KCCI.com - News - Hamas Promises To 'Liberate' Rest Of Palestine
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- With a landslide election victory under his belt, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh promises to complete what he calls "the liberation of other parts of Palestine."
The militant group's leader didn't clarify which territories he was talking about or what strategy he'll use.
In a victory news conference, Haniyeh said Hamas took more than 60 percent of the vote in Wednesday's parliament elections. The Hamas leader said he doesn't expect President Mahmoud Abbas to resign.
Abbas' Fatah Party took a hard loss in the election. Election officials said Hamas won 76 of the 132 seats in the Palestinian parliament.
The election outcome could have a devastating effect on the peace process. Hamas has dedicated itself to the destruction of Israel, and Israel and the United States both regard Hamas as a terrorist group. And a senior Hamas official said Thursday that recognizing Israel and negotiating with it are, "not on our agenda."
President George W. Bush said Wednesday that the United States will not deal with Hamas unless it renounces violence.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Friday, January 13, 2006
Iowa Republican Party :: News Item
"A person who kidnaps, rapes and murders a child could be sentenced to death under a Senate bill introduced Monday, the first day of the 2006 session.
Seventeen of 25 Republican senators are co-sponsors of Senate File 2010.
GOP leaders have been trying since last spring to engage Democrats in a debate to revive the death penalty. Iowa hasn't had a capital punishment law for 41 years."
I don't know if the death penalty will be a deterrent to future crime but I do know it will stop that person from re-offending. That is reason enough, in my mind, to warrant it.
Seventeen of 25 Republican senators are co-sponsors of Senate File 2010.
GOP leaders have been trying since last spring to engage Democrats in a debate to revive the death penalty. Iowa hasn't had a capital punishment law for 41 years."
I don't know if the death penalty will be a deterrent to future crime but I do know it will stop that person from re-offending. That is reason enough, in my mind, to warrant it.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Friday, January 06, 2006
What Does Your Birth Month Mean?
| Your Birth Month is January |
 You are a natural leader who is able to stand up when no one else can. Strong and powerful, you tend to overshadow those around you. Your soul reflects: deep love, fascination with life, and a distinctive persona Your gemstone: Garnet Your flower: Snowdrop Your colors: Black, dark red, and dark blue |
Thursday, January 05, 2006
What Does Your Birthdate Mean?
| Your Birthdate: January 6 |
 You tend to be the rock in relationships - people depend on you. Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first. You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world. An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be. Your strength: Your intuition Your weakness: You put yourself last Your power color: Rose Your power symbol: Cloud Your power month: June |
Saturday, December 24, 2005
22 Congressmen Hate Christmas
"Whereas Christmas is a national holiday celebrated on December 25; and
Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States would prohibit the establishment of religion, not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore be it resolved, that the House of Representatives -
(1) Recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;
(2) Strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and
(3) Expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions, for those who celebrate Christmas."
Click on the title for the whole article including the 22 Representatives who voted against the resolution.
Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States would prohibit the establishment of religion, not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore be it resolved, that the House of Representatives -
(1) Recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;
(2) Strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and
(3) Expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions, for those who celebrate Christmas."
Click on the title for the whole article including the 22 Representatives who voted against the resolution.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Wisconsin Elementary School Changes 'Silent Night' While Decorating For A Christmas Witch
"In Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Ridgeway Elementary School's 'winter program' has changed the name of 'Silent Night' to 'Cold in the Night.' Sung to the tune of 'Silent Night,' the lyrics include: 'Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm.'
The 'winter program' included decorating classrooms with Santa Claus, Kwanza symbols, Menorahs, and Labafana--a Christmas witch!
Also in Wisconsin, the Glendale-River Hills School District has banned every Christmas song which has any Christian 'motive or theme.' But while banning Christian Christmas songs, the district permits secular holiday songs as well as songs celebrating Hanukkah. In defending this policy, Frances Smith, the district administrator, says that the Hanukkah songs are more cultural than spiritual.
