May There Always Be Sunshine

May There Always Be Sunshine! (Russian:Пусть всегда будет солнце!) is a Soviet Russian song, written for children. It was created in 1962, music was composed by Arkady Ostrovsky and the lyrics were written by Lev Oshanin.
Bright blue the sky.
Sun up on high—
That was the little boy's picture
He drew for you
Wrote for you, too
Just to make clear what he drew.
Chorus:
May there always be sunshine,
May there always be blue skies,
May there always be mummy,
May there always be me!
My little friend,
Listen, my friend,
Peace is the dream of the people
Hearts old and young
Never have done
Singing the song you have sung.
Chorus
Soldier lad, stay!
Hear what we say—
War would make all of us losers
Peace is our prize
Millions of eyes
Anxiously gaze at the skies.
Chorus
Down with all war!
We want no more.
People stand up for you children
Sing everyone—
Peace must be won,
Dark clouds must not hide the sun.
Chorus

I'm Scared, I'm Very, Very Scared

Random Thoughts on the Morning After the Sky Fell

Last night, according to all the news channels, the sky fell.

So, I thought I would offer a few random thoughts the morning after.

• Sometimes, I get the feeling that the press and politicians are turning this into more of a crisis than it really is.
• Does anyone else think it is sort of encouraging that the House of Representatives actually represented the people yesterday?
• Which reminds me of some Mark Twain quotes: "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while Congress is in session", and "The only difference between the taxidermist and the tax man is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."
  
• Mr. D and I went to the bank this morning to move a couple IRAs to a more secure place. I asked the banker about loans, since all we hear on the T and V set is that the money is tightening up and soon all business everywhere will have no cash flow and no houses will be purchased ever again and all retirement accounts will have a 0 balance and no one will have a job. She said they are still closing loans, but they are getting more difficult. For example, they no longer do 80/20 loans. Having no idea what an 80/20 loan was, she explained that people take out two loans. They borrow the down payment of 20%. What in the world? Who knew you could do that? She said loans are still being closed for qualified buyers and businesses.
• I don't get how people think that Obama can help this mess.
• I think that the liberal press is really mean to Sarah Palin and I don't much care for Tina Fey or Katie Couric.
• Frank, Dodd, Pelosi=hubris
• I see that tomorrow night, one of McCain's fellow POWs will be at the Eden Prairie McCain Office working the phone banks and meeting people. I'd go if I didn't already have other plans.
• Fall is beautiful. I love the colorful leaves against the bright blue sky.
• The thief comes to kill and steal and destroy, but God takes care of me and He is always loving and faithful to all who call on His name.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

...the rain was pouring down, his jacket was off, his white dress-shirt was clinging to his body...

"The beginning of a trashy, murder mystery novel", you ask?

"No," say I, "The beginning of an ABC news article describing an Obama campaign stop."

Unbelievable

Someone has to say it. That disgusting Charlie Gibson interview where Sarah Palin tells the world that she can see Russia and everyone is making her out to be an idiot. Take a look at it. It's at about 4:20. Could it be any more obviously edited to make it look like she answered the question with only the, "I can see Alaska from my house," line? Seriously, I'm really sick of the media and their obvious biased editing.

I suppose I will have to break down and watch the Couric interview, but from what I saw, it was obvious that Palin was highly distracted by something. There was something else going on. Don't know if it's the editing or what.

But, Biden tells a disabled vet in a wheelchair to stand, tells us that Roosevelt spoke on the T and V set in 1929 when he wasn't even president and the T and V set wasn't available till the late 30's. Really, he gets a pass.

Now I see that they are attacking McCain because he "lied". It seems Normandy wasn't the greatest invasion in history. Turns out the greatest invasion in history was Operation Barbarossa. Who knew?

Please, I'm begging. DON'T VOTE FOR OBAMA!

A Classic

When I was little, my parents had a book shelf on which sat the entire set of Harvard Classics. There were lots of books that were worth the read, but to a 10 year old, the only one that really stuck out was Volume 17. It was entitled Folklore and Fable: Aesop, Grimm, Anderson. Looking over the list of titles as an adult, I now see that I would be a much more learned person, had I opened the rest up. But I stuck with the Fairy Tales.

One from Aesop seems appropriate for these times. It would be a good story for Congress to take a minute and read. But, I hear from Nancy that things are back on track now that McCain is leaving them alone. Here's a little story for you to enjoy as you wait for Nancy, Barney, and Christopher to tell us how much corn we are going to have to fork over to the grasshopper,

The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”
“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”
“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
“IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS OF NECESSITY.”

