Sign Petition Against Pork Barrel Bailout
It means you pay. You pay for more bailouts, more giveaways, more wasteful spending...and your children and grandchildren pay for trillions of dollars of debt. But you can fight back right now. By signing the petition, you can join the thousands of Americans who are saying NO! NO to more taxpayer-funded bailouts and giveaways to special interests! NO to using economic hardship as an excuse for Big Government power grabs! NO to heaving trillions of dollars in new debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren! NO to this no-stimulus scam! It’s time to say NO to debt and government spending!

Ben Stein: Half of Stimulus Goes to Unions
Columnist Ben Stein has taken a close look at President Barack Obama's proposed $820 billion stimulus package, and made some eye-opening discoveries. Stein calculates that: The House of Representatives debated the bill for eight hours, or roughly $102 billion per hour. Only 10 percent of the stimulus funds would be spent in 2009. Almost half of the $820 billion would end up in the pockets of Democratic-controlled unions, such as the Service Employees International Union, and federal, state, and municipal employee unions. At 680 pages long, neither Obama nor any member of the House had enough time to read the entire bill before the House voted. The $820 billion would be enough to give every unemployed American $75,000.

Rangel, Other Reps, Party in Caribbean With Citi Funds
Six Democratic members of Congress enjoyed a Caribbean junket sponsored by Citigroup after Congress had approved the $700 billion bailout of financial services firms in October. The National Legal and Policy Center, a watchdog group, has asked Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, for a formal review of the Citigroup’s sponsorship of the trip by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel and five others. In addition to Rangel, other members of Congress who attended were Donald Payne of New Jersey, Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, and Donna Christensen, the delegate to the House from the United States Virgin Islands.

Iran says Obama's offer to talk shows US failure and Obama Passive
US President Barack Obama's offer to talk to Iran shows that America's policy of "domination" has failed, the government spokesman said on Saturday. "This request means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed," Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency. The only way to deal with Islamic Fascist is through the appearance of force and power!

Obama Cutting Military
The Obama administration has asked the military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff to cut the Pentagon’s budget request for the fiscal year 2010 by more than 10 percent, about $55 billion, a senior U.S. defense official tells FOX News. Last year’s defense budget was $512 billion. Service chiefs and planners will be spending the weekend “burning the midnight oil” looking at ways to cut the budget looking especially at weapons programs, the defense official said.

NBC Rejects Pro-Life Ad for Super Bowl
NBC has rejected a pro-life ad that celebrates President Barack Obama's mother's decision not to abort the first black American president for its Super Bowl lineup – even though the video has skyrocketed in popularity with almost 750,000 hits on YouTube.

Another Obama Nominee has Tax Issues
ABC News has obtained the Senate Finance Committee Report on Tom Daschle's nomination to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, which indicates that Daschle's tax problems were even more substantial than earlier reported.??The report indicates that Daschle's failure to pay more than $101,000 taxes on the car and driver a wealthy friend let him use from 2005 through 2007 is not the only tax issue the former Senate Majority Leader has been dealing with since his December nomination prompted a more thorough examination of his income tax returns. ??Mr. Daschle also didn't report $83,333 in consulting income in 2007.

Change We Really Need: Michael Steele becomes first black RNC chairman
The Republican Party chose the first black national chairman in its history Friday, just shy of three months after the nation elected a Democrat as the first African-American president. The choice marked no less than "the dawn of a new party," declared the new GOP chairman, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Republicans chose Steele over four other candidates, including former President George W. Bush's hand-picked GOP chief, who bowed out declaring, "Obviously the winds of change are blowing."

New RNC Chair studied to be a Priest
The Republican National Committee has chosen Michael Steele, a devout Catholic who is well known for his charisma and strong work ethic, as its new chairman. Deal Hudson, a Catholic political commentator, explained that he first became convinced of Steele's pro-life convictions by a 2003 meeting he invited Steele to with the U.S. Catholic bishops' executive committee. According to Hudson, Steele spoke "very directly, but diplomatically, to the bishops about their need to promote the pro-life cause with greater vigor. He talked about his disappointment with their leadership and its consequences among the African-American community. When he finished talking there was a powerful silence in the room." Steele's pro-life credentials were even further verified by his 2006 Senate run in Maryland, Hudson said. Michael Steele’s Catholic roots include attending Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C. and then, in 1981, entering the seminary to study for the Augustinian Friars at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. After completing the pre-novitiate period, Steele entered the novitiate for the Augustinians in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Six months later, he decided to pursue a career in law. "Michael was a very bright, articulate man who I would say gave himself very sincerely to the whole process of discernment," Fr. Francis J. Doyle, who was Steele’s novice master and spiritual director, told the Baltimore Sun.

