Wednesday, August 31, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Former Russian Journalist Tells of Similarities on American Campuses



Tatiana Menaker whose articles you will find on Frontpage.mag was my guest on today's broadcast. A Russian/Jewish immigrant who left the Soviet Union to come to America, has found the same Communist propaganda on U.S. University campuses. Imagine finding the same anti-Semitic dogma prevalent in your previous homeland. What do you do? Speak up or shut up? You speak up and end up being threatened with expulsion for arguing with professors who extol the glories of Marxism, some even calling each other "comrade".

Though the Cold War has ended, the agenda of Marxism continues. For those who have never read the goals of communism, here is a quick overview as presented by the Honorable A. S. Herlong, Jr. of Florida's House of Representatives and entered into the record on January 10, 1963. Some points are 'old news', others are 'in process'.

COMMUNIST GOALS
~U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
~U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
~Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
~Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
~Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
~Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
~Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
~Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.
~Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
~Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
~Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)
~Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
~Do away with all loyalty oaths.
~Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
~Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
~Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
~Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
~Gain control of all student newspapers.
~Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
~Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
~Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
~Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."
~Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."
~Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.
~Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
~Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."
~Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."
~Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."
~Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
~Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."
~Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture.& Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
~Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
~Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.
~Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
~Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
~Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
~Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
~Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
~Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
~Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
~Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
~Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.
~Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.
~Internationalize the Panama Canal.
~Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.

Related:
More on Communism in America by MoveOff.org

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/31/05)

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Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Congress Proposes Surrender On War On Terror

4TAKE ACTION! Just received this from Chris Carmouche of GrassTopsUSA:

A cowardly resolution demanding that President Bush surrender the
War on Terror is being pushed by 45 far-left Democrats and finger-in-the-wind Republicans in the House of Representatives RIGHT NOW as you read this letter. This outrageous and suicidal document -- HJ Res 55 -- calls for America to turn over the defense of Iraq and to withdraw ALL of our troops as quickly as possible. And the 45 Congressmen who are sponsoring this piece of anti-American cowardice need YOU to tell them EXACTLY what will happen if this resolution becomes official U.S. policy. Read more including names of those backing this resolution..

Use the hyperlink below to send the Blast Fax messages Chris has provided, to EACH of the 62 Members of the House Armed Services Committee and the remaining 48 Members of the House Committee on International Relations.

Blast Fax Congress now!
Sign up to receive GrassTopsUSA Action Alerts

4Comment

NY Times Twists Bush Quote - Says "Sheehan Emboldening Terrorists"


That's Martin Sheen applauding Cindy Sheehan

As Brit Hume pointed out in his FOX News broadcast today, the NY Times reported that the President said protesters like Cindy Sheehan were weakening the United States and emboldening terrorists. Here's NY Times writer, Elisabeth Burmiller's, direct quote:

"Mr. Bush has been careful not to go on a direct attack against a publicly grieving mother like Ms. Sheehan, and has pointed out that he met with her once already, in 2004, and that he has sympathy for her and her right to protest. Still, he said last week that protesters like her were weakening the United States and emboldening terrorists, and vowed that he would not immediately withdraw all American troops from Iraq, as she has demanded."

Speaking to members of the Idaho National Guard and their families, what the President actually said was: “An immediate withdrawal of our troops in Iraq, or the broader Middle East, as some have called for, would only embolden the terrorists and create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America and free nations."

Also, Burmiller opened her August 29, 2005 article entitled, "In the Struggle Over the Iraq War, Women Are on the Front Line," with "As President Bush traveled around the country last week, he got caught up in a battle of women," saying he tried to counter the protesting women by using another mother in his speech...Ms. Pruett, whose story appeared on CNN last week, has four sons in Iraq serving in the National Guard and a husband and a fifth son who have returned from Iraq, of whom Bush said, "America lives in freedom because of families like the Pruetts."

Interestingly, Burmiller failed to mention that Ms. Pruett was in the Idaho audience when the President referred to her, but rather chose to quote Sheehan devotees who pointed out that Ms. Pruett's sons were still alive and therefore shouldn't be compared to mothers who had lost theirs.

