'Screen Time' Harms School Time

New study from New York's Albert Einstein College confirmed that students need to turn off the TV and other media devices and focus on their schoolwork. The study revealed that the greater the weekday media exposure the poorer the academic performance. Among students who abstained from watching television during the week, 50 percent had an excellent school performance in contrast to the 24 percent who had watched a weekly total of four to seven hours of TV. Full Story

Happy days are here again

Arkansas Times Blog 11/28: What would Huey Long say if he could read about the Mike Beebe inaugural? Every man might be a king, but only those with cash will get near the crown. The eventual contribution list should read like a Who?s Who of the 2007 legislative lobbying corps.

For $25,000, platinum sponsors get four tickets to a private reception with the governor; 20 tickets to a reserved table at the ball.

Gold sponsors get two reception tickets for $15,000 plus 15 tickets to reserved seating at the ball (not a table).

For $10,000, the silver sponsors get 10 tickets to reserved seating.

Bronze gets five reserved seats for $5,000.

Patrons get two tickets to the ball (no seats) for $2,000.

The rest of us will be behind the LR mounted patrol on the cold sidewalks, or perhaps herded briefly onto a press platform for a fleeting glimpse of the waltzing swells. Read More

Arkansas students: Not ready for college work

The state Education Department yesterday (11/29/06) released results of a survey of Arkansas college professors on the ability of incoming Arkansas freshmen to do college-level work. Most teachers think freshmen are, at best, only somewhat prepared and opinions of college entrance standards aren't high. Full Story at Arkansas Click to read the full report

Oh Horrors - Bibles for Students!!

When Pinkston Middle School student Tamsan Mora came home with a pocket-sized Gideon Bible ? King James Version, New Testament only ? in her coat, her mother was surprised and a little worried. The school district says they handled the Bibles appropriately, but the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas calls the Bible distribution unconstitutional. Read Article

Then read the excellent editorial by John Anderson in the THE CITIZENS JOURNAL that addesses "the ACLU's jihad" and concludes: "Are you to have me believe that offering Bibles at a school, praying at a school function by a student, reciting the pledge of allegience or having "in God we trust" on our currency is more aggregious than teaching a religion in school?Sounds like a jihad on Christianity to me, the ACLU is not merely "fighting for" the First Amendment to the Constitution, they are more accurately trying to cut Christianity from our society altogether . I guess they don't like the "free exercise clause" part of the First Amendment."

Join Other Citizens and say "Stop The Invasion!"

The Senate just passed it's Hagel-Martinez Amnesty bill (S. 2611) -- what many are calling the "No Illegal Alien Left Behind Act" -- by a final vote of 62-36. If you have been watching the debate then you know thatthis outrageous bill has gotten worse by the hour. Rightdown to the final minutes before the vote, Senators were adding language that further undermines our nation. For example, the bill calls for "consultation" with Mexican authorities before the agreed-upon fence is built!

The bill amounts to the largest "blanket amnesty" bill in the history of our nation?a bill that throws the door open to 60-100 million illegal aliens over the next 20 years! Now is the time for American citizens to rise up and hold our leaders accountable! Click to see how your senator voted.

A group known as GrassFire Org is urging citizens from across the nation to take immediate actionwith us by signing their petition to "Secure Our Borders." Click Now to Read & Sign the petition. As of this posting 496,466 people have signed the petition.

Barbarians Have Taken The Hill

The Brady Bunch is already licking their collective lips in anticipation of the new Congress being seated. Visit the Brady Campaign's website and see the talk of a "momentum shift" in our nation's capital that will "make it hard for the gun lobby to weaken gun laws and creates opportunities for passage of common sense [sic] gun proposals." Indeed, the attack has already begun. Read More

U.S., North Korea Reach No Agreement on Six-Nation Talks

U.S., North Korean and Chinese officials ended a second day of talks in Beijing today without reaching accord on when to restart six-nation negotiations to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis ANYBODY SURPRISED - Sounds Like 1951 al over again! Read Full Story

Who Got What Money From Whom - 2006 AR Cong Races

The 2006 Congressional Races are over and all the incumbants Arkansas congressmen returned to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Center for Responsive Politics at OpenSecrets.Org tries to help the public to learn who may be buying influence in Washington. NOTE: All the numbers below are for the 2005-2006 House election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on Monday, November 13, 2006. Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. Below are the summary of the Totals Raised and Spent as of Oct 18, 2006 by each candidate in the 2006 Arkansas U.S. Congressional Races:

2006 RACE: ARKANSAS DISTRICT 1
Marion Berry (D)* [Net Worth: $1,732,011 to $6,632,000]
Current CommitteeAssignments: Appropriations
Raised: $1,235,865 Spent: $1,087,520 Cash on hand: $320,321
PACs: $608,824 (49%) Sources over $100,000 each: Labor & Agribusiness
Individuals: $614,530 (50%) Candidate: $0 Other: $12,511 (1%)
Mickey Stubby Stumbaugh (R)
Raised: $85,154 Spent: $66,552 Cash on hand: $18,600
PACs: $6,770 (8%) Individuals: $71,996 (85%) Candidate: $0 Other: $6,388 (8%)

2006 RACE: ARKANSAS DISTRICT 2
Vic Snyder (D)* [Net Worth: $403,017 to $1,122,000]
Current CommitteeAssignments: Armed Services & Veterans' Affairs
Raised: $595,783 Spent: $501,448 Cash on hand: $110,795
PACs: $204,264 (34%) Individuals: $381,963 (64%) Candidate: $0 Other: $9,556 (2%)
Andy Joseph Mayberry (R)
Raised: $94,488 Spent: $91,488 Cash on hand: $2,998
PACs: $1,600 (2%) Individuals: $76,439 (81%) Candidate: $15,100 (16%) Other: $1,349 (1%)

