Free In Idaho!

Nope. Not. Ever. Voting. McCain.

Lawdog was meditating on the idea of self defense yesterday, from which I’ll tempt you with this simple quote…

Now, let us ponder two more things.

The first is that police can not and should not be everywhere at all times. Omnipresent police activity is physically impossible and morally repugnant — it is the hallmark of an Orwellian dystopia.

Second is that a critter is not just the sum of his attack on one victim. A professional critter will victimize tens, scores — or even hundreds — of innocents during his career.

A very excellent meditation it is too.  Have you ever gotten angry to hear the local police spokesman suggest victims shouldn’t attempt to defend themselves?  Yeah, me too.  Lawdog disposes of that little gem as well.  Go. Read. Apply.

Is Obama more like JFK than Romney is like Ronald Reagan? Aren’t you glad the government is going to save us from recession and give us extra money? Does that yellow pantsuit make her look fat?

While our candidates argue about who said what when, and who can bring the most change, there is one thing that DOESN’T change, and that is the desire of jihadis to take the West down.  Except for an occassional soundbite of tough talk, the candidates of both parties seem to have forgotten how important it is to pay attention to those who seek to kill us.  From Spain, we have this news

MADRID, Spain (CNN) — Suspected Islamic extremists arrested last week in Barcelona were planning al Qaeda-style attacks in Spain, Germany, France, Britain and Portugal, according to an informant who “infiltrated” the group, Spain’s El Pais newspaper reports.
..
 The cell planned three attacks in Spain, one in Germany and others in France, Britain and Portugal, according to the informant, El Pais reported.

On Sunday, another El Pais story added that the “wave of attacks” was to have been carried out by the Barcelona group and other extremist Pakistani cells were to attack elsewhere in Europe.
..
 Al Qaeda was planning to take responsibility for the first attack in Barcelona through Baitullah Mehsud, a Taliban commander whom the Pakistani government blames for last month’s assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, El Pais reported.

“Only the leadership of the organization knows what requests the emir (Baitullah) will make after the first attack, but if they are not carried out, there will be a second attack in Spain, and a third,” a cell leader told the informant, El Pais reported. “And then in Germany, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom. There are many people prepared there.”

And, in case you’ve forgotten that these people can be deadly serious, remember this?

More than 300 suspected Islamic extremists have been arrested in Spain since the Madrid train bombings killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800 on March 11, 2004, Rubalcaba said.

Last October, more than a dozen Islamic extremists were convicted in Madrid for their roles in the train bombings.

The 2004 bombings came just three days before general elections, in which Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero won an upset victory.

The latest arrests in Barcelona come less than two months before the next general elections, to be held March 9, when Zapatero seeks re-election.

Elections, eh?  Hmmm.  Something about that word… ah, never mind, it’ll come to me.  Anyway, how about Iran?  Dare I suggest that all of the candidates have gone brain dead about Iran, now that they have a report that essentially says “Iranian nukes? Never mind..”.  Not a threat, eh?  Does this sound like an editorial in your local paper?

“But aren’t most of the sensitive centers of the Zionists, of the Americans, and of some European states that support Israel already situated within the arms’ reach of the Muslims? And aren’t the Zionists [vulnerable] and located within arms’ reach of the Muslims at the four corners of the earth? What human and legal basis can prevent an attack on these centers and people? Why must the savage, blood-letting Zionists and Americans be permitted to choose the field of battle as they wish? [Why are they permitted] to besiege the oppressed Palestinian brothers and sisters and their children, on the land that belongs to that helpless people, and to shoot at them night and day and to massacre them?

“America and its European and Zionist supporters must know that their support for Israel’s crimes will cost them very dearly. Once they discern that this support will cost them the property and lives of their citizens, they will doubtless reconsider their support for the savage Zionists… And didn’t the Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini] teach that if every Muslim pours out one bucket of water, there will be a flood that will sweep away Israel, and destroy it?

That’s your friendly, misunderstood Iranian Muslim newspaper op-ed.  Not a threat?  Then, let me ask you, does THIS news make you nervous?

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran received the final shipment of uranium fuel from Russia on Monday for its first nuclear plant, state media reported, a key step toward the launch of the reactor’s operations expected later this year.