What these schools are doing to our children is not educating, but indoctrinating! And they are using Christmas as an excuse. Following the lead of the National Educational Association, Wisconsin educational leaders preach tolerance and diversity while being highly intolerant! Most of the residents of Wisconsin are tolerant, but not their educational leaders.
Banning nativity scenes. Banning Christmas songs in school. Banning Christmas in advertising. Calling a Christmas tree a 'holiday' tree. Calling a Christmas parade a holiday parade. Refusing to mention the Reason for the season. It is time to take a stand for our children, our families, our faith and our freedom! "
The 'winter program' included decorating classrooms with Santa Claus, Kwanza symbols, Menorahs, and Labafana--a Christmas witch!
Also in Wisconsin, the Glendale-River Hills School District has banned every Christmas song which has any Christian 'motive or theme.' But while banning Christian Christmas songs, the district permits secular holiday songs as well as songs celebrating Hanukkah. In defending this policy, Frances Smith, the district administrator, says that the Hanukkah songs are more cultural than spiritual.
What these schools are doing to our children is not educating, but indoctrinating! And they are using Christmas as an excuse. Following the lead of the National Educational Association, Wisconsin educational leaders preach tolerance and diversity while being highly intolerant! Most of the residents of Wisconsin are tolerant, but not their educational leaders.
Banning nativity scenes. Banning Christmas songs in school. Banning Christmas in advertising. Calling a Christmas tree a 'holiday' tree. Calling a Christmas parade a holiday parade. Refusing to mention the Reason for the season. It is time to take a stand for our children, our families, our faith and our freedom! "
Friday, December 09, 2005
Disney's 'Narnia': Christ Need Not Apply
The following article is from NewsMax.com. For the last several years Disney has been more interested in making money than anything else. The movies they have been making is plenty of evidence of that fact. Their marketing of the Chronicles of Narnia should not be that surprising. This is just more wood on the fire.
"Disney's holiday season release of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is set for this weekend -- and some Christians are worried the media giant is more intent on cashing in on the faithful, rather than sharing the film's Christian message.
The Disney backed film is based on one of C.S. Lewis' 'Narnia' books. Lewis was a noted Christian apologist, and his Narnia books have been viewed as religious allegory about the life of Christ.
While Disney clearly hopes to tap into the same audience that made Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' a huge box office hit, the same people behind the firm version of 'Narnia' are vocal in downplaying its supposed links to Christianity.
"Faith is in the eye of the beholder," declared one of the movie's actresses, Tilda Swinton, who said Lewis' original book is more "spiritual" than religious.
"You can make a religious allegory out of anything if that's what you're interested in," she told BBC News.
The $150 million film, made by Walden Media and distributed by Disney, is the story of a struggle between good and evil in the snowy kingdom of Narnia. Four English siblings enter the enchanted land and discover talking animals who await the return of the lion king, Aslan. The inhabitants believe he will free them from the tyranny of Jadis, the White Witch.
Aslan sacrifices himself to save the life of a human boy, or "Son of Adam." He later rises from the dead to lead his troops in a battle against the witch's forces.
But the film's director, Andrew Adamson, also has pooh-poohed the idea that the allegory reveals Christ's resurrection, saying that concept is a common theme in the fantasy genre.
"The religious aspect is something the press is more interested in than the world at large," he told the BBC.
Said "Narnia's" producer, Mark Johnson: "When I read the book as a child, I accepted it as a pure adventure story. It never occurred to me Aslan was anything more than a great lion" rather than a Christ figure.
"Christian themes were very important to C.S. Lewis and imbued everything he did, but he himself denied any religious implications."
Despite those comments from the movie's creators, the film has already received pledges of support from evangelical groups in the United States, many of whom say Lewis - who wrote seven books in the "Narnia" series - did create the story as an allegory about the life of Jesus.