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Monday, August 29, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Judge John Roberts - What Kind of Judge is He?



An Originalist? A Constructionist? A practitioner of stare decisis? What is Judge John Roberts?

Darlene Superville of the ASSOCIATED PRESS wrote a glossary of unfamiliar legal terms and phrases concerning the upcoming Supreme Court hearings of Roberts that you may want to check out since I'm sure you'll catch some of the hearings and probably hear some of these terms used. For instance: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says he's an ORIGINALIST as well as a TEXTUALIST.

Today on the show I asked Christian Hartsock, a young political writer and aspiring film producer, to give us the to give us a picture of what the next generation is thinking concerning the upcoming Supreme Court appointment(s). After all, they will be the greatest recipients of whatever decisions will be made by the highest court in the land.

Related:
Recent Supreme Court Decisions

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/29/05)

4Comment

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

NY Times Only Tells Half the Story - on Sheehan Statements

What about her anti-American statements?

In her Monday column, Elisabeth Bumiller of the New York Times gave another update on the Sheehan vs. Bush saga saying, "There is no sign that Mr. Bush will meet with Ms. Sheehan (he met with her once in a group in June 2004, two months after her son's death, when she said that he was disrespectful for calling her "Mom"), but he did say shortly after she began her vigil on Aug. 6 that he sympathized with her."

Note Bumiller keeps in step with the rest of the MSM in not mentioning Sheehan's original positive statements of her meeting with the President in 2004, as reported in her Vacaville hometown newspaper, The Reporter. She only reports what Sheehan is currently saying about that meeting.

Even more telling, we're still hard-pressed to find any mention of Cindy Sheehan's anti-American statements by any of the alphabet or major print news agencies, such as this one, "America has been killing people on this continent since it was started. This country is not worth dying for..." See more Sheehan statements.

It's one thing to be anti-war. Even our soldiers say they will fight for Americans' freedom to protest the very war they are fighting in, including Sheehan's statements like, "And you tell me, what the noble cause is that my son died for... And if he (Bush) even starts to say 'freedom and democracy' I'm gonna say, bullsh*t."

But, anti-American statements? That's a different story and one the MSM does not want to bring out because it would open too many eyes...to the whole truth. Which, by the way for those who care, would cause Sheehan's poll numbers to fall.

Go to 'Page Two' for more of the story.

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Filling our Gas Tanks

Says it all, doesn't it?


Gas prices have hit an average of $2.6l a gallon in the U.S. with prices higher than $3 a gallon in some places. How is the rest of the world doing with the cost of gas? Well, Amsterdam heads the list at $6.48 a gallon. But how would you like to pay what Venezuela, Caracas pays? - only $0.12!

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Monday, August 22, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! When You Lose Your Land You Lose More than That



Is anybody asking what happens now to the Jews who had to leave their homes and land in Gaza? I mean, you saw them on the news, walking out or being carried out and put on buses, without suitcases, even. Yes, they are getting compensated, but until then the Israeli government has 320 mobile homes waiting for the 9,000 settlers to live in temporarily, with 300 to be ordered in the future. Now, stop... and think about that... Also think about the following: (thanks to For Zion's Sake)

