REAL AZ WOMEN

WILL OBAMACARE PASS...AND SO WHAT IF IT DOES?

2010-03-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

Honestly, how bad can Obamacare be? I mean, after all, over 45% of Americans want it to pass. It must not be that bad.

Well, let's take a look. If you want to read it yourself - go to www.foxnews.com and pull up the bill and see for yourself if you can get through the 2000 pages and all of the political and policy nuances.

First, new taxes start immediately, but services don't.

State programs and state policies will be null and void.

Current medicare recipients will start to see reduced services and additional citizens are put on the program.

Eighteen percent more of the nations economy will be under the federal government's control.

No matter where you are on the issue - abortion will be funded by our tax dollars.

Not only we will be paying more for less - US policy, as mentioned in the President's speech to Democrat Congressmen today, states that this is just the beginning of health care policy change. Universal health care is on its way. And, so are less jobs and choice in the private sector.

Let's hope the states step up and fight this corrupted power grab.
Prayers for decision makers and our country are needed!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

2010-01-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

The earthquake in Haiti is another reminder of just how fragile life is and how little control we have over it. May we remember to reach out to those in need, love others as our selves, and act on the still small voice of the Lord.

The Elephant March Begins

2009-11-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

It is amazing what a little budget crisis and a new chief of staff will do for unity. "Reality has set in", a quote by Governor Jan Brewer in today's paper is not only good news - it is news we have all been waiting for. Republican leadership in the legislature and the Governor are well on their way to a kiss and make up session that will turn the low polling numbers on Brewer around.

Women can make a difference. Today is a prime example. My bet is on Jan in 2010.

Dog Eat Dog

2009-11-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

Like so many other progressive cities, Tempe has what is called a dog park. Sounds like a great idea the dog park. Dogs get to meet dogs in an orderly and safe manner; playing, sniffing - getting exercise with their owners and well...other dogs. In this case, orderly and safe were no where to be found.

The story of Emmie at the dog park goes like this: Emmie, a lap dog of advanced age was trying to keep up with her owner and their new puppy on the lap track. Emmie decided to take a detour through the grass to catch up. She proceeded to grit her teeth and growl at the oncoming pack of large dogs. This triggered an out and out attack with one of the large dogs leading the way.

The Greyhound sunk his teeth into little Emmie and was about to have her for a light snack when Emmie's owner ran to her safety beating off the determined hound. Screams and howls brought on a mixture of fear and sympathy. Dog lovers came to Emmie's rescue and helped escort her and her owner to the nearest pet hospital.

However, the Greyhound's owner fled quicker than you can say "Do you know a good attorney"? Maybe it wasn't about a lawsuit. Maybe he fled because he did not want to pay the vet bill or...maybe he thought his dog would be taken away and put to sleep. Whatever the reason, the least he could have done was stopped to check on the welfare of Emmie and her owner, and then apologize.

This story has a strange but true correlation to the health care debate. Not only will the Democrats in Congress and President Obama run and hide from the debate, they will leave us bloodied and holding the bill while they take no responsibility for the outcome. Perhaps it is time to collar and leash our elected officials in DC - either that or trade them in for a new breed.

Palin does the Big O

2009-10-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it is about time. Sarah Palin rose to political greatness when she stepped foot on the stage of Saturday Night Live. Sure, she and her family suffered at the often comedic hands of Tina Fey and even David Letterman, but the sleepless nights and tears of anguish may have been worth it. Soon Sarah will grace the television airwaves as she sits at the shoes of the diva of daytime TV - among other accomplishments - Oprah. Imagine how Oprah will deal with the gun-toting, tell-it-like-it-is grandmother and former Governor of Alaska. After all, isn't that why conservatives fell in love with Palin? Conservatives like to hear someone share the reality of the situation; we don't like political correct, sugar coated explanations. Anything less is suspicious. Bring it on, Oprah.

Cash for Kids: A Global Crisis Awaits Us

2009-09-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

You have heard of Cash for Clunkers...now in a strange Orwellian twist, Japan has just joined Russia in what I like to call, the Cash for Kids program.

Yes, it is true, if Japanese married couples have a child, they will receive a monthly stipend equivalent to about 300 US dollars until the child completes Jr. High. The Russian government pays equivalent to 9 thousand US dollars a year to couples who have more than one child. So far, the Cash for Kids program is not working.

Low birth rates around the world, especially in Europe and Japan are already having a negative effect on their status in the world, their economy; social life and their future. While the US is at replacement birth rate 2.13 (the number represents the number of children a woman has during her lifetime and includes immigrant births), Japan and Russia and all of Western Europe are well below the replacement birth rate. The US is only a few decades behind.

The loss of workers in all sectors of the economy means loss of revenue, higher costs of health care and social services and less significant military power - in short a collapse of world economies like never before. If you think the economy is bad now...we ain't seen nothin' yet.

Other nations including India, China, Mexico, African nations and some middle eastern nations have higher than needed birth rates. However, they are decreasing rapidly and some like India and China find themselves in a situation where there is a huge imbalance between baby girls and baby boys. This is also very unsettling. By 2030, China is expected to have 20 million more men than women.

The reason for the demographic changes are two-fold: high rate of baby boomers (1950s and 60s) and fewer couples marrying and having babies (1970s through today); and people living longer lives. Other factors should be considered as well. Some others include high divorce rates, increases in abortions, social pressure from population control and environment issues.

In Russia, there are more abortions each year than live births.

By 2050 36% of the population in Europe will be over 65.

Since 1990, there are 6 million fewer children worldwide.

If trends continue, by 2030, the UN estimates that there will be 250 million fewer children in the world then there are today.

As the baby boomers age, there are not enough people to replace them and cover their costs of living. This is the first time in the history of humanity that the graying population is growing while other populations decline.

Please learn more about this impending catastrophe. Let's hope it is not too late. Go to www.demographicwinter.com to learn more.

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS ANYWAY?

2009-09-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

The September 12th Tea Party in DC was a huge success. They tell me that millions of people attended - at least that was what one newspaper reported. Another paper reported that there were tens of thousands of protesters while even another took the position of less is more and said that there were thousands in attendance while pointing out the 15,000 supporters of health care cheered Obama in the north.

So, what gives? Why all of the discrepency in numbers? Millions of marchers certainly would send a strong message that Obama and those supporting more government and more spending should be aware. A few thousand outraged Americans is a lot less credible.

Not knowing what the numbers really are is not important. So, let me point out the obvious, the media cannot be trusted to report accuracy. I know you are not surprised. Neither am I. What has been pointed out again is the need for Internet reporting by those on the ground; blogs, Tweets, Facebook comments and above all, emails from trusted friends and sources.

Americans must take the work of saving our Republic into our own hands. Even if it only means information gathering and accurate reporting.

Let's all make a concerted effort to find the facts and share them. It truly matters.

DON'T LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF

2009-09-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

The following article is a must read. It verifies what most of us are already feeling. If you agree, pass it on. Otherwise, don't do anything.

History

by Pam Geller
cid:0CBA00EA2E5F42708918474A7483FCBA@ByronDesktop
I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied history all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.

Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it.. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 - 15 years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.

We demanded and then codified into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people whom we knew could never pay back? Why? We learned recently that the Federal Reserve,which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September.

Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "We the People," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders.. Apparently not.

We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why?

We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity.. Why?

We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?). We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?

Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.) The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x 10. And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.

And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla , Alaska .. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important.)

Mr. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change...radical change Why?

I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now. This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.

And that is only the beginning.

I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully them into submission.

And then he was duly elected to office, with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name, where they were taught what to think. How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe , and across the world.

He did it with a compliant media - Did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and...change. And the people surely got what they voted for. (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.) Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.

Don't forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe . It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years - a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S.. presidency - it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.

As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong, close my eyes, have another latte and ignore what is transpiring around me.

Some people scoff at me; others laugh or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe - and why I believe it. I pray I am wrong. But, I do not think I am.

About the author via Google...

Pamela "Atlas" Geller began her publishing career at The New York Daily News and subsequently took over operation of The New York Observer as Associate Publisher. She left The Observer after the birth of her fourth child, but remained involved in various projects including American Associates, Ben Gurion University and being Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning and Performance Evaluation at The Brandeis School.

After 9/11, Atlas had the veil of oblivion violently lifted from her consciousness and immersed herself in the education and understanding of geopolitics, Islam, terror, foreign affairs and imminent threats the mainstream media and the government wouldn't cover or discuss.

The Other Shoe Has Dropped

2009-08-05T09:49:00.001-07:00

Today's Republic has a must read article in the business section that sheds more light on Arizona's economic crisis; first homeowners' foreclosures - now commercial.

A well-known strip mall developer and business associate told me 2 years ago that Arizona was headed toward the worst commercial property crisis in its history.

I hate when he is right!