Reportedly, elementary schoolchildren and teenagers in Bible study groups are booking theaters to see the PG-rated movie, which opens Friday.
"We believe that God will speak the gospel of Jesus Christ through this film," said Lon Allison, director of Illinois' Billy Graham Center.
But a Hollywood insider who has dealt with Disney's marketing executives told NewsMax that the media giant has had great apprehension promoting the film to Christian groups and has done so only in a low-key manner.
"Disney is loathing the idea that the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or a preacher like Jerry Falwell will actively promote the film. They want the Christian community's money, but not their viewpoint," the source said.
Last year, Hollywood witnessed the Christian zeal for Gibson's "Passion" movie, which has grossed anywhere from $400 million to more than $600 million worldwide, depending on the source.
The producers of "Narnia" have generated advance buzz among Christians by showing previews to Christian leaders, preachers and evangelical organization, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
USA Today asked: "Is the world created by C.S. Lewis a rip-roaring piece of fantasy - or a fairy tale suffused with Christian imagery?
"The answer is both, and that raises a related question: Can Disney succeed by selling the movie on two tracks - as a sort of cross between ‘The Lord of the Rings' and ‘The Passion of the Christ'? If so, ‘Narnia' figures to be a holiday blockbuster."
Said producer Johnson: "We're not selling the movie to any particular group. With a movie this size, we're trying to sell it to everybody."
Put another way, Disney would like to sell "Narnia" minus Christ - but still have Christians pay the bill. "
"Disney's holiday season release of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is set for this weekend -- and some Christians are worried the media giant is more intent on cashing in on the faithful, rather than sharing the film's Christian message.
The Disney backed film is based on one of C.S. Lewis' 'Narnia' books. Lewis was a noted Christian apologist, and his Narnia books have been viewed as religious allegory about the life of Christ.
While Disney clearly hopes to tap into the same audience that made Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' a huge box office hit, the same people behind the firm version of 'Narnia' are vocal in downplaying its supposed links to Christianity.
"Faith is in the eye of the beholder," declared one of the movie's actresses, Tilda Swinton, who said Lewis' original book is more "spiritual" than religious.
"You can make a religious allegory out of anything if that's what you're interested in," she told BBC News.
The $150 million film, made by Walden Media and distributed by Disney, is the story of a struggle between good and evil in the snowy kingdom of Narnia. Four English siblings enter the enchanted land and discover talking animals who await the return of the lion king, Aslan. The inhabitants believe he will free them from the tyranny of Jadis, the White Witch.
Aslan sacrifices himself to save the life of a human boy, or "Son of Adam." He later rises from the dead to lead his troops in a battle against the witch's forces.
But the film's director, Andrew Adamson, also has pooh-poohed the idea that the allegory reveals Christ's resurrection, saying that concept is a common theme in the fantasy genre.
"The religious aspect is something the press is more interested in than the world at large," he told the BBC.
Said "Narnia's" producer, Mark Johnson: "When I read the book as a child, I accepted it as a pure adventure story. It never occurred to me Aslan was anything more than a great lion" rather than a Christ figure.
"Christian themes were very important to C.S. Lewis and imbued everything he did, but he himself denied any religious implications."
Despite those comments from the movie's creators, the film has already received pledges of support from evangelical groups in the United States, many of whom say Lewis - who wrote seven books in the "Narnia" series - did create the story as an allegory about the life of Jesus.
Reportedly, elementary schoolchildren and teenagers in Bible study groups are booking theaters to see the PG-rated movie, which opens Friday.
"We believe that God will speak the gospel of Jesus Christ through this film," said Lon Allison, director of Illinois' Billy Graham Center.
But a Hollywood insider who has dealt with Disney's marketing executives told NewsMax that the media giant has had great apprehension promoting the film to Christian groups and has done so only in a low-key manner.
