National Day of Prayer

By Linda Feldmann – Thu May 6, 8:34 am ETWashington – Thursday, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer, as proclaimed by President Obama. But this year, the annual ritual that began in 1952 is taking place amid controversy.Last month, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that the US law directing the president to proclaim such a day violates the First Amendment, which prohibits government establishment of religion. USDistrict Judge Barbara Crabb also said it was OK to proceed with the National Day of Prayer, pending appeals.On April 22, the Obama administration appealed Judge Crabb’s ruling to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.But, like last year, Mr. Obama himself will not hold any official prayer day observance at the White House. His predecessor, George W. Bush, had held an annual interfaith observance in the East Room of the White House.Last year, when Obama decided to limit the White House’s involvement to a proclamation, an urban legend was born: Obama had "canceled" the National Day of Prayer. Not so, the White House said. The myth-busting website Snopes.com has a page devoted to the topic. It’s not that the White House is opposed to prayer, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said last year. “Prayer is something that the president does every day,” he added, noting that it is private.The National Day of Prayer Task Force, a privately funded group with strong ties to the Evangelical Christian movement, is fighting back against the judge’s ruling and circulating a petition.“The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith – it does not violate theEstablishment Clause of the First Amendment,” task force chairwoman Shirley Dobson said in a statement.Groups around the country will hold observances on Thursday marking the National Day of Prayer, as in years past. Though the tradition was formalized in 1952, with a congressional resolution calling on the president to proclaim such a day, there were national days of prayer long before then.Opponents of the day of prayer argue that the proclamation makes them feel as if the government is telling them to engage in a religious activity. Atheists, in particular, object to a government prayer proclamation that assumes a universal belief in God.Obama’s proclamation designating May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer acknowledges the religious diversity of the United States – within the universe of monotheism."I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us," the proclamation states.Religion was a complicated issue in the Obama presidential campaign, and has remained so in his presidency. During the campaign, his long-time pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, seemed to threaten Obama’s chances at winning the Democratic nomination after videotapes emerged showing the pastor using incendiary language. Obama then delivered a memorable speech on faith that appeared to put the issue to rest.Obama grew up with no faith tradition but embraced Christianity as an adult. Now, as president, he regularly delivers sermon-like speeches, in addition to delivering euglogies, as he did for civil rights leader Dorothy Height last week. On Feb. 4, Obama spoke about the power of prayer to foster civility and bridge divisions, in an address to the National Prayer Breakfast. But Obama and his family have not been regular church-goers since moving to Washington.

Obama falters on immigration reform promises

Advocates for illegal immigrants fear the White House is doing the bare minimum to appease Latino voters before midterm elections as it focuses on other issues. This describes exactly what is going on in America. It's not about enforcing the law of the land, it's all about getting votes! The obama politicians could care less about what the american citizen wants because the illegal immigrates now probably outnumber the legal voters! So lets make em all happy!

What makes them better than us?

Entry Requirements

Proof of citizenship and photo identification are required for entry by all U.S. citizens. A passport and visa are not required for a tourist/transit stay of up to 180 days. A tourist card, issued by Mexican consulates and most airlines serving Mexico, is required. Minors require notarized consent from parent(s) if traveling alone, with one parent, or in someone else's custody. Mexican regulations limit the value of goods brought into Mexico by U.S. citizens arriving by air or sea to $300 per person and by land to $50 per person. Amounts exceeding the duty-free limit are subject to a 32.8 percent tax. Upon arrival in Mexico, business travelers must complete a form (FM-N 30 days) authorizing the conduct of business, but not employment, for a 30-day period. If the business traveler departs and re-enters, the 30-day period begins again. For further information concerning entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, telephone (202) 736-1000, or any of the Mexican consulates in major U.S. cities. In response to the increased interest in immigration matters in the U.S., Mexican authorities may scrutinize more closely the visa situation of U.S. citizens residing or working in Mexico. U.S. citizens planning on working or living in Mexico should apply for the appropriate Mexican visa (FM-2 or 3).

Visitors intending to participate in humanitarian aid missions, human rights advocacy groups or international observer delegations should contact the nearest Mexican Consulate or Embassy for guidance on how to obtain the appropriate visa before traveling to Mexico. This is particularly relevant in light of the tension and polarization in Chiapas and the international interest the situation there has attracted.

