The SOAR ACT Could Salvage DCOSP

Remember all the earlier posts on the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP), and how Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois threw it under the bus to please the teachers unions, the biggest benefactors of the Democrats in Congress, at the expense of the poor (mostly minority) students in WDC?

Well, the new Republican Congress is trying to infuse new life into the program through something called The SOAR Act. President Obama and the Democrats in Congress have already launched preemptive strikes against this attempt by the new Congress to save those kids most in need of a decent education. The Heritage Foundation discusses the DCOSP, its demise, and the new attempt to bring it back in today's edition of The Foundry. Click below to read that post.

SOAR Act Throws Kids An Educational Lifeline | The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.

You can click here to read all prior posts on this Blog about the DCOSP and the duplicitous demagogues who did their best to destroy it.

__________________________________________
UPDATE: Heritage Action for America just reported that The SOAR ACT passed the House this morning. You can click on the link below to read their release and see how your Representative voted. A Nay vote was in favor of the reauthorization of DCOSP. The bill now moves to the Senate where, hopefully, enough Democrats will put the kids before the unions.

http://heritageaction.com/2011/03/power-to-the-parents-soar-act-passes-the-house/?UA-16902633-1&utm_source=heritageaction&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=education

Stop the Killing at Planned Parenthood II

(Click to enlarge)

This is a new television ad, co-sponsored by CatholicVote.org, to be aired in Washington D.C. this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4uER9tI24Y&feature=player_embedded

If you'd like to chip in $20 to help fund the airing of this new ad, click below to read the message from Brian Burch, President CatholicVote.org Education Fund.

http://paracom.paramountcommunication.com/hostedemail/email.htm?h=582d0261d3ad60e820cdf2dc43db41d6&CID=8383791220&ch=EB9FB9AC1B4E63BACDE1450347113623

Sundays are for Beauty: Satchmo, "High Society"

This is from the 1956 movie, High Society which was based on the play The Philadelphia Story. In addition to an All-Star cast, the movie featured the music of Cole Porter, one of our all-time greatest American song writers.

Have a Beautiful Sunday.

ZoNation: Green is Greed & Socialism

Alfonzo Rachel of PJTV has had it with the Green Movement. In his latest video he exposes the real agenda of the Movement: Greed and Government Control.

Click on the below link to hear his latest rage.

http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&mpid=84&load=5140

Stop the Killing at Planned Parenthood

Exposeplannedparenthood.net is asking all prolifers to contact their Congressmen (who should be at home this week since Congress is not in session) and tell them to vote to defund Planned Parenthood. If you click on the below link, you can enter your zip code to get the phone number of your Congressman's local office, and you can also watch the video on the site and learn some gruesome facts about what Planned Parenthood has been doing for years - with taxpayer money.

http://exposeplannedparenthood.net/contact-congress/

Rep. Jim Jordan at The Heritage Foundation

Two-time NCAA Wrestling Champion, Rep. Jim Jordan is 47 years old and in his third term representing Ohio's 4th District. He's also chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the caucus of the most conservative Republicans in the House. The above video of his recent presentation at The Heritage Foundation should give heart to any Conservative who is beginning to have doubts that this Republican House of Representatives will deliver on its promise to cut spending.

George Will seems to be impressed with Jordan and wrote this recent column about the congressman.

Walter Williams, Freedom Fighter

This was posted by Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute today. It's a 28 minute interview of Walter Williams by Reason TV. It will be 28 minutes of your time well spent.

Walter Williams, Freedom Fighter

Should've Been A Cowboy

Find more videos like this on Firefighter Nation - Firefighter Social Network

Above: the best scene from the best cowboy movie ever: Lonesome Dove.

Below: Toby Keith




H/T: dc9271

Claire Berlinski: An Open Letter to Turkey and Israel

Claire Berlinski is not as concerned as some about the drift away from a secular government in Turkey. In fact, she thinks there is a chance that relations between Turkey and Israel can return to what they were not that long ago. She posted this Open Letter to Turkey and Israel at Ricochet.Com, the outstanding Blog she edits. It should be noted that Berlinski lives and writes in Istanbul, and obviously has strong feelings for the country and its people.

There are others who are not as optimistic as Berlinski about the future of Turkey as a secular state, and much less optimistic about current and future relations between Turkey and Israel. You can read some of those views by clicking on the links on this prior post.

