What a Miracle!

When I saw this ABC News World Report, I got chills. It is heartbreaking to watch the families of the victims bury their family member or close friend. Yet, it is also an amazing story of survival and strength. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and astronaut husband Mark Kelly the prayers of a country are with you and the other survivors!

Click HERE to watch the report.

Sociopath

Sociopath: A person with an anti-social personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse. See also Timothy McVeigh, John Allen Muhammad or "DC Sniper", Charles Manson and recently Jared Loughner.

Good News Wednesday

President Obama spoke at the Memorial Service today for the victims of the assassination attempt on Rep. Gabriella Giffords. A memorial service is not typically good news, but I thought the tributes he gave of the deceased was eloquent and personal. It was encouraging to hear the heroic acts that everyday citizens performed. I won't dissect his speech tonight, not sure if I will. I will only leave it as his words, my future critiques will be in what legislation is proposed to "enable more civil and honest" debate. Or should I say "Fair". However and most importantly, my heart goes out to the families who will have to continue to grieve and cope long after the media circus leaves town.

TEXT here and VIDEO here.

We Are Not the Rest of the World

A genuinely tragic and fatal event occurred in Tuscon, Arizona on Saturday morning, January 10. Jared Loughner, targeting Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, opened fire on a crowd gathered at the Congresswoman's "Congress on your Corner" event. After murdering 6, and injuring 20 including Giffords who received one shot to the head, the gunman was tackled to the ground by by-standers until law enforcement could arrive. Congresswoman Gifford is recovering in a local hospital, still in critical condition.

Judge John Roll, a U.S. District Judge appointed by the first Pres. Bush in 1991, was shot and killed. Along with these five others. Gabe Zimmerman was Mrs. Giffords director of public outreach, with a Masters in Social Work, and was engaged to be married in 2012. Phyllis Schneck, 79, was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Not politically active, and typically doesn't shop at the Safeway where the shooting occurred, she was shot and killed leaving 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. Dorwan Stoddard was killed when trying to protect his already injured wife by shielding her from the gunman. Dorothy "Dot" Morris was also shot and killed, although her husband tried to do the same as Stoddard, in shielding her from the gunfire. A 9 year old Christina Taylor Green, was the day's youngest victims. She was athletic, being the only girl on her little league baseball team, intelligent, and was apparently an aspiring politician. In a twist of tragic irony, she was born on a tragic day and died on a tragic day. Her birthday was September, 11, 2001.

Of course, the question of the day, who's to blame? The fingers are wagging, and some in the media and politics are salivating at pointing the blame on talk radio, Fox News, popular conservative politicians specifically Sarah Palin. This is just as outrageous as stating that Jared Lee who held the Discovery Channel headquarters hostage was influenced by Al Gore! The only person to blame was the one who pulled the trigger. How is it that more blame has been placed on the typical targets of Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin, than any questioning his parents or those closest to him? He was kicked out of college with suggestions of psychological testing, he was denied enlistment by the U.S. Military, those who were in contact with him said he was deeply disturbed. Has any questions been raised that this might have been an anti-Semitic attack, connecting his apparently favorite book "Mein Kempf" and Mrs. Giffords being Arizona's first Jewish Congresswoman? There are infinite possibilities, but one fact is certain, Jared is a mentally unstable extremist. To suggest that our unfettered political discourse, our first amendment right of free speech is to blame, is to resolutely state that we are like the rest of the world.

We are not the rest of the world. The United States political movements are not enacted by violent extremists. The United States has peaceful transitions to power at all levels, seen most recently in Congress. The United States political parties or private corporations do not fund violent upheavals, assassinations, or anarchy. We are not the Ivory Coast, where the incumbent refuses to cede the Presidency to the electoral victor. We are not Pakistan, where a governor and "Advocate of Tolerance" was assassinated by one of his own guards. We are not Tunisia who is suffering from violent protests due to high unemployment. We do not have state sponsored, politically advantageous assassinations in the United States. To suggest that any political party or talk show host or celebrity is to share blame in this inexplicable tragedy, only removes all personal responsibility which eventually destroys the credibility of our government which is established "by the People", relying primarily on self-governance. If we have to silence voices of opposition to "maintain peace", we have lowered ourselves to the anarchist-tyrannical cycle that is largely the rest of the world's political cycle. The United States is above that. We have the Constitution. We are a nation of the rule of law. We believe in justice. We believe in equality. We believe that those, like Jared Loughner, who's solely to blame for those who lost their lives, will be held accountable. If we turn away from the proven formula of the Constitution, rule of law, and our justice system, we will lose our freedoms all together. We would no longer deserve them. But I believe the majority of Americans don't buy into the political spin and blame game when hit with crisis. I believe that we are smarter and stronger and more independently minded than that. We are the United States.