Check out the article yourself:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/08/05/20090805biz-commercialforeclosures0805.html?source=nletter-business

SWINE FLU and Other Pandemic Updates

2009-07-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Swine Flu or H1N1 Flu Update:
The AZ Republic just reported that Governor Brewer has applied for millions of dollars in federal aid to prepare our state for the fall Swine Flu rebound. So, is the Swine flu a problem or not?

Health Care Reform:
In an unprecedented move, Barack Obama, the President of these United States, is holding another...yes, another press conference on why health care reform legislation that will cost a trillion dollars should be passed before the summer break without vetting or debate. What happened to transparency,lower taxes,less government and more choices???

OBAMA and US Senate Ready to Ration Health Care

2009-06-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

Your family and friends may be in grave danger. If President Obama and the liberal majority in Congress have their way, healthcare provider choices are soon to be obsolete.

As promised, Obama is pushing through health care reform that will destroy the American health care system as we know it. A socialist system of mediocre government-run health care will rise in its place. Private providers and drug companies will close their doors and health care will be rationed out to all Americans, especially those who need it most – the sick, chronically ill and our senior citizens.

Grandma and grandpa deserve the best care possible. A limit on their care due to age or cost restrictions is just not acceptable. Children born with chronic illness warrant no less.

Under Congress’ proposed health care reform plan our families will be subject to a system modeled after Canada Care – a failing; expensive system where coverage on individuals is doled out through a rationing system with long waiting lists for care and services. Canadian mandates do not allow health care providers or citizens to go out of the public system. The type of services and how they are delivered is under government control. Is this really what Americans want – a single-payer government run healthcare system that denies control of services and puts our families at risk?

What does the government do well? The vast majority of citizens know that the private sector offers more choices in a more cost-effective, efficient manner than any government run program. On top of it, the private sector is more accountable to its customers. The health care reform being pushed will not only reduce your coverage, it will have a negative effect on the quality of care.

No one is claiming that the American health care system is perfect. It does need to be reformed. But, before we throw the baby out with the bath water, let’s examine the problems and try to fix them.

So - Who Is Not Insured?

• Out of the 300 million people in the USA -250 million are insured.
• About half (125 million) are on government run programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
• About half (125 million) are insured through private employer insurance.
• For the most part, those insured are happy with the quality of their care.
• Fifty-million Americans are not insured and use hospitals as their health provider.
• One-third of the uninsured are either immigrants or homeless who will never sign up for insurance
• About one-third of the uninsured can afford coverage but prefer to spend their money otherwise.
• About one-third, of the uninsured (5% of the population) – the notch-group do not qualify for insurance due to a preexisting conditions, are between jobs or are self-employed. This group is over income for Medicaid, yet cannot afford private coverage.
• The poor are eligible for Medicaid.
• For all cancers, 5 year survival after diagnosis: European men, 47%, US men 66%. European women, 55%, US women 63%. See for more details: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561737

Health Care Issues: Affordability and Accessibility

The health care system in the United States is in need of reform. However, blowing up what we have instead of tweaking it around the edges is not the answer. Ninety five percent of Americans are relatively happy. It is the 5%, the notch-group and specialized groups like the veterans, that need access to private health insurance and better quality of care.

Congress should be focusing on a solution to the issues at hand including the looming Medicare fiscal crisis that is about to hit in 2017. Rationing of services has already started. Imagine the rationing that will occur if another 150 million people are put on government programs.

Instead of finding the funding needed to cover the uninsured, health care reform is aimed at you and your family. Plans are in the works to put everyone into one huge bureaucratic federal insurance program, merging the homeless, Medicare and Medicaid recipients, and private insurance into one single payer system like Canada or the
UK. If the proposed health care reform on the table in Congress is passed into law, only the rich will be able to access health care worth receiving.

Big Brother Brings Health Insurance to the Masses

The strategy is to offer an innocent sounding Public Insurance Policy, “as good as your Senator has.” It will be subsidized by your taxes and have monopolistic power to suppress prices and doctor pay. In a stampede to save costs, most employers will dump their gold plated health plans and put their employees on a cheap government plan---whether they want that or not! Unions will follow suit.

Within 2-3 years 119 million people will be swept into this plan, leaving just 6 million on private care - 2% of American citizens; not enough to fund new drugs, not enough to have private hospitals or MRI centers in many locations. You may have a private doctor – but multifaceted health care systems will be obsolete. Waiting lines will be the norm and doctor led care will be a thing of the past. Government bureaucrats will be in charge of what was once your private care.

Privacy and Limited Choices Negatively Affect the Family

Thanks to language passed in the stimulus package, by 2014, an interactive fully accessible computer system will be located in every doctor’s office, hospital and pharmacy meant to hold all your detailed medical records. This government regulated, mandated system will “guide” your doctor in his treatment decisions. A new rationing board will be set up to decide treatment plans for the sick and elderly based on age and cost. These things directly threaten you and your family. Both were slipped into the stimulus bill with no public knowledge for the purpose of operating a big government controlled system. To learn more about both initiatives go to www.PatientsUnitedNow.com. Articles, videos and other links are available to help educate you and your family.

Rationing Health Care Already in the Works

Political decision-making and triaging of the elderly and sick are already here in the centerpiece of “savings” proposed by the White House in this year’s budget. The focus is on cutting costs by lowering hospital readmission rates for seniors. Unfortunately, studies show most of us readmitted after hospital stays are suffering from heart failure, emphysema or pneumonia. To stifle readmission would be akin to creating major health care risks for the elderly and chronically ill. What kind of society allows its frail to suffer and die in order to cut costs?

We hear all the time that there is a health care crisis. But, it depends on who you ask and how they define as a crisis. Cover the poor? We have Medicaid. System too expensive? What will you give up to pay less, wait times, access to new drugs, less new technology? Polls suggest that the American people do not want less quality of care, they want more.

Ways to Fix the Problems

Others complain that the system is complicated; co- pays are going up, doctors are frustrated with paper work, these problems can be solved by:
• making insurance companies compete across state lines.
• making insurance portable
• making plans more flexible and transparent
• allowing additional controls over deductibles and coverage by the insured.

We can buy automobile insurance in any state and keep it even if our jobs change. Why not make buying care insurance as simple as buying car insurance.

Fast Track Legislation

It is important that you learn as much as you can as fast as you can. This legislation is being promoted today and will be ready for a vote within a few short weeks. Protect your family today. You can make a difference. American citizens spoke out about their disagreement on comprehensive immigration reform and stopped legislation in its tracks. We can make a difference on this issue as well.

Speak up now, before it is too late. Talk to your family, your friends, your business associates. And, most importantly, contact the U.S. Senators in the states that have a possibility of bucking the Obama administration. Use this link to find the Senators from the list below and contact them today - http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

States where Senators need to hear from you!

Arkansas
Virginia
Montana
Nebraska
Indiana
South Dakota
Louisiana
Alaska
Nevada
Pennsylvania
North Dakota
Missouri
Colorado
North Carolina
Maine
New Hampshire
Utah
Iowa
Ohio

Let the Senators know that you do not want government run, government controlled health care. Your family deserves better. Together we can make a difference!

Please Forward this on to Family and Friends Today!!!

Babies Rules

2009-05-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

I have written articles in the past about the changing demographics and its affect on the world. The reality of what is in store is hard for many to believe and the consequences are earth shattering. The following video articulates the research in a way that is easily understood. I am not sure who is responsible for the video, but it is well worth the time to play it.

For more information on the subject that includes data and social science research sited, go to: http://unitedfamilies.org/default.asp?contentID=261

SWINE Flu: Possible Pandemic

2009-05-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

The Swine Flue may or may not be the next world wide or even national pandemic. What we should be concentrating on is preparing for any kind of crisis: pandemics, terrorism, natural disasters, etc. Our current situation is a good reason to stock up on a 3 week supply of water, food, medicine and any other items your family uses daily. An emergency evacuation plan is also needed

FEMA is currently polling Americans to see how prepared we are for any type of emergency...and how much assurance we have in our government to be there in time of need. If I played the odds, my guess would be that the numbers on each were low. Just remember what happened in New Orleans. More reason to be as self-sufficient as possible. Check out the CDC website and local government websites on how to plan for any type of emergency.

HELP SAVE THE FAMILY

2009-04-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

DHS ASSESSMENT IS RADICAL, EXTREME AND DANGEROUS

2009-04-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Those of us that live in Arizona have known for years the distaste Napolitano has for the "rightwing" of the Republican Party. But, even some of us are surprised that the politically correct former governor of the state of Arizona would be so brazen as to describe those that love their country enough to enlist and fight for our freedom would potential become a threat to our safety.

I have to give John Boehner credit. He has been doing a great job of voicing the conservative point of view. "To characterize men and women returning home after defending our country as potential terrorists is offensive and unacceptable," said Boehner, R-Ohio, the House Minority Leader.