"Disney is loathing the idea that the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or a preacher like Jerry Falwell will actively promote the film. They want the Christian community's money, but not their viewpoint," the source said.
Last year, Hollywood witnessed the Christian zeal for Gibson's "Passion" movie, which has grossed anywhere from $400 million to more than $600 million worldwide, depending on the source.
The producers of "Narnia" have generated advance buzz among Christians by showing previews to Christian leaders, preachers and evangelical organization, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
USA Today asked: "Is the world created by C.S. Lewis a rip-roaring piece of fantasy - or a fairy tale suffused with Christian imagery?
"The answer is both, and that raises a related question: Can Disney succeed by selling the movie on two tracks - as a sort of cross between ‘The Lord of the Rings' and ‘The Passion of the Christ'? If so, ‘Narnia' figures to be a holiday blockbuster."
Said producer Johnson: "We're not selling the movie to any particular group. With a movie this size, we're trying to sell it to everybody."
Put another way, Disney would like to sell "Narnia" minus Christ - but still have Christians pay the bill. "
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
DailyJoke
"The True Origin of the Internet
In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.
And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called 'Amazon Dot Com.'
And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?"
And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?" And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale and they will reply telling you which hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent.
But this success did arouse envy. A man named Maccabia did secrete himself inside Abraham's drum and was accused of insider trading. And the young man did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short.
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land. And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.
And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others."
And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known "eBay" he said, "We need a name that reflects what we are."
And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators."
"YAHOO," said Abraham.
And that is how it all began. It wasn't Al Gore after all."
In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.
And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called 'Amazon Dot Com.'
And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?"
And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?" And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale and they will reply telling you which hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent.
But this success did arouse envy. A man named Maccabia did secrete himself inside Abraham's drum and was accused of insider trading. And the young man did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short.
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land. And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.
And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others."
And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known "eBay" he said, "We need a name that reflects what we are."
And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators."
"YAHOO," said Abraham.
And that is how it all began. It wasn't Al Gore after all."
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Sermon Notes
I was cleaning some of the old bulletins out of my Bible this afternoon and found a bulletin that I had written some notes in about death from a sermon on John 11:11-16. That is the passage about the death of Lazarus. Here is what I have written:
Biblical Death
is separation
1. Physical - soul from body
2. Spiritual - soul from God, no intimacy with God
3. Eternal - permanent, separation of soul from God - Hell
Death is a doorway not a passage.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8
This was from July 3, 2005. Little did we know Dad only had about 6 weeks left at this point. July 3rd to August 26th is not that long after all.
Biblical Death
is separation
1. Physical - soul from body
2. Spiritual - soul from God, no intimacy with God
3. Eternal - permanent, separation of soul from God - Hell
Death is a doorway not a passage.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8
This was from July 3, 2005. Little did we know Dad only had about 6 weeks left at this point. July 3rd to August 26th is not that long after all.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Two Month Mark
Yesterday was the two month anniversary of Dad's passing. I'm doing better, at least I'm not crying every day anymore. Just about anything can set me off but I don't cry at everything now. I assume things will keep getting better. Monday the 24th would have been Dad's 81st birthday.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
DailyJoke
"An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'"
This is my feeling exactly!!
This is my feeling exactly!!
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Fall Is Here
The weather today went from summer to fall in about 3 hours. 9 o'clock this morning is was 73 degrees and cloudy with occasional showers. By 11 am it was raining and 57 degrees. It rained off and on all afternoon and the temperature stayed in the 50s. Right now the temperature is 47 degrees and the rain has stopped. Tomorrow is going to have a high in the high 40s or low 50s.
I still can't believe Dad is gone. There is a lot of stuff he did every year to get ready for winter. He did stuff to the garden and yard that I have no clue what to do. I miss him so much!!
I still can't believe Dad is gone. There is a lot of stuff he did every year to get ready for winter. He did stuff to the garden and yard that I have no clue what to do. I miss him so much!!
