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.