The 5-ton consignment of enriched uranium arrived at the light-water Bushehr nuclear power plant on Monday morning, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

“With the arrival of the final shipment, all 82 tons of initial fuel needed for the power plant together with peripheral equipment has been shipped from Russia to Iran,” IRNA reported
..
The U.S. initially opposed Russian participation in the building of the Bushehr reactor and supplying it with fuel, but reversed its position about a year ago to obtain Moscow’s support for the first set of U.N. sanctions against Iran.

Washington was also influenced by Iran’s agreement to return spent nuclear fuel from the reactor back to Russia to ensure it doesn’t extract plutonium to make atomic bombs.

Russia began shipping nuclear fuel to Iran following a U.S. intelligence report released last month that concluded Tehran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in late 2003 and had not resumed it since. Iran maintains it never had a weapons program.

It also came after the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran had been truthful about its past uranium enrichment activities.

The United States and Russia have said the supply of nuclear fuel means Iran has no need to continue its own uranium enrichment program — a process that can provide fuel for a reactor or fissile material for a bomb.

There’s just something about reading those two articles, one beside the other, that just doesn’t seem to fit… but hey, the U.N. says they’re friendly, and none of the candidates seems to give a rip, so what the hey, let’s forget it.  What are you going to buy with the free money the government is going to give you?  And how many times are you going to pop it on your credit card before it actually comes in the mail?  Just wonderin’.

Our church congregation began 10 or so years ago and had a rather chaotic early history, going through a number of pastors, a split, and over that time meeting in a high school, the college, and finally another church’s building on Sundays after their service was over.  It has always been a prayer of our church to have a building of our own, close to town.  Last summer, we went through the process of buying a church property from a congregation that was closing up.  And for the last month or so there have been dozens of faithful folks volunteering time and talents towards getting the place into “serviceable” condition.

This morning our church celebrated our first worship service in our own building!  That’s a PRAISE for sure.  

We have so many more plans for it, and prayers.  It’s exciting to see what the Lord has provided, and how.  It’s exciting to pray and praise, and wonder “what is He going to do with us now?”  We are so very grateful.  Thank you Father, so much. 

Prayer of Dedication

Minister: O Eternal God,

The heavens cannot contain You,

let alone this small building.

But we pray that You would be present with us

as we dedicate this building to Your glory.

Be with us as we set it apart entirely for Your service,

separating it from all common and ordinary use.

People: Amen.

Here may You accept our sacrifices of prayer and praise,

and make them as such lively and sincere.

People: Amen.

Minister: Here may You bless the reading and preaching of Your holy Word,

granting those who listen ears to hear

and faith to believe all that You have promised.

People: Amen.

Minister: Here may those who are baptized be made

true and real members of Your church and fruitful

branches joined to the True Vine.

People: Amen.

Minister: Here may those who receive the Sacrament of the

body and blood of Christ do so with penitent hearts

and partake of the Living Bread.

People: Amen.

Minister: Here may those who are joined in marriage

faithfully fulfill their vows and remain

in perfect love all of their lives.

People: Amen.

Minister: Here may the faithful find salvation, and the careless be awakened.

May the doubting find faith, and the anxious be encouraged.

May the tempted find help, and the sorrowful comfort.

Here may the weary find rest, and the strong be renewed.

May the aged find consolation, and the young be inspired.

And may all who enter these doors find Jesus Christ the Son of God here,

In grace and mercy among His people. Grant this we pray, O Lord:

All: Amen.

This morning the Sunday Music is “Fairest Lord Jesus“.

Bill Quick over at Daily Pundit posted a piece yesterday afternoon to tell us why.

Why?

By doing so, you send a message that can’t be mistaken or spun. It is a message that says:

“I am a Republican who wanted to vote for a conservative GOP candidate, but wasn’t able to do so. I can’t vote for a Democrat, but I can’t vote for any of the Republicans, either. So I’m writing in the name of the candidate I wish I could have voted for, because he is the kind of candidate I could support.”

Read the whole thing. A lot of us are thinking the same thing.

Earlier this past year I had written in a post that camo clothing in Idaho was a pretty normal thing, even on campus.  It was in response to an anti-gun article I was commenting on, which used the wearing of camo as a danger/warning sign of someone you had to watch for “sudden nutjob shooting up the mall” syndrome.  In Idaho, even in big cosmopolitan Boise, the wearing of camo is pretty much a yawner.

So I was amused by Zimo, our local paper’s outdoor writer, when he attached these comments to the bottom of his Sunday article

I try to be fashion conscious.

I had to rent a tux for a banquet, and since I’m a wildlife photographer and also a waterfowl hunter, I wanted to make a fashion statement.

