And he called His name JESUS.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:
After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,"which is translated, "God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV

Merry Christmas. May God continue to bless us all.

I Finally Know Someone Famous!

Growing up I played football with or against some people who made it to an NFL roster... but that's doesn't compare to the pride I now have for one of the fellow graduates from my senior year in high school. No, she's not a noble prize winner, or captain of industry. She didn't make some great discovery or develop a cure for caner. But when I saw her face on FoxNews.com and her name in a story linked by DrudgeReport.... I knew she was the most famous person from the Cardinal's Class of 1997. Now I really wish I went to the reunion!

Monique Taylor and another woman have been charged with sexually assaulting three University of North Carolina football players. Her attorney is claiming she did nothing wrong, and I honestly hope its true. I have the yearbook sitting on my desk but will avoid posting her pictures because she claims innocence.

I always knew someone from our class would be famous!

Slain Soldiers Family Adopts His Dog.

I saw a report about this morning and had to mention it. Even if you are not a dog lover, this is a great story.

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Marine Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee and his German shepherd, Lex, scoured Iraq for roadside bombs together, slept next to each other and even posed in Santa hats for a holiday photo.

When a mortar attack killed the 20-year-old Marine in Fallujah a few months later, Lex, whimpering from his own injuries, had to be pulled away, Lee's father was told.

....

On Wednesday, the Marine Corps finally announced Lex could go home to Lee's family. It is the first time the military has granted a dog early retirement to be adopted by someone other than a former handler.

"We knew that's what Dustin would have wanted out of this," said Jerome Lee, the slain Marine's father. "He knew that we would take care of Lex and love him, just like our own."

Read the whole story here.

It Just Became a Little Harder to Help Homeowners

(Yes, there was too much alliteration in that title)


This week Countrywide, one of the largest lenders in the country, announced their new "soft market" policy. This policy, in effect, will reduce the loan-to-value that borrowers can qualify for by an additional 5% if the home is deemed to be a slowing or declining real estate market.

This isn't subprime I'm talking about. This affects all borrowers, including those with perfect credit, stable W-2 job history, and thousands of dollars in the bank. And it affects owners too, already worrying about a declining value there is one more thing standing in their way.

Why is this important? Homeowner's who are finding things tight and need to refinance have been hit with an additional penalty besides a lower home value than they anticipated. Homeowner's who were looking to buy will have to come up with 5% additional down payment, in many cases hurting a slumping real estate market even further. And if its harder for people to buy, it will be harder for people to sell... and the struggling real estate market just got a bit worse.

Many of these customers are already paying PMI, which insures the lender in case the borrower defaults (but gives no benefit or protection to the borrower). Now, they have to cough up 5% more dough. A couple who was putting 10% down on a $200,000 home now has to come up with an additional $10,000 of down payment. Their $20,000 they saved to put down is about 50% short. And the homeowner who was already selling the home for a loss is now faced with it sitting on the market even longer, or decreasing the price even more.

I don't blame Countrywide for this policy as they have to do what is necessary to protect their interests and investment. They are already losing millions in the agreement they made with the government in freezing many rate increases for five years. But the effect of this policy will be a further declination of the housing market and an additional strain on our economy.

And whether you are buying, refinancing, own a home now, pr plan on buying in the future... this should concern you. As it will be one more hit to the home values in already repressed areas... one more hurdle for customers trying to refinance... one more difficulty for those trying to buy. Everyone, the economy included, takes a loss.

Inspiration.

Jake Keesler lost both of his legs fighting for our country in Iraq. While a trying experience, Jake and his wife Vanessa have fought hard to stay together, adapt together, and grow. And they have.

Jake and Vanessa both are heroes in the truest sense of the word. They both have sacrificed so much for our country, having their lives altered in ways they didn't anticipate or imagine. Instead of being discouraged or placing blame... the exude hope. Instead of dwelling on how much they've lost, they radiate an appreciation for how much they have. Jake has a new lease on life, and is spending his time conquering things many people with two legs can't accomplish. While in the hospital, a friend placed a sticker at Jake's hospital bed that said "Live to Ride, Ride to Live". While Jake hasn't driven a motorcycle since loosing his legs, he isn't giving up hope. And he has already taken on rock-climbing, skiing, and scuba diving.

Click here to watch The Keesler's interview on Glenn Beck's show 5 months ago.

The story touched me and I know it touched countless others, including Bill Hattan, a listener of Beck's radio show. In 2002 a car struck a guard rail at 80 miles per hour while Bill was working in a construction zone. Bill lost both of his legs. A co-worker lost her life.

Like Jake Keesler, Bill Hattan hasn't spent his time feeling sorry for himself or blaming the world. I'm sure there were moments like that, but it hasn't consumed him. Bill Hattan has taken what life has dealt and adapted. Hattan now owns Cool City Customs where he designs and builds custom motorcycles.

On Glen Beck's show tonight, he updated his viewers on this story and talked about Bill Hattan's latest custom motorcycle, and probably his most imporant: the custom bike he and his shop are building for Jake Keesler right now.

Jake Keesler will ride a motorcycle again.


At a time when everything on the news is full of skepticism, political attacks, or lack of personal responsibility, I'm thankful to watch a story that lacks all of the above. The Keesler's like Mr. Hattan have every reason in the world to place blame on others and give up. But they haven't. Instead they are taking what life offers and making the best of it... on the way offering a lesson or two for us all.

Life, Liberty, and Freedom from Rate Increases

Over the past few days Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has been hinting at a plan to freeze "subprime" mortgage rates. This culminated in today's announcement of the plan by President Bush. All I can wonder is where has conservatism gone?

The plan has been agreed upon by Wall Street firms, the administration, and lenders. The plan offers individuals with adjustable rate subprime loans a free, five year interest rate freeze on their mortgage rate, assuming the following circumstances:

1. Borrowers must be current on their subprime mortgage payments
2. The rate freeze will apply to 2/28 and 3/27 arms (two or three year fixed loans) loans taken out between January 1, 2005 and July 30, 2007 that will adjust in 2008 or 2009.
3. The rate freeze will exclude the following:

• borrowers who are delinquent on their payments
• borrowers whose introductory rates have already expired or will expire before January 1, 2008
• borrowers whom mortgage companies determine have sufficient income to pay the higher rates
• mortgages on homes that are not primary residences
  

If President Bush had any conservative credentials left, they are gone now. Never again should the word conservative be uttered in a sentence with President George W. Bush's name. Many conservatives have been arguing that point for years... but never has there been a more clear example than this policy diverging with conservative principals.

Basically, this "plan" will only benefit people who made bad choices or lied. Period. A lender has to consider a borrower's ability to repay a loan. While most people got into adjustable subprime loans looking for a bandaid, intending to refinance or sell before the introductory rate adjusted, they were fully informed of the impending adjustment and had to sign waiver after waiver explaining their understanding. Many borrowers, fearing the potential for higher payments in the future opted for fixed payments from day one with no chance of adjustment. Those borrowers made responsible and honest choices, and for the past year or two have paid higher rates and payment than their adjustable rate counterparts. For their fiscally responsible decision they get nothing, while the adjustable crowd gets a free pass and a continued lower rate for 5 more years.

And what about the people who refinanced this past year, hoping to avoid their payment adjustment? They paid for new appraisals, application fees and other closing costs while other customers who didn't act responsibly now get a Christmas gift from Uncle Sam.

And what about the people whose rates adjusted this month instead of next? They get nothing, even though the people whose payments are scheduled to adjust just 25 days from now get a free five year rate freeze. Is this fair?

And lets not forget about people who mortgage lenders determine have enough wealth to make their higher payments. Their payments will adjust like they are were supposed to, or they can spend the money to refinance. The cost for taking a loan they could afford and being fiscally responsible? Higher rates or greater out of pocket expenses.

So if you weren't responsible or downright lied on your application you get a free pass and five years of extra savings... while the rest of us who have worked hard for every payment we make and considered the ramifications of our financial decisions get nothing but a bitter lesson: Don't worry if you lie... don't worry about saving or the future... don't worry about your home or your family... a bulging federal government so eager to remain in power and make you reliant on their welfare will continue to let you suck on their teat. And the rest of you who work hard will continue paying the bills for everyone else.

...