Sundays are for Beauty: Panis Angelicus

Panis Angelicus, written by St. Thomas Aquinas, and set to music, in 1872, by Cesar Franck, is preformed here by Renee Fleming.


Have a Beautiful Sunday.

Planned Parenthood Exposed

CatholicVote.org just sent this new video to acquaint as many people as possible with the real mission of Planned Parenthood.

http://www.catholicvote.org/index.php#

Public Sector Workers: The Employer is Us, and We're Broke

In case you have any doubt as to whose side you should take when public sector unions demand more and more in the way of salary, benefits, and unbelievable pensions, watch this episode of Klavan on the Culture.

Bruce Thornton: Preserving American Exceptionalism

Bruce Thornton, whose five part interview with Peter Robinson was featured earlier on this Blog (you can find all five parts by typing his name in the "Search This Blog" box on the right), has written an essay for The Heritage Foundation on Political Thought. The title of his essay is: America the Delusional? Overcoming Our European Temptation, and it is adapted from his book: Decline and Fall: Europe’s Slow-Motion Suicide.
Reproduced here is the final section of his essay:

Preserving American Exceptionalism

All of these American ideals––political freedom and autonomy, citizen independence and self-reliance, limited government, religion, patriotism, and nationalist autonomy backed up by vigorous military power—comprise American exceptionalism. These ideals that define our nation would have to be weakened or discarded if America were to follow the EU road to utopia.

Regrettably, we have already been travelling down that road for decades. By the early 20th century, the rise of Progressivism had established in the public discourse the doctrine of social, economic, and political change controlled and directed by technical elites. This class, backed by government power, would work to improve and perfect life and solve problems based on what Bradley C. S. Watson describes as a “faith in intelligence and expertise translated into support for a vast state mechanism that would be confidently dedicated to ensuring growth—by means of progressive education, the administrative state, and redistribution of capital.”[38]

The expansion of the federal government that commenced under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, was furthered by Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs, and has intensified under Barack Obama is continuing this process. The result is increased entitlement spending and government intrusion into the economy, education, and social life. Consequently, the U.S. is now facing many of the same fiscal problems that afflict Europe, with entitlement spending projected to double by 2050 and public debt slated to rise to 180 percent of GDP by 2035.[39] And let us not forget the erosion of traditional independence and self-reliance, the constriction of freedoms, and the infantilizing of Americans that follow the greater intrusion of government power into our daily lives and business.

Such policies and the philosophy behind them require that the ideals of American exceptionalism be discarded if the U.S. is to follow the path of the EU, as many liberals believe we should. The cost of abandoning those ideals would be larger and more expensive government and increasing encroachments on the quintessential American political goods of individual freedom and self-reliance. Without a political sea change in the next few years, the United States will continue to head down the road to nowhere.


You can read Dr. Thornton's entire essay by clicking here.

Iditarod 2011: At the Finish

John Baker after winning the 2011 Iditarod from Kyle Hopkins@adn.com on Vimeo.

John Baker gets my vote for Athlete of the Year for 2011. The Iditarod is called "The Last great Race," and it's more than that. I can't think of one of our world famous, highly paid, self-aggrandizing athletes in other sports who could endure what John Baker did during his run from Anchorage to Nome. They certainly wouldn't do it for $50,000 and a truck.

Iditarod 2011: John Baker Wins in Record Time

That's Native Alaskan John Baker, only the fourth native Alaskan to win the iditarod (the other three were in: 1974, 1975, and 1976) mushing along the trail (upper photo) and basking in the glow in Nome a little while ago.

The Anchorage Daily News has already posted the amazing details of the story on line. You can read it here. As the winner of this gruelling race, Baker takes home $50,000 and a new Dodge Truck, and don't expect him or any of the other mushers to threaten to strike if the purse for next year's race is not increased: it won't be, and they won't.

Victor Davis Hanson: Obama as Hamlet

Obama as Hamlet - By Victor Davis Hanson - The Corner - National Review Online

Iditarod 2011: John Baker Charging

John Baker, who has been leading this year's race since Eagle Island, was still in front when he left Koyuk this morning at 2:48 AM, Alaska time, 50 minutes ahead of Ramey Smyth.