The Fox is Guarding the Hen House

Jennifer has this on her political blog. It's long, 9 minutes, but it offers some insight that is hard to find on MSNBC. ;-)

Every time I see Dodd or Frank blaming McCain, the Republicans, Bush, the free market system, or whoever, I want to shout to the world, "Hey, world, you've got the fox guarding the hen house."

And, the blame shifting? Well, I guess that goes back to The Garden. You know, it was the woman, no it was the serpent. Whoever it was, we ended up with a problem that had to be fixed by someone who had NOTHING to do with it. And, it cost a lot.

Note to Obama

This is the line that bothered me the most during the debate last night.
Barack said:

“The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. There are some programs that are very important that are under-funded. I want to increase early childhood education....”

Hey Barack, we need the hatchet. There will be time later for the scalpel.

Hey Barack, we don't need more (or any if you ask me) funding for "early childhood education".

PBS Poll on Palin

Say that fast 10 times.

Anywho, PBS is taking a poll asking the nation if Sarah is qualified. You can go here to vote. When I voted it was almost 50/50, but the person who sent me the link said it was 60/40 against poor Sarah when she voted. So, let's turn this around in a big way.

Happy Autumnal Equinox

Here's your NASA photo of the day in honor of the Autumnal Equinox.

And, here is a great post. Be sure and watch the video first. Then, (don't cheat watch the video first), click on the word "here" that is in the post.

Things the Government Should Do

• Preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
• Defend me, my family, and my stuff
• Not take my money or my stuff and give it to other people who don't have as much money or stuff
• Not take other people's money and give it to me because I don't have as much money or stuff as they do
• Not waste the tax money they demand from me (under penalty of law)
• Not use my tax money to kill babies (or do research with fetal stem cells)

Things People Should Generally Be Responsible for Without Help from Anyone Except God

• A place to live
• Food
• Clothes
• Medical Care
• Education

Things Individuals and Charities Should Help Provide for People if They Really, Really Need It

• A place to live
  
• Food
• Clothes
  
• Medical Care

Things the Government Shouldn't Take My Money and Provide Me or Anyone Else With

• A House
• Food
• A College Education
• Medical Care

Internet Rumors to Pass Along

I received this forward in my e-mail this morning. I thought I'd pass it on because of my love of conspiracy theories and also because I predicted it (only I said by the end of September). Biden is saying such goofy things that the have to get rid of him, but have to come up with a good reason. Plus, October surprises are not new and often are helpful.

My theory was that his reason would be a "family" emergency. (To mock the idea that Sarah Palin has a Down Syndrome baby and a pregnant teenage daughter, but is so career driven that she wouldn't give up her political ambition to take care of her family.) But, a "health crisis" for Biden would work, also, and give him a last minute out.

So, I invite you to theorize with me. If Biden goes, and Hillary enters, what excuse will Biden give? Let me know what you think.

Here's the forward I received.

On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2.

There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info. Generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the "health problem" cited in those articles was an aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same rumblings. However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is.

The First Birthday Party

A small boy. A scary large chocolate cake.

The paparazzi showed up.

The cake was delicious. The end.

I LOVE Conspiracy Theories

Remember my post about Obama and the 57 States?

Well, thanks to a forward I just received from the Pfaus, it is taking on a fun, new conspiracy theory twist.

I love conspiracy theories, except the movie Conspiracy Theory was too intense for me, so I stopped watching at the end and never found out what happened because Mr. D refused to tell me. He also refused to tell me how Air Force One ended, but he said it was a very exciting ending. So, I don't like suspense. It's too suspenseful.

Anyway, back to the 57 states. According to the forward from the Pfaus, Rush Limbaugh mentioned that there are 57 Islamic states. So, I googled. Sure enough, there are.

Although, the Wiki article seems to have been tampered with. In the "cached" stuff it says 57 states. And, on the sidebar it says 57 states, but in the body of the article, it says 51 states. There you have it, another conspiracy.

Just How Low Can it Get?

Someone is selling this.

Poetry Monday

Afternoon With Grandmother
by Barbara A. Huff

I always shout when Grandma comes,
But Mother says, "Now please be still
And good and do what Grandma wants."
And I say, "Yes, I will."

So off we go in Grandma's car,
"There's a brand new movie quite near by,"
She says, "that I'd rather like to see."
And I say, "So would I."

The show has horses and chases and battles;
We gasp and hold hands the whole way through.
She smiles and says, "I liked that lots."
And I say, "I did, too."