My wife and I bought our new home eleven months ago. We could have opted for a "subprime" adjustable rate mortgage and borrowered 100% of the purchase price. Instead we opted to put much of our savings down so we could obtain a conforming fixed rate loan. We have great credit and worked hard for everything we have, but it would have been much easier the borrower 100% and take a less stringent subprime adjustable loan instead of putting money down and verifying income and employment. Today our government rewards our responsibleness by telling us we made the wrong choice. Had we borrowed more and invested less in the home, we would have received a freeze on our interest rate for an extra 4 years. Had we done that, we would have more savings today and a lower mortgage payment. So much for being responsible.

...

I have been both a subprime and prime borrower as well as a subprime and prime loan originator. I have the unique experience of having been on both sides of the table and spent my entire adult career in the mortgage business. This is wrong on so many levels. All of what has been going on and most of the media reports this year have been wrong on so many levels. The industry agreed to act out of fear of additional increased regulation and an overbearing government. The government chose to act out of a lack of knowledge of the industry and a pandering for political gain. Three of the states most affected by the current mortgage crisis are California, Nevada, and Florida. Two of those three states have high electoral college votes and very important primaries. Do you think that is a coincidence?

...

If the federal government isn't going to stop playing politics with industry, free markets be damned, then capitalism is dead. Without capitalism, democracy will wither on the vine. What then will fill the void?

A Lesson from High School

In high school, whenever anyone showed even a hint of the sniffles, my football coach would stop practice and tell everyone to take Alka Seltzer Cold Plus when we got home. From October until seasons' end, I heard him preach this medicine as much as "playing until the whistle blows" and the few choices of profanity he tossed our way. Stay low on your blocks, hit hard, and take that darn Alka Seltzer Cold Plus when you get home!

Its funny. Most people talk of learning team work or never giving up when they remember the sports they played years ago. Not me. Other than memories of a sore back and the State Championship that almost was, I remember the chalky taste of those fizzy little tablets that make me cringe like a shot of cheap tequila.

Since Friday I've had the sniffles and a sore throat. It morphed over the weekend as I had obligations to fulfill, and by Monday afternoon I was downright sick. And while I remembered early about my old coach's mantra... we didn't have any at the house, and I lied to myself about its necessity. Luckily my wife knows better and yesterday she purchased a pharmacy full of medicine for me, including trusty Alka Seltzer cold plus.

It might have run its course anyway... who knows, but 24 hours later I'm doing remarkably better. Now I've got some work, some chores, some correspondence, and a blog to catch up on. And a promise... we shall never run out of Alka Seltzer Cold Plus again.

Fred Thompson on Iran & NIE

The final paragraphs are below. Read the whole thing here.

The Iranians are hoping we will be foolish enough to forget about their history of deception and the military origin of their ongoing enrichment work. They want us instead to give them the benefit of the doubt from here on out. It would be foolhardy to permit Iran to acquire the capability to enrich uranium on any scale.

Our challenge is to not overreact to any intelligence report, whether it is good or bad. Intelligence is a difficult business at best, and our intelligence community still has a lot of improving to do. Still, the best the NIE tells us that the Iranians made a tactical decision to suspend their program, but we still don’t know if they made a strategic one to abandon it. We need to ascertain Tehran’s ambitions and intentions—that is the key. In the meantime, If we believe that international pressure and scrutiny have been effective, then now is the time to increase it. We must convince the Iranians to abandon their fuel cycle/uranium enrichment efforts, since fissile material appears to be the only ingredient the regime lacks to make a bomb.

The bottom line is that the U.S. must lead. And American leadership requires a Commander in Chief who understands intelligence, foreign policy, and national security, and has experience in all of these areas. The President must reassure our friends and allies in the region, and around the world, that the U.S. will not act precipitously, and at the same time, we will not back away from ensuring Iran lives up to its international commitments and meets international demands in order to preserve peace and stability. At the end of the day, we must hope and work for the best, but plan and ready ourselves for the worst.

Tortoise or the Hare?

According to the most recent Rasmussen Reports' survey, Mike Huckabee is surging in the polls and is now within just a few points of the top spot nationwide. Only time will tell if the surge in support for Governor Huckabee is sustainable. I have my doubts.

I was enamored with Governor Huckabee early on, and he's still one or two at the top of my list. But the more I listen to him speak the more I find myself with doubt. While his Christian conservative values are undeniable, his conservative values as a whole are somewhat questionable. On illegal immigration, health care, mortgage reform and the broad ideal of limited government... Governor Huckabee leaves as many questions as answers. As more people begin to pay attention to the race and Huckabee gains traction, I wonder how many staunch conservatives will leave his side or start to question their support with the same uneasy feeling I have? The gains will probably outweigh the losses, but will there be enough left to win the race?

Its virtually impossible to agree with a candidate 100%. But on core conservative issues such as limited government, and securing our borders... is there enough? Who knows? But the parallels to another Governor from Arkansas are truly striking.

American Feminist Groups? Hello? Are you out there?

I came way of this opinion piece from Tammy Bruce by way of Michelle Malkin's blog. Its definitely worth reading the whole thing. An excerpt is below.

There has been appropriate international outrage over the treatment of Gibbons, from virtually everyone except American “feminists.” Multiple Muslim groups in the U.K. have condemned the sentence. Even the popular little boy in Mrs. Gibbons’ class who suggested the name for the bear came to her defense, explaining that he named the bear after himself.

Yet, when asked by FOX News for a comment about the situation, a National Organization for Women spokeswoman said they were "not putting out a statement or taking a position."

This is how depraved the American left has become. A little Muslim boy in Sudan shows more courage and conviction for a woman under fire than a bunch of women sitting in Washington, D.C., who preen themselves on being the premiere “advocates” for women.

It’s been apparent for years that the American feminist establishment is nothing more than a shill for the shallow leftists in the Democrat party, wrapping themselves in the feminist label for convenience. Groups like NOW and Eleanor Smeal’s Feminist Majority, also amazingly silent in the past five years about Islamic terrorism and violence against women, use women’s issues as nothing more than slogans and chants in their efforts to gain political power.

I suppose it should come as no surprise. NOW & "The Feminist Majority" didn't have anything to say about the Saudi gang-rape victim who received 200 lashes and 6 months in prison for being raped either. Can you imagine, punishing the woman who was raped, and then increasing her punishment because she tried to defend herself in court by appealing the decision? Why should you be a feminist only for American women? Are Arab women not worthy of your support?


By the way: I have not removed our Mohammed Teddy Bear. Just scroll down a bit, he's still here. And Will, I haven't forgotten about you either... I was a bit busy this weekend, but a response is forthcoming.

Welcome Back Don Imus.

Don Imus returned to the radio today after being sacrificed to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton's pimping of the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team this past Apri. I for one am proud to say Welcome Back Imus!

I have no support for what Don Imus said (which he apologized for ad nauseum), and I won't even claim Free Speech, as employers have every right to set bounds on how their employees represent them. HOWEVER, Don Imus was doing exactly what he was paid to do and had done plenty of times before... offer edgy and sometimes tasteless humor which one group or another might very well take offense to. So why did the Rutgers debacle get him fired, when he had not violated any laws, contractual obligations, or anything his employers actually expected him to do? Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and their ilk decided the spotlight could be bright enough to get some additional face time (which equals profits) and decided they could ride the story as long as possible, with no regard to their use and abuse of the Rutgers Women's Basketball team or their very own hypocrisy. Certainly other radio personalities, so-called artists, and even Sharpton and Jackson themselves have publicly said much worse. The difference? Don Imus was a high-profile old white guy who had a television and radio show watched by millions and visited by politicians. It made the perfect opportunity for these two-bit opportunists to gain some attention and revenue. And they took it.

Of course Sharpton and Jackson wouldn't have even been involved had it not been for Media Matters, a George Soros funded MoveOn splinter group that pays people to sit around and watch right of center (or in this case let of center) media personalities hoping they say something offensive. But that doesn't matter. Motives don't matter. Fairness and hypocrisy doesn't matter. Jesse, Al, Media Matters and MoveOn practice the politics of defamation, threats and fear... and sadly people often back down so as not to appear politically incorrect. CBS did. NBC did. And thus Imus got fired.

Well his back. And it couldn't have happened soon enough.

Take to the Streets!

Christians, its time to take to the streets. Someone in the Spokane School District left Christmas off a School District calendar. The included Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Kwanzaa, Human Rights Day and Winter Break... but by oversight or intent, Christmas didn't make the list. Someone must be killed for insulting our Savior.

Oh wait, that's right... WE don't do that . I just hope there are no mis-named teddy bears around.

Don't Call Me Mohammed.

Gassing people, beheadings, blowing up school buses with homicide bombs, and flying planes into buildings to murder innocents is ok, but, call a Teddy Bear Mohammed and you deserve to die.