During this summer’s pullout:
~100% of the Gaza Strip will be evacuated and handed over to the Palestinians. ~300 square miles of the West Bank will be evacuated.
~21 Israeli settlements will be uprooted in the Gaza Strip.
~4 Israeli settlements will be uprooted in the West Bank.
~48 graves in the Gush Katif Cemetery, including six graves of area residents murdered by terrorists, will be uprooted.
~9,000 is the approximate number of Israelis, including 1,700 Israeli families, currently living in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.
~All of them will be moved out as part of the withdrawal.
~38 synagogues will be dismantled in the Gaza Strip.
~5,000 school-age children will need to find new schools.
~42 daycare centers will be closed in the Gaza Strip.
~36 kindergartens will be closed in the Gaza Strip.
~7 elementary schools will be closed in the Gaza Strip.
~3 high schools will be closed in the Gaza Strip.
~320 mobile homes, ordered by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will serve as temporary housing for settlers, with approximately 300 additional mobile homes to be ordered in the future.
~45,000 Israeli soldiers and policemen are expected to participate in the Gaza withdrawal.
~$1.7billion is theapproximate cost to the Israeli government for the withdrawal initiative.
~166 active Israeli farmers will be moved out of Gaza.
~800 cows, comprising the second largest dairy farm in Israel, will be moved out of Gush Katif.
~$120million in flowers and produce exported annually from Gush Katif will be lost.

This is just part of the list. Read what else is lost at For Zion's Sake, our Link of the Week.

Also, my show today with Author, David Johnson on his book, "The Land is Still Mine", brings out some important points.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/22/05)

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Saturday, August 20, 2005

Court Rules Atheism is a Religion



Wow! the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday in the case of an inmate who wanted to start an atheist group in prison, that "Atheism is [the inmate's] religion, and the group that he wanted to start was religious in nature even though it expressly rejects a belief in a supreme being." the court ruled that, according to WorldNetDaily, "Wisconsin prison officials violated an inmate's rights because they did not treat atheism as a religion."

This will undoubtedly be used in religious freedom cases in the future.

Is atheism a religion? When its very tenants are anti-religious? Just take a look at all these links.

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Friday, August 19, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Liberals Fight Tony Blair


52 people were killed in the four July 7th bombings in London by terrorists. All you have to do is look at the faces of the victims to know why American and British soldiers are committed to end terrorism. The taking of innocent lives is never okay. And as long as there is life on earth there will be evil people who will try to take over the world, or dominate those they rule are over, or eliminate the 'unwanted' or devalued, et al. But there will also always be those who stand above the crowd in courage and commitment to protect the innocent and stop the evil-doers. No sane person wants war, but the anti-war movement people are out of touch with these realities. If good men do nothing (passivity) then evil will triumph.

Erick Stakelbeck joined me on the show today to talk about the challenges Tony Blair is experiencing with his own Labor Party over allowing inspections of mosques to find terrorist operatives. Once again liberals fight to protect the rights of the victimizers vs. the victims. This time for...votes. Bogles the mind.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/19/05)

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Thursday, August 18, 2005

A Sad Day in Israel

Watch and weep


The following pictures are worth more than a thousand words. Jews have thought that Israel, their homeland, would be a safe place for them to live. To have your own government evacuate you is devastating.


4Slide show:
Click here and then scroll down to launch.

4Video: Jews being evacuated. Be patient, it takes a little while to download, even after it says 'Done'.



Israeli Soliders removing Jews from their Synagogue


Will this bring peace to Israel? I don't think so. The Palestinian leaders say after Gaza, then Jenin and Jerusalem. This Middle East 'land-grabbing' isn't going to stop.



Related:
Joyful Palestinians Laugh and Cheer Pull-out

4Comment

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Iraqi People are Grateful to the U.S.



With all the anti-war protesting going on in Crawford, TX with Cindy Sheehan and crowd, I think it's very interesting to note that despite these kinds of efforts, enlistments are up in the military. This is particularly worthy of note in an all-volunteer 'army' and during a time of war. If this doesn't point out that there is a clear distinction between the anti-war mentality and that of our courageous men and women who choose to lay their lives on the line for their country (us) and the cause of freedom, what else will?

My show today with the late Steven Vincent, author of In The Red Zone, also clearly points out the gratitude the Iraqi people have for what our American soldiers. Steven lost his life tragically in Iraq at the hands of two Iraqi thugs, earlier this month. This was his 3rd trip to Iraq. Why would he as well as our soldiers chooose to go back to Iraq? Courage. Purpose. Love.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/17/05)

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Tuesday, August 16, 2005

NewsBusters' First Week - Rush Limbaugh Mentions on Show



The Media Research Center's new Super Blog, NewsBusters, had a great first week. Following are just a few highlights from the Editor, Greg Sheffield. It's definately a site to bookmark if you want to stay on top of the MSM liberal spin:

FIRST WEEK

We had an eventful first week. After being around for only two days, Rush Limbaugh mentioned one of you, Noel Sheppard, on the air.

