Good-bye Senator Specter

Once upon a time there was a

well intentioned man. He was

elected to serve the people.

For a very long time this man

did what he thought best....for the people.

As the years went by this man

became used to a different way

of thinking. It differed from

the people who had elected him.

That didn't stop him.

He continued doing what he thought

was best...for him.

The people have spoken.

They want their seat back.

Good-bye, Mr. Specter.

It's Time for Thinking...on This Saturday!

If you are here for the Rooster Party...
you can just scroll down one post.

If you are up for a tour through what is
on my scary mind you can read here first.

Warning: I am going where no homemaking,
homeschooling, friend making blogger should
ever go...I am talking Politics!

As I watched the Memorial Celebration for Senator
Edward Kennedy from beginning to end last night
I was struck by several things.

1. He was a person with family and friends.
He will be greatly missed by them.
Having set at my own father's funeral
and seen and heard him on videotape
during that service...
my heart went out to them.

2. Senator Kennedy had a lot of power and
used it to the best of his ability.

3. I still disagree with very many of this
man's lifelong goals, as it relates to larger
government and social issues.

4. It was really LONG!!

But, overall, what has struck me about this whole
scenario is the insight into the inner workings of
career politicians. To see Senator McCain, whom I
greatly admire, Vice President Biden, whom I disagree
with most of the time, and Senator Dodd talk about
their numerous years on Capital Hill left me feeling
very dissatisfied.

I am reminded of the many years
we have studied history.
We have learned so much about
the intent of our Founding Fathers
as it relates to our Political Structure.
I don't believe any of them
would have foreseen a day that
it was a vied for career.

To spend your entire life
in this job. With lifetime perks
above and beyond what the
average American could hope
to achieve.

No, I think their intention
was that Representatives
of the People would have
been regular people,
well thought of in their
hometowns or States,
who would serve for a short period
of time and then pass that burden
on to someone else.

It should be a burden.
It should be very hard work.
It should not be a cushy,
Old Boy's Club that I thought
was represented last night.

What truly struck me was the Mayor
of Boston's bragging about their
Fundraising "Good Cop, Bad Cop"
routine. Talking about Senator
Kennedy calling and telling the
donor he needed them to give
1.5 million, only to have that
person, seemingly under pressure,
call the Mayor who let them off the
hook by a half a million.

Did that strike you as wrong?

Isn't that an abuse of power?

At least it didn't seem morally
admirable...I am sure this goes
on for both political parties,
but boy does it make my hackles
go up!

I could go on...but I won't.

I just long for the government that
was intended...
"Of the People, by the People and for the People".
Abraham Lincoln 1863 in the Gettysburg Address

We are so far off course.

Now, we do have to do our part.
I love to complain, but this year
I had to get involved and write a
letter to my Senator. How else can
they properly represent us if they
don't know what we are feeling.
So, I encourage you to take just
a few minutes and express your opinions
to those who have been elected to
vote for you.

Just the impressions I walk away with
after an evening of remembrances...

I did truly feel for the family.
Two losses in such a short time.
Obviously this man was an important
and vibrant part of the family.

Hope you won't stay away after this.
It is pretty rare that I go off on
a political rant. However, if I am
going to it will most likely be on
a Saturday.

Have a fun weekend.

Dear Senator McCain,

There are a few things I would
love to hear you say this evening.

Would you please tell this country
why it would be bad to allow folks
to take early withdrawals from their
retirement plans?

A. This money creates a level of stability
in the market.
B. People would be pulling money at the
worst possible time...for them!
C. Social Security is not going to be enough
in retirement...people had better be keeping those
savings!

How about why it is good to allow those at
70 and a half years of age to leave their money right
where it is if they don't need it? Why continue to
force them to use it?

A. Why should they have to use this money
at this point? Why force our parents and
grandparents to suffer a loss. There is no
good reason.

Could you clearly tell us how your plan
will keep jobs in America and not ship them
out to other lands?

A. When we focus on creating business and jobs
in America, we win! By requiring employers to
provide health insurance we will nip the job creation
in the bud. It is simply too much for a start-up
company to afford.(Obama's Plan) The McCain Plan for
insurance is open for some fine tuning but it beats
the alternative, hands down. And while you are at it,
can't we do something about the skyrocketing costs for anything
medical? We are pricing ourselves right out of healthcare.


B. When we increase taxes on small business owners,
(Obama's Plan), they take those businesses offshore...
or don't start them to begin with. You are so right to
say that we need to stimulate small business growth and to
do that we must not increase their tax burden. Which, by the
way those businesses who do make it, even with higher taxes,
will survive by passing that cost on to me.
I don't think I care for that!

C. We can learn from history, raising taxes stunts growth.
Lowering taxes stimulates the economy and creates greater
cash flow, which equals money to our Treasuries.

I would love to hear you remind us about your stand on our
Educational options.

A. Tell us that you won't take away our freedom to choose how
we educate our children. We want all of the options to remain
on the table.

