tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31486685651653651792024-02-20T05:26:48.098-08:00Faith and Politics VoiceElizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-25255646771729237662012-05-13T21:31:00.001-07:002012-05-13T21:31:39.071-07:00Restoring faith-based alternatives in the arts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="color: black;">The death of pop star <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/whitney_houston" target="_blank" title="Whitney Houston"><span style="color: blue;">Whitney Houston</span></a> has increased the wildfire
surrounding the shady functioning of the music and movie industries, as well as
what some might call their blatant disregard for human souls. Houston was not
the first to fall to the music industry’s subculture of drugs that so often
gets the attention of the mainstream media, but she is one of the most recent
as of this writing. Many have spoken up on her behalf saying that she was not a
person who wanted to be living an immoral lifestyle, but that she was a
Christian woman desiring to know <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God" target="_blank" title="God"><span style="color: blue;">God</span></a> on a deeper level who was trying to get
delivered from the grip of drug addiction.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">R&B superstar Chaka Khan had a close
friendship with Huston, and according to <a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/May/Music-Industrys-Demonic-Edge-Creeping-into-Gospel/"><span style="color: blue;">CBN</span></a>,
accused the music industry of being downright “demonic” shortly after the news
about Houston’s death went public.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Gospel music singer Helen Baylor is also boldly
speaking out about the darkness of the music industry, and she isn’t stopping
with the secular music industry. Baylor has been willing to be rather
vulnerable about her own struggles in relation to the influence of the music
industry and drug addiction in her life, even as she admonishes that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_music_industry" target="_blank" title="Christian music industry"><span style="color: blue;">Gospel music industry</span></a> isn’t very far
behind the secular in terms of where it’s headed. She claims that the focus has
become misdirected over the years in the sense that Gospel music has become a
form of entertainment rather than a means of ministering to people. The mindset
of using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_music" target="_blank" title="Christian music"><span style="color: blue;">Christian music</span></a> as a tool to help people focus on
drawing closer to God has given way to a market-driven mentality of appealing
to the approval of the masses as Christian artists are put on worldly
pedestals.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Even back in the 1990s, Christian music that was
played on many radio stations was more rooted in the Word than much of what is
being played today. This also gave people a chance to be more familiar with
what the Word actually said and have more of a moral compass to guide them in
their daily living. But as the music became more commercialized for the masses,
the concept of Word-based lyrics became less of a focus. That being said, it
seems that much of today’s church struggles with understanding why praise and
worship is important, and there is a growing sentiment that it’s only people
who are musicians and singers who really experience the presence of God through
that venue anyway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">However, if that were truly the case, there
wouldn’t be passages like 2 Chronicles chapter 5 verses 13-14 in which the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_worship_music" target="_blank" title="Contemporary worship music"><span style="color: blue;">praise and worship music</span></a> was so rich
with the presence of God that the priests couldn’t continue ministering because
the glory of the Lord was so powerful in the temple. There was a visible cloud
representing the presence of the Lord that filled that place, and it wasn’t
just the singers and musicians who saw it. Everyone saw it. The church needs to
realize that we are being called to return to a focus of using praise and
worship as a means to worship God in Spirit and in truth. But the music
industry is only one aspect of the arts in need of restoration.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Back in the 30s and 40s when the movie industry
was one of the hottest new technologies that was becoming available to people, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian" target="_blank" title="Christian"><span style="color: blue;">Christians</span></a>
were heavily involved in what made it into the theaters and what didn’t. Not
only were Americans in that generation, and especially small business owners,
more concerned about living a moral life, but they were also deeply concerned
with running their business in accordance with Christian principles. And much
of the movie industry was no exception.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">In his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936488272/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=movieguide04-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1936488272"><span style="color: blue;"><em>How
to Succeed in Hollywood Without Losing Your Soul</em>, </span></a>Ted Baehr notes that
Christian groups had gotten together and created a motion picture code that
Hollywood applied to their movies so that those movies would not negatively
affect the culture. Then in 1966, the Christian groups pulled out, and today we
have instances of the moral values of individual actors and actresses being
violated to the point that some have chosen to refuse a role or lose their job
rather than compromise.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Actor <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/neal_mcdonough" target="_blank" title="Neal McDonough"><span style="color: blue;">Neal McDonough</span></a> is one case in point. According to <a href="http://www.movieguide.org/news/main/abc-fires-christian-actor-for-refusing-to-do-sex-scene.html"><span style="color: blue;">MovieGuide.org</span></a>
he boldly refused to do a sex scene in the ABC series “Scoundrels”. So they
fired him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Boldly taking a stand for what one believes is not
necessarily an easy thing to do. Especially for those who don’t have a great
deal of experience yet and credits are needed to build a resume for future opportunities.
While these types of decisions are personal ones for each artist, it also seems
appropriate to point out that God does reward those who take a stand for what’s
right. And sometimes that even manifests in this life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">What He is doing through the cast of Courageous
would be a case in point. Not only has it had a positive influence on
individual lives and families, but it has done well at the box office.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Another positive influence in the arts is Leonardo
Defilippis, founder of St Luke’s Productions. <a href="http://www.stlukeproductions.com/about/history"><span style="color: blue;">According to the website</span></a>,
God placed a vision in his heart to present the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Luke" target="_blank" title="Gospel of Luke"><span style="color: blue;">Gospel of Luke</span></a>, “in a new dramatic form.” That was
three decades ago. Since that time, the production company has grown to produce
several inspirational films and original music soundtracks. Not only does
Defilippis have a desire to be used of the Lord for evangelism, but also to
restore the dignity of film, drama and television.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://christianmovies.com/" target="_blank" title="Rich Christiano"><span style="color: blue;">Rich Christiano</span></a>, founder <a href="http://www.christianmovies.com/about-us"><span style="color: blue;">of ChristianMovies.com</span></a> is
another influence in the industry that God is moving through in mighty ways.
According to his website, He has been creating Christian movies with his
brother Dave since 1982, and distributing them since 1985.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">The above are just a few examples of some of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chosen_people" target="_blank" title="Chosen people"><span style="color: blue;">God’s people</span></a> in the industry who are boldly
responding to His Call to partner with Him in the area of restoring faith-based
alternatives in the arts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-28084285283118940522012-05-08T23:22:00.001-07:002012-05-08T23:22:42.577-07:00What DC’s student loan and farm bills have in commonWhen considering how Congress has been running since Obama became president, one can’t help but ponder if the student loan bill and farm bill will eventually just have to be passed so that American can see what’s in them. Though neither of these are the size of the Obamacare bill, they certainly have the potential to become a crisis that DC libs won’t be wasting – especially with 2012 being an election year.<br />
<br />
The student loan bill will be reaching crisis level first. As the House and Senate haggle over just how the meltdown of student loan interest rates will be contained, the proverbial needle moves steadily into the red warning zone of July 1. Democrats want the 6.8 percent hike paid for by a hike in the payroll taxes of private companies, according to <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57430060-503544/student-loan-bill-fails-as-senate-gears-up-for-protracted-battle/">CBS News</a>. More specifically their Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. Reid claims these companies are made up of “wealthy tax dodgers” anyway, and so taxing the very ones who can create jobs for all the unemployed college students is just the way to go. What a wonderfully logical plan: two bankrupt systems paying for another bankrupt system. Don’t you love how consistent the Dems are in their Keynesian economic thinking?<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the Republicans want to pay for one bankrupt system with part of an illegitimate system that’s <em>never</em> had any true funding: Obamacare. Can you tell it’s an election year and America is one hot, economic mess?<br />
<br />
The other closely looming crisis that won’t be wasted is the Farm bill. According to a video at <a href="http://www.agweb.com/article/2012_farm_bill_whats_next/">AG Web</a>, five year cyclical bill has a rather significant impact on SNAP (formerly food stamps), and a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-crossfield/a-new-vision-for-the-2012_b_549257.html">Huffington Post</a> article from 2010 points out the major impact on “the efficiency of direct payments, disaster relief programs, crop insurance and conservation programs.”<br />
<br />
Another interesting thing about the Farm bill is that is fits snugly into the green agenda of the global warming crowd in that there may be some fresh discussion regarding “an expanded ‘green payments’ program, which would reward farmers for environmental stewardship instead of placing the incentives on overproduction.”<br />
<br />
This has the potential to open the door to the nationalization of the agricultural industry. And it’s not like such a thing hasn’t been done before. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez would be a relatively recent case in point. In October of 2010<a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9d8_1286158076">, Breitbart</a> reported that Chavez planned a government take-over of Venezuela’s agricultural industry, and he started it with “the nationalization of land owned by a subsidiary of British meat products company Vestey, as he called for ‘acceleration of the agrarian revolution.’” The article goes on to state that “Chavez called for the acceleration of nationalizing agricultural assets across the country in coming months, including land and property owned by Venezuelan farming technology company Agroislena.<br />
<br />
His reasoning is that such a government take-over will, “Free the land, free the <a href="http://topics.breitbart.com/slave+labor/">slave labor, </a>feed our people.” Keep in mind here that Chavez thinks that capitalism is why Venezuela has economic problems, and that nationalization is the solution to those economic issues.<br />
<br />
There was a great deal of discussion about a bill nicknamed cap and trade back in 2010. When all the attention died down and some even declared it dead, it was quietly renamed “Nationwide Renewable-Electricity Standard,” or RES. Some may remember all the talk about the purchase of carbon permits and how damaging something like that would be to farms (and other industries) if it were implemented. When one considers that the Obama administration has already made moves to nationalize the healthcare industry through Obamacare and the banking industry through the Wall Street Reform legislation; it’s not that much of a stretch to consider the possibility of an attempt to nationalize the agricultural industry and even the energy industry.<br />
<br />
The idea of “rewarding stewardship” through a “greener” environment can be connected to the Environmental Protection Agency; an organization that has set a goal for 59 million acres of farmland to be converted to forests within 40 years. A computerized economic model indicates that the move would be more profitable than producing food, but the profits would be the result of fewer crops, which would then drive up prices. A <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-08-19-forest_N.htm">USA Today</a> article from August of 2009 claims that both pasture and farm fields would be replaced with about 18 million acres of new trees by 2020, which would be “roughly the size of West Virginia.”<br />
<br />
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has ordered his staff to revise the information projected by the Forest and Agricultural Sector Optimization Model (FASOM) which has caused considerable concern among the farmers and ranchers. Vilsack stated that “If landowners plant trees to the extent that the model suggests, this would be disruptive to agriculture in some regions of the country.” At the time, he pointed out that there were options not added in the cap and trade bill that would have increased the income of farmers as they continued producing food. The omissions caused the model to overestimate the actual effect of planting new forests.<br />
<br />
Vilsack instructed his chief economist to collaborate with the EPA, review the model, update it, and develop options that would help prevent “unintended consequences for agriculture that might result from climate change legislation.”<br />
<br />
Interestingly, back during the Great Depression there was a federal government project that involved planting acres of trees. According to a <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html">US history website </a>, it was part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal program. The idea was to “recruit thousands of unemployed young men, enlist them in a peacetime army, and send them to battle the erosion and destruction of the nation’s natural resources. More than any other New Deal agency, the CCC (Civilian Conservation Core) is considered to be an extension of Roosevelt’s personal philosophy.” The proposed plan was rushed through the approval process, and the CCC gained the nickname of “Roosevelt’s Tree Army”. Since most of the unemployed people were on the east side of the nation and most of the work was on the west side, people were shipped off to work camps to perform the work. California alone had 150 camps. The website also states that, “The War Department mobilized the nation’s transportation system to move thousands of enrollees from induction centers to work camps.”<br />
<br />
The article goes on to state that, “By 1935, however, there was, in the words of CCC director Fechner, a ‘complete segregation of colored and white enrollees,’ but ‘segregation is not discrimination.’” In addition, “An important modification became necessary early in 1933. It extended enlistment coverage to about 14,000 <em>American Indians</em> whose economic circumstances were deplorable and had mostly been ignored. Before the CCC was terminated, more than 80,000 Native Americans were paid to help reclaim the land that had once been theirs” (emphasis added). One could replace the words “American Indians” with “Illegal immigrants” and see yet another connection. One of the few requirements for participation was that a person had to be a US citizen – but then making all illegal immigrants legal through immigration reform could easily solve that problem. Even veterans were eventually granted enrollment into the program.<br />
<br />
When 1941 rolled around, the CCC seemed to lose its importance, mainly because of the improved economy. Therefore, “A joint committee of Congress recommended that the CCC be abolished by July 1, 1942. <em>Technically, however, the corps was never abolished. Congress simply refused it any additional money.</em> Eventually, $8 million was set aside to cover all costs of liquidation, and <em>the War Department, Labor Department, and Civil Aeronautics Administration were given first opportunity to acquire CCC properties.</em> The War Department claimed the majority of the equipment” (emphasis added). The CCC seems to have a positive place in history and the record seems to show that many good things were done for the country through that organization. However, there are some aspects of the program that also seem as though they could lead to a repeat of the horrors of Nazi Germany and the holocaust when put in the hands of a dictatorial government – or even one whereby its representatives are not listening to the voice of the majority of its citizens.<br />
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<br /></div>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-58217898981499100962012-05-01T20:34:00.000-07:002012-05-01T20:34:11.953-07:00‘The SALT Plan’ addresses America’s economic enigmaThe Fed has finally admitted what many who have been paying attention already knew: we’re heading for economic upheaval. This brief and passing moment of truth brought forth from the system of the Fed bowels made its way to the American public via <a data-mce-href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/47246646" href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/47246646">CNBC</a><strong> </strong>on Tuesday. For readers who can stomach additional detail on this, two fed officials, Charles Evans of the Chicago Fed, and Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said that tax increases and spending cuts will put the US at risk of careening toward a “fiscal cliff” by year’s end. <br /><br />It what could be construed as additional proof that Obama and the rest of DC may be hiding the inevitable, <a data-mce-href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-24/news/sns-rt-us-usa-housing-reboundbre83n0sk-20120424_1_housing-rebound-high-gas-prices-robert-shiller" href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-24/news/sns-rt-us-usa-housing-reboundbre83n0sk-20120424_1_housing-rebound-high-gas-prices-robert-shiller">Reuters</a> reported last week that Yale economics professor Robert Shiller <br />believes that the housing market may take as much as an entire generation to rebound.<br /><br />For those who are wondering what can possibly be done to prepare for and position their families for what’s beginning to look like the Great Depression of the 21st century, one of several helpful resources is the book <em>The SALT Plan: How to Prepare for an Economic Crisis of Biblical Proportions.</em><br /><br />SALT is an acronym that stands for Savings, Allocation, Liquidity, and Truth. The book is written by Chuck Bentley of Crown Financial Ministries and not only does it offer insight for those who actually still have some assets about which to be concerned, but it also offers some very basic ways to prepare. <br /><br />Bentley said in the book that he wrote it with the intent to “shock” people out of their “typical mindset.” He goes on to note that Americans are generally an “optimistic people, but that leads us to be unprepared for something unexpected.” He adds that the combined events of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan in 2011 were what made him realize that the “unthinkable” isn’t as unlikely as we tend to believe.<br /><br />Bentley discourages a survivalist, loan-ranger mentality, but rather, encourages the idea of people being willing to come together in a community to help each other in difficult times. He touches on the ideas of the value of gardens; having an ample supply of canned goods, clean water and other basics on hand; and having at last a basic understanding of how to live off the land if necessary. Bentley also addresses economic cycles and the approach of the New World Order. <br /><br /><em>The SALT Plan</em> is available at <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+salt+plan+by+chuck+bentley&sprefix=The+Salt+Plan%2Cstripbooks%2C200" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+salt+plan+by+chuck+bentley&sprefix=The+Salt+Plan%2Cstripbooks%2C200">Amazon.com </a>and at <a data-mce-href="http://www.Crown.org" href="http://www.crown.org/">www.Crown.org</a>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-74895261935738503002012-04-24T21:00:00.000-07:002012-04-24T21:00:58.831-07:00Strained Economy into 2013 and Beyond<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Though mainstream media
would have legal US residents and legitimate voters believing that the economy
is improving, the inconvenient truth is that it isn’t. The end of housing
crisis is being pitched to Americans with the smooth shrewdness of a seasoned
used car salesman at the end of a slow month. Only in this case, slow has gone
well beyond one month. <br />
<br />
Because some of the ARMs that are anticipated to reset are 7 year loans, this
suggests that next year has the potential to be rather ugly. In fact, a <a data-mce-href="http://www.michelashomes.com/blog/real-estate-market/housing-foreclosure-crisis-over-in-2017-economic-recovery-in-2018/" href="http://www.michelashomes.com/blog/real-estate-market/housing-foreclosure-crisis-over-in-2017-economic-recovery-in-2018/"><span style="color: blue;">Madison,
Wisconsin real estate news blog </span></a>is suggesting that the nation may not even
be able to hope to see the beginning of the end until 2017 or 2018. It reasons
that the lengthy recovery is not only the result of 2 million homes that will
be going into foreclosure over the next several months, but also all the
massive overabundance of inventory at a time when people are unemployed,
underemployed, or just don’t have the savings available to put toward a
purchase. <br />
<br />
But the next round of resetting sub-prime ARMs aren’t the only reason for 2013
being an ugly year. When the Democrat-controlled congress passed Obama’s Wall
Street Reform bill in July of 2010, one of the bill’s authors, Chris Dodd,
proclaimed with joyous tears in his eyes that his monstrous 2300 page creation
was a, “great moment” and that “no one will know until this is actually in
place how it works.” He also declared that, “it will take the next economic
crisis, as certainly it will come, to determine whether or not the provisions
of this bill will actually provide this generation or the next generation of
regulators with the tools necessary to minimize the effects of that crisis.”
The bill’s other author was Barney Frank, hence it’s alternative name: The
Dodd-Frank Act. <br />
<br />
Well, the time has come to reveal just exactly how it is beginning to work.
Though the new government regulations won’t fully kick in until 2013, the
regulations that are required now are bringing about a significantly increased
work load without boosting the economy in such a way that new jobs and the
employees to fill them can be added, according to <a data-mce-href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2011/September/Dodd-Frank-Act-Puts-the-Squeeze-on-Small-Banks/" href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2011/September/Dodd-Frank-Act-Puts-the-Squeeze-on-Small-Banks/"><span style="color: blue;">CBN</span></a>.
<br />
<br />
Not only will everybody’s favorite payday lenders be affected by the bill, but
so will anybody using a debit card. Republicans are calling it a “vast federal
overreach that will drive financial-sector jobs overseas.” <br />
<br />
Back in 2010, a <a data-mce-href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703615104575328020013164184.html" href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703615104575328020013164184.html"><span style="color: blue;">Wall
Street Journal</span></a> article outlined some of the destructive aspects of the Wall
Street reforms. Some of the more scary things noted are that, “The legislation
would redraw how money flows through the U.S. economy, from the way people
borrow money to the way banks structure complicated products like derivatives.
It could touch <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">every person who
has a bank account</span></em> or who uses a credit card” (emphasis added).<br />
<br />
Another deeply concerning thing that the Wall Street Journal mentioned about
the Wall Street reforms is that, “It would erect a new consumer-protection
regulator within the Federal Reserve, give the government new powers to break
up failing companies, and assign a council of regulators to monitor risks to
the financial system. It would also set up strict new rules on big banks, limiting
their risk and increasing the costs.”<br />
<br />
Moving right along, the Securities and Exchange Commission will be granted,
“new powers to regulate Wall Street and monitor hedge funds, increasing the
agency’s access to funding.” Also, there will be new government programs
introduced because of the bill, and the way that these programs will be paid
for (besides by the tax dollars of American citizens) is that the bill “would
allow the government to charge fees to large banks and hedge funds to raise up
to $19 million spread over five years.” Guess how the large banks will offset
those government fees. They certainly <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">won’t</span></em>
be absorbing them into their own cost of doing business!<br />
<br />
Another interesting bit of information about the Wall Street reforms from 2010
was reported by <a data-mce-href="http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/109951-wall-street-reform-will-take-years-to-implement" href="http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/109951-wall-street-reform-will-take-years-to-implement"><span style="color: blue;">The
Hill</span></a> It noted that the Wall Street reform legislation was intended to
provide “a ‘frame’ for the new regulatory landscape, but the full force of the
rewrite hinges on how regulators interpret their new powers in the coming
months and years.” It also mentioned “the creation of a new council of federal
regulators to oversee broad financial risks; new regulations of the $600
trillion derivatives market; and a new system for the government to wind down
failing financial firms.” <br />
<br />
The Hill also stated at the time that Obama, “will be nominating an inaugural
head of the consumer bureau, which will have <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">broad
power</span></em> to write and enforce rules over home loans, credit cards and
other products across the financial system” (emphasis added).<br />
<br />
That economic crisis to which Dodd referred may not be limited to the US.
Especially since <a data-mce-href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bfd00daa-88b0-11e1-9b8d-00144feab49a.html#axzz1svnx3Jhu" href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bfd00daa-88b0-11e1-9b8d-00144feab49a.html#axzz1svnx3Jhu"><span style="color: blue;">Italy
and Spain have declared </span></a>that they will not be able to balance their budgets
by 2013. And the shaky conditions of the eurozone combined with the shuttering
US economy has the Fed contemplating <a data-mce-href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/147371ee-8af0-11e1-b855-00144feab49a.html#axzz1svnx3Jhu" href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/147371ee-8af0-11e1-b855-00144feab49a.html#axzz1svnx3Jhu"><span style="color: blue;">another
round of quantitative easing here at home</span></a>.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, back in 2010 <a data-mce-href="http://news.investors.com/article/532490/201005051956/us-debt-shock-may-hit-in-2018-maybe-as-soon-as-2013-moodys.htm" href="http://news.investors.com/article/532490/201005051956/us-debt-shock-may-hit-in-2018-maybe-as-soon-as-2013-moodys.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Investors.com
</span></a>reported that the Congressional Budget Office projections were suggesting
that the US could have its credit rating downgraded sometime between 2013 and
2018, depending on how adverse the situation becomes with interests rates and
the US debt. <br />
<br />
The article went on to quote a recent Societe General economics team report:
“While we see limited risk of a US sovereign debt downgrade in the next 2-3
years, beyond that we cannot be so certain.” Keep in mind that Societe General
has locations in about 40 countries and has been advising its clients about
safe investment options to assist them in avoiding wealth destruction for at
least a year now. The US downgrade actually ended up happening last year – which
suggests that an economic crisis may be much closer than anyone actually wants
to admit.<br />
<br />
Even so, another threat that is far more daunting to the global economy than
the sub-prime one is the derivative industry, according to a <a data-mce-href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/10/stock-market-time-bomb/?page=all" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/10/stock-market-time-bomb/?page=all"><span style="color: blue;">Washington
Times</span></a> article from 2011. It describes the difficult to understand item as
follows: “Essentially, they are bets for or against the house - red or black at
the roulette wheel. Or betting for or against the weather in situations in
which the weather is critical (e.g., vineyards). Forwards, futures, options and
swaps form the panoply of derivatives. Credit derivatives are based on loans,
bonds or other forms of credit. Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives are
contracts that are traded and privately negotiated directly between two
parties, outside of a regular exchange. <br />
<br />
All of this is unregulated. What happens between two parties - notably hedge
funds - is like what happens between two individuals who bet on the final score
of a football or baseball game. Congressional committees have been warned time
and again about ‘ticking time bombs’ and ‘financial weapons of mass
destruction’ - to no avail, demonstrating that both the U.S. government and the
U.S. Congress are dysfunctional.”<br />
<br />
One other type of loan that is in a massive bubble and about ready to burst is
the student loan bubble. According to a <a data-mce-href="http://inflation.us/collegebubbleburst.html" href="http://inflation.us/collegebubbleburst.html"><span style="color: blue;">National Inflation
Association article </span></a>from 2011, “Student loan debt in America is now larger
than credit card debt, but unlike credit card debt, student loan debt can't be
discharged in bankruptcy.” <br />
<br />
Since only <a data-mce-href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2012/April/Most-Recent-Graduates-Face-Grim-Jobs-Outlook/" href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2012/April/Most-Recent-Graduates-Face-Grim-Jobs-Outlook/"><span style="color: blue;">about
half of all college graduates are finding employment </span></a>right now, it’s
obvious why Obama is trying to get the same student loan bill passed on which
he avoided voting back when he was a senator. Especially since, <a data-mce-href="http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/04/as-senator-obama-missed-votes-on-student-loan-bill-121386.html" href="http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/04/as-senator-obama-missed-votes-on-student-loan-bill-121386.html"><span style="color: blue;">according
to Politico</span></a>, student loan interest rates are expected to shoot up this
July, only months ahead of 2012 elections. If this bill doesn’t get passed, it
will be interesting to see whether it will be defaulted student loans or one of
the other many options noted above that will be the catalyst to set off the
next economic crisis that Dodd said he was sure is on the way, but that the he
also seems to think the government is ready to fix.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-27274259714103645202012-04-03T19:54:00.000-07:002012-04-03T19:54:30.530-07:00IMF head accuses US of not paying its fair shareNever mind that the U.S. has been contributing to Europe’s bailout since the first signs of trouble in Greece. The US still hasn’t paid its fair share. Or that’s what IMF head Christine Lagarde has implied with her latest statement. <br /><br />While speaking in the US capital on Tuesday, the <a data-mce-href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/IMF-chief-calls-on-US-for-more-cash/articleshow/12522131.cms" href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/IMF-chief-calls-on-US-for-more-cash/articleshow/12522131.cms" title="International Business Times of India">International Business Times of India</a><br />reported that Lagarde stated that, “Americans might ask themselves. ‘Why should what happens in the rest of the world concern us? Don't we have our own problems?’ The answer is simple: In today's world, we cannot afford the luxury of staying in our own mental backyards.”<br /><br />America has been anywhere <em>but</em> its own mental backyard where the eurozone debt crisis is concerned. In fact, the <a data-mce-href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/federal-reserve-helps-bail-out-eurozone-until-year-s-end" href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/federal-reserve-helps-bail-out-eurozone-until-year-s-end" title="Federal Reserve helps bail out eurozone">U.S. Federal Reserve bailed out the eurozone </a>through the year’s end in 2011. And the U.S. is the biggest contributor to the IMF, which has also extended funds to troubled eurozone countries. <br /><br /> Obama has admitted from the beginning of the euro’s unraveling that he was watching the Greek debt crisis closely. And if he was watching Greece that closely, it stands to reason that he has been watching the other troubled countries as well. Italy and Spain would have been especially interesting to watch. <br /><br />Back in November, not only was <a data-mce-href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/italy-to-be-audited-by-eu-imf" href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/italy-to-be-audited-by-eu-imf" title="Italy to be audited by EU, IMF">Italy supposed to be audited by the EU and the IMF</a>, <br /> but according to the Christian newswire, World Congress of Families Managing Director Larry Jacobs noted the significant impact of family issues: “Over the past 8 years of its socialist misrule, the Zapatero government painted a symbolic bulls-eye on the Spanish family and moral virtues -- liberalizing and promoting divorce, instituting same-sex marriage and adoption, creating easy access to abortion, lowering the age of consent, eliminating parent's rights, and mandating pro-homosexual education in the schools.”<br /><br />It has even been suggested that <a data-mce-href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/former-german-chancellor-claims-euro-zone-needs-to-surrender-sovereignty" href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/former-german-chancellor-claims-euro-zone-needs-to-surrender-sovereignty">eurozone countries need to surrender their sovereignty </a>in order to save their economies, in spite of the fact <a data-mce-href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/eu-president-if-euro-fails-so-will-eu" href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/eu-president-if-euro-fails-so-will-eu">that the euro is a faulty currency</a> that was basically doomed to fail from the start. <br /><br /> If the eurozone is by any chance the “pilot program” for the remaking of America, sort of like Romneycare was the pilot for Obamacare, then <a data-mce-href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/daniel-hannan-a-european-living-america-s-future" href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/daniel-hannan-a-european-living-america-s-future">what is happening in Europe is eventually coming here</a>. While the dollar was not originally designed to fail as the euro was, the debt load that America is carrying isn’t going to be able to be sustained forever, especially as more baby boomers retire and need to pull on social programs that are not only presently grossly underfunded, but also in need of reform. <br /><br />To borrow an Occupy Wall Street concept, if the U.S. is the 1 percent and Europe is the 99 percent, will we have finally paid our fair share when we no longer exist?Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-84910335004124114422012-03-28T19:34:00.000-07:002012-03-28T19:34:47.078-07:00Conservatives encouraged to demand Cameron’s new movie, MonumentalIf anyone knows about grassroots movements, conservative groups such as Tea Partiers and 912ers do. Apparently, Kirk Cameron knows a little about it himself. All the attention he has been getting lately because of being cornered regarding his views on homosexuality and gay marriage has not done damage to the debut of Monumental. In fact, it may actually be helping. The movie was shown in more than 500 theaters nationwide on Tuesday, according to <a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/March/Kirk-Camerons-Monumental-Debuts-Amid-Backlash/" title="CBN">CBN</a>.<br />
<br />
Monumental is the kind of movie that should have great appeal to not only Conservative grassroots groups, but also to those who consider themselves to be Christian. Not only does this documentary highlight the Christian foundation of America and the work of America’s forefathers, but according to a review at <a href="http://crownrightsmedia.com/kirk-camerons-monumental-a-review/" title="Crown Rights Media">Crown Rights Media </a>, Monumental is a, “truly Gospel centered film that left you educated and encouraged in the work of God.” In addition, for those who have a love for the arts or consider themselves to be artists, the review notes that it also inspires the viewer as an artist.<br />
<br />
For those who are interested to see the film, the theaters that are showing it are noted at <a href="http://www.monumentalmovie.com/theaterlistings.html">Monumental Movie Theater Listings</a>. And if those who visit the site find that there isn’t a theater in their area that is showing the film, there is a link to demand that it be brought to their area.Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-66362486896518202152012-03-23T19:16:00.000-07:002012-03-23T19:59:37.023-07:00Religious Freedom Rally speaker: American freedoms are eroding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cincinnati, OH –</b> As
noon approached on Friday, the crowd sprawled from the front of St Peter in
Chains Church down both sides of the roughly quarter mile block. It even
flooded across the street. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pouring
rain obviously didn’t deter the turnout of several hundreds of Christians from
around the tri-state region and others representing various other religious
groups from standing up for religious freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The group represented multiple demographics in that there were white
collar workers, blue collar workers, retirees, babies, teens, young adults, entire
families, and a few disabled people that had come to rally for the their
religious freedoms that they felt were being violated by Obamacare. <br />
<br />
Carl Brown, a business owner local to Cincinnati organized the rally in the
downtown area, and rallies were also organized in Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo and
other cities in various states across the nation. A total of about 143 cities
participated.<br />
<br />
There was an electricity that seemed to flow through the atmosphere, and people
were smiling and joyously enthusiastic as they waited for the rally to begin: but
at the same time, there was an attitude of remorse over how the nation’s moral
condition overall has deteriorated, and how the healthcare mandate is just
another aspect of that decline. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
rally opened with the crowd singing the “Star Spangled Banner” followed by
prayer. <br />
<br />
Brown confided that his motive for organizing the rally was because, “I love
America and I hate to see freedom under attack.”<br />
<br />
He went on to acknowledge that the freedom of American citizens is not only threatened,
but that he feels that it’s eroding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
proceeded to introduce Paula Westwood, president of Cincinnati Right to Life to
detail some of the ways that Obamacare is hastening that process, especially
where religious freedom is concerned.<br />
<br />
Westwood pointed out that there are 2500 references in the bill that allow the Health
and Human Services Secretary, presently Kathleen Sebelius, to have expanded
authority to “create, determine and define what this department does.” Not only
is Sebelius one of the most pro-abortion officials on a federal level, but through
Obamacare she has now become one of the most powerful.<br />
<br />
Westwood highlighted a specific example of just how Sebelius is wielding her
power by mentioning that this past January, Sebelius’ HHS department ruled that,
“Virtually all private healthcare plans must cover sterilization, abortion
inducing drugs and contraceptives at no cost.”<br />
<br />
Westwood added that, “This sweeping move ignores the conscience rights of any
employers that do not want to provide such coverage, including non-profit
religious institutions.”</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">She went on to note
that not only is an outcry being sparked among Christians, but also some Jews,
Muslims and other religious groups and even non-believers who see such a
mandate as an assault on the gift of life and religious liberty to all
Americans, “rights which are foundational to our country’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>values.” <br />
<br />
Westwood also quoted Sebelius’ words of support for a national healthcare
system that provides taxpayer funded abortion services and contraceptives to a
congressional panel earlier this month: “The reduction in the number of
pregnancies compensates for the cost of contraception and the estimated cost is
down, not up.”<br />
<br />
In relation to Sebelius’s words, Westwood pointed out that, “Friends, this is
not freedom, this is population control!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stopped short of suggesting that it could
be a precursor to something similar to China’s one child policy, a policy that has
already been <a href="http://www.examiner.com/christianity-politics-in-national/china-s-one-child-per-family-policy-appears-connected-to-un-climate-change">revealed as being a part of the global warming agenda</a>.<br />
<br />Westwood also explained that it was revealed this month that, “starting next
year, anyone enrolled in an insurance plan that includes abortion must also pay
a monthly dollar premium to cover the cost of other women’s abortions. The enrollee
will make two payments: a dollar per month for the separate abortion fund, and
another payment for the rest of their insurance services. Most people won’t
know about this until they’ve signed up for their plan, because Secretary Sebelius
has included a gag order where insurance plans may only advertise the total
cost of the premium without disclosing that enrollees, that’s some of us, will
be charged a dollar per month fee to directly subsidize abortion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not freedom, this is coercion!”<br />
<br />
The crowd applauded and cheered as she continued, pointing out that last week, “the
Obama administration expanded the originally announced mandate to require all universities,
not only religious, to provide contraceptives, abortion inducing drugs and
sterilization to their students, as well as their employees at no cost. “<br />
<br />
She admonished that citizens need to be aware that these provisions require, “what
is called ‘patient education and counseling on contraceptive methods for all
women with reproductive capacity.’ Now folks, women with reproductive capacity
can be little girls as young as 9 or 10, and this counseling will not come from
their parents!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not freedom, this
is indoctrination!” <br />
<br />
The crowd applauded and cheered again and she further informed that the mandate
is being opened up to a 90 day comment period to the public, but it will not
change the fact that faith based groups must still provide abortion services
and contraceptives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is not
freedom,” Westwood insisted, “this is propaganda!”<br />
<br />
More cheering and applause erupted.<br />
<br />
Westwood went on to point out that syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker not
only severely <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>criticized the healthcare mandate, but she
also predicted that religious institutions such as hospitals and religious personnel
whose consciences are being violated by this mandate have one of two options:
either refuse to comply or shut down their institution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would have catastrophic consequences
because, “one in six patients in the United States is cared for in a Catholic
hospital.”<br />
<br />
Westwood further stated that, “My friends, this battle is about whether we
stand firm on our nation’s core beliefs in freedom, conscience and religious liberty,
and the stakes could not be higher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
should not have to be here. We should not have to have rallies across the
country. America’s founding fathers, from the beginning, sacrificed homes,
happiness and life itself to establish these freedoms for us.”<br />
<br />
It was eerie to hear bells begin to toll, which were totally unplanned, as she continued:
“We must hold every political candidate and our US representatives, senators
and the president accountable for this mandate. They are on notice. And most
importantly, we must remember whether they stand for religious liberty at not
at the ballot box this November.”<br />
<br />
Westwood finished with a quote from a letter that George Washington wrote to
Benedict Arnold: “We should be very cautions not to violate the rights of conscience
in others ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of
men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to Him only in this case are
they answerable.”<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crowd erupted into a spontaneous chant
of, “We will not comply!”<br />
<br />
Brown quieted them by reminding them of a few religious leaders who are
presently taking a stand on the issue, and petitions of repentance were offered
to God, as well as prayer on behalf of the nation’s leaders and healthcare workers. In addition, requests were made known to the Lord that He would pour out His mercy and restore America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Brown challenged the crowd to boldly
speak out about what they’d heard and to try to encourage the involvement of
additional churches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
For more about information on the rallies, please visit <a href="http://www.standupforreligiousfreedom.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.StandUpForReligiousFreedom.com</span></a>
or <a href="http://www.rallyforreligiousfreedom.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.rallyforreligiousfreedom.com</span></a></span></div>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-79304875794349610992012-03-21T19:37:00.000-07:002012-03-21T19:37:20.693-07:00National movements pressuring DC to act with fiscal responsibility, preserve America’s future<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cincinnati, OH</b> - The
“Tax Day 2012 – We Demand a Balanced Budget” rally is fast becoming a national
movement. The organization highlights DC leaders who have committed to acting
with fiscal integrity for the sake of America’s future, and the rally will
encourage attendees to take a pledge saying they will not send money to or vote
for any candidate until that candidate has agreed to pass the People’s Balanced
Budget Amendment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Cincinnati, Ohio is leading the way with the rallies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tea Party groups from the Ohio and Indiana
regions will gather on Fountain Square in Cincinnati on Sunday, April 15 from
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rally, organized
by the Cincinnati Tea Party and the People’s Balanced Budget Amendment
movement, will bring attention to this important 2012 election season by
highlighting one of the most significant issues of our time—a balanced budget.</div>
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Attendees who choose to take the pledge will be joining
American citizens, candidates, and elected officials from over 40 states who
have already signed the balanced budget amendment Pledge at <a href="http://www.wedemandabalancedbudget.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.WeDemandABalancedBudget.com</span></a>.
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The rally will feature a slate of local leadership,
candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Ohio House of
Representatives, and other invited guests:</div>
<ul>
<li>George Brunemann,
President of the Cincinnati Tea Party</li>
<li>Dan Regenold,
local businessman and WeDemandABalancedBudgetAmendment founder</li>
<li>Ben Swann from Fox
19</li>
<li>Brian Thomas from
55 KRC radio</li>
<li>Brad Wenstrup,
Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives (Ohio’s 2nd
District)</li>
<li>Mike Wilson,
founder of the Cincinnati Tea Party and current candidate for the Ohio House of
Representatives (28th District)</li>
<li>Dave Yost, State
of Ohio Auditor</li>
</ul>
<br />
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The People's Balanced Budget Amendment is a nationwide
initiative to force our elected federal officials to balance the budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The People’s Balanced Budget Amendment would:</div>
<ul>
<li>Balance the budget
in 7 years</li>
<li>Reduce the deficit
by 1/7 each year after passage</li>
<li>After the budget
is balanced, prevent Congress from spending no more than the average income of
the previous 3 years</li>
<li>Allow Congress to
operate at a deficit during an emergency that is declared by 2/3 majority vote
in both the Senate and the House of Representatives</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The
full text of the amendment, plus a running tally of Senators, Representatives,
and presidential candidates who have indicated support for the People’s
Balanced Budget Amendment is available at <a href="http://www.wedemandabalancedbudget.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.WeDemandABalancedBudget.com</span></a>.
Citizens can take the pledge on the site, and are able to search by state to
see how many others have taken the pledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The site also allows groups to sign the pledge as a block of people and
makes it easy to get friends and relatives involved.</span>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-35258568736747887592012-03-18T20:28:00.004-07:002012-03-18T20:46:40.653-07:00Ohio Tea Party founding member singled out by IRS<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Justin
Binik-Thomas is one of the catalysts that helped to blaze a trail in
Cincinnati, Ohio for the city’s Tea Party group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Binik-Thomas’ influence, promotions know-how,
and amazing organizational skills, alongside other core members, has created
something of a legacy of tax-day rallies and empowered citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who have become a part of this determined
movement of like-minded citizens persistently work together to boldly approach DC
about fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets in an age when
the US constitution is under a vicious assault, and American freedoms are
becoming a kind of 21 century battleground. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Binik-Thomas, a political conservative and Jew
is now being singled out by the IRS, apparently because of his love for America
and desire to take a stand for the sake of its future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To read his story, please click <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/2012/03/why-irs-asking-tea-party-groups-if-they-know-me/377566">here</a>.</span>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-13671789745766940682012-03-17T18:39:00.000-07:002012-03-17T18:45:00.694-07:00U.S. Christians gather across nation to protest Obamacare mandate<br />
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As arguments surrounding the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act are prepared to be <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74114.html">heard by the Supreme Court</a> on March 26 –
28,
religious groups are also gearing up to demonstrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rallies will be taking place across the
nation by multi-denominational religious groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those participating in the rallies that are
being organized through <a href="http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/mandate/">Stand up for Religious Freedom</a> believe that Obama care violates not only their religious freedom, but also
separation of church and state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
convinced that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has provisions
that fund abortion through the government funded healthcare system, and that it
will require “all employers [both religious and otherwise, to] provide free
contraceptives, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs through their health
plans, even in violation of their consciences,” according to the website.<br />
<br />
The rally will host religious leaders and other public figures who will be
speaking out against the new healthcare mandate law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will also be times of prayer for the
nation, worship to God and there will be literature passed out detailing ways
in which Obama care violates the rights of the American people. <br />
<br />
The website also notes that, the theme for the rally is “Stand up for Religious
Freedom – Stop the HHS Mandate!” and that, “The Nationwide Rally for Religious
Freedom is being held <strong>Friday, March 23 at noon</strong>, local time,
outside federal buildings, Congressional offices and historic sites <a href="http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/locations/#cities"><span style="color: blue;">across the
country</span></a>. Details for each state can be found <a href="http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/locations/#cities">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the Christian Newswire reports that while the House was out of
session this week, the Obama Administration confirmed its insidious plan for
public funding for abortion coverage in Obamacare (PL 111-148) when it issued
rules for Obamacare exchanges, complete with an abortion surcharge and a
secrecy clause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"The mass deception of the Obama 2010 Executive Order
has finally been exposed," said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-chair
of the Congressional Pro-life Caucus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"The Executive Order implemented the same accounting gimmick,
abortion surcharge and secrecy clause that was in the original text of the
bill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"We knew it at the time, and the final exchange rule
confirms once again that the President was suggesting one thing while doing
precisely the opposite," said Smith.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
This week's Obama abortion funding rule confirms that
publically funded insurance plans <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i>
include abortion on demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using an
accounting gimmick, the premium payers will pay the President's abortion
surcharge of at least one dollar per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This separate charge will go directly into an abortion fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"Requiring the segregation of funds into allocation
accounts -- a mere bookkeeping exercise is a cheap political trick designed to
circumvent longstanding prohibitions on taxpayer funding of abortion,"
said Smith. "This is an unprecedented break with longstanding federal
policy on funding for abortion."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The rule also contains a secrecy clause specifying that the
abortion surcharge cannot be itemized in marketing materials, and may
"only" be disclosed "as a part of the summary of benefits and
coverage explanation, at the time of enrollment."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"This secrecy clause requires insurance companies to
bury the abortion surcharge in the summary of benefits so Americans shopping
for an insurance plan on the exchange won't know about the abortion surcharge
until they sign up for coverage -- and even then they could easily miss the
fine print," said Smith. "Undoubtedly many enrollees will be shocked
when they get a bill for the Obama abortion surcharge. Once enrolled, even
pro-life Americans will be forced to pay for other people's abortions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"There is NO abortion surcharge and there is NO secrecy
clause in the Hyde amendment or in legislation I authored in 1983 (the Smith
amendment) to prohibit abortion funding in the Federal Employee Health Benefits
Program," said Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Both of
these longstanding policies explicitly prohibit coverage for abortion in the
federal programs they cover, but President Obama refused to apply the same
policy to Obamacare.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"That's why the House has passed THREE bills to
overturn this attack on longstanding policies," Smith said. The three
bills are as follows: <br />
<br />
On January 19, 2011, the House passed H.R. 2, to repeal Obamacare by a
bipartisan vote of 245-189. The President threatened a veto and the Senate
defeated a similar provision by a partisan vote of 47-53.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
On May 4, 2011, the House passed Smith's bill, H.R. 3, the
"No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" by a bipartisan vote of
251-175. The President threatened a veto and the Senate has taken no action.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
On October 13, 2011, the House passed H.R. 358, the
"Protect Life Act" by a bipartisan vote of 251-172. The President
threatened a veto and the Senate has taken no action.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"Recognizing the gravity of the accounting gimmicks,
abortion surcharge and secrecy clause, 15 states have already passed laws to
prohibit elective abortion coverage on their exchange," said Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 15 states are: Arizona, Florida, Idaho,
Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"Abortion isn't health care," said Smith. "We
live in an age of ultrasound imaging -- the ultimate window to the womb. We are
in the midst of a fetal health care revolution, an explosion of benign
innovative interventions designed to diagnose, treat and cure disease or
illness any unborn child may be suffering. Obamacare should do them no harm.
