“Barack Obama is not a socialist, explained Eric Etheredge of The New York Times. He is a ’social democrat.’”

That’s supposed to ease our minds?

Actually, according to Gene Edward Veith of World Magazine “we are embracing social democracy without questioning the Marxist worldview and without even realizing what we are doing.” Read the whole article at the link and pass it on.

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/15310

I wish I could vote for Rick Perry! Check out: http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/12227/He said: ““I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state . . . That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”

I am pro-life.  Sometimes the things we see today make us think we are losing the battle.  However, when you look at it in context of history, our own history here in the United States, we see it has been worst in the past and yet, through compassion and perseverance, it was slowed down.  I encourage you to read Marvin Olasky’s article in World Magazine (01/17/09 issue) about the lessons from the past (online at http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14857 — you may need a subscription).  I’ll quote a few highlights.

“It’s conventional to think of the abortion horror as a product of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, but research I’ve done at the Library of Congress shows that abortion on the eve of the Civil War was more frequent, in proportion to the U.S. population, than it is now.
. . .

 Abortion was so extensive in the mid-1800s that The New York Times called it “The Evil of the Age . . . The enormous amount of medical malpractice [a euphemism for abortion] that exists and flourishes, almost unchecked, in the city of New York, is a theme for most serious consideration. Thousands of human beings are thus murdered before they have seen the light of this world.” But the abortion rate began to fall after the Civil War as a nationwide pro-life movement gathered strength.
. . .

Overall, as pro-lifers compassionately aided women at risk, the abortion rate declined dramatically from 1860 to 1910 and stayed relatively low until the cultural revolution of the 1960s sent the numbers soaring again. Pro-life leaders during the 1860-1960 century understood that there never would be “total abolition of the practice.” Realizing that this is a fallen world, they appreciated the educational impact of anti-abortion laws but did not expect much in the way of enforcement: Instead, they concentrated on ways to provide women with compassionate alternatives to abortion. They were not laid low by a sense of failure when, despite their efforts, many unborn children died. They rejoiced that so many were saved.”

Read the whole article to see all the compassion poured out on the men and women entangled in abortion.  Read about the psychological issues.  Read how we can learn from our past.

—For more information, see Marvin Olasky’s Abortion Rites: 
A Social History of Abortion in America (Crossway Books)

Campaign Alert!!! 
I am pleased to announce that I have received the endorsement of
The Honorable James Tedisco
NYS Assembly Minority Leader!  

Posted by Cheri Jacobus on The Loft.

The excitement is growing. She’s the real deal — very, very smart, accomplished, results-oriented, and a totally self-made woman who never set out to “make it” so much as found herself compelled to fix what was wrong, change what needed changing, and hold people to account.

Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton. And that’s a good thing.

. . .

For all of her experience and fame, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton would not be where she is today were it not for the fact that she was married to Bill Clinton. Governor Sarah Palin is where she is today 100% on her own merit. No family business or political connections, no rich daddy, no powerful and well-connected husband — This is all hers.

Now that is a real feminist!

I have tossed my hat into the race again this year.  This 2008 campaign will be another adventure.  Come along on this road with me and let’s make a difference.  I will be filling you in as we go along.

Yvette

    Because of a recent New York State Education Department ruling, about 450 special education students receiving instruction at home were being denied special services, but during the recently concluded legislative session, Sen. George Winner (R - Elmira) and cosponsors Asm. Benedetto (D - Bronx), Asm. Catherine Nolan (D - Ridgewood), Asm. Donna Lupardo (D - Endwell) and Asm. Englebright (D - Setauket) introduced legislation that would restore services to these students.

            The legislation was opposed by the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the School Boards’ Association, but in the final days of the 2007-2008 legislative session, the bills unanimously passed in their respective houses of the legislature.  (Emphasis mine.)

            Despite opposition, on July 7, 2008, God moved the heart of our Governor to sign the legislation (Prov. 21:1) restoring special services to disabled homeschooled children.

            The signing of this bill set into motion a 30-day window in which parents of special needs homeschooled students need to make a written request to their school district for such services. Parents must submit a written request for services to the school district where they reside by August 6, 2008. 

Thank you to all the prayer warriors and activists who helped make this happen. 

Yvette

We continue to fight to assert our first and forteenth amendment rights.  A judge will be hearing depositions regarding the motion for preliminary injunction.  Our hope is that we prevail on all issues raised in the preliminary injunction hearing, thereby, winning on the most troubling provision of the law without the need for a trail.  Stay turned.

Ognibene, Reiter, Conservatives Challenge New Pay-To-Play Law
February 11, 2008

Here’s the long-awaited lawsuit against the CFB that challenged the new campaign finance law.

The class-action suit filed today in US District Court argues, as expected, that the strict $400 cap on lobbyist contributions to city candidates violates the constitutional rights to free speech and association of a class of individuals (registered lobbyists) while also failing to “reach all speech that a viewpoint-neutral law would touch” (ie: labor unions).

The plaintiffs, who include former Council Minority Leader Tom Ognibene, former Giuliani-era Deputy Mayor Fran Reiter, Yvette Velazquez Bennett, the Kings County Conservative Party and the state Conservative Party, are seeking to prevent enforcement of the new law, which went into effect on Jan. 1.

The rest of the Daily Politics story is at this link.

NY lawsuit: Hispanic, black candidates will be harmed by new law

By LARRY NEUMEISTER | Associated Press Writer
7:19 PM EST, February 11, 2008

NEW YORK - A lawsuit filed in federal court on Monday claimed that the city’s new campaign finance law is unconstitutional and will discriminate against minority candidates.The lawsuit was brought by several plaintiffs, including Tom Ognibene, a former City Council member and candidate for mayor, and Yvette Velazquez Bennett, a former City Council candidate. The rest of the Newsday.com AP story is at this link.

Suit Against New Campaign Finance Law Claims Racial Bias

By RAY RIVERA

Published: February 12, 2008

The real estate industry and lobbyists, who together provide millions in campaign cash for city candidates, are trying to overturn a new law that would vastly reduce how much they can donate.

More here.

Court Fight Brews Over City Rules On Financing Political Campaigns

By Staff Reporter of the Sun
February 12, 2008

New York City’s new campaign finance regulations, which limit the campaign contributions of lobbyists and many business owners by 90%, are headed to court on a First Amendment challenge.

More here.