Did you know.....

...that Arlen Spector (R-PA) has changed his party affiliation and is now a Democrat? This may not sound newsworthy if you haven't been following what is happening in Congress, but it tips the balance of power in our country completely into the hands of a party who has no respect for life, no respect for the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, no sense of fiscal responsibility, and no hesitation to take our country straight into socialism. They now have a filibusterproof majority.

If you haven't been in the habit of writing your congressman and your senators, now is the time to start. On the side of this page, you'll find a link to "Write to Congress". I hope you'll check it out -- the site it leads to makes contacting them very easy, and even provides suggested wording for your emails regarding various important issues.

More now than ever, we have to prepare for some really tough times ahead.


Here's an article that is not about Arlen Specter but about the financial difficulties our country is in.


M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E

A Dangerous First 100 Days
By Stephen M. Studdert

This week President Barrack Obama marks his first 100 days in office. Never in my experience as a White House advisor or since have I witnessed such a torrid pace of monumental policy change. Cloaked in economic stimulus language, the astonishing breadth and depth of policy transformation and government intervention into the private economy is nothing short of staggering.

(portion of article cut here)

As a nation, with zeal and haste we are building just such a house – one of unwise and unrestrained federal debt – a house with no foundation that ultimately cannot stand.

With our national house being built on sand, more than ever each of us has a duty, to ourselves and to our families, to be informed. We need this economic information – no matter how serious and troubling it may be. And serious and troubling it is! (emphasis mine)

The grinding daily news unceasingly bombards our senses with gloomy information, and for most of us we end up with feelings of distress, worry, and even fear. It makes me not want to read or watch any news reports.

(more cut)

As we follow the Brethren and listen carefully and heed their inspired counsel, we like the Apostle Paul can say “ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair .” (2 Corinthians 4:8).



The rest of the article here

They Knew

Who "they" are, is uncertain, but people in high places who could have prevented panic in the streets of New York when Air Force One and two accompanying fighter jets buzzed Ground Zero and the Statue of Liberty yesterday afternoon, did not.Instead, they cowered under threats of federal sanctions from some unidentified "someone" even higher.

Their lack of courage to do the right thing leaves me incredulous, but here's the frosting on this bitter cake: the president expects to get to the bottom of this ---in two or three weeks. It will take him two or three weeks to find out whose brainchild this imbecilic "mission" was?! It didn't take him that long to push his sinfully huge "stimulus" bill through the congress.

I realize this is probably one of the least important news stories of the day. With each of our freedoms quickly eroding faster than ice cubes in the Sahara, surely there are other issues more noteworthy. But this one broke my heart on a more personal level for the terrified New Yorkers who ran from their workplaces with flashbacks of 9-11 reeling in their heads. How callous, how uncaring, how thoughtless every single person in the chain of command who suggested, approved, allowed, took part in, and remained quiet about this blunder!

More here:
FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic
Threatened Federal Sanctions Against NYPD, Secret Service, FBI & Mayor's Office If Secret Ever Got Out

Neither rain, nor snow...

...kept thousands of Utahns from the Tea Parties in our state. The sleeping giant no longer slumbers.

The noontime Salt Lake Tea Party had about twelve hundred people attending. Provo had more, though I'll wait for the news to suggest a number. There were also Tea Parties in Layton, St. George, Vernal, and a few other Utah towns. Jason Chaffetz and Rob Bishop, U.S. Congressional Representatives from Utah; Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General, and Chris Herrod, Utah House Representative from the 62nd District, were the few political speakers, and each was limited to just three or four minutes. All stayed on task regarding the economy and governmental intrusion and did not use the platform for campaigning. Provo Tea Party organizer David Kirkham, owner of Provo Motor Sports, included citizen speakers and walked through the crowd asking people why they came. Their replies often drew applause and cheers.

Here's what the Deseret News had to say:


By Arthur Raymond

Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 7:36 p.m. MDT

Linda Nelson would do most anything for her children. On Wednesday, that included driving from Lindon to Salt Lake City and braving freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall to join a loud and large tax-day "tea party."

Nelson joined more than 1,200 other Utahns who called for tax relief and reduced federal spending because she is worried that decisions now being made by the federal government will unfairly burden her five children.

"As my kids come out of college, I can't imagine the taxes that they'll be responsible for," Nelson said. Government leaders "are not asking our generation to pay for this. They're going into debt that will take decades to pay off."

Nelson also was bothered by government involvement in private business, citing the forced resignation of General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner as a move that should "never be allowed to happen."

The sign she held over her head at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building — "Debt is the problem, More debt is not the solution" — was popular, eliciting honks and waves from passing cars.

