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	<title>Girl Pundit &#187; Lifestyle</title>
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		<title>Polls bad news for Obama</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/polls-bad-news-for-obama/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/polls-bad-news-for-obama/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:37:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GrammyH.</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Who knew there was a Republican Jewish Coalition? Talk about your &#8220;voice in the wilderness&#8221; minorities.
No more!
Jews are growing increasingly disenchanted with the Democratic Party, a move one could hardly have imagined before the Obama presidency. And the RJC is gaining stature nationally as a vehicle of authentic &#8220;hope and change&#8221; within the Jewish American [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who knew there was a Republican Jewish Coalition? Talk about your &#8220;voice in the wilderness&#8221; minorities.</p>
<p>No more!</p>
<p>Jews are growing increasingly disenchanted with the Democratic Party, a move one could hardly have imagined before the Obama presidency. And the RJC is gaining stature nationally as a vehicle of authentic &#8220;hope and change&#8221; within the Jewish American community.</p>
<p>Jewish liberals have always embraced social justice as a core value, but they are growing increasing suspicious of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid socialist utopian dream.<br />
Barack Obama started his presidency with an astounding 83% approval rating among American Jews. Nine months later, that support had dropped to 64%. At the end of 2009, he was at 48%.</p>
<p>Jewish American scholar, commentator and author Norman Podhoretz says, &#8220;Our interests and our ideals, both as Americans and as Jews, have come in recent decades to be better served by the forces of the right.&#8221;</p>
<p>Podhoretz not only argues that anti-Semitism has been banished from the right over the past 40 years but points to a long history of Democrat Jews &#8220;seeing an anti-Semite under every conservative bed&#8221; while remaining blind to the reality that &#8220;anti-Semitism has found a hospitable new home on the left, especially where Israel is concerned.&#8221;</p>
<p>The RJC platform coincides with the same core principles that propelled Scott Brown to victory in the recent &#8220;Massachusetts Miracle.&#8221; At the top of the list is a vigorous approach to terrorism.<br />
Where else is Obama losing support among voters? Let me count the ways!</p>
<p>ONLY &#8230;</p>
<p>&#8230; 43% say they would vote to reelect Obama.</p>
<p>&#8230; 37% would vote to reelect their Obama-supported Democratic congressman.</p>
<p>&#8230; 35% think global warming is a serious problem.</p>
<p>&#8230; 31% think foreign enemy combatants should be tried as civilians in the U.S. federal court system.</p>
<p>&#8230; 28% trust Obama to creates jobs in 2010.</p>
<p>&#8230; 21% think increased federal spending will help the economy.</p>
<p>&#8230; 18% think abortion should be legal in all circumstances.</p>
<p>&#8230; 13% think the stimulus bill helped save or create 600,000 jobs.</p>
<p>&#8230; 11% think Gitmo should be shut down immediately.</p>
<p>&#8230; 8% think Obama is keeping America safe.<br />
The U.S. sent more than 165 people to Denmark for the 15th Copenhagen Climate conference.<br />
It cost tax payers a BUNDLE. But heck, look at how many Super Important People just HAD to be there so they could forge some Super Important something or other … oh wait. They didn’t accomplish a damn thing, did they? And Anthropogenic Global Warming is a big scam besides.</p>
<p>To tell the truth, my only consolation in this is they say it was really, Really, REALLY cold while they were there. Now if we’d had to put out a million plus bucks to send them off to some warm, sandy beach to sip sweet boozey drinks out of coconuts, well, golleee, I’d be really pissed about that!</p>
<p>Attendees:<br />
President Obama<br />
Sen. James Inhofe<br />
Sen. John Kerry<br />
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and husband<br />
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer<br />
Rep. George Miller<br />
Rep. Henry Waxman<br />
Rep. Ed Markey and wife<br />
Rep. Charles Rangel<br />
Rep. Bart Gordon<br />
Rep. James Sensenbrenner and wife<br />
Rep. Sander Levin<br />
Rep. Joe Barton and daughter<br />
Rep. Fred Upton<br />
Rep. Earl Blumenauer<br />
Rep. Diana DeGette<br />
Rep. Jay Inslee and wife<br />
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and husband<br />
Rep. John Sullivan<br />
Rep. Tim Ryan<br />
Rep. GK Butterfield<br />
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver<br />
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and husband<br />
Rep. Marsha Blackburn<br />
Stacee Bako<br />
Don Kellaher<br />
Wilson Livingood<br />
Brian Monahan<br />
John Lawrence<br />
Karen Wayland<br />
Drew Hammill<br />
Kate Knudson<br />
Bridget Fallon<br />
Bina Surgeon<br />
Mary Frences Repko<br />
Nona Darrell<br />
Tony Jackson<br />
Josh Mathis<br />
Phil Barnett<br />