2006 RACE: ARKANSAS DISTRICT 3
John Boozman (R)* [Net Worth: $849,013 to $1,911,000]
Current Committee Assignments: International Relations, Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans' Affairs
Raised: $519,846 Spent: $477,476 Cash on hand: $242,217
PACs: $290,660 (56%) Source over $100,000: Labor
Individuals: $222,505 (43%) Candidate: $0 Other: $6,681 (1%)
Woodrow Wilson Anderson (D)
Raised: $338,161 Spent: $196,452 Cash on hand: $141,708
PACs: $6,500 (2%) Individuals: $79,713 (24%) Candidate: $219,278 (65%) Other: $32,670 (10%)

2006 RACE: ARKANSAS DISTRICT 4
Mike Ross (D)* [Net Worth: $709,013 to $1,585,000]
Current Committee Assignments: Energy and Commerce
Raised: $1,156,105 Spent: $992,935 Cash on hand: $644,934
PACs: $679,652 (59%) Individuals: $438,455 (38%) Candidate: $0 Other: $37,998 (3%)
Joe Ross (R) No reports on record for this candidate.
* Incumbent & for AR the winners

Huckabee Gets a 3 on the Gipper Meter

Doug Patton of GOPUSA asks "Is there another Ronald Reagan on the horizon for 2008, a leader who can rally the coalitions that gave Reagan an eight-year mandate?" He proceeds to examine (in alphabetical order) some of the most frequently mentioned Republican presidential candidates. Just for fun, he creates a one-to-ten "Gipper meter." Ten would be a Republican leader of Reagan's experience, stature, vision and charisma.


His result for Mike Huckabee -- The slimmed-down governor of Arkansas shares much of Reagan's vision, as well as his values, but his charisma, experience and stature are lacking. Overall, a three on the meter.
To review his rating for other potential candidates, Read More ...

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Tags: Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, Reagan's vision, Gipper Meter

Two Republicans take a stand against profligate spending

Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) have decided to take a stand against overspending by objecting to the nearly 10,000 earmarks, or member-sponsored pork projects, larded throughout the spending bills Congress is currently considering. Their obstinacy has convinced the leadership of the departing Republican Congress that they probably won't be able to pass spending bills in next month's short lame-duck session. Instead, they are likely to pass a stopgap "continuing resolution," which will continue funding all programs at last year's level until the new Democratic Congress passes its own versions of the funding bills. The decision not to pass earmark-stuffed catchall spending bills could save taxpayers a cool $17 billion. All 10,000 earmarks in the pending bills will expire if they aren't passed by the end of the year. 11/27/06 WSJ Opinion Journal - Read More

African Churches Silent on Africa's First Same-Sex 'Marriage' Law

Nairobi, Kenya - As homosexuals and lesbians in Africa celebrate the legalization of same-sex "marriage" in South Africa, the head of one of the continent's leading church associations, Rev. Mvume Ndadala, general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), said through a personal assistant that the AACC represented a "diversity" of Christians, and it would be inappropriate to give a common perspective on the issue. The remarks are seen as indicating that mainline churches in Africa may be softening their stance on same-sex unions, despite the strong objections by many Christian and traditionalist Africans.

Among those opposing the law was the African Christian Democratic Party, a faith-based political party in South Africa, which accused the ruling African National Congress of pandering for attention from Europe. "The fact that not a single cultural group, religious group, tribe or nation on the African continent agrees with the promotion of homosexuality as a normal lifestyle is a clear proof that the concept of homosexual marriage is foreign to us and should therefore be rejected," party leader Kenneth Meshoe said in an earlier statement. After the vote last week, Meshoe called it "the saddest day in our 12 years of democracy." Read More

Pedophile Party Blames 'Far Right' for Campaign Collapse

(CNSNews.com) - A Dutch political party that failed to qualify to participate in the country's general election Wednesday has blamed harassment from "far right" elements that took issue with its pro-pedophilia platform.

"I think we should take it as warning here in America," said Janice Crouse, senior fellow at Concerned Women for America."Certainly this is coming here and there are people already in America who want to say that children enjoy sex and that children ought to be taught sex by adults." Read More

'All My Children' to Feature Transgender Character

In a story unusual even for a soap opera and believed to be a television first, ABC's "All My Children" this week will introduce a transgender character who is beginning to make the transition from a man into a woman. The character, a flamboyant rock star known as Zarf, kisses the lesbian character Bianca and much drama ensues.

The storyline begins with Thursday's episode of the daytime drama. "All My Children" was looking for something new, and knows its audience is always interested in anything to do with sexuality, said Julie Hanan Carruthers, the show's executive producer. The show was not interested in doing something just to be sensational, she said. GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and some transgenders were brought in as consultants in shaping the character, teaching the producers when it is appropriate to call a character "she" even before surgery. Read Fox News Story 11/26/06

Conservatives Challenged To Reassert Themselves

Conservatives should emphatically reject the advice of the sanctimonious former Missouri Senator John Danforth, who urged Republicans "to disengage themselves from the Christian right." The only Senate victory Republicans had in 2006 was Bob Corker in Tennessee, who was elected because Christian right voters came to the polls to pass the marriage amendment by 81 percent. Pro-family conservatives should reassert the integrity of their principled movement, rejecting all financial temptations to be the Bush Party or the party of Big Business. Conservatives should re-claim their majority in the Republican Party by outnumbering and outsmarting the false prophets of RINO politics. - Phyllis Schlafly Read Complete Comment

A Touching Thanksgiving Tribute

This touching Thanksgiving tribute may Require a tissue!
http://www.sgtstrader.org/msg/2006tdm1.html

Thanksgiving Day, 2006, Presidential Proclamation

As Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for the many ways that our Nation and our people have been blessed.