The Washington Nationals Suspend A Chaplain For Not Thinking 'Religiously Correct'
This is from an e-mail I received from the American Family Association:
"The Washington Nationals professional baseball club has suspended a volunteer chaplain and rebuked a baseball player because they hold religious beliefs that are "Religiously Incorrect."
Volunteer chaplain Joe Moeller and outfielder Ryan Church were having a conversation concerning Christianity. Church asked Moeller a question about Jesus and salvation. "I said, like, Jewish people, they don't believe in Jesus. Does that mean they're doomed?" Church asked.
Volunteer chaplain Moeller simply nodded his head in agreement. For his "religiously incorrect" thinking—even if it was simply a nod of the head—Moeller was suspended.
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, leader of an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Washington, said, "The Nationals did a good job about bringing hate into the locker room." A chaplain and a baseball player are accused of hate speech because they were discussing a basic tenet of their faith!
Wow! Now it is not "religiously correct" for Christians to just "think" that salvation comes through Christ alone. The Nationals immediately suspended Chaplain Moeller and Church issued an apology for asking the question."
That's one way of being tolerant of other people's beliefs. Oh, that's right, I forgot. They are tolerant, of everyone but Christians. If we aren't careful we won't be allowed to even mention Christ in public.
Here is the link to the Washington Post article.
"The Washington Nationals professional baseball club has suspended a volunteer chaplain and rebuked a baseball player because they hold religious beliefs that are "Religiously Incorrect."
Volunteer chaplain Joe Moeller and outfielder Ryan Church were having a conversation concerning Christianity. Church asked Moeller a question about Jesus and salvation. "I said, like, Jewish people, they don't believe in Jesus. Does that mean they're doomed?" Church asked.
Volunteer chaplain Moeller simply nodded his head in agreement. For his "religiously incorrect" thinking—even if it was simply a nod of the head—Moeller was suspended.
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, leader of an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Washington, said, "The Nationals did a good job about bringing hate into the locker room." A chaplain and a baseball player are accused of hate speech because they were discussing a basic tenet of their faith!
Wow! Now it is not "religiously correct" for Christians to just "think" that salvation comes through Christ alone. The Nationals immediately suspended Chaplain Moeller and Church issued an apology for asking the question."
That's one way of being tolerant of other people's beliefs. Oh, that's right, I forgot. They are tolerant, of everyone but Christians. If we aren't careful we won't be allowed to even mention Christ in public.
Here is the link to the Washington Post article.
Monday, September 19, 2005
An Anniversary of Sorts
Three weeks ago today was Dad's funeral. Friday Mom and I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some flowers and took them out to the cemetery to decorate Dad's grave. It was the first time we had been there since the post funeral visit on the Friday after the funeral. I felt bad about waiting so long but Mom wasn't up to going before now. She is taking it really hard. I think she is doing better every day, she would deny that but I can see it. I know I'm doing better. I start a new assignment tomorrow. I accepted a part-time position because I don't think I (or Mom) are ready for me to be gone all day, every day.
A Job Update
I called Spherion this morning and they had a part-time position I am starting tomorrow. I will be doing data entry for an insurance company. I will be working 9-2 Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for about a month. YAY!!
After I talked to Spherion I went outside and picked up the fallen apple and then mowed the front yard. After lunch Mom wanted to go to Lowe's and look at bathroom ventilators. She ended up buying a small one and someone will be here on Thursday to install it. The installation will cost $145, including labor. I think she would do as well just putting a fan in the window.
After I talked to Spherion I went outside and picked up the fallen apple and then mowed the front yard. After lunch Mom wanted to go to Lowe's and look at bathroom ventilators. She ended up buying a small one and someone will be here on Thursday to install it. The installation will cost $145, including labor. I think she would do as well just putting a fan in the window.
Monday, September 12, 2005
What's your Superhero Name?