Returning to the United States – Caution! Make certain that you can return to the United States with the proof of citizenship that you take with you. Although some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, U.S. law requires that you document both your U.S. citizenship and identity when you reenter the United States.

The best document to prove your U.S. citizenship is a valid U.S. passport. Other documents that establish U.S. citizenship include an expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. citizen. To prove your identity, either a valid driver’s license or a government identification card that includes a photo or physical description is acceptable.

Death Panels in ObamaCare

Peter Orszag confirms: death panels in ObamaCare
Posted: 27 Apr 2010 07:18 AM PDT
Orszag doesn’t use the term death panels, of course, but when Sarah Palin created the term, the Independent Payment Advisory Board was precisely what she had in mind: a group of unaccountable and unelected government bureaucrats who will determine who lives and who dies based upon what Medicare treatments will be covered.

Palin was roundly criticized for her characterization, but she was spot on. Peter Orszag confirms that the IPAB birthed by ObamaCare will have immense power to ration care for Medicare patients. And don’t fall into the trap of thinking young patients are forever exempt from its rationing tentacles. IPAB’s impact will not stop at Medicare’s doors. Since ObamaCare is designed to morph into a single payer system by putting insurance companies out of business, the IPAB eventually will have the power to ration everyone’s care.

When you watch the video you’ll see and hear that Orszag seems quite excited about the power the IPAB will have. Its decisions will not have to be approved by any body of government. Rather, they will simply become the law of the land unchallenged unless the Congress acts.

Unfortunately, getting rid of the IPAB will prove even more difficult because Harry Reid went out of his way to make sure this board stays in place in perpetuity by including in the law that a 67 vote supermajority is required to overturn it.

This is just one more reason why ObamaCare must be repealed.

Hat tip: Ed Morrissey at Hot Air

Obama Politics

Obama's credibility crisis
Examiner Editorial
April 25, 2010



Hard on the heels of that shocking Pew Research Center survey finding that four out of five Americans don't trust government comes a blitz of new revelations about the Obama administration that amount to a full-fledged credibility crisis. The latest disclosures are especially damaging because they concern President Obama's possible misrepresentation of his relationships with former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and convicted felon Tony Rezko, his administration's misleading statements about Obamacare costs, and questions about improper manipulation of government-owned General Motors and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Abortion Rights

Most of the Supreme Court nominations from the Obama White House list support abortion rights, most of George W. Bush opposed abortion rights. So who is right and who is wrong? Maybe the government should stay out of these things and let the Doctors and patients decide. I believe the government has to much on their plate as it is. Next thing you know they'll be dictating when you can go to the bathroom.

Managers

I think that what bothers me more than anything about the Obama administration is in the fact that it is kind of like a situation at a average job. The company (America) you work for brings in a new manager and the first thing he or she does is start changing things up. But sometimes they do not understand that what works for one company will not work for another. Long time stock holders (Americans) of the company have no say in what needs to be or should be changed to make it more productive & prosperous. In the new managers opinion their not smart or qualified enough to be able to give an opinions. The troubling part about it all is by the time the stock holders (Americans) realize that they have a bad manager in their company and fire them its to late to undo the damage that has already been done. And in the real world once a crooked politician gets into office it seems almost impossible to get them out.

Who is regulating the Government?

I just read on the yahoo website that federal regulators filed civil fraud charges against Goldman Sachs over its dealings in subprime mortgages.The Obama administration seeks greater power over banks anyway and this will just give them more justification. Well the question burning in my mind is who is regulating the Obama
administration? Who is putting the brakes on the run away spending? Who is filing fraud charges against the politicians that are stuffing their pockets with our tax money? Stop and think about how many of these people fly around in private jets and ride in chauffeur driven cars, living in gated communities? Most of them don't know what a gas, water, or electric bill looks like because only their bookkeeper will ever see that stuff. That's because they can't be bother with small petty things like how you're going to survive until your next paycheck. And they're suppose to work for us, what a laugh. I didn't know I could afford to pay my help better then I did myself, did you?