I thought Abortion was about choice?

So I was rather interested to see yet another hypocritical argument come to fruition thanks to the Obama administration. Pres. Obama now wishes to end Pres. Bushes protection of doctors and nurses who refuse to perform abortions on moral grounds. Meaning, a woman who wants to have an abortion can now go to her doctor, who may not agree with the practice of abortion, and if that doctor and/or their nurses, refuse to perform the procedure, if they CHOOSE to not do something against their principled and often religious beliefs, they can be open to legal repercussions.

I thought the whole debate about abortion was that women wanted the right to choose what they "did with their bodies". Now it seems that in order for them to have their right, they need to infringe on the right of another's agency. Performing an abortion is not generally a life threatening procedure. Where the rare life threatening cases exist performing an abortion is considered morally objectionable. Some insurance companies would call abortion procedures "elective". So why should a doctor be forced to perform such a treatment? There is no violation to the Hippocratic Oath because abortions are not necessary for the sustaining of life, in fact one could make the argument that performing an abortion is a violation of the Hippocratic Oath. Considering the destruction of life and the massive amounts of tissue damage that generally occur in the not-so-expectant mother I would say that Doctors should be more vocal with their objections to the procedure in general siting patient care as a satisfactory dismissal of the issue entirely.

So for now, I guess that is the next on a growing list of freedoms that we can expect to be loosing over the next four years at least.

The way of the Samurai.

Last night I watched the much touted Japanese movie "Seven Samurai" I love the old west re-make "The Magnificent Seven" so I figured that it was about time I go to the classic. I have to first say, I was not disappointed.

Other then the great use of archetype what caught my attention and spoke volumes to me about the Japanese philosophy of the Samurai code came near the beginning. The lead hero "Kambei" a aging and crafty warrior comes upon a village where a thief being discovered by the villagers at night had taken a child hostage and was held up in a barn. No one dared approach the criminal for fear that he would kill the child. Making a quick assessment of the situation Kambei goes to a stream shaves his head and takes on the clothing of a monk.

In his disguise he approaches the barn with two rice balls to offer the criminal to eat and give to the child. The criminal protests his approach but Kambei reassures him that he is simply a monk who has come to offer food. He then opens the door taking a squatting position observing the situation inside, when he sees that the time is right he leaps into the barn. You see nothing of what happens only hearing a scuffle, then the robber comes stumbling out of the barn, standing dazed for a second and then falls dead to the ground. Kambei then emerges from the building having saved the child and slain the offender.
What stuck out to me about this interaction was the clearly displayed contempt the director and actors showed for the thief. In western movies of today we would not be allowed to simply slay the offender, we would have to have him removed with "less then lethal" means and then we would have to have a long back story on why the poor criminal was turned to a life of crime. We have become a society in many ways that seeks to justify bad behavior with a multiple camouflages other then simply seeing the problem as "if your a criminal you are below respect."

Heck our society even has become one that in many ways glorifies the criminal while mocking the law abiding honorable person. The cause of this could be any number of things however in my own mind the cause seems to be that we seek to justify the negative actions of others because we know that some day we will be in need of some kind of justification for our own actions that we know are dishonorable. In our collective minds we seek to justify others misdeeds so that in the end when the table is eventually turned hopefully that same action will be repaid to us.

However wishful this may be from what I have seen Satan and any other cohort is all to willing to sell us down the river for our dishonorable actions. Inevitably when we are the criminal locked in the barn holding a emotional hostage for justification we will be the one left too die alone. The only recourse is to truly live an honorable truthful life and then expecting the same from others, distancing ourselves from those who prove less then honorable.

It all makes sense now!

After watching this video something finally clicked. Obama and the liberal agenda has always seemed to me like the most non-sensical asenine thing concieved by human minds, in other words they create an agenda that is completely worthless to humankind. However, I saw this video and it clicked. I understand now why they want to expand government to control the details of our lives. They want this because we waste so much of our lives on details ie. doing the laundry, paying bills, grocery shopping, etc. With government expansion/socialism we all can reach our true inner potential by having the details worked out for us by the government. The result leaves us to pursue the more meaningful things in life such as developing mad beatbox skills.

............A New Element Discovered!............

I thought this was blog worthy. If you've already recieved this via e-mail I apologize. If not, enjoy:

"Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from four days to four years to complete.Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years; It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons."