New GOP Leader’s Acceptance Speech
“We are going to win across America. It’s a new day and you all better get ready because we are the Conservative Party of the United States and we will concede to no one on those principles.”

Euthanasia a ‘false solution’ to suffering, Pope says
Pope Benedict XVI rejected euthanasia as a “false solution” to suffering. Reflecting on the Gospel reading for this Sunday, the Holy Father recalled a singular characteristic of the of the Gospel of Mark, the so-called “Messianic Secret,” that is, Jesus’ command to his followers not to reveal to others that he is the Messiah. Pope Benedict explained: “Jesus insists on this ‘secret’ because the success of his mission, our salvation, depends on it. He knows that to free man from the power of sin, he must be sacrificed on the cross as the true Paschal Lamb.” “Jesus,” he said, “suffered and died on the cross out of love. In this way, viewed properly, he gave meaning to our suffering, a meaning that men and women of every age have understood and made their own, experiencing profound serenity even in the bitterness of harsh physical and moral trials.

Two children should be limit, says green guru
Couples who have more than two children are being “irresponsible” by creating an unbearable burden on the environment, the government’s green adviser has warned. Jonathon Porritt, who chairs the government’s Sustainable Development Commission, says curbing population growth through contraception and abortion must be at the heart of policies to fight global warming. He says political leaders and green campaigners should stop dodging the issue of environmental harm caused by an expanding population.

Violent clashes in Russia as angry protesters call for Putin to resign over economy
Russia was rocked today by some of its strongest protests yet as thousands rallied across the vast country to attack the Kremlin's response to the global economic crisis. The marches, complete with Soviet-style red flags and banners, pose a challenge to a government which has faced little threat from the fragmented opposition and politically apathetic population during the boom years fuelled by oil. People marched across the far eastern port of Vladivostok to denounce the Cabinet's decision to increase car import tariffs, shouting slogans urging Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to resign.

9 GOP Senators Go Soft: Socialized Medicine Passed
The Democrat-controlled Senate on Thursday voted 66-32 to pass a bill expanding government-sponsored health insurance for children. Nine Republicans joined 57 Democrats in voting for the bill. No Democrat voted against it. The nine Republicans voting for the SCHIP expansion were Sens. Alexander and Corker of Tennessee, Collins and Snowe of Maine, Hutchison of Texas, Lugar of Indiana, Martinez of Florida, Murkowski of Alaska, and Specter of Pennsylvania.

Obama Deputy Attorney General Nominee: Childbirth Worse Than Abortion
President Barack Obama has come under fire for pro-abortion nominations for various positions and now he is drawing heat for nominating a pro-abortion Deputy Attorney General. His nominee David Ogden, is drawing criticism for authoring a Supreme Court brief dismissing negative effects from an abortion. The Obama nominee appears to believe that childbirth is worse for women than an abortion. "The evidence shows that she is more likely to experience feelings of relief and happiness, and when child-birth and child-rearing or adoption may pose concomitant (if not greater) risks or adverse psychological effects," he surmised.

Transportation Spending Won't Stimulate Economy
State policymakers and legislators should review their public-private partnership statutes and see if adjustments are needed. States that currently only authorize a limited number of partnerships or pilot projects should move quickly to widely embrace the idea of private sector transportation project financing. States that require legislative approval for a public-private partnership project should work to streamline the process. Going to the state legislature for every project creates an unnecessary, costly barrier that many private firms want to avoid. And, very importantly, states should ensure transparency in all public-private partnerships to avoid legal complications that could slow a project down. Stimulus money is a short-term band-aid on a much bigger problem. Before adding to the nation's debt and deficit, Congress and state governments should fully bring the private sector into transportation financing to deliver the congestion relief, mobility and travel safety that taxpayers deserve.

Catholic High School Revokes Honor to Legislator over Abortion
A Catholic high school in Minnesota has denied honors for a state legislator who is a candidate for governor, citing his active support for “pro-choice issues.” Holy Angels Academy in Richfield, Minnesota had considered alumnus State Rep. Paul Thissen as a nominee for its Activities Hall of Fame, which recognizes those who “through their citizenship and achievements, have brought honor to themselves, their school and the community.” Thissen, a 1985 graduate of the school, was to accept the honor at a January ceremony, the Star Tribune reports. However, the school’s president called Thissen days before the ceremony and asked him to withdraw his name from consideration. He refused and was told the day before the ceremony he would be stripped of the award because of his support for abortion as a state legislator of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Florida governor vetoes crisis pregnancy center funding cut
Governor of Florida Charlie Crist (R) has vetoed a half-million dollar cut in funding to crisis pregnancy centers in the state. The program is administered by the Florida Pregnancy Care Network, which maintains a network of 50 crisis pregnancy centers that provide counseling and information to pregnant women to promote and encourage childbirth. Then-Gov. Jeb Bush launched the initiative in 2005. It aims to provide the same level of information and services to women who desire to give birth that is provided to women who decide to abort their children.