Limbaugh’s brother, David Limbaugh, also wrote an article for us last week.

The British newspaper The Observer mentioned NewsBusters and said it “looks set to become the most influential” site about media criticism. It was comparing us to MediaMatters.org.


Check it out. I think you'll like it.

Your can read my posts on NewsBusters here.

4Comment

Soldiers are Met with Tears, Prayers and Songs in Gaza

No fights from Jewish Families

Just in from WorldNetDaily - "Thousands of Israeli police and soldiers moments ago entered the largest community in Gaza's Gush Katif slate of Jewish neighborhoods to inform residents they must leave within the next few hours or they will be removed forcibly." But the Israeli forces were met by hundreds of residents who are 'following the Jewish way' as one rabbi described, "Fighting is not the Jewish way...We are about to embark on a difficult journey. Let's keep our spirits up."

In the synagogue Rabbis were calling for peace and praying for Gush Katif.

What a day for the Jews. In so many ways I feel like I'm reading a segment out of the Old Testament, except that in a democracy now they can demonstrate.

What will be the outcome of all this down the road?

Related:
Tears, Fears and 'Hava Nagila'

4Comment

20,000 Israeli Forces to Evacuate Jews on Tuesday

Israeli forces delivering eviction notices

Yesterday soldiers and police officers going door to door with eviction notices to Jews in the Gaza Strip informing them they have 48 hours to leave on their own, or they will be removed by force, will carry out the actual evacuation today. According to WorldNetDaily 20,000 forces, about 17 to 20 officers per Katif home, will be used to physically remove occupants. FOX News reported that those who don't cooperate could lose 30% of their 'compensation'.

Extremely emotional for residents, and for some Israeli forces, one woman screamed, "Don't uproot us. Refuse orders." And a crowd of about 80 children cried, "Jews do not evacuate Jews!"

4Comment

Monday, August 15, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Terror Cells Around the World



Interestingly, four news sources out of India, the Mid-Day Mumbai, Hindustan Times, India Daily and New Kerala all reported that according to a leaked warning in a bulletin issued by the US Dept. of Homeland Security, Al Qaeda is plotting to attack US cities and London using hijacked fuel tankers as bombs by driving into petrol stations in an effort to cause mass casualties about the time of the anniversary of September 11th. Read more.

We re-aired my 1/2 hr. interview with Lorenzo Vidino, Deputy Director of Steve Emerson's Investigative Project, on today's show. He talked about terror cells around the world and what needs to be done. You can hear it online using the link below.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/15/05)

4Comment

Washington Posts Acknowledges Sheehan's Changed Story



While Frank Rice of the New York Times criticized President Bush in his op-ed on Sunday, Newsweek ran a balanced report of the President's private meetings with over 200 familes who have lost loved ones in the war. Here's just the beginning of what Rice wrote:
"LIKE the Japanese soldier marooned on an island for years after V-J Day, President Bush may be the last person in the country to learn that for Americans, if not Iraqis, the war in Iraq is over. 'We will stay the course,' he insistently tells us from his Texas ranch. What do you mean we, white man? A president can't stay the course when his own citizens (let alone his own allies) won't stay with him."

Here's more coverage:

Surprising Coverage by Newsweek on Bush response to Grieving Parents


Washington Post Acknowledges Sheehan changed her story

Sheehan's husband files for divorce

Ralph Nader's open letter to Cindy Sheehan.


4Comment

Yesterday Japan's Surrender. Today Jews Being Forced to...



