...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] | 

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] | 

"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] | 

An interesting take on Obama's victory speech

"...Obama needs to acknowedge reality, erring on the side of overstating the problems and challenges, and he needs to prepare the country for several tough years. Because if he doesn't, within six months of his taking office, the country will have forgotten all about the prior administration and will instead be blaming everything on him....."

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/106822/President-Obama's-First-Step-Reset-Expectations?tickers=%5Edji,%5Egspc,%5Eixic

However,  "I am sticking to my guns and religion........" atleast until he takes one or the other or perhaps both away.

www.concealedcampus.org

Wednesday, November 05, 2008 7:00:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [16] | 

Todays news wires ran with: 'Two students are dead and a third person is wounded after a shooting late Sunday on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. Authorities have no immediate explanation for the shooting, but say four people were involved in the attack."

This is so sad yet preventable, if concealed carry by cc permit holders could carry on campuses.

Monday, October 27, 2008 1:00:46 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [5] | 

This a link that describes a Lourdes college scholarship opportunity for its students. Mind you this is a Catholic college that is promoting on its college letterhead, a scholarship for "student[s] must be of a diverse background. Which is great. However, diversity is defined along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability." [edits mine]. I have asked before, is it proper for the  Catholic Lourdes college to promote homosexuality outside of what the Catholic church teaches about the matter? Is this scholarship as it is written, a reward for homosexuality?


http://www.lourdes.edu/content/files/1978/OIMulticulturalScholarshipApp.pdf

Monday, October 27, 2008 11:04:25 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

In light of the US Presidential election and in answer to some other comments on other blog pages, I suggest as the...

Quote of the Week:

"Christians in general and Catholics in particular do not, and should not, seek to "force" their religious beliefs on society. But working to form the public conscience is not coercion any more than teaching the difference between poison and a steak is a form of bullying. Actively witnessing to and advancing what we believe to be true about key moral issues in public life is not "coercion." It's honesty. And it's also a duty -- not only of faith but of citizenship." - Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Saturday, October 25, 2008 5:08:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [7] | 

The local peace, human rights and anti-violence groups to host a rally in the Ebeid Student Center in McAlear Hall on Saturday, October 18.

Part of the Sing Out the Vote Ohio campaign, the rally will begin at 7 p.m and is free and open to the public. Sing Out the Vote events are hosted by Folk musician and activist Holly Near and are designed to “inspire, energize and support the dedicated election organizers of Ohio through music and song.” Joining Holly in performance will be Wishing Chair’s Kiya Heartwood and local music group Spectrum.

The Media Blog that advertised this event was not really all that forthcoming. Or, they did not click on the link that was provided on the blog to view the folk artisits biography. After reading the biography one must ask the question, why is Lourdes College allowing a student organization to host an event to be led by a gay activist on campus? Sure, peace, human rights and anti-violence is something that ALL students and faculty should be aware of and active in. However, Holly Near, on her own web site states:

"HOLLY NEAR SINGS FOR LOVE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Twenty some years ago, there were no nationally or internationally known, out lesbian singers. Holly was a major force in bringing lesbian music to a larger audience. The music was a lifeline for thousands of people as they "came out". Holly's songs crossed the ocean and found their way to those who thought they were "the only one" or to those whose very lives were in great danger if they were found out. Lesbians in the military mentioned Holly's name as a code word while trying to find each other amidst the hostility of the barracks. For years, Holly would be a lone voice at folk festivals, peace rallies and Hollywood fund-raisers, not only daring to say the word, but often getting large crowds of people to sing "...We are gay and straight together, singing for our lives."
Although Near now is in a relationship with a man, she is still a powerful voice for love and continues to include lesbian material in her work.

A peace activist and advocate for human and civil rights, Holly has linked the multitude of issues that are our lives, refusing the idea of separate "causes", calling for lesbian and gay issues to be part of the larger world peace addenda,"

By allowing this folk artisit to appear on campus at the invitation of a student organization, is the Catholic Lourdes College promoting homosexuality or atleast lesbianism? Is this not against Church teaching? If it is not, please explain?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 9:21:19 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] |