Once again I'm waiting for the outrage from Moderate Muslims. Hello? Is anyone out there?

If Christians called for murder every time someone blasphemed Jesus Christ, half our country (and very few liberals) would be left. If Christians, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, stormed the streets calling for the murder of someone for blaspheming our Lord, every news media outlet would scour the streets looking for Christian outrage. AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR. We would denounce it immediately, in mass, and try to stop it.

Thankfully we actually are a religion of Peace.

UPDATE December 3, 2007: Ms. Gibbons has been pardoned and freed. Apparently some moderate Muslims did indeed speak out and reason prevailed.

Death, Taxes, and Mrs. Clinton

One more reason why I love reading Peggy Noonan.

Merry Christmas

Conversations yesterday about faith & politics prompted a lengthy discussion, which in part must have led to this post. I couldn't have even attempted to say it better myself, so please read it for yourself (here's an excerpt).

Forget all the political correctness that plagues our society today. Forget all the different political and world views. Forget religion. Yes, that is what I said. Forget religion. Because it's not about having a religion, it's about having a belief, one in God and in Jesus, and walking that faith every day, even when it's hard. Even when life sucks. Because you know what? Your most terrible day here on Earth cannot in anyway compare to the worst day for Jesus. He died on a cross, perhaps one of the most painful and terrible ways to die. And he did it willingly (although not without agony and pleading for mercy) for us so that we could live forever, if only a blip of that time was here on Earth.

Remember the real meaning of Christmas. A Savior was born. Hope was established. Grace was given. All you need to do is just ask for it.

Our celebration of Christmas might 25 days away, but its never too early to remember the purpose behind our celebration and pray for His wisdom and grace to touch us all.

God Bless You & Merry Christmas.

Former Rep. Henry Hyde, Rest in Peace

Somewhat lost in the post-debate controversy surrounding CNN Journalistic Ethics (or lack thereof), is the reporting that Former Illinois Representative Henry Hyde has passed away at 83. May God give comfort and strength to his family and may he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.

CNN/YouTube Debate: Ethics & Plants

When you consider that the Democrats refused to go on FoxNews for a debate because of an accused right-wing bias, you have to wonder what the intellectually-honest on the left will say about the number of leftists and their supporters who got to ask questions without their ties being disclosed. Plants?

This is an election for the President of the United States of America, and thus all Americans should be concerned with the answers and have an equal chance at asking questions. Equal, not greater than. If the questions came from the democratic candidates themselves it would not have been appropriate (but at least we could have assessed their motives), so why is it any different if they are from activists within their camps instead? All I'm asking is for a little disclosure. As a one-time member for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, I had to agree to uphold a code of ethics, the same one that the Society of Professional Journalists subscribes to. Apparently CNN is above all that. You don't have to get past the Preamble of their Code of Ethics to find a number of glaring problems:

... Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.

... Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

... Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

... Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

And of course this one:

Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

CNN? Yeah, right. Luckily we can do the last one for them.

First Impressions: CNN/YouTube Debate

I forgot to DVR the debate tonight, thankfully, CNN replayed it at midnight so I didn't have to watch on the laptop. I anxiously awaited watching the Kerr question from the member of the Clinton Campaign... but it appears CNN edited it out for the replay. I thought the final commercial break was running long, now I know why.

Quick thoughts on each of the candidates and their performances:

Mike Huckabee gives the best sound bytes and always answers with a good cadence. It makes his responses more entertaining, but is there enough substance? His language reminds me a bit of Ross Perot. I like Governor Huckabee, but I wonder if there is a reason I haven't felt completely comfortable jumping in 100%. I keep finding myself uneasy that he is a committed conservative. Scholarships for illegal aliens? I understand Huckabee's principal on the matter... but every dollar spent on an illegal alien going to college is a dollar that could have been spent on a citizen instead. Until all citizens who want to go to college can, illegals should not get a penny of tax dollars.

Fred Thompson and John McCain seemed the most Presidential tonight. Their seriousness and candor seemed to rise above the rest of the candidates a bit and they both don't mind being detailed in their responses, even though the format and time constraints don't really allow it. Thompson stays high on my list and Senator McCain is on the rise.

Giuliani looked pretty good, but some of his responses came off a bit petty. His record in New York certainly gives him credible experience, but it still sounds funny talking about experience as a mayor preparing you for Washington, DC. It doesn't disqualify him and shouldn't be taken lightly... but there must be a substantial bureaucratic difference between the White House and City Hall. I know that, I hope he does.

Mitt Romney seemed like the slick preppie kid who was growing tired of being picked on. Romney doesn't perform overly poorly, but doesn't live up to expectations either.

Duncan Hunter never disappoints conservatives, when he actually gets a chance to answer a question. I like Duncan Hunter and hope he is given ample opportunity to be involved in the next administration.

Tom Tancredo had a better performance than previous debates. His issues haven't changed but he didn't stumble on them nearly as much. Still he is looked at, and even seems to understand himself, that he is a one issue candidate... as serious as illegal immigration is, we have other problems too.

And Ron Paul. Whatever. It was nice to hear him say he won't run as an independent... now I just hope he can get behind the party and help us keep the White House. Even more importantly, I hope he'll get behind the troops until the war is won.

Anderson Cooper's Mea Culpa

Having just returned from viewing a musical with my wife, I haven't seen the CNN/YouTube debate yet... I'll get it in soon. But a quick glance at the post debate coverage leaves me completely unaware of the debate's content, yet fully understanding CNN's mistake in airing a question from a retired Brigadier General Keith Kerr without disclosing his close ties to the Hillary Clinton Campaign. Surprising? Not really... but it seems to have surprised Anderson Cooper, whose acknowledgment and quasi-apology you can see appropriately enough, on YouTube.

Oprah's Latest Favorite Thing.

From books to robes to fuzzy slippers and automobiles, whatever Oprah talks about sells. When Oprah had James Frey on to talk about his book, A Million Little Pieces, it sold millions. When it came out that the latest edition to her book club was a work of fiction, Oprah was devastated. She eventually came out against Frey, but lost some credibility in the process. How could she put her seal of approval on something that was wrong? Why didn't Oprah's powerful show and capable staff research this book and its author before offering their endorsement?

In November 2003, Oprah had Dr. Jan Adams on her show talking about plastic surgery. Her implicit endorsement surely increased Dr. Adams' fame. Who knows if his association with Oprah led him to work on Kanye West's mom... but it did reportedly lead some other patients to seek him out. While other doctors turned Donda West down, Dr. Jan Adams agreed to perform her tummy tuck and breast reduction, cosmetic surgeries that led to her death. A background check on Dr. Jan Adams would have turned up a number of malpractice accusations, DUI charges, a restraining order, and his lack of board certification. But Oprah and her staff failed to do a background check on a man who benefited from her celebrity. Once again an endorsement from Oprah comes into question.

Now Oprah is on the campaign trail for Barack Obama. With a couple poor endorsements in her recent past, you have to wonder how much did Oprah investigate the candidate who she now is campaigning for? Did Oprah look into Barack's past and research his policy positions? Did Oprah consider other alternatives and research the person whose candidacy she has now endorsed? Or is her support of Barack Obama just like her support of James Frey and Dr. Jan Adams... misguided and ill-informed? Like the author and doctor before him, you have to wonder if Barack Obama will also turn out to be a fraud.

After these two glaring failures should Oprah's endorsement of anything, especially a person for high office, be taken seriously? If she can't bother to check into the background of a surgeon she holds in esteem or an author she helps make millions, you have to question how much she knows about the man she hopes will become President.

I for one am not blinded by her celebrity, and I hope no one else is any longer. If she doesn't take the time to research surgeons she promotes who have people's lives in their hands, then how much time has she spent understanding the problems that face average Americans and what Barack Obama will do to fix them? Oprah seems to be a great woman with a big heart, but celebrity does not make her a political advisor or expert. Quite the contrary, her celebrity might just be what blinds her to the truth and is why her latest "Favorite Thing" should not be anyone's other than her's.

If you want to support Barack Obama, fine. But don't take Oprah's word for it.

Do your own research because chances are, Oprah hasn't.

Time Shifted Debate Party

A month or so ago my wife asked me if I would go see My Fair Lady with her. A co-worker gave her tickets and she didn't want to turn them down. Sure, I thought... why not.

WHAT WAS I THINKING???

