Mama Knows Best

Sleep deprivation..

I was wide eyed at 4:50a.m.  Who in their right mind would be awake at these hours unless forced to be?  Today will be a long day for sure, but just how long?  I pray that E takes a nap, but because I want him to he will not.  So what did I do with my morning while E was still in bed you ask?  I watched some television, threw in some laundry, and cleaned the downstairs laundry room.  I also managed to sort through the picutres on my camera, decided which ones are better, and upload them onto the computer.

Which brings me to the pictures…  I hope you all enjoy! =)

(more…)

Posted in Ethan & Addison, Life, Photos | 5 Comments »

Ron Paul – 2008 (pt 4)

The Gospel of Paul
He has some kooky ideas, but he also has lessons for the GOP contenders.

BY KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL
Friday, December 14, 2007 12:01 a.m.

Ron Paul is no compassionate conservative. His supporters love him for it.If there’s been a phenomenon in this Republican presidential race, it’s been the strength of a fiery doctor from Texas and his message of limited government. As the GOP front-runners address crowds of dispirited primary voters, Mr. Paul has been tearing across the country, leaving a trail of passionate devotees in his wake.

Paul rallies heave with voters waving placards and shouting “Liberty! Liberty!” Money is pouring in from tens of thousands of individual donors–so much cash that the 10-term congressman recently admitted he wasn’t sure he could spend it all. A fund-raising event on Guy Fawkes Day (in tribute to Mr. Paul’s rebel persona) netted his campaign $4 million, the biggest one-day haul of any GOP candidate, ever. He continues to inch up in the early primary polls, and even bests Fred Thompson in New Hampshire.

Mr. Paul isn’t going to be president. He trails in national polls, in no small part because his lack of a proactive foreign policy makes him an unserious candidate in today’s terror world. But his success still holds lessons for the leading Republican candidates, as well as those pundits falling for the argument that the future of the GOP rests in a “heroic conservatism” that embraces big government. Mr. Paul shows that the way to many Republican voters’ hearts is still through a spirited belief in lower taxes and smaller government, with more state and individual rights.

It helps, too, if voters know you mean it. In nearly 20 years in the House, Mr. Paul can boast he never voted for a tax hike. Nicknamed “Dr. No,” he spent much of the time Republicans held a majority voting against his own party, on the grounds that the legislation his colleagues were trying to pass–Sarbanes-Oxley, new auto mileage standards, a ban on Internet gambling–wasn’t expressly authorized by the Constitution. He returns a portion of his annual congressional budget to the U.S. Treasury–on principle.

On the stump, Mr. Paul whips up crowds with his libertarian talk of “less taxation, less regulation, a better economic system.” While Mitt Romney explains his support of No Child Left Behind, Mr. Paul gets standing ovations by promising to eliminate the Department of Education. Rudy Giuliani toys with reducing marginal rates; Mr. Paul gets whoops with his dream to ax the income tax (and by extension the IRS). Mike Huckabee lectures on the need for more government-subsidized clean energy; Mr. Paul brings cheers with his motto that environmental problems are best solved with stronger property rights. His rhetoric is based on first principles–carefully connecting his policies to the goals of liberty and freedom–and it fires up the base.

Yes, the Paul campaign–with its call to bring the troops home–is also profiting as the one landing pad in the GOP race for those Republicans and independents unhappy with the Iraq war. Mr. Paul’s insistence that he isn’t an “isolationist” so much as a “non-interventionist” who rejects nation-building has also won him voters who might otherwise have been wary of his passive foreign policy.

Still, it’s Mr. Paul’s small-government message that has defined him over the years, winning him election after election in Texas–well before Iraq was a question. His appeal has only grown, too, over seven years of a Bush presidency that has moved the party away from its limited-government roots.

“Compassionate conservatism” was a smart move on George W. Bush’s part, maybe even necessary to win. The GOP was dogged by a reputation as the heartless party, amplified by the 1995 government shutdown and the clunky Dole campaign. And it had learned from the success of welfare reform that message matters. Many Republican voters believed Mr. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” was just that: a way of selling conservative reforms. Tax cuts would help the working poor. Vouchers would help minority kids. Charities would fare better getting people off drugs than government bureaucrats.

Mr. Bush got his tax cuts, but voters found out too late that he was no small-government believer. School vouchers were traded away for more education dollars. A new Medicare drug entitlement has added trillions to the burden on future taxpayers. Government-directed energy policy is larded with handouts to political patrons in the corn and ethanol lobbies. A lack of budget discipline encouraged a Republican Congress to go spend-crazy, stuffing bills with porky earmarks. Much of this was simply a Republican majority that had lost its way. But at least some of it was promoted by Bush advisers who specifically argued that “compassionate conservatism” was in fact a license to embrace government–so long as government was promoting Republican ideals.