Even commander David Rehbein of the American Legion expressed his concern to the Homeland Security leader calling the assessment by DHS incomplete and lacking statistical evidence. Of course Rehbein is correct. The document is laden with unsubstantiated statements that appear to be written by some liberal political hack instead of a professional team authorized to protect and secure our nation from terrorism. Looks like Janet Napolitano is turing DHS into a non-credible political government entity; one that will be used to move forward the Obama administration's liberal agenda. I knew liberals hated war and the military, but I did not see this coming!

As always, Napolitano defended the Assessment. She never has nor never will admit she is wrong. "Let me be very clear—we monitor the risks of violent extremism taking root here in the United States," Napolitano said. "We don't have the luxury of focusing our efforts on one group; we must protect the country from terrorism whether foreign or homegrown, and regardless of the ideology that motivates its violence."

What a bunch of malarky. Of course no one is saying much about the Assessment's disparaging remarks about those who store food. I thought DHS and our communities asked us to start a food supply after 9-11. Now those that have may be in danger of being classified as potential terrorists!

There is so much more to be offended by in this document. But, most noteworthy is coloring veterens with such a disrepectful brush. We in America give our citizens more credit than that.

This document is radical, extreme and dangerous.

Tempe TEA Party Meets at Capitol

2009-04-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Funny how many people are interested in joining the Taxes Enough Already (TEA) Party in Tempe on Wednesday the 15th. Tempe has grown to be known as the Democrat stronghold of the Valley due to the Harry Mitchell tide and the Democrats at ASU. Even so Tempeans will be out in force on TAX Day.

Art & Politics

2009-03-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

"I said to him,Barack, I know Abe Lincoln, and you ain't Abe Lincoln".

Bravo to the Brave at the UN 2009 Commission on the Status of Women

2009-03-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

Heroes come from all walks for life; from the young child who is quick witted enough to dial 911 when his mom is choking to those in combat who die everyday for our freedom and liberty. Rarely does one find heroes in the political arena. Even if an act of courage exists, it is usually hidden from the average person. Last Friday, a balcony full of men and women witnessed true valor from one lone delegate as he fought for principle and honor during the last battle in the last hour of the 53rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women in Conference room 2 in the New York United Nations building.

Our new-found friend and family ally was literally surrounded by hordes of delegates and committee leaders who fully expected him to break under the weight of their intimidation and deceit. Days of negotiations into the wee hours of the morning and into the last day of conference were proof that “abortion services” language was not acceptable to a few delegates and so no consensus existed by the deadline of 6 pm on Friday the 13th.

The Chairman of the CSW Bureau, the administrative body of the Commission, announced that Vice Chairman, Mr. Ara Margarian from Armania, who had chaired the week of informal meetings, came up with 40 paragraphs of consensus language on his own. These forty paragraphs were areas where consensus among the delegates could not be found. (The Agreed Outcome Document started as 5 pages, morphed into 25 pages because of the “new” language proposed by delegates, and ended at a manageable 10 pages – thanks to Mr. Margarian.)

The final document was then dispersed as delegates were told they had 2 minutes to read the language and either agree or dissent. The UN process is generally governed by consensus instead of majority rules. This means that one dissenter can stop an entire process if he or she is adamant enough.

In this case, the document that was sent around to the delegates had “technical” errors that involved policy distinctions different then what was proposed earlier in the day. The outspoken delegate from a small middle-eastern nation refused to agree to the “package deal”. He was quoted as saying, “Our delegation regrets we cannot accept these Agreed Conclusions. Two or three paragraphs are not acceptable. We showed flexibility. We request others be flexible as well”.

Another small middle-eastern nation voiced its concern with the process and complained that elements of which it was concerned were not included into the document. Further the lone delegate noted, “I am one person and other countries have many delegates. I need more than 2 minutes to review the document.”

At this point, the bureau and other delegates surrounded the delegate who announced he could not accept the Agreed Conclusion. First two or three approached him, and then several more joined the circle. Before too long, over 30 delegates encircled the small-framed man who dared to reject the “package deal”. It was a sight to see. As the group was embroiled in a private discussion occurring on the floor, pressure built as one by one, delegates stood to announce they were flexible and even though they did not get everything they wanted in the Agreed Conclusions, they were willing to accept it. Nations urged the dissenter to find a way to agree.

The entire block of African nations (53 in total) were willing to stay into the night to find resolution. India was, too. Most of the other nations, including the U.S., EU, Canada were not so generous. They wanted to approve and move on.

Eventually, Mr. Margarian found the resolution…everyone agreed and the balcony broke into cheers; and some tears. The lone delegate who had taken on the entire body of CSW nations stood and calmly spoke in broken English, “Our concern was not taken up…now it has. We agree.”

The final Agreed Conclusion is truly not perfect. After all, it comes from a process that is flawed with too much influence from those that want to see the patriarchal family destroyed. However, without our small nation friends standing firm, it could have been worse – far worse.

UN CSW is Cover for Anti-Family Obama Language

2009-03-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

The U.S. delegation to the UN is about to approve language in the CSW UN document that goes against national law and against President Obama’s publicly proclaimed stance against gay marriage. Call your reps! Ask them if this wording by the U.S. delegation is approved by the United States and why they are trying to sneak it past us in bypassing our system of laws. This wording proposed by our delegation to the U.N. goes against our own country’s laws!

United Families International is on the ground at the UN right now. Family Watch uncovered...You need to fight to stop it now!

BREAKING NEWS FROM COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

The United States representative to the U.N. is making a move that goes against national law and President Obama’s position on gay marriage. Please call your Congressman or U.S. Senator and protest the U.S. delegation’s position.

U.N. Delegations are planning on adopting the CSW Resolution on HIV/AIDS. This document references “The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS” as adopted by the Second International Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, and as amended and endorsed at the Third International supported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UNAIDS.

The HIV/AIDS and Human Rights International Guidelines have the following language included as referenced below:

30. (f) “Laws should also be enacted to ensure women’s reproductive and sexual rights, including the right of independent access to reproductive and STD health information and services and means of contraception, including safe and legal abortion and the freedom to choose among these, the right to determine number and spacing of children . . .”

30. (h) “Anti-discrimination and protective laws should be enacted to reduce human rights violations against men having sex with men . . . ”

30. (h) “. . . These measures should include providing penalties for vilification of people who engage in same-sex relationships, giving legal recognition to same sex marriages . . .”

Courage From an Iraqi Woman

2009-03-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Thanks to Brenda Sanders for posting this blog from the United Nations:

I had a small hope as I walked up to the United Nations building to attend the Commission on the Status of Women (53rd Session). I hoped to somehow make a small difference. I hoped to be able to make a positive stand for womanhood, motherhood and family.

During Commission of the Status of Women, I attended a few women's forums and caucuses and heard repeatedly about the rights of women, some justified and others conjured from anger, resentment and fear. Now, I have an increase in love for my sisters of the world, even though I do not agree with all of their issues.

The forums are filled with language of "reproductive rights and justice", "advancing gender equality and economic empowerment", and "comprehensive sexual and reproductive rights" (abortion). The meetings are full of powerful women who are not afraid to speak boldly and push their agenda at the UN.

Why does United Families come to the UN? We are hoping to have a positive influence on the language of the Agreed Conclusions Document that will be voted on at the end of the session. This document will then be added to previous documents that define the status of women worldwide. We also try to strengthen and maintain relationships with representatives of other nations.

I have always been a proud American. I cry when I sing the Star Spangled Banner. I have deep respect for our founding fathers and for the Constitution of the U.S. But, as I listened to the desired changes made by our US Delegate, (just appointed by Barack Obama), I became deeply ashamed of what the United States represents on social issues. Nations who would look to us as the beacon of light, feel shut out and alone and are persecuted for their strong belief in marriage, life and family.

Here is an example of language that was submitted by the US Delegate.
"Implement measures to increase capacities of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from risk of HIV infection, through the provision of health care and health services, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and through prevention and education and that promotes gender equality within a gender sensitive framework and provides, whenever possible, age-appropriate sex education based on full and accurate information."

You may recognize some of the language that would take away parental rights and push an agenda on the children of all ages.

Ashma, a Muslim woman, gave testimony in one forum of her belief in family and marriage. She talked about how the role of woman is viewed as the up most vital part of a family. She expressed great concern for the CEDAW Treaty, (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women). In the first paragraph of the the treaty it uses language about the equal rights of men and women. Ashma explained that they believe in equality between men and women but not that they are equal. Equality means fairness, but not the same. She said that they cannot accept this treaty because of language such as that.

The room became somewhat hostile at her remarks. The USA is among an handful of nations that have not ratified CEDAW. Even though President Carter signed it 30 years ago, the Senate must ratify. With the current political change in Washington there is great anticipation that it will be ratified.