I wasn't. I didn't bother to look at the calendar or I would have known that the musical was Wednesday, November 28th, the same night as the Republican debate. It is my civic duty to watch the debate... how can I let some musical get in the way? Thanks to DVR and caffeine, I won't have to... I won't miss it, I'll just be late.

This musical better be good!

Sean Taylor

Thank God that a man truly of Christ coaches the Washington Redskins. They will need Coach Gibbs right now. Sean Taylor had made some mistakes in the past, but by all reports was gaining maturity and had learned from past mistakes. Unfortunately his time was up, and he died this morning after being shot in a home invasion the morning before.

Family friend Richard Sharpstein said Taylor's father told him the news around 5:30 a.m.

"His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me," said Sharpstein, Taylor's former lawyer. "It's a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans."

He said Taylor died early Tuesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he had been airlifted after the shooting early Monday.

Doctors had been encouraged late Monday when Taylor squeezed a nurse's hand, according to Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn't sure how he had squeezed the nurse's hand.

"Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something," Sharpstein said.

Sean Taylor was 24. God Bless him, his family, and friends.

Hogan Knows Alimony.

For a brief period of time Hulk Hogan was my idol. Not a politician or a teacher, probably not even a multi-millionaire at the time... just a balding wrestler and seriously bad actor. I watched intently as Hogan went toe to toe with Andre the Giant and faced off against Bobby "The Brain" Heenen and his family. I watched every match, played with the action figures and read anything I could find. When he said "say your prayers and eat your vitamins", I listened. I learned his real name was Terry and that he had once been a chubby kid like me. He was my hero.

I was about eight.

I quit watching wrestling a few years later. I told people it had gotten too fake... but it probably always had been and I just got too old to ignore it. In college I tuned in a time or two because RAW, WCW nitro & the nWo was all the rage. Hulk's trademark yellow shirt was now black and the Real American Hulk Hogan had replaced by Hollywood Hulk Hogan's darker "badguy" persona. Even though I knew it was all an act I still wanted to believe that my childhood hero was a good guy. I couldn't stand anything else. It wasn't fun anymore, my hero had fallen, and I quickly tuned it out.

Then a year or two ago Hulk Hogan again entered my conscience. On Hogan Knows Best you got to see Hulk and his seemingly well-adjusted two kids in their daily life. His relationship with his wife Linda seemed real... and it was possible to once again believe that sometimes good guys do make it in the wrestling business (and show business). Hulk sacrificed his body and time to help his children. And he sacrificed for his wife too... taking dance lessons and playing along with psychics or anything else Linda (or the producers) could throw at him.

Hulk was no longer my hero, but he had regained my respect. He told his kids that he loved them, and watched over his daughter like any other dad. He seemed to work hard at his marriage, and even fought a town council so they could keep their pets. He did everything he could so his children and wife could achieve their dreams... or so it seemed on reality tv.

But just like wrestling, apparently all isn't as it seems. Last week Hulk's wife Linda filed for divorce. And my one-time hero has fallen again.

Keep training, saying your prayers and eating your vitamins, Hulk. Its going to take a lot to write that alimony check.

Thanksgiving from Fred Thompson

From Fred Thompson for President's Thanksgiving post:

Twenty-five years ago this week, in his Thanksgiving Proclamation, Ronald Reagan wrote that America was set apart from other nations in an uncommon way.

He said that it was his belief that ‘a divine plan placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the Earth, who had a special love of faith and freedom.’

... [L]et us also pause to give special thanks and praise to the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families, stationed across the globe. If you are home today with your friends and family, take time to pray for those in uniform, whose sacrifice for our nation is as boundless as our love of the freedoms they fight to protect.

Amen.

Thanks & Hope.

Its easy to forget how blessed I am when things are good. Even though I am thankful, some of the minutia is taken for granted. It shouldn't be... I'm working on it.

When things seem difficult its also easy to have a momentarily lapse and dwell on the negative. But it is at times like this that I quickly snap out of it. Life has proven to me time and time again that I will never be given more than I can handle, and it is always when things become too difficult that I find a blessed way through. Maybe there is a lesson here I haven't fully learned.

Every blessing is a gift, every trial an opportunity. So even though some aspects of life (like my career in the mortgage business) are difficult, I know it will be ok. As life throws a few curve balls, we have the opportunity to change and adapt like the orange fall leaves. For this I am truly thankful.

Thanks for me goes hand in hand with hope. And today, regardless of circumstance, I am full of thanks and hope. Thanks for all of the many blessing I have (an amazing wife, a nice home, a good family, health, a great country, and a God who loves me). I am also thankful for hope, because without hope, all of this wouldn't be possible, nor would what is to come.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5

Today I hope you have many things to be thankful for. And if not, I hope you have hope. "Hope does not disappoint us" and for that we should all be thankful.

Three Badasses, One Candidate

What do a Texas Ranger, a Rocker, and a Wrestler have in common? They all support Mike Huckabee for President. I can't even imagine Chuck Norris, Ted Nugent, Ric Flair and Mike Huckabee all sitting around for a chat... but it sure would be interesting. Who said only liberals have the support of famous celebrities? I'd take Chuck, Ted or Ric over Sean Penn, Tim Robbins or George Clooney anyday.

If you haven't seen it yet, watch the Chuck Norris Approved Ad.

...and don't forget your t-shirt.

A Video Response: Huckabee & The Mortgage Industry

That was my question. Not sure how long the video response has been available, I just noticed it today. I like the video answer much better than the typed one on his blog where the Governor mentioned ending some stated loan programs. The governor is right in the video... the market will correct itself. I hope he has looked into this a little more carefully and understands now that the last thing we need is greater government intervention, on any side. I'm still a bit worried because he didn't say he opposed government restrictions on loan programs, but I am glad to hear his more detailed thoughts on the idea of personal responsibility for both the lender and the borrower.

YouTube Link.

Statistically, Huckabee catches Romney in Iowa

An ABC News / Washington Post poll has Romney and Huckabee virtually tied in Iowa. I guess it takes more than money to buy votes in Iowa. Who knows... maybe citizens of the Hawkeye state are big wrestling fans?

The Second.

If I can afford and am willing to be trained, I should be able to own an M-1 tank and park it in my back yard. I FIRMLY believe that, *AND* I believe the second amendment affords me that right.

Most will say that is an extreme example. I agree, it is extreme. I'll take a few rocket launchers and some semi-automatics instead.

The Second Amendment states:

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Some people try to interpret that to mean that the people can ONLY keep arms if part of a well regulated militia. Some make up their own definition completely, and believe that the right to bear arms only applies to hunters (do you see anything about deer season in the Constitution?). As you can probably guess, I disagree.

A well regulated militia is not possible without the people bearing arms. It is clear to me, the NRA, Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson, Ted Nugent and scores of other people that the intent of the Second Amendment was prohibit the United States government from taking away a citizen's right or ability to defend itself. And the threat is not just from wild animals or unfriendly redcoats... the threat citizens have the right to protect against is clearly the government itself.

And since the government can obtain any form of munition or weapon it sees fit, in order to protect from that very same government, any law-abiding citizen without a criminal record should be able to own and maintain any form of munition or weapon he or she can maintain. You can't limit me to a rifle or 12-gage when the government could show up at my door with Tomahawk Missiles.

The founders did everything in the power to limit the powers of the federal government. And while the individual state was supposed to be the standard bearer, the founders made every effort to give the most power and authority to the people themselves. After just breaking free of an overbearing government, the founders sought to protect future generations of Americans from having to do the same thing. In order to guarantee that, citizens were guaranteed the ability to speak freely, worship independently, and (among other things) to bear arms.

Look at what is happening around the world and its not hard to imagine why it is imperative that a citizen's right to protect itself is not denied. Whether through invasion or some political faction gaining traction, it is possible (no matter how improbable) that one day we could be faced with a systematic destruction of our rights in an America very different from our own. And if that day comes, I not only have the right but the duty to protect and defend my family and my community. The founders guaranteed it.

The problem with the militia argument is human nature. The farther you are from a threat the less amount of time it occupies your thoughts. With that in mind, prolonged peace time almost ensures a weak militia and a people who are ill-equipped to protect themselves. I think the founders had more foresight than that.

The other problem with the militia argument is it doesn't seem to correspond with the rest of the document. Where else in the Bill of Rights is a right enumerated only for a regulated subset of the population? Freedom of speech isn't protected only for the educated and the right to a speedy and public trial isn't only guaranteed to attorneys. So why would the right to bear arms only be guaranteed for a militia?

