Inspiration

I just read a blog written by my daughter.  I was inspired.

It made me realize that "The Declaration of Truth" is the declaration of Jesus.  In the blog, she stated that people seem to be more willing to talk about Jesus this time of the year.  I have heard more people say "Merry Christmas" this year than in years past.  I believe there may be a resurgence of good values in our country, and I, for one, am glad to see it.

Merry Christmas, Everyone.

Do the right thing

There's been a lot of talk about why the Democrats lost all those seats in the Senate and the House on Tuesday.  And, then there's the talk about why some of the Democrats that should have lost their seats, well didn't.  It's simple.  The ones that lost didn't do the right thing - according to the people they represented.  And, the ones that some people think should have lost, you know, Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer, well, they did what the people that they represented wanted, even if you and I didn't think they had done the "right" thing.  You see, redistricting plays a huge role in elections, and the districts that elected Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Boxer, are chocked full of the farthest left progressives in the country, so you see, Harry, Nancy, and Barbara, well, they did what their constituents wanted, and those that left the House and Senate, well, they just lived in the wrong districts.  To "do the right thing" means different things to different people, especially in politics.  But when I think about what it takes to do the right thing, my mind always leans to what my heart says, and my heart thinks about the Bible.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, it says.  I bet "Herself" is thinking about that tonight, too, because I really do think she is a good person that got to running around with the wrong people, and we had to hang her.  (For the two people outside of my family that read this blog, it's a movie reference, and is not meant to be taken literally.)  I think I will pray for Stephanie tonight.  I would want her to pray for me.

God Blessed America today

As I sit and listen to "Herself" say "May God bless all of us" at the end of her concession speech, I realize that God has blessed America today.  Now, at a minimum, we have balance, and one of the key tenets of the Bible is everything in moderation.  Maybe now the elected really will go to work, stop spending, restore fiscal sanity, and turn the page on getting people to work.  The message has been sent that Washington is broken, and has just about broken the country.  But we know it can be fixed.  We have been given another chance.  You know God once said that He would save the world if one good person could be found.  And He did.  God gives second chances, and it's incumbent upon us all to work hard to make Him proud that He does.  I love America, and Americans, all Americans.  All I am saying is give peace a chance.  Now I'm rambling.  Okay I was rambling all the way through, but I think I got the message.  Quit rambling and get back to work.  That's the only way we can make Him proud.  God Blessed America  today.

Campaign Signs and the people behind them

You know, I have a couple of signs in my yard for candidates in the November 2nd election - Kristi Noem for the U.S. House of Representatives and Mark Johnston for South Dakota Senate District 12.  I placed the signs there a couple of weeks ago.  I noticed today that the young couple across the street had placed a sign in their yard for the "incumbant" candidate running against Mark Johnston.  Certainly they placed it to offset the many signs on this street for Johnston, but I think there is an underlying reason other than that.  First of all, let me say that I admire the young couple for taking a stance.  Many young people won't - or don't.  But I think this couple took the stance because they're mad and confused.  I believe they are mad there is a movement away from the liberal policies that were espoused from their professors during their recently taken classes at the college where they recently graduated.  So, the problem with young people is they have not been exposed to the world, or even a second side, just to liberal professors.  Apparently, we need to add a new class to the discrimination law - Conservatives.  That way, schools would have to hire as many Conservatives as they do liberals.  Then young people would be able to choose for themselves, without the propaganda from just one side.  Write in to your Congressperson and let them know you want this new law.  I'm guessing this would be a lot harder to pass than a health care bill.

"No one chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness." -- Mary Shelley, British Writer

On their 30th birthday

My twin daughters will soon be 30 years old, and we recently had a surprise party for them.  I was asked to say a toast.  After a few weak opening remarks, I gave this toast:

When life seems unfair and a little unstable,
When all around you becomes a blur,
When everything you try, you find you're unable,
When bottles of medicine a headache will not deter.
Remember that all is not lost or gone,
Remember that family is not far away,
Remember that God is with you -- you're never alone,
Remember Daddy' house where you're always welcome to stay!
Now it's time to raise our glasses to toast
Those twin daughters of whom we often boast.
Here's to Taylor Demmon and Irish Briese
For their 30th birthday, so if you please
Touch your glasses with those around you--
to Irish and Taylor, and to all of you, too.

It was a fine party- only one person got sick, and that was a food allergy.  Here's to the lady in the next stall.