Your Superhero Profile |
 Your Superhero Name is The Phantom Falcon Your Superpower is Mutant Your Weakness is Bald People Your Weapon is Your Poison Crossbow Your Mode of Transportation is Cow |
Monday, September 05, 2005
Don't Blame Bush for Katrina
"Don't Blame Bush for Katrina
Christopher Ruddy, NewsMax.com
Monday, Sept. 5, 2005
George Bush and the federal government are not to blame for the disaster we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In fact, the primary responsibility for the disaster response lies with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and other local officials.
Yet leading Democrats and their allies in the major media are clearly using this disaster for political purposes and ignoring one obvious fact.
This fact – which needs to be repeated and remembered – is that in our country, state and local governments have primary responsibility in dealing with local disasters.
The founding fathers devised a federal system of government – one that has served us remarkably well through great disasters that have befallen America over more than two centuries.
But if we believe the major TV networks, George Bush, FEMA and the Republicans in Congress are all to blame for the current nightmare.
Let's remember that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was created only in 1979. It was formed to coordinate and focus federal response to major disasters – to "assist" local and state governments.
Common sense suggests that local and state governments are best able to prepare and plan for local disasters.
Is a Washington bureaucrat better suited to prepare for an earthquake in San Francisco, a hurricane in Florida, or a terrorist act in New York?
After the Sept. 11 attacks against the World Trade Center, no one suggested that the Bush administration should have been responsible for New York's disaster response or that federal agents should have been involved in the rescue of those trapped in the buildings.
Last year, four major hurricanes slammed into Florida. Governor Jeb Bush led the disaster response and did a remarkable job, with nothing happening like what we have seen in New Orleans.
The primary response in disasters has always come from local communities and state governments.
First responders and the manpower to deal with emergencies come from local communities: police, fire and medical. Under our federal system, these local departments answer to local authorities, not those in Washington. These first responders are not even under federal control, nor do they have to follow federal orders.
In addition to local responders, every state in the Union has a National Guard.
State National Guards answer first to the governor of each state, not to the president. The National Guard exists not to defend one state from an invasion by another state, but primarily for emergencies like the one we have witnessed in New Orleans and in other areas impacted by Katrina.
Tim Russert and the Blame Game
The media would have you believe that this disaster was worsened by a slow response from President Bush and his administration, though the primary responsibility for disaster response has always been with local and state governments.
It is true that federal response was not as fast as it could have been. The president himself has acknowledged that fact.
But the press has focused on the first 48 hours of federal response, not uttering a word about the fact that New Orleans had 48 hours of warning that a major Category 4 or 5 would make landfall near the city, yet local officials apparently did little to prepare.
Obviously, Gov. Blanco did not effectively deploy her state's National Guard.
And New Orleans' city leaders did almost nothing to evacuate the portion of the population with no transportation. In failing to follow their own evacuation plan, these officials did little to pre-position food, water and personnel to deal with the aftermath.
I was surprised Sunday to watch Tim Russert, on his show "Meet the Press," tear into Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff. During his encounter with Chertoff, Russert did not suggest once that local government had any role in dealing with the disaster. Russert also asked for Chertoff's resignation.
It wasn't until after the first 29 minutes of his show – 29 minutes – that Russert raised the question of local responsibility. And when he did so with Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, he did so in a passing way. Broussard brushed off his question with a non-answer.
Broussard began his interview claiming that the nation had "abandoned" New Orleans.
That is nonsense and a lie.
Broussard, who was never identified by "Meet the Press" as a Democrat, spent much of his time attacking the Bush administration, as has Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Broussard then ended his performance as he collapsed in tears with a demand: "For God's sake, just shut up and send us somebody!"
His tears didn't wash with me. My sympathies lie with the tens of thousands of people who have suffered or died because local officials like Broussard, Mayor Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat, failed monumentally at their jobs.
As former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told Russert, the disaster in New Orleans was "foreseeable."
