often wonder if the essence of common sense….is in fact……the most rare of humanistic qualities. I was once told, “The most important thing that you will do in your life….is raise good kids”. Well duh….that isn’t rocket science by any stretch of the imagination; so why then… (if we all know that we are endowed with this monumentally important task)...is it so hard to be optimistic about our youth?

The answer is…….it’s not hard to be optimistic. However; it is hard to find good examples of model youth in our everyday life. The examples that we all see at the local mall, the local grocery store, and in the media are not the youth that will lead us into the next phase of modern civilization. The fact is….that the good kids blend in to the background of society.

The youngest of children…that are well behaved and thoughtful….tend to be quiet, and go unseen to most of us. Kids that are a little older…..tend to be really busy, i.e. school work, sports, and extracurricular activities. Those kids aren’t around for most of us to see in our daily lives. Unfortunately; the kids we see are without much guidance, and/or purpose to occupy their time…….and unfortunately end up entertaining themselves in a public place.

I have only recently become a parent myself, but I have always been fascinated with the sociological interactions of people, and the concept of personally accountability. Personal accountability is the foundation of the conservative movement, and the pillar to which truly excellent parents must lean on. The fact is…. (at times)…adults are desensitized by life…...we stop being personally affected by our surroundings. Children……tragically…..aren’t able to turn their internal-garbage filter on and off at will. I know that you will agree…..our children are watching….and they are absorbing everything! Let me translate….TV, Magazines, and (the ultimate weapon against traditional values) …..the Internet have taken the place of the neighborhood bad boy and/or drug dealer. Listen up parents! These silent assassins of character are your new adversary in the morality war.

Please……remember!

Our children need more than attention……they need more than discipline, and yes…….they need a lot more than love.

They need REAL accountability……

My Simple Definition:

A daily explanation of life’s choices; coupled with clear pros and cons of their potential actions.

Taking away a child’s decision making skills, and/or taking choices away from children isn’t the way to create leaders and/or model citizens. In fact; that’s the path towards crushing their self-esteem and/or their creative thinking skills.

Only through allowing children to make well-informed decisions on their own (within reason), and then allowing them to reap what they sow…..will we cultivate our future saviors, and help them learn to think. Ultimately; our greatest assets need to stumble once in a while, but most of all…..they need to legitimately ponder choices (with us there to play devils advocate)! Problem solving skills in our greatest leaders weren’t just magically developed….it was through massive amounts trial and error…..victory and defeat.

So again, I pose a very simple question, “If we know that parenting is the answer to the worlds challenges….why don’t we do better?” Only you can answer that for yourself, but in my estimation…….it’s mostly because the vast majority of parents are gladly willing to give love, they are enthusiastically willing to give support, and they fall all over themselves to volunteer a shoulder to cry on…..but sadly; most parents have become incapable over the years of giving children the most powerful asset that they could ever receive…….

Personal Accountability!

For those of you that read this Blog today because I insinuated that love wasn’t the answer or wasn’t important…..I leave you with this thought. Giving your children personal accountability is the most profound example of love that I can think of...not only for your children, and not only for your children’s’ children…..but for all of humanity.

The love of a parent for a child.....is the answer!


Please see my newly added link to “Parent TV”….it’s a fantastic site for caring parents.

Thanks again for reading,

Jake

May the Republican Party and American Accountability ...Rest In Peace!

Yesterday the Republican Party; climbed down in a six foot deep hole…..laid down willingly……and took shovel full of dirt in the face. It was the first step towards the death of the Republican Party……and it may be too late to come back. O.K…..now clearly I am being a little dramatic, but I feel that my dramatization is needed in order to make my point regarding this topic. Our legislators…..in a bipartisan fashion…….stood together proudly……and proclaimed….”IF YOU CAME HERE ILLEGALLY ….. THAT’S O.K. WITH US – YOU CAN STAY!” The U.S. Congress passed (Amnesty) legislation that allows the 12-14 million illegal aliens to stay in the United States. It also allows them to bring family here over the next few years, and not only do they get to stay.....they get legal status. That’s right…..20 million new citizens in the immediate future!

To put things in perspective......lets do the math. (Very conservative estimations)

1. 25 Million Legal immigrants have entered the United States over the last 75 years.
2. This legislation allows at least 25 million more immigrants to come to the United States over the next 13 years…..but 14 million of them are already here.
3. In one generation if those 25 million people have 2 children per couple…..that’s another 25 million people.
4. That’s 50 million new citizens…..almost all former Mexican nationals, and/or first generation U.S. citizens.
5. 4 of 5 of those people will become Democrats…..That’s 40 million new Democrats in the next generation…….and these numbers are very conservative.