The Re-Education of the populous

After reading this article from Glenn Beck (or transcription except from the radio show) I realized that there are a great many individuals in this society that have been educated to a disturbing level of false pretenses. At its core, the problem with the social education individuals are obtaining today is being taught by "marketed ideal" vs. "practical reality". What I mean by that is, individuals 30 years ago would have crapped their pants seeing the level of socialism that is accepted in today's society. Just 30 years back is all you would need to go back to! Yet, today, there are so many that think that "equal outcome" principles common to socialistic propaganda implies that the "equal outcome" refers to an equally high standard of living with freedoms and opportunity. That marketed ideal or implied meaning of socialism is false and has been indoctrinated to the masses by the adversary.

The "practical reality" is with all the government problems, all the bickering, all the games, and the manipulation of the public at large, the last thing that a rational thinking, even moderately educated individual should be considering are ways to increase the role of government in our lives. National Health Care kills people. If the desired end result is better health care, the worst thing that could be done (historically proven) is to nationalize health care. Cancer doesn't wait for a bureaucracy to progress. Surgery can't always wait for the paperwork to be in order. You can't enjoy more wealth, by taxing it away from those who have earned it. The military is not fighting for this country because they have to, it is because they believe in the cause of freedom and are willing to die supporting it. How is it that people have forgotten these things or have they simply chosen not to see it?

How long has it taken for this "education" to take place amongst the general populous? How long will it take for a re-education to take place? I won't even ask IF it can take place because I already know that it can be. It's just a matter of if there are enough people who care for freedom to fight for it.

Obama speaks! The market crumbles.....

It may just be me, but it appears that anytime Obama speaks the Stock market takes a dive. I noticed on MSNBC this morning they actually incorporated the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P with little green or red arrows in the bottom right hand corner of the screen so you could watch market trends while the "One" perorates.

General Authorities Endorse This Company!

General Authorities don't make a practice of endorsing companies even when offered pay to do so. However, I find the sub-culture of LDS businesses to be laughable when they use, as part of their marketing, a quote from a general authority speaking on a certain subject and make it out to be an endorsement of their product or service.

LDS Message.com has done such a thing. LDS Message.com is a service that will send a text message of a scripture to your phone and up to five total phones if you buy the family plan. This service will run you between $4-15 dollars a month to have this service. On the home page of the LDS Message.com site is a quote from Elder M. Russel Ballard that says, "Make sure that the choices you make in the use of new media are choices that expand your mind, increase your opportunities, and feed your soul." In NO way was this to be used as an endorsement for this company, however, LDS message is using it that way. Kind of makes me a little sick actually. Why?

Because individuals should not be so busy in their life that they should be provided with an opportunity to rationalize getting their daily scripture fix through text message. Additionally the site places itself as a service to parents in a way to make it seem that text messaging can take the place of being a spiritual guide in your child's life. Why read the scriptures together when you can send them a text?! I am sure the token answer here could be, "This service is in no way supposed to replace the divine appointed role of parents in the spiritual teaching of the family". Yeah right! That's why LDS Message.com has packaged a service where individuals can get a daily dose of spirituality without having to inconvenience their life with actual scripture study? Don't believe me? Here is their token catch phrase, "A scripture a day keeps temptation away". What a load of false doctrine! When it comes to spirituality there is no such thing as minimal effort yielding maximum return.

Sounds like, "Get text messages and you will be saved" right? LDS Messages.com strikes me as a manipulative service contrived under the same spirit that influenced individuals to do money changing in the temples of Christs day. I am not against people selling an appropriate service or product that has the LDS market in mind; all for it when done in the right spirit and not in the promotion of false doctrines. Perhaps the warm and fuzzy deception is what is really wrong with this service. When companies like this stand in the place of spiritual adviser and pretend that their service is anything more than a way to coax money out of an individual in the spirit of "ensuring salvation", that doesn't sit well with me. A scripture a day hardly keeps temptation away. In fact, the adversary seems to strive harder against those who enjoy the gospel and seek to gain power from sincere gospel study.

In one way this service seems to position itself like a Holy Ghost substitute. LDS Message uses the crafted phrase, "We schedule the weekend text in the evenings so your loved ones will receive their message while out or making plans for the night!" Like some young man that is making out with one of the girls from the laurel class is going to feel the spirit telling him not to break the law of chastity, ignore it, then get a text message, stop making out long enough to read the text, THEN realize that he shouldn't be "touching her there". Give me a break.