The Thanksgiving tradition dates back to the earliest days of our society, celebrated in decisive moments in our history and in quiet times around family tables. Nearly four centuries have passed since early settlers gave thanks for their safe arrival and pilgrims enjoyed a harvest feast to thank God for allowing them to survive a harsh winter in the New World. General George Washington observed Thanksgiving during the Revolutionary War, and in his first proclamation after becoming President, he declared November 26, 1789, a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer." During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of proclaiming a day of thanksgiving, reminding a divided Nation of its founding ideals.

At this time of great promise for America, we are grateful for the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and defended by our Armed Forces throughout the generations. Today, many of these courageous men and women are securing our peace in places far from home, and we pay tribute to them and to their families for their service, sacrifice, and strength. We also honor the families of the fallen and lift them up in our prayers.

Our citizens are privileged to live in the world's freest country, where the hope of the American dream is within the reach of every person. Americans share a desire to answer the universal call to serve something greater than ourselves, and we see this spirit every day in the millions of volunteers throughout our country who bring hope and healing to those in need. On this Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the year, let us show our gratitude for the blessings of freedom, family, and faith, and may God continue to bless America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 2006, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship with family, friends, and loved ones to reinforce the ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first. -- GEORGE W. BUSH (President of the United States)

The History of Thanksgiving

The first day of thanks in America was celebrated in Virginia at Cape Henry in 1607, but it was the Pilgrims? three-day feast celebrated in early November of 1621, which we now popularly regard as the ?First Thanksgiving.? The first real Calvinist Thanksgiving to God in the Plymouth Colony was actually celebrated during the summer of 1623 when the colonists declared a Thanksgiving holiday after their crops were saved by much needed rainfall. Read The History

In Case You Missed It - Bush Recommends New RNC Chair

President George W. Bush: "I have just been meeting with the new team that's going to run the Republican National Committee. I am so proud my friend Mel Martinez, senator from Florida, is going to be the honorary chairman. My friend Mike Duncan from Kentucky is going to be the chairman. And Jo Ann Davidson is going to be the co-chairman." Read More RNC Members will vote on these positions in January. What Republican do you beleive should be RNC Chariman?

Lou Dobbs Slams CFR & North American Union

Plans for Integrated North American Community move ahead. Meetings held behind closed doors and not open to the public!

House Republicans Choose Boehner & Blunt

House Republicans picked Rep. John Boehner (R-OH ) to serve as minority leader when Democrats take control of Congress in January. Boehner is currently the No.2 House Republican majority leader. He defeated Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) by 168-27. In a press conference, Boehner said, "We're going to work as a team and we are going to earn our way back into our majority. We need to fight for a smaller, less-costly, and more accountable federal government."

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo) won minority whip for the No. 2 GOP post. Blunt is currently the No. 3 House Republican majority whip and defeated Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) by 137-57.

House Democrates Chose Hoyer & Clyburn

Rep Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) a practical moderate, was elected House majority leader. Hoyer's routed (149 to 86) Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), Nancy Pelosi's handpicked candidate. Arkansas' Democrat Rep. Ross and Snyder voted for Hoyer; Rep Berry voted for Murtha. Pelosi had publicly backed Murtha, a longtime friend whose recorded session with undercover FBI agents, alleged record of earmarking pet projects while vice-chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and comments on recent ethics reform proposals had raised questions among some about his fitness to lead and Pelosi's judgment in supporting him.

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) elected House majority whip. Clyburn was chairman of the House Democratic Caucus prior to being elected majority whip.

Election Basics

An accurate analysis of election results requires getting down to the basics. Too often the mechanics of winning elections are lost in the message. Here is the most basic question: What determines the outcome of an election? The answer is simple: Receiving the majority of votes.

The operative word for any challenger against an incumbent is change. In order for a challenger to beat an incumbent in an election, he must convince the voters that change is needed. The bottom line is that in 2006, the Democrats convinced the majority of voters that change was needed. In contrast, the operative phrase for an incumbent is, "change will make things worse." Republican incumbents failed to convince enough voters that change in leadership is a bad idea.

What contributed to this sense that change in leadership was needed? The persistent whining and character assassination by the liberal media, the appearance of worsening conditions in Iraq and no apparent progress, and the highlighting of corruption in the Republican Party. Republicans can't change the liberal whining, but they can do something about successful leadership and corruption in their ranks.

Here is another basic principle to consider. The majority of people do not vote for a message. They vote for personal security and safety: financial and family. "Life, liberty, and happiness" are more easily pursued in a safe environment. Thus, voters elect those who have gained their confidence to provide better living conditions. Voters reject those who appear to be less competent or who are less familiar to them.

For example, the fact that Republicans can win in Arkansas (John Boozeman, Frank White, Ronald Reagan, Mike Huckabee, Tim Hutchinson, and John P. Hammerschmidt) shows that people are not necessarily voting for a party or for principles. They are voting for candidates they believe will provide competent leadership that will secure their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

From one election cycle to the next, the same electorate vote for candidates from different parties and who have different messages. So, what do all winners have in common? They have won the confidence from the majority of voters. In other words, having the right message does not win the majority of votes. To be sure, the message content of a candidate is important, but it is obviously not preeminent. The promised outcome is preeminent. More specifically, voters must be convinced that a candidate can successfully provide greater safety and security for the voter.

I submit that conservative candidates must design a strategy for the next two years to recapture control of the House and Senate on these principles:
1. Voters vote for safety and security
2. Change is needed
3. Democratic incumbents are a threat to the well being of voters.

Democratic incumbents cannot be trusted.

Democratic incumbents policies have sacrifice safety and security.