Retired General and Drug Czar has deep concerns for Mexico
General (ret.) Barry McCaffrey is an ex-drug Czar. He is deeply concerned about Mexico. Recently, I met with General McCaffrey privately for more than two hours. I asked for his thoughts on Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet to my surprise, his concern that Mexico could collapse was immense. If McCaffrey is concerned, we all should being paying attention. Something serious must be brewing in Mexico.

Wrong Way Obama
On Tuesday, the same day he confused a window for a door at the White House, President Obama went the wrong way at the Capitol Building, turning left down a hallway, before being alerted by the White House press secretary to turn around and head towards the podium where the media were gathered. When President Bush made mistakes like this it was on the National news.

Sara Palin Hits Congress Hard on Drilling in US

I am dismayed that legislation has again been introduced in Congress to prohibit forever oil and gas development in the most promising unexplored petroleum province in North America -- the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in Alaska.

Let's not forget: Only six months ago, oil was selling for nearly $150 per barrel, while Americans were paying $4 a gallon and more for gasoline. And today, there is potential for prices to rebound as OPEC asserts its market power and as Russia disrupts needed natural gas to Europe for the second time in three years. So, I want to remind our national leaders of this promise and make the case against this legislation:

• Oil from ANWR represents a huge, secure domestic supply that could help satisfy U.S. demand for more than 25 years.
• ANWR sits within a 20 million-acre refuge (the size of South Carolina), but thanks to advanced technology like directional drilling, the aggregated drilling footprint would be less than 2,000 acres (about one-quarter the size of Dulles Airport). This is like laying a 2-by-3-foot welcome mat on a basketball court.
• Energy development is quite compatible with the protection of our wildlife and their habitat. For example, North Slope caribou herds have grown and remained healthy throughout more than three decades of oil development. Most of the year, our coastal plain is frozen solid and thus characterized by low biological productivity.
• ANWR development would create hundreds of thousands of good American jobs, positively affecting every state by providing a safe energy supply and generating demand for goods and services.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins: A Stimulus that does not Stimulate
Americans are struggling right now and need financial assistance. Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives have taken this as an invitation to fund their long wish list for new government spending. This comes in the form of an $819 billion bill that they contend will stimulate the economy. A true economic stimulus package could be used to start addressing these problems. But the bill the House passed this week was full of unnecessary and wasteful government spending. Though there are many worthy programs in this legislation, the amount of waste makes it a disservice to Americans who are counting on Congress to take action — and a disservice to our kids, who will foot the bill.

Wichita's Pompeo eyes Tiahrt's seat
Wichita businessman Mike Pompeo said today that he is interested in running for Rep. Todd Tiahrt's 4th Congressional District seat. Pompeo, who was attending the Republican Party's annual Kansas Day event, said he has no timetable for deciding on a run. Tiahrt announced today that he will run for U.S. Senate. Pompeo is president of Sentry International, which manufactures oil drilling and pumping equipment. He has represented Kansas on the Republican National Committee since last year.

Ex-Democrat happy at Kansas GOP gathering
Former state senator Mark Gilstrap of Kansas City, Kan., said he felt at home Saturday at his first convention for the Kansas Republican Party. Gilstrap had been a Democrat. He switched parties after the November election. He was at odds with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, on issues including abortion and proposed coal-fired power plants in southwestern Kansas. Gilstrap was elected to the Senate in 1996 and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. But Sebelius and Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, helped raise money for Kelly Kultala, Gilstrap’s opponent in last year’s Democratic primary. Kultala won Gilstrap’s seat in November.

Derrick Thomas elected to Hall of Fame
Linebacker Derrick Thomas, the ferocious pass rusher and cornerstone of the Chiefs’ teams of the 1990s, was elected today to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thomas, who played during 1989-99 and died from injuries sustained in a January 2000 auto accident, was elected in his fifth year of eligibility. In addition to Thomas, the Class of 2009 will include former Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith; Bills owner Ralph Wilson; Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Oakland defensive back Rod Woodson; Vikings guard Randall McDaniel and Dallas wide receiver Bob Hayes.

