I Actually Agreed With Rush This Week

It's no unknown fact that FOX news, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter have fell off into the brink of biased media reporting because their pockets are lined with Washington Insider Dollars - or so one must assume. It's actually gotten so bad that many conservatives have either started surfing other political news outlets and commentators, or have simply turned them off altogether.

I now watch CNN more than FOX and only watch Fox long enough to be able to accurately describe their newly acquired SPIN-ZONE status with unfair-unbalanced reporting. I promise - I'll get off this broken record spill before I end this post.

Rush Limbaugh this week - in commentating on the Thursday night FOX Debate stated that "We should not be afraid to go after McCain's record." Most all debate watchers are in agreement that McCain made it through Thursday's debate "unscathed." Huckabee took the first punch from Thompson and gave back better than he received (In Normal Huck Fashion - I love it when he gets tough). Ron Paul took several hits (what's new), Mitt might have alluded to some McCain records but didn't really show his teeth too much - and didn't take too many scratches and bites from anyone either. Giuliani had his moments of giving as well as receiving some minor discussion. Huckabee's biggest hits probably came from the Moderator's - again - FOX people trying to Spin the Religion aspect of Huckabee into a negative....how do they sleep at night? (I have thoughts about that - but I don't want to offend some Huckabee supporters in the process - we'll wait until after November to discuss if your still interested).

Overall - McCain took it easy on everyone and in return didn't take any hits either. Rush says "go after his record." I agree, but with respect. He may be a Hero, but he is not Presidential material. When he was defeated by George Bush, he held a grudge against the President for almost 2 years, voting against proposals that Bush conceived or openly approved. McCain has sided with Democrats on many pivotal Bills that came before his signature pen.

WorldNetDaily.com came out with an article today stating that James Dobson has placed his stamp of DISapproval on John McCain. Though the article attempts to appear unbiased, the subtleties run clear that WorldNetDaily has drank the same Kool-Aide FOX has been drinking from GOP Washington insiders. But Dobson is a tee-totaler and doesn't drink that kind of kool-aide. He has no fear of pointing out the falicies of McCain's record.

Sidebar: When I mention subtleties of articles and reporting....I just want to give you an example of what I'm referring to here. This is a quote from WND.com on Dobson....

"Dobson, who always is careful to note that he's not speaking for the non-profit ministry, which cannot advocate for or against candidates legally, also doesn't hesitate to state his personal opinions on social or political issues and agendas."

This paragraph would almost be overlooked by the reader. That last sentence just leaps off the page at me. Has it occurred to WND that the reason Dobson offers his personal opinion is because a reporter probably stuck a microphone and camera in his face and asked.....NOT TO MENTION - ever heard of Free Speech? He has that right!

Well - if McCain had his way - certainly those rights would be absolved. Sometimes loopholes are good. Had Dobson been sitting in his office in the Focus on the Family premises and made that statement - his 501 c 3 would have been in jeopardy, but because he was - and noted thusly - that he was speaking as a private citizen and in his home - he could make those statements. Thank you McCain and Feingold for your bill to allow Big Government to split hairs in the private sector in order to stifle those you knew would not support you in 2008.

I still believe the McCain-Feingold bill was quite self-serving on John McCain's part. He new he was going to run again. He knew Evangelicals wouldn't support him. He knew he couldn't play on the same monetary ball field as other candidates would be able to - so he created and managed the passing of a bill that would bring the ball-game to his turf. How self-serving is that.

Dobson further points out his distaste for McCain as President in the fact the McCain does not support a One Man One Woman Marriage.

McCain stated: "I think that gay marriage should be allowed, if there is a ceremony kind of thing, if you want to call it that...I don't have any problem with that."

If I had any persuasion to think that McCain would be a lesser of two evils choice for me - you just lost me with that quote.

McCain also supports a Democratic authored legislative bill that creates obstacles for ministries to reach constituents with action messages about pending legislation.