David Cavicke<br />
Lisa Miller<br />
Peter Spencer<br />
Andrea Spring<br />
Lorie Schmitt<br />
Greg Dotson<br />
Alex Barron<br />
Christopher King<br />
Shimere Williams<br />
Tara Rothschild<br />
Margaret Caravelli<br />
Gerry Waldron<br />
Ana Unruh-Cohen<br />
Jeff Duncan<br />
Eben Burnham-Snyder<br />
Joel Beauvais<br />
Michael Goo<br />
Tom Schreibel<br />
Harlan Watson<br />
Bart Forsyth<br />
Ed Rice<br />
Steve Rusnak<br />
Carey Lane<br />
Matt Dempsey and wife<br />
George Sugyama<br />
Tom Hassenbohler<br />
Plus, 31 additional unnamed Senate staff</p>
<p>State Dept:<br />
Special Envoy Todd Stern<br />
Secretary Hillary Clinton<br />
Pershing Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change<br />
Maria Otero, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs<br />
Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, Deputy Permanent Rep. United States Mission to the U.N.<br />
Daniel Reifsnyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment<br />
Lilburn Trigg Talley, Director of the office of Global Change<br />
Sue Biniaz, Deputy Legal Adviser<br />
William Breed, Director of Climate Change Programs USAID</p>
<p>Energy Dept:<br />
Steven Chu, Energy Secretary<br />
Jean Chu, Spouse of the Energy Secretary<br />
Rod O&#8217;Connor, Chief of Staff<br />
Amy Bodette, Special Assistant to the Secretary<br />
David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs<br />
Rick Duke, Dep. Assistant Sec. for Policy and International Affairs<br />
Holmes Hummel, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Policy and</p>
<p>International Affairs<br />
Elmer Holt, Economist in the Office of Policy and International Affairs<br />
Matt Kallman, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs<br />
Dan Leistikow, Director of Public Affairs<br />
Devin Hampton, Lead Advance Representative</p>
<p>Interior Dept:<br />
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar<br />
Deputy Secretary David Hayes<br />
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland<br />
Science Advisor Kit Batten<br />
Senior Advisor of Global Change at USGS Tom Armstrong<br />
USGS Director Marcia McNutt<br />
Deputy Communications Director Matt Lee-Ashley<br />
Jack Lynch (Security)<br />
Dave Graham (Security)<br />
Mike Downs (Security)<br />
Director of Advance Tim Hartz</p>
<p>EPA:<br />
Security Officer # 1 Security, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance<br />
Marcus McClendon Director of Advance, Office of the Administrator<br />
Security Officer # 2 Security, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance<br />
Jennifer Jenkins Physical Scientist, Climate Change Division, Office of Air and Radiation COP 15 Negotiator<br />
Shalini Vajjhala Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of International Affairs COP-15 Negotiator<br />
Maurice LeFranc Senior Advisor, International Climate Change, Office of Air and Radiation COP-15 Negotiator<br />
Kimberly Todd Klunich Technical Expert, Climate Change Division, Office of Air and Radiation COP-15 Negotiator<br />
Leif Hockstad Environmental Engineer, Climate Change Division, Office of Air and Radiation COP-15 Negotiator<br />
Seth Oster Associate Administrator, Office of Public Affairs<br />
David McIntosh Associate Administrator, Office of Rep.ressional and Intergovernmental Relations<br />
Michelle DePass Assistant Administrator, Office of International Affairs<br />
Security Officer # 3 Security, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance<br />
Lisa Jackson Administrator, EPA<br />
Gina McCarthy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation</p>
<p>White House Executive Office staff:<br />
From the Office of Energy and Climate Change:<br />
Heather Zichal<br />
Tony Russell<br />
Jake Levine<br />
Joe Aldy</p>
<p>White House Executive Office staff:<br />
From the Office of Science and Technology Policy:<br />
John Holdren<br />
Steve Fetter<br />
Shere Abbott</p>
<p>White House Executive Office staff:<br />
From the Council on Environmental Quality:<br />
Nancy Sutley<br />
Amy Salzman<br />
Jess Maher</p>
<p>White House Executive Office staff:<br />
National Security Council:<br />
Mike Froman<br />
Ed Fendley</p>
<p>White House Executive Office staff:<br />
Communications:<br />
Ben LaBolt</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<br />
SOURCES:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/82730022.html">The GOP&#8217;s common ground with American Jews by Kathy Banaszak &#8211; Jan. 26, 2010</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/01/jews_leaving_dems_adls_foxman.html">Jews leaving Dems: ADL&#8217;s Foxman Alarmed by Clarice Feldman &#8211; Jan 27, 2010</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/01/one_year_later_the_40_percent.html">One Year Later: The 40-Percent President By Brad O&#8217;Leary &#8211; January 27, 2010</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/25/cbsnews_investigates/main6140406.shtml">Congress Went to Denmark, You Got the Bill By CBS News&#8217; Sharyl Attkisson &#8211; Jan. 25, 2010</a></p>
