Roll call vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment
9/30/04
Hold your representatives accountable...
Voted In favor:
Aderholt, Akin, Alexander, Bachus, Baker, Ballenger, Barrett (SC), Bartlett (MD), Barton (TX), Beauprez, Berry, Bilirakis, Bishop (GA), Bishop (UT), Blackburn, Blunt, Boehner, Bonilla, Bonner, Boozman, Boucher, Boyd, Bradley (NH), Brady (TX), Brown (SC), Brown-Waite, Ginny Burgess, Burns,Burr ,Burton (IN) ,Buyer ,Calvert ,Camp ,Cantor ,Capito ,Carson (OK), Carter, Chabot, Chandler, Chocola, Coble, Cole, Collins, Cooper, Costello, Cramer, Crane, Crenshaw, Cubin, Culberson, Cunningham, Davis (AL), Davis (TN), Davis, Jo AnnDavis, TomDeal (GA), DeLay, DeMint, Doolittle, Duncan, Edwards, Ehlers, Emerson, English, Etheridge, Everett, Feeney, Ferguson, Flake, Forbes, Ford, Fossella, Franks (AZ), GalleglyGarrett (NJ), Gillmor, Gingrey, Goode, Goodlatte, Gordon, Granger, Graves, Green (WI), Gutknecht, Hall, Harris, Hart, Hastert, Hastings (WA), Hayes, Hayworth, Hefley, Hensarling, Herger, Herseth, Hoekstra, Holden, Hulshof, Hyde, Isakson, Issa, Istook, Jefferson, Jenkins, John, Johnson (IL), Johnson, Sam Jones (NC), Keller, Kelly, Kennedy (MN), King (IA), King (NY), Kingston, Kline, LaHood, Lampson, Latham, LaTourette, Lewis (CA), Lewis (KY), Linder, LoBiondo, Lucas (KY), Lucas (OK), Manzullo, Marshall, Matheson, McCotter, McCrery, McHugh, McIntyre, McKeon, Mica, Miller (FL), Miller (MI), Miller, GaryMoran (KS), Murphy, Musgrave, Myrick, Neugebauer, Ney, Northup, Norwood, Nunes, Nussle, Ortiz, Osborne, Otter, Oxley, Pearce, Pence, Peterson (MN), Peterson (PA), Petri, Pickering, Pitts, Platts, Pombo, Porter, Portman, Putnam, Quinn, Radanovich, Rahal, lRamstad, Regula, Rehberg, Renzi, Reynolds, Rogers (AL), Rogers (KY), Rogers (MI), Rohrabacher, Ross, Royce, Ryan (WI), Ryun (KS), Sandlin, Saxton, Schrock, Scott (GA), Sensenbrenner, Sessions, Shadegg, Shaw, Sherwood, Shimkus, Shuster, Simpson, Skelton, Smith (MI), Smith (NJ), Smith (TX), Souder, Spratt, Stearns, Stenholm, Sullivan, Tancredo, Tanner, Taylor (MS), Taylor (NC), Terry Thomas, Thompson (MS), Thornberry, Tiahrt, Tiberi, Toomey, Turner (OH), Upton, Vitter, Walden (OR), Walsh, Wamp, Weldon (FL), Weldon (PA), Weller, Whitfield, Wicker, Wilson (NM), Wilson (SC), WolfYoung (AK), Young (FL)
Voted to Oppose:
Abercrombie, Ackerman, Allen, Andrews, Baca, Baird, Baldwin, Bass, Becerra, Bell, Berkley, Berman, Biggert, Bishop (NY), Blumenauer, Bono, Boswell, Brady (PA), Brown (OH), Butterfield, Capps, Capuano, Cardin, Cardoza, Carson (IN), Case, Castle, Clay, Clyburn, Conyers, Cox, Crowley, Cummings, Davis (CA), Davis (FL), DeFazio, DeGette, Delahunt, DeLauro, Deutsch, Dicks, Dingell, Doggett, Dooley (CA), Doyle, Dreier, Emanuel, Engel, Eshoo, Evans, Farr, Fattah, Filner, Foley, Frank (MA), Frelinghuysen, Frost, Gephardt, Gerlach, Gibbons, Gilchrest, Gonzalez, Green (TX), Greenwood, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hill, Hinchey, Hinojosa, Hobson, Hoeffel, Holt, Honda, Hooley (OR), Hostettler, Houghton, Hoyer, InsleeI, srael, Jackson (IL), Jackson-Lee (TX), Johnson (CT), Johnson, E. B.Jones (OH), Kanjorski, Kaptur, Kennedy (RI), Kildee, Kilpatrick, Kind, Kirk, Kleczka, Knollenberg, Kolbe, Kucinich, Langevin, Lantos, Larsen (WA), Larson (CT), Leach, Lee, Levin, Lewis (GA), Lipinski, Lofgren, Lowey, Lynch, Majette, Maloney, Markey, Matsui, McCarthy (MO), McCarthy (NY), McCollum, McDermott, McGovern, McInnis, McNulty, Meehan, Michaud, Millender-McDonald, Miller (NC), Miller, George