In fact, New Orleans has long known that such a disaster could take place if a major hurricane hit the city.
The municipality even prepared its own "City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan."
The plan makes it evident that New Orleans knew that evacuation of the civilian population was the primary responsibility of the city – not the federal government.
The city plan acknowledges its responsibility in the document:
As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
The city document also makes clear that decisions involving a proper and orderly evacuation lie with the governor, mayor and local authorities. Nowhere is the president or federal government even mentioned:
The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.
It is clear the city also recognized that it would need to move large portions of its population, and it would need to prepare for such an eventuality:
The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas. Those evacuated will be directed to temporary sheltering and feeding facilities as needed. When specific routes of progress are required, evacuees will be directed to those routes. Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves or who require specific life saving assistance. Additional personnel will be recruited to assist in evacuation procedures as needed. ...
Evacuation procedures for small scale and localized evacuations are conducted per the SOPs of the New Orleans Fire Department and the New Orleans Police Department. However, due to the sheer size and number of persons to be evacuated, should a major tropical weather system or other catastrophic event threaten or impact the area, specifically directed long range planning and coordination of resources and responsibilities efforts must be undertaken. [You can read New Orleans' Emergency Plan for hurricanes at its Web site: http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26]
The city's plan also specifically called for the use of city-owned buses and school buses to evacuate the population. These were apparently never deployed, though the Parish of Plaquemines just south of the city evacuated its population using school buses.
The plan, written well before Katrina was even a teardrop in God's eye, was obviously never heeded or implemented by local leaders.
But why should the New Orleans mayor and Governor Blanco take responsibility when they can blame George Bush and the Republicans in Washington?
With congressional elections fast approaching, Democrats who are out of power in every branch of the federal government know they need to change the tide quickly.
They have apparently seized on the Katrina disaster to harm the president politically.
Criticism of the federal government's response is fair and warranted. But putting full responsibility for this disaster on the Bush administration is way over the top.
Primary responsibility for this disaster remains with local officials like Nagin and Blanco, not President Bush."
Christopher Ruddy, NewsMax.com
Monday, Sept. 5, 2005
George Bush and the federal government are not to blame for the disaster we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In fact, the primary responsibility for the disaster response lies with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and other local officials.
Yet leading Democrats and their allies in the major media are clearly using this disaster for political purposes and ignoring one obvious fact.
This fact – which needs to be repeated and remembered – is that in our country, state and local governments have primary responsibility in dealing with local disasters.
The founding fathers devised a federal system of government – one that has served us remarkably well through great disasters that have befallen America over more than two centuries.
But if we believe the major TV networks, George Bush, FEMA and the Republicans in Congress are all to blame for the current nightmare.
Let's remember that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was created only in 1979. It was formed to coordinate and focus federal response to major disasters – to "assist" local and state governments.
Common sense suggests that local and state governments are best able to prepare and plan for local disasters.
Is a Washington bureaucrat better suited to prepare for an earthquake in San Francisco, a hurricane in Florida, or a terrorist act in New York?
After the Sept. 11 attacks against the World Trade Center, no one suggested that the Bush administration should have been responsible for New York's disaster response or that federal agents should have been involved in the rescue of those trapped in the buildings.
Last year, four major hurricanes slammed into Florida. Governor Jeb Bush led the disaster response and did a remarkable job, with nothing happening like what we have seen in New Orleans.
The primary response in disasters has always come from local communities and state governments.
First responders and the manpower to deal with emergencies come from local communities: police, fire and medical. Under our federal system, these local departments answer to local authorities, not those in Washington. These first responders are not even under federal control, nor do they have to follow federal orders.
In addition to local responders, every state in the Union has a National Guard.
State National Guards answer first to the governor of each state, not to the president. The National Guard exists not to defend one state from an invasion by another state, but primarily for emergencies like the one we have witnessed in New Orleans and in other areas impacted by Katrina.