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		<title>My Legal Right</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/my-legal-right/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/my-legal-right/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:12:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Theosobes</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlpundit.com/?p=3379</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I remember the nurse practitioner saying, &#8220;I have a legal obligation to tell you that you can end this pregnancy.&#8221;  In spite of being overwhelmed by the timing of this pregnancy, this was the last thing I would do or needed to hear.  It was offensive that she had the legal obligation to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/0107baby_feet.gif"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-622" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/0107baby_feet.gif?w=207" alt="" width="207" height="223" /></a>I remember the nurse practitioner saying, &#8220;I have a legal obligation to tell you that you can end this pregnancy.&#8221;  In spite of being overwhelmed by the timing of this pregnancy, this was the last thing I would do or needed to hear.  It was offensive that she had the<strong> legal</strong> obligation to say this to me when what I needed to hear was about the miracle of  life that was growing inside of me.   I have always wondered why there was not a legal obligation to get me emotional support when I obviously needed it.</p>
<p>My husband and I were both twenty-one when we were married;  in love, we knew we could conquer the world on a penny and a prayer.  I was a college student, determined to go to law school and he was working the swing shift at $7.80 an hour.  We were living the newly wed dream.  We were not planning on having children for a very long time as we had life plans for our future; but the contraceptive didn&#8217;t work and we found ourselves just over six months newly married and pregnant.  I cried almost every day of that pregnancy.  The timing was a disaster in my mind.  The finances were impossible.  The dreams I had were dying before my very eyes.  The theme song of my life was &#8220;I&#8221;.  Yet because I knew that life began at conception, an abortion would be murder, plain and simple.  Murder is a capital offense before God and I would not kill the life that was growing in me because it cut into my well laid plans.  According to <a href="http://women.webmd.com/tc/abortion-references#tn10211">WebMD</a>, I had all the classic reasons to justify an abortion and I fit the list of the most common reasons that teens and 			 young women choose to have an <a href="http://women.webmd.com/tc/abortion-reasons-women-choose-abortion">abortion</a>:<sup><a href="http://women.webmd.com/tc/abortion-references#tw2876">4</a></sup></p>
<ul>
<li>Awareness that they are not mature enough to 				have children.</li>
<li>Knowledge that they are financially not able to 				support or care for children.</li>
<li>Concern that <a href="http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/delivery-methods">having a baby</a> would 				change their lives and compromise their (and a child&#8217;s) future. Many young 				mothers don&#8217;t ever manage to get the education and employment necessary to 				raise their children above the poverty line.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/">Birth control</a> (contraceptive) failure. Over 			 half of all women who have an abortion used a contraceptive method during the 			 month they became <a href="http://www.webmd.com/baby/default.htm">pregnant</a>.<sup><a href="http://women.webmd.com/tc/abortion-references#tn10211">3</a></sup></li>
<li>Physical or mental conditions that endanger the woman&#8217;s health if 			 the pregnancy is continued.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: left;">I could have checked off each one of these reasons and made the legally justified decision to end the pregnancy, but my belief that all life is sacred and that conception is the beginning of life, countered these selfish reasons to abort this baby.<a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/20-weeks2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-625" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/20-weeks2.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>I continued on with my life, as this new life grew inside mine.  I walked to my political science classes, worked my part-time job and dealt with the emotions of  life not going the way I planned it.  My husband came with me to every doctor&#8217;s appointment and was my support.  We saw our baby, looking very much like a baby on the ultra sound and we went to birthing classes to prepare for this event.  I continued to cry.  The day she was born, my tears dried up.  Twenty years and four more children later, my life  is very different from the one I had planned, yet I recognize that God knows better that me.  I have talked to professionals who have lived their dreams in their pursued fields, but have missed out on what they have discovered as their most important calling on life.  I specifically recall a conversation with my doctor, who had just begun practicing medicine.  