"It's made me hungry, though," she says,
"I'd like a malt and tarts with jam.
By any chance are you hungry, too?"
And I say, "Yes, I am."

Later at home my Mother says,
"I hope you were careful to do as bid.
Did you and Grandma have a good time?"
And I say, "YES, WE DID!!!"

For the Record

2007 Income Obama-$4,200,000 with $240,000 charitable contributions (5.7%)

2007 Income McCain-$405,409 with $105,467 charitable contributions (24%)

2007 Income Biden-$320,000 with $993 charitable contributions (0.3%)

Palin's tax records were not yet available.

Joe Biden averaged $369 per year in contributions for the last 10 years. Of course, we know that number is a few billion low. After all, he's given away billions in the last 10 years, it just wasn't all his money.

Also, the salary of members of Congress is around $165,000. Shouldn't someone be asking the question, "How did Obama make $4.2 million last year?"

Will is One Today!

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

Charlie, the School Superintendent

I wonder if Charlie Gibson, who sat there with his nose in the air (probably was trying to keep his spectacles in place) as he interviewed Mrs. Palin yesterday, thought twice when asked to do the interview. Did he ponder whether or not he was the man best qualified to do it? Or, did he say yes immediately. Because if he did, I think that type of unwavering confidence borders on hubris.

Mr. D thought Charlie looked like the Superintendent calling in the new Principal to question her qualifications or give her a scolding.

Did anyone else think that the camera angle on Charlie was from a low position, making him look elevated and the camera on Mrs. Palin was from above, making her look small? Maybe it was just me.

I think the McCain campaign should have gone with someone more fair than Charlie Gibson, say, for example, Chris Matthews.

Good thing for Sarah, that she was able to remember all the answers that her handlers told her to say. And, that she remembered how to correctly pronounce Saakashvili.

By the way, if Charlie would Google "Bush Doctrine" he might realize that there is more to the "Bush Doctrine" than preemptive strikes. The phrase came about after 9/11 and originally meant that the United States had the right to treat countries that harbor or aid terrorist groups as terrorists themselves, then it evolved to mean more. So, Mrs. Palin was correct in asking him what he meant by it. Charlie was misinformed or underinformed.

Alessandra Stanley of the NYTimes wrote:

ABC News delivered the first glimpse of Palin without a script or a cheering audience, and it was a strained and illuminating conversation. Palin, who kept inserting Gibson's nickname, "Charlie," into her answers, as if to convey an old hand's conviviality, tried to project self-confidence, poise and even expertise: She let Gibson know that she had personally reassured the Georgian prime minister and correctly pronounced his last name, Saakashvili. At times, her voice hesitated, and she looked like a student trying to bend prepared answers to fit unexpected questions.

Thank you NY Times for informing us that she was able to fake poise and expertise. And that she could pronounce Saakashvili correctly. Can you imagine if they had said that about Biden? No one would have thought twice if he had pronounced a name incorrectly.

Anyone Else Notice This?

Yesterday, I happened to catch Obama and McCain visiting the 9/11 site. I watched as they presented their roses and noted that Obama just tossed his while John and Cindy McCain bent over and somberly placed theirs. Perhaps they were faking, but the McCains showed the respect and dignity the event deserved.



Maybe I'm overreacting here, but if Obama's big problem is that we need to negotiate with people, he certainly has a lot to learn about the small things that can cause difficulties in building relationships. Showing respect and offering words of comfort at somber events is a thing the President does a lot. (And, something I believe George W. Bush did quite well.)

Also, if you are going to pride yourself on your ability to negotiate with foreign leaders, you need to watch your mouth. Obviously, you can't call someone a pig, but even if you didn't mean to call someone a pig and it accidentally sounded like you did, you don't stand up the next day and tell the world that the person it sounded like you called a pig, but didn't mean to call a pig, is just being too picky.

Instead, you say, "Yesterday, while speaking off the cuff, I accidentally used an analogy using the words "lipstick" and "pig". Wait for laugh and then say, "I was referring to some policies that I thought were the same old thing in disguise. I was horrified to learn later that some believed I was referring to the Republican VP candidate. I was not and am so sorry and feel so strongly about keeping this campaign focused on the issues that I wanted to start the day making the clarification."

I'll bet he would have gone up two per cent in the polls if he had said that. Instead, he demonstrated to the world his inability to reach across the aisle and also his ungentlemanliness.