We are at war. More threats exist. Russia and China are conducting joint military training, and Islamic terrorist plots know no limit to which countries will be attacked. Then there's the conflict in the Middle East, with the Jews being 'disengaged' (thrown out of) their homes and land in expulsion of Jews by their own government. Disgraceful!

Yesterday as V-J Day was being remembered, Israel commemorated Tisha B'Av a day of mourning the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people. Today another tragic chapter is written in their 'history book' as they begin to be deported from their own homes and land in Gaza. (Did I mention that the Jews only own 7% of the land in Israel, and now even some of that is being taken away from them?).


Lest we forget the ultimate purpose, here is what Arafat's successor said,

"Today, our march to freedom begins. Tomorrow, it will be Jenin's turn and after that Jerusalem. From here, our people begin the march towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital" -Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Leader on Israeli Gaza pullout


8,000 - 9,000 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip, and hundreds in the West Bank, will have to leave.

Read what I think about this on Page Two

© Sharon Hughes 2005

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

4Comment

World's First Cloned Dog - Just in case you Missed It



Just in case you missed the professor's quote...

"I hope as many countries as possible will [avoid] stupid regulations and restrictions; stupid meaning without scientific and reasonable contents, like just prohibiting all human material research."

After cloning a cow, a pig and a human embryo Hwang Woo-suk, professor of theriogenology (animal reproduction) and biotechnology at Seoul National University, cloned a dog, Snuppy.

Related:
Cloning Man's Best Friend

4Comment

Friday, August 12, 2005

MSM's Coverage of Bush's Sympathy for Cindy Sheehan Lacking



I find it interesting that there's little coverage online by the MSM of President Bush's most recent comments of sympathy for Cindy Sheehan, not CNN, ABC, et al. However, the Seattle Times did post them:

"I sympathize with her. She feels strongly about her, about her position, " Bush said. "And I am -- she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position. And I've thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is, 'Get out of Iraq now.' And it would be -- it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run, if we were to do so," Bush said. "I grieve for every death," Bush said. "It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one. I understand the anguish that some feel about the death that takes place."

Sheehan's response?

"The president says he feels compassion for me," she said after learning what he'd said. "But the best way to show that compassion is by meeting with me and the other mothers and families who are here. Our sons made the ultimate sacrifice, and we want answers. All we're asking is that he sacrifice an hour out of his five-week vacation to talk to us, before the next mother loses her son in Iraq."

It will be interesting to see how much coverage will be given to a reportedly "Support our Troops" counter-event to be held in Crawford, Texas on Saturday, August 13 at noon, garnered by The ConservativeVoice.com.

Related: Bush to mother who lost son in Iraq: 'I grieve'

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Protesting Mom's Original Comments on Visit with Bush




While reporting on Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier who died in Iraq, who is camping out at Crawford, Texas until she gets a second meeting with the President, the MSM (main-stream media) is either ignoring or down-playing the conflicting stories of her first meeting with President Bush. Flanked by anti-war activists Sheehan is highly critical of the President today. But that was not the case a year ago, according to an interview she gave her local Vacaville, California newspaper.

For the Record, here it is: (Thanks to the Drudge Report) "I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith." The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith. While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support. For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each. "It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war." The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected. For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle. For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again. "That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said. Comment

Related:
Protesting Mom Changed Story on Bush

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Aides' Notes Conflict on Judge Roberts' Meeting with Senator Wyden



Judge Roberts meets with Senator Wyden

As Judge Roberts is making the rounds in the Senate regarding his confirmation to the Supreme Court, a conflict between the notes of Senator Ron Whyden's aide and a White House aide on Roberts meeting with the democrat Senator from Oregon was reported by the NT Times today. After Roberts met with Wyden on Tuesday, Wyden said he asked Judge Roberts a question to get his views on Congress's intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo, and that Roberts refused to discuss the case specifically, but rather said, "I am concerned with judicial independence. Congress can prescribe standards, but when Congress starts to act like a court and prescribe particular remedies in particular cases, Congress has overstepped its bounds." On Wednesday, Ed Gillespie, for the White House sent a letter to The New York Times, saying notes taken by a White House aide during the session tell a different story, that Roberts actually said, "I am aware of court precedents which say Congress can overstep when it prescribes particular outcomes in particular cases." Which story will get the most press?