Tim Russert and the Blame Game
The media would have you believe that this disaster was worsened by a slow response from President Bush and his administration, though the primary responsibility for disaster response has always been with local and state governments.
It is true that federal response was not as fast as it could have been. The president himself has acknowledged that fact.
But the press has focused on the first 48 hours of federal response, not uttering a word about the fact that New Orleans had 48 hours of warning that a major Category 4 or 5 would make landfall near the city, yet local officials apparently did little to prepare.
Obviously, Gov. Blanco did not effectively deploy her state's National Guard.
And New Orleans' city leaders did almost nothing to evacuate the portion of the population with no transportation. In failing to follow their own evacuation plan, these officials did little to pre-position food, water and personnel to deal with the aftermath.
I was surprised Sunday to watch Tim Russert, on his show "Meet the Press," tear into Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff. During his encounter with Chertoff, Russert did not suggest once that local government had any role in dealing with the disaster. Russert also asked for Chertoff's resignation.
It wasn't until after the first 29 minutes of his show – 29 minutes – that Russert raised the question of local responsibility. And when he did so with Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, he did so in a passing way. Broussard brushed off his question with a non-answer.
Broussard began his interview claiming that the nation had "abandoned" New Orleans.
That is nonsense and a lie.
Broussard, who was never identified by "Meet the Press" as a Democrat, spent much of his time attacking the Bush administration, as has Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Broussard then ended his performance as he collapsed in tears with a demand: "For God's sake, just shut up and send us somebody!"
His tears didn't wash with me. My sympathies lie with the tens of thousands of people who have suffered or died because local officials like Broussard, Mayor Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat, failed monumentally at their jobs.
As former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told Russert, the disaster in New Orleans was "foreseeable."
In fact, New Orleans has long known that such a disaster could take place if a major hurricane hit the city.
The municipality even prepared its own "City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan."
The plan makes it evident that New Orleans knew that evacuation of the civilian population was the primary responsibility of the city – not the federal government.
The city plan acknowledges its responsibility in the document:
As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
The city document also makes clear that decisions involving a proper and orderly evacuation lie with the governor, mayor and local authorities. Nowhere is the president or federal government even mentioned:
The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.
It is clear the city also recognized that it would need to move large portions of its population, and it would need to prepare for such an eventuality:
The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas. Those evacuated will be directed to temporary sheltering and feeding facilities as needed. When specific routes of progress are required, evacuees will be directed to those routes. Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves or who require specific life saving assistance. Additional personnel will be recruited to assist in evacuation procedures as needed. ...
Evacuation procedures for small scale and localized evacuations are conducted per the SOPs of the New Orleans Fire Department and the New Orleans Police Department. However, due to the sheer size and number of persons to be evacuated, should a major tropical weather system or other catastrophic event threaten or impact the area, specifically directed long range planning and coordination of resources and responsibilities efforts must be undertaken. [You can read New Orleans' Emergency Plan for hurricanes at its Web site: http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26]
The city's plan also specifically called for the use of city-owned buses and school buses to evacuate the population. These were apparently never deployed, though the Parish of Plaquemines just south of the city evacuated its population using school buses.
The plan, written well before Katrina was even a teardrop in God's eye, was obviously never heeded or implemented by local leaders.
But why should the New Orleans mayor and Governor Blanco take responsibility when they can blame George Bush and the Republicans in Washington?
With congressional elections fast approaching, Democrats who are out of power in every branch of the federal government know they need to change the tide quickly.
They have apparently seized on the Katrina disaster to harm the president politically.
Criticism of the federal government's response is fair and warranted. But putting full responsibility for this disaster on the Bush administration is way over the top.
Primary responsibility for this disaster remains with local officials like Nagin and Blanco, not President Bush."
Saturday, August 27, 2005
One Solitary Life - an essay on the life of Jesus Christ
"One Solitary Life
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth � His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life."
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth � His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life."
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