To follow the remainder of the race, click on the below link, and put your cursor on the circle at each check point to see which mushers are there. They will be shown in the order of arrival at the check point (you may have to refresh the site).

http://www.adn.com/2011/02/03/1682745/iditarod-2011-map.html#checkpoint=24&tab=1

For an interesting background story on John Baker from the Anchorage Daily News, click here.

Caroline Glick: The Fogel Family Massacre

From Caroline Glick:

It took Youtube and Facebook all of two hours to remove this film. Why?

Powerline Blog is also following Caroline Glick, and posted this about the massacre:

Since 1948, the Arabs and Israelis have fought five wars. None were provoked by Israel, but somehow the Left in our country has always been quick to condemn Israel for the lack of peace in the region. The massacre of the Fogel Family will not, you can be sure, receive much attention in the major media outlets here because it doesn't fit their story line, which is: those aggressive jews continue to refuse to allow the "Palestinians" to return to their "homeland." Thank God for the internet.

Sundays are for Beauty, but with apologies this one could not wait until Monday.

Sundays are for Beauty: George Strait

George Strait, the King of Country has recorded 57 #1 hit singles as of 2010. This is one of them.

Have a Beautiful Sunday.

Iditarod 2011: No Clear Leader Yet

The Top 10 mushers have reached Eagle Island and only the front runner has left that check point. John Baker left Eagle Island at 4:05 this morning Alaska time with 13 dogs. Hugh Neff (12 dogs) and Lance Mackey (9 dogs) were less than an hour behind Baker reaching Eagle Island. All mushers start with 16 dogs, and are required to take two rest stops: one of 24 hours and one of 8 hours. The first seven mushers have all taken both mandatory rest stops.

Here's the map of the southern route so you can locate Eagle Island and see how far they still have to go.

Here's a video of Lance Mackey at the Anvik checkpoint opining that four-time winner Martin Buser is out of the race, and picking 61 year old Sonny Linder as the possible winner (assuming Mackey himself doesn't pull off a miracle with only 9 dogs).

Untitled from Kyle Hopkins on Vimeo.

Tyrus W. Cobb: In a Rage over "Muslim Rage"

Tyrus W. Cobb, former special assistant to President Reagan,writing at Nevada Appeal.Com yesterday, threw political correctness aside to speak some truths that our politicians have been afraid to mention.

He begins: Muslims worldwide are in a “rage” over the deployment of American forces in foreign lands. Islamic extremists are in a rage over cartoons that lampoon a holy figure. Muslims are in a rage over lack of benefits Western societies deny them when they emigrate there, even while calling for the overthrow of these same governments. Muslim extremists blow up innocent children because they are enraged over societies that worship a God other than their own. Well, excuse me, but I'm in a rage over “Muslim rage.”

Of course, Dr. Cobb is not the only American in such a rage (he speaks for many of us), but our politicians, harnessed by political correctness - not to mention our president who is supposed to be the leader of the free world - refuse to publicly acknowledge the facts listed by Dr. Cobb in his article.

To read the entire article, go here.

Word on Fire: the Catholicism Project

This is the latest from Fr. Robert Barron, Director of Word on Fire.

Vortex: There Be Dragons

Dear Friend in Christ,

Come join the staff and volunteers of RealCatholicTV.com for a movie night!

We are pleased to announce we will be presenting a preview screening of the new movie “THERE BE DRAGONS” at our Ferndale, MI studios on March 23rd at 7PM. This movie is directed by Roland Joffe and tells the true story of the life of Saint Josemaria Escriva during the Spanish Civil War.

To learn more about the movie, and to watch a trailer, please visit this website

http://www.therebedragonsfilm.com/

The movie itself is released in May, but we have a preview screening on March 23rd. Tickets to this preview screening are free, but we have limited seating! So, please – either call 248-545-5716 or reply to this email to reserve your ticket.

For those of you who can't get to our Ferndale studio, please check the above website and contact the promoters of the movie; there are other preview screenings around the country of this exciting motion picture.

The movie is a story of life and love amid the dangers and hardships of war, and reveals the life of the young priest Josemaria who founded the only personal prelature of the pope, Opus Dei, and was recently canonized. The movie stars a number of prominent film and stage actors, including Sir Derek Jacobi.

If you can attend, we would love to see you! The screening is on March 23rd at 7PM at our Ferndale studios (http://www.realcatholictv.com/help/directions.php). Please bring your families and tell your friends about this screening!