The young woman who had stood boldly for family and marriage was verbally attacked and put down. Women from the audience asked her to address the lesbian and transgender rights in the Islamic countries. As she attempted to address their concerns, things got a little more out of control and the meeting was closed. I praised her for her address and asked her to continue to stand her ground. I said that even though I was from the U.S., I had the same beliefs about family and marriage. She was grateful to have a friend.

Calling on Arizona Republican Women!!!

2009-02-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

Republican Ladies, if you ever wanted to be more involved in the issues at your local level or state level,here is a great opportunity to learn more about the ins and outs of our great state. Grooming Republican women to take on leadership roles at all levels is what this program is all about. Arizona needs you! Consider applying today.

What is the Dodie Londen Series? When was it founded and why?

In 2007, Christine J. Toretti launched the Winning Women: Leadership for the New Century initiative in Arizona to engage more women in the party as voters, donors and leaders. A resident of Tucson, Arizona, Christine J. Olson, CEO of S.W. Jack Drilling Co. and Pennsylvania’s GOP National Committeewoman, accepted the challenge to spearhead this effort in Arizona and established the Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service Series in January 2007.

The Dodie Londen Series is an annual training program for Republican women in Arizona that prepares women to be more effective leaders in government, politics, and in the community. Participants each have a goal to increase their level of involvement in public life as party leaders, elected or appointed officials, as grassroots activists, and/or as community leaders.

Each year a class of talented women representing all regions of Arizona will participate in intensive training sessions over the course of nine months to gain information, tools and skills to enhance their civic and political participation. This executive training program for Republican women is modeled after the successful Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series, which began in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2002 and the Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series founded in the state of Indiana in 1990.

How much time do class members spend with the Dodie Londen Series?

Class members participate in 9 required training sessions beginning in October and concluding in June of each year. Class members travel to different parts of Arizona to attend a training session each month. Each month, the Dodie Londen Class gathers in Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and other parts of Arizona for a one-day training program. Class members typically arrive on Thursday evening for an optional networking dinner and spend Friday from 8am to 4pm participating in a training session. There are two exceptions to this type of schedule. The state government session is scheduled when the legislature is in session. Also, during the month of May, the Dodie Londen Class meets in Washington, DC for 2 ½ days from Tuesday evening through Thursday evening for a federal government session. This session is a national meeting of all state programs.

How much does the Dodie Londen Series cost a class member?

When accepted to the program, class members pay a one-time $150 participation fee. Some class members have paid this fee personally while others have had this fee paid by their employer or local Republican committee. Additionally, class members are responsible for travel costs to and from the monthly training sessions including parking. The Dodie Londen Series pays for hotel accommodations, meals and other program costs.

How are participants chosen each year for the Dodie Londen Series?

Class members are chosen through a two-tier selection process. First, applicants must submit a written application due May 1st. The selection committee comprised of advisory board members select finalists from a review of the written applications. Finalists are offered a personal interview with members of the selection committee. Interviews take place in late May of every year. For an application or more information, contact Bernadette S. Comfort, executive director at 520-609-6347.

Who was Dodie Londen?

One of Arizona's grandest ladies and certainly the Grand Dame of the Arizona Republican Party, AZ-TV Chairman Dodie Londen was born May 31, 1930 on a farm near Holdredge, Nebraska. She graduated from Barnes Business School in Denver, Colorado and went to work in Denver as a secretary. In 1951, she married Jack Londen and in July of 1962 they moved their family of six to Arizona.

Through her selfless service to her church, charitable organizations and the Republican Party, Dodie will be remembered as a world-class leader, mentor and friend. Dodie's political activities and accomplishments are legendary.

As the first woman ever to serve as Chairman of the Arizona Republican party, Dodie used her professional leadership, wisdom and kindness to lead the party to unprecedented prominence and national respect. Her legacy of financial stability and open door policy will serve the Republican Party for years to come. As one political reporter wrote, "She did more to unite the GOP than anyone else in decades...a tough act to follow."

She served as the Treasurer and Program Chairman for the National Federation of Republican Women and President of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women. She was active in numerous political campaigns and counted President Ronald Reagan as a close friend. With all of her political achievements, she considered being a precinct committeeman one of her most important political positions.

Dodie once said, "I believe an individual should be judged by his or her record of commitment, performance and achievement." Even by those high standards, Dodie truly achieved greatness!

Gay Legislator Votes No on Gay Marriage

2009-02-23T21:49:00.000-08:00

As reported in the Minnesota Independent newspaper, and captured on United Families International's blog, http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com, the office of State Sen. Paul Koering, a gay Republican representing a district near Brainerd, Minn., responds by e-mail to criticism over his decision not to vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make gay marriage legal in Minnesota.

The gist? Legislators can’t “waste their time” with “pointless legislation.” The mass e-mail, penned by an impassioned Ken Swecker, Koering’s legislative assistant, concludes with the punchline: “I’ve already wasted too much time in responding to you.”

Here’s the full letter:

My name is Ken Swecker, Senator Koering’s Legislative Assistant. Senator Koering and I both would like to respond to the e-mails we’ve been receiving regarding his intention to not vote in favor of Senate File 120. I am currently responding to the e-mails to give you the Senator’s home phone number so that you might call him over the weekend and speak with him personally on the matter. This much he asked me to do.

To add to that, as a personal statement, is to say that SF 120 is something that the majority of the People of Senate District 12, the People that he was elected to represent, do not favor this piece of legislation. In case you have forgotten, we are a government of the People, by the People, and for the People. He was not elected serve his personal interests. I personally believe that instead of sending e-mails full of threats and hateful words you should take his example to heart and congratulate him on being a legislator who cares more about what the People of his district want than what he may want personally. You and I both know that this is a rare quality to find, and just because this is contrary to how you wish for him to vote, you must remember and respect he is here to represent the interests of his rural Minnesota constituents who voted him into office. As a constituent of his myself, I am happy to see him take non-personal votes on several issues. After all, I would not want another politician taking another vote that would serve his or her personal interests more so than the People’s, would you?

I can testify all day long about how much Senator Koering cares for the People of Senate District 12. He ran three consecutive times, being defeated the first two, and why did he put himself through so much hard work? Do you think it was because he needed another job? Absolutely not! He did it because he believed he was the best person to serve the People that he calls neighbors, friends, and family. And especially now, in a time like this, we are being bogged down with this completely pointless issue. There are People in Morrison and Crow Wing Counties, and across the State who are losing their jobs, their homes, their insurance, and were you to ask them if this is an issue that should take one second of precedent over these conditions they’re facing every day, do you believe, do you honestly believe that they would say to you, ‘Yes, please, waste the time of the State Legislature with a piece of legislation that will not help, but in fact, overshadow the current situation we’re living in? Please, waste their time with this piece of legislation while I tell my son and daughter that mom and dad aren’t hungry tonight?’

I know very well that you will respond to this e-mail of mine with some probably quirky, snide, and very thoughtless comment that will make me out to be a bad person and threaten the Senator even more just as most of the absolutely tactless and disrespectful e-mails we’ve received have been written, but really, don’t waste your time. We’ll just put your e-mail where it belongs, in the trash.

The Senator’s home number is
xxx-xxx-xxxx

He’s free on the weekends.

Very Sincerely, every word of it,
Ken Swecker

P.S.
I hope you do not believe that this e-mail was written specific to the one that you sent, this is a blanket e-mail, being sent to everyone who has e-mailed us on this issue and I’ve already wasted too much time in responding to you. Good day.

Senator Paul Koering
District 12
131 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155-1206
Phone:651-296-4875

SNL "Bailout Skit" Censored

2009-02-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Last year Saturday Night Live produced a "Bailout" skit, which created political problems for NBC. Even though the skit was seen live, the powers at NBC pulled the skit from being televised.

The video was spiked to shut it down on the Internet. But aha, there are still some sites that have it.

http://msunderestimated.com/SNLBailoutSkit.wmv

Be sure to forward this around to as many people as possible.

SNL has never censored conservative points of view. Looks like Big Brother Democrats has some explaining to do.

Tit for Tat?

2009-02-22T10:58:00.000-08:00

At the top right hand corner of Page 17 of the New York Post of January 24th, 2009, was a short column entitled "Replacing Michelle" in the National Review "The Week" column. Here it is, word for word ......

'Some employees are simply irreplaceable. Take Michelle Obama: The University of Chicago Medical Center hired her in 2002 to run "programs for community relations, neighborhood outreach, volunteer recruitment, staff diversity and minority contracting."

In 2005 the hospital raised her salary from $120,000 to $317,000 - nearly twice what her husband made as a Senator.

Oh did we mention that her husband had just become a US Senator? He sure had. Requested a $1 Million earmark for the UC Medical Center, in fact. Way to network Michelle!

But now that Mrs Obama has resigned, the hospital says her position will remain unfilled. How can that be, if the work she did was vital enough to be worth $317,000?

We can think of only one explanation: Senator Roland Burris's wife wasn't interested.