Mollohan, Moore, Moran (VA), Nadler, Napolitano, Neal (MA), Obey, Olver, Ose, Owens, Pallone, Pascrell, Pastor, Paul, ,Payne Pelosi, Pomeroy, Price (NC), Pryce(OH), Rodriguez, Rothman, Roybal-Allard, Ruppersberger, Rush, Ryan (OH), SaboS, ánchez, Linda T.Sanchez, Loretta Sanders, Schakowsky, Schiff, Scott (VA), Serrano, Shays, Sherman, Simmons, Slaughter, Smith (WA), Snyder, Solis, Stark, Strickland, Stupak, Sweeney, Tauscher, Thompson (CA), Tierney, Towns, Turner (TX), Udall (CO), Udall (NM), Van Hollen, Velázquez, Visclosky, Waters, Watson, Watt, Waxman, Weiner, Wexler, Woolsey, Wu, Wynn
Didn't Vote:
Boehlert, Brown, Corrine, Cannon, Davis (IL)D, iaz-Balart, L.Diaz-Balart, M.Dunn, Harman, Hastings (FL), Hunter, Meek (FL), Meeks (NY), Menendez, Murtha, Nethercutt, Oberstar, Rangel, Reyes, Ros-Lehtinen,Tauzin
Comment
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Point to Ponder - Dr. D. James Kennedy on Ronald Reagan's Faith
Ponder: To give thorough consideration, to think carefully, reflect deeply, cerebrate
If was my delight to interview Dr. D. James Kennedy for Wednesday's show this week. He is one of the individuals responsible for my involvement in public affairs. As a young mom with two small boys at home I would listen to Dr. Kennedy on Sunday nights on TV and not only found him challenging, but balanced and effective. We talked on the show about what the ACLU is up to these days (see my article here this week), his newest book, and in the closing segment about his experiences with various Presidents of the United States. He has met with candidates for the office for over 30 years now, and asked them all the one question he said he found as the best..."If you were to die today and Jesus would ask you why He should let you into His heaven, what would you say?" When he asked this of President Reagan, the President bent over and put his head between his knees, and then sat up and said, "I don't deserve heaven...but," and then quoted John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life." He also pointed out that John Kerry recently said, in answer to a question about his faith by someone else, that his favorite scripture was, John 16:3. We're sure he missed quoted. If you read it you'll see what I mean!
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
If was my delight to interview Dr. D. James Kennedy for Wednesday's show this week. He is one of the individuals responsible for my involvement in public affairs. As a young mom with two small boys at home I would listen to Dr. Kennedy on Sunday nights on TV and not only found him challenging, but balanced and effective. We talked on the show about what the ACLU is up to these days (see my article here this week), his newest book, and in the closing segment about his experiences with various Presidents of the United States. He has met with candidates for the office for over 30 years now, and asked them all the one question he said he found as the best..."If you were to die today and Jesus would ask you why He should let you into His heaven, what would you say?" When he asked this of President Reagan, the President bent over and put his head between his knees, and then sat up and said, "I don't deserve heaven...but," and then quoted John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life." He also pointed out that John Kerry recently said, in answer to a question about his faith by someone else, that his favorite scripture was, John 16:3. We're sure he missed quoted. If you read it you'll see what I mean!