Related:
Roberts & Wyden Meeting

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

The Battling of Ads Begins on Roberts


NARAL TV Ad

NARAL Pro-Choice America began spending its designated $500,000 Wednesday for TV ads on CNN and FOX against the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. to the Supreme Court, focusing on the abortion-related case Roberts made to the Supreme Court when he was working for the first Bush administration as the principal deputy solicitor general everyone has heard about by now. Progress for America, is set to counter the ads by running their own ad on the same stations. Their set to spend $300,000 in this battle of the ads. What is the point? To persuade public opinion, which will (they are hoping) then put pressure on confirmation committee members. So it becomes a question of who will win on the grassroots level?

Related:
TV Ad Attacking Court Nominee Provokes Furor

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Top HMO Execs Salaries - Whew!



If you missed the show - here's some shocking figures! HMOs say that any increase in their costs of treating patients will require them to raise premiums, making them too costly, and causing many to go without insurance… And yet some of the HMO Executive salaries in 2003 earned amazing amounts of money…for instance, based on public filings with the Security and Exchange Commission: The highest paid health care HMO executive was Oxford Health Plans CEO Norman C. Payson, who last year was paid a salary of $76,010,825. Leonard D. Schaeffer, chairman and CEO of Well Point was second on the list with a salary of $21,765,532. The 3rd and 4th place earned over $7 m. The average salary of the 20 highest-paid executives on the list was approximately $15 million. And United Health CEO William W. McGuire held nearly $530,000,000 in unexercised stock options in 2002 in addition to his salary. What in the world could Norman Payson be doing for Oxford to merit $76 million a year, or any of the other CEO’s? This is outrageous!

Related:
Top Salaries - Check it out for yourself
Health Administration Responsibility Project - list of related articles

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/10/05)

4Comment

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

MRC Launches New Super Blog - NewsBusters



The MRC's (Media Research Center) blog site, NewsBusters, "Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias," launched today - THE blog site for tracking and correcting liberal media bias. I'm very happy to say I've been asked to contribute analysis for this great effort. The George Soros' funded liberal MediaMatters.org was criticizing before it even launched. Newsbusters is a site to definately bookmark if you want to stay on top of the real media spin machine. You can read my latest post on Newsbusters here.

Other MRC Divisions you may already be familiar with are: CNSNews.com, TimesWatch.org, and Free Market Project.


Related:

Media Research Center Site
About MRC

© Sharon Hughes 2005

4Comment

NY Times Editorial - "One Mother in Crawford" Impeachment Tour



Today's NY Times' editorial covering Cindy Sheehan's "Impeachment Tour" from California to Crawford, Texas, where she hopes to meet again with President Bush for "a more substantive discussion" on the war in Iraq, described Ms. Sheehan's grievances:

"Ms. Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Baghdad. She says she and her family met privately with Mr. Bush two months later, and she is sharply critical of how the president acted. He did not know her son's name, she says, acted as if the meeting was a party and called her "Mom" throughout, which she considered disrespectful."

As a mother of sons, and the wife of a Vietnam Vet, I can only imagine the heartache of her loss, however, for the NY Tiimes to capitalize on this to promote their obvious bias on the war is another thing...

"Mr. Bush obviously failed to comfort Ms. Sheehan when he met with her and her family... More important, he has not helped the nation give fallen soldiers like Casey Sheehan the honor they deserve...Perhaps most troubling, Mr. Bush is not leveling about where things stand with the war."

The unnamed author of this editorial obviously finds liberty to make such broad-brush, non-objective conclusions from his or her editorial page editor, Gail Collins, who reasons, “Objectivity is not a standard — it’s a perpetual struggle to do the right thing...Sources for information are so multitudinous that there is no way to impose quality control.”