Should North Korea Be Scared?

In a recent visit to Japan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pronounced a warning to N. Korea to cease from practicing or participating in any nuclear proliferation activities. Japanese leaders also are voicing their concern and rightfully so based on a much closer geographic location to N. Korea. However, do we live in a world where North Korea should be concerned by such strong talk? Has Barack Obama lowered the credibility of the United States as a controlling power in this world with all his "peace" talk?

As a nation should we even be concerned with North Korea developing a major military force, or is that N. Korea's right to develop a strong national defense? (I guess we should wonder if developing nuclear weapons is considered defensive?) This is going to be an interesting test for this new administration and especially Secretary of State Clinton. I predict that if she is successful as Secretary of State that her bid for a 2016 election becomes that much stronger.

Back to the point at hand: If you were North Korea, would you find any credibility in U.S. threats considering our economy and what some consider a shattered global image? Would hearing a warning from Hillary Clinton cause, what appears to be a very determined nation, to cut its losses and change its course?

Delegate vs. Trustee

A Delegate is - Any one sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to represent; a chosen deputy; a representative

A Trustee is - One to whom something is entrusted : one trusted to keep or administer something: as a member of a board entrusted with administering the funds and directing the policy of an institution or organization

Is our government set up to elect Delegates or Trustees to Congress and which is better? I believe a Delegate is better than a Trustee, but if Congress was made up strictly of true Delegates all policy would always be majority rule. Is majority rule always the best? Normally I would say yes, but considering my views appear to be in the minority...... What do you all think?

The government works for us - right?

A long forgotten or practiced principle is that the government works for the people, not the other way around - right? Last time I checked, other than some civic governments, the increasing power of state and federal governments is such that people fear their governments the same way that individuals fear their employers. This isn't exactly a friday morning light posting, but this is something that Glen Beck talked about on his show (see clip below).

Can the American people win back their own country? Who really owns the United States of America anyway? When you look at the history of the church, especially around the Missouri persecutions in the 1830's and 40's, there were signs that the government was for some people, but not all people. How far back must Americans go in history to see if there was a government for the people? Is this move towards socialistic ideals and principles a sign that the American people have officially rounded the corner, or passed the point of no return in gaining back the true role of government in the lives of its citizens?

Barack Obama = Abraham Lincoln, Or someone else?

I read an article on fox news, in the article some historian's argue that Lincoln, was a big government proponent, comparing Lincoln to Barack Obama. I’ve read a little about Lincoln, and found nothing to indicate he was a closet liberal big government proponent. Such revisionism is preposterous, and disingenuous. Lincoln did preside over the largest increase in government up to his time, however to claim he increased government for any other reason than to preserve the union, is out of touch with reality. Lincoln once said "If I could preserve the Union by freeing all the slave's I would, if I could preserve the Union by freeing none of the slaves, I would do that"

My point is Lincoln grew government in order to preserve the Union.

Obama grows government for political power, and to preserve his immaculate perception.

If you’d like a more accurate 20th century comparo of historical figures read these points written by some fine early century socialist thinker's.

1. We demand that the State shall above all undertake to ensure that every citizen shall have the possibility of living decently and earning a livelihood.
2. All citizens must possess equal rights and duties.
3. The first duty of every citizen must be to work mentally or physically. No individual shall do any work that offends against the interest of the community to the benefit of all.
Therefore we demand:
4. That all unearned income, and all income that does not arise from work, be abolished.
5. Since every war imposes on the people fearful sacrifices in blood and treasure, all personal profit arising from the war must be regarded as treason to the people. We therefore demand the total confiscation of all war profits.
6. We demand the nationalization of all trusts.
7. We demand profit-sharing in large industries.
8. We demand a generous increase in old-age pensions.
9. We demand the creation and maintenance of a sound middle-class, the immediate communalization of large stores which will be rented cheaply to small tradespeople, and the strongest consideration must be given to ensure that small traders shall deliver the supplies needed by the State, the provinces and municipalities.
10. We demand an agrarian reform in accordance with our national requirements, and the enactment of a law to expropriate the owners without compensation of any land needed for the common purpose. The abolition of ground rents, and the prohibition of all speculation in land.
11. In order to make it possible for every capable and industrious People to obtain higher education, and thus the opportunity to reach into positions of leadership, the State must assume the responsibility of organizing thoroughly the entire cultural system of the people. The curricula of all educational establishments shall be adapted to practical life. The conception of the State Idea (science of citizenship) must be taught in the schools from the very beginning. We demand that specially talented children of poor parents, whatever their station or occupation, be educated at the expense of the State.
12. The State has the duty to help raise the standard of national health by providing maternity welfare centers, by prohibiting juvenile labor, by increasing physical fitness through the introduction of compulsory games and gymnastics, and by the greatest possible encouragement of associations concerned with the physical education of the young.
13. We demand that there be a legal campaign against those who propagate deliberate political lies and disseminate them through the press.
14. In order to carry out this program we demand: the creation of a strong central authority in the State, the unconditional authority by the political central parliament of the whole State and all its organizations.
The formation of professional committees and of committees representing the several estates of the realm, to ensure that the laws promulgated by the central authority shall be carried out by the federal states.
The leaders of the party undertake to promote the execution of the foregoing points at all costs, if necessary.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Milton Friedman on Capitalism