The Second Amendment protects the right to have a well regulated militia, the rights of citizens to participate in the militia, and the right of citizens to keep and maintain their own arms. I am baffled that there is any debate.

With the Supreme Court taking a case that might very well force a ruling on the Second Amendment, the debate on this very important right might finally be put to rest. I hope so.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to take some hand gun lessons.


Shameless Plug: Second Amendment T-Shirts & Gifts.

Blogroll Addition.

A good read, and new addition to the blogroll.

An Inconvenient Truth About Iraq. I particularly liked the editorial the author linked to in an update: The Clinton-Obama-Bush Doctrine.

Heavyweight Endorsement

Ric Flair is officially in the Huckabee camp. WOOOOOOOO!

RAIN.

Much of the South, North Carolina included, is in the midst of a severe drought. Georgia arguably may have it worse than we do, which is why Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue joined lawmakers, ministers, and others in the capital Tuesday to pray for rain.

Its nice when a politician understands they aren't at the top. And its nice, when expressions of faith are so quickly answered.



We are seeing a constant, heavy drumbeat of rain in the Raleigh area, as is much of the South. And Georgia... they got some rain too. It won't end the drought, but its a start, and we're all thankful for it.

The Invisible Men

For eight years, Barack Obama was a state Senator in Illinois, yet you wouldn't know it based on his records from the time. There are none. Nothing. Nada. Eight years serving the good people of Illinois, and aspiring candidate Barack Obama has maintained not a single record. No notes, no letters, no memos or e-mails. Nothing about legislation he voted for or people whom he helped. Nothing.

Really? I find it hard to believe that someone who wants to be the Commander-in-Chief and the leader of the free world has no records from his tenure in office. Nothing about his accomplishments or legislative agendas for eight years? Maybe there were none.

John Edwards too is responding to calls for notes and records from his time in elected office. Try not to laugh. While I am surprised that there are no records from Obama's state senate career, I will be very surprised if there are any records from Edward's one term as a U.S Senator from the state of North Carolina. As a North Carolinian I can guarantee you there is nothing of prominence in that record. The only person Edwards helped during his one term in the Senate was himself. Oh, and a small collection of barbers and salon owners. It doesn't take many $400 haircuts to make a difference around here.

We're all just sexist and racist anyway.

Over the past 6-8 months, very few days have passed where I haven't commented to someone about the liberals' new plan of vilification, and how they believe it will get them back into the White House. It might be just coincidence that the two front runners are either black or a woman, but it also is politically advantageous to the liberal attack dogs, and something that they are not above exploiting. Don't like something Obama stands for... you're a racist. Ask Hillary hard questions or don't trust her to become Commander-in-Chief... you're sexist.

If you haven't seen it happen yet... just open your eyes and wait.

And if you don't think it will affect the voters, then you don't know too many white males or guilt-driven liberals. This country is so full of apologists, political-correctness, and what some have called "white guilt". Its hard to quantify, but from college campuses, to pop culture, to church bake sales... listen long enough and you'll see it. People are so afraid of being labeled a racist or a sexist that they will go out of their way to prove the contrary. Ever heard the "but some of my best friends are black" defense?

If you think the Democrats aren't counting on people swaying their opinion towards the minority candidate because they don't want to appear to be a bigot... you are fooling yourself. In today's society, appearances really are all that often matters.

Just ask President Bush. When he put forth a solid plan to fix Social Security and privatize accounts for young Americans while leaving plans for upcoming retirees in place... the attack dogs were in full force. The truth didn't matter... people were intimidated and frightened. Bush was going to stop paying Seniors their retirement checks, and if you supported him you wanted to do the same. Of course none of it was true... but that didn't matter.

And look at the debate on illegal immigration. Has a single debate about this real issue regarding our sovereignty and security ever occurred where someone's legitimate opinion about enforcing our borders hasn't been diminished to racism?

There are analysts banking on the same politics of fear and over political correctness for the Presidential election, and it has already started. And even former President Bill Clinton is in on it. Last week, when speaking in Iowa, President Clinton talked about women in politics and the recent election of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and pondered “It’s hard to believe that America is more sexist than Argentina.”

On MSNBC last week, some "expert" was on Chris Matthews' show talking about the gender gap in the support of Hillary. According to her a much larger percentage of women than men support Hillary. Her conclusion, "obviously" sexism explains why she has fewer men supporters. Could there be another cause? Like maybe more women in the survey wanted to support another woman's advancement into a new area and overlooked Hillary's numerous flaws? Could it be that by our very nature men and woman are concerned about different issues and thus the gravitate to different candidates? I think its possible, but the "expert" surely didn't. To her, clearly it was gender discrimination.

And so it begins.

Why can't we choose someone based on their qualifications, experience, values, opinion and character? Until we're all colorblind I guess its inevitable. But its not because of his color that I don't like Barack Obama, and its certainly not because of Hillary's gender. If you want to believe otherwise, so be it. Dismiss me. Dismiss us. All of us conservatives are just sexist, racists anyway.

But remember, I don't like Al Gore either, and he's about as white as they come.

Saying Goodbye.

Last month we had to say goodbye to Maxwell, the Chocolate lab I got when still in Middle School. Maxwell had epilepsy, over the years had gone blind (retinal degeneration), and more recently started suffering from arthritis to the point he could hardly get up on his own.

He was the most loving and gentle soul you could ever meet.

I remember having a party at the house when Maxwell was eleven or twelve. Already old for his breed, and completely blind, Max walked around and greeted everyone who came. When a friend's toddler decided to pull on the hair of this back and walk him around like a show pony, Max happily obliged, even though I know he didn't care for it. When the same boy tried to get on him and take a ride, Max stood firm and kept quiet, seeming to know it was a child who didn't know better and needed special care. He never snapped, never was mean... even up until the end. Many old dogs withdraw and want to be left alone when they get old and weary... but not Maxwell. All he wanted to be close to you. All he needed was a gentle stroking of his coat or a few kind words "good boy Maxwell, that's my buddy."

It was tough losing him, but it was time to say goodbye. When it wasn't hard, but impossible for him to get up, when he began wincing in pain and no longer seemed interested in food or oatmeal cream pies... we knew his time was up.

That was last month.

Yesterday, my wife's childhood cat was also let go. It was Sonny's time. For 17 years everyone loved the “Kitty” and he loved everyone in return. He greeted my wife and her brother everyday after school and lovingly purred in their arms when they returned home from college or adult life. He didn't change much over the years; he was the same orange tabby who was always around the house. And while his movement got a little slower and his body a bit thinner, Sonny was remarkably similar in mind and spirit as he reportedly always had been... up until last week.

Last week Sonny had a stroke and everything changed. Unlike Maxwell who aged over time, Sonny's life changed rather sudden. The always self-sufficient friendly kitty grew old in an instant.

I wonder if he knew Will was about to graduate from Grad School, and Melanie was off married now. I wonder if he knew Peggy needed to spend time taking care of Tim during his recovery.

I wonder is he knew his job was done, and he wanted to let go when Will and Melanie were not around so they could always remember him in the same happy state.

After 17 years of greeting the kids home from school and being the talk around Christmas, it was Sonny's time to move on. It must be hard watching the kids grow up and move out... even for a cat.

As much as I hate that we have had to say goodbye to two pets who have shown unconditional love, I am thankful in how it happened. I find it remarkably divine that my wife got to know and love Max and saw how hard it was at the end. I believe in some small way that process and being there for me helped her to better cope and understand being there for Sonny. What otherwise would have been foreign to Melanie became a matter of fact, and while she still shed her tears and hurt over Sonny's loss, she was strong and confident knowing that the decisions were right.

God uses everything for good, even loss.

But it’s still hard to say goodbye.

Big Phoney

I have always had a distrust of the Clintons. I'd like to think its because I am a good judge of character. My wife will tell you its because I should be a lawyer. I pay attention to every word and nuance... which often leads me to comment to my wife when listening to people whose answers aren't definitive or whose tone and inflections don't match the response. Think I'm exaggerating? Just ask my wife... who constantly steps in to tell me sometimes the answer is just the answer and I don't have to read into everything.

After watching the Clintons for years, its hard not to read into everything. Since before 1992, long before I was really interested in politics, I have had a distrust of Bill and Hillary. Even the most mundane questions posed to them get legalese answers that are left up to interpretation. I'd be surprised if there are more than five occurrences in Bill Clinton's entire presidency where he ever said "Yes" or "No" to anything. Everything with the Clintons is grey. Even the definition of "is". And if you do manage to get them to answer something definitively, and it turns out to not be politically advantageous or suit them at a later date... they'll start more Clinton-speak to talk their way out of it. And if that doesn't work, then they'll just lie.