That # (40 Million!); will effectively be the end of the two party system of politics in our nation. The Democrat majority will be significant enough to essentially win every major election; in every state, in every county, and certainly in D.C. Our Founding Fathers established a system of political discourse, and equality for a reason……Checks and Balances!

I truly don’t believe that I am being irrational; every single source that I have looked at today, every e-newspaper, ever website, every TV news program……HAS AGREED WITH ME! This is not only Amnesty…..it is the Murder of American politics as we know it. The Democrats have effectively found a way to shift the power in America away from the quiet…. (Moral) majority. I guess if you can’t beat conservatives with logic and honest policies that make sense...just find a way to add enough new Democrat voters……that way you don’t have to earn it!

Simply put; this is another example of the Democrats pandering to the minority in this country……The New Leftist Mantra should be, “No pity for the masses”. The leadership on the Left (and a few on the Right) is completely out of touch with what the people actually want. I just don’t think that we are out of line to ask, “Please enforce the law!” Again; it is so easy to shout “Racist!” at the top of your lungs if you are on the side of the Amnesty crew. That fact remains….THIS IS NOT ABOUT ANY ONE RACE! Simply put; this is about right or wrong……..this is about being held Accountable for your actions! Traditional Americans (and most conservatives) believe that if you break the law….you shouldn’t be rewarded with citizenship……and if you do get the opportunity to earn citizenship (Which I’m for); then you shouldn’t get to jump to the front of the line! There are literally millions of non-Mexican would-be immigrants who are willing to come here legally, and go through the process to do so. But then again….if the Left makes people earn their citizenship…. they won’t get there cheap votes!  Immigrants that come here in the spirit of true Americanism, and with the rule of law at their core…..are more likely to be conservative thinkers. The Dem’s can’t have that!

I have linked a great article that encapsulates the argument with some interesting facts about the legislation. We can make a difference, but it will take a lot of work….and sadly……most of us just don’t have the time or the motivation to make calls, send emails, or write letters. If you decide that you want to join me in my quest to hold onto our Nations’ identity, security, and sovereignty; then check out the links that I have posted once again. I have made it very easy to make your opinion felt.

http://www.numbersusa.com/hottopic/05172007_pressrelease.html

http://www.numbersusa.com/actionbuffet

My two favorite candidates in the 08’ speak out on this bill – take a read:

Fred Thompson comes out against the bill: Fred’s Comments on this bill:

“With this bill, the American people are going to think they are being sold the same bill of goods as before on border security. We should scrap this bill and the whole debate until we can convince the American people that we have secured the borders or at least have made great headway.”

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) provided an exceptionally clear NO to the amnesty that is especially helpful coming from one of the three best-funded GOP candidates. He clearly is trying to contrast himself with the pro-amnesty Sen. McCain (R-AZ) and former Mayor Giuliani (R-NY) on this. (NumbersUSA)

- Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on today's U.S. Senate agreement on immigration reform:

"I strongly oppose today's bill going through the Senate. It is the wrong approach. Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty. That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S.

"Today's Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system. Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority."

Other Presidential Candidates are positioning themselves:

Rep. Tancredo (R-CO) immediately blasted it for the amnesty and sell-out it is.

Sen. Obama (D-IL) indicated he might vote NO if the guest worker provisions stay in the bill (although he extolled the amnesty part).

Sen. Clinton (D-NY) is weighing her options and not sure she wants to support the guest worker part.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been decrying the sell-out bill on TV and radio.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) is opposing the amnesty agreement.

 President Bush; Liberator of the Nation’s Unborn

By Rose Knee

Thank you President Bush! Thank you for having the moral standing to sign the partial birth abortion act of 2003; which former President Clinton did not have the decency to do. Thank you for appointing traditionalist judges to the Supreme Court who would uphold the act. Your appointees where paramount in the 5-4 vote that confirmed this legislation. This truly is a long overdue victory for the pro-life cause. Now we can at least protect the babies partially out of the womb; even if we can’t protect the babies still in the womb. This decision is consistent with the majority of Americans; that is what is so ridiculous about President Clinton’s past decisions. A recent Gallup Poll says 70% are in favor of Banning Partial Birth Abortion. Again; I say thank you President Bush for standing with the American people, and with American values. Even so; I don’t think most people understand the true nature of this barbaric act … at least the people I know don’t understand it fully. Let me clarify; I don’t want anyone to misunderstand why this topic is so important to me. Partial birth abortion is a procedure in which a baby is pulled partially out of the womb feet first; the baby’s head is then punctured in the scull, and finally its intracranial contents are sucked out. It is horrific; it is inhumane, and by any standards (In fact by the standards of every civilized country in the world) there is NEVER a situation when this procedure is medically necessary. Nearly every country in the world outlaws this procedure; including, Iraq, Iran, South Africa, and countless other countries that by no means are on the world stage claiming to be human rights advocates. Why then was the U.S. the last to outlaw this form of Murder? When a woman’s life is in danger other forms of abortion can be used just as effectively… without the MURDER of a self-sustaining Life!