She and I both had had babies around the same time, and she was back at work, doing the job she had dreamed about for a most of her life.  She said, &#8220;I would love to stay home with my baby, but I have medical school bills to pay and can&#8217;t afford not to work.&#8221;  She was living her life long career dream, but was torn because her heart was with her son. Her work was noble, but she recognized what she was missing not being home.  God gave me a gift of an unplanned pregnancy, because it altered my life course and gave me His life course instead.  I am so grateful that I did not have to make the difficult decision to choose career over child raising.  I don&#8217;t know if I would have chosen rightly.  But God in His grace allowed me to hold my baby in my arms, while studying for finals and getting my degree; all the while recognizing that His plans are higher than mine and the job He had for me was to raise a family.  <a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/pumpkin-patch-034-copy1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-627" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/pumpkin-patch-034-copy1.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="273" /></a>Had I allowed my legal right to dictate what I would do about my unwanted pregnancy, I would be a radically different woman today.  But I did what I knew to be true, in spite of my feelings, and I let life live.  Today I have a beautiful daughter in college, about the same age I was when she was conceived, who is living to serve God and pursuing her dreams.  My dreams continue to be molded by God&#8217;s best for me.  I may not like the direction it is heading at a given moment, but I can rest knowing that He has a vantage point that I do not and that His eyes see eternity in all directions, while mine only have the past and the present in sight.  If I had lived for the moment twenty years ago, lived in the emotion, decided that my selfish legal right was to abort my unwanted pregnancy, not only would I have lived with the guilt of murdering my first-born child, but also, I would have missed out on all that she has brought to my life and to the world. It must be stated that if I had ended this un-planned pregnancy, God in His grace and love would have forgiven me, when I turned to Him in repentance.  I recognize God&#8217;s hand in my life, in high-definition hind-sight, that He was the strength, when I had no strength of my own, that helped me make the right decision to keep my baby. God gave us a precious daughter which we named Alethia, the Greek word for Truth, as her life has brought Truth into ours.</p>
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		<title>Home Schooling Takes Perseverance</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/home-schooling-takes-perseverance/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/home-schooling-takes-perseverance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Theosobes</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Home schooling is not for the faint of heart, though I have felt like fainting these past few weeks. One would think after successfully graduating a child, the next one would be easier. Yet, each student has challenges and talents that make for a brand new set of learning styles for me, the teacher!  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/simpsons_school.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-595 alignright" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/simpsons_school.jpeg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="285" /></a>Home schooling is not for the faint of heart, though I have felt like fainting these past few weeks. One would think after successfully graduating a child, the next one would be easier. Yet, each student has challenges and talents that make for a brand new set of learning styles for me, the teacher!  The beauty of home schooling is that the parent, a.k.a.: the teacher, becomes the student all over again and re-learns or at least attempts to re-learn all the things that were supposed to be understood in high school!</p>
<p>The past few weeks have been the final stretch of semester one. Geometry has hit points of long moments of struggle and tears when a proof just isn&#8217;t proving to be understandable!  Student and teacher tears mingle together and an email to the tutor helps resolve the confusion, temporarily, but the pressure mounts as a mid-term looms next week.</p>
<p>The term paper that took two days of My weekend, may not get an award for most persuasive, but there is certainly a sense of accomplishment and pride, and of course I am talking about my daughter, not my own feelings of finishing strong.</p>
<p>The book, <a href="http://www.lewissociety.org/scientism.php"><em>That Hideous Strength</em></a>, was read and precised on Thursday this past week. It, or should I say, my daughter, kept us awake, me as official editor, until 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning.  The word count never seemed to go down substantially. With each read through and deletion of un-necessary phrases, we finally chopped the paper down enough to reached the prescribed one thousand words. The clock on the wall kept reminding me that I wanted to be in bed. I began to feel like I was the one who had read <em>That Hideous Strength</em> and not my daughter.  And as if that was not enough, a mid-night geometry test and biology homework was also completed.</p>