4. Voters can have confidence in conservative leadership.

Principled, trustworthy, and competent leaders who lead successfully

Offer policy solutions with predictions of positive results

Offer critiques of Democratic policies highlighting failed results

The bottom line is that conservatives must go beyond their message. They must convince the majority of those who cast their votes that conservative leadership will improve the voters' safety and security.

Meet the House Speaker - Rep. Nancy Pelosi

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the newly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, served for years on the executive committee of the socialist-leaning Progressive Caucus, a bloc of about 60 votes or nearly 30 percent of the minority vote in the lower chamber. Until 1999, the Progressive Caucus website was hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America. Following an expose of the link between the two organizations in WorldNetDaily, the Progressive Caucus established its own website under the auspices of Congress.

The Democratic Socialists of America's chief goal is to work within the Democratic Party and remove the stigma attached to "socialism" in the eyes of most Americans. "The Democratic Party is something the public understands, and association with it takes the edge off. Stressing our Democratic Party work will establish some distance from the radical subculture and help integrate you to the milieu of the young liberals." The goal of the Democratic Socialists of America has never been deeply hidden. Prior to the cleanup of its website in 1999, the DSA included a song list featuring "The Internationale," the worldwide anthem of communism and socialism; the "Red Revolution," and "Are You Sleeping, Bourgeoisie?" In the last several years, the Progressive Caucus has moderated its image for mainstream consumption. Read More

Christians Flee Bethleham

More and more Arab Christians are leaving Bethlehem for fear of being killed by radical Muslims. According to Sami Awad, executive director of the Holy Land Trust,"?Most of the Christians here are either in the process of leaving, planning to leave or thinking of leaving." "Insecurity is deep and getting worse." The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land said Christians could become "extinct" in the area within 60 years. A Christian restaurant owner, Ibrahim Shomali, is selling what he can before he leaves with his wife this month for Flint, Michigan. Read Story ...

The Principles of a Free Society

Limited Government - The rightful functions of government are to guarantee individual liberty, private property, internal order, the provision of national defense, and the administration of justice. When the state exceeds this proper role, it accumulates power and becomes a threat to personal liberty.
Individual Liberty - Individuals possess rights to life, liberty, property, and freedom from the restrictions of arbitrary force. They exercise these rights through the use of their natural free will.
Personal Responsibility - Personal responsibility is central to the idea of a free society and to the concept of self-government. Because each individual is morally responsible for his acts, citizens in a free society have an obligation to educate themselves to further the common good through the political process: this is the proper and necessary function of self-government.
The Rule of Law - Laws, not men, rule a free society. The Constitution of the United States, with its division of powers, is the best arrangement yet devised for empowering government while preventing the concentration of power.
Free Market Economy - Allocating resources by the free play of supply and demand is the single economic system compatible with the requirements of a free society, and also the most productive and efficient supplier of human needs.
Moral Norms - The values, customs, conventions, and norms of the Judeo-Christian tradition inform and guide a free society. Without such ordinances, society induces its decay by embracing a relativism that rejects an objective moral order.
Intercollegiate Studies Institute works to instill an understanding & appreciation for America's founding principles.

Post Election Thoughts

Over the past couple week, many right-of-center college students have felt disappointed. The Republican Party many of them supported has now lost power in both houses of Congress. But is this really a time to be gloomy?

Being a conservative is not about having some kind of power. For, as Lord Action reminded us, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Being a conservative is something different. It is holding on to an idea and keeping that idea alive no matter where the tide of history takes us. As T. S. Eliot told us, "We fight for lost causes because we know that our defeat and dismay may be the preface to our successors' victory, though that victory itself will be temporary; we fight rather to keep something alive than in the expectation it will triumph." With these thoughts in mind, we must continue to educate ourselves on the principles of a free society and do our part to expand this education to others around us. Excerpt from the ISI Director's Dialogue, Nov, 2006 monthly newsletter for Campus Representatives & Faculty Associates High School & College Students May Join for Free the Intercollegiate Studies Institute

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Tags: colleges, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, ISI

Governor Huckabee Defends Gift Registries

Gift registries have been set up to help friends of Arkansas first lady Janet Huckabee choose gifts for the Huckabees' new home as they prepare to leave the governor's mansion. Huckabee leaves office in January after 10 years. The couple purchased a $525,000, 7,000-square-foot home in North Little Rock this year, and friends of the first lady are giving her a housewarming party, Huckabee spokeswoman Alice Stewart said.

Huckabee said the gift registries were put together by his wife's friends for a housewarming party. "Tell me what she can do for somebody in the last month of her tenure when she's not even an elected official and has no power whatsoever," he told reporters. "Is she not entitled to have some friends that have nothing to do with me?"

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Tags: Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, Gift Registry, Janet Huckabee

McConnell & Trent Lott to Lead Senate Republicans

Sen. Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, was elected unanimously to be the Senate minority leader in the new Congress. He'll replace Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who is retiring from the Senate under a self-imposed term limit and is a potential contender for the GOP presidential nomination in two years.

The Republican caucus elected Sen. Trent Lott, of Mississippi, a former whip and majority leader won election to the No. 2 post as GOP Whip by one vote over Sen Lemar Alexander, of Tennessee.

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats elected Sen. Harry Reid, of Nevada, as Majority leader and Richard Durbin, of Illinois, as majority whip.

MSU Settles Lawsuit with Student for Violation of Rights

Springfield, MO, KLOR 10 TV Emily Brooker with assistance from the Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit Oct 30th against Missouri State University, claiming that her First Amendment rights were violated by a class project. The lawsuit claimed Booker's religious rights were violated. A fall 2005 class project, assigned by professor Frank Kauffman, required students to write a letter to the Missouri legislature in support of the rights of homosexuals to adopt. Students were required to sign the letters, which would be forwarded to the General Assembly. Brooker refused to sign the letter. Brooker then was called before the School of Social Work review committee, received a grade of "C" in Kauffman`s class as a result of the incident. She appealed and was eventually granted a grade of "B" in the class.