Prediction

I predict that Biden will drop out of the race (for some reason that will make him look good, like his family needs him or something like that) by the end of September and Hillary Clinton will be the new running mate.

You heard it here first.

We Deserve Judgment

Joycelyn Elders (Surgeon General of the US under Clinton) testified before Congress in the spring of 1990. She said:

Abortion has had an important, and positive, public- health effect in that it has reduced the number of children afflicted with severe defects. The number of Down's Syndrome infants in Washington State in 1976 was 64 percent lower than it would have been without legal abortion.

Listen to Michele Bachmann on Planned Parenthood

(Did you know her name is spelled with one "l" and two "n's"? Ya learn something new every day.)

I'm Glad Palin Didn't Say This

I'm sure he meant to say 47 states, but it's still funny. Can you imagine what would have happened if Sarah Palin had said this?

From AP News

Here are two quotes from an AP news article:

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama acknowledged Sunday that he was probably too flip when he said it was "above my pay grade" to answer a question about when is a baby entitled to human rights.

A Roman Catholic, Biden said he accepts his church's teachings that life begins at conception, but that the issue is personal for him. He said it wouldn't be right to impose his views on others who are just as religious as he is.
"I'm prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception. But that is my judgment," Biden said on NBC's "Meet the Press.""For me to impose that judgment on everyone else who is equally and maybe even more devout than I am seems to me is inappropriate in a pluralistic society."

So, Biden believes that life begins at conception, but wants to let others kill their babies because he doesn't want to impose his beliefs on others.
Reagan had this to say about abortion:

If you don't know whether a body is alive or dead, you would never bury it. I think this consideration itself should be enough for all of us to insist on protecting the unborn.

Poetry Monday and The Traditional Birthday Photo that No One Usually Sees

The Birthday Child
by Rose Fyleman

Everything's been different
All the day long,
Lovely things have happened,
Nothing has gone wrong.

Nobody has scolded me,
Everyone has smiled.
Isn't it delicious
To be a birthday child?

I'm Sure This Makes Sense to Barb J.

Happy Birthday, Mr. D!

Yet More Thoughts on a Female VP

Doug Wilson has some good things to say about Palin and female leaders.

More on the idea of a female VP

Here's a good article from The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that nicely sums up what I believe.

Thoughts on a Female VP

Dr. Al Mohler offered these thoughts about the Palin nomination. I find myself in agreement with him. Especially this part. "I believe that women as CEOs in the business world and as officials in government are no affront to Scripture."

I will heartily cast my vote for the McCain-Palin ticket because of my view of the role of the President.

We do not have a king, we have a President, who is just one of us. To suggest that Mrs. Palin's election would somehow place American men in subjection to a woman demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of how our country works. In a sense, all of us rule when you think of it. That, is the amazing thing about America. We are all one small piece of the government. A constitutional republic. Really, a document rules us, not a person.

Here's what Mohler wrote:

Do I believe that a woman can serve well in the office of Vice President of the United States? Yes. As a matter of fact, I believe that a woman could serve well as President -- and one day will. Portraits of significant men of history hang on the walls of my library --but so do portraits of Queen Elizabeth I of England and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The New Testament clearly speaks to the complementary roles of men and women in the home and in the church, but not in roles of public responsibility. I believe that women as CEOs in the business world and as officials in government are no affront to Scripture. Then again, that presupposes that women -- and men -- have first fulfilled their responsibilities within the little commonwealth of the family.

Is this kind of public role what most women want? Clearly not, and for that I am honestly thankful. The tasks assigned to women within the home are monumental. The maternal role is crucial, and the vast majority of women find their greatest fulfillment in this role -- and for good reason. In the roles of wives and mothers women do what no one else can do so naturally and so well.

As Long as I'm on a Roll

Here is the statement released last Friday by Obama's spokesman.

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

Interesting, isn't it that they mentioned she was the "former mayor" of a town of 9,000, but forgot to mention that SHE IS THE CURRENT GOVERNOR OF THE LARGEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY!

So, why do you think she brought up the "community organizer" thing?

Funny isn't it, how he's babbling and whining about her forgetting to mention his other credentials (in a speech he said he didn't listen to) when he forgot to mention her biggest credential and therein downplayed her experience.

What a hypocrite.

Maureen Dowd: Shrill and Sarcastic Personified

Read this and then tell me Sarah Palin was shrill and sarcastic.

I Want to Say Something...

...but I don't know exactly what I want to say...it's on the topic of the reaction to Sarah Palin's speech last night.