She said it "Herself"

You know, when I first moved to South Dakota, I thought Stephanie Herseth Sandlin had it going on.  She was a "blue dog" Democrat, one of the good Dems that would stand up to her party, especially in matters of fiscal responsibility.  However, when Obama was elected, something changed in her.  I don't know if they have threatened her in some way, bribed her, or if she just found her inner Progressive, but she changed.  Or did she?

I have a job with a company that is dependent on having a large workforce.  This industry gives opportunity to people with limited skills, but who are willing to work and learn the trade.  And, if they work hard and grow their knowledge, they can make a good living all their lives.  It is truly a good industry to be a part of.  When I discovered, back in Spring 2009, that "Herself" favored a bill that would allow unions to solicit any group to join their union, and when it was time to vote, the union would be able to view how they voted, I realized that I had to get to her quickly, since surely someone had misled her.  Not Stephanie, hero extraordinaire, defender of the people of South Dakota and beyond!

I wrote her, begging her to reconsider her position on the issue, explaining that this would hurt the people of South Dakota, and to think like a South Dakotan, and get in there and fight the party on this one.  Note:  I found out later that she not only supported the bill, but also co-sponsored the bill.  Here is what she wrote back (and I quote):

"The bill represents a fairly straightforward idea:  workers should get the right to vote whether or not to organize a union, free from pressure or fear of retribution from fellow employees, unions or their employer, and that vote should be transparent and fair.  I have co-sponsored the bill,...."  She also added"... these issues are not nearly as problematic in our state as elsewhere."

To which I replied:  "Although I appreciate your explanation of the bill, I am deeply concerned that you have very limited knowledge of the potential crisis that this bill will ultimately have on business in South Dakota and across the country.  I have lived and worked in several areas of the country, including at least one that was heavily unionized; and I know you would not like to see in South Dakota the tactics that were employed to intimidate and coerce unknowing workers.  I would appreciate your moving out of the political arena and keep in mind the people of South Dakota when you re-think your support of the bill."

To which I received her typical canned response letter:  "...and I will keep your concerns in mind as this issue is addressed in Congress."  In other words, "Herself" has sent all of the time she is going to allot on this topic.  And, who am I to question the wisdom of her co-sponsorship.

First of all, why do the Democrats need someone from South Dakota to sponsor a union-friendly bill?  Did they need someone naive?  Did they want it to try to push it through, acting as if it must be good if middle America wants it?  Or, maybe she just thought it all up by "Herself".  Surely, Stephanie doesn't really believe this would be good for South Dakota.  And secondly, if this is not as problematic in our state as elsewhere, then why is she co-sponsoring the bill?  Things that make you go "Hmmm".

Apparently, someone in South Dakota thinks it is a bad idea, because on November 2nd, at the polls, South Dakota will vote on Constitutional Amendment K, which, if passed, will guarantee South Dakotans the right to vote BY SECRET BALLOT.  You know, on November 2nd, we will still go into the voting booth, fill out our form -- in private-- with no one looking over our shoulder and no one having the RIGHT to see who we vote for, or whether we vote yes or no on Amendment K.  Shouldn't the people voting for organization of a union have the same ability?  Or maybe, this is just a precursor of things to come...maybe soon we will lose our right to a private voting booth, too.

Is Joe Biden really our Vice President?

Joe Biden said today that every single idea of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries has required government vision and incentives.  I guess he's right -- Al Gore invented the internet, after all. 

More on South Dakota politics tomorrow or Friday...   it's about "Herself".

What's bothering me?

There are a couple of things bothering me tonight:  one is that it took Ole Miss years to come up with a mascot for their sports teams to take the place of the Colonel Reb character that they used when Archie Manning and I went to school there - and the best they could do was a bear.  I mean, don't you think there are enough law professors and would-be doctors going to school at the prestigious University of Mississippi to have come up with a bear, let's say, after maybe only one or two years???  Anyway, the point of the new mascot is not what it is, but that they needed to come up with one at all.  I guess there were some people offended by the Colonel Reb character, believing that Mississippi wanted to keep the Civil War going or something.  Frankly, I always thought the character was silly, so I doubt if he ever drew the ire of people with "good walking around sense."  But then that brings us back to those professors, who have never really had that kind of sense, have they?  Hmmm...   and to think, that's who our president has surrounding him, as "advisors".  Hey those people don't have "good walking around sense!"  Should they really be so close to that red button?  I digress.
And the second thing bothering me is...  well, now I've forgotten.  Maybe I will remember it before tomorrow night.  Have a pleasant evening all - knowing that Ole Miss finally has a new mascot, Rebel, the bear.  Oh forgot to tell you that.  They kept the Rebel part, just got the new mascot.  Good night Colonel Reb wherever you are.