MSU's president announced the settlement and said Brooker's official student record would be cleared of the Level 3 review. Brooker will be paid $9,000, and MSU will waive academic fees or reimburse Brooker an amount equal to two years of degree work toward a Master of Social Work degree. Brooker will also receive $3,000 per year in living expense for two years of graduate education. MSU also ordered an evaluation of the SMU Social Work program by an external team of reviewers. The instructor, Dr. Kauffman, has stepped down as director of the Master of Social Work program and has been re-assigned non-classroom duties for the remainder of the fall semester.

Pro-Homosexual Democrats To Push Anti-Christian "Hate Crime" Legislation

Nov 14, 2006 - With the Democrats taking control of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives this January, we can expect the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and its pro-homosexual surrogates newly elected to Congress, to begin an aggressive push for passage of a ?hate crimes? bill designed to provide federally protected status to the behavior of homosexuality. This hate crimes bill is likely to be a re-engineered version of the old Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA). The pro-homosexual, anti-Christian Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is another bill that will be revived as part of the homosexual agenda. Read More...

Bad Night For Parents & Unborn Children

Missouri voters decided to approve a stem cell research bill that will result in the legalized killing of human embryos for their stem cells. Amendment 2 was opposed by Missourians Against Human Cloning, but voters rejected the arguments against the killing of embryos. ...Read More...

Marriage Protection Amendments Win In 7 Of 8 States

Voters in Idaho, Wisconsin, Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado, South Dakota and South Carolina have overwhelmingly approved marriage protection amendments to their state constitutions. Arizona voters, however, defeated a marriage amendment. In Arizona 51.4% voted against the amendment; 48.6% voted for it. Read More...

Penalties of Arrogance - Hope in the Future

At least to conservatives, arrogance helped bring the Republicans down. This is a sad reminder of the stark differences in the Republicans who went to Washington in 1994 and the ones who served in 2006. What is even sadder is that many of those who were elected in 1994 became those in 2006 whom the Republicans looked at as out-of-touch, arrogant, and part of the Washington establishment.

Overwhelmingly, respondents feel that new leadership is needed. The message sent by conservatives was clear. Republican officials and leaders had lost their way. The party of reform had become the party of the status quo. The silver lining in all of this is that if we recognize where Republicans failed and make the needed changes, we can come back from these electoral defeats. Republicans must remain reformers. We must reduce the influence and reach of Washington, not embrace it. If we remain servants to the cause, America will not abandon us. Our ideas are strong. Now is the time to embrace those ideas and put leaders in place who will advance them. Full Story by Bobby Eberle

Islamic Extremists Seeking WMD, Diplomat says

Al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremists have sought to obtain chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials for use in terrorist attacks, the Associated Press reported yesterday, citing an anonymous British diplomatic source...Full Story

New Congress, Old Politics

When you win the presidency, you get control of the entire executive branch. You can run the foreign policy of the most powerful country on earth. You can issue executive orders without asking anyone. You can appoint judges and justices who serve for life. When you win control of Congress, you can schedule hearings. You can run the House post office and the page program. You get better offices, and more staff people.

You also get attacked for not having a plan. ...As for a mandate, the Democrats didn't exactly run on a plan for America. ... So what they're likely to do is hold hearings. Lots of them. Hearings are sort of like Congress' version of reality television. ...

But laws are a different matter. Whatever Congressional Democrats want to do on that score requires the president's signature. Democrats obviously don't have the votes to override a presidential veto, so there you are, stuck working with the president. That's what all the mumblings about bipartisanship are about. Read full story by Susan Estrich, Fox News

Retiring RNC Chief Sees Three Lessons

Retiring RNC Chief, Ken Mehlman, said Republicans must now do three things - first, rededicat themselves to their conservative, reform principles. Second, Republicans must try to work where we can on a bipartisan basis with Democrats, while maintaining conservative principles. And finally, Republicans must lose the taint of corruption: "people who serve...at any level are people that ought to be about public policy and public service." [Melman retires at the end of January.]

Dobson: GOP abandoned us

Dr. James Dobson 9/11/06 Colorado Springs: Laura Ingraham said it best. When Congressional Republicans wait until the First of October to begin reaching out to their base, they are destined to lose. That was the GOP s downfall. They consistently ignored the constituency that put them in power until it was late in the game, and then frantically tried to catch up at the last minute. In 2004, conservative voters handed them a 10-seat majority in the Senate and a 29-seat edge in the House. And what did they do with their power? Very little that Values Voters care about.

"Many of my colleagues saw this coming. I said in an interview with U.S. News and World Report shortly after the 2004 elections, "If Republicans in the White House and in Congress squander this opportunity, I believe they will pay a price for it in four years---or maybe in two." Sadly for conservatives, that in large measure explains what happened on Tuesday night. Many of the Values Voters of '04 simply stayed at home this year.

"The unfortunate thing is that Republican leaders still don't appear to get it. Sen. Arlen Spector, R-Pa, said on Wednesday that the election results represented a 'seismic earthquake' and that his party must become 'a lot more progressive and a lot less ideological.' Dick Armey emerged from four years in the wilderness to blame conservative Christians for Tuesday's defeat. They were, he said, 'too involved' with the party. He can't be serious! Someone should tell him that without the support of that specific constituency, John Kerry would be President and the Republicans would have fallen into a black hole in '04. In fact, that is where they are headed if they continue to abandon their pro-moral, pro-family and pro-life base. The big tent will turn into a three-ring circus.