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Saturday, September 25, 2004
A Fascinating Interview - Messing with our brains and bodies
I interviewed Dr. William Hurlbut, Professor of Human Biology at Standord University and member on the President's Council on Bioethics, appointed by George W. Bush. We talked about some of the latest in the bio-technology arena such as fetal brain tissue therapy, neurogenetics, alteration of the body for space travel and much more. Use to be that science fiction movies fortold the future, so to speak. Today, they are putting to image what is already taking place. I urge you to tune in next Wednesday, 9/29 for the interview. We've talked alot about bioethics on the show including this scary third wave but this one takes it a step further.
Weekend movie pick? "Artifical Intelligence" about a boy robot that has been programmed with feeling and ability to love. Will he be accepted? Read more on movie
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Weekend movie pick? "Artifical Intelligence" about a boy robot that has been programmed with feeling and ability to love. Will he be accepted? Read more on movie
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
The ACLU - Taking Our Liberties
Well, we're seeing adds on TV by the ACLU against the Patriot's Act just in time for the election. But don't be fooled. While claiming to protect everyone's liberties, that's just not so. When you follow what they do you see that they are only interested in protecting the liberal agenda. And as a matter of fact, as my guest on today's show, Dr. D. James Kennedy, points out - it goes even further than that - all the way to their communist roots. Have you read their history? Their founder said that they should every once in a while back a cause on the other side just to throw the people off. And if that's not enough of an agenda, their new head is gay, giving even more reason for their fervency to legalize same-sex marriage. The ACLU clothes what they do in their "watchdog of the constitution" language, but who are they really watching out for? Take a look at just a few things they are for and against...
The ACLU as fought for...
The distribution of child pornography
Legalized prostitution nationwide
Flag burning as free speech
Legalized drug use
Legalized Polygamy
Public Demonstrations by nazis and communists
and so on...
The ACLU as fought against...
Tax exemptions for churches
Parental consent laws
School vouchers and home schooling
Government ethics committees
Medical safety reporting
Religious displays in public
et al...
Here's a great link for more examples on the activities of the ACLU.
Tune in to hear my show with Dr. Kennedy, who also talks about his new book, What's Wrong with Same-Sex Marriage?
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Commenta>
The ACLU as fought for...
The distribution of child pornography
Legalized prostitution nationwide
Flag burning as free speech
Legalized drug use
Legalized Polygamy
Public Demonstrations by nazis and communists
and so on...
The ACLU as fought against...
Tax exemptions for churches
Parental consent laws
School vouchers and home schooling
Government ethics committees
Medical safety reporting
Religious displays in public
et al...
Here's a great link for more examples on the activities of the ACLU.
Tune in to hear my show with Dr. Kennedy, who also talks about his new book, What's Wrong with Same-Sex Marriage?
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Commenta>
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Bloggers "Hurt" Mainstream Media
Today in Editor and Publisher, America's oldest journal covering the newspaper industry, there was an article entitled “Blessing or Curse? Editors Examine Blog Role in '60 Minutes' Uproar" that goes along with what I've been encouraging our listeners to do to visit our blog site and others and just comment away. Here’s what the article said about the effect bloggers are having on the issues, specifically regarding the authenticity of the suspicious documents that put President Bush’s National Guard service in a bad light…
They said, “The current controversy over the validity of documents pushed in large part by bloggers and purporting to prove that President Bush received special treatment in the National Guard shows that partisan Internet pundits are having a growing impact on mainstream press, for better or worse, according to several newspaper editors.Although editors from four major dailies contend that their product remains the most trusted source of news for most readers, they admit the blogging community is offering competition and provoking even more skepticism of the mainstream media than usual. But they are divided on whether or not this is a positive trend or not. "It lends itself to a lot of manipulation," said James O'Shea, managing editor of the Chicago Tribune. "You can have information anarchy. You have to look at who these people are. We have to put some scrutiny on the bloggers." Read more of the article.