I am not sure what I like more; What Milton Friedman says in this video clip about the beauty of capitalism and the benefits that come from having such an economic system, or when Milton Friedman makes Phil Donahue look like a moron for thinking that there is something better for this world like the redistribution of wealth through socialism. I will let you watch this clip and decide for yourself. It is sheer beauty!

Punishing Performence Enhancement

Any competitive sport has athletes using illegal performance enhancement substances to gain some form of competitive advantage. Many have considered some of these substances to have adverse harmful effects on the health of the individual. Additionally, the use of these substances changes what some see as a level playing field of competition.

Recently, just following news that Barry Bonds has tested positive for these illegal substances, Alex Rodriguez or A-Rod, another baseball player, has admitted and been tested positive for using these substances as well. While many are not shocked (most people thought they were using all along), there does seem to be an interesting parallel to other aspects of capitalism and libertarian philosophy that I would like to apply here.

In a business situation, many republicans and libertarians have desired to have more of a laissez-faire approach where the government stays out of their business allowing the market to solve its own problems. Recently many in this blog have expressed opinions with respect to Federal Bailouts, executive pay caps and so on, and the general consensus is that part of the capitalist economy in which we live allows for people to succeed or fail due to the effects of competition. Competition isn't always fair. And, one of the benefits to competition is that is drives the performance and production levels up.

However when it comes to sports, many are quick to see the federal government pounce on and crush the careers of competitive professional athletes for what some could view as a product of capitalistic competition. Is it the place of the federal government to step in and test for performance enhancement drugs with the players, and are the use of these drugs even wrong? Of course, LDS people generally take to the creed of the word of wisdom that we are not to take such potentially harmful things into our bodies. However, if all those Arnold Freeberg paintings of Nephi and Moroni being so ripped and cut that they would beat down anyone that came in their way are a true likeness, then all these athlete's are doing are trying to be like the prophets of old.

In the spirit of competition that so many in this blog strive to uphold, is there a place for performance enhancing drugs in professional athletic competitions? If not, then who is supposed to enforce the "breaking of the rules"?

Socialsm and the United Order

I read a scripture the other day and felt the need to reconcile our stance that Socialism is not endorsed in the Book Of Mormon and that significant differences exist between the two systems of government.

The scripture I read was 4 Nephi 1:3 - "And they had ^aall things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor." On the surface one could say that because there was no rich and there was no poor that this is describing a Socialistic society and therefore socialism must be good. Because this scripture's context is the Nephite society that existed following the visit of the Savior to the America's, and because Mormon described these Nephites saying that "there could not be a ^ehappier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God" many people apply a misunderstanding of this passage and come to the conclusion that Socialistic societies must be the best way to be happy. This misunderstanding is perpetuated when combined with what I can only describe as a surface understanding of the United Order when the Saints live the Law of Consecration. I had a relative of mine that, during the presidential campaign, made the statement, "what is so wrong with Socialism?" To many people have not studied the history of socialism as the gateway system to represive communism. To those who chose to look at the gospel through the eyes of a songs made for the young women, there is something sinester and evil behind the designs of socialism. This would be a good application of the term "Wolves in sheep's clothing".