"Republican leaders in Congress during this term apparently never understood, or they forgot, why Ronald Reagan was so loved and why he is considered one of our greatest presidents. If they hope to return to power in '08, they must rediscover the conservative principles that resonated with the majority of Americans in the 1980s -- and still resonate with them today. Failure to do so will be catastrophic. Values Voters are not going to carry the water for the Republican Party if it ignores their deeply held convictions and beliefs.

"To quote Dr. Ken Hutcherson, 'When Republicans act like Democrats they lose, and when Democrats act like Republicans, they win.' And therein lies the lesson of '06."

Unrelenting Attack on the Family

Words by Del Tuckett, Focus on the Family Magazine - The ultimate tradgedy of the securization of our culture is that, in turning our backs on God, we end up shutting our eyes to the ultimate source of truth and reality. The consequences are huge when we consider the ones that relate to the family. The attack has been fierce and nothing less than breathtaking.

In some cases the attacks are obvious: abortion, redefining marriage, child and spousal abuse, cohabitation, easy divorce. Other attacks are not quite so obvious, yet they too, are aimed directly or indirectly at the family: pornography, radical feminism, homosexuality, safe sex messages, feminization of men, masculinization of women and a plethora of laws that undermine the family. The increasingly negative message about marriage are also leading those in their 20s and 30s to abandon matrimony altogether.

Some messages, even carry an "in-your face" hostility toward the family. For example, in the work place, a derogatory word is beginning to be used to refer to workers who have children. They are called breeder (said with a sneer). Read More - "Defending God's Design for the Family" by Del Tackett

Remembering Our Veterans

God has granted us the privledge to live in America with certain inalienable rights.
It is the VETERAN (any person who is serving or has served in the military):
- not the preacher, who has preserved for us the right to freedom of religion.
- not the reporter, who has preserved for us the right to freedom of the press.
- not the poet, who has preserved for us the right to freedom of speech.
- not the campus organizer, who preserved for us the right to freedom to assemble.
- not the lawyer, who haspreserved for us the right to a fair trial.
- not the politician, who has preserved for us the right to vote.
If you enjoy your freedom.......next time you see a veteran.......THANK them

Wal-Mart Contributes 5% Of Online Sales To Homosexual Group

Wal-Mart has agreed to automatically donate 5% of online sales directly to the Washington DC Community Center for Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender People. The cash donation will come from online purchases made at Wal-Mart through the homosexual group's Web site. This move follows Wal-Mart's joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and agreeing to give generous financial help to that organization.

Wal-Mart also gave a generous cash donation to the Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, helping to provide a place where homosexuals can come together to "socialize." Many observers feel it would have been a wise business decision for Wal-Mart to remain neutral in the cultural battle over homosexual marriage. But this was an ideological decision by Wal-Mart - not a business decision. Read More

Bolton Nomination May Be Sunk

Lame-duck U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-RI, said the congressional election confirmed his opposition to U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. Bush named Bolton in a one-year recess appointment that ends in December. Chafee's refusal to join other Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in voting the nomination out of committee appears to effectively dooms Bolton's chance of confirmation. Chafee said, "On Tuesday, the American people sent a clear message of dissatisfaction with the foreign policy approach of the Bush administration. To confirm Mr. Bolton to the position of U.N. ambassador would fly in the face of the clear consensus of the country that a new direction is called for." Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., the committee's presumptive chairman in the next term, said Bolton's nomination is "going nowhere."

President Bush Sends Bolton Nomination To Senate

Nov. 9, 2006 - President Bush sent the nomination of John Bolton to be U.N. Ambassador to the Senate. Ambassador Bolton has been serving as U.N. Ambassador since President Bush made a recess appointment earlier this year. Let's see what Congress does with this one -again!

America is Great - After-Thoughts about the Election

This election has caused me to marvel at our Constitution and our way of government. We have just been through a revolution and yet there was no bloodshed. Some may have been mad, cried, been depressed, got drunk, etc. but no one was killed.

In the Ivory Coast, they are having a revolution over who is going to be in the leadership of that country. Some were not happy with the results of a majority vote so they caused bloodshed, forced people out of their homes, in some places it is unsafe to travel, in some places thugs have taken control, the countryside savaged, people have had their businesses stolen and their money confiscated. History is replete with examples of atrocities which occurred over the change of leadership such as following the French Revolution many people including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded and even in England these things occurred until, under the influence of the evangelist Charles Wesley, they had what was called "a bloodless revolution" because the gospel took hold causing the leadership to change peacefully.

Tuesday our Congressional leadership changed, but our lives and our government are still intact. By Rev. Sheldon Traditional Values Coalition 9/11/06

Words from RNC Chairman

I am well aware how much each and every one of you dedicated yourselves to this cause, and I know that yesterday's results included many disappointments. On behalf of the President and the Party, I thank you.

Our messages of expanding freedom at home and defending freedom abroad persist as the right answers for our nation. Indeed, many of the Democrats who won yesterday embraced our platform and our values. Last night, however, the voters sent a message, and we need to make sure we receive that message loud and clear. We need to recommit ourselves to conservative reform. Our leaders must work to provide bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our country, and demonstrate the highest standards that our Party expects and the nation deserves.

Our party is built on ideas and values that transcend any one election. The principles of Lincoln and Reagan remain alive and well in the policies of our President, and will persist in the face of a loyal Democratic opposition, as they did throughout the Gipper's two terms. We will recruit a new generation of candidates, continue to improve our party's operations, bring new faces and voices into our party, and reengage in the battle for our countrymen's hearts and minds, stronger than ever.