Speeches by Utah Republican congressmen Jason Chaffetz and Rob Bishop and state Attorney General Mark Shurtleff were popular, too, as they roundly criticized the federal stimulus package, financial bailouts and the growing budget deficit as missteps by the Obama administration and members of Congress — sentiments greeted with loud cheers by a crowd Salt Lake City police estimated at 1,200 to 1,500.


More


Salt Lake Tea Party held at noon at the Federal Building.




















Provo Tea Party pictures










Click on this link to read what the Herald had to say about the Tea Parties.

The hours I spent at the Salt Lake City and Provo Tea Parties was time well spent. Since before the election I have been concerned about the direction our country has been heading, and the recent economic and other policy decisions by our current President and Congress have deepened that concern. The scriptures and the Church that I belong to teach us to live providently, and we do not run up massive debt to leave to our children. It is incomprehensible to me that the government has no qualms about conducting its business this way. It isn't a single administration or one party who is at fault, but rather the Federal Government in general. For example, not a single member of Congress read the huge omnibus spending bill which they recently passed. Who among us would vote for something that would impact so many people without reading it?

If we connect the dots, we can't help seeing what is coming if the direction of government doesn't make a sharp turn very soon. Government spending is just the tip of the iceberg. It is a means to an end, the mechanism for completely transforming our country into something which will not come close to what was envisioned by our Founding Fathers and laid securely in place by our Constitution.

I have been sending emails to my elected officials for some time. Attending these Tea Parties was just the next logical step to helping my voice be heard. It was comforting to know that I'm not alone in my concern for our country. I was surrounded by a thousand people at each of these events who feels much like I do, and I know there are thousands more in our neighborhoods. The theme of both of these Tea Parties was the need for each of us to be vigilant and to get actively involved in the political process. I will. Will you?

TEA*, Anyone?

In a day and a half, in hundreds of big cities, small towns, and everywhere in between, coast to coast in the United States of America, civic-minded citizens are gathering in a show of unity possibly not seen in this country in my lifetime.This second round of Tea Parties promises to be substantial despite the lack of interest from the MSM. In their arrogance, the liberal media are likely thinking if they don't acknowledge us, we will go away.

Not I. I am not going away. Rain or snow or sunshine, I will be there for the two Tea Parties I have already commited to on Wednesday, and to as many more as I can possibly attend in the future.

We must continue to hold these peaceful demonstrations until our elected representatives listen to us. Until they understand that unless they do listen to us, it is unlikely they will be re-elected. Until they understand that the level of government spending is not only not acceptable, it is obscene. Until they understand government has no business meddling in the private enterprise of its citizens. Until they remember and keep the Oath of Office to which they swore with God as their witness.

If you haven't already planned to attend a Tea Party, there is still time. Go to http://www.taxdayteaparty.com/ to find one in your area. If you have time, make a poster expressing your feelings about what is happening in our government to take with you. If you don't have time to make a poster, go anyway. Mingle with like-minded citizens and see that you are not alone.

Just go and do it.



*taxed enough already

Easter 2009

In this time of economic and political turmoil, and perhaps difficulties and challenges in our own families, when the world seems topsy-turvy, we surely need an iron rod to hold fast to.

In faith, let us daily turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, through whose mercy and atonement we all have a sure hope for peace in our lives and in the world to come. As we turn in humility and gratitude to pondering what He has done for us, we will be renewed and comforted.

He lives. He loves each one of us and knows us individually. He knows our joys and our sorrows and He will never leave us. That we all may remain anchored in Him is my prayer.

May you have a blessed Easter.

Just when I think I've heard everything...

...the next news item leaves me dumbfounded.

Here's the latest headline that has me shaking my head:

"Obama Looks at Climate Engineering"
Here are the first few paragraphs, and a link to the article. If this doesn't give you pause for thought, you're a better person than I.


From Breitbart.com
Apr 8 10:55 AM US/Eastern
By SETH BORENSTEIN
AP Science Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) - The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air.

John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed. One such extreme option includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays. Holdren said such an experimental measure would only be used as a last resort.

"It's got to be looked at," he said. "We don't have the luxury of taking any approach off the table."

More here

I have to be honest. The first thought that occurred to me was he really does think he's god, doesn't he. And the second thought was, putting our country trillions of dollars into debt and destroying it with a socialist agenda isn't enough for him, now he wants to destroy the whole world by messing with our climate!

This latest gem has caused me to seriously question his mental health.

He did it!

The phone didn't ring by 3:00, and I knew Brody was out of school at 2:30. I tried to call him, but there was no answer. I tried Gayle's cell phone, no answer. The suspense was killing me. Just a few moments later, the phone rang.

"Grandma, I missed it by one word."

Grandma groans. "Oh, Brody, I'm so sorry."

"Just kiddin'. I did it." I could see his impish grin.

Relief! We had spent the past two days, and an hour before school this morning working on the last part of this project.

