For those of us who are already concerned about whether the rapidity of Barack Obama's rise has prepared him to be Commander in Chief, this video won't provide any comfort. Just one month before we were hit on 9-11 -- which was really not that long ago -- Obama was a little known state senator making a brief appearance on a Chicago restaurant review show. Don't know much about Osama bin Laden, but he can vouch for the Southern Sampler and the Peach Cobbler:
Confrontational speeches can be very significant. President Reagan's challenge to Gorbachev to "tear down" the Berlin Wall was provocative, direct and a precursor to the end of the Cold War.
I have no doubt that Pastor Rick Warren has prayed for an end to abortion many times. Even Barack Obama -- who is radical in his support for all forms of abortion -- desires to reduce the number of abortions. And it's not as if you can argue that the issue itself -- the role of our nation in protecting innocent life -- is insignificant.
So, will Pastor Warren pray for the protection of innocent life?
In addition to your usual year-end charitable giving, Arizona's unique tax credit laws allow you to re-direct some of your tax liability to your favorite charitable causes, including up to $400 for charities that help the working poor and for public school extra-curricular activities ($200 for individuals.)
In addition, you can help kids by redirecting up to $1,000 for couples ($500 for individuals) to provide scholarships for children to attend private schools. You can recommend students and/or schools for your funds to be used. Like the other credits, these are dollar-for-dollar credits against your tax liability and end up costing you nothing while opening the doors of educational opportunity for thousands of children.
If you are so inclined, I would strongly encourage your support for the largest such organization -- the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, which has the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator. According to Charity Navigator, ACSTO
"consistency executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This 'exceptional' designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust."
I am proud to serve as the Advisory Board Chairman at ACSTO, and would encourage your support through a year-end donation.
But considering the hundreds of millions of tax dollars spent on light rail, and given our community's libertarian streak and recent commitment to vandalism against photo radar, I'm wondering about this:
According to police, a Honda crossed the tracks near First Avenue and Jefferson Street and hit the train. The driver fled, and the incident was being treated as a hit-and-run ...
I'm not a huge fan of light rail, but crashing cars into moving trains seems a bit excessive.
UPDATE: This story reminded me of this video. Please drive safely.
You've got to love the American people. We've just elected royalty to the presidency in the form of King Barack Obama. He's out on the golf course in his native Hawaii struggling his way around 18 holes, and then this:
"That was pretty good, right?" Obama said to cheers as he finished a round of golf near his $9 million rented vacation home near Honolulu.
The woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, "Better than your bowling."
Obama smiled and went back to lining up his putt, which he got close to the hole but not in.
The woman's quip referred to Obama's embarrassing bowling outing in Pennsylvania, when he knocked down only 37 pins - with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old.