---The Editors of National Review, writing in the Magazine's Feb 9 issue.'

Feminists Fail Women...and Families

2009-02-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

The Destruction of the Family

Just one short generation ago, the family ruled. It was fashionable to be from a large family where roles were clearly defined. Father knew best and mother was always there to feed, comfort and rely upon. For the most part, dad was the breadwinner, mom the nurturer. Children were expected to be the product of marriage and marriage was only between a man and a woman. Divorce rates were low and the majority couples stayed married for most of their lives. Welfare roles were almost non-existent as were out-of-wedlock births. The family might not have been perfect, but it was intact and the lack of social programs and crime reflected it.

In order to follow the history of the changing family, one must only follow the history of the feminist movement. The correlation between the two clearly outlines the influence radical feminism has had on the breakdown of the family.
For over forty years, the family has been under scrutiny and attack that was brought on by the U.S. radical feminist movement that started in the 1960s. Today the family is certainly different than what it once was.

The Beginning of Radical Feminism

There are three types of women in the world: radical feminists, mainstream feminists and the majority.

Modern feminism, or what has been coined radical feminism, has its roots in the American culture that dates from late 1960s to the early 1970s. Before this time, women who fought to change cultural norms did so with no intention of breaking down the family. They were clearly not anti-marriage. They just wanted women to have more choices in their lives.
By 1969 noted University of Chicago sociology professor Marlene Dixon brazenly declared, "The institution of marriage is the chief vehicle for the perpetuation of the oppression of women; it is through the role of wife that the subjugation of women is maintained." Marriage was referred to "as a slavery-like practice” that needed to be destroyed to bring about equality between men and women. The “heart of radical feminism” designed to save women, was now on a mission to destroy not only marriage, but in the process - families.

Mainstreaming the Anti-Marriage Message Around the World.

Since the 1970s, the radical feminist message was mainstreamed throughout the American culture, having a detrimental influence on the intellectual formation of millions of students. The next generation of radical feminists have in turn taken up the cause and taken the battle to the halls of the United Nations. The United Nations process becomes the catalyst to spreading the anti-marriage, anti-family message internationally through official documents and treaties, like CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of All Discrimination Against Women. If signed and ratified, nations become enslaved by appointed councils that demand the radical changes espoused by those whose ultimate goal is to destroy families and those who stand in the way. Women’s rights are promoted as human rights and include abortion – disguised as a health and reproductive right.
In a world where developing countries continue to experience higher than normal rates of death during delivery, lack of education for women, female infanticide and sex-selective abortion, radical feminists prefer to mainstream “genderless societies” to vulnerable and often unaware nations.

As an example, recent women’s rights legislation, masquerading as the “Magna Carta of Women,” is making its way through the Philippine Congress. UN radical feminists, rumored to have written most of the language, have managed to inject anti-family and anti-life policy that conflicts with the Philippine Constitution that protects “the sanctity of family life” as well as protecting the “life of the unborn from conception.” The language in the Magna Carta is almost exactly what was used by CEDAW Compliance members in a 1994 UN report that creates confusion between the nation’s culture, laws and constitution and this new law regarding women’s rights.

The radical feminist movement of false truth would have the women of the world believe that men and religion are corrupt, marriage is slavery and bearing and raising children is beneath them. The reality is most women agree and want the right to be educated, vote, own property and be treated as an equal in marriage by the law. But, the feminists have taken the battle of women’s rights to a new low. Their agenda does not take into account that women are part of a family and families are the bedrock of a good and healthy society.

The Truth About Marriage and Family

While radical feminists see marriage as a “patriarchal” institution that harms women and children, the facts are mothers who give birth and raise children outside of a stable marriage are seven times more likely to live in poverty.
• Over 80 percent of child poverty in the United States is within divorced or single-family households.
• Domestic violence is most common in cohabiting households. And mothers who do not marry are twice as likely to suffer from domestic violence as mothers who are or have been married.
• Social science research continually confirms that the effects of marriage and intact families are overwhelmingly positive for men, women, children, communities and society.
• Some of the benefits of intact families are: greater health, longer lives, more education, and higher income, less domestic violence, less poverty, less crime, less addiction, less teenage pregnancies, and less depression.

So, the question remains, has the feminist movement advanced the cause of women by bringing greater equality and freedom to dissolve unhappy marriages and independence in family life, and more career opportunities – or not?
The answer is simple and devastating. Divorce has generated new forms of inequality for women by way of greater economic insecurity and poverty. Divorce has transformed women from haves to have-nots. Divorce has not moved women closer to the social goal of gender equality. Instead, women now bear double responsibility for breadwinning and child-rearing – and most do it alone. Women are now working harder and falling further behind. Divorce rates have increased as have welfare rolls.
• Between the years 1950 and 1996, the annual divorce rate increased by 89 percent, while the annual marriage rate among unmarried women age 15 and older decreased by 45 percent.
• States with a lower percentage of single-parent families, on average, will have lower rates of juvenile crime. State-by-state analysis indicates that, in general, a ten-percent increase in the number of children living in single-parent homes (including divorces) accompanies a seventeen-percent increase in juvenile crime.
• Married couples and their families have much higher incomes and greater assets than do single adults or single-parent households
Women want to be a functional part of a healthy, good society where they can learn and grow and raise a family. They do not want to be misled by the radical agenda of a few who would rather destroy the family.

Join United Families International at www.unitedfamilies.org in fighting for the family. They will be attending the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) in March. It is there that we will be fighting again to promote and protect a future for the family. The radical feminists will be out in force and your support is needed. Help us to spread the truth to the nations of the world and ensure every child will have a family with a mother and a father to belong to.

This article was written by United Families International 2-10-09

My generation

2009-02-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share something with everyone that means alot to me. This young man, Jonathan Reed created a video and entered it into a contest for the AARP. The video, I feel, sums up what alot of us young people are feeling during these exciting and terrifying times. With the political and economic turmoil that we see all around us, my generation is beginning to step-up and have their voices be heard. Whether it is Obama supporters who drew record numbers of young people to be actively involoved in the political process, or the many Young Republicans and Republican Professionals who opposed their ideals, one thing is certain, We want to be heard. We want to stand up and be counted. We want to make a difference. This video is an excellent demonstration of my generation. Please enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

Putting "Caring" Into Health Care

2009-01-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

It occurred to me today as I sat in ICU with my father, that nothing is what it seems. Spending years watching the news media report on the state legislature should have convinced me of this. However, I am en eternal optimist and trust what people say - apparently too much.

The hospital ER was clean, organized and well staffed. Common sense,intelligence and a spirit of caring ran through the blood of the docs and nurses there. I was grateful for them and their concern for my father. I love him, warts and all, and don't expect others to feel the same. Magically, his charm won them over and they bent over backwards to make sure his medical needs were met. They truly "cared" for him and it showed - charm or not.

Somewhere between the ER and the ICU, the human spirit was lost on staff. He spent over 24 hours flat on his back; no food or water. We waiting for the promised doctor who never showed until a big scene was made and lies we were told began to unravel. We were told the surgeon would be there in the morning and then the afternoon. The reality was the surgeon was never scheduled.

I know there are worse stories than this out there. I don't mean to be so dramatic...however, what if he had no family to stand up for him? People need to be treated with love and respect, and professionalism. Not placated and turned over to the next shift.

The fuss raised the eyebrows of a few in control who made sure he was finally looked after and given food and drink. When the specialist was made aware of his patient, he was furious with staff and apologized to my father, who accepted willingly. Isn't that all we want when we are wronged??? Recognition and respect.

It does not matter what career you are in or what job you have let's all remember to care enough to go the extra mile. I know my father would appreciate it.

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH

2009-01-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

Senator Orin Hatch from Utah gave a farewell tribute to President George W. Bush before the U.S. Senate. President Bush will be remembered for his staunch stand on the protection of life and support of the family.

Thank you for your courage and convictions.

"I rise today to offer some thoughts and observations about the presidency of George W. Bush as his time in office comes to a close. This is truly a time to thank God for our country, for our system of government, and for liberty unparalleled in the history of the world. President Bush served at a time of great challenge, and even crisis, for our country and I want to focus on him both as a president and a person.

When America 's founders gathered in Philadelphia in 1787, it is said that someone asked Benjamin Franklin, the constitutional convention's oldest delegate, what form of government was under construction. He famously answered: “A republic, if you can keep it.” James Madison defined a republic as a government which derives its powers from the people, a principle enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. One way we work to keep our republic is by the people choosing those who will govern them.

In his farewell address in 1837, President Andrew Jackson said: “But you must remember, my fellow citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.” Elections and transitions of power are part of that vigilance, part of keeping our republic in order that we might, in the words of the Constitution's preamble, “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

Every transition goes from something to something and occasions a look at what is concluding as well as at what is beginning. With the inauguration of President-elect Obama around the corner, the flurry of confirmation activity here in the Senate regarding his nominees and the intense focus on economic and other challenges, much of our attention is rightly focused on the future. But we look to a future from a present shaped by the past. Only by understanding where we have been can we have the ability, perspective, and confidence to act today and plan for tomorrow.