GOD Bless you and your loved ones,

Michael Voris
~senior executive producer, RealCatholicTV.com

Iditarod 2011: Five in a row for Mackey not likely

That's Lance Mackey who has won Iditarods four in a row, but if he wins his fifth this year it will be a miracle. He's down to 12 dogs and, although he moved into second place last night at the Takotna checkpoint, his chance of catching leader, Martin Buser, or holding off Sebastian Schnuelle, Hugh Neff and a few others is not looking good. He came in to Takotna more than an hour and a half behind Buser, who is also seeking his fifth Iditarod win (although not in a row), and Buser still has 15 dogs running.

Here is a listing of current standings, which might change by the time you click on to it as these mushers don't spend much time resting. If you click on the musher's name, you can see a photo and additional personal information about the musher.

Click here for a map of this year's southern route so you can see where Takotna is located.

To see the Leaderboard complete with photos of the mushers, click here.

NPR: All You Need to Know

This undercover video blows the cover of National Public Radio and its totally Leftist agenda. Ron Schiller, of course, equates Leftist with Intellectual. Those who do not embrace his Leftist agenda are simply gun toting racists.

Senior Executives at NPR meet with Muslim Brotherhood Front Group to solicit $5mm and discuss their federal funding, Fanatical Christians, Zionists in the media, Tea Partiers, Republicans, Uneducated Americans and Juan Williams.

Featuring:
Ron Schiller, President NPR Foundation.
Betsy Liley, Senior Director, NPR Institutional Giving.

Reporters:
Shaughn Adeleye as Amir Malik
Simon Templar as Ibrahmim Kasaam.

Produced by James O'Keefe
TheProjectVeritas.com
Promoting Modern-Day Muckrakers.

Song Licensed by FriendlyMusic.com


Click below to watch the video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd9OYJMX9t4

Caroline Glick: Israeli Feminists are no different from American Feminists

Caroline Glick, in her post today, points out the similarities between the feminists in Israel and the feminists in America. Both are less for the rights of women (especially the women forced to live under Islam) than they are for the extreme Leftist agenda in each country. The following is from her post:

Every few months, we are presented with media reports about Jewish women rescued from their Muslim husbands in the Palestinian Authority or within Israel....

The fact is that both misogyny and Jew-hatred are facts of life throughout the Muslim world. This state of affairs renders marriage to Muslim men a particularly dangerous prospect for Jewish women.

But the feminists throughout the Jewish world are silent on this issue. And this isn't surprising. The egregious mistreatment of Jewish women by their Arab husbands involves two issues that the Left - which encompasses most feminist groups - is intent on ignoring: Islamic misogyny and Islamic Jew hatred. Just as the Left ignores, underplays, trivializes or justifies the fact that hatred of Jews is the most universal sentiment in the Muslim world today, so it systematically ignores, underplays or trivializes the endemic brutalization of women and girls throughout the Islamic world.

Take a purportedly feminist discussion of the impact of the Arab revolt on the position of women in the Arab world from ABC's This Week with Christiane Amanpour on Sunday. In a segment that lasted roughly 15 minutes, Amanpour said essentially nothing about the appalling lives of women and girls under Islamic law.

When Newsweek editor Tina Brown mentioned "the barbaric custom of child brides," in Yemen, Amanpour didn't ask her to elaborate. In accordance with that Yemeni custom, little girls are routinely married off to grown men.

When Iraqi women's rights activist Zainab Salbi noted that the key issue for women in the Muslim world is changing the family law that governs their societies, Amanpour didn't ask her what she meant.

What she meant was that under Islamic family law, women and girls are considered the property of their male relatives. And their "owners" can legally beat them and rape them and genitally mutilate them and force them into marriages they object to. If the women and girls are "disobedient," their male relatives can expect little or no punishment for murdering them.

Rather than discuss the real, truly life-threatening dangers faced by women and girls throughout the Islamic world, Amanpour presented her viewers with a superficial and false depiction of recent events in which a few well-dressed, perfectly coiffed, pretty young women in Egypt and two Western dressed women in Libya are supposedly transforming the position of women in their societies one tweet at a time.

It was a complete lie. But it wasn't shocking. It would have been shocking if Amanpour had provided her viewers with any relevant facts about the subject she was purportedly discussing.