This is currently being fought by groups like ACLJ, American Family Association, and Center for Moral Clarity. If this type of legislation is passed - it will effectively silence the church at large and our ability to amass opposition to future legislation such as Stem Cell Research, Abortion bills, Free Speech, and virtually limitless counts of bills that affect our everyday living and freedoms in this country.

Other rules are hidden deeply into this current legislation that include rules to "eliminate the many recent scandals involving members of Congress, ...require pro-family groups to provide documentation of their actions to the government anytime they try to spark any grass-roots action." Where is "smaller government" in this type of legislation? This is Big Government looming over the Church and affiliated organizations. This is Big Brother at his worse.

This would mean that "phone calls, personal visits, emails, magazines, broadcasts, phone banks, appearances, travel, fundraising, and other items all would be subject to government tabulation, verification, and audits....on and on it goes" according to Dobson.

"'Clearly, the objective here is to hide what goes on from the public and punish
and silence those of us who would talk about what our representatives are
doing,' Dobson said of the plan by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. American Family
Association Chairman Donald Wildmon, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer joined Dobson in urging listeners to flood Capitol Hill with phone calls demanding those speech limits be removed."

Don Wildmon referred to McCain's bill as "We don't want to hear from you and this is the way we're going to handle it."

I have blogged before - and I have written Mr. Bauer personally that there is a clear and present danger in front of us at this hour. It is the shutting down of the Evangelical and sending us back to the Dance Floor Sidelines to be wallflower's and never being asked to dance. We were courted in the '80's and learned how to dance in the political arena. Now that we as Evangelicals not only know how to dance - but have cleared the floor with our tango-ing Mike Huckabee - we're not welcome anymore. Washington's liberal bills can't get passed because the Evangelicals have a right to free speech and OMG!!! They are using it!!!!

I recall the day when the church in America was practically powerless. We have seen the church mature into a strong voice. Now - we see a government trying to squeeze us back into our box with articles like Robert Novak's stating that we aren't REALLY SERIOUS REPUBLICANS.

To this point, Mr. Dobson states "Republican leaders in Congress during this term apparently never understood, or they forgot, why Ronald Reagan was so loved and why he is considered one of our greatest presidents. If they hope to return to power in '08, they must rediscover the conservative principles that resonated with the majority of Americans in the 1980s – and still resonate with them today. Failure to do so will be catastrophic,"

Maybe it is this mentality that the Robert Novak's of journalism don't take Evangelicals sincerely. In fact I know it is. I experience it somewhat in my local Republican arena. GOP's believe you ought to vote GOP if Suddam Hussein himself were running against Hillary. I'm sorry - I can't buy into that. I have principals when I walk into a voting booth. If the candidate that the GOP's put up in nomination does not adhere to my principals- I won't vote for them.

I am not a Republican because I agree with the Party Platform. I am a Republican because the Party Platform agrees with me.

If that changes - and it will if certain candidates are nominated (Romney, Giuliani, and McCain, Thompson is a close call and will require consideration) - I will not be bound to my party. I will consider a 3rd party and watch to see if Hillary's hand burns when she places it on the Bible in January '09.

As far back as 1998, James Dobson has stated that the GOP has ignored moral issues.

Evangelicals have been asked to "take one for the party" election after election and to me - with the war on terror, the economy teetering on the edge of falling into the brink, illegal immigration helping the poor economy exist - there is just too much to risk to not consider a candidate who understands the political as well as spiritual implications of foreign policy, domestic policies and freedoms that we currently enjoy, stand to lose, and those we have already lost.

We still live in the greatest country in the world (Obama believes mother Africa to be the greatest), we will be weakened if that which made us strong is stripped away one legislative bill at a time. Let's elect a candidate that will change the face of Washington and keep America Great at the same time. That candidate is Mike Huckabee.

Fox News Loses It's Fair And Balanced Banner This Election Cycle

FOX News Network has been the Conservative Right response to the liberal media going as far back as the Reagan Presidency. Every anchor, talk show host, and reporter tauts the phrase "fair and balanced."