For staunch pro lifers; such as I; this is one small victory in a long battle. I have been known to counter feminists with the phrase, “equal rights for unborn women”! As a Christian I know all life is sacred outside, and inside the womb. From the moment of conception, there is a life which needs to be protected by the law. If the law will not protect the unborn; then who will? Certainly not those who created this delicate life and now wish to terminate it.

I am by no means thrilled with the President’s decision on several issues; i.e. illegal immigration or handling the war in Iraq. However; I am very grateful to him for approving this congressional bill, and making it a priority to appoint traditionalist judges who place ACTUAL VALUE on the life of our unborn.

God Bless you President Bush, and God Bless each and every one of the 40 million American aborted babies since Roe vs. Wade became law,

For more info on the Pro – Life Cause; http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/feb/03021705.html

For more info on the atrocity known as Partial Birth Abortion; http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/

Hello friends and family!

I have attached a letter to the bottom of this posting that I sent out to our elected Oregon officials.  The reason I am posting it for all of you to see is simple.  I feel very passionate about people making their voices heard. Public officials that don’t follow the will of their constituents need to hear about how unhappy their boss’s are now and again (Us!).  My point is simply to stir your minds a little about political discourse in this state. Let me ask you all a question, “Have you have ever thought to yourself; I wish that I could do something about this injustice, and/or unacceptable political situation?” If you are like most tax paying Americans……it happens to you weekly. There is an undeniable problem here; people are very busy, and they don’t have the time to hunt down email addresses, send letters, etc… So inevitably…..a few hours go by, and viola….you have stopped thinking about what it was that upset you……consequently, nothing gets done. That is a frustrating truth for many of us in our daily lives. 

This brings me to the purpose of this late night romp through my brain. I have tried to make it as simple as I can for anyone who wants to be heard (well Townhall.com helped tremendously). I have linked several locations below that anyone who wants to e-fax or email a politician can go to. The letter below that I sent out tonight was sent to all of Oregon’s representatives at once…..it was really quick and easy. One of these links is specific to illegal immigration, and one is focused at “letters to the editor” that allows you to email local and state newspapers with ease. There is also a link that is specifically pointed at State elected officials, and finally there is a link that allows you to sign petitions regarding a variety of issues that affect our country. All of these links are easy, quick, and most importantly….a very effective way of making your opinion felt!

Again, please believe me when I say, “I am not trying to convince any of you that you need to start a letter writing campaign, or anything resembling a letter writing campaign”. Trust me; I especially wouldn't’t try to convince anyone that they should write like me (I tend to get a little overzealous at times). Nevertheless; if you choose to make your voice heard….I have made it real easy for you!

Good luck: We must hold our elected officials accountable for their actions!

A Plea to My Oregon Elected Officials!!!!!

Dear Sirs and Madams,

I humbly beg of you….Stop playing politics with our troops....Please!!! Just support them by funding them, and then get back to doing what we elected you to do…..take care of Oregon! Taking care of our local business should be your priority #1.

Governor Kulongoski; please stop ignoring the will of the people. We voted down gay marriage in this state by a substantial margin, and now you pass legislation that laughs in the face of democracy. You should be ashamed of your obvious pandering. We aren’t anti-gay; we simply believe in the sanctity of marriage, and you have said to all voting Oregonians that you don’t care about our opinions on this matter. My friends, my family, and my colleagues are tired of watching you waste time on ridiculous food stamp publicity stunts. I beg of you….please prioritize….Oregon is consistently a laughing stock in the national economic news.

Senator Smith, Representatives Wyden and Blumenauer; Please protect our families by protecting our borders, and by protecting our states’ sovereignty....I can't ask for anything more. Stop wasting time with ridiculous hate crime legislation that isn’t needed. We already have laws that say you can’t hurt people; why would we need another law that says, “We just wanted to remind you that you can’t murder people….especially if they are gay”. It really is a waste of tax payers’ money. I have an idea…..fix Medicare, or Social Security! Finally, pork barrel spending projects…..at the State level or at the Federal level are down right insulting. If the people want something paid for….take it to the ballot box. It’s not your job to trick tax payers into to paying for amusement park rides, i.e. The OHSU Tram. I realize that was local government…but I am sure that you got my point, and I am sure that you can think of some “Big Government” examples. Bottom line, I truly believe that what I see from my representatives lately is nothing shy of pandering and blatant politicking. It is shameful,

Respectfully, but frustrated…..