<p>Again I say, home schooling is not for the faint at heart.  I know one must be asking, why in heaven&#8217;s name, is the schooling happening in the middle of the night?  Let me explain, no sum up.  We are part of a wonderful program called Biola <a href="http://youth.biola.edu/academics/star/">STAR Academics</a> and <a href="http://youth.biola.edu/academics/torrey/">Torrey Academy</a>, to help me help my kids, get all they need academically, so they will excel in college.  My oldest, my first graduate, is indeed living up to my prayers and expectations as a student of <a href="http://www.biola.edu/">Biola University</a>.  She is a journalism major, with plans to do a study abroad next semester in <a href="http://www.biola.edu/academics/offcampusprograms/programs/detail/americanstudies/">Washington D.C</a>.  She is a writer for the <a href="http://chimes.biola.edu/">The Chimes</a>, the University newspaper, and her success at Biola has shown me that this home schooling choice has indeed been the correct one.  So as we struggle through tenth grade again, (and I wouldn&#8217;t use the word struggle usually, it has just been a long week), I count my blessing for the right to school my kids at home. I thank God for programs like Torrey Academy and STAR that help me, help my children get a high caliber academic education that prepares them for life and college.</p>
<p>I will be completing high school two more times and I am sure I will be much smarter when I graduate my last student.  But I will be saddened that the days of whining and roses will be complete.  I love to school my kids.  I love the fact that this Country allows parents the right to school in this manner.  I am grateful that I have my fingers in the mix and that I can see their accomplishments first hand and watch the struggles create in them a perseverance that will last a life time.  I have always compared home schooling to watching one&#8217;s child take their first step or say their first word.  There is so much joy and anticipation in those events and with home schooling, I get to see my child read his first word, figure out his first Algebra problem and most importantly, I get to be the one who trains them up in the <a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-4.htm">admonition of the Lord</a> and watch Him transform them into His image.  Truly a most enviable task in life.  And by the way, I get to re-do high school four times!  Isn&#8217;t that the American dream: to go back to high school?</p>
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		<title>Sheer Energy Legs</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/sheer-energy-legs/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mommy Pundit</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlpundit.com/?p=3064</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ladybug came to us in the stink of July. In Southern China. She&#8217;s mostly seen me in shorts, skirts or capris. She&#8217;s touched my legs a billion times and despite what Michael thinks, she likes the way they feel. She doesn&#8217;t seem to mind when they get a little&#8230;shall we say&#8230;stubbly. And for the most [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ladybug came to us in the stink of July. In Southern China. She&#8217;s mostly seen me in shorts, skirts or capris. She&#8217;s touched my legs a billion times and despite what Michael thinks, she likes the way they feel. She doesn&#8217;t seem to mind when they get a little&#8230;shall we say&#8230;stubbly. And for the most part, I shave on a regular basis, especially now that my shower time has become so precious and such a part of my fight against the insanity of motherhood. I cherish my time in the shower. I look for things to do in there to linger just a bit more and shaving is a great help to me in this quest.</p>
<p>But that&#8217;s beside the point.</p>
<p>The point is that I don&#8217;t wear hose very often because A) they irritate me to death and B) I constantly snag them. I can look at hose from across a room and they snag. So I pretty much don&#8217;t wear them unless it&#8217;s super cold and/or I have to dress up. I wore them for the first time in front of Ladybug last week. Here&#8217;s what happened.</p>
<p>My beloved child rushed up to hug my legs, after all, we&#8217;d been separated about 20 minutes. She wrapped her arms around me and then dropped her arms and stepped back a good foot and a half. Ladybug&#8217;s face was confused and a bit fascinated. She looked at my legs curiously for a few seconds and then reached back to touch one of them again. She pulled her hand back super quick and looked up at me as if to say, &#8220;What&#8217;s going on here? Where&#8217;s your skin? This looks like skin but it&#8217;s not.&#8221; This went on for some time as I moved about the room finishing my dressing routine. I thought she was over it.</p>