Where FOX may have begun their mission with the glamorous goal of being fair and balanced with a potential viewership eager for such a lofty aspiration - lost in a leftist media wilderness - they have deputationaly digressed. This backslidden state from balanced reporting has frustrated many of their faithfully committed conservative viewers.

We first saw FOX's faults in their failure to give ALL of the GOP candidates equal time and attention - writing them off as un-winnable or operating in the "fringe." They had moments of appearing to be "king-makers" rather than reporters of who the American people wanted and being "fair and balanced" in the doing. Mike Huckabee couldn't "buy" television time on FOX in his early campaigns, Ron Paul, and Tom Tancredo fell to the same bias. All of the candidates, snubbed by FOX had/have messages on issues that need to be heard and promoted as much as the early frontrunner messages that were - then - being applauded and lauded. Even Fred Thompson was being hailed as the answer to all things conservative - if he would just announce his candidacy at the chagrin of those vieing for some FOX Focus.

From the subtleties of left-handed comments focusing on Huckabee's being an ordained minister - referring to him as"The Baptist Preacher" at every opportunity vs his actual title of Governor that they privilege Romney with - to the strident spin of the Governor's Arkansas record attempting to label him as a liberal for being less of a liberal than Mitt Romney as two Governor's managed their states respectively.

What is so laughable to me is - when Mike Huckabee won Iowa by a very comfortable margin - tongue slingers like Sean Hannity began to pat themselves on the back making statements like "We have - from the beginning - stated that Mike Huckabee was going to do well." Unbelievable audacity.

I watched Governor Huckabee's interview with Fox after his win. He was understandably cold to Hannity in responding to his questions directly with no frills of conversation. Then - after a few minutes passed - I flipped over to CNN and saw a different face on the same candidate. The Mike Huckabee everyone of his supporters and those that don't know. Rush Limbaugh - with a sneering comment - stated that "other networks" could only talk about "Huckabee, Huckabee, Huckabee, Huckabee...." What Limbaugh failed to laud lip service to was the fact that FOX News could only talk about Obama, Obama, Obama.

The latest wave of attacks from Faux News and the like is one of NON-ATTACK. Has anyone but me noticed that Huckabee is being ignored since McCain won and moved to MI for his next wave? Certainly no blame is laid on McCain here - but if the Gary Bauer Evangelicals and Rush Limbaugh King-Maker's want to call Mike Huckabee a Liberal - and laud McCain as the hero to save the GOP - they are simply blinded by the bent of socialistic Government that is being ushered in the desperation that we just can't stand on principals alone and beat Hillary. Not one word of Huckabee passed the lips of Faux Pundits today as they attempt to force Huckabee back into the Evangelical closet of obscurity. For those evangelicals and NRTL leaders that overlooked this candidate who entered into politics to "stop abortion" twenty years ago certainly are telling on themselves as to their real goals unseen by the normal value voter eye.

Has it occurred to anyone that if "Tax-Hike Mike" who lowered taxes 90 times in Arkansas becomes the President and he is successful at eliminating the IRS or implementing the Fair Tax - that all of these non-profits such as http://www.ouramericanvalues.org/ would lose donations because there would be no need for wealthy donors to have a tax write off, ere go less income. If Huckabee were to be successful at ending abortion - Right to Life groups would have no need to exist because no more abortions - no more funds coming into their organizations. So - since Huckabee is serious about changing Washington - he poses a threat to well-intended organizations turned politico - let's support the candidate that LOOKS conservative enough and will appoint judges (which has been done over and over and still no end to Roe V. Wade) that will be pro-life in their judgments and we maintain our organizations, administrations, and our paychecks. Sound overtly cynical? Maybe. But please explain the logic of evangelical's supporting a candidate that was clueless about legislation before the House to overturn Roe v. Wade and who openly stated that overturning Roe v. Wade would not be the direction he would take as President. Yet Mike Huckabee entered politics to STOP ABORTION!
I chased that rabbit long enough: Back to Faux News:

Have the tables turned? Has Faux News drank the Kool-aide of checkbook journalism? The subtleties of their reporting - even in tonight New Hampshire Primary returns - suggest that they have.