Though a presidency has a beginning and an end, it is simply part of the flow of events in the life of America . Presidents inherit situations they did not create and create situations they leave to their successors. They may get credit for successes they did not produce and escape blame for failures that do not materialize until after they leave office. That is the nature of political life in America .

And while we focus on an individual, the president, I think it is more appropriate to speak of an administration, the presidency. There are hundreds and hundreds of people who serve at the pleasure of the president to develop and implement his agenda. All of this makes very difficult even describing, let alone evaluating, something as multi-faceted as the Bush presidency.

Some of President Bush's critics almost reflexively just look at opinion polls, noting that his approval rating has sunk. I do not have to tell anyone serving in public office about the allure, as well as the danger, of this reflex. Polls are snapshots, they are not motion pictures. And the pollster is the photographer. He chooses the subject, the lighting, and the angle, he frames the shot and can determine how the final picture turns out.

The Bush presidency was bookended by national crises, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the financial crisis before us today. Not surprisingly, as the Washington Post pointed out a few days ago, he enjoyed the highest approval rating in late 2001 and nearly the lowest in late 2008 in the history of the Post's polling. Once again, that is just the nature of political life in America and comes with the presidential territory.

While President Bush's approval rating has had many ups and downs, one thing has remained absolutely constant: his approval rating has consistently been higher than ours. The website pollingreport.com shows that dozens of national polls in the last couple of years have given Congress an approval rating in the teens, down to a measly 12 percent, while President Bush has not had even one that low. And we in the Congress have the advantage of getting lost in the crowd when we want to, blaming such dismal public sentiment on the institution while insisting that, as individual members, we are much more popular. The president never has that luxury. The polls do not ask whether Americans approve of his administration, but whether they approve of him.

President Bush knows that it is tough to lead when you are following the polls. As he said in an interview last month, he did not compromise his soul to be a popular guy. George W. Bush is not leaving the presidency with chapped fingers from holding them up to the wind. His critics spin that as stubbornness, saying that he wants to go it alone. I fully expect that many of those same Bush critics will praise the next president for the very same thing. One man's principle, I suppose, is another man's inflexibility. But as President Bush said at Texas A&M University , popularity is fleeting but character and conscience are sturdy. The only test that matters, he said, is going home at night, looking in the mirror and being satisfied that you have done what is right.

Politics, of course, is about disagreement and competing ideas, priorities, and policies. Conservative leader and thinker Paul Weyrich, who passed away last month, has written about “constructive polarization.” That is the idea that clearly defined, and clearly different, choices and alternatives can be constructive for the electoral and political process. Disagreement and competition help us to focus and refine ideas, to work harder at finding the best solution.

But I regret to say that there is often today more effort at enraging than engaging, and that along with disagreement has come disrespect. Too often an opponent is treated not simply as wrong but as rotten. And that is when the distinction between an office and the individual who holds it breaks down and political objectives taken precedence over institutional principles. I have seen that destructive trend over the last eight years and I hope, for the sake of the next president and for our country, it does not continue. I join President Bush who has said that the tone in Washington got worse rather than better during his presidency and I urge my colleagues, and all others who participate in so many ways in our political process, to do some real soul-searching about this.

In addition to looking at the polls, it is easy when looking back at a presidency to look no further than the most recent events. The financial and economic situation has deteriorated so fast in the last several months, and the difficulties have spread so quickly and loom so large, that it is difficult to see anything that came before. The truth is, however, that we experienced a record economic expansion before that downturn occurred, 52 months of uninterrupted job creation.

Another mistake in evaluating a presidency is a simple one. We act as if we know everything that can be known, that the jury could possibly have already come back with the verdict. The jury is still out, and will remain there for a long time, which is why we more properly talk about history judging a president. As President Bush put it in one interview, folks are still writing books analyzing President George Washington. President George Bush is not going to worry about it. President Harry Truman's own party discouraged him to run for re-election and he left office with an approval rating even lower than President Bush, yet today is mentioned among the twentieth century's best presidents. The facts of what President Bush has done, not to mention their effects, will not be fully understood or even known by most Americans for many years to come.

In evaluating a presidency, we should also look not only at individual programs or neatly numerical accomplishments but also at the challenges than cannot be reduced to charts, graphs, or bullet points. President Bush certainly came into office with goals to achieve, problems to solve, and situations to handle. He had offered concrete proposals and made campaign promises. There is a long list of bills he signed, programs he initiated, appointments he made, and other concrete achievements that can be measured and listed. I will mention some of those in a minute. But we have already seen with the President-elect how quickly those promises get tossed on the cutting-room floor. The Washington Post just reported that, before Mr. Obama has even taken the oath of office, his proposal for a tax credit for job creation, which he had touted on the campaign trail, has been dumped from the economic stimulus package now under construction.

But in addition to specific programs or proposals, President Bush has worked hard to get us to think differently, to shift paradigms, to re-order our understanding of America , the world, and our relationship to it. That is more qualitative than quantitative, and perhaps it is harder to measure with numbers or notches on a board somewhere, but it is as much a part of leadership and vigilance that is necessary to keep this republic as anything else.

We are in the eighth year since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. What a way for a president to begin his first term! The world changed, and American changed with it. Previous generations saw the struggle against global communism define much of what America did and how we did it. Today, it is the struggle against global terrorism. It may have begun in earnest with President Bush in office, but it will continue long afterward. And so national security has defined the Bush presidency. Not simply the subject of national security, but the reality of national security. From retooling the Department of Justice and FBI, creating the Department of Homeland Security, revamping the intelligence community, to engaging dozens of other nations, and liberating millions in the Middle East , President Bush took bold steps to confront this new international menace. In short, he led.

President Bush has sought to lead us to think differently about war and terrorism, and to understand both that terrorism is a global threat and that freedom is terrorism's worst enemy. He has said throughout his presidency that freedom comes from God and is a universal human right. Freedom is better than tyranny, liberty is better than oppression. I am so grateful that President Bush refused to accept this moral-equivalency nonsense that one way of life is just as good or bad as the next. Not only does that view make no sense on its face, but with it no one would ever see liberation from disease, hunger, slavery, or deprivation. That is a philosophical perspective, to be sure, and perhaps it is difficult to communicate in the twenty-first century, perhaps it does not lend itself to a text message or a posting on Facebook. But where you start determines the road on which you travel and where you eventually arrive, both for individuals and nations. President Bush told the American Enterprise Institute last month that a president's job is not only to tackle problems but to look over the horizon. That is real leadership.

Let me move to some of those concrete accomplishments. Though some may wish to forget it, I remember when so many dismissed President Bush's strategy in Iraq that we have come to call “the Surge.” Once again, he was thinking outside the box, changing the way we think about dealing with challenges and problems. The Surge was more than simply sending more troops to Iraq , but implemented a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy. It provided for one of the most dramatic comebacks in the history of modern warfare. In less than two years, what some had said was a hopeless situation saw an 80 percent reduction in violence. Cities and provinces whose names were literal synonyms for violence – Ramadi, Fallujah, Baghdad, and others – are now largely free of al-Qaeda's operatives.

And let me say at this point that President Bush has reaffirmed our sacred commitment to our veterans. His administration has more than doubled funding for veterans' medical care, cutting the time to process disability claims almost in half and reducing homelessness among veterans by 40 percent.

It is, of course, much easier, much more natural, to think about what has happened rather than what has not happened. This is true for many reasons, not the least of which is that we often simply do not know what has not happened. But think about this. We do know that America has not been attacked since September 11, 2001. That is 88 months. I know that no one listening to me speak is foolish enough to think this is because the terrorists, the terrorist networks, the terrorist movement at work today have simply lost interest. No one is foolish enough to think the terrorists have just moved on to other things. No, they want more than ever to attack and destroy this country, if only because their first attack failed to bring us down. It has not happened in more than seven years.

President Bush's leadership has helped prevent another attack. His leadership in creating an international coalition, in working with other individual nations, in transforming and redirecting intelligence and law enforcement agencies, has helped prevent another attack. We have fought over these issues here in Congress, and I for one agree with President Bush that we must, for example, monitor international communication involving suspected terrorists if we are to protect ourselves. Doing so is both necessary and constitutional, and I am glad President Bush stood firm on those principles.

President Bush has also helped protect us here at home by reducing the threat of rogue nations or groups launching a missile attack against the United States . President Bush fielded an operational missile defense system, which will require additional investment and development. But because of his leadership, we have already developed significant anti-ballistic missile capability both on the ground and at sea.