The piece also failed to mention that Ms. Sheehan has surrounded herself with dedicated anti-war activists, is herself one, and is President and co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.

Related:
NY Times Editorial - "One Mother in Crawford"
Cindy Sheehan's speech at Veterans for Peace conference, August 2005
Gold Star Families for Peace
Cindy Sheehan at Crawford pictures

© Sharon Hughes 2005

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Monday, August 08, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Positive PR for Israel


The San Francisco Chronicle is running a series on the disengagement plan of ousting Jews from their land in Israel. Will it remain personal interest or show its liberal bias? We'll have to see. My guest today, John Carey, Founder of BlueStarPR out of the San Francisco Bay Area has been working to promote positve PR about Israel. You can see examples of billboards and posters here. But what he had to say on the show re: reactions and the realities of the growing anti-semitism in America is something my husband said, "everyone needs to hear this show."

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/8/05)

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Marc Morano on Hannity & Colmes Tonight re Belafonte



Tune in to hear Marc Morano, Sr. Staff Writer for CNSNews.com and Changing Worldviews Washington correspondent, on Hannity & Colmes tonight, 8/8/05, on his article, "Harry Belafonte Calls Black Republicans 'Tyrants'"

Related:
Harry Belafonte Calls Black Republicans 'Tyrants'

Friday, August 05, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Stakelbeck Show - Technical Difficulties

this is an audio post - click to play

Special message from Sharon



I must say that Tony Blair is certainly taking the bull by the horns in regards to aggressively dealing with terrorists in his country, despite the tough time his own Labor Party is giving him on it. Erick shared some great information on the show today. However, due to technical difficulties it was not able to get posted to our online radio streaming at Oneplace.com, but will be available next week. In the meantime, here's a link I think you'll find interesting: Terrorists Turn to the Web as Base of Operations.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


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Thursday, August 04, 2005

Cheney a Ranting Lunatic?


John Nichols, The Nation's Washington correspondent, who has also covered elections for The Progressive and has had his articles appear in The New York Times, criticized Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday on The Nation's blog sight, for comments he made on CNN's Larry King Live back in June."

Nichols wrote, "Vice President Dick Cheney, who predicted on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, that Americans would be "greeted as liberators," has in recent weeks been peddling a new line of spin. If Cheney was not in charge of U.S. foreign policy, he could be dismissed as a ranting lunatic."

What's the 'spin' Cheney is guilty of according to Nichols? For saying he thinks there's been major progress in Iraq and that, "I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.'"

Nichols then contrasts Dick Cheney's 'spin' to John Kerry's words before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971, "Any attempt to address Cheney's rhetorical excesses brings to mind the words of a young veteran from another misguided and unnecessary war. 'How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?'
For Cheney, that's simple: Just keep telling the young men and women who are marching to their deaths that they will be greeted as liberators and that the enemy is so weak that it is in its 'last throes.' In other words, just keep spinning a slurry of fantasy and lies into U.S. policy."

I'm one of those people who believes a picture is worth a thousand words, and the one above certainly is powerful enough to make the point that there are Iraqis who are grateful for the liberation that has come to their country. And there are accounts of Iraqis who supported the War in Iraq early on. For instance, when I interviewed Steven Vincent on his book, In the Red Zone, on my show he shared of Iraqis who told him while he was embedded three times there, that they wanted the Americans to take Baghdad, but that they also knew Saddam Hussein had WMDs and "would kill them" (the Iraqis) in the battle, but nevertheless they wanted America to do it anyway.