One example: on CNN we are given the top three candidates of both parties and their results as the polls come in. But Fox - continuing their attempt to high-hat Huckabee only list the top two candidate results. Am I being cynical? Maybe. In and of itself that little "dig" would be dismissed as unmentionable. However, given all of the attacks, spins, false accusations from Fox and their seeming love affair with Giuliani and Romney - this insignificant notice carries weight.

It has gotten to the point that listening to the talk-show hosts on their radio programs has become sickening. Watching the returns on FOX is no longer appealing to this conservative. I've flipped back and forth between CNN and FOX in the last two returns now - and CNN has now become the more F&B than the original F&B now turned Faux - CNN just doesn't brag about it.

I've stated before in referring to Robert Novak - which now applies to the likes of FOX, Rush Limbaugh, Gary Bauer, and other so-called Reagan-ites, that there is a wedge being driven into the Grand Old Party and pundits like these are the hammer driving it deeper and deeper until the GOP will be so divided that anyone with an R beside their name will not be electable to dog-catcher.

One of my favorite Democrats - though I have no connection to his political beliefs - who is immeasurably intelligent in all things political had this to say about Fox:

"Fox was, is and will continue to be an asinine and ignorant network. I have
not spoken to anyone in the Clinton campaign about this. I have not done
domestic political consulting since President Clinton was elected. I'm not
getting back into domestic political consulting. If I do go back, it would
be safe to say that I'm the biggest liar in America." -- James Carville after Fox tried to start the rumor that he was going to work with the Clinton campaign.

Bottom line: If you want true Fair and Balanced reporting during this election - you'll find it at CNN before you'll get it at FOX. If you want perfectly fair and balanced - watch C-Span.

Iowa Right To Life sends a message....

The letter below from Iowa's Right To Life sends several messages in one. The first being the most important was a message of silence/neutrality. When a subordinate organization cannot effictively choose to support the "mother" organization's decision to support Fred Thompson sends a loud signal. The NRLC certainly placed the states in an awkward situation by their endorsement of a candidate that can't fully support the pro-life agenda.

The second message sent by this Iowa group is a very strong message to Giulinai supporters. Not only is Rudy NOT Pro-Life but he is depicted as Pro-Abortion almost to the degree (as I read this letter) of an Abortion Activist. Whether the latter is the intent of the author or not there still needs to be a recognition of the GOP Platform. If the Pro-Life plank is removed from the GOP Platform - there will be problems on the homefront. Here's the letter from the Iowa RLC....

Iowa Right to Life Committee Remains Neutral at This Time

Des Moines, IA—The Iowa Right to Life Committee met in a closed session yesterday in a response to the National Right to Life endorsement of Fred Thompson. As the affiliate to National Right to Life, the Iowa Right to Life Board of Directors took a positive position to honor and work with NRLC toward the common goal for life.

It was the decision of the Iowa Right to Life Board to stay neutral at this time in order to maintain a long tradition that supports all pro-life candidates in a primary, including Fred Thompson.

Thompson is fairly new in Iowa, but has good name recognition among the grass roots. On the other hand, Rudy Giuliani, who is the only anti-life candidate, has practically ignored Iowa. This lack of interest in Iowa could indicate that he never stood a chance there.

“Without a doubt, Giuliani's support is soft at best since there are still so many conservatives who do not know that he is a strong supporter of abortion, including tax funded abortions,” stated Kim Lehman, President of IRLC. The right to life issue has become, in many circles, the barometer to indicate the candidate’s ethical and moral foundation. Failure to honor life is a failure to the family, which remains under attack.

Anti-life Republicans are misguided to think that they can win an election without the pro-life vote. It is important for this country to choose a candidate that respects life, as Ronald Reagan respected life, because without the right to life, no other rights matter.

For More Information
Kim Lehman
President
Kim@IRLC.org
515-202-2517

What's Fred Got That Mike Ain't Got?