I'm just so doggone proud of my grandson, I could pop a button.

Today in school, Brody recited the Gettysburg Address and an abbreviated portion of the Declaration of Independence as the final two items to pass off to earn The Great American Challenge from his teacher. Today was the last opportunity he would have. It was do or die.

Before the school year even began last summer, Brody's teacher visited him and each of the rest of her students to get to know them and to present them with the first item of this challenge: before the first day of school, she expected them to memorize all 50 states and their capitals, correctly spelled, in alphabetical order, and be able to locate them on a map. On our road trip to Michigan, we drilled and drilled, and by the time we got home a few weeks later, he was well on the way to knowing them.

The first week of school, his teacher presented the class with the rest of the Challenge. They would have until April 15 to memorize the additional six items and recite to the class:

1) Star Spangled Banner
2) Preamble to the Constitution
3) all 44 Presidents, in order
4) Pledge of Allegiance (written, with 100% spelling and punctuation)
5) Gettysburg Address (up to 8 assists)
6) An abbreviated version of the Declaration of Independence (up to 8 assists)

Brody mentioned to me this morning that Ms. Louw had told the class that only two or three students each year meet the challenge. He only knew of one other classmate that was close, a boy who had already tried twice to pass off the presidents as his last challenge, and today would be his third and last attempt. (Yes, he finally did it too!)

Brody had passed off all but these last two items, and then last week realized with spring break, he would have to memorize and recite them both today, since Monday was the only day their class took time for this project. Between a heavy homework load, and a demanding soccer schedule, Saturday was the first opportunity he had to buckle down to study them. I offered to help. He gratefully accepted. He spent hours reading, reciting, re-reading, and writing. I bribed him with chocolate chip cookies that I promised would nourish his overworked brain. We laughed together. He teased me. I told him more than he wanted to know about the Gettysburg Address and the Declaration. He listened patiently with glassy eyes while other things were probably rolling around in his mind. But he listened. And he worked so hard.

And today, he did it.

Congratulations, Brody! You're my Great American Grandson.

I'm Doing it for Them

I'm doing it for myself too, but ultimately it's our children and grandchildren who will bear the burden that our federal government is strapping onto our backs. Not just the financial burden, but even more importantly, the smothering weight of an oppressive, intrusive government.

I'm not an activist. I could have been. The 60's was the decade of my youth. I watched the world go crazy all around me then -- civil rights demonstrations, war protesters, Kent State, and more -- and had no interest in participating. Live and let live was my philosophy.

But here I am a few years later, ok, many years later, and enough is enough. On March 6, I threw my home made sign into the back of my car and drove to Salt Lake City to take part in a Tea Party (see blog entry below for that date). You know, it really felt right. It was a peaceful gathering, not an angry mob. Well, yes, those who took part are angry, as am I, but one can state his or her opinions in a respectful way.

So on April 15, I'll be ready with a new sign, and will participate in two Tea Parties:

City: Salt Lake City
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Federal Building Plaza, 125 South State Street
Contact: EMAIL
Phone: Phone: 801-814-8963 (Adam)

AND

City: Provo
When: April 15, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Old Utah County Court House, University and Center Streets

There's another in SL that I cannot attend:


City: Salt Lake City
When: April 15, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: US Post Office Salt Lake City, 1795 W 2100 S
Contact: EMAIL
Phone: 801.377.8224 (David)


To find a Tea Party in your area, check this link:

Tax Day Tea Parties

I realize that meeting with a group of like minded people and carrying signs displaying my opinion of the disgraceful lack of integrity of our government is only a very small part of what I can and must do.

As I type this, my 11 year old grandson called to ask me about the judicial branch of government because he had misplaced his pocket Constitution. I've been helping him to earn his All American Challenge at school, memorizing states and their capitals, the presidents in order, the Pledge of Allegiance, The Star Spangled Banner, the Preamble to the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address and an abbreviated version of the Declaration of Independence. Fortunately we live in the most conservative county of the most conservative state in the union, and we are blessed with schools that have not been quite as contaminated with liberal indoctrination as those in other states by the NEA and their state counterparts (please don't let the word get out!) My grandson's teacher places great emphasis on American history, and for that I am most grateful. Last summer when this grandson traveled with my husband and me on vacation, we talked often about the then-upcoming presidential election and the candidates and issues. He knows of my love for our country and as much as is possible for an 11 year old, he knows of the importance of protecting and defending our Constitution. Teaching our children and grandchildren about the origins of our country and helping them to understand their role in maintaining our freedom is probably our most important duty as citzens.

On April 15, I'm participating in two Tea Parties. For my grandchildren. So they will know that we all have a voice in our government, if we choose to express it. And they will know that I am doing my best to protect the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for them.