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.