Remind us that the decision of who will be our next President has
not yet been made.

A. The mass media thinks they know...they have worked hard to ensure it.
Acorn thinks they have it all sealed up. If you can't win the right way...just add a few million voters to the rolls.
But the American People have not risen up and come out to the voting
booth yet...so it is not the time for anyone to declare victory or begin
speaking presumptuously.

Please reinforce the truth that dangers still stalk our Nation.

A. There are enemies just biding their time. An attack is not at
all unlikely. Tell us about the plans that our security have thwarted.
Remind us that we need someone with military experience and backbone.
Please don't let us down by thinking that we are tired of hearing about
this. We need to be reminded that the freedoms we enjoy are not guaranteed.

Please Senator McCain, Have some fire in your belly tonight. You do not
have to be nasty...ever...you just need to tell us like it is. Do not be
afraid to promote yourself and your plans.
That is what this is all about.

Tell us like you have been telling the people across America in your stops.
Be passionate.
Let it rip!

I'll be voting for you so I hope you'll win over those who haven't made up their
minds yet...tonight is your chance, Mr. Senator.

I'll be praying for you.

Becky K.

RNC

I watched the Democratic Convention last week.
I so love all of the intensity and energy that goes
along with these conventions.

The speeches, the hype, the media...

Oyyyyy...the media!

This week the Republicans have gotten off
to a rocky start at their convention.

Hurricane Gustav swept onto American soil
just in time to take the business as usual
aspect away from this convention.

I guess I am still unsure as to whether this
was a disadvantage. I think the Republicans did
a wonderful job in turning it around. Raising
money for those impacted and then restructuring
the schedule.

Having Laura Bush on opening night was a stroke
of genius, in my humble opinion. She is the
very epitome of grace and beauty.

Back to the media...can we take any of them to
the woodshed for the spanking they deserve?
Yikes! You would think that Sarah Palin,
Governor of Alaska, and VP Candidate was a
big bad wolf the way they are attacking
her... and her family!

I guess it is a bit scary for there to be a story
so close to their wishful thinking with Mrs. Clinton
but on the "other side" for most of our liberal media.

If Hillary Clinton had been the nominee on the democratic side
there would have been rejoicing and celebration that a
woman had finally made it to that point.

But, because Gov. Palin holds conservative values...
she is "dangerous".

Double standard! Big time!

I thought Fred Thompson was awesome last night.
There were a couple of one liners that had me clapping
and whooping as if I were in that very hall.

For example, about taxes. Barak Obama does not want
to hurt any of us in his new tax plan. So, he will just
raise taxes on the businesses. Senator Thompson asked
who of us does not work for, buy from or have anything
to do with businesses?

Good point!

I believe that it is our responsibility to "check out"
each candidate. To not accept blindly whatever our
party of choice puts up there. But to keep the focus
where it belongs...on the political record of the candidate,
the character and the person of the candidate.

I heard that there are now requests for DNA to prove that
the tiny baby is actually Mrs. Palin's.

Give me a break!

Give her a Break!

This becomes a matter of national scrutiny.
I would not love to grow up under this kind of
shadow and speculation.

As a Pastor's Kid, it wasn't easy to be the one of whom
everyone expected "more". It wasn't fair. However, it
was the case and in my case was likely helpful. It may
have kept me from trouble.

As the child of a National figure the pressure must be
intense. My hat, if I were wearing one, would go off
to all of the children of Public Officials who have
survived the pressure cooker and have done well.
Kudos!

As for parenting from a very public position?
I think the bar is raised there as well, since the
media is always, always watching!

The Palin children will have plenty of parenting
even if Mrs. Palin becomes the Vice President of the
United States. They have a father and a mother who
love them...you can see that!

I may or may not comment again about the conventions
but I am certainly watching. Watching and learning.
Learning more about human nature...good and bad.

Thankful for a Government in which there is choice.

Thankful for the open discourse and the ability to
disagree without fear.

I am still unaware of a Country that I would rather
live in than this great United States of America.

May God Bless us and withhold His Judgement a while
longer.

So, to the tens of you who read this blog, Thanks!
I feel so much better now.
Venting is such great relief!

Blessings,

Becky K.

An Award...and Random Thoughts

Thank you, Miss Paula, Gathering of Friends, for this fine award. I am sitting here in my finest (Pj's) and have done my hair (yesterday). I'll put on heels later and walk on the neutral (tan/beige) carpet to celebrate! For now, I raise my glass (chocolate milk) to you!

No, really, I am tickled pink to receive this award! I saw it on someone else's blog not too long ago and loved it because I firmly believe in doing everything with excellence. I'll be the first to admit I don't always hit the mark but it is something that I strive for.

I would like to pass it on to Mrs. Rabe at Creekside Cottage who got me into this blog world in the first place and who I know to be an excellent person!
O.k., I just went over to get the link and Mrs. Rabe has already been given this award...but she is getting it again...because she deserves it!