Also looking abroad, President Bush has led us to rethink how we approach foreign aid with a new model of assistance to other countries. He signed Millennium Challenge Account agreements with nearly a dozen African nations and put more emphasis on holding governments that receive our aid accountable for how they treat their people and whether they promote economic growth. This approach actually invites competition, utilizes criteria, and requires progress. And it requires a strong link between our security objectives, accountability, and foreign-assistance funding. Linking these together serves both American and foreign interests better and it took bold leadership to shift into this new way of approaching foreign assistance.

In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush introduced the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. This program focuses on both prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and care. Billions of dollars have already gone to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis that often kill people with AIDS. This program has prevented HIV transmission from mother to child during more than 12 million pregnancies and provided antiretroviral drugs for nearly two million people, up from only 50,000 receiving such drugs when the program began. PEPFAR has helped support care for nearly seven million children and more than 33 million counseling and testing sessions for men, women, and children. This program launched by President Bush, which was reauthorized last year with increased funding, is the largest international health initiative in history dedicated to a single disease.

Shifting the focus to right here at home, even though the downturn of the last year has been severe, it was preceded by a record 52 months of job creation. Productivity in his first term grew at the fastest rate in more than half a century. Before the recent spike, the average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate during President Bush's tenure was the lowest in 60 years. President Bush cut taxes for every American who pays taxes, doubled the child tax credit to help American families, provided marriage penalty relief, and began phasing out the estate tax.

The roots of the current financial crisis extend before President Bush took office and his warnings went unheeded. In April 2001, just three months in office, he warned that financial trouble at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could have strong repercussions in financial markets. In May 2002, he called for disclosure and corporate governance principles to be applied to those agencies. In February 2003, the Bush administration warned that unexpected problems at Fannie and Freddie could immediately spread beyond the housing market. Seven months later, the Treasury Secretary called for prudent minimum capital adequacy requirements for Fannie and Freddie. In February 2004, President Bush called for stronger regulation of Fannie and Freddie because of their low levels of required capital, that is, sub-prime mortgages. Warnings continued month after month, year after year. The notion that the Bush administration sat by while the problem developed or, worse yet, fought increased regulation is simply a lie.

President Bush campaigned on education reform, having the courage to speak of what he called the bigotry of low expectations . He delivered education reform with the No Child Left Behind Act, and I can tell you what a difference it has made. One example is Dee Elementary School in Ogden , Utah . Nearly every student in that school is economically disadvantaged, more than 80 percent are minorities, more than 44 percent are learning the English language, and 10 percent are homeless. Those are challenging demographics no matter where they are found. At the beginning of the 2003-04 school year, only 13 percent of Dee Elementary third-graders were reading at grade level. In just five years, after Dee Elementary was chosen to participate in the Reading First program, that figure quadrupled to 52 percent. The school jumped from only the ninth percentile in fifth grade reading to the forty-third percentile. And I am so proud to say that Dee Elementary has now met Adequate Yearly Progress standards for three consecutive years. Lives are changed, hopes are kindled, and futures are brighter as a result.

Empowering teachers to help students meet higher expectations works, and that has become federal educational policy under President Bush. The educational achievement gap between white and minority students narrowed and both fourth and eighth graders achieved their highest reading and math scores on record. I am hopeful that the new president's Secretary of Education will recognize and build on the reform-oriented approach of the Bush administration through supporting policies such as charter schools and school choice.

President Bush campaigned on Medicare reform, and he delivered with the Medicare Modernization Act, the most significant reform of the Medicare program since it was created in 1965. As a result of this law, 40 million Americans have better access to prescriptions and have choices in their health coverage. It also provided for Health Savings Accounts, which President Bush insisted not be limited solely to Medicare beneficiaries. These accounts are portable and give people more choices and more ways to improve their lives. I served on the House-Senate conference committee on this legislation and attribute its success to President Bush's leadership.

President Bush has challenged all Americans, and his own party, to change the way we address real human needs in this country. This includes increasing the impact of nonprofit organizations, ending discrimination against faith-based groups that can provide services, and promoting volunteerism. As a result, chronic homelessness has dropped by nearly 30 percent in just the last few years.

President Bush also advanced a culture of life. Our Declaration of Independence recognizes that we are endowed by our Creator with an inalienable right to life. That is a foundational principle. In an interview a year ago, President Bush said that his belief that every human life has dignity has informed his policies and programs. I do not understand where the compassion and commitment comes from for hundreds of programs and billions of dollars to help millions of people without believing that those people's very lives are worth protecting. The conviction that life itself is sacred is the best foundation for liberty and prosperity, for human and civil rights. President Bush shares that conviction and signed into law the ban on the horrific practice of partial birth abortion, which the Supreme Court has upheld. He also signed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.

President Bush also appointed judges who know their proper place in our system of government. Our liberty depends on limited government, and that means government limited by a written Constitution that actually means something. The Constitution cannot limit government if government defines the Constitution. President Bush appointed judges who know that this principle applies to them. This is one of the most important, and most long-lasting, results of President Bush's leadership. Others believe that judges not only apply the law, but make the law they apply. Others believe that judges should decide cases based on where their personal empathy lies, based on the political interests that can be served. Others believe that judges should take sides in a case before those sides even appear in court. That activist, politicized view of judging will destroy our liberty and I am glad that President Bush sided with America 's founders and appointed judges who will interpret and apply the law and leave politics to the people.

President Bush charted a new course for energy security. This is another area which the recent financial crisis can easily obscure, but President Bush's first order of business was producing a major energy plan and task force. That plan became the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It included a proposal I authored called the CLEAR ACT, which provided incentives for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. President Bush's advocacy of plug-in hybrid vehicle technology resulted in passage of the FREEDOM Act, which I drafted along with Senators Barack Obama and Maria Cantwell. And President Bush called for developing our nation's unconventional fuel resources, including oil shale and tar sand. Only the most willful denial or ideological distortion will buy the spin from environmental extremists that President Bush has done nothing to protect the environment or to move us away from our dependence on oil. At the same time, knowing that our current transportation needs depend on oil, President Bush has led the way to doubling domestic oil and gas production on public lands.

I could go on about issue after issue, listing one accomplishment after another, but my remarks today are intended to be more than just a factual recitation. Many others are writing and analyzing the Bush presidency and record from many different perspectives. I ask unanimous consent that an editorial titled “Bush's Achievements” from the January 19 issue of the Weekly Standard be made part of the record following my remarks.

Before I close, I have to say a word about our wonderful and gracious First Lady, Laura Bush. Her strength, dignity, and grace will leave a lasting mark on the role of First Lady. She was a kind, steady presence, advocating for causes in her own right as the President led the nation in his. And in times of great tragedy, she was the voice and personification of comfort and kindness. She confidently balanced the public and private aspects of life and family. Like her husband, Laura Bush was just what our country needed.

President Bush has been our leader, our chosen leader, for the past eight years. He has been a man of principle, conviction, and action. He has had to tackle challenges, both here and abroad, that are difficult even to describe, let alone comprehend. There have been many successes, and this has been a time of transition, adjustment, and change. President Bush, as is his way, takes a very practical view of his contribution to America . He says he will be remembered as someone who dealt with tough issues head on, helping our country protect itself, and who was unashamed about spreading certain fundamental values such as liberty. At home, he says, he trusts individual Americans to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. In his last State of the Union Address, President Bush said that our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure, and our union will remain strong if we trust in the ability of free people to make decisions.

Protecting America from outside enemies and strengthening America from within. That is a legacy to be proud of, and I am so thankful for President Bush's leadership and courage and I pray for God's richest blessings for him, for First Lady Laura Bush, and their family in whatever lies ahead for them.

Let me close with a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt, whom I know President Bush admires. President Roosevelt said this in Paris in 1910 and it expresses my sentiments about President Bush as his time in office ends."

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

The Future in the hands of our Youth – Scary thought.

2009-01-19T20:41:00.001-08:00

The young people who casted their vote for our current President-Elect are for the most part, very uniformed. They may come from "prestigious universities" and call themselves the elite cream of the crop; yet they do not know very much about local or federal government, how it is run, or even who their elected officials are. I suggest they do research. Most of them vote based on what the biased media tells them or worse off- who their favorite rap artist or reality TV star endorses. Wake up people!

Pretty soon you are going to wake up and be in real control of your life. I am not talking about taking charge of your schedule, having the responsibility of determining what you are going to do on the weekends, or what homework assignment you are going to actually complete and not push off until the last minute. I am talking about being in charge of our country. By this I mean running businesses, educating our children, operating machinery, managing our money, making laws, etc.

If we "youngsters" are going to be in charge of the country, we'd better get in shape and start becoming informed. We need to be educated about issues and what is truly happening around us so that we make political decisions based on knowledge and not emotion. As more people become programmed into the social hip circle and political correctness, it becomes impossible to move forward and see through the fogginess of the propaganda being spewed out by the liberal agenda.