<p>That afternoon when I picked her up from the babysitter&#8217;s house, again Ladybug touched my legs. When we got home, she kept touching them until I took the pantyhose off. Then she touched my real, live skin and a smile broke out on her face a mile wide. She clapped her hands together and grinned at me, completely thrilled that my legs were back and all was well with the world.</p>
<p>Today I wore black tights and she eyeballed me a bit but didn&#8217;t feel the need to do a pat down search again.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Strickstrumpfhose_2.jpg" alt="" width="383" height="480" /></p>
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		<title>&#8220;Heartbreak-related depression,&#8221; Jackson/Tequila/Tyson news, a spanking study, &amp; crazy crimes</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/heartbreak-related-depression-jacksontequilatyson-news-a-spanking-study-crazy-crimes/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2010/01/heartbreak-related-depression-jacksontequilatyson-news-a-spanking-study-crazy-crimes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:55:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Brian Russell</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Here&#8217;s a rundown of my first full week back on the cases:
Celebrity news:
The daughter of Billy Joel, an aspiring musician herself, is speaking out about her December overdose of homeopathic pills.  She says it was brought on by a breakup and &#8220;heartbreak-related depression.&#8221;  Now, I don&#8217;t know that we need to add &#8220;heartbreak-related [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here&#8217;s a rundown of my first full week back on the cases:</p>
<p>Celebrity news:</p>
<p>The daughter of Billy Joel, an aspiring musician herself, is speaking out about her December overdose of homeopathic pills.  She says it was brought on by a breakup and &#8220;heartbreak-related depression.&#8221;  Now, I don&#8217;t know that we need to add &#8220;heartbreak-related depression&#8221; to the DSM (diagnostic manual of mental disorders), but I can confirm from clinical and first-hand experience that the grief associated with breakups can be profound, so I applaud Ms. Joel for her plan to speak about it to young people in 2010.</p>
<p>It looks like criminal charges are imminent against the physician who prescribed a surgical-strength sedative to <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/michael_jackson" title="Michael Jackson" rel="homepage" href="http://www.michaeljackson.com">Michael Jackson</a>.  Expect involuntary manslaughter and probably some lesser charges.</p>
<p><a class="zem_slink freebase/en/tila_nguyen" title="Tila Tequila" rel="homepage" href="http://www.tilashotspot.com">Tila Tequila</a>&#8217;s back in the news &#8212; her &#8220;fiance,&#8221; an heiress to the <a class="zem_slink freebase/guid/9202a8c04000641f8000000000132296" title="Johnson &amp; Johnson" rel="homepage" href="http://www.jnj.com/">Johnson &amp; Johnson</a> fortune was found dead at her (Ms. Johnson&#8217;s) California home, an apparent drug overdose, and there&#8217;s since been a series of bizarre &#8220;tweets&#8221; from the ever-classy Ms. Tequila disavowing any knowledge that Ms. Johnson was in danger.</p>
<p>Mike Tyson&#8217;s back in the news as well, another run-in with a photographer in an airport, no charges filed against either party yet.  At this point, it&#8217;s sad what a train wreck this guy&#8217;s life is.</p>
<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignleft">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyson-Mike/dp/B001UV4XBA%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dpunditgirlcom-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001UV4XBA"><img title="Cover of &quot;Tyson&quot;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5182HoGjycL._SL300_.jpg" alt="Cover of &quot;Tyson&quot;" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution">Cover of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyson-Mike/dp/B001UV4XBA%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dpunditgirlcom-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001UV4XBA">Tyson</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>Study this:</strong></p>
<p>A new study of spanking found that <strong>spanking does not necessarily turn kids neurotic</strong> or psychopathic and that many kids who were spanked have grown up to be highly-functional adults.  Now, the group studied wasn&#8217;t that large, and the methodology doesn&#8217;t sound like it was that great, and I&#8217;m not advocating spanking as a disciplinary tactic of first resort, and I certainly never condone violent spanking (spanking that causes more than mild discomfort), BUT, it does on some level seem consistent with what&#8217;s occurred to me (and I think to many people who got the occasional spanking and have lived fairly successful lives) whenever previous studies have linked spanking to every horrible outcome from suicide to serial homicide!</p>
<p><strong>Major case developments:</strong></p>