In light of this weeks endorsment for Fred Thompson from National Right To Life, I thought I would copy and paste an old post from my other blog on myspace. It received several comments from Mike Huckabee supporters. I hope to receive some comments from Fred Supporters being a little broader audience in this venue. Whoever your candidate is - feel free to comment (you can also comment on these responses. Just note the # your referring to).

To get started - here are a few responses I've received on my other blog:

1. (my favorite so far): Mike Huckabee will give us 1 definition of marriage across America of one man plus one woman equals marriage.Fred Thompson says he will give us 50 definitions of marriage by allowing 50 different states to define Marriage.

2. "I think Mike has many things that Fred doesn't: Charisma, character, humour, great communicative & speaking skills, and he has the ability to draw attention naturally. Fred has only 1 thing, people mascarading him as another Reagan. His 1st speech was a let down, he's not raising much money and soon people will begin to see he isn't anywhere near Reagan. Another thing is i only know of two politicians that could naturally outdo Hillary in a debate, because of their great communication: Gingrich & Huckabee."

3. "Fred Thompson originally had my vote and only because I thought he might be famous enough to get enough votes to beat Hillary. But, when he decided so long to run, and after the values voters debate that he didn't show up for. I'm for Mike.. Fred Thompson has a young family. He's been divorced several times, and I think he doesn't have any real answers. NOr do I think he is a true conservative."

4. Fred has got nothing much to say and what little he has to say he has trouble saying it. Mike has plenty to say, and knows how to say it. Did you see the Gov on the Glenn Beck show on CNN tonight, he spoke and made sense for the whole hour!! (note: I just heard Fred on CSPAN - and he has as much if not more trouble with speaking and speech giving as Pres. Bush - Hillary will rip him to shreds - mp)

5. "I feel I can actually trust Mike Huckabee. Fred has advisors telling him what to say and even when Fred does say something he is reading it off a sheet of paper. I have yet to see Mike Huckabee read from a script. The words he says are words of conviction that come right from his heart. I know who Mike was ten years ago and I know how Mike will be ten years from now. He convictions are firm with deep roots. That's the difference between Mike and Fred."

What is an Elephant In The Room?

For those who may not be familiar with the phrase "Elephant In The Room" let me explain 2 ways, defintion and example:

Definition: The phrase is an old English Idiom that suggests something (a topic of discussion) is in the air and not being addressed. Another common and similar phrase would be the 8,000 lb gorilla in the room. The phrase also implies a value judgement that an issue needs to be discussed openly.

Example: (insert giddy snickers and chuckles) - Mike Huckabee has been the unmentionable candidate on many discussions for the last several months throughout the media (inclusive of Fox). In spite of all the discussion coming from Democrats to the contrary of Mike being the one to watch - Mike was simply ignored. In fact - Bill O'Reilly went so far to say that Mike would never make double digits in the polls (funny - I remember these same people talking about the unreliability of polls in the last two elections and following discussions of polls up with phrases like "if you believe the polls" - now the polls are the end-all to politics, making or breaking candidates, or so it seems).

Enter the Elephant (and if you've seen pictures of Mike Huckabee prior to his huge weight-loss as Governor of Arkansas - there's no correlation between the two). Mike Huckabee entered this race and not only climbed out of the trenches of "lower tier-ism" but became a 4th member of the upper tier - and still was refused to be recognized. I suggest that Mike Huckabee became the Elephant in the Room when he reached 10% in the polls (although probably way before then - I just have to start somewhere). Now the Elephant is not only in the Room - But he's just showing off now. Take a look at these Iowa Numbers (I mean - if you believe the polls):

Romney 26%
Huckabee 24%
Giuliani 11% (Wow - down from 15 earlier this week)
UNDECIDED 13% (If Thompson won over 1/2 of this - he would still be trailing)
Thompson 11% (hmm NRLC, still think your anti pro-life legislation candidate is worthy?)
Paul 4%
McCain 4%
Tancredo 1%
Hunter 1%

NRLC's Dr. Franz Forges Faulty Fred Facts

This morning the National Right To Life Committee endorsed Fred Thompson as their choice for the GOP Nomination for President. Just so you know, if Fred Thompson wins the GOP Nomination - he is the only other candidate I could support other than Mike Huckabee that will keep my vote in the GOP - and that secondary support is quickly waning as the primary process continues.