The scripture in 4 Nephi 1:3 carries with it a significant key to understanding a fundamental difference between Socialism and the Celestial law of the United Order. In the Nephite people following the visit of the Savior, individuals were "not bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly ^bgift." The society was organized by those who wanted to be there, individuals who still had agency. Remember the war in heaven where great casualties of our spirit brothers and sisters chose to follow the plan where agency was destroyed and where individuals would be forced to return to God. For many, Satan's plan was convincing, and was compelling as there would be no rich or poor, there would be none lost and all would be saved - we all win... right? Wrong!

A socialistic society seeks to destroy the rights of the individual including the right to fail. The plan of God, the plan of happiness, the society that the Nephites existed in, was one that embraced the principles of freedom, the right of individuals to chose to accept the gospel and live its principles. As you listen to the politicians of the liberal left wing of our current government, including our new president, see if you don't hear triggering words that signal a socialist agenda destorying the rights of individuals. Additionally, like President Bush, Obama, or any other individual that is seeking to obtain more power and increase the power of governemnt over its citizens they use fear to scare us into following their way. Words like "must", "force", and these words do exist in not only Barack Obama's speech but many of the others that support this "change" away from the system of Government that was established by God in this country. Prophets have declared that God inspired the constitution. That document should be upheld. Barack Obama has said that the Constitution has failed in many ways including calling the Constitution a document of negative liberties. For examples of these principles I have given the following clips for your education, not entertainment (one you may have seen before but it is worth repeating).

Electric car? Hell whatever happened to the flying car?

Whatever happened to the America that sought out and fought for the next big thing? The America that championed the best and the brightest? The America that rewarded those people who achieved things? As America begins its quickened pace towards socialism/communism Comrade Obama and his minions have come out swinging at their rivals in the capitalist system. Hell 50 years ago people thought we would all be zooming around in flying cars and now we wounder if we can even drive cars anymore.

Going back to the idea of unearned guilt I talked about yesterday the biggest unearned guilt trip in this country is the guilt the rich must pay simply for being rich. Here we have Bank Of America selling off thier privet jets in attempts to "scale back cost." Fair enough if we have to save cost but how much of the decision to sell the privet jet is a function of the outrage the government now generates over anything they deam "extravagant." Are we becoming the country that is so jealous that we can not allow people to spend their own money how they want? The difference here is that of course B of A took government TARP funds but what about the 400 plus lobbyist and Obama supporters who flew privet jets to the coronation? Where is the outrage for those rich people? It's not there because those rich people are different., they are the new elite, the governmental leverage brokers.

As further evidence of the guilt we are supposed to have I had to laugh at this story of Bill Gates releaseing a swam of mosquitoes at a meeting where he was talking about world malaria relief. "There is no reason only poor people should be infected" he said. Yea Bill there is a reason only poor people should be infected. Rich do gooders like you wont allow them to use DDT to protect themsevles from the little parasites, instead you go around trying to guilt trip the rest of the world to give you money to fight for a cause we can't over come with the cave man technology of netting over peoples beads.

What about our defenders? The people who are supposed to be for limited government and constitutional rights? Turns out they hired Joe the plumber to come to Washington to help them forum opposition to the new stimulus package. Joe may be a good guy and smart as a whip but your telling me we need this guy to come give ideas? We don't have some one who o, I don't know, went to collage to fight our fights? The truth is we don't, this is because they had to wait for some one like Joe who actually may have an little portion of actual belief and confidence in principle.

Having a hard time finding your 2nd wife?

I realize that there is a great deal of pressure in the LDS culture for individuals to get married ASAP. But what about those looking for their 2nd polygamous wife? The first one was hard enough to find, what about the second??

Don't you fret! The people at www.2wives.com have provided a platform for finding that second special someone.

Of course Polygamy is not a new thing to the world. Back in biblical times it was practiced, and was practiced in this final dispensation as part of the restoration of all things. Many individuals have debated on whether or not the church's decision to end polygamy was really inspired or if we caved to the pressures of the government. Elder Widtsoe in his book "Evidences and Reconciliations" handles that debate quite well for those interested.

For now, a new argument has come to the table that could make its way here to the US from Canada. That is, if Gay marriage is to be allowed on the basis of consenting adults agreeing to the arrangement, then why not allow polygamy? There currently is a story in Canada where and FLDS member is using this legal argument to justify his 19 wives (perhaps a user of 2wives.com). And what about all those lesbian polygamists?

What I want to know, is this a valid argument? If you allow gay marriage, are you not then supposed to allow any marital relationship between as many consenting adults as is agreed upon by the parties involved? If polygamy is legalized, do you think that the church would then re-instate it as a practice among those called to do so as was done in the earlier days of the church?

Us VS. Them

Nancy Pelosi couldn't be as stupid as she seems could she? Here she was last week talking about how the government giving more money to planned parent hood claiming it would be "financial stimulus" because it would save states money in health care. Translation = the more babies we abort the less people we have to pay for. Not only does she neglect the simple fact that economies are made up by these things we call "people" and that less people means less participants in this economy but her words betray a deeper philosophical ideal. This underlying philosophy penetrates many aspects of the world, from Catholics preaching original sin to global warmers calling man evil, this is that man kind is inherently evil and bad.

This is one philosophy where we as LDS people declare to the world that we are of divine origin and therefore have the potential for a divine destiny. This would then mean that every human life is sacred and should be held up as one of the most sacred elements of this world. Liberals along with many "Christians" however view humanity as inherently bad. Liberal logic says that if we just stopped procreating like rabbits then there would be more of the worlds resources available for Nancy and her chosen offspring which she and her political friends deem worthy of life. Also if there where less people then there would be less pollution and less urban sprawl, less guns, less of all those people who disagree with them and so on.

Christendom is no better though and philosophically similar to liberals. According to them our only purpose is to praise God and EVERYTHING we do is not good enough. We are born guilty thanks to Adam and are therefore expected to accept guilt for a sin we never committed. Liberals are no different, we are expected to accept guilt for our nations sin of slavery though no one today was held nor held slaves. Both require that we accept guilt for actions we never had a hand in, it is therefore through this guilt that they assume their power over us.

Reading between the lines we see the true hatred and selfishness of philosophies. On the same coin we need to also see clearly who actually is philosophically on our side. Those not firmly planted in the soil of belief in humanity's capacity and divine destiny are ideology different then us and therefore can not ever come to the same conclusions about what we can as Gods children achieve.

Will any of the bailout go towards drivers special ed?

I don't want to come across too negative so as to appear nothing but a scrooge-esk "bah humbug" bring on death and destruction pessimistic downer, thus I leave my only comment on this video: Driving is a privilege, not a right.

What happened to the Roman Empire?

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." Cicero - 55 BC

Barack says, "I Screwed Up".

In a much needed apology to the American people Pres. Barack Obama said he "screwed up" for his recent cabinet nominations and all their tax problems. So, the two appointee's that weren't approved and confirmed by the blind Democrats in Congress had their nominations taken off the table in a very appropriate move by all parties involved.

Today's lesson for President Obama. This isn't Illinois. You can't just do whatever corrupt thing you want and have the people not notice it. At least not as easily.

However, I started thinking about what this means as far as President Obama and how he handles things when he does something wrong. With President Bush, he just didn't seem to give a lick about what other people thought. If there was a mistake made, you just go "tough Texas" through it and hope it all comes out in the wash. There was some courage displayed by a leader who stuck with what he believed in. However, I think I like the idea of a leader admitting his wrong doings and moving on. On the surface it gives me the hope that the leader is learning and may not screw up so openly in the future.

Does Barack Obama diffuse this poor display of judgment by admitting his "screw up"? Or does this further give cause for concern about his ability to run the country?

What do you think?

Were they born twins and then separated at birth? I don't know, maybe it's just me.

Third time is a charm

I thought it was a joke too, but it's true. Another Obama appointee to his cabinet "forgot to pay their taxes". The linked article states, "Nancy Killefer, who failed for a year and a half to pay employment taxes on household help, withdrew her candidacy to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government on Tuesday."

So props for pulling out for the job Nancy, but come on Obama! Are you kidding me? You would think that after the first appointee's problems with taxes Obama would be more thorough. After the second time, perhaps you can make the excuse, Daschle was already in public office and we all should have known better. But this third time is out right ridiculous. Obama hasn't even been in office for ONE MONTH and he has made plenty of critical mistakes and displayed all the lack of proper judgment we thought he would during the campaign.

It's a shame too, because I thought his interview with Matt Lauer before the Super Bowl was quite down to earth and approachable. Oh well...

You asked for it, you got it.

