Obama's Solution to Leaving Debt to Our Kids...

This cartoon says it well. Enjoy.

"We are not Quitters" - A Look at Obama's Address to Congress

I'm sure many of you heard or watched President Obama's address to Congress last night. It was painful for me, since I've never been a fan of listening to the man's speeches. However, I was struck with one thing about his speech - his stories.

This is one story that Obama told last night regarding 8th grader Ty'Sheoma Bethea:

"I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina - a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, 'We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.'"

I must admit, I had conflicting thoughts about this story. On the one hand, the story was touching. I must admit, President Obama has always done well at picking out stories for his speeches. The idea that an 8th grader would write to Congress and the President for help was interesting, touching, and her quote, "We are not quitters," is even inspirational. However, let me tell you about my other thoughts.

One hundred years ago, students didn't write to Congress for help. It's a sign of the times we live in that a student would even think to write to Congress for bailout help for their school. Through the 200+ years that this country has been around, many kids have attended schools in less than perfect conditions. They did not quit. They became doctors and lawyers, congressmen, and even president. Yet the didn't have to ask Congress and the President for help.

I don't mean to make light of this girl's story. However, I have to wonder when we became a nation that always ran to the government for help. Making a change in the world is a wonderful thing…why should government help be needed to do it. I believe this story sadly shows that many of the youth in our country seem to have a huge dependence on the government to help them realize their dreams. This is NOT the American dream. The American dream includes making your own way, following your own dream, and achieving it on your own.

Let's just take a look at Abraham Lincoln, since he appears to be one of Obama's favorites. Look at this man's beginnings. He was born in a log cabin with one room in Kentucky. He had poor parents. His mother died while he was young. Lincoln actually only had about a year of "formal education." He learned what he could from others and from books. Still…he became the 16th president of the United States…and no one "bailed" him out with money from the government.

These bailouts have to go. The youth of this nation must learn to "Never quit" even without help from the government. Greatness is something that comes from within - it has nothing to do with the school building you have, the teachers you have, or the amount of money your school district gets from the government.

I would definitely urge today's youth to never give up. Work towards a future where you can change the world. Just don't expect the government to be the one to help you accomplish this. Over time I've heard too many kids try to blame their school, their neighborhood, or their poverty for where they ended up in life. Life is what you make of it. You choose who you become. Let's stop looking for the government to define our success. Let's get back to the REAL American Dream!

Obama Coddles Muslims and Insults Britain, One of Our Greatest Allies

With all of President Obama's coddling of the Muslims these days, one very small story has gone by almost unnoticed. While he has been making "nicey nice" with Muslim leaders, he decided to send Winston Churchill's bust back to the UK.

The bronze bust of Churchill has been on loan to the United States from the UK for the past eight years. They offered to allow Obama to continue to keep the bust for another four years as a gesture of good will. Obama sent it back.

It appears that Obama doesn't want to have Churchill around. Of course that's not hard to believe with the strong stance Churchill has always taken against Socialism. Here's what Churchill had to say about socialism:

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill

Some British officials are not quite sure how to take this rejection of their offer. It was given to President George W. Bush right after 9/11 as a sign of solidarity and a relationship between the two countries.

Now you have to wonder, will these bonds between the United States and the UK continue to be so strong? Is this a message to the UK that Obama doesn't want anything to do with them? Have we just offended one of our strongest allies?

You definitely have to wonder why Obama would reject such an offer from the UK. He plays the nice card with Muslims, telling them that America wants better relations with them. Meanwhile he insults the British…

What do you think?

Brand New Blog - Parents R Us

Hello readers.

I'd like to take a minute and thank you for reading my blog. I enjoy writing and getting your comments.

I just wanted to take the time to let you all know that I'm starting up a new blog. It's a blog for parents. Whether you are parenting teens, you have a new baby, or you have toddlers, this blog is for you.

We'll be getting this started this week, and I'm looking forward to some exciting topics and great comments from my readers.

If you have any suggestions on topics for the new blog, I'd love to hear them!

The name of the new blog is Parents R Us. So, later this week give it a visit. I think you'll enjoy it!

As Blago Turns - The Soap Opera of Illinios Politics

Usually I have some kind of serious and heavy topic on here, but it's Friday and I thought everyone could use a laugh.

Here's a look at some of the top cartoons surrounding the Blagojevich scandal, or soap opera, as I like to call it. Enjoy...have a great laugh...and realize how stupid some of the politicians really are.

"And a Little Child Shall Lead Them" - A 12-yr Old on Abortion

Stimulus Cartoon

I found this cartoon after I posted today's blog, but it was so good and went along with my blog so well, I just had to share it with you all. Enjoy.

President Obama Wants to Give You $13

Well, the "stimulus" bill passed. Sadly.

A look at the 1000+ page bill found a lot of spending and very little tax cuts. However, there is good news. If you make less than $75,000 a year, you will get a tax cut. In fact, this year you'll get a tax cut that will average out to about $13 a week. Of course next year in 2010 that tax cut goes down, and you'll only be getting about $7 a week back.

What a tax break! (right) Wondering what that money can get you? Well, I wanted to give you a visual on all that our president is offering you. Below you'll find pictures of what you can get for $13, and things you can get for $7. You'll be shocked at the generosity of Mr. Obama.

For $13 you can get the things in either of these two pictures:

Food items for $13


Non-grocery items for $13


For $7, in 2010 you'll get your choice of these things:


Food items for $7


Non-grocery items for $7

Now don't you feel much better about that stimulus bill???

Happy Valentine's Day President Obama

I just had to share this cartoon with you all for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

"The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World" - Well…We Have a Problem in the USA

More than likely you've heard the quote, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." Well folks, this could be the reason we're in so much trouble these days. Hands don't rock cradles anymore, they kill babies. Perhaps one of our main problems in America today!

Back in 2006, in Haleah, Florida a baby died. In today's world, there's nothing spectacular about that. Babies die by the millions…the world goes on. It's sick! So, you may be wondering, what made this baby make the news?

Well, this baby was actually born in an abortion clinic. The mother was 23 weeks along, and while waiting for the doctor, she actually had the baby. The baby was alive, breathing, a new human in this world. You will be appalled at what happened to this baby.

People in the clinic put the living baby in a biohazard bag, threw it out, and that's where this baby died. However, we probably would not have heard of this travesty had the mother not actually sued the clinic, the staff at the clinic, and the doctor. Believe it or not, the doctor may be under a criminal investigation.

I am horrified at this. To imagine a baby thrown out in a bio hazard bag… Even those on the pro-choice side were horrified. However, I have to wonder, why are those same people not horrified when babies are slaughtered by the thousands every single day? What hypocrisy.

So, is it any wonder our country is such a mess today. Hands no longer rock the cradle any more, they are too busy having abortions. Babies have become nothing more than an "unwanted tumor" to be removed, which is what they are referred to as in abortion clinics.

As a conservative woman, this is an issue near and dear to my heart. Every time I vote, I vote with human life in mind. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, more precious in this world than life.

Today we have a president who believes that it is "above his pay grade" to decide when human life begins. Apparently it's above his IQ as well. Let me set the record straight - life begins at conception! One celled organisms are considered life. Well, when a baby is conceived, it is two cells…so that's a life!

P.S. I know some readers may feel offended at the graphic picture. Good! I want you to be appalled, horrified, stunned. This is what is real folks. Look at it. Let it reach your soul. I hope you feel sick like I did when I first saw it. Remember, this is what our country is doing by the thousands every day!

When Breaking the Law Becomes a Mere "Mistake"

In the past few days, if you've been following the news, you've heard a whole lot about mistakes. Funny, I've heard about criminals breaking the law, but when it comes to Democrats in the past few days, they have only been making mistakes.

Take a look at Timothy Geithner, Tom Daschle, Nancy Killefer, and even Charlie Rangel. They've all made mistakes. Geithner, who has been confirmed as Secretary of the Treasury (shame on you Republicans who allowed this) made a mistake that came out to $34,000 in taxes he didn't pay…or should I say he "Forgot" to pay them.

Then there's Tom Daschle, who ended up withdrawing his name from being Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. He made such a big mistake that he ended up having to pay more than $140,000, which includes interest, to the IRS.

Of course then Nancy Killefer had to withdraw from being the chief performance officer because she made a big mistake and didn't pay the payroll taxes for the help in her home. Then you have Charlie Rangel, he's on the House Ways and means Committee, and he didn't pay his takes either…another mistake?

Funny how these criminal activities have simply been turned into mistakes. If you or I didn't pay our taxes, I doubt we'd get away with calling it a mistake.

Even President Obama himself referred to Tom Daschle's offenses as a mistake, saying: "Tom made a mistake…" Remember, Obama was the one who said during his campaign that he would run the "most ethical administration in history." Interesting how he ends up picking out people who make so many mistakes.

So, I have to wonder…how many more mistakes are we going to see in the next four years?

The New RNC Chairman - Where Will Steel Take Us?

As an avid member of the Republican Party, as always I am concerned about where the party is going. Just a few days ago the party elected a new leader - Michael Steele. This is the very first African American to be chair of the party.

Mike Duncan, who was the previous chairman, had this to say about the party after voting three times with no conclusion: "The winds of changes are blowing at the RNC." He then withdrew his name, and finally after vote number six, Steele came out the winner.

Now I must say, the phrase that Duncan said "the winds of change are blowing" kind of scares me. After all, all we heard about in the last election was about "change" and look where that got us. Obama ran on change and McCain tried to talk about change too.

After the last election, it definitely shows that we need something different in the Republican Party. Perhaps new blood? A new leader? The party has been fractured greatly. One RNC member, Hank Werronen, said "…The party isn't sure where they want to go." That again scares me a bit. We need to have a clear vision of where we are going.

So, now we have a leader. Michael Steele. The question is, does he know where we are going as a party? Where will he take us?

As republicans we've had trouble in the past few years communicating our message. Why? Well, I think that's because we aren't real sure of our message anymore. We keep seeing people in the party who decide to be "Moderate" Republicans. Some seem to have the idea that if the party becomes more moderate that we'll somehow become more popular. Sorry folks…it doesn't work that way.

I believe that Americans are crying for a Republican party that will truly STAND for something. Let's not be "moderates" with no real direction. Instead, we need to define who we are as a party again. Forget trying to be moderate on issues. For years republicans have stood strong on important issues like abortion, gun rights, religion, and more. It's not time to abandon those issues to become "Moderates."

A look at Steele shows an eloquent man. He has the ability to be able to articulate what we stand for as a party. I just hope he doesn't forget what we should be standing for! From his speeches, it sounds like Steele is ready to do something. He's ready to make changes. In fact, he has said "…to those of you who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over."

As long as he's running in the right direction, I don't care if he knocks people over. I just hope he's not making a mad dash for the middle of the road. That's a good place to get run over. Let's stick to the right, to our republican views, to conservatism. Change is good if we have a sense of purpose and direction. However, change for the sake of change never did anyone any good. (Just look at Obama!)