KC Council gets an earful from Citizens
Facing a huge challenge to close an $87 million shortfall in next year’s city budget, the Kansas City Council asked for citizen input and got it Saturday. Don’t raise taxes. Don’t cut police or fire protection. Freeze city wages? In this economy, some said, that’s expected. “You’re talking about cutting services. You’re talking about raising taxes. We’re paying taxes out of our ears, noses and toes and we don’t seem to get the benefit of those taxes,” said one angry resident. “You’re nickeling-and-diming the people to the point we won’t be able to do what we need to do,” said Longfellow Community Association President Allen Norman, who suggested Cauthen’s salary be the first item slashed. “Yes, I’m angry about it.”

Inmate commits suicide
A 37-year-old Prairie Village man committed suicide Saturday in the Olathe Detention Center, police said. Jonathan Mark Spooner was found by a deputy with a piece of cloth wrapped around his neck about 10 p.m. Saturday during a routine cell check. He was being held on 12 counts, including aggravated kidnapping, sexual exploitation of a child and aggravated battery. The crimes, according to police, occurred after Spooner’s sister left her 14-year-old daughter and a friend at Spooner’s house. The girls were tied up and photographed in connection with sexually explicit conduct and were given alcohol and drugs.

American Majority Kansas Offers Candidate Training Course
American Majority Kansas will be holding their second Candidate Training of 2009 on February 21st designed specifically for school board and city council races. It will be held in the Hayden Office Building Conference Room at 212 SW 8th St. Topeka, KS from 8:30 to 5:00 pm. AMK trainers are highly esteemed political consultants and communications trainers. In addition to group training, attendees will receive an individual communications training session.

“Euthanasia is a false solution to the drama of suffering, a solution that is not worthy of man. The real answer cannot be, in fact, to give death, as 'gentle' as this may be, but to testify to the love that helps us to face pain and agony in a humane way.”
– Pope Benedict XVI

From Proverbs 15:23
“There is joy for a man in his utterance; a word in season, how good it is!”

Gospel according to Mark 1:21-28

21: And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
22: And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
23: And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit;
24: and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God."
25: But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"
26: And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27: And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."
28: And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jurassic Park is Real: Cloning of Extinct Animals Problematic

Just this week the Centre of Food Technology and Research in Spain brought back from total extinction the Pyrenean ibex, a form of wild mountain goat that was officially declared extinct in 2000. But shortly before its death, scientists preserved skin samples of the goat in liquid nitrogen by using DNA taken from these skin samples. The scientists were able to replace the genetic material in eggs from domestic goats to clone a female Pyrenean ibex. It is the first time an extinct animal has been cloned. This process is also known as Somatic Nuclear Cell Transfer or SCNT. The cloning of the extinct goat has been hailed as revolutionary from the scientific community. It should instead give us all great pause. It’s especially problematic on two fronts.

One is the natural order of the Universe under God that has once again been thrown a curve ball by man. Very soon with this technology there will be no extinct animal, fish or plant that could not theoretically be cloned and brought back to life. God has laid out a plan for the world that includes survival and extinction. A plant that releases deadly gases or a predator fish that wipes out other fish species could be two examples. Not possible you say? Even in modern times, scientists have introduced species from one region of a country into a new ecological environment that have proven faulty. Kudzu is a perfect example. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Soil Conservation Service promoted kudzu for erosion control. While kudzu does help prevent erosion, the vines destroyed valuable forests in the southeast by preventing the trees from getting valuable sunlight. Now 70 years later, kudzu is a predator destroyer of other plants. Who caused this? Scientists did this by taking a plant from Japan and introducing it here for erosion control. Finally, there is a great ecological concern over the introduction of new species, like fish and plants into water. The integrity of these ecosystems should be conserved by responsible land management techniques.

The other issue is the standing moral argument. When we clone, have we taken God out of the equation? This concerns me. Humans after all these years on the planet still do not understand the Laws of Unintended Consequences. When will we bring back an extinct species of man? Will we be tempted to bring back a grandfather or great grandfather through cloning? Do you think science will stop with just plants and animals? I guarantee they will not. When there are no moral absolutes, free will and relativism will take over.

Professor Robert Miller, director the Medical Research Council's Reproductive Sciences Unit at Edinburgh University, is working with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland on cloning projects. He said, "I think this is an exciting advance as it does show the potential of being able to regenerate any extinct species.”

Professor, are we now smart enough to bring life into this world on our own? Do we understand the ramifications of our actions? I predict that cloning someday will be that perfect storm of disaster unless we take steps now to educate everyone on the moral implications of our actions.

The natural and providential order of life and life cycles is not something we should experiment with because this experiment will have devastating consequences!