The populous now knows this about the Clintons. And the Clintons know we know. If only they could control the specific questions asked of them, then they could control the tone and message while limiting the amount of double-talk and non-answers.

And that is exactly what they are doing.

That's what they did recently in Iowa, when the Clinton campaign planted student questions ahead of a public appearance. Why worry about preparing for any number of possible questions you could be asked, if you can just control what will be asked ahead of time? Then maybe your canned response, in response to your canned question, can actually sound like a real answer and not some ethereal doublespeak.

But of course I'm a member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. And I tip my waitresses too.

Always Tip, Always Deliver

Mom told me to always leave a tip. Dad told me to "under promise and over deliver". Seems like both Hillary and Obama could learn lessons from my folks. Always tip your waitress, and never offer to do something if you aren't going to do it. It's simple, really.

[thought: I wonder if this NPR story would have a different tone if covering republicans?]

Andrew Cuomo is a traitor.

I hate it when people throw that word around, its lost so much of its meaning. But in this case, its entirely true.

I've said it before and been accused of yelling it in the office. Now is not the time to try and achieve political gains, especially when you don't know what you are talking about. Any politician who uses the current crisis in the mortgage industry as a way to make a name for themselves or play political leapfrog over rivals is evil. There are good people facing serious hurdles paying their bills. There are hard working Americans, who have never missed a payment, suddenly facing lates on their credit report and the potential for foreclosure. There are countless workers in the mortgage, construction, and real estate industries facing smaller paychecks or unemployment. And these things spread.

Now is not the time to "pile on".

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is coming out with both barrels against Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Washington Mutual, and the mortgage industry in general. And he's doing it with press releases and political maneuvering. You think there was a "credit crunch" going on now? Wait until Fannie, Freddie, WAMU, or some other large national outfit just decides to stop lending. That's what has already happened in the subprime market and with some smaller prime players. Just wait until the big boys in the conforming market follow suit. And you think getting a loan was hard now and foreclosures were bad.... if this kind of thing continues, you haven't seen anything yet.

The always animated Jim Cramer is right to use his platform to go after Cuomo. I saw him do it on tv last night, and he's continuing the drumbeat today. Cramer calls him a communist... I think he's even worse than that.

Politicians in Washington and around the country are coming up with new laws and regulations that will supposedly fix the mortgage industry. They are eliminating variable products, yield spread, stated loans, and other alternatives that helps consumers and their advisors structure a deal to make the purchase of a home a viable option. When the options left aren't attractive or feasible for the consumers out there who are trying to get out of a rental or trying to keep a home... they will have no where to go. Consumer confidence will continue to go down. Ownership rates will continue to go down. Credit scores will continue to go down. Other industries will be affected as people can't afford what they once could, or can't make minimum payments for what they now have. Prices and values will continue to fall. The only things that will increase will be the foreclosure rate and unemployment.

This is serious business, and a serious problem facing our country. While many in the media and elsewhere would rather discuss Rosie O'Donnell's job prospects or whether or not J-Lo is pregnant... our country is on the brink of a recession. And anyone who uses the backs of hardworking Americans facing tough times as a way to catapult into greater political capital is a traitor. Our country and its people come first. Don't sacrifice them and us... don't make the situation worse just because you think your political prospects will become better.

You want to make the situation better? Leave it alone. How many times can I say it... Lender's don't want to foreclose on a home. It is a zero-sum game at best. Changes need to be made, but they need to be made by the people who understand how this works... Washington, North Carolina and other state legislatures, and politicians around the country have proven they don't. The market can't work this out with the threat of lawsuits, increased regulation, and political posturing. The threat of bad debt is bad enough.

Keep meddling around and everyone will take their ball and go home... where do you think that will leave homeowners or the economy?

Thoughts on the Top 5

I've been struggling as of late with just who to support. It is a blessing to have such strong Republican prospects for the nomination... but with such an important election ahead (aren't they all), it is imperative that the decision of who to support isn't taken lightly. If the choice of the other side it Hillary or Obama, I will certainly vote for the Republican nominee, even if I have to hold my nose doing so. But the hope is that I don't have to hold my nose to do it... I'd like to hold my head up high and vote for someone whom I truly believe in. Thus, the decision of whom to support is still largely undecided... and time is running out.

Every time I lean towards Fred Thompson, I come up wanting more. I really, really like Thompson's message and thoughtfulness. We need someone who thinks and isn't just offering humorous quips or vicious one-liners. We need to get away from this entitlement society and strong, overbearing government. Our national government should protect our lives and liberty, but do little else. As much as Fred fits that bill, media reports keep pushing the thought the people are less than inspired after hearing Senator Thompson speak. Fred is right in all that he says... this is a crucial point in our history. In order to overcome this desperate hour, we need someone who is going to inspire us to continued greatness. That is where I fear Thompson falls short.

The obvious choice to fill the inspiration void should be Governor Huckabee. Every time I hear Huckabee I become a little more invigorated and energized. I like how the Governor explains most things and we agree on quite a bit. But every once in a while there is a glimpse of a man who might be disconnected from conservatism. Increased government regulation that prohibits customer choice of mortgage products is not conservative. And let's not even discuss the Governor's somewhat mythical ideas on illegal immigration... he doesn't seem to walk a fine line, but rather jump from one side to the other. That's fine... these are tough issues that require thought and deliberation... but they are also very important issues and I need to know we have some agreement, at least in principal. I think I know where Governor Huckabee is coming from when we disagree.

For me, after these two, there is everyone else. Giulini, McCain, Romney.

I was surprised to see Pat Robertson endorse Giuliani yesterday. I like the Mayor... but on social issues, gun rights, immigration, and so much else... we just don't see eye to eye, and that sentiment is certainly shared by many Conservatives and Christians alike. But does a Pat Robertson endorsement in 2007 really mean that much? Like the late Reverend Falwell, Pat Robertson isn't always treated fairly or honestly by the mainstream media, nor is he the Protestant version of the Pope as some leftists would have you believe. And just because Robertson picks the Mayor doesn't mean all of the other candidates' religious support will fade away. But if security and a nation in crisis is really the focus of the electorate, I wonder if Rudy isn't an appropriate choice?

John McCain is a hero. John McCain is a patriot. John McCain is someone who I would love to see as Vice President or more appropriately Secretary of Defense or State. But as much as I respect him, I don't want him to be President. He has certainly had his trouble with Conservatives and Christians in the past, and still seems to think Conservative Christians are just some far-right group whose support he begrudgingly needs comparable to MoveOn.org for the left. As far as I'm concerned, that's only a few steps away from Rosie O'Donnell comparing Christians to terrorists... and its miles away from the truth. Yes you need the Conservative Christian support to wage a successful Republican bid for the Presidency... but these are the same voices who this country was founded on... I don't think having their support is a necessary evil... its an honor.

Then there's Romney. I was absolutely enraged when the man who campaigned in Massachusetts by distancing himself from Republicans and Reagan decided to invoke his name and legacy so many times during last month's debate. While far from John Kerry, the Bush 2004 campaign showed how to successfully run against a flip-flopper... do we really need to hand the Democrats the winning strategy in 2008?

No More Silence. No More Privacy. No More Huckabee?

I haven’t blogged in quite a while. For the past couple weeks I have been trying to comply with an overbearing government and its knee-jerk political reactions to the growing crisis in the credit and mortgage markets. My brother and I own a small local mortgage broker. At our largest, we had 10 or so employees (ourselves included). Now it is just my brother, father, and myself. We have each been in this business a long time and have seen many ups and downs. Nothing compares to what we currently are experiencing. I blame politics and large brokerage firms 90% for the current crisis. The other 10% goes to speculators who were convinced by some HGTV show that they could make a quick buck flipping houses. But that’s neither here nor there... let’s talk about the past few weeks and why American Elephant has been silent.

To be blunt, business sucks. As a broker, we listen to the needs of our customers and provide them options for mortgage loans offered by various lenders. Since the start of 2007, over 100 lenders have closed, many programs have changed, and various legislative measures have been raised or have already passed. Imagine trying to play a par 5 hole when your choice of clubs keeps changing and the hole keeps moving... and don’t forget the rules, they are amended every other day. Except this isn’t a game, if I don’t sink the ball, one of my customers might have to keep renting, might have higher mortgage payments, or might even lose their house. I take my job and the financial well-being of my customers very seriously. Changes in the industry are not just making my job difficult, they are hurting good, hardworking Americans, a cross section of which are my customers.

As if that doesn’t make things difficult enough, I live and work in a state trying to lead the nation on mortgage reform (more appropriately called “regulation”). North Carolina has been a trailblazer for years in regards to the mortgage industry. We were one of the first states to prohibit prepayment penalties on loans of less than $150,000. We were one of the first states to limit mortgage company fee “junk fees”. We were one of the first states to require background checks and licensing for individual loan officers as well as their employers. All of those regulations I support, but this year things have gone too far. Now the state is in the process of eliminating all broker and lender originated subprime loans, stated loans, adjustable rate loans, yield spread premium (which will cost borrowers more out of pocket), as well as interest-only and other hybrid products. All of these restrictions are on brokers and lenders yet banks are somehow exempt. I guess a 9-5 bank un-licensed loan officer is more likely to help the average consumer who needs some extra assistance with their loan while a licensed mortgage broker, who works longer hours and provides a greater range of products is out to screw everyone? Yeah right. The need for mortgage brokers was created by the void left by banks. We are open longer hours because our customers work for a living. And we don’t turn our nose up at you if you don’t have a $20,000 CD or the perfect job and 2.4 kids... we work with people, sometimes for months or years to help them improve their financial position. We often work nights, weekends, and often at less cost to our consumers. But we are the ones who need to be regulated because the banks decided we have taken too much of their business.

But all of that hasn’t even kept me silent this week. What has kept me silent is the absolute inability to find time to write as I try to comply with my state’s overbearing new regulations on my industry. You see, our small, family-run company received an audit questionnaire earlier in September, and we had just a short amount of time to complete it. Some of the items we had to provide include:

• a spreadsheet detailing personal info, ssn, credit score, loan amount, etc. of every person we have ever spoken with whether currently active, funded, denied, or withdrawn by the customer. EVERYONE.
  
  
• 15 months of bank statements, credit card statements, and a list of all assets
  
  
• tax returns
  
  
• personal details (ssn, etc) of all employees past or present since opening, including their education and license history, phone numbers, and reasons for termination
  
  
• every marketing piece every produced since opening
  
  
• and much more
  
  
• OH. And they pulled my credit, without my consent.
  

And we haven’t done anything wrong. Our attorney didn’t know anything about it. When I called the Powers That Be about our audit I was told that it is a customary random audit that they are giving all mortgage brokers and our number just came up.

Read that. No probable cause, just a random search with apparently no right to privacy for ourselves or our customers. I am to provide phone numbers, socials, credit scores, loan-to-value ratios, and other documentation about you that the government has no legal right to. And I have to provide it in a very small period of time, in an excel spreadsheet, that I am supposed to send them via e-mail.

I can’t even begin to discuss the privacy issues of e-mailing a government agency that kind of data. You hear stories about government hard drives missing and laptops disappearing all the time. If I was that careless with my customers’ data, you can be sure I would be sued... but when its the government... no big deal.

But just forget the privacy hurdles to providing all of that data. Imagine a small 3 person company having to go through all of its paper files and gathering that data on 650+ different people while still trying to manage a business during a down turn. We've changed software, changed locations, and reduced our staff over the past three years. While we keep great paper records in every file... they were in every file and loan files can be huge. Needless to say my wife didn’t see me very much over the past few days.

This is not stuff they told us we would have to provide when we got our license three years ago. In fact, some of the information they are asking for didn’t even have a legal definition until late March... yet that doesn’t stop a government body who wants to enforce regulations retroactively and investigate you without probable cause just because “your number came up”.

I’m disgusted by the whole thing and fail to see the rationale or even constitutional basis for such investigations without cause. And lest you think we have done something wrong to warrant such a search let me tell you clearly the contrary. After 650+ files and at one time 10 employees, we have had only one customer complaint (from a person who decided not to make their mortgage payments). When we refused to lie on their behalf they made a complaint against us that has long since been dismissed as having no standing.

But that doesn’t matter. An overbearing government has to do something to earn its budget... and right now increased restrictions and a witch hunt on mortgage businesses are both popular and politically advantageous.

For the past few weeks my life and my business was put on hold in realization of that very fact.

And now we come to Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee, the support of whom I am currently re-thinking. You see, I submitted a question through Governor Huckabee’s website a few weeks ago. Unbeknownst to me during that past week, Governor Huckabee answered my question. I found it tonight... and then I began to blog.

Click here for the question. I won’t quote the whole thing or the whole answer. Read it for yourself and make your own judgments. This post is already long enough. But please pay attention to the segment of the Governor’s response I will quote below:

My sympathies are not with the billionaire hedge fund managers, but with some of the folks getting foreclosed on. These people qualified for normal mortgages, but their mortgage brokers steered them to these sub-primes with teaser rates because they got bigger commissions. Now credit standards have been tightened, and they no longer qualify for traditional mortgages. I don’t think the government – meaning we the taxpayers -- should bail them out, but I think lenders should be pressured to refinance these loans so that the rates rise more slowly and affordably. Some people did buy houses they knew they couldn’t afford, and I don’t have much sympathy for them.

We need increased regulation of the mortgage industry to get rid of things like ridiculously low teaser rates and stated income loans where borrowers don’t have to prove they’re qualified.

In the above selection and the totality of Governor Huckabee’s response he has shown either a complete misunderstanding of what a mortgage broker does or a brazen attitude about their livelihoods. I take offense to the Governor’s response personally, and I ask him to cite any studies that, weighing all detail (such as job stability, equity, credit score, documentation provided, assets, etc), suggest that there is a large contingent of consumers who have been “steered” into loans below what they actually qualify for. I also object to the notion that mortgage brokers “steer” consumers into sub-prime loans for the purpose of making bigger commissions. Being a broker of both prime and non-prime loans, I can not think of any reasonable occurrence where a borrower could be unwittingly steererd into a subprime loan as opposed to a prime loan so the loan officer could make more commission. Assuming a broker has equal access to prime and subprime lenders, it is easier to make yield spread on a prime loan so why would a broker steer a borrower to a subprime loan if a prime loan was available? Now I can accept that a borrower may get a subprime loan when they could have otherwise received an FHA loan... but that problem is due to the extremely high barrier of entry for a mortgage broker to have FHA access (approximately $10,000 in annual audit fees).

Furthermore, I can’t stress enough how much I object to eliminating “stated” loan products. We live in a time where people change jobs frequently, are more likely to become self-employed, and have more than one source of income. Ending stated loans will seriously diminish self-employed individuals from obtaining homeownership, at least in the short term. Why would someone who supports the FairTax also support eliminating the ability entrepreneurs to own a home? The IRS is already burdensome enough, but ending stated loans will give the IRS even greater effect. Imagine a small business owner just starting out, not claiming legitimate business expenses because their Adjusted Gross Income would decline and thus they couldn’t qualify for their full documentation mortgage loan. That is the exact result you would find in a world without stated loan products.

The Governor concludes by calling for additional regulations on the mortgage industry. Governor, I have just cited for you what my small family business is experiencing in the face of increased mortgage industry regulation. What additional regulation and restriction on my customers ability to choose their mortgage loan would you propose? What additional regulation and restriction on my ability to earn an income would you propose? In what circumstance can you cite where increased government regulation on an industry and a lack of consumer choice has actually worked in favor of consumers? I can think of none.

Ahmadinejad Furor Round-up

I'm still baffled, absolutely baffled by the decision to give this murderous thug a platform anywhere in our country. If ever there was a time and reason to protest, this is it. Here are some posts and reactions from people much more articulate than I.

• Hugh Hewitt: Announcing The 2007-2008 Columbia Distinguished Lecture Series
• Little Green Footballs: Columbia University and Hitler: Then and Now
• Maritime Sentry reposts a Catholic League News Release
• Dean Barnett asks Where's the Left?
• and then I found this post, which I really liked...
  

"How can anybody have a logical argument with the left when they bark stupidity to those who don't believe in anthropogenic global warming, yet give a pass to a guy who doesn't believe the Holocaust ever happened? Oh yeah... you can't. I guess empirical evidence can only back your argument some of the time."

• oh yeah, and Michelle Malkin is still all over it.

Protest Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia

Michelle Malkin has been all over the details of Ahmadinejad's visit for the past couple of days, including details of groups who are organizing protests. If you can make it to the vicinity of the UN or Columbia University, I urge you to participate. There is no good reason that this terrorist should be given a platform in our country.

