Thanksgiving Thoughts

Well, this is our first thanksgiving without our Dad and husband. I was thinking this morning  just how much I would wish he could come back for just a little while. I am not saying this to make you sad for us. But I want you to really take time today and tomorrow to think about those special people in your lives and to be thankful you have the time over the holidays to be with them. Put family problems aside and dwell on the fact that you have each other. I think about all the silly things we quibbled about that mean absolutely nothing to me now. They seem trivial in light of losing our special person who was the light of our family. Oh, he wasn't perfect and he did things that aggravated all of us. But none of that mattes now. What matters was that he loved his family and sacrificed for us. Like the new coat he bought me last Christmas we didn't really have the money for. Now it is a treasure to me. In fact the last few years he bought rather extravagant gifts for all of us and we think he probably knew he wasn't going to be here much longer. I can look back at it and see it now. I would give anything for him to walk in the house and just sit and talk even for a few minutes. One day someone walked up the front stairs of our house and I actually thought it was him coming home. And I am just saying this. Take time this thanksgiving with your family. Listen to Grandpa tell his stories. Listen to your mom with her problems and put up with those relatives that simply drive you nuts. Listen to your brother  or sister and try to understand what they are going though right now. And take time to hug the kids and maybe play a game with them. Who knows? Maybe someone in your family will not be there next year. Be thankful for the family God has given you. And be thankful for our freedom some soldier gave his or her life for this year. God Bless America

Are We Living In A Police Sate?

Some believe we are approaching the era of living in a police state. Obama though that when he came back from his back to back foreign trips he would be facing  fights over tax cuts, spending and the deficit. Instead he is entwined with a growing concern over the Thanksgiving holiday travel and the new TSA procedures. Some airports are thinking of doing away with the TSA and putting in their own security teams. Now foremost on Americans minds and the main headlines for several days are the pat downs and screenings Americans are very much concerned about. And the calloused TSA has no compassion or care about how we feel about it.
Obama has tried to explain much to his dismay why the new pat downs are necessary. Many believe these procedures don't even detect the elements that the Christmas day bomber and other terrorist were carrying to stop an explosion in the first place.
But, the pat downs are causing so much grievance the administration is starting to think of backing down, especially with the extra time it is going to take to get through the lines for holiday traffic in the first place.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admits she herself would not care to go through such a procedure. She said she would prefer not to have to submit to an invasive pat down. " Not if I could avoid it" Ms Clinton said " No, I mean, who would."
Bruce Huffman an a expert on terrorism said he would like to consider an Israeli-style approach to identifying passengers who are a risk which is based on advance intelligence.
Not to add the story of the 61 year old man, a cancer survivor, who wears a bag to collect urine. He was patted down so ruffly his bag burst and left him in tears as he boarded his flight. "I was absolutely humiliated." He told MSNBC.com

House Democrats Keep Nancy As Their Leader

Despite all our efforts we still did not get rid of Nancy and Harry. And they are going to push for some more items on their agenda through this lame duck session. There is no end to their devious tactics. They take advantage of every door they can get their foot in. So heads up, especially they know we are busy with holiday season. Folks the battle is far from over.
Nancy defeated Heath Schuler of North Carolina in a vote 150-43. It was a long closed door session and it was contentious to say the least. Many of the party argued they needed a new leadership. The party to say the least is not well connected and a sharp division could occur. Nancy is going to have trouble keeping everyone in line as many of the Dems now have their eyes and ears opened. Rep. Alley Boyd said  "The truth is she is the face that defeated us in this election."
Others say it was the bad economy and high unemployment.
Although her power is diminished she is still carrying the banner for the liberal Dems and I don't see any change in her stands. I doubt President Obama will change much either even though he is trying to meet with the Republicans. I am not sure how far the olive branch will be extended. I don't see him changing much on the Bush tax cuts. Of course he has to pay for his stimulus package somehow. Taking the turkey off our table and replacing it with chicken.
In one interview she showed "no" remorse for the Dems who lost their seats. She said "coldly and defiantly" it was worth it to get the Health Care Bill through. She is one tough bird. You wouldn't want her on your thanksgiving table.