Good News Wednesday

I haven't blogged. In a while. Holiday rush. Sick kids. You know the drill! When I get out of the habit, it usually takes some large scandal or hot topic to get me back on the soapbox. However, this story is an inspiring news story, ones that need to be shared more often! And I think I need to get in the habit of searching for good stories, not just getting fired up with all that is wrong in this world and what needs to be fixed. I love when an issue gets a spotlight, and generous people fill the need. Meet Ted Williams. Ted is a homeless man in Columbus Ohio, who's sign read:

" I have a GOD given gift of voice.

I'm an ex radio announcer who has fallen on hard times.

PLEASE! Any help will be greatfully appreciated. :)

Thank you and God bless/Happy Holidays."

Click on the picture to view the video that has not only made him famous, but possibly given him numerous job offers including one with the Cleveland Cavaliers - which included the bonus of paying off a mortgage on a home for him! This story is only a day old, but it is amazing to see how the internet and the speed of information can be used to completely change someone's life. I hope to keep up the "Good News Wednesday" postings, because midway through the week I need a natural upper!

Last Line of Defense

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"

~ Benjamin Franklin

Today is the busiest travel day of the year. Instead of preparing entertaining carry-ons for your young kids, you need to mentally prepare them for a possible "pat down" at the airport. You will be contradicting everything you have taught them about their bodies being private and that no one should ever touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Not only may they receive a "pat down" against their will and yours, all will be subjected to the new scanners which leave nothing to the imagination. I agree with Ben Franklin that those who "give up essential liberty", which I would include flashing my genitals on a TSA screen as pretty essential, do not deserve liberty or safety. However, the American people are now voicing their complaints loud and clear that they are not "giving up their essential liberties" the government is taking them.

A few arguments against the new airport security measures.

1. Fourth Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated..." We have a Constitutional and God given right to the privacy of our bodies, or "persons". A 3 year old, a Nun, cancer patients, a 6 year old boy made shirtless, a young man who passed the metal and enhanced scanners, do not present a reasonable threat, or solicit a reasonable search. Furthermore, in order to pose a reasonable threat, there must have been some sort of cause or "reason" to indicate a possible threat. Randomness, prosthetics, shrapnel, reconstructive implants, to name a few, do not warrant invasive, embarrassing, and unconstitutional of citizens person.

2. Profiling: Ah oh, I'm treading on politically incorrect territory, flag Big Brother! All security and law enforcement agencies use some sort of profiling. It is not always racial, it is socioeconomic, age, religion, political affiliations, etc. Profiling is using statistical evidence to narrow the suspect pool. When tracking a serial killer, they typically look for a white, male, middle of life, intelligent, unstable abusive backgrounds, typically grew up in poverty. Why isn't there more of a terrorist profile screening? It is more reasonable to ask detailed questions when purchasing a ticket, than viewing x-ray-naked hybrid images of people once entering the airport. How much quicker would their be outrage if there were standard questions such as, race, religion, recent travel, international citizenship, etc.

3. Double Standard: Where is the ACLU? Where is NOW? During the later Bush years, there was outrage at the invasive Patriot Act, which included wire taps, information sharing, access to records, foreign intelligence wire taps, "sneak and peek warrants", to name a few. The ACLU responded to the Patriot Act with their "Reclaiming Patriotism" report. (Doesn't it sound like a Glenn Beck rally?!) If I could use a few of their own words, in expressing my outrage at the new TSA standards. "[TSA] has expanded the government's authority to pry into people's private lives with little or no evidence of wrongdoing. [TSA] must recognize that overbroad, ineffective, or abusive surveillance programs are counterproductive to long-term government interests because they violate constitutional standards and undermind public confidence and support..." If you would like to use an absolutely elloquent argument against TSA, go to the ACLU's Reclaiming Patriotism report. Do I need to point out that at least the Patriot Act went before Congress to get passed, and also in 2006 to get it's provisions extended? I would assume that one of the most invasive counter-terrorist acts, the current screenings and pat downs would not have passed the Congress, if they were even given that chance.