Your commitment is about more than politics. It is about more than Party. It is about our philosophy, our nation, and our future. So please accept the thanks of a grateful President and a grateful party. It's time to regroup. And then let's get back to work.
Ken MehlmanChairman, Republican National Committee 11/8/06

Gays Who Want To Censor Free Speech

by Phyllis Schlafly, November 8, 2006 Same-sex marriage is not the only goal of the gay rights movement. It's becoming clear that another goal is the suppression of Americans' First Amendment right to criticize the gay agenda. The gay lobby tried a broadside attempt to censor criticism by passing a national "hate crimes" law. Fortunately, Congress didn't pass that law, but gay activists are obviously trying to achieve much the same effect through political pressure and intimidation.

Scott Bloch, the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) in the Bush Administration, has been targeted for termination because he removed "sexual orientation" from the list of anti-discrimination laws protecting employment at federal agencies. Bloch discovered that his Clinton-appointed predecessor, Elaine Kaplan, had unilaterally inserted "sexual orientation" in the list without any statutory authorization, so he removed it. The gay lobby retaliated, instigating five investigations against Bloch. After all five cleared him of any wrongdoing, the response by the gay lobby was to initiate a sixth investigation. Reportedly, Bloch has privately been told to resign, twice suggesting that he might be fired if he doesn't. Letters from supporters caused the White House to back off before the election, but it is apparent that the Bush Administration has no stomach for this fight and hopes Bloch will go quietly. ...

Taking their demands for censorship into the courts, the gays have been winning. After the Poway High School near San Diego endorsed the gay project called "Day of Silence," the Ninth Circuit upheld the school in forbidding student Tyler Harper to wear a T-shirt with the words "homosexuality is shameful, Romans 1:27." The dissenting judge pointed out the intolerance of those who claim they want tolerance for minority views. But Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who sided with the school, wrote that Tyler's defenders "still don't get the message." I am getting the message: for Judge Reinhardt, gay rights means intolerance for free speech.
Clinton apologists once defended his scandalous conduct by saying it was "only about sex." It's increasingly clear that the gay ideology is about far more than sex; it assaults our fundamental right to free speech. Read More

Pro-Life - Traditional Values Candidates lose Arkansas State Elections

Democrats candidates supported by a platform that removed the definition of traditional marriage swept the races for State offices. Many of these candidates supported civil unions for gays and allowing gays to be able to adopt children. Expansion of government and increased taxes will most likely continue to stifle growth in Arkansas. Election reform is doubtful. Based on the financial support received by these candidates and their identified areas of special interest, citizens can expect utility rate increases, expansion of control by Little Rock over the State election process, increased control of county property real estate assessments, and the advancement of the Lottery to fund education in Arkansas.

Arkansas now has more ties to the liberal northeast and the westcoast than the rest of Dixie. Although many conservative democrats are also celebrating the return of total Democrat control of State offices, they will eventually awake to the truth that their beloved party has in fact been taken over and changed and exists no more. It has been hijacked by the liberal left. Conservative pro-family democrats will have to decide whether to stick their "head in the sand" and ignore what is going on in their party, compromise their beliefs to be actively involved, or eventually leave their party.

One wonders, where Arkansas is destined when so many of our new state leaders do not publically support traditional family values and Biblical foundational truths?

Dems take U.S. House, gain in Senate

Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in midterm elections and won at least four of the six seats needed to seize the Senate. Wednesday, Democrats had picked up 28 House seats, defeating Republican incumbents in Florida and New Hampshire. The Senate hangs on the outcome of races involving Republican incumbents in Virginia and Montana. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., trailed by a few thousand votes ahead of a possible recount in a tight race against Democrat Jim Webb. And Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., was narrowly trailing Democrat Jim Tester. Read More

Democrat Sweep Elections

Arkansas democrat candidates won all State offices returning Arkansas to the one party representation that existed before the current administration. Republican Governor Huckabee, a popular governor, was term limited and Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller died this year.

Election Today!

Continue to pray for this election. Pray for two very important things, 1) that people vote with a clear mind and that they vote their views and values, and 2) pray that when its time to count the votes, there is no voter fraud, and that all votes are counted fairly and accurately. If you haven't already done so, please go vote today.

Question of the Hour - For Whom do you vote!

Tuesday is election day at your pollng place. You can still vote early on Monday at your County Courthouse. For Whom do you vote? Maybe this will help: Vote for a candidate who:

understands the institution of the family & will work to preserve it.

cares about children and will work to protect them from those who would hurt them or teach them immorality & expose thme to filth.

understands that we are at war with those who seek to destroy us utterly & is determined to defend us from them.

wants to eliminate waste in the federal government & let people keep more of their own money to invest & spend.

beleives liberal judges are undermining this country & need to be reined in.
has read the U.S. Constitution & is determined to protect & defend it.

lives by a strong moral code & is committed to the God of the universe.

Arkansas Voter Guide State & Federal Offices:

Governor - Asa Hutchinson

Lt. Governor - Jim Holt

Attorney General - Gunner Delay

Secretary of State- Jim Lagrone

Treasurer - Chris Morris

U.S. Congress District 1 - Mickey "Stubby" Stumbaugh

U.S. Congress District 2 - Andy Mayberry

U.S. Congress District 3 - John Boozman

U.S. Congress District 4 - Joe Ross

Media, Democrats paint a false picture - Remember 9/11

Letter to Editor, The Baxter Bulletin by Ronnie Young (served in Iraq):
I've been in the military 33 years, and in all those years never met a liberal who thought of anything but themselves. The whiners, nay-sayers and gripers won't serve, never did serve, and never went to Iraq or Afghanistan and think only of the glory days when the western press misrepresented the tactical situation in Vietnam, called for withdrawal without victory and millions in Southeast Asia died as a result of our leaving before the mission was complete. Sound familiar?