Tragically, it does the worst harm of all. It kills children and makes others
complicit in abortion."</div>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-59193116523281955582012-03-15T22:19:00.000-07:002012-03-16T12:19:47.815-07:00Clooney challenges Obama to address Human rights issues in SudanDoes George Clooney have more power than members of US Congress? This is a question that will apparently be answered in the coming days. Clooney’s country of choice in relation to addressing human rights abuses is Sudan. There is apparently a great risk for mass starvation according to the <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_CLOONEY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-03-15-17-35-30">AP</a>. And not only does Clooney feel that Obama is taking a high level of interest in the situation, but Clooney seems to think that even China, a country with its own severe starvation issues which it generally ties to being overpopulated, will be onboard.
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Interestingly, back in February the Christian Newswire
reported that there were f<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ive members of the U.S. congress and several religious leaders who joined
forces to challenge Obama to take action in relation to China’s human rights
abuses and oppression of Christians. The push came ahead of Obama’s closed door
meetings with China’s Vice President, Xi Jinping. The members of Congress and
religious leaders were pressing for the release of six imprisoned Chinese human
rights and political activists. Xi is anticipated to become China’s president
and Communist Party chief in 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaders
of three of the nation's largest religious groups told the President that “a
private, clear and determined pledge by you ... to achieve the release [of the
six] ... could make clear to Vice President Xi that such action on his part
would generate much goodwill with your administration and significantly advance
his interests and those of his government.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
seven-page letter was from Dr. Richard Land, president of The Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; Leith
Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; and Rabbi
David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. It
included detailed biographies of the six prisoners of conscience: human rights
lawyer Gao Zhisheng; blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng; longtime political
dissident Liu Xianbin; former judge Guo Quan; Uyghur house church leader
Alimujiang, and woman pastor Yang Rongli.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
five leading members of Congress who sent the President a similar letter were: Frank
Wolf (R-Va.); Joe Pitts (R-Pa.); John Carter (R-Tex.); <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Robert Aderholt
(R-Ala.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The letter to Obama insisted that “'quiet
diplomacy' ... has not yielded results. Arguably it has only emboldened the
oppressors," the congressmen closed their three-page letter saying that
"many in China ... long for America to champion their plight.”<br />
<br />
As of this writing, there hasn’t been any new information of which Faith and
Politics Voice has been made aware regarding the above mentioned six prisoners
of conscience and Obama’s efforts to respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<br />
For more information about China Aid, please visit <a href="http://www.chinaaid.org/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.chinaaid.org/</span></a> </span>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-88418829988005365482012-03-15T00:33:00.000-07:002012-03-15T22:35:54.660-07:00Multi-denominational group of Christians to intercede for America’s futureChristian denominations, political party lines and races are
being disregarded in a show of unity and prayer among concerned
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group calling themselves
America for Jesus 2012 is planning a time of serious intercession for the
nation on September 28-29 at Independence Mall in Philadelphia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their focus is to pray for the healing of our
nation and its people 40 days before America casts its vote for President. The
announcement came at the National Religious Broadcasters Association Convention
in Nashville, Tennessee just over three weeks ago, according to the Christian
Newswire.<br />
<br />
“America's soul is sick, but I believe America still has a chance; I believe in
resurrection, and I believe prayer changes things--and that is what we intend
to do," said Bishop Anne Gimenez, pastor of Rock Church International in
Virginia Beach, Va., and chairman of America for Jesus 2012. "It's not
about who will be in the White House nor our current financial crisis, it's
about America needing the presence of God."<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
America for Jesus 2012 is being organized by One Nation
Under God, a coalition of ministries that sponsored the watershed Washington
for Jesus events in the 80s and 90s, which focused on prayer, repentance and
revival, based on God's promises found in 2 Chronicles 7:14.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
To-date, the five national and numerous regional rallies
attended by several hundred thousand people have made significant impact
affecting millions across the country and the national movement continues to
call for a return to Biblical values rather than endorsing any particular party
or candidate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"Much like the movement for independence in the 18th
century, America for Jesus 2012 is a patriotic movement, not a political
one," said John Blanchard, national coordinator for America for Jesus
2012. "Although the presidential election will be less than six weeks
away, there will be no partisan divisions when we convene in Philadelphia. We
don't need to follow the elephant or the donkey, but rather the Lamb of
God."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The location for America Jesus 2012 is full of symbolism for
freedom and religious liberty. Philadelphia, the first capital of the United
States, was the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the
ratifying of the Constitution and the drafting of the Bill of Rights. It was
also one of the centers of the Great Awakening of the 1730s, a period of
spiritual revival in our country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Also, as part of the event, America for Jesus will be
organizing Love Philadelphia, modeled after a quote from one of America's
founding fathers, William Penn: "Let us try, what love will do." This
humanitarian outreach will leave a legacy impact by providing physical
assistance to meet critical needs among the poor and needy throughout the City.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"We are going to bless Philadelphia with the
demonstration of Christian love," said Candy Christmas, national
spokesperson for America for Jesus 2012 and the founder of the Bridge Ministry.
"I was very excited about this component of America for Jesus and the
initiative to feed the poor. We are talking with representatives of many of the
large organizations who specialize in food distributions so we can love and
serve those in Philadelphia."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
In conjunction with the America for Jesus 2012 national call
to prayer, an Awakening conference will be held in Philadelphia on Sept. 26-28.
Speakers will discuss current events and issues pertaining to the Church.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"Forty days before the election, we will be bringing
the salt of the nation to the headwaters of America to pray for an awakening
and for the spiritual needs of the country," said Billy Wilson, co-chair
for America for Jesus 2012 and Executive Director of the International Center
for Spiritual Renewal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
America for Jesus is led by a strong national executive
board of leaders, including: Wilson; Dr. Jim Garlow, Renewing American
Leadership and Senior Pastor, Skyline Wesleyan; Tom Phillips, Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association; Bishop Harry Jackson, High Impact Leadership and
Senior Pastor, Hope Christian Church; Reverend Dr. Herb Lusk, Greater Exodus
Baptist Church; Ron Luce, Teen Mania Ministries; Jane Hansen Hoyt, Aglow
International; Dr. J. Doug Stringer, Somebody Cares America and Somebody Cares
International; Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, National Hispanic Christian
Leadership Conference; Reverend Luis Cortes, Jr., Esperanza; Lou Engle, The
Call; Cindy Jacobs, Generals International; Reverend Bonnie Camarda, The
Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia and former President of Hispanic Clergy
of Philadelphia; Dave Butts, Harvest Prayer Ministries; Dr. Paul Cedar, Mission
America Coalition; and David Ferguson, Intimate Life Ministries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.americaforjesus2012.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.americaforjesus2012.org</span></a>. </div>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-49065006273936511222012-03-14T23:40:00.000-07:002012-03-15T22:37:49.996-07:00Santorum: ‘This campaign is about liberty’<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>Blue Ash, OH – </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The room at the Crown
Hotel where the Santorum rally was held was packed to capacity last Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roughly 500 supporters were in attendance. It
appeared that several segments of the American population were represented:
young adults to retires, homemakers, blue collar workers, office workers and
business owners.<br />
<br />
It was particularly interesting to note that there was even a female
Muslim wearing a white hijab. Though she did not want to give her name, when
asked what motivated her to attend the rally, her answer was enthralling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a foreign exchange student from
Indonesia who attends high school in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was curious to see how an American political rally differs from one
in her country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two major things that
she noted were that Indonesia’s rallies are usually open air and there is
generally a parade.<br />
<br />
Perhaps she also noticed the plethora of politicians from different offices and
representatives of various organizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of these included State Rep incumbent Seth Morgan, Ohio Attorney
General Mike Dewine, Attorney David Kearns, Chairman of Ohio’s Hamilton County
Republican party Alex Triantafilo, Family Research Council President Tony
Perkins, Citizens for Community Values President Phil Burress, Concerned Women
for America Ohio Director Bobbi Radeck, Cincinnati Tea Party leaders, and
incumbent Fred Kundrata, who is running for Jean Schmidt’s seat. <br />
<br />
Faith and Politics Voice took advantage of the opportunity to get Kundrata’s views on a few
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked about his thoughts on
how he would work to improve the economy and get the budget under control, he
responded that one thought he has had is to encourage defense contracting
between the Pentagon and Cincinnati businesses so that jobs can be brought back
into the area. He added that his jobs plan includes networking between Wilmington
airport, Wright Patterson and Cincinnati.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<br />
When asked about the healthcare legislation and repealing or amending it, he
said that it was put together way to haphazardly, there were too many deals, it
wasn’t done properly and that he’s the only one running in his district who can
bring understanding to a lot of the legal issues that it involves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to see something that is going to
protect everybody while still solving the need for Medicare and Medicaid to be
made solvent.<br />
<br />
When asked why voters should choose him over Jean Schmidt, he summed it up on
one word: “Leadership.”<br />
<br />
Though the rally got started late, the crowd seemed to feel it was worth the
wait and cheered wildly when Santorum took the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A snippet from Kool & the Gang’s song
“Celebrate” played, perhaps in the hope that a Santorum presidency would
restore the good times of a more positive economic future for America.<br />
<br />
Santorum assured the crowd that his wife Karen and their seven children that range
in age from<br />
3 ½ to 20 would eagerly embrace living in DC, and that he would enthusiastically
work to encourage the restoration of the values that have been key in making
America a great nation – the very same values that are the foundation of why it
is has become known as the land of the free.<br />
<br />
He expressed appreciation for all who have been keeping his daughter, Bella in
their prayers, and with regard to his campaign, Santorum confided that, “this
race is about liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about the
future of this country.”<br />
<br />
He added that, “We’re all stewards of this country and it’s the obligation of
every generation to pass on to our children and grandchildren something
better.”<br />
<br />
Acknowledging that many Americans today have anxiety and pessimism about
America’s future, he assured the crowd that if he gains the honor of serving as
America’s next president, that he will do everything he can to encourage an
atmosphere among those in DC of working together and bringing about the
restoration of a strong America, both for now and for the sake of future
generations.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-69749492309452329872012-03-14T23:32:00.001-07:002012-03-15T22:39:40.702-07:00Dem presidential candidate says Obama’s actions ‘rotten through and through’At a time when gas prices seem to be surging out of control
and the threat of a major regional war in the Middle East looms, Democrat
presidential incumbent Randall Terry has some rather stinging thoughts
regarding voters allowing a second term for Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian Newswire reported that Terry
made the following statement last Thursday: <br />
<br />
“Today President Obama has demonstrated he is willing to side with known
Islamic terrorists on one side, and abuse FBI power on the other, clearly for
the sake of his re-election.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
If the reports are true -- that the U.S. is offering hi-tech
weaponry to Israel in exchange for their commitment not to attack Iran until
after the U.S. election -- then Obama is putting Israeli and US security behind
his re-election campaign. Such a trade would border on treasonous. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
In the mid-1930s, then British Prime Minister Stanley
Baldwin knew that the Germans were arming for war, but rather than alert the
British populace to the danger and begin arming, he choose silence, inaction,
and the status quo with Germany. He confessed to parliament -- and his
confession caused him to lose his post as Prime Minister -- that he did not
attempt to keep parity with Germany when he should have, because there was an
election before them, and he did not want the Conservatives to lose power. In
other words, he put his retention of power ahead of England's and Europe's
security.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Baldwin's confession led to his loss of the Premiership; but
far worse, his actions -- or rather his lack of timely action -- gave Hitler
the time he needed to get air superiority, as well as tank superiority -- which
enabled Hitler to conquer most of Europe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Like Baldwin before him, Obama appears to be appeasing those
who are committed to Israel's and our destruction, and giving them more time to
build weapons that could be used to murder millions of people. In the light of
history, Obama's actions are deplorable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Concerning his use of the FBI to protect radicals from the
NYPD's Counterterrorism Bureau, his actions are a sickening cross between
political correctness and federal intrusion into local law enforcement
prerogatives. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I
must give Barack Hussein Obama credit for being true to his convictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mentors, his father, and his own writing
describe the United States of America as a colonial usurper that deserves to be
put in its place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apologizing for
America, abandoning Israel (until it becomes politically damaging) and now
turning our country's counter-terrorist forces against each other; these
actions are consistent and informative.”<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terry finished by making a subtle
reference to a Bible verse found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7 verse 17:
“We must judge this man by the fruit of his actions; the fruit is rotten
through and through.” </span></div>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148668565165365179.post-61270842349412641162012-03-14T23:16:00.000-07:002012-03-15T22:41:29.395-07:00White House mentality toward Iran pre-emptive strike: nuisance, not threat<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
what may be a reflection of just how out of touch the Obama administration is
on the issue of foreign affairs, Middle East expert and Congressional advisor <span style="color: black;">Walid Phares told <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Phares-Iran-nuclear-threat/2012/02/21/id/430100?s=al&promo_code=E3B4-1">Newsmax</a>
that, “It seems to me the Obama administration is not convinced that the
Iranians are really a threat. It is convinced that they are a nuisance, and a
deal eventually after those sanctions would work. That’s the view of this
administration.”<br /><br />
Phares’ observation comes at a time when the deputy head of Iran’s armed
forces, Mohammad Hejazi has declared that, “Our strategy now is that, if we
feel our enemies want to endanger Iran's national interests, and want to decide
to do that, we will act without waiting for their actions." <br />
<br />
Israel is being closely watched and there is some speculation that Israel may
decide to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in the spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu warned
Obama last month that if Israel feels it must defend itself, it may opt to do
so without notifying Washington.<br />
<br />
Phares admits that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are “not stoppable,” but also
pointed out that a <a href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/02/17/3091713/iran-resolutions-bumpy-road-reveals-senate-dems-war-jitters">bi-partisan Senate resolution</a> is a warning signal of the urgency surrounding the need to confront Iran
before they develop effective nuclear weapons. The language of the Senate
resolution and details about who supported it can be found <a href="http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=55">here.</a>
<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, in what has become yet another case in point regarding the Iranian government’s
human rights abuses and intolerance toward religious freedom, the <a href="http://aclj.org/iran/execution-orders-issued-pastor-youcef-nadarkhani">ACLJ</a> reports that Iran has issued execution orders for </span></span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. His crime is that he became a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also being noted that the number of
executions in Iran is steadily increasing.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span>Elizabeth Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09417777410701306657noreply@blogger.com0