To my surprise, I found a tux with a camo flair.

Actually, it is a black tux with tails but the vest and bow tie are camo - Mossy Oak to be specific. Really cool.

I won’t mind showing up to the banquet with camo that matches the brown in my cowboy boots.

I did learn something that’s cool about Idaho. The store where I rented the tux had requests for the camo attire for four weddings last year.

Yup, four weddings where the guys wore Mossy Oak.

You’ve got to love it.

Wonder if they played duck calls instead of the wedding march?

Makes my point.  I love it here.

Mitt better hope he gets elected before the bill comes in the mail.  His Massachusetts healthcare plan isn’t much different from Hillary’s apparently, and real life is about to make a liar out of him.

 (CNSNews.com) - According to recent reports, the cost of Massachusetts’ health insurance mandate will rise 85 percent, or $400 million, in 2009. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), meanwhile, has been on the presidential campaign trail praising the program he put into place.

According to The Boston Globe, the cost increase is largely due to an increase in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized health insurance. State and federal taxpayers are likely to shoulder the cost increase.

Imagine that, you promise to give people something for nothing, and a whole bunch show up for it.  Romney has been bragging about making a plan that didn’t require raising taxes.  That turns out to be, uh, not exactly the whole story (he wouldn’t lie would he?  he seems like such a nice young man)

“We put in place a plan that gets every citizen in our state health insurance, and it didn’t cost us new money,” he said during the Republican debate in New Hampshire on Jan. 5. “It didn’t require us to raise taxes.”

“Mitt Romney likes to brag that he got universal coverage in Massachusetts without a tax increase,” said Tanner. “I don’t think that’s going to be true for long.”

Government run or government provided healthcare will blow this nation’s economy up, whether it’s a Democrat plan or a Republican plan.  You can’t give something for nothing.  The idea that you can somehow magically sign up a whole state, to say nothing about the whole country, and provide a health plan without raising taxes is baloney of the highest degree.  And for a nation that is so far in debt it can’t see tomorrow, it should be an immediate disqualification for any politician who proposes it can be done.  Romney care, Schwarzenegger care, or Hillary care… the whole idea is a socialist pipedream. 

“It didn’t cost any more money while he was governor because it wasn’t in effect while he was governor,” said Tanner, noting that Romney is likely to drop the issue while campaigning.

“He’s in a bit of a bind. It’s his signature accomplishment,” he said. “Mitt Romney has found out that you can’t be a little bit pregnant on government-run healthcare. It’s hard to tell everyone you’re the heir to Ronald Reagan while you’re touting Hillary Clinton’s health care plan. There is no material difference between the two.” 

I know it’s easy to go after John McCain over his open borders, anti-first amendment, liberal ideas.  But when I hear conservatives lining up behind Romney without much fuss, it makes me wonder if they’re paying attention.  The time for determining and refining the message of the GOP is right now, during the primary process.  Conservatives need to make their voices heard here, even more so since there is no conservative candidate in the race.  Universal healthcare is NOT a conservative idea, it is NOT a constitutional idea, and it is not even a GOOD idea!  It is the pet program of every “grow the government” nanny stater, and every socialist’s dream. National universal healthcare would finish the job of taking over the country that FDR started, and as long as Romney has it on his list, he’ll never make it onto mine.  How can I vote for a closet socialist?

Hey Mitt, can you hear us?  Are you listening?

This sounds like something Bill would say to his daily squeeze, but no, it’s the missus this time

The New York senator, joined here by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, promised she would keep South Carolina in her heart if elected.

“I want you to remember you were here tonight,” she said.

The article did not specify if cigars where given out.  And Monica could not be reached for comment.  But Bill added his own two cents worth

Mr. Clinton said voters can trust his wife to be there for them through “sunshine and storm.”

He did not need to remind them that she stuck by him throughout the numerous affairs and scandals of his own administration.  Yup, she’s a sticker alright.  Such poetry.  Such sincerity.  You can tell she means it because she sounds so “down home”.

“It is important that once again the American dream is within reach of anybody willin’ to work for it,” affecting the twang she sometimes gets when dropping the letter “g” from her words.

And you voters can expect the same fine treatment after you make her the next President of the United States.  Eight more years of two of the most corrupt politicians in modern American history.  And the best the GOP can do is Rudy McRombee?  Ouch, this is gonna hurt, and I’m sure we’ll remember it for a long time to come.