Ryan Graves, 27 Year Old Seeks Help Running For Chicago Mayor

Ryan Graves,  a 27 year old  from Mount Greenwood, where I live, wants to run for mayor. He is single and lives with his parents. He is a Democratic precinct captain in the 19th ward of Chicago. Ryan is going door to door 8-10 hours a day trying to get 12,500 signatures to get on the ballot. Why am I, a conservative writing about this? Because I am vitally concerned our young people becoming involved in the political process no matter what side they are on. Without their interest in politics our country will not survive. Secondly he is running against Rham Emanuel. the last person I want as Mayor of Chicago. With him in office we would only be continuing the chain of command from the unions on down. Now is our chance to try too remove this curse on Chicago.
Emanuel plans to spend 8 million dollars running for mayor. Graves has so far spent $10,000 of his own money. He didn't even tell his own parents for fear they would think he was crazy.
Graves said after Sheriff Tom Dart dropped out Ryan could see no one to vote for. He has been standing at the Metra station collecting signatures.
I like this guy. He has guts. His friends say he has no hidden agenda. More than we can say for our current President. He is interested in making a difference.These are the kind of young people we need to make a change in politics. "He says he is running as someone who understands the working man and the average guy and what the economy is like for him. Exactly near to something I said in a recent article in the SouthTown. How can a rich man like Daley understand the average man on the south side of Chicago trying to raise a family? He is totally out of sink with what is happening down here at our level.
People say he has no chance against the heavy hitters who would run against him. Ryan says " Give me a chance." "Let me get on the ballot. I think the people of the south side deserve a voice."

Extending Bush Tax Cuts Crucial to the Economy Moving Forward

With the lame duck session will they get the Bush tax cuts through. Lingering and not willing to reach an agreement will only hurt the economy further as we come to the Christmas Season.  President  Obama wants to tax higher income people while Republicans and many Democrats want all tax cuts to continue. Some analysts believe there are two leading theories - either all of them will be extended or nothing will happen.
Passing the tax-cut extension would be harder to accomplish in a lame duck session. The Democrats would fall short of 60 needed to extend only the middle class tax cuts.
The bad thing for us as consumers is that letting the tax cuts linger into the new year will drag down the current  economic uncertainty and stunt economic growth.
The best scenario for us as tax payers is a clear extension of all tax cuts, at least for one year, and to do it before Thanksgiving.
Can both parties put aside their partisan ways and put the American people and their businesses first? That is the imminent question before us.

My Angel Kicked In Again

Some of you might be wondering if I finally got my transmission fixed. You might remember I was on my way to see Newt  in Wisconsin and then travel over to Wisconsin Dells where we have a timeshare at Christmas Mountain. I have been wanting to go there and get some rest and be by myself for a few days. My husband and I usually go up there in the fall. This area reminds me a little on Colorado, especially with the pine trees. and it has a fantastic whirlpool which is outside and you go in it even in the winter. It helps my fibromyalgia a lot. Ever since my husband passed my angel has been working triple. It probably wants a rest too. So many needs have been met in many ways. But the transmission was a big problem. It really scared me one day when it shifted into first gear going 65 on I-80. I realized it needed to be fixed right away. I was really wondering how in  the world was I going to do this.
Then last Sunday I drove to church and it was really acting up. By the time I got to church, I was a nervous wreck. Many asked me what was I going to do?  They wished they could help me. When church was over and everyone was leaving a church member came up to me and handed me an envelope. It had come to the church addressed to me. I took it and really didn't think too much of it. I got in the car and decided to open it just to see what it could be. And there it was, my angel kicked in again. It was a check far more than the transmission would cost. I just sat there in amazement and disbelief.
Then I realized no matter what, God was going to help me through this time. I have shared this story many times. I still can't believe it happened. So my transmission is fixed and the car is running great again, and maybe I will make it to the Dells after all.

Are Riches The True Test Of Success?

Recently I was listening to a person on a talk show telling about the women candidates who are extremely successful. I knew this person was mainly talking about women successful making large amounts of money because she was referring to two Republican candidates who had contributed a lot of money to their own campaign. But, this led me thinking about a sermon my husband had once delivered on what really is success. Is a person successful only because they make a lot of money?
We have known many rich people in the ministry. We have been in their homes and on a few occasions they have remarked to my husband, "I would give anything to have kids like yours."
I was once envious of a friend who had no children and  a career. I sometimes would go shopping with her and was amazed how much money she spent on clothes. I remember coming home one time and complaining to him about his salary. I feel bad about that now. I was recently with this friend and to my amazement she said she had always been envious of me as pastor's wife and our three children. I had no idea she even looked at me this way.
What is success? If you had listened to my husband he would have given this illustration of true success. A successful  person is one who raises adult children who are responsible adults raising their children. A successful person is a person who teaches their children family values, and to try to live right obeying laws. A successful person is one whose adult children follow your example and take their children to church, a  place of worship, or synagogue.
What is success? It is how you measure it. Money the bible says, "Thy money perishes with you." Acts8:20 KJV  It is temporal and I like to think something God gives you to get you from here to heaven. Yes, we need it, but I feel American's spent far too much time thinking how to get it and what to do with it once they get it. But children go on from generation to generation. What kind of successful person are you?

Somehow We Need To Get Unions Out Of Politics

Why do the unions give millions and millions of dollars to Democrats out of members dues? 60% of union workers want this practise to stop. Take this money and apply it to the workers pension funds. They deserve it, it comes out of their sweat, blood and tears. Why do the unions give this money to the Dems when they are falling into unfunded debt. According to the Chicago Booth School of Business of all the 50 states the total unfunded liability is 3 Trillion dollars. In Illinois where I live we have unfunded pension obligations of 80 billion dollars. Also we have unfunded retiree obligations of 40 billion more. Also according to another report by Northwestern and Rochester university, Chicago unions have pension assets that can pay only through 2020. These problems have increase with the recession as more and more people are being laid off from state and local governments. Leaving less people putting into the funds. Also the problems will increase as state and local officials will spend more money on pension and retiree funds instead of programs like police, schools, infrastructure , etc.
The reason they will pay more as they give promises by politicians during elections the government unions will receive more monies building grand expectations with other peoples money. An expectation that Obama used during the election to build false hope that he can now not deliver. Somehow we need to get the unions out of elections.

Talk At The Breakfast Diner

Well, a lot happened yesterday, my car went into the shop for the  transmission, my lawyer wanted me to come downtown immediately to talk to him. So here is how it went. I went of course over to vote. Surprisingly we actually had Republican signs at the voting place. You say, what's so great about that? Rarely are there Republican signs in Chicago. Most of you don't understand the Dems machine going on here. Then I went to take the car over and the mechanic took me to the train stop. At the train stop I had time to reflect on how good it felt to vote. Be it Dem or Rep, there is just something that feels good inside that you had a little say in this great country of ours. On the way to downtown I saw more Republican signs, some were twisted and dented and torn, but they were still standing. As I arrived downtown there were people with Dems stickers stuck on their coats, I felt like I was Dems heaven. I asked the cab driver. Did you vote, he said no I am not a citizen yet, but I pay my taxes. Then I got to the lawyers office and we talked a little and found out he was a conservative and that he had lived in London for 11 years. He did ask me if I was a Bronco fan, since I came from Denver. Then we got down to business. It has something to do with the papers I filed a while back with Lisa Madison, Chicago police and FBI. I told him so far it took the Chicago police to call me 28 days after I filed. And so far I received one post card from Lisa Madison, state attorney general. The incident happened the end of August. We supposed that maybe Lisa was busy running for office. People aren't very happy with her either and her signs were crinkled too. Fortunately for me the lawyer was around the corner from Macy's so my day wasn't completely wrecked. And it made my day worth the trip. I came home and was completely worn out, but of course it was a very interesting night, if you were a Republican.
This morning I went over  for some coffee at the diner and of course the election was the talk of the town. I was surprised so many were very unhappy about Harry Reid, and me too. And of course talk of Sarah Palin. The Gov. race so far undecided. This happens a lot here. Neither is giving up at this point. It is a pivotal point in our country's history. Most decidedly Americans do not like Obama's agenda. Of course economy the main concern, one in four homes in Chicago nearing forecloser. They talk of fear this could harm the banking and financial business. You think how President Obama doesn't think the American people are that smart. He needs to walk over to the corner diner and listen to these people talk.  They are a lot smarter than he thinks and they know what is going on. God Bless America.

That Darn George Bush

The following article is quite surprising coming from a more Liberal paper and writer !!


That Darn George Bush!!



Here's an opinion piece by Chuck Green who writes "Greener Pastures" for the Denver Post Aurora Sentinel... one of the more liberal papers in the country. Additionally, Mr. Green is a life long Democrat... so this is rather a stunning piece.





Obama is victim of Bush's failed promises

Greener Pastures Column -- 5/ 15/10







Barack Obama is setting a record-setting number of records during his first year in office.

Largest budget ever. Largest deficit ever. Largest number of broken promises ever. Most self-serving speeches ever. Largest number of agenda-setting failures ever. Fastest dive in popularity ever.



Wow! Talk about change.



Just one year ago, fresh from his inauguration celebrations, President Obama was flying high. After one of the nation's most inspiring political campaigns, the election of America 's first black president had captured the hopes and dreams of millions. To his devout followers, it was inconceivable that a year later his administration would be gripped in self-imposed crisis.



Of course, they don't see it as self-imposed. It's all George Bush's fault.



George Bush, who doesn't have a vote in congress and who no longer occupies the White House, is to blame for it all.



He broke Obama's promise to put all bills on the White House web site for five days before signing them.



He broke Obama's promise to have the congressional health care negotiations broadcast live on C-SPAN.



He broke Obama's promise to end earmarks. (Political payoffs with your tax money.)



He broke Obama's promise to keep unemployment from rising above 8 percent.



He broke Obama's promise to close the detention center at Guantanamo in the first year.



He broke Obama's promise to make peace with direct, no precondition talks with America 's most hate-filled enemies during his first year in office, ushering in a new era of global cooperation.



He broke Obama's promise to end the hiring of former lobbyists into high White House jobs.



He broke Obama's promise to end no-compete contracts with the government.



He broke Obama's promise to disclose the names of all attendees at closed White House meetings.



He broke Obama's promise for a new era of bipartisan cooperation in all matters.



He broke Obama's promise to have chosen a home church to attend Sunday services with his family by Easter of last year.



Yes, it's all George Bush's fault. President Obama is nothing more than a puppet in the never-ending failed Bush administration.

If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, all of President Obama's problems would be solved. His promises would have been kept, the economy would be back on track, Iran would have stopped its work on developing a nuclear bomb and would be negotiating a peace treaty with Israel . North Korea would have ended its tyrannical regime, and integrity would have been restored to the federal government.



Oh, and did I mention what it would be like if the Democrats, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, didn't have the heavy yoke of George Bush around their necks? There would be no ear marks, no closed-door drafting of bills, no increase in deficit spending, no special-interest influence (unions), no vote buying (Nebraska, Louisiana).



If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, we'd have real change by now.



All the broken promises, all the failed legislation and delay (health care reform, immigration reform) is not President Obama's fault or the fault of the Democrat-controlled Congress. It's all George Bush's fault.



Take for example the decision of Eric Holder, the president's attorney general, to hold terrorists' trials in New York City . Or his decision to try the Christmas Day underpants bomber as a civilian.



Two disastrous decisions.



Certainly those were bad judgments based on poor advice from George Bush.



Need more proof?



You might recall that when Scott Brown won the election to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts , capturing "the Ted Kennedy seat", President Obama said that Brown's victory was the result of the same voter anger that propelled Obama into office in 2008. People were still angry about George Bush and the policies of the past 10 years. And they wanted change.



Yes, according to the president, the voter rebellion in Massachusetts was George Bush's fault.



Therefore, in retaliation, they elected a Republican to the Ted Kennedy seat, ending a half-century of domination by Democrats. It is all George Bush's fault.



Will the failed administration of George Bush ever end, and the time for hope and change ever arrive?



Will President Obama ever accept responsibility for something... anything?



(Chuck Green is a veteran Colorado journalist and former editor-in-chief of The Denver Post.)