4. LAST Line of Defense: Has the Department of Homeland Security raised the threat level? No. What was the last known terrorist attempt? The thankfully thrwarted printer bombs travelling in cargo from Yemen. Have we exhausted all other investigative measures before we, by definition, sexually harass travelling citizens who majority are law abiding citizens? No, we refuse to gather intelligence on travellers, with the fear of not being politically correct. Do we enforce pat downs and screenings onto anyone travelling into our country, where the greater threat lies? Yes, that is part of Secretary Napolitano's new directives. As I have read more, I have been surprised to find all levels of travel have new restrictions. Cargo, international to the US, domestic, carry ons, etc. However, I still believe that the vital and essential aspect of investigation, intelligence gathering or some might call profiling, is still missing. I see pornographic screenings and enhanced pat downs as the absolute last line of defense. Until absolutely every effort is made, every investigative tool is used, there is no need to violate law abiding citizens rights in the name of safety. However, the influx of safety measures begs the question:

What do they know that they are not telling us?

5. My last point is, where do we draw the line? What if the next terrorist attempt is a chemical tube hidden where the sun don't shine? Will there ever be a point where cavity searches are necessary to fly? What about strip searches? We have already seen a few instances nation wide. When you open the door to infringing on not only someone's "houses, papers, and effects" but their "persons", when will an act not be justified. If scanning children, removing their any of their clothes, touching private and typically deemed sexual parts, is not crossing the line, what is? I am not willing to give up my house, papers, effects, and especially my body for safety.

YES WE DID!!!

A historic election on local and national levels. Here in my neck of the woods, Oklahoma, our state elected a woman for the first time as Governor. Mary Fallin, a former U.S. Representative, handily won the Governor's seat. Republicans swept almost every single state elected office. Nationally, the Republicans won back the House of Representatives, taking over at least 60 seats! Not since Herbert Hoover has a political party picked up 60 seats in a mid term election. This is bigger than the "Contract for America" election of 1994. Another story worth recognition, is the election of two black Republican representatives to the U.S. House. This is the first time in seven years that the Republican Party has been represented by black Representatives.

What does this mean? Looking from state elections, to state questions that were proposed, the Conservative values were upheld almost every single time. Oklahoma resolutely voted against Obama care with state question 756. California struck down legalizing marijuana. Iowa voted out three Supreme Court Justices who upheld same sex marriage. At every level, Conservatism won. This was absolutely a referendum on President Obama, but beyond him, the progressive agenda that has had control of our country since 2006.

So, now what? Repeal, repeal, REPEAL! Most of the Republicans ran on the platform of repealing the Health Care legislation, extending or re-instituting the Bush tax cuts, balancing the budget, etc. I want to hold their elephant feet to the fire, and if they don't follow through, they are out in the next round of elections. I truly believe that whether or not President Obama is re-elected depends on the Republican's next 2 years in power. If they show the same embarrassing display of ethics and greed, President Obama will have the fuel to be re-elected. However, if they deliver on what they promised of smaller government, fiscally responsible congress, being responsive to their constituents, the conservative movement will continue to take over, and President Obama will be voted out. The 2012 election will be ours to lose.

Some expressed worry, or frustration that the conservative movement does not have a national leader. Some may signify Sarah Palin, or Glenn Beck, or Rush Limbaugh, but they did not organize the tea parties. They did not organize the massive attendance at the town hall meetings. And instead of sharing the concern of others over the lack of a national leader, I relish in it. Having your "hope and change" pinned on one person, you will always lose. One person is fallible. If they make mistakes (which they will) or push it too far (which power drives them too) or fall short (expectations too high), then the movement loses steam and eventually gets derailed. However, if like the current conservative movement, there is no face to place blame, no "Messiah" to worship and follow, no greedy politician, the chance of it being derailed is slim. When the people are the movement, the movement will succeed. Because all of our hopes and dreams for the 2010 mid-term elections were NOT pinned on Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell or Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman, then when they lost, we didn't lose with them. I pray that those elected into this congressional session will listen to their constituents and move forward with the conservative agenda.