But these kinds of accounts are seldom reported by the MSM. That's why we have to do it.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


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Wednesday, August 03, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! Gay-to-Straight Research



Today, those who have left the homosexual lifestyle find themselves discriminated against by the gay community, and with little or not voice in the media or in schools offering an alternative to the 'alternative gay lifestyle' being promoted to young students. Why? It's pretty obvious, because if it is acknowledged that a homosexual can change his sexual preference then it blows a hole in the stance that homosexuals are born that way and can't change. Dr. Warren Throckmorton, someone we've had on the show several times, had his research on Gay-To-Straight published in the APA's (American Psychological Association) June 2005 Journal, summarizing the experiences of thousands of individuals who have changed their sexual orientation as a result of reorientation ministries, such as Exodus International, and counseling.

Throckmorton writes in his paper, "For years, public and professional opinion of ex-gay ministries have been influenced by anecdotes from persons not helped by these ministries," and not of those who have. I highly recommend his website and the resources he has there.

Related:
Truth Comes Out CD - Great for Teens

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/3/05)


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Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Saddam Hussein's Trial to be on TV



Iraq's national security adviser, Muwaffaq Rubaie, announced that Saddam Hussein's trial will be shown on live TV. This is fantastic news! Hopefully as the world tunes in it will realize why he had to be taken out of power. According to Rubaie, Iraq wants to show the Arab and Muslim world "that this is going to be a fair, just trial with a defence counsel...a proper prosecuting counsel..." No date has been set for the trial yet.

Related:
Saddam's Trial on TV


© Sharon Hughes 2005


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Monday, August 01, 2005

HOT OFF THE SHOW! There Shall be No Religious Test




How surprised were you that President Bush went ahead and took advantage of the Congress Recess to install John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations? He said, "This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform."

Meanwhile, things are gearing up for confirmation hearings to begin on September 6th for John Roberts as Justice to the Supreme Court. One of the things I discussed with my guest today on the show, Tim Ewing, Publisher of Rare Jewel Magazine, was the 'legality' of questioning Roberts about his positions on the issues as they relate to his Catholicism. Tim reminded us that the Constitution says, "there shall be no religious test" for such appointments.

FOX News anchor Martha McCallum asked Judge Bork if it was fair game for Democrats to question Judge Roberts about how his religion would affect his decisions on the Court. Judge Bork said, "The question is not about his religion. The question really is, will he interpret the Constitution honestly?" Why should his religion be of concern to the liberals? The answer, of course, is obvious, because they know the position his religion takes on the issues, which they are scared to death of losing ground on.

© Sharon Hughes 2005


Hear today's show (See 8/1/05)


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I Made a Mistake...on Darwin



In my article Teachers Debate Teaching Creationism I wrote that Charles Darwin said that everyone believed in evolution except "the ignorant, stupid or wicked." Actually it was Richard Dawkins, a Darwin devotee, who said it. I should have double checked to make sure I was right on the quote. It's personally inexcusable, because it's very important to me that my facts are straight. I appreciate the several friendly 'heads up' I received on the misquote.

As would be expected, when writing on a subject like the evolution/creationism debate, I received many not so friendly emails. And I guess several bloggers so disagreed with me that they took the time to write about it, such as Jan Haugland who took the article apart point by point on his blog, Secular Blasphemy. I love it! That means he/they had to read the whole article. One opposing blogger, Andy, even put a link on his blog, The World Wide Rant, for folks to hear my radio show on the subject. Now, that's what I call creative networking! I'm always looking for more listeners :)

What cords did I strike to cause such a 'fever' in some? Why is it so important to so many that Darwin's theory of evolution be guarded? Why fight so hard for the belief that you came from apes? Part of what is going on I think is the resurgence of the consideration of teaching creationism in schools, such as with the Kansas Science hearings earlier this year.

Linda Holloway, Education Specialist for Concerned Women for America reported in Rare Jewel Magazine that pro-evolution scientists and teachers boycotted the hearing, while 24 witnesses for the Minority Report which included 17 scientists testified from the Intelligent Design perspective. If Darwin's theory were proven there would be no need to defend it anymore than there is a need to defend the fact that the earth is round. The debate is not really about science, it's about worldview...and which worldview will dominate in the classroom and in society.

Related:
Who is Richard Dawkins?

© Sharon Hughes 2005


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