It’s time to join the blog wave if you haven’t already! For years conservatives have complained that the media is dominated by the liberals and there hasn’t been fair reporting…well, here’s the answer and it is working. It’s like each blogger has their own newspaper. Of course, there will be those who are off the wall, but the majority will be right on. Folks are really into this, so let’s capitalize on the new grassroots vehicle. It sure is easier than having to write a snail mail letter to the editior! And of course, I recommend you make changingworldviews.blogspot.com one of your regular visits.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
They said, “The current controversy over the validity of documents pushed in large part by bloggers and purporting to prove that President Bush received special treatment in the National Guard shows that partisan Internet pundits are having a growing impact on mainstream press, for better or worse, according to several newspaper editors.Although editors from four major dailies contend that their product remains the most trusted source of news for most readers, they admit the blogging community is offering competition and provoking even more skepticism of the mainstream media than usual. But they are divided on whether or not this is a positive trend or not. "It lends itself to a lot of manipulation," said James O'Shea, managing editor of the Chicago Tribune. "You can have information anarchy. You have to look at who these people are. We have to put some scrutiny on the bloggers." Read more of the article.
It’s time to join the blog wave if you haven’t already! For years conservatives have complained that the media is dominated by the liberals and there hasn’t been fair reporting…well, here’s the answer and it is working. It’s like each blogger has their own newspaper. Of course, there will be those who are off the wall, but the majority will be right on. Folks are really into this, so let’s capitalize on the new grassroots vehicle. It sure is easier than having to write a snail mail letter to the editior! And of course, I recommend you make changingworldviews.blogspot.com one of your regular visits.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Point to Ponder: Persevering Past the Critics
Ponder: To give thorough consideration, to think carefully, reflect deeply, cerebrate
It's election time and I thought today about what Roger Anderson wrote, "Some days you're the pigeon; some days you're the statue." Hundreds of candidates in America are running the race for public office, and some of them are having a "statue" day. One thing that comes with the territory of having a radio talk show/writing a column, is criticism. I don't mean disagreement. I mean accusation, name calling and the like. But it doesn't bother me, I think, because of what we went through with my husband's three races for public office (once for State Assembly and twice for U.S. Congress). You learn quickly that there are those who will lie about you and twist your positions to make them something they're not, or be just plan mean. And you learn to persevere no matter what. But isn't that the challenge each of us faces no matter what "line of work" we are in? Both of us are grateful for the fire of those days because they made us stronger. I really do believe that God will work all things for good in our lives if we let Him. The following quote by President Theordore Roosevelt is one of my favorites:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he falls, at least falls while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
It's election time and I thought today about what Roger Anderson wrote, "Some days you're the pigeon; some days you're the statue." Hundreds of candidates in America are running the race for public office, and some of them are having a "statue" day. One thing that comes with the territory of having a radio talk show/writing a column, is criticism. I don't mean disagreement. I mean accusation, name calling and the like. But it doesn't bother me, I think, because of what we went through with my husband's three races for public office (once for State Assembly and twice for U.S. Congress). You learn quickly that there are those who will lie about you and twist your positions to make them something they're not, or be just plan mean. And you learn to persevere no matter what. But isn't that the challenge each of us faces no matter what "line of work" we are in? Both of us are grateful for the fire of those days because they made us stronger. I really do believe that God will work all things for good in our lives if we let Him. The following quote by President Theordore Roosevelt is one of my favorites:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he falls, at least falls while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Mental Health Screening - Amendment Defeated
Thank you to everyone who called this week on Congressman Ron Paul's amendment. He introduced Amendment A024 to the "Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act of 2005" (H.R. 5006) on the floor of the United States House of Representatives on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Go here to read more details.
As reported by EdWatch, "Members of Congress do not have sufficient information yet about this issue. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, for example, distributed false information to other members suggesting that the amendment would prohibit the legitimate treatment of mental illness and that the amendment rejects the reality of mental illness. The pharmaceutical lobby is one of the most powerful and well-funded professional lobby groups in Washington, DC. Yet the rights of parents and citizens cannot be trumped by them or by "peer reviewed" scientists."