That idea has become even more vogue, with a wing of the party now arguing that the small-government libertarianism that has defined the Republican Party since Goldwater is not only immoral, but an election-loser. Former Bush speechwriter Michael’s Gerson’s new book, “Heroic Conservatism,” calls on Republicans to give in to big government and co-opt the tools of state for their own purposes. “If Republicans run in future elections with a simplistic, anti-government message, ignoring the poor, the addicted, and children at risk, they will lose, and they will deserve to lose,” he writes. Then again, Republicans have already been losing, and losing big, in no small part because they’ve taken Mr. Gerson’s advice.

The men vying to lead the Republican Party might instead make a study of Mr. Paul. One shame of this race is that for all the enthusiasm the Texan has generated among voters, he hasn’t managed to pressure the front-runners toward his positions. His more kooky views (say, his belief in a conspiracy to create a “North American Union”) and his violent antiwar talk have allowed the other aspirants to dismiss him.

They shouldn’t dismiss the passion he’s tapped. If Mr. Paul has shown anything, it’s that many conservative voters continue to doubt there’s anything “heroic” or “compassionate” in a ballooning government that sucks up their dollars to aid a dysfunctional state. When Mr. Paul gracefully exits this race, his followers will be looking for an alternative to take up that cause. Any takers?

These words below are not written by me, but rather the man who emails these Ron Paul stories! –>>>

[ What I simply cannot comprehend is how the author could heap all of this (well-deserved) praise upon Dr. Paul - including his current political successes - and yet still say, "Mr. Paul isn't going to be President."!!

Excuse me, "... his lack of a proactive foreign policy makes him an unserious candidate in today's terror world."?!? How much more "proactive" could you possibly get than "Friendship and honest commerce with all nations, entangling alliances with none." ?? That would have kept us out of pretty well all of the international military "messes" we're in currently, and could still get us out of 'em, if we let him. And, whatheck are "unserious" and "terror world"?

Just like his monetary and overall governmental policies, this isn't some half-baked, untried scheme - this is how the country ran for most of it's first century, becoming the richest and most powerful nation on the planet in the process. "Kooky ideas", indeed! PMC ]

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Ron Paul – 2008 (pt 3)

Ten Reasons for Christians to Vote for Ron Paul for President

By Nathan Radcliffe

The Covenant News ~ December 12, 2007

1. Ron Paul does not believe the government is God. Paul believes the federal government should be limited to its Constitutional size and scope. He wants to withdraw the US from all organizations that violate our national sovereignty (i.e. the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the International Criminal Court, et. al.)

2. Ron Paul is a humble man who advocates a humble foreign policy. He does not believe the US should be the policeman of the world.

3. Ron Paul confesses that “Jesus Christ is my personal Savior,” but he does not use the Lord’s name only to pander for votes. He doesn’t just talk the talk; he walks the walk.

4. During his 20 years in Congress, Ron Paul has sponsored more substantive legislation than probably any other single members of Congress. Congressional Quarterly has named him one of the “Fifty Most Effective Members of Congress.”

5. Ron Paul is a 72-year-old grandfather whose service as a statesman has reflected the time-honored principles and values of America’s Founding Fathers.

6. Dr. Paul is pro-life. He has delivered over 4,000 babies and says he has “never once considered performing an abortion, nor did I ever find abortion necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman.” Paul also opposes unjust wars of aggression and will bring our troops home from Iraq.

7. Ron Paul believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He has been faithful to his own wife for 50 years.

8. Ron Paul is committed to protecting property rights. He opposes government theft through “eminent domain” abuses. He has worked to eliminate the income tax and the IRS, inheritance taxes, and the “inflation tax.” He has never voted to raise taxes.

9. Ron Paul is a man of integrity who takes his oath to uphold the Constitution seriously. Congressman Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposal is expressly authorized by the Constitution.

10. Ron Paul has never taken a government-paid junket and has never participated in the lucrative congressional pension program. Lobbyists do not even bother to visit Congressman Paul’s office because they know his vote will not be bought.

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Still a lot to do..

There are so many things to do, but where to start?

The downstairs needs dusted/vacuumed again, plus my computer desk can be assembled now and my computer put away. I have boxes of “office” supplies to put away still, just no home for it quite yet. Our board games need a home too, but not sure where yet. I guess I could be working on that rather than up here on the computer blogging, no? I have so many pictures of E to upload into my Flickr account and am hoping to get to that soon, like maybe tonight. I only say maybe because I also have a lot of other work to get done and would like to finish that up in the near future, too.