Also, to Robin, at Bittersweet Punkin, for her excellence in caring for others. She is a very sweet person and if you go to her blog you will meet someone who reaches out to those who are hurting and always has a kind word to share.

Then, to Martie, at Hitting the High Notes. She and her family are about to embark on a new ministry opportunity. The preparations that she is sharing with her blog readers lead me to believe that Martie also cares much about excellence. It is reflected in her blog.

Finally, I am a fairly new reader of Little Red House and I am thoroughly enjoying it. So, Mary, since you have been giving me interesting reads lately... and lots of beautiful photos, this one is for you...

The Random thoughts part of this post:

Tornadoes - I send my thoughts and prayers out to those who were so devastated last night by the tornadoes in Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennesee. I think tornadoes are some of the scariest things on earth since they are so powerful and fast.

Warren used to work as an engineer
for a radio station whose tower was, of course,
on the upper side of a mountain.
Radio stations tend to go out in the middle
of big storms when trees fall down
on their power lines, etc.
This meant that in nearly every big
storm Warren would have to leave the comfort
of our home and make his way up this mountain
and dodge the falling trees to get that radio
station back on the air.
I learned to hate storms.
I would sit waiting anxiously until
he returned safely.

In the nearly eight years since he left that job
my fear for these storms has diminished greatly
but I can never quite forget...
the sound of thunder still increases my heart rate.

The Election Process:

Wasn't yesterday amazing?
So many people came out to vote.
This is such an amazing year for
us to learn the actual process that is
involved in gathering electoral votes.

I am intrigued by the complexity
and sometimes seeming insanity of the various
ways these delegates are appointed.

Still, it would seem that the system works.

We are seeing a clear front runner in the
Republican race...or so says the media.

The Democratic race is still too close to
"call". Interesting.

Until we have a new president-elect I am likely to be
glued to the tv, mostly gleaning what I
perceive to be the truth from those pundits
spouting Opinions all over the place.

I have no problem with it, really, as long as
others realize that is what is coming out of their
mouths. It is opinion...not fact!

Mike Huckabee may not be our next president,
and I am ok with that, but this pundit thinks that he
stands for the discontent of the Republican party
with what we have to choose from.

I like his sharp wit and firm, take no prisoners
stand on the things that are important to him.
I like that every time I hear him speak he goes through
his list of most important items to accomplish.
He is a great communicator.
I just respect that!!!!

Oh well, he could make a great VP!

Sorry, Senator McCain. I am sure you are a fine
person. I was just hoping for something a
little different.

Blessings to all of you fabulous readers!

Greetings!

Just checking in before I go back to watch more South Carolina GOP Primary results. This presidential election is the closest I've ever seen to a sports event. The pundits are calling the plays...the voters are "running the ball"...back and forth... back and forth. Who will win? We may not know that answer until the "fourth quarter".

I don't know if I'll be able to keep these eyelids open. After a late night last night with Small Group here and enjoying the company of our friends, I was out the door by 7 am with Mom to go to State College on business. We also got to see my Brother and Sister-in-law. We had a lovely lunch at a local restaurant called Prospectors. It was a favorite of ours when we lived there.

It was a lovely day. I enjoyed the 6 hours in the car with Mom all to myself! I also enjoyed the time spent with clients and family. I loved how it worked out at the last minute to see a client who had called me during the week but I had not been able to reach today. She called as we were about to pass her home on our way through her small town. How cool was that! Considering I live 3 hours away from her home I was pleased to have that detail work out!

Hope your Sunday is great and that you are able to Celebrate the Lord Jesus. He deserves our praise!

Talking Politics...A Poll

How comfortable are you talking about politics with friends?

I love, love, love politics. I watch the returns come in from all of the primaries and Caucasus. I talk back to candidates when they are speaking on the television. I've spent many hours standing at voting sites representing someone that I felt should be elected....and yet...when it comes to talking to friends about politics there is a different dynamic.

I used to just blurt out my opinions with never a thought for what someone else may be thinking. Then there was a change in our all Republican family...there came a Democrat!

Hi Bev, I LOVE you! She married my brother and I am so glad that she did! I wouldn't trade you for a Republican!

Bev and I know that we come at politics from very different places. She will never change my mind and I have no intention of changing hers.

This is what is great about our country...we all have a voice! It is our vote.

With this voice comes a responsibility. A responsibility to do our homework to see who best represents our values and hope for the future. Sometimes we make our decisions on a "gut feeling" and sometimes we research a person to death.

I hope that you will be "engaged" to some degree in this political process and use the "voice (Vote)" that you have been given to continue the history of freedom in these Wonderful United States of America!

SO, back to the poll...

How comfortable are you talking politics?

a. I am very comfortable stating my views with anyone.

b. I am somewhat comfortable if I know where the other person stands.

c. I am very uncomfortable talking politics at all.

d. other - explain!