You can read their Talking Points, and I encourage you to email and print out copies to mail to your Senators and Representatives in the House. There will be another bill next year on this issue so start now to contact them so they can vote knowledgably next time.
Movie pick for this week? "K-Pax" starring Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges
Prot (Kevin Spacey) is a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be from the planet K-PAX. His psychiatrist, Dr. Powell (Jeff Bridges) tries to prove him to be suffering from a multiple-personality disorder, but finds himself doubting his diagnosis. Psychiatry is not an exact science. Read more on movie here
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
As reported by EdWatch, "Members of Congress do not have sufficient information yet about this issue. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, for example, distributed false information to other members suggesting that the amendment would prohibit the legitimate treatment of mental illness and that the amendment rejects the reality of mental illness. The pharmaceutical lobby is one of the most powerful and well-funded professional lobby groups in Washington, DC. Yet the rights of parents and citizens cannot be trumped by them or by "peer reviewed" scientists."
You can read their Talking Points, and I encourage you to email and print out copies to mail to your Senators and Representatives in the House. There will be another bill next year on this issue so start now to contact them so they can vote knowledgably next time.
Movie pick for this week? "K-Pax" starring Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges
Prot (Kevin Spacey) is a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be from the planet K-PAX. His psychiatrist, Dr. Powell (Jeff Bridges) tries to prove him to be suffering from a multiple-personality disorder, but finds himself doubting his diagnosis. Psychiatry is not an exact science. Read more on movie here
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Friday, September 10, 2004
Gore Criticizes Bush's Faith
I remember years ago seeing Al Gore on television promoting his book, Earth in the Balance - Ecology and the Human Spirit, and Tipper talking about her concern of the effects rock and roll music was having on teenagers. Back then, before he was Vice President, they talked about themselves as being born again Southern Baptist Christians. However, after reading Al Gore's comments in this week's New Yorker magazine about George W. Bush's faith, it appears things have changed.
As reported by David Remnick in the article, "And yet the Bush ideology is tinged with religious belief, I said. Not everything comes with a price tag attached. Gore’s mouth tightened...he clearly had disdain for Bush’s public kind of faith. 'It’s a particular kind of religiosity,' he said. 'It’s the American version of the same fundamentalist impulse that we see in Saudi Arabia, in Kashmir...'" Read more of Remnick's article.
Wow.
Remnick goes on in his article, "We passed the Southern Baptist Convention building... I asked him which church in Nashville he and Tipper attended now. There was a pause in the front seat. 'We’re ecumenical now,' Gore said, finally. Tipper said with a laugh, 'I think I follow Baba Ram Dass.' 'The influx of fundamentalist preachers have pretty much chased us out with their right-wing politics,' Gore added."
But I wonder if it was the right-wing politics, or his own politics. In his book, Earth in the Balance - Ecology and the Human Spirit, again written when he claimed the Christian faith, he wrote this: "Our religious heritage is based on a single earth goddess (Mother Gaia) who is assumed to be the fountain of all life...All men have a god within. Each man has a god within because creation is god. Nature in its fullness is god." Read more.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
As reported by David Remnick in the article, "And yet the Bush ideology is tinged with religious belief, I said. Not everything comes with a price tag attached. Gore’s mouth tightened...he clearly had disdain for Bush’s public kind of faith. 'It’s a particular kind of religiosity,' he said. 'It’s the American version of the same fundamentalist impulse that we see in Saudi Arabia, in Kashmir...'" Read more of Remnick's article.
Wow.
Remnick goes on in his article, "We passed the Southern Baptist Convention building... I asked him which church in Nashville he and Tipper attended now. There was a pause in the front seat. 'We’re ecumenical now,' Gore said, finally. Tipper said with a laugh, 'I think I follow Baba Ram Dass.' 'The influx of fundamentalist preachers have pretty much chased us out with their right-wing politics,' Gore added."