Proud of America tonight

I just wanted to say how proud I am tonight of The United States and our people.  We have shown again that we are the most technologically advanced nation in the world, and that we are willing to share that knowledge.  They are rescuing the miners in Chile tonight thanks to the people, and the technology they have mastered, of this country.  Yes, there are other countries involved in the rescue, but they are standing back and watching as our people show the world once again the power and the generosity of The United States of America.  God Bless Americans, all of them, and be with the people of Chile as they celebrate their good fortune tonight.  You have saved 3, and we pray that you will save the other 30, plus the rescue crew.  Thank you for giving us the ability to help.

In your 20's or 30's, Study before you vote

I was reading an editorial by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar of the AP, Associate Press,  (known to lean left) on the Health Care bill.  Here's a quote from the article:  "...But it won't be a free ride.  Have your checkbooks and credit cards ready.  There's a price for health care security.  People in their 50's and 60's, when health problems tend to surface, are likely to pay less than they would now.  Those in their 20's and 30's, who get the best deals today, will face higher premiums, though for better coverage."  Looking for better coverage???  Looking for higher health care prices???  You're getting both apparently, and you weren't even given a choice.  The Progressives, aka Democrats, are not your friends.  The end justifies the means, and you are their "means".

Another note on Herself-Sandlin - When the so-called "blue dog" Democrat was asked why she voted FOR increasing the debt ceiling by another $290 billion earlier this year, Herself-Sandlin said "There was no choice but to raise it and prevent the country from going into default to cover some of the irresponsible spending decisions made by Republicans under President Bush's administration."  Couple of things:  (1) Wasn't she part of that so-called overspending during the Bush years? and (2) Isn't she supposed to be our voice of fiscal reason?  By the way, thirty-nine (39) other Democrats voted with Republicans in opposition to the increase.

I know some of you will vote for "Herself"

We are getting closer to November 2nd.  Referring to how well she felt Obama had done, Herself-Sandlin, South Dakota's lone representative, said in an interview aired on ABC News on September 9th of this year, "I think that I would give him you know in the C range overall because I think on some issues, especially navigating some tough economic waters he inherited, he's doing better than people are giving him credit for ..."  With the bail outs, the additional taxes, and who knows what the health care bill is going to cost, does this really sound like a "blue dog" Democrat?  Is this fiscal responsibility?  Now, in my opinion, we really do need change - either from her, or away from her.  Nevertheless, some people will still feel that she has done a lot for South Dakota, and they will insist on voting for her.  But if you do, at least send her a strong letter demanding that she vote to repeal "ObamaCare", to vote no on further bailouts and stimulus, and to vote to end all earmarks.  We just simply cannot afford them.  In other words, be a "Blue Dog".

Some people have said they just don't know enough about Kristi Noem.  I don't know her either.  I met her at a ribbon cutting, but that's it.  What I do know about her is that she is a South Dakota farmer/rancher, and she has said that she does not plan to make Washington, DC her home.  No so for Herself-Sandlin.  Noem may not have the "influence" that Herself-Sandlin has, but do we want influence or integrity?  Integrity has my vote.

More on Herself later.  I will give you a little historical reference that I have on a personal basis.  You see, we had an email correspondence or two a while back.  Here's a hint:  I just asked her if she would represent the interests and wishes of South Dakotans.  Needless to say, I was not impressed by her response.