I am not happy about this recent move by the Obama White House, but I also hardly blame them. Currently the federal government is considering placing salary caps on top bank execs for the banks that have taken federal money in the bailouts. On the one hand I agree that something needed to be done with the crazy pay that is driving the companies into this sort of crisis, but I am not a fan of the government taking this much control in business. I am not surprised this happened as this is just another step towards the Obama Socialist Republic of America. At the same time, if the government is going to try and help things out, and if in fact this is a temporary bailout, then a temporary pay cap is fair and in order.

When the car companies sued the federal government over forced regulations on vehicle emissions regulations after taking the tax payers money to stay afloat I wonder where these companies get the nerve to bite the hand that feeds them? You asked for the government to come in and save you, to fix your problems for you? Yes the feds are taking over your business, but you forfeited your right to operate your business freely when you took the money. Sorry, but I have very little sympathy in this case. Maybe, just maybe, the audacity of my hope is that companies won't ask for money in the future knowing that the government is simply going to come in and tell them how to run their business.

I'm going to stop paying taxes so I can be in a presidential cabinet

Some of you may have heard the latest news about Pres. Obama's nominee for Heath and Human Services Secretary. Sen. Daschle is now the cabinet appointee into a high ranking government position that has not paid his taxes. Sen. Daschle owes somewhere between (differing reports) of $140,000- 255,000 in taxes. The first tax delinquent Obama appointee was for Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, who owed around $34,000 in back taxes. The irony here being that Geithner didn't pay were Social Security and Medicare taxes, something Pres. Obama is pushing to increase the bureaucracy of.

So I figure if I stop paying taxes I am in for a high powered government job taking a paycheck from taxes he don't put into. I know I recently applauded Pres. Obama's move to end lobby corruption in the White House, and based on the legislation that was passed I still see that as a step in the right direction. However, why send such a blatant mixed signal to the American voters? Didn't your guys check Tom Daschle out before this nomination came through? The message I am getting is it's not okay to have a voice in the white house using deep pockets but it is okay to not pay taxes. In fact you might even be rewarded with a top national job in spite of not paying them!

The latest is that Tom Daschle has decided to do to save his lying can is to apologize for the "oversight". Um.... I don't think even Donald Trump would be satisfied with that much money unaccounted for, let alone Tom Daschle. We are not talking about an oops here. Who is this guys accountant anyway?

There is a quote from the last linked article that states, " Senators have said that they would await guidance from the Finance Committee before deciding whether the tax problem could stall - or even derail - his confirmation." How about putting him in jail for tax evasion derailing any future of professional or political employment for taking the tax payers for a ride? I wonder how this guy is even still being considered? Should Pres. Obama with his "change" and "Hope" talk be like, "sorry, none of that tax evasion stuff here." Not only has that not happened, this is the second person he has given the green light to! Why will the media not push some blame on Obama's apparent decision making skills here? He can't even choose a tax payer for his cabinet, how is he going to read the leaders of other nations with who to ally with?

So the moral of today's story, don't pay your taxes.

A prophet speaks! May we and this nation listen and obey.

This is hope! This IS the good news! All of it is spectacular, but I particularly like from 5.10 on. "Some may die in the conflict that lies ahead....death will not be the end. There is life beyond this as surely as there is life here. We must do our duty...peace may be denied for a season...but God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation...blessed is the nation who's God is the Lord. Strength comes through obedience to the commandments of God. Let us stand firm against evil. Let us live worthy of the blessings of heaven, reforming our lives where necessary and looking to Him, the father of us all. Be still and know that I am God. There is no need to fear, we can have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes. May the God of heaven, the Almighty, bless us, help us, as we walk our various ways in the uncertain days ahead. May we look to Him with unfailing faith."

My hope is in God. It is reassuring to know that our Father in Heaven has given us those who serve Him and have the gift of prophecy to remind us of the important things.

For your consideration, from the Great White Downer

I've been thinking about this quote from Joseph Smith and I'm curious what everyone else's thoughts are on it, in relation to our current situation today.

"There will be two great political parties in this country. One will be called the Republican, and the other the Democrat party. These two parties will go to war and out of these two parties will spring another party which will be the Independent American Party. The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, “Let’s divide up the lands of the United States,” then the people of the U.S. will unite and swear by the blood of their fore-fathers, that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U.S. army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up—when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American Army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, “Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God.” Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when its liberty hangs by a hair, as it were." - Joseph Smith jr.