But I wonder if it was the right-wing politics, or his own politics. In his book, Earth in the Balance - Ecology and the Human Spirit, again written when he claimed the Christian faith, he wrote this: "Our religious heritage is based on a single earth goddess (Mother Gaia) who is assumed to be the fountain of all life...All men have a god within. Each man has a god within because creation is god. Nature in its fullness is god." Read more.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
What's Next? ODD - Oppositional Defiance Disorder
If you read my articles on Compulsory Mental Health Screening, you'll be interested to know there is more...Rhonda Robinson, reporter for Illinois Leader and my guest on Monday's show this week (you can still hear it on my broadcast archives page listen here just scroll to 9/6/04) sent me the following after the show:
"As I have researched this topic extensively I have found some disturbing trends that threaten children and families. One of the reasons this type of mental health screening is plausible to many is because of a new phenomena occurring within our society. The medication of children in order to control them. It got a foot hold with the ADHD. Now we have, among a host of other "illnesses," ODD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (in children 5 and under) in which children are being given these psychotropic drugs not because they are mentally ill, but as chemical restraints. It has become widely used in state facilities on children, with devastating results. These drugs have very dangerous side effects, have not been approved for use in children, and have been banned in the UK. Parents are also now being coerced into using these dangerous drugs. This is an attack on childhood itself, and has become big business."
TAKE ACTION!
Physician and Congressman Ron Paul will offer an amendment prohibiting funding for universal mental health screening programs to Labor/Health and Human Services/Education appropriations bill, HR 5006, to be debated on the US House floor on Wednesday and Thursday, September 8th and 9th. It is urgent that you call your Member of Congress and the House leadership TODAY with your support of the Paul amendment:
Find your Member of Congress at http://www.congress.org/
House Speaker Dennis Hastert: 202-225-2976
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay: 202-225-5951
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt: 202-225-6536
Read more
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
"As I have researched this topic extensively I have found some disturbing trends that threaten children and families. One of the reasons this type of mental health screening is plausible to many is because of a new phenomena occurring within our society. The medication of children in order to control them. It got a foot hold with the ADHD. Now we have, among a host of other "illnesses," ODD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (in children 5 and under) in which children are being given these psychotropic drugs not because they are mentally ill, but as chemical restraints. It has become widely used in state facilities on children, with devastating results. These drugs have very dangerous side effects, have not been approved for use in children, and have been banned in the UK. Parents are also now being coerced into using these dangerous drugs. This is an attack on childhood itself, and has become big business."
TAKE ACTION!
Physician and Congressman Ron Paul will offer an amendment prohibiting funding for universal mental health screening programs to Labor/Health and Human Services/Education appropriations bill, HR 5006, to be debated on the US House floor on Wednesday and Thursday, September 8th and 9th. It is urgent that you call your Member of Congress and the House leadership TODAY with your support of the Paul amendment:
Find your Member of Congress at http://www.congress.org/
House Speaker Dennis Hastert: 202-225-2976
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay: 202-225-5951
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt: 202-225-6536
Read more
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Friday, September 03, 2004
RNC - Day 4 Bush Making His Case
Wartime Presidents have had to face challenges other Presidents don't. And each one has had those who stood with them in the fight and those who stood against them. You have to agree, no matter which side of the fence you're on, it's gotta be tough being President, especially when the nation is under attack. History has shown only those with clear resolve see the battle through to victory. Those who waffle in resolve never win anything. Domestic issues are important, but few Americans feel they are more important than "providing for the common defense" against terrorists...especially here on our own soil. President Bush said in his convention speech, " We've fought terror across the world, not for pride, not for power, but because our people's safety is at stake." He also said, "We will build a safer America and a stronger world...and nothing will hold us back." John Kerry, at an unprecedented midnight-after-the-opposition's-convention-rally, said "Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit..." to be President. Misleading is a strong word. It insinuates deceptive intent. The 911 Commission report, on the other hand, showed any error there may have been was on the part of Intelligence. And it appears the majority of Americans believe that. I don't know how much of the 911 Commission hearings you saw or how much of the report, now book, you've read, but that would be a better place to get the facts on this issue than from campaign rhetoric.
Movie pick for this week? "Jihad in America - Terrorists Among Us" by Reporter Steve Emerson. A PBS Documentary & Winner of the prestigious George Polk Award, showing live footage of radical Islamic cells both abroad and here in America preaching jihad and violence against Israel and America. This is a must see.
Read more on movie here.
Order a copy from Changing Worldviews here.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Movie pick for this week? "Jihad in America - Terrorists Among Us" by Reporter Steve Emerson. A PBS Documentary & Winner of the prestigious George Polk Award, showing live footage of radical Islamic cells both abroad and here in America preaching jihad and violence against Israel and America. This is a must see.
Read more on movie here.
Order a copy from Changing Worldviews here.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Thursday, September 02, 2004
RNC - Day 3 Zell Miller at RNC Underreported
Did you ever think you'd see the day when a prominent Democrat politician would be so frank about his Party and so supportive of a Republican President? Even though I knew the Democrat Senator from Georgia has been vocal regarding his support of the President, I sat in front of the television with my eyebrows raised at the bold statements Senator Zell Miller made on Wednesday night at the Republican Convention. I also sat with brows raised this morning looking for mainstream coverage of his speech. Instead Dick Cheney led the headlines, some calling his speech "Firey." Did I miss something. Was I dreaming? If anyone's speech was firey, it was Miller's! Not only are the major television networks covering only highlights of the convention, but the print media, again, is obvious in their selective coverage. It appears they don't want to give any more power to Miller's speech than it already had. No, instead, downplay it. Say he came across as mean. Say he is the one who is flip-flopping. Check it out for yourself. Do a google search. For instance, the New York Times lead story on the convention was, "Cheney and GOP Mount Vigorous Assault on Kerry".
Well, for the record let me list just a few of Zell Miller's statements from last night:
Comment
Well, for the record let me list just a few of Zell Miller's statements from last night:
- "Like you, I believe that the next four years will determine what kind of world [my grandchildren] will grow up in. And like you, I ask which leader is it today that has the vision, the willpower and, yes, the backbone to best protect my family? The clear answer to that question has placed me in this hall with you tonight. For my family is more important than my party.”
- "What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in? I can remember when Democrats believed that it was the duty of America to fight for freedom over tyranny. It was Democratic President Harry Truman who pushed the Red Army out of Iran, who came to the aid of Greece when Communists threatened to overthrow it, who stared down the Soviet blockade of West Berlin by flying in supplies and saving the city. Time after time in our history, in the face of great danger, Democrats and Republicans worked together to ensure that freedom would not falter. But not today."
- "Motivated more by partisan politics than by national security, today's Democratic leaders see America as an occupier, not a liberator. And nothing makes this Marine madder than someone calling American troops occupiers rather than liberators."
- "And no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry."
- "I could go on and on and on -- against the Patriot Missile that shot down Saddam Hussein's scud missiles over Israel; against the Aegis air-defense cruiser; against the Strategic Defense Initiative; against the Trident missile, against, against, against.
This is the man who wants to be the commander in chief of our U.S. Armed Forces?
U.S. forces armed with what? Spit balls?" Read more.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
RNC - Days 1 & 2 Countering the Opposition
If you watched the DNC and now are watching the RNC you are witnessing the culmination of the strategists' best efforts on both sides to communicate what each Party hopes will win the votes of the majority of Americans in the Presidential election. And whether you believe the conventions represent the true picture of the candidates and Parties or not, the outcome of the election will in great part tell which "America" Americans most identify with. John McCain, Rudy Guiliani, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Laura Bush each had both subtle and obvious statements in their speeches that countered statements made by the Democrats last month at their convention. For instance:
McCain: "But there is no avoiding this war. We tried that, and our reluctance cost us dearly. Our choice wasn't between a benign status quo and the bloodshed of war. It was between war and a graver threat. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Not our political opponents. And certainly -- not a disingenuous filmmaker...I believe as strongly today as ever, the mission was necessary, achievable and noble. I salute his (the President) determination to make this world a better, safer, freer place. He has not wavered. He has not flinched from the hard choices. He will not yield. And neither will we. Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our president and fight. We're Americans. We're Americans, and we'll never surrender. They will." Read full transcript.
Guiliani: "In times of war and danger, as we're now in, Americans should put leadership at the core of their decision. There are many qualities that make a great leader. But having strong beliefs, being able to stick with them through popular and unpopular times, is the most important characteristic of a great leader. Under President Bush, America will lead, not follow. Frankly, I believed then and I believe now that Saddam Hussein, who supported global terrorism, slaughtered thousands and thousands of his own people, permitted horrific atrocities against women, and used weapons of mass destruction -- he was himself a weapon of mass destruction. In any plan to destroy global terrorism, removing Saddam Hussein needed to be removed. President Bush sees world terrorism for the evil that it is" Read full transcript.
Schwarzenegger: "Now, the other party says that we have two Americas. Don't you believe that either. I have visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany, and all over the world. I've visited our troops in California, where they train before they go overseas. I have visited our military hospitals. And I tell you this, that our men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas. They believe we are one America, and they are fighting for it. We are one America, and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul. That's what I admire most about the president. He's a man of perseverance. He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, who doesn't waiver, and does not back down. He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them." Read full transcript.
Laura Bush: "I could talk about the fact that my husband is the first president to provide federal funding for stem cell research. And he did it in a principled way, allowing science to explore its potential while respecting the dignity of human life. After years of being treated as virtual prisoners in their own homes by the Taliban, the women of Afghanistan are going back to work. After being denied an education, even the chance to learn to read, the little girls in Afghanistan are now in school. Almost every eligible voter -- over 10 million Afghan citizens -- have registered to vote in this fall's presidential election, more than 40 percent of them women.
And wasn't it wonderful to watch the Olympics and see that beautiful Afghan sprinter race in long pants and a T-shirt, exercising her new freedom while respecting the traditions of her country?" Read full transcript.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
McCain: "But there is no avoiding this war. We tried that, and our reluctance cost us dearly. Our choice wasn't between a benign status quo and the bloodshed of war. It was between war and a graver threat. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Not our political opponents. And certainly -- not a disingenuous filmmaker...I believe as strongly today as ever, the mission was necessary, achievable and noble. I salute his (the President) determination to make this world a better, safer, freer place. He has not wavered. He has not flinched from the hard choices. He will not yield. And neither will we. Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our president and fight. We're Americans. We're Americans, and we'll never surrender. They will." Read full transcript.
Guiliani: "In times of war and danger, as we're now in, Americans should put leadership at the core of their decision. There are many qualities that make a great leader. But having strong beliefs, being able to stick with them through popular and unpopular times, is the most important characteristic of a great leader. Under President Bush, America will lead, not follow. Frankly, I believed then and I believe now that Saddam Hussein, who supported global terrorism, slaughtered thousands and thousands of his own people, permitted horrific atrocities against women, and used weapons of mass destruction -- he was himself a weapon of mass destruction. In any plan to destroy global terrorism, removing Saddam Hussein needed to be removed. President Bush sees world terrorism for the evil that it is" Read full transcript.
Schwarzenegger: "Now, the other party says that we have two Americas. Don't you believe that either. I have visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany, and all over the world. I've visited our troops in California, where they train before they go overseas. I have visited our military hospitals. And I tell you this, that our men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas. They believe we are one America, and they are fighting for it. We are one America, and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul. That's what I admire most about the president. He's a man of perseverance. He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, who doesn't waiver, and does not back down. He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them." Read full transcript.
Laura Bush: "I could talk about the fact that my husband is the first president to provide federal funding for stem cell research. And he did it in a principled way, allowing science to explore its potential while respecting the dignity of human life. After years of being treated as virtual prisoners in their own homes by the Taliban, the women of Afghanistan are going back to work. After being denied an education, even the chance to learn to read, the little girls in Afghanistan are now in school. Almost every eligible voter -- over 10 million Afghan citizens -- have registered to vote in this fall's presidential election, more than 40 percent of them women.
And wasn't it wonderful to watch the Olympics and see that beautiful Afghan sprinter race in long pants and a T-shirt, exercising her new freedom while respecting the traditions of her country?" Read full transcript.
© Sharon Hughes 2004
Comment
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