If you listen to the media, you would think the economy is terrible, consumer confidence is at an all time low, and the war on terror is a total failure. Fact: 37 straight months of job gains, Dow Jones over 12,000 for first time in history, gas prices below $2 in many areas, consumer confidence is at its peak for 2006. Most important to a solider like me, who loves his country and family, President Bush is taking the "War on Terror" to the terrorists and allowing volunteers like myself to fight the battles overseas, and we are stopping terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

We in the military have seen the real Iraq, see the real threat we face, and it is not the picture painted by a biased media and power-hungry Democrats. Remember the long-term consequences of your vote and forget the short-term discomforts. "We who serve" believe in what we are doing and deserve your support by supporting our president and conservative America. Remember 9/11. It could happen again if we forget.

Ethics Complaint Filed Against Charlie Daniels

Complaint Filed wth the Arkansas Ethics Commission 11/3/06: for full text contaxt the AR Ethics Commission or contact Mary Mann, Campaign ManagerJim Lagrone for Arkansas

In summary: Charlie Daniels is using his position as Secretary of State, and his control over HAVA funds, to deliberately violate Statute 21-8-304 Sec. 3 and Statute 7-1-103. Sec 3. by using the votenaturally.org commercials - which are non-political and paid for with government HAVA funds - to positively influence voters in his favor. These 60 second radio spots have been running statewide through the ARN network for over 10 days and have provided him a distinctly unfair advantage in this race. He should not be able to use his position as Secretary of State, and someone who has access to HAVA funds, to influence the outcome of this election.

Why are we paying for Planned Parenthood?

Jay Alan Sekulow is Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice: In just a little over a week, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments in two cases involving the constitutionality of Congress's ban on partial-birth abortion. We filed briefs in both cases representing members of the House and Senate who sponsored the legislation outlawing this gruesome act that many, including Justices of the Supreme Court, consider to be infanticide.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this case is the fact that the plaintiff, Planned Parenthood, has received in the last two years - that they?ve reported - over $500 million in taxpayer money. America needs to wake up to this disturbing fact! On one hand, Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in America, is funded in large part by our hard-earned tax dollars. This money is allocated from Congress. Then Planned Parenthood turns around and sues Congress for passing a law banning partial-birth abortion. In essence, Congress is taking our money, giving it to Planned Parenthood, who then sues Congress with the aid of the money we?ve already given them. Read More

Governor Mike Huckabee Statement on Vetoing Nick Wilson 1997 bill

Little Rock - Governor Mike Huckabee issued the following statement today: "I was shocked to read the comments supposedly attributed to the Director of DFA that the reason for vetoing the Nick Wilson bill in 1997 was its connection to the budget of the Governor's Mansion. While I realize that Mr. Weiss is a contributor and supporter of the Democrat nominee and is free to support the candidate of his choice, he is not free to rewrite history. That bill was vetoed because of the way it would have set up the program with a process that would lend itself to funneling money to a process not subject to normal procedures. The Wilson bill had stink written all over it, I vetoed it, and Mr. Beebe helped lead the effort to override the veto as a favor to his friends in the Senate and without regard to the reasons for which the bill was vetoed. Beebe was not implicated in any of the scandal of making money off this scam, but to say he didn't help his pals in the Senate get the bill passed including helping override a veto because "pals and politics" were more important than propriety is simply absurd."

How Dare You Not Vote!

Doug Patton addresses an issue on many of our minds. His refreshing words address many peoples concerns. Below is an extract:

Perhaps you are a hard-core conservative who has simply become fed up with the profligate spending and irresponsible border policies of the current Republican leadership. We're hearing a lot of talk about conservative voters -- especially social conservatives -- staying home this election. Most of it is coming from those in the so-called mainstream media, many of whom want to see their heroes on the Left reinstated to what they think are their rightful places of power. They hope that Mark Foley or some other silly, isolated scandal will keep you from going to the polls.

I don't believe everyone should vote. If you are not motivated to inform yourself on the issues, I don't want you even having a voice in who will represent me. But if you are a disgruntled conservative Republican who knows the issues and understands what is at stake in this election, I have one message for you in this crucial mid-term election: don't you dare fail to vote next month!

From taxes to judges, from social policy to national security issues, it matters who is in charge, and Democrats cannot be trusted to do the right thing. Don't get me wrong; many Republicans can't be trusted either, having let us down in several key areas. But at least the GOP grassroots still holds fast to a solid conservative platform, and the constituencies to which the party leaders must appeal have a chance to keep them in check when they are struck with their annual case of Potomac Fever. Democrats, on the other hand, are unapproachable on the issues about which we care so deeply. In fact, many of their policies are so radical that they could get us all killed. Or Read the Full Article

Huckabee: Voters should research campaign ad claims

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Gov. Mike Huckabee urged voters Wednesday to do their own research into negative ads surrounding this year's gubernatorial race, "without having to depend on campaigns firing shots at each other." Within days of the Nov. 7 general election, callers to the Republican governor's monthly radio program asked about disgraced state Sen. Nick Wilson, a Democrat who has been referenced in a conservative group's ads claiming Democrat gubernatorial nominee Mike Beebe didn't do enough to stop Wilson's abuse of power while the two were colleagues in the Legislature. ... There was ample information for voters to read about Wilson. "Don't take my word for it. Don't take either of the two candidates for governor's word on it," Huckabee said. 'The record is there. Do a little research on it."

Kerry Belittles U.S. Troops - Is His Apology Real?

Mark Kilmer posted the following comment on RS REDSTATE about Kerry apology issued today:
Did John Kerry apologize for denigrating our troops? Here is Kerry's statement: "As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop.
I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.
It is clear the Republican Party would rather talk about anything but their failed security policy. I don?t want my verbal slip to be a diversion from the real issues. I will continue to fight for a change of course to provide real security for our country, and a winning strategy for our troops."
The apology is not a sincere one, as he did not admit what he did. He's still in denial.
Here IS A RESONSE FROM THE TROOPS: