...that will remain, however, is why didn't Mr. Obama ever assume the type of leadership role Mrs. Palin did in moving against public corruption within his own party and state?"

The man asking this question is an academic. He is a Detroit native that last summer moved to the University of Maryland. Previously held positions at the University of Chicago, Yale University, Stanford, UCLA, Wharton, and Rice and was the chief economist at the United States Sentencing Commission during 1988 and 1989. He has published over 90 articles in academic journals and received his Ph.D. in economics from UCLA in 1984.

I guess that he doesn't fit the neo-con image that most illiberals use to squash political dialogue. Particularly, "..in the wake of Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest last week and Barack Obama's long-standing silence of Chicago ethics."

The fact remains that Obama still has much to explain.

http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Chris, Oh ya..

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:10:04 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

Being that Lourdes has a portion of the AIDS Quilt on exhibit in the Ebid center, I thought the following article would be of interest:

Bush Receives Medal of Peace at Saddleback Forum

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 4:14:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

In the history of our nation, there have been many Thanksgiving Day proclamations. The particular proclamation, which served as the precedent for our National Day of Thanksgiving, however, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863.

That proclamation was notable in many respects, but particularly in its timing.

It was a bleak day in our nation’s history. The United States was in the throes of a divisive, costly Civil War. For three long years the Union had suffered one defeat after another. Brother against brother.  So many precious lives had been lost.

Yet in the midst of such severe, crushing circumstances, President Lincoln called the nation together in thanksgiving with these words:

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God . In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore.

Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony wherof I have herunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

In spite of all the negative economic news with which we have been bombarded during the past few months, may we not lose sight of how blessed we are in the great and free nation.

Among my many blessings, I give thanks to God for you and all the faithful friends who have joined me in standing for family, faith and freedom throughout this year.

And I pray that you will be able to enjoy time with family and friends tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day 2008.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:43:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [1] | 

The end of the semester is nearing, and I, along with I’m sure many other students, cannot wait until it’s over. For a period of almost 1 month we won’t have papers, quizzes, homework, research, or exams on our minds. For one month we will be free of academic responsibility, trying to recoup before spring semester starts! We’ll fill up on our energy- filled holiday feasts, and then lay on the couch, loving our time off of classes. We’ll try to get school off our minds, but probably won’t succeed. We’ll ponder over who our professors will be, what kind of work will be expected from us for our classes, be angry, once again about the cost of textbooks, and figure out how many classes we have left until graduation. Once we see the number, we’ll swear that we thought it was less than that the last time you counted, which was probably a month ago. The time could never come too quickly…earning a college degree seems it takes ages, but for most, it’s really only four years. When I really think about four years, it goes by quickly. It seems that just yesterday my oldest daughter had her first birthday, and she’s now five years old and in kindergarten. Four years ago President Bush was re-elected for president. Four years ago I was two  years out of high school and working a J-O-B that some saw as their career. I had no interest in taking college seriously…so much can change in four years. Four years later, I’m half way through my degree…struggling to pass Math, but I’m still here, completing my education. Four years ago I would have never had graduate school in my mind…now it has become a necessary for me. A lot can change in four years. Four years from now, I won’t be thinking about the papers, exams, research, and quizzes that I think about now. At least not in the same light. I will probably miss those things. It has become part of who I am. At holidays I won’t feel that same relaxing feeling not having to worry about school…instead I’ll be stressed about my career, wondering if it’s as satisfying as I hoped it would be. School will always be a part of me…I guess that’s one trait I’ll never get rid of.    

Friday, November 21, 2008 12:18:05 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

As you may have seen around campus or in your email, a generous donor offered to pay for Lourdes College students who were interested in attending the Foundation for Life Charity Benefit Reception. I saw the flyers around campus and with a few friends decided to attend. The evening was very well attended and the room was full of people from all over the area.

According to their website, Foundation for Life is a Toledo-based non-denominational educational organization dedicated to promoting the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. The issues that this group focuses on are abortion, infanticide and euthanasia.

Jill Stanek was the keynote speaker for the evening and upon her arrival at the podium she instantly had the audience captivated by her story. Jill worked as a registered nurse at Christ Hospital in one of Chicago's suburbs. During her time there she came to realize that the doctors were abandoning born-alive aborted babies in rooms to die without any medical care. Her story was quite interesting as she gave examples of babies, who might have been given a diagnosis of some sort of debilitating disease, who were born-alive only to be left for dead. At times the diagnosis was wrong and the infant was completely healthy, not that it should really matter. The babies were often delivered early, usually in the second or third trimester, by inducing labor. Once the baby was born they received no medical treatment and at times were left in soiled linen rooms to die. When Jill realized this was happening she began to speak out and was eventually fired from her position at the hospital. Later she became a key witness in many national debates regarding the issue of born-alive abortions, including both the Born Alive Infant Protection Act and Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. The evening was heart wrenching to say the least, the speaker captivating and her message grabbed at my heart. I was completely overwhelmed by the number of people who attended, they expected over 500. There were many schools that were represented by their students and the amount of young people who attended was astonishing.

I would personally like to thank they donor who so generously offered us tickets and I can say I walked away from the evening with a new knowledge of what has happened in our world and what continues to happen to all those who are innocent.

Sunday, November 16, 2008 8:47:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [1] | 

It's that time of year again.

A trapping buddy sent me a copy of an article up in Oregon. It caused me to pause and think abit about Ohio and Michigan hunters and trappers. Whats amazing is that these people want to stop the harvesting of a renewable resource, that is well regulated. These same people would promote violence against a human being to "save" a rat. I can only imagine that these same types of people that are against hunting and trapping are for the killing of unborn children and in Oregon physican assisted suicide - because its about choice, right?

Schumacher Furs, Portland, OR
Schumacher furs lock glued and spray painted 'If your conscience doesn't keep you up at night - we will.' 
Animals in the wild should be able to live free and not be caught, drown in traps, and have their populations destroyed. Those that profit from this industry must be held accountable and stopped. Enough protests. Gregg and Linda, close down or we'll close you down ourselves."
 
So, I ask the sportsmen and women of Lourdes College is it not obvious that in their comments that these people do not have any compassion towards people or their lives? Their comments show nothing but hate, a need to commit crimes and destroy people. Their blatant disregard towards people and need to commit crimes is what drives them. They're not acting in the interest of animals, their nothing but criminals!!
It doesn't matter if you hunt, trap, fish or not, these people will touch your lives in one way or another. If you truly believe that our wildlife needs to be maintained in a responsible manner through conservation, than we need to come together. Stand up for what you believe in; don't expect others to speak for you any longer. Join one of the many outdoors clubs we have in Ohio/Michigan. Educate yourself on the dangers the anti's represent. Educate others of those dangers too. I could tell you what these people tell your kids to do, or how they promote acts of crime, injure or kill people, but I wont. See it for yourself. Visit their websites, take some time to read for yourself what they are really trying to accomplish. To put all this bluntly its time us Ohio and Michiganders stood shoulder to shoulder against the anti's. Our kid's future of hunting trapping and fishing is at risk if we don't.

Well, I'm off to put some metal cuffs on a few BG coyotes.

Sunday, November 16, 2008 5:45:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [2] | 

 We Need YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

The Lourdes College YOUNG DEMOCRATS needs your help to succeed in educating your friends, family and neighbors about the political process! We are currently recruiting new members to join our organization and to become involved on campus! The Lourdes College YOUNG DEMOCRATS can help you to network with others who share similar beliefs as you, provide a wonderful organization to add to your resume to show extracurricular involvement, and can help improve leadership skills in your community! Upcoming events in the next few months will include fundraising and recruitment, an inaugural address watch party with dinner served, and planning for activities to do in the spring! The Lourdes College YOUNG DEMOCRATS hope to become affiliated with the OHIO YOUNG DEMOCRATS chapter, which will allow this organization access to the National Democrat Conventions and events! This is a great opportunity for fellow democrats or those who are interested in finding out what our organization is all about! Our meetings are held on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday’s of every month, located in the conference room across from the Ebeid Center from 4:30-5:15pm. We hope to see new faces join is in our ambitions! Looking forward to meeting with you all!

President: Richard Frelin

Vice President: Nathan Eikost

Secretary: Lisa Syroka

Treasurer: Amanda Lanigan

Sergeant at Arms: Savannah Frelin

Members: Dawn Garrett and Nicole Spiess

Advisors: Dale Lanigan and Mary Stockwell

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 1:21:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

"Today, we send a clear message to all who have worn the uniform:
Thank you for your courage, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you
for standing up when your nation needed you most."

— President George W. Bush, today

Thank you to those that have served and continue to serve in the United States Military. Because of you, we can celebrate our freedoms and know that those that would do us harm are kept at bay.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:53:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [3] |