Ken Bennett and Dean Martin Endorse Lisa James for AZ State Party Chairman

2009-01-19T19:27:00.000-08:00

Lisa James is on a roll. Two stalwart conservative Party leaders have endorsed Lisa - SOS in waiting, Ken Bennett and State Treasurer Dean Martin. It does not get much better than that! What is next, Lisa? Governor Jan Brewer? If anyone can pull it off, it is Lisa. You go, girl!

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Matthew Dutile

Gordon C. James Public Relations

602-274-1988 / 480-296-6193

mdutile@gcjpr.com

Lisa James honored to have support of Secretary of State designee Ken Bennett

PHOENIX (January 19, 2009) - Lisa James, candidate for Arizona Republican Party Chairman and elected state committeewoman from Legislative District 8, announced the endorsement of former President of the Senate and Secretary of State designee Ken Bennett.

Mr. Bennett issued the following statement: "Lisa James has proven herself to be a true leader within the Republican Party. She has a record of success mobilizing grassroots, registering voters, recruiting candidates and turning out the vote. I believe Lisa will make an excellent Chairman as she will help unite our party and get us back on the road to victory. I am proud to endorse Lisa James for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.”

"I congratulate President Bennett on being named as Governor Brewer’s choice as Secretary of State”, said James. “I sincerely appreciate his trust and confidence. I have long respected President Bennett's work while in the State Senate and I look forward to working with him as we unite our party and set a course for victory in 2010."

To learn more about Lisa James, her goals for the Arizona Republican Party as Chairman and view what others are saying, please visit the campaign Web site at www.lisaforchairman.com.

###

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Matthew Dutile

Gordon C. James Public Relations

602-274-1988 / 480-296-6193

mdutile@gcjpr.com

State Treasurer Dean Martin joins mounting list of endorsers for Lisa James

PHOENIX (January 19, 2009) - Lisa James, elected state committeewoman from Legislative District 8, announced the endorsement of State Treasurer and Mrs. Dean Martin in her run for Arizona Republican Party Chairman.

The following statement was issued: "As the sponsor of Prop 300 to end taxpayer subsidies for illegals and as strong opponents of amnesty, we endorse Lisa James for Party Chairman. Lisa is committed to helping support our Republican elected officials and our Republican Party platform, rather than taking credit for their work. The Republican Party needs leadership with integrity, dedication to serving others above oneself and the ability to generate resources. Lisa James brings all of these qualities and we ask you to join us in supporting her.”

"I am honored to have the support of State Treasurer and Mrs. Dean Martin,” said James. “Treasurer Martin has been a strong leader in challenging outgoing Governor Janet Napolitano by warning of the looming financial crisis we face in the State. I appreciate his tireless efforts on behalf of all Arizona taxpayers, his support for my candidacy and his desire to unite our Party."

To learn more about Lisa James, her goals for the Arizona Republican Party and view what others are saying, please visit the campaign Web site at www.lisaforchairman.com.

###

More on the Biased US Media

2009-01-10T16:20:00.000-08:00

Most need no additional proof that the US media is biased against Republicans - especially our current President - George W. Bush. That's right, BO does not take the reigns of the presidency until Jan. 20th no matter how many weekly briefings his holds.

I received an email from a great conservative and former ASU professor. There are a few of them still around! The email led me to the The (London) Sunday Times Online site where I found an intriguing article written by Marie Colvin who had been traveling with Iraqi forces in Mosul. The Sunday Times called it "the culmination of one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror."

The article was written back in July 2008 but well worth reading: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4276486.ece

New Year - New Budget Problems

2009-01-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Monday is the first day of the 2009 legislative session. Congratulations to all newly elected state representatives and here is hoping their new session that starts next week will be high on productivity and low on political posturing.

The budget will prove to be difficult, although doable if the Republicans all work together. I expect great things from the new Governor in waiting.

Jan Brewer is showing what many already know about her. She has good instincts, great savvy and sound judgment. Her recent picks for the ninth floor are noteworthy:

Kevin Tyne is a perfect pick for Chief of Staff. He has the experience and the heart it will take to do a good job. He rarely gets frazzled and understands the legislature.
Richard Bark knows policy like the back of his hand. And, he has a great relationship with legislators. As a former House chief of staff and policy wonk, Richard is ready to go.
Brian McNeil comes with the background and experience also needed to hit the ground running. It does not hurt that he has worked with Brewer in the Senate.
Expect powerful leadership and common sense solutions to Arizona problems.

Governor...Do the Right Thing

2008-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Governor Napolitano,

Please don't let us down! Fighting with the legislature and waiting until the last minute to leave...if you decide to go, will only prolong the "billion dollar deficit" pain and make it more difficult for those left behind to come up with a solution to balance the budget. I know you recognize that with your duties comes a huge responsibility and it is in this spirit that I ask you to carefully and thoughtfully consider the consequences of your immediate decisions regarding your apparent appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Be reasonable.

I am sure you are thrilled to have received such a nod from the next President of the United States. So many details go into the preparation of such duties. If you were to be formally asked and then accept the position, timing will be of utmost importance. With your gubernatorial duties here, and preparation for even more pressing duties waiting; the timing of your departure will have a dramatic effect on both Arizona and the rest of the nation.

Be honorable.

With that said, if you are really serious about heading to DC, then start the transition process with the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably possible. Get her up to speed on the budget and other important issues. Yes, she will get help from the legislature. But, you know as well as I do that the executive branch is a different animal. No matter what party holds the governorship, the legislature is at odds at some level. The branches of government take on very distinct roles.

Be wise.

Remember, it is not about politics, it is about real life people. Arizonans are tightening their belts and cautiously planning their futures. Some are jobless, and many that hold employment are not earning enough to make ends meet. Business is bad, except at Walmart. Even so, hope that the future will be brighter remains. The last thing we need is for you to play politics with our lives. Take a lesson from your new future boss. President-Elect Obama learned from a great Republican, President Lincoln, that it is in the best interest of the people to transition with political allies and opponents alike. US Senators McCain and Kyl have promised a speedy confirmation as well. Come on Governor, even the AZ Republic is saying that Jan Brewer is a conservative, but she is not a heartless ego-maniac. She wants what is best for the state, too.

Be decisive.

If you simple do not feel it is good for the state to have another governor at this time...tell President-Elect Obama no, and do it quickly. If you do decide to go, leave in a timely manner so that all will be appropriately prepared for the heavy responsibilities that lay ahead of them, including Sec. of State Jan Brewer.

Mixed emotions.

This is not the best time for you to leave. The budget mess will no doubt be laid at the feet of the Republicans by the media and those that have helped us spend our way here. I am not necessarily in favor of you leaving for that reason. On the other hand, I know you and I believe that you will work diligently to help fix the border problems. No one knows better than you what happens to a state when the federal government refuses to do its job.

Hope is all around these days. So here is hoping that you will put party politics aside and do the right and honorable thing for Arizona.

New Direction: New Opportunity

2008-11-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

It looks like Arizona is heading in a new direction. The current governor will most likely take a new post under the Obama administration sending our Secretary of State, Jan Brewer, to the ninth floor. Jan is more than qualified and with the makeup of and new leadership in both Houses, conservatives will most certainly be able to get a decent budget signed, sealed and delivered.

If they all play their cards right, in 2010 Republicans may have a chance to hold on to the Governor's seat, Secretary of State and both Houses. The real problem will be getting the media to play fair.

Opportunities on the federal level are fewer and farther between. We did not fair so well. Although, it could have been worse...at least there will be some leverage in the Senate. The Republican Senate leadership has their hands full. What will be interesting to watch is how the Democrats do with their new presidential power...patience is a virtue.

2008-10-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Raymond James & Associates

& Ronald J. Caniglia M.D., F.A.C.S.

cordially invites you to attend a special presentation

FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH & WELL BEING

by special guest speaker
Pamela W. Smith M.D., MPH
Owner and Director of the
Center for Healthy Living and Longevity

Imagine living to be 100 years old!

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Please join Dr. Pamela Smith and learn how to prevent and possibly
reverse age-related decline. Learn how to preserve your memory,
mobility and vision to help ensure your later years are quality years.

Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
Herberger Ballroom
6902 East Greenway Parkway
Scottsdale, Arizona

Seats are limited; please RSVP to Pam Swanson at (480) 365-6902
by Friday, November 21st to reserve your seat to this unique event.

As a guest, you will receive complimentary valet parking.
Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

It's About Time

2008-10-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

I learned two things today; Lute Olsen is retiring and Sarah Palin announced her policy on disabled students to the world. To both I say, it's about time!!!

Lute has forced his long time fans to witness the disintegration of a great coach and Tucson icon. To most he was a hero that has disappointed.

Sarah Palin has forced us to wait for her to blossom into the hero we all knew she could be. I have a feeling she will not disappoint.