Aside from all the “to do” things, things are going well. E and I said good-bye to my grandparents today as they left for Florida. E did really well saying good-bye, but I hope he does well over the next few days when he realizes they’re not coming back home for a while. I’ve been a nervous wreck stressing about how he’s going to handle it, but E really should be fine. Don’t you think?

E stole my grandfather’s baseball cap just before they were getting ready to leave and I wanted to capture the moment, but it was too late. E put the cap on sideways and started walking towards my grandfather, while holding his belly and laughing. When grandpa asked his Little Twirp for the hat back, E smiled and actually handed it over.

Posted in Computers & Technology, Ethan & Addison | 1 Comment »

Ron Paul – 2008

Ron Paul will be the guest on the Glenn Beck show, Tuesday, December 18th,

at 7:00 pm EST on CNN Headline News channel. Ron will be on for the

entire hour. Please urge all your friends to not miss this interview. Here is a

brief video clip of Glenn Beck announcing the Tuesday program with Ron Paul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hPKChWbbZY&eurl=http://www.rprradio.com/index.shtml

Also, Ron Paul will be a guest on NBC’s “Meet The Press”, with Tim Russert.

This program will be broadcast live on Sunday morning, December 23rd,

at 9:00 am EST.

The significance of these two programming announcements, is, that in spite

of continued “shunning” of Ron Paul’s surge in popularity, the mainstream media

has now been forced to recognize the emergence of a new era in American

voter participation in the election process. The public support of this true

American patriot demonstrates that America has finally awakened from a

decades-long slumber, and is now poised and determined to reclaim our

freedoms and sovereignty under the very principles upon which our country

was founded.

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Accomplished..

Do you remember the to-do list from this entry?  I’ve managed to complete the entire thing.  This is kind of a huge deal for me because I generally make long lists that never get finished or are not very realistic.

Aside from finishing that to-do list, I’ve managed to work up another list of things to do in which one of them has been completed already.  I wanted to post some of the forwards I’ve received recently on behalf of Ron Paul or the corruption of our government and I have (look at posts below).  I have also managed to begin typing up the huge stack of documents my grandparents asked me to do for them… and am happy to say, I have only 1 document left which is about 10 pages long.  Should be able to finish it up by the end of the day, I hope!

E is completely recovered from his bout with pneumonia.  He has been up and running around all morning, getting into everything possible.  His sleeping went from 12-13 hours back down to the 10 hour mark, too.  I miss that extra hour or two!  I kind of got used to being able to get everything done.

I should probably cut this short.  I am really hoping to finish typing these documents up sometime today and blogging is a big distraction!   Will try to update again tonight, with all of the pictures I finally uploaded to share with you all.

Posted in Ethan & Addison, Health & Safety | 2 Comments »

CIA Agent..

What the World Coupld Expect From

Dr. Ron Paul’s Non-Interventionist America

by: Michael Scheuer
Amidst the cacophony of everyday events around world, people outside the United States ought to cock an ear toward America States and listen closely for the quiet but resonant voice of a Texas gentleman named Dr. Ron Paul. Dr. Paul is a retired obstetrician, a 10 term Republican congressman from the 14th district of Texas and a Republican candidate in the 2008 race for the US presidency. And if you listen closely to Dr. Paul, you will hear the only authentic American voice in a field of nearly twenty presidential candidates from both parties.

It is, these days, both trite and inaccurate to say that “America is a nation of laws and not men.” Since 1945, for example, U.S. presidents routinely have involved the United States in wars that Congress does not declare, notwithstanding the U.S. Constitution’s clear mandate that only Congress can declare war. For more than thirty years, successive U.S. Congresses and presidents have refused to enforce border control and immigration laws already on the books, thereby abetting the deterioration of America’s social cohesion, social and educational services, and national security. And for just as long, presidents, congressman, and senators of both parties have ignored the interests of everyday Americans to earn donations and retirement sinecures – both, really, barely disguised bribes – from the U.S.-based military industry, the multinational oil companies, and foreign lobbies flush with money, such as those representing Israel and Saudi Arabia. The foreign lobbies are particularly despicable because American parents pay for U.S. politicians’ kowtowing for money to these foreign entities with the lives of their soldier-children and their savings. Sadly, therefore, it is a bad joke to say that America is today a country of laws not men.