Shrill and sarcastic? The Democrats and the press that supports them must be scrambling if that is all they can come up with to say about the Palin speech. I have to give them credit and say they stay on topic with their talking points. They all came up with "shrill and sarcastic" this morning, just like they came up with "red meat" the night before.

Shrill and sarcastic? Would they say that about Biden...who admitted to plagiarism back in law school and they conveniently forget to pursue that, but tell us all about Todd Palin's DUI 22 years ago before he was married to Sarah and during a period of time that Mr. Obama admitted to being a cocaine user, but I digress...

Shrill and sarcastic? Let's examine the Democrats. Tell me that Al Franken is not shrill and sarcastic? And, nasty. Tell me that Obama and Biden haven't spun the facts and belittled their opponents. It's called politics. I guess the difference is that when Democrats speak they are so convinced that everyone else is wrong they and the reporters who support them can't see the arrogance and meanness.

I thought the speech was given with grace and humor. I also thought it had substance. So, let's get this straight, if a "gal" gives a speech it's sarcastic. If a guy gives a speech, it's hard hitting? Pleeeeease, gimme a break.

But, I guess when people will go after a 17 year old daughter just to elect a pro-abortion socialist, they don't care too much about looking sexist. I will choose the candidate that is "shrill and sarcastic" over the candidate that kills babies anyday.

Frankly, it's all about abortions for the Democrats in my book. All the talk about everything else is a distraction from what they are really about and how low they will go to kill a baby.

So, I'm hitting post now and will soon hit delete, I'm sure.

Have a great day everyone!

Adorable

Maybe it's time...

Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain has a blog. I have enjoyed reading it and looking at the photos and videos. I recommend it over US or People!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

I Couldn't Sleep Last Night

Last night, I couldn't get to sleep. (Anyone know if Red Zinger tea has caffeine? Even if it doesn't, I don't believe I will sip any at 10:00 anymore). Anywho, I had the TV on in our bedroom and made a big mistake. I watched CNN and MSNBC. Their reporters must all be graduates of the National Enquirer School of Journalism. No, maybe not, the National Enquirer gets more facts right.

This whole thing makes me really mad. So, here are my "talking points".

1. Sarah Palin is not a hypocrite. She is pro-life and has acted on that in ways most pro-life people never have to. She has personally given birth to a special needs child AND she has an unmarried teenage daughter faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Two difficult situations. Two pro-life choices. She can never be accused of not understanding what it is like to have a special needs child or a pregnant teenage daughter. She's walked the walk.

2. What does Sarah Palin's husband's 20 year old DUI have to do with anything? She wasn't driving drunk. Plus, Teddy Kennedy himself had a little driving trouble a few years back and he got elected.

3. From what I can piece together, Sarah Palin's father was threatened by her State Trooper brother-in-law and her nephew was tazered and Sarah recommended that he be fired. What is the story? If a law enforcement officer without cause threatened my dad, I would recommend he be fired and arrested.

4. About the Sally Quinn editorial and others like it. Pardon me, but I think your hypocrisy is showing. Here are some choice Sally Quinn quotes:

McCain claims he knew about the pregnancy, and was not at all concerned. Why not? Not only do we have a woman with five children, including an infant with special needs, but a woman whose 17-year-old child will need her even more in the coming months. Not to mention the grandchild. This would inevitably be an enormous distraction for a new vice president (or president) in a time of global turmoil. Not only in terms of her job, but from a media standpoint as well.

Evangelical women also will have to decide if they will vote against their conscience by voting to put the mother of young children in a job outside the home that will demand so much of her time and energy.

Is she prepared for the all-consuming nature of the job? She is the mother of five children, one of them a four-month-old with Down Syndrome. Her first priority has to be her children. When the phone rings at three in the morning and one of her children is really sick what choice will she make?

Enough of my "talking points". Now, the vocabulary lesson. Here are the words of the week.

vetted-A verb meaning to examine something or someone. In the case of a Republican this is done by a team of attorneys and reporters hired by the news media to dig up as much dirt and rumors as they can find about a candidate's husband and children and present it to the public as facts. In the case of Democrats, this is done by the National Enquirer and left unreported by CNN and MSNBC.

red meat-This was the buzz phrase last night on CNN, FOX, and MSNBC. Reporters kept saying it. I just thought it was funny that they all came up with the same buzz phrase.

My favorite new word I heard twice yesterday. It is the word "boffo" and it is what Sarah's speech had better be tonight. It had better be a "boffo" speech. Boffo means extremely successful for those of us who haven't been given the vocabulary memo.