Shame

          “It is a blow to a freedom that you have fought to defend and for which you have seen your buddies fall in battle.”  Those are the words of Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, from a letter he recently wrote regarding the Obama Administration healthcare regulation that requires employers provide coverage that includes procedures that the church has long opposed.    

          Archbishop Broglio sent a letter to all chaplains saying, in part, that “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage the includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception.  Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those immoral ‘services’ in the health polices they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.”

          The letter opposing the regulation was read by to congregants of Navy and Air Force chaplains around the world.  However, the Army attempted to stop the reading of the Archbishop’s letter at Masses on Army facilities.

          Ultimately the letter was read, with read at all masses, but only after the line,  “We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law,” was removed from the text.   

          When Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius finalized the regulation last month, she stated that religious organizations had until August of 2013 to “adapt” to the new regulation and comply with it.

          The Obama administration orders morning-after abortion drug to be covered by insurance, blocks freedom of speech for the clergy and tells believers to “adapt” to regulations that violate freedom of conscience.  Can there be any doubt that we are in a battle for the soul of this nation?

Odds & Ends

Red Light Cameras
Have you heard about the appalling number of deaths caused by people running red lights, how an every growing number of people just ignore traffic signals and speed through intersections, prompting authorities to erect red light cameras to catch the reckless drivers who endanger us all.  Neither have I.  These cameras are not about safety, they are about revenue for cash strapped states and cities.  Some studies even show more accidents occur because motorists slam on their brakes to avoid receiving a ticket.  Since I dislike red light cameras and enjoy a good citizen revolt, I thought I would share this video. 

Gay Marriage in Washington State
Governor Gregoire is scheduled to sign the gay marriage bill into law Monday morning. The law would normally take effect 90 days after the session ends next month, but I’m counting on conservative and religious groups to challenge this in the courts and for a referendum to be brought before the voters.  Every time gay marriage is voted on by the people it is rejected, but liberal politicians and activist judges continue to force the issue upon a reluctant electorate.
Gov. Gregoire to sign gay marriage bill on Monday   

Show me the money
Newt Gingrich just is not winning and Sheldon Adelson, the money man behind much of Newt’s campaign has turned off the flow of money.  Tomorrow is the Maine caucus and I don’t expect Newt to do well.  If he can’t produce a big win in the next few weeks the money will dry up and, I suspect, he will be forced to drop out.
Gingrich Group Looks for New Money

American Redoubt
The American Redoubt, an idea proposed by prepper, author and blogger James Wesley Rawles, is the subject of the linked article.  As the article states, “it's the designated point of retreat when the American economy hits the fan. When banks fail, the government declares martial law, the power grid goes down…”  Decades ago those who prepared for disaster were disparagingly called survivalists, but today they call themselves “preppers.”  The vast majority of preppers are just average people trying to ensure the safety of their loved ones by preparing, hence the name, for whatever might come.  Usually the mainstream media labels us (yes, I consider myself a prepper) as redneck gun nuts and racists.  This article is fairer than most. 
The American Redoubt, where survivalists plan to survive

The Mission of Planned Parenthood

Joycelyn Elders Prize

          The Joycelyn Elders Prize for leftwing folly goes to Washington State Senator Patty Murray.

          The Elders Prize, named in honor of Joycelyn Elders, surgeon general during the Clinton administration, is awarded as warranted to political and cultural figures who live up to her high standards of support for outlandish lefty ideals.  Elders had the liberals running for political cover as she advocated for abortion rights, condoms in schools, drug legalization, and more that would not be appropriate for this blog.

          On January 31, 2012 the Susan G. Komen foundation withdrew funding from Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in America.  Senator Patty Murray was quick to come to the defense of the organization stating, “Planned Parenthood’s mission is to save lives…”  She went on to praise Planned Parenthood for doing “tremendous work across this country in providing preventative services so women don’t have to miss out on screenings and mammograms.”  She went on to blame the entire controversy on “a partisan witch hunt.”    

          Even if you support abortion, as Senator Murray does, only an outlandish liberal could claim with a straight face that the mission of the nation’s largest abortion provider is to save lives.  Senator Patty Murray you have more than earned this Joycelyn Elders Prize. 

Wars and Rumors of Wars

          The United States has about 360,000 military personnel spread around the globe in 150 countries.  Many of those troops were deployed to Iraq and many are currently engaged in Afghanistan.  Now there is talk of war with Iran.  At such times the phrase “wars and rumors of wars” comes to mind.  Those words, from Matthew 24 also speak of the end times and of a great tribulation in Israel, “such as were not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” 

          I don’t normally cover foreign affairs on this blog, others do it better than I can, but unless the course of nations change, we are headed for war, and that deserves to be noted here. 

          I do not believe that Israel will allow Iran to become a nuclear nation, nor do I believe that Iran will allow Israel to stop them.  The mullahs who control Iran have threatened to destroy Israel and want the United States out of the region.  They see nuclear weapons as a means to achieve these goals.  Iran will not back down and the Jewish nation will not allow another holocaust.  Such irreconcilable disputes are how wars begin.

          Since the dawn of the nuclear age we have all lived in dangerous times.  However, with Pakistan already a nuclear nation, Iran about to become one and the growing turmoil throughout the Muslim world, times are becoming more perilous.  If Iran and Israel throw nuclear missiles at each other they will do so over the most oil rich area of the planet.  We will become involved.  That is how a regional war becomes a world war.

          The video embedded is titled, The Last Day of Israel.  I have been unable to find much about it but the characters speak and the YouTube page is written in Hebrew.  A translation of the tagline states, “In February 2013 the Republic of Iran opened a combo attack culminating in the dropping nuclear bombs on Israeli territory and the environment. This is one of many records that survived from that day that changed the world.”  Israel has a history of acting before their enemies strike. 

Thinking about Vice Presidents

          Cathy McMorris RodgersThe next U.S. vice president could come from Washington State.  Since we haven’t even picked a Republican nominee it is a bit early to be talking about possible vice presidents, but the talking has already begun.  Among the names being discussed are Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana.  If Romney is the nominee he might want to strengthen his Tea Party and conservative base with someone like Michelle Bachmann as his choice for vice president.  However, another name being discussed Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers from Washington's 5th congressional district.

          Representative McMorris Rodgers has been in congress since 2005.  Her district encompasses eastern Washington from Okanogan to Walla Walla.  She is the highest-ranking Republican woman in congress, now in her second term as vice chairman of the Republican Conference, and has strong conservative credentials.  Since she is not well known outside her district she has limited negative baggage as compared to a Bachmann or Palin.  She could come on strong and help a candidate like Romney turn Washington from a blue state to red.