However, many conservatives, values voters, single issue (pro-life) voters, have great difficulty with today's endorsement. The NRLC commented several factors (faulty as they are) that they considered in selecting a candidate to endorse.

Wanda Franz, Ph.d., President of NRLC stated:
"Our endorsement is a testament to Senator Thompson's long-standing pro-life record, his commitment to unborn children, and our our belief in his ability to win."

Certainly I hear the same sub-text of "ability to win" - A cliche that Mike Huckabee has been tagged with from all sides of the GOP since his 2nd place position in the Ames, Iowa straw poll and his continued rise in popularity among GOP voters. There are certainly many issues that bring others to doubt Mike's ability to win - money not being the least of them - but all have been discounted time and again by our dark horse candidate, Mike Huckabee.

As I read the comment from Dr. Franz "Thompson's long-standing pro-life record" some comments come to mind:
"...an amendment...going back even further than pre-Roe V. Wade, to have a constitutional amendment to do that, I do not think would be the way to go." - Fred Thomson - on Meet the Press November 4, 2007

"Nobody's proposed a federal law on [banning abortion in first trimester]" - Fred Thompson - on Meet The Press November 4, 2007

FACTOID: There are THREE (3) laws currently pending in congress

1. "Right to Life Act" H.R. 618 (boasting of 94 co-sponsors)
2. "Sanctity of Life Act" H.R. 1094
3. H.R. 2597

Sounds like Fred is slipping on his "life-long" pro-life position, as a former Senator and a Presidential candidate seeking Evangelical support - shouldn't he be "UP" on this sort of thing?

Thompson also stated in that same November 4th interview with Tim Russert that states should have the right to determine the definition of Marriage being between a man and a woman. In other words - this is not a National Dilemma - it's a State dilemma.

Every Republican platform since 1980 has supported a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe. V. Wade and every GOP candidate nominated has supported that platform. Now we have a GOP slate of candidates - of which Fred Thompson is a member that does not support a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe V. Wade. I have seen this coming since the GOP started touting "We re the party of INCLUSION." Now we have arrived at the result of compromise which is division within our own house. The Bible will prove itself once again to be true and accurate - "A House divided against itself will not stand."

Mike Huckabee on the other hand - is not on the same page as the other GOP candidates. He virtually stands alone in his support for a constitutional amendment for overturning Roe V. Wade. In fact, Janet Folger's [WorldNetDaily.com] stated today: Governor Huckabee is "exactly where Ronald Reagan was in 1979 in the polls and in finances." That fact alone throws the argument of "winnability" right out of the window.

Lest I be accused of being a "one-issue" voter - let me state that I am not, I'm simply dealing with this one issue now. Across the board - no matter how faithless the "Faith.org's" may be at the moment - Mike Hucakbee is a real man of Faith and Character. I believe he will win. If I'm proven wrong, I will say "he should have won." I will not enjoy an election that I have to choose between the "lesser of two evils." Mike Huckabee has stated many times: "The way to beat the Democrats is NOT to be LIKE the Democrats." That philosophy was proven true in the Virginia elections last week. those GOP's that compromised on their message lost, those that stood true to the conservative message across the board, won.

Dr. Franz also states in today's endorsement that "unlike endorsements by single individuals, this endorsement was made by representatives of statewide pro-life organizations across America which themselves are comprised of local community chapters and grass roots activists."

In this link you will be directed to an article by Jerry Cox - the Arkansas chapter of NRLC (I think you'll find -once again - faulty facts in Franz's statement).
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=697

By the way - I can't help but laugh at how the NRLC tries to sell the endorsement "NRLC Shake Up Race For Republican Presidential Nomination" Yeah - - - Right!!! I'm ALL Shook Up!