Jake Knee

http://www.townhall.com/ActionCenter/ Action Center

http://www.townhall.com/ActionCenter/Petition.aspx Various Petitions

http://www.townhall.com/ActionCenter/WriteOfficials.aspx Elected Officials

http://www.townhall.com/ActionCenter/WriteEditors.aspx Letters to the Editors

http://www.numbersusa.com/actionbuffet Illegal Immigration

Statistics should be used to back up ones argument; not make it for them. Numbers alone aren’t compelling; its reason and logic that make a worthy position. My mistake came when I didn’t clarify what it was that I was trying to prove. My intent was lost in the numbers. The truth; the institution isn’t perfect, but simply put…..Marriage is worth it! Marriage to the right person makes you happier, more successful, healthier, and more capable of making a positive influence on the world around you.

There is an attack on marriage in this country; just like there is on almost every traditional institution. The secularists, the far lefties, and the atheists have worked themselves into a frenzy over traditional-valued thinkers. They just can’t understand why we would want to follow Christian values and common sense so closely. My frustration comes from those who would say, “Why would you get married? The chances of you getting divorced are so high…..it isn’t worth it.” Here is where clarifying your argument is crucial. It is true that the total # of marriages that end in divorce is roughly 50%. However, it doesn’t make sense to include every divorce in this argument. Stay with me here…… If my argument is that marriage is a worth while institution because of the wonderful things that it can reward you with; then percentages don’t matter…..the risk is worth it. However; if you want to go down the statistical path….the question needs to be, “If I get married today for the first time, what is statistical likelihood that I will get a divorce?” The answer is 29%.

The total # of people that have ever been married in this country (76%) compared to the total # of people who have ever been divorced (22%) yields a likelihood of getting divorced of 29% (22% divided by 76%). Again, I concede the fact that when you take into account the people that have had multiple divorces (2, 3, 4, etc…), then total # of divorces to marriages increases to approximately 50%. Obviously people with one divorce are much more likely to have another. Remember, the 50% number is irrelevant in my argument though. My contention is that if you are a young person that has never been married, and you are considering it……your chances of getting a divorce (statistically) are 29%. The bottom line is that 7 of 10 marriages of people that are “starting” their lives together…..actually work out! The fact is that 71% of people who have ever been married; have never been divorced, and that is a compelling argument to take the plunge. Source: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2005 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

All though I am clearly pro-marriage, and a little bias due to the fact that I think getting married was the best decision I ever made; I actually do want to be factually correct in my late night political rants at the keyboard. If my friends and family are going to be reading these opinions of mine; then I want to provide them with the truth. In the future I will try to be clearer about what it is exactly that I am trying to prove.

The most important thing to remember is this, “Marriage is not only alive and kicking in this country, but it is our best hope for sustaining our values, our happiness, our humanity, and our freedom.”

Thousands are coming out of the woodwork to support Fred Thompson for President! Only one problem though.....he isn't even running......YET!  Okay, okay….I would love to plays devil's advocate here, but it's too hard to deny that the cold hard fact that conservatives need a candidate that they can rally behind. He is consistent, he is principled, he is well spoken, and he is man of deep traditional values.....need I say more? I still think that Mitt is the strongest and most able to lead our nation; however, the simply truth is that this country may not be ready for a Mormon in the White House. It makes me ill to think that could be true.....but it just may be.  If I have to admit that disgusting fact about our Nation; then I can gain some solace in the fact that Fred Thompson can win the whole thing! Trust me.....it is all about winning!  We can't vote our conscious, we can't cast our vote based on one topic that we agree with a candidate on, and we can't allow ourselves to become emotional in 08'. The simply fact is that we must pick a winner, and if we don't.....it will be the traditional-valued Americans who are standing around wondering "what happened?" while Hillary takes her oath of office. Fred Thompson is amassing an Army of supporters, and the conservative base is lying in the weeds ready to jump out of their hiding places and follow a worthy pied piper!

Reagan incarnate.....probably not, but a true leader without question. Thompson in 08'!

Check it out; here are a few more links if you are still unsure about Thompson, and below I have posted a great article from a British paper about Senator Thompson to illustrate his appeal.

http://grassrootsvoter.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtxULsv2Mdw

http://www.fred08.com/

Reagan's men are backing - an actor

By Tim Shipman in Washington, Sunday Telegraph

Last Updated: 1:02am BST 29/04/2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/29/wus29.xml