Bias in Media - Even in South Dakota

We have a "news" paper in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Of course, it's liberally biased, but you would think they would be careful in South Dakota since the state truly is right leaning, gun-totin', hard working American- thinking, as a general rule.  Not so, though.  I quit taking the paper a while back because I couldn't see supporting their agenda with my money.  Where have I heard that phrase before?  Hmmm.
Anyway, I decided to pick up the paper at work on Thursday just to see if they had gotten better.  Fat chance.  I actually think they have regressed.  Here's what I found.
Page 1 - Bias toward the Democratic running for governor.  Proof:  The two candidates were speaking to a group of nursing home operators.  The paper says, "Daugaard...spent most of the the hour defending the state's decision not to give $21 million in federal Medicaid money this year to service providers, such as nursing homes, for whom the money was intended.  The money instead went to the state's gneral fund struggling under the weight of the national economic slump."  Interesting word "slump".  Any right thinking person calls it a depression.  I wonder how long it took for the Argus to come up with "slump".  I guess it is just a little past "slant" in the dictionary, since they put their slant (opinion) in this article on the front page of the "news" paper.
Page 5A - Continued from same article.  Daugaard defended his decision and truthfully told a group of nursing home providers that he would not guarantee that the money would ever go to Medicaid (what a gutsy call in front of this group, got to give him credit).  But Heidepriem (D) said that was wrong and "If it's EARMARKED for Medicaid, ... it should go to the stated purpose."  I don't think we would get Heidepriem to agree to get rid of earmarks, since he has this opinion.  What do you think?
Page 6A - Senators split on tax cuts.  Bias, even stumping for the Demoncrats.  The story here is not that Thune wants all of the Bush-era tax cuts to stay in place and that Obama, I mean Johnson, wants them to expire (even though he is now saying that the cuts for HHs making <$250,000 should still get the cuts), BUT THE STORY is really about the House adjourning so they wouldn't have to vote on the issue until after the November 2nd elections.  The Argus Leader INSERTED "...a move opposed by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D. who wants the issue taken up now."  The article goes on to say that she supports a one-to-two year extension of all of the tax cuts, but not a permanent renewal.  In simple terms, however, what she means is that she will say whatever it takes to Republicans and Independents in South Dakota to get re-elected, but once she gets back, she will make sure the tax cuts do not last longer than a year, two at the most.  Sorry, Suckers!
Page 7A - Obama calls Republicans "The other side".  The Argus quoted it.  I say, Where's the "I will work with the Republicans" attitude that he PROMISED?
"Carter spends 2nd night in hospital" - I know he's 85, but it seems funny to me that Jimmy Carter was never mentioned to be in bad health until his new book came out saying that national health care would have been a reality during his administration except that Ted Kennedy fundamentally killed it.  Another hmmm.
Here's one:  "Liberal groups schedule D.C. rally" - The paper stated "Their coalition is made up of civil and human rights groups, unions, immigration advocates, gay rights groups and churches."  And, "Doughtry, a long-time Democratic Party organizer, says the coalition is not advocating one party over the other."  However, the Argus Leader goes on to say that "Saturday's rally is also an effort to re-energize votes who elected President Obama two years ago."  No bias there.  Hmmm...
Personal note:  Leah Doughtry, the person quoted, is the "campaign director for One Nation Working Together, the coalition organizing the event, ...."  I thought this was John Stewart's idea???
AND ALL OF THE ABOVE BEFORE I got to the OPINION pages.  More to come.

Just a note from yesterday's post, here's a quote from Cass Sunstein when he was discussing the ignorance of the American people:  "A lot can be done to manipulate them." 

The Beginning - What happened?

I want to declare the truth, so I started this blog "The Declaration of Truth".  You may not agree with everything I write here, but I hope, if nothing else, that it gives you another way of looking at what you hear elsewhere.  I love The United States of America, and I want my children and grandchildren to inherit a better country than what we have now.
We have to start paying attention.  We became complacent.  I mean, really, other than John McCain's family and a few close friends, who wanted him as our president.  Through complacency though, by rational people not voting, we got the greater of the two evils -- we got a proliferation of Socialism, we got additional debt, we got additional taxes -- we got people running, and ruining, our country -- people who really do believe that the end justifies the means.  These people will do anything to anybody, including their own base, to get to the "end" - the expansion of government to control the money, on a plight to redistribute the wealth of the nation's middle class and wealthy.
Everyone is blaming Obama, and while he is definitely a part of the problem, he is just the face of the beast.  Names like Cass Sunstein and George Soros must be brought to light.  All of these people are elitests who studied Saul Olinski's "Rules for Radicals" and live by it.  This book, by the way, has a dedication, before its first page, to Lucifer, and is on the National Education Association's recommended reading list.  This beast permeates the unions, especially the SEIU and the teacher's union, plus it has hurt minorities in its effort to emasculate those that would speak out against it.  The beast has forced brother to be against brother.
There is racism in The United States, but it is not rampant.  What is rampant is prejudice, and every person, other than Jesus, has prejudices.  However, even with prejudices, most people want their brothers to succeed, and most of them know that when one succeeds, all do.
If you decide to read this blog, I hope you will let me know.  I really would like to hear your comments, good or bad, even if it is just that I misspelled someone's name.  And, if you have a subject that you want to discuss, let me know.  You know the joke about opinions, everyone has one, and I am no different.  I'll let you know what I think.  Thank you for allowing me to ramble on my first blog post.  I will try to be more succinct in the future.