And you wonder why there is a liberal bias in the media of this country? When the top journalism school in the country refuses to have the ROTC on campus but gives this dictator a podium, there should be no doubt. Newt Gingrinch said on Fox News this morning that the New York Times Editorial Board was also taking the terrorist to lunch. Again, saddening, but not surprising.

Murderous dictators who are on record threatening to destroy Israel and us as supporters of the "Zionist regime" do not deserve a platform to speak. Period.

UPDATE: I watched a video last night of Fred Thompson speaking to supporters in Tennesseee. Fred had this to say about Ahmadinejad's visit:

I know there would be ramifications in the United Nations if the U.S. refused to let Mr. Ahmadinejad into the country. I would deny this character a visa. What’s he going to do, visit there to get pointers for his own activities? I wouldn’t let him in the country.

I couldn't agree more.

On the Amendment (Cornyn Amdt. No. 2934 )

To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.

Please note that the above resolution mentions nothing of support of the administration's Iraq War Policy, or how long the troops should remain and fight. Yet, the following 25 Senators voted against the resolution anyway.

NAY

• Akaka (D-HI)
• Bingaman (D-NM)
• Boxer (D-CA)
• Brown (D-OH)
• Byrd (D-WV)
• Clinton (D-NY)
• Dodd (D-CT)
• Durbin (D-IL)
• Feingold (D-WI)
• Harkin (D-IA)
• Inouye (D-HI)
• Kennedy (D-MA)
• Kerry (D-MA)
• Lautenberg (D-NJ)
• Levin (D-MI)
• Menendez (D-NJ)
• Murray (D-WA)
• Reed (D-RI)
• Reid (D-NV)
• Rockefeller (D-WV)
• Sanders (I-VT)
• Schumer (D-NY)
• Stabenow (D-MI)
• Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Wyden (D-OR)

And another three Senators couldn't be bothered to make the vote, including Barack Obama would somehow made it to another vote 20 minutes or so earlier.

DIDN'T VOTE

• Biden (D-DE)
• Cantwell (D-WA)
• Obama (D-IL)

Thankfully 72 Senators did vote in favor of the resolution, condemning personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces. And I thank them for maintaining some semblance of honor and respect in the Senate.

YAY

• Alexander (R-TN)
• Allard (R-CO)
• Barrasso (R-WY)
• Baucus (D-MT)
• Bayh (D-IN)
• Bennett (R-UT)
• Bond (R-MO)
• Brownback (R-KS)
• Bunning (R-KY)
• Burr (R-NC)
• Cardin (D-MD)
• Carper (D-DE)
• Casey (D-PA)
• Chambliss (R-GA)
• Coburn (R-OK)
• Cochran (R-MS)
• Coleman (R-MN)
• Collins (R-ME)
• Conrad (D-ND)
• Corker (R-TN)
• Cornyn (R-TX)
• Craig (R-ID)
• Crapo (R-ID)
• DeMint (R-SC)
• Dole (R-NC)
• Domenici (R-NM)
• Dorgan (D-ND)
• Ensign (R-NV)
• Enzi (R-WY)
• Feinstein (D-CA)
• Graham (R-SC)
• Grassley (R-IA)
• Gregg (R-NH)
• Hagel (R-NE)
• Hatch (R-UT)
• Hutchison (R-TX)
• Inhofe (R-OK)
• Isakson (R-GA)
• Johnson (D-SD)
• Klobuchar (D-MN)
• Kohl (D-WI)
• Kyl (R-AZ)
• Landrieu (D-LA)
• Leahy (D-VT)
• Lieberman (ID-CT)
• Lincoln (D-AR)
• Lott (R-MS)
• Lugar (R-IN)
• Martinez (R-FL)
• McCain (R-AZ)
• McCaskill (D-MO)
• McConnell (R-KY)
• Mikulski (D-MD)
• Murkowski (R-AK)
• Nelson (D-FL)
• Nelson (D-NE)
• Pryor (D-AR)
• Roberts (R-KS)
• Salazar (D-CO)
• Sessions (R-AL)
• Shelby (R-AL)
• Smith (R-OR)
• Snowe (R-ME)
• Specter (R-PA)
• Stevens (R-AK)
• Sununu (R-NH)
• Tester (D-MT)
• Thune (R-SD)
• Vitter (R-LA)
• Voinovich (R-OH)
• Warner (R-VA)
• Webb (D-VA)

NOTE: I find it especially interesting that John Kerry, who was disgusted that anyone questioned his military credentials and record during the last campaign, wouldn't condemn anyone making personal attacks on General Petraeus and our troops. I find it not surprising at all that every single one of the Democrat presidential candidates in the Senate voted against the amendment or didn't vote... apparently it is more important for them to have the support of MoveOn.org than to support our troops.

Senators, General Petraeus has not betrayed anyone. I'm not sure that the 25+3 of you could honestly say the same thing to our troops.

Alan Keyes: The Most Impressive Speaker I've Ever Heard

I was honored to be in attendance when Alan Keyes spoke at NC State University in Nelson Hall sometime in 2001. Having been fortunate enough to listen to and question countless authors, politicians, a world renowned botanist, and the engineer who almost stopped the Challenger explosion, I don't say that lightly. Lecturer or otherwise, I have never heard a speaker who had a better command of the issues or his own beliefs. Maybe because he wasn't running for anything at the time, or maybe because he doesn't fall into the trap of trying to contour his views to that of his audience... Dr. Keyes was an unashamed Christian, Conservative, and Patriot. I will never forget that evening, and how thankful I was to be in attendance.

Now, he's back. After failing to defeat Barack Obama for an Illinois Senate seat in 2006, Dr. Keyes recently announced his entry into the Presidential race with his first event being the Values Voter Debate this past Monday in Florida.

I like Dr. Keyes, a lot. Read the pledge on his website, and if you are a Conservative Christian, I'm sure you would like him too. The difference with Dr. Keyes and many other politicians is that he means every word of it, and won't downplay that because of who his audience is. Refreshing in light of recent leaders on both sides of the aisle.

But, I don't believe Dr. Keyes can be elected. As intelligent and impressive as he is, he had an awful time campaigning against Obama in 2006. Granted he was an outsider, having been recruited to move to Illinois just for the race by the party, who I don't believe supported him as much as they could. Nonetheless, Dr. Keyes lost the male vote, the women's vote, the independent vote, the black vote, and the white vote. He lost the vote of every income bracket, every age bracket, and on virtually every issue but moral values. Even on the war against terror, Dr. Keyes lost to Obama. Dr. Keyes did win with people identified as White, Conservative Protestants... but apparently many of them stayed home.

Yes, state elections are different than National Elections, and if Dr. Keyes was the party's nominee, I'm sure he would do better on the national stage, but I don't believe he can get there. And if he did get there, I don't believe he could beat an Obama or Hillary Clinton candidacy, and that scares me. Yes, the conservatives would show up, but would we be enough? Could Conservative Christians alone mobilize enough and turn out enough vote to counter the 75-95% vote that the Dems would get in every other dynamic? I don't think so.

Dr. Keyes has a couple things going against him. I don't believe he comes off quickly with the charm that can bridge ideological differences they way I think Governor Huckabee can. I don't believe he can get much of the media to portray him fairly or seriously, like I hope Fred Thompson can (this has yet to be determined). And he certainly doesn't have the name recognition of the so-called top tier. Dr. Keyes' unabashed Christian values will be seen as a detriment to many as he seems a little more hellfire and brimstone than Huckabee comes across.

And surely Dr. Keyes knows all of this. Surely, after years of attempts with very little traction, Keyes understands that his chances of waging a successful campaign are slim at best. Maybe John Hawkins at Right Wing News was right and "he's just not cut out to be a politician".

I don't know. Just as I mentioned in an earlier post about Governor Huckabee, its a shame that things have become so much about money. It could have been different a century ago. Alan Keyes is a throwback candidate who possibly could have been elected in an era long ago... if only he wasn't black. And now that the country might be ready to look past race in electing a President... we have found a new basis for discrimination... money and special interest favor.

I'm not saying I would vote for Dr. Keyes if the election were held today... as I've said, I'm keeping my mind open and still leaning toward Governor Huckabee. But I do wish more people like Dr. Keyes could be involved in the national debate. And I hope, no matter who turns out to be the GOP nominee, that they don't forget about Ronald Reagan's appointee to the United Nations. Dr. Alan Keyes deserves to have a seat at the table and have a voice in the next Administration.