But that is why Dr. Paul’s voice is important and, increasingly, is being listened to by Americans. It also the reason that the slander machines of the Democrat and Republican parties, U.S. military-related industries and their financiers, and the foreign lobbies are working overtime to discredit and ridicule Dr. Paul. These self-appointed elites know that Dr. Paul’s voice is not only the authentic voice of Americans and their historical experience, but also potentially the voice of their doom, because impotence, shame, and drastically less war-profiteering will be theirs if the rule-of-law endorsed by Mr. Paul is reestablished in the United States.

Mr. Paul places his faith in the Constitution of the United States and the legacy left to Americans by their founding generation. The republican government created by America’s revolutionary generation was meant to be the agent of an expanding domain for freedom, liberty, prosperity, and equal opportunity at home. It was never intended to be the militarized installer of those attributes abroad. “Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her [the United States’] heart, her benedictions, and her prayers be,” said Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, in 1821, in words that Americans are today being reminded of by Dr. Paul.

But she does not go abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. … She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force. … She might become the dictatress of the world. She would no longer be the ruler of her own spirit.

Dr. Paul speaks in the tradition of Secretary Adams, and in plainer words he speaks against – indeed, he damns – the bipartisan American governing class which, since 1945, has “insensibly chang[ed] from liberty to force” the spirit of the American nation and people. In his campaign, Dr. Paul draws attention to the disasters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan that have resulted from U.S. interventionism, and from the U.S. elite’s arrogant and foolish determination to be the “vindicator” of avaricious and ambitious foreigners who conceal their lust for arbitrary power behind the words of the American founders. He accuses and rebukes the bipartisan U.S. elite for having involved America in endless wars – especially religious wars – in which no genuine U.S. interest is at stake, and for having brazenly reached into the pockets of Americans and stolen their money to support and/or protect states – Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, etc. – that have drawn America ever more deeply into wars that are none of our business or concern.

If you listen to Mr. Paul you will hear a man devoted to his country’s welfare and his countrymen; knowledgeable about and respectful of its history; realistic about the increasingly barbaric world in which it exists; and, most of all, fully aware of the fragility of America’s republican experiment and its absolute dependence on the constant nurturing provided by the rule of law. If elected, Mr. Paul would reshape America in a direction that would be in America’s best interests.

Going to war would once again require a formal, constitutional declaration by the U.S. Congress; the world would see America involved in far fewer wars, and none started by the whim of a single man and the foreign-influenced ideological clique around him. And when war was declared, America’s foes would absorb an application of U.S. military force that would both utterly destroy them and their supporters, and serve as a warning to other miscreants bent on doing America harm.
Immigration and U.S. borders would re-subjected to the rule of law, and America would get the flow of immigrants it needs in an orderly manner and based protecting national security and, only then, on the needs of the country’s society and economy.
Foreign aid would be eliminated and defense spending better targeted to real threats so as to end the tax-tyranny of a perennially spendthrift federal government; reduce the amount of debt held by foreigners, especially that held by regimes such as China and Saudi Arabia; and encourage the reemergence of the traditional but long dormant pay-as-you-go thriftiness of individual Americans and their families.
Most important, the world would see a massively reduced U.S. voice, presence, involvement in events that have no conceivable impact on U.S. national interest. Other nations would have to begin looking out for themselves; they will have to amicably settle their religious, ethnic, tribal, and territorial spats or fight each other to the death – no U.S. cavalry will be riding to the rescue.
As you listen to Dr. Paul, you will hear his opponents describe him as an evil isolationist, but neither Dr. Paul nor America has ever been isolationist. Indeed, the term “isolationist” is merely a deceptive slur that America’s bipartisan elite hurls at those citizens who prefer not to waste their wealth or children’s lives in other peoples’ wars. Since its inception, the United States has been a trading nation and a country fully involved in economic, scientific, educational, and commercial affairs around the world. At its best, America has been sturdily non-interventionist, recognizing both that it has more than enough to do to expand liberty’s domain and the equality of opportunity at home, and that non-essential foreign adventures can only slow or even undo liberty and opportunity for Americans at home.

In an America led by the non-interventionist Dr. Paul, the world would see a more confident and less aggressive nation; a nation more humble, prosperous, and equitable; and a nation willing to let all other nations and peoples work out their own destinies, peaceably or violently, as they wish. America would get back to its own business and interests, and the rest of the post-Cold War world’s nations would be left alone to try, at long last, to grow into responsible adults.

November 28, 2007

Michael Scheuer [send him mail] is the author of Imperial Hubris and Through Our Enemies’ Eyes. He recently resigned after 22 years at the CIA.

Copyright 2007 © LewRockwell.com

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