<p>A body found wrapped in plastic in a remote area of Utah is not the body of the missing mother of two who supposedly &#8220;disappeared&#8221; while her husband took their small kids &#8220;camping&#8221; in the middle of the night.  This body belongs to an as-yet-unidentified Hispanic male.</p>
<p>Before 2010 was even a full week old, we had a mass shooting &#8212; disgruntled former employee shooting eight former co-workers at a St. Louis factory, killing three, before turning the gun on himself.  Apparently, he was upset about his retirement benefits (second time we&#8217;ve heard that in a week &#8212; the Las Vegas courthouse shooter apparently had the same motive).</p>
<p>An Arizona baby is missing, his mother is under arrest, and another couple have been named &#8220;persons of interest&#8221; in the baby&#8217;s disappearance.  Confused?  Apparently the mother didn&#8217;t want the baby&#8217;s father to have any custodial time with the baby.  So, she arranged to give the baby up for adoption to the couple, but then she sent a text message to the baby&#8217;s father telling him that she&#8217;d killed the baby.  Cops caught up with the mother in Florida and took her into custody, but the baby wasn&#8217;t with her.  She&#8217;s since said that she gave the baby away in Texas.  The couple, who are from Arizona, have spoken openly to the media and volunteered to take polygraph tests to prove that they never received the child and don&#8217;t know where he is (they sound innocent to me, but my data&#8217;s limited to soundbytes, so I certainly could be wrong).  Nevertheless, cops have indicated that the couple may know more than they&#8217;ve told about what the mother&#8217;s plans were.  On the bright side though, cops also say there are unspecified &#8220;indications&#8221; that the child&#8217;s probably still alive.  Still confused?  Sorry, stay tuned, and I&#8217;ll try to sort it out and get back to you.</p>
<p>The deceased body of a Playboy video model was found on fire in a Miami dumpster.  Her boyfriend has been questioned by cops and apparently has been cooperative at this point, but the couple did reportedly argue on the night she was reported missing.  Could be innocent, could be another Ryan Jenkins, stay tuned.</p>
<p><strong>And finally tonight, this is &#8220;McNuts&#8221;:</strong></p>
<p>A woman right here in the Kansas City area apparently was pretty unhappy with her <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/mcdonalds" title="McDonald's" rel="homepage" href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/">McDonald&#8217;s</a> burger &#8212; so unhappy that she threw a violent tantrum in which she did over thousands of dollars&#8217; worth of damage to the restaurant before fleeing the scene.  No word on whether she got fries with that, but there&#8217;s reportedly video surveillance footage that hopefully will lead to her arrest before she tears up another restaurant &#8212; one that I might actually be in at the time!</p>
<p>Have a great weekend, see you back here and on the tube next week!</p>
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		<title>Cowardly Congressmen</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/cowardly-congressmen/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/cowardly-congressmen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:09:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Theosobes</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlpundit.com/?p=3280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spineless men and women fill the halls of Congress. Not one of them, I submit, could ever fill the shoes of the men who framed the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. Their ethics are corrupted by their greed for power and their courage to stand for what is right is shattered when enough pressure [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/pagespa3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-571" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/pagespa3.jpg?w=264" alt="" width="272" height="227" /></a>Spineless men and women fill the halls of Congress. Not one of them, I submit, could ever fill the shoes of the men who framed the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. Their ethics are corrupted by their greed for power and their courage to stand for what is right is shattered when enough pressure it put upon them.  They are gutless, cowardly and truly a craven group of so-called leaders.  The men who signed our foundational documents, did not trade away freedom or accept bribes in order to get what they wanted.  There was compromise, but compromise that established the greatest government ever in the history of the world.  There is no compromise in this Senate, only<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,580944,00.html"> blackmail and bribery</a>, at the expense of Democracy.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.omaha.com/article/20091222/NEWS01/712229910">Spineless</a></p>
<p>If our leaders are so easily swayed away from their own convictions and ignore the democratic voice of their constituents as demonstrated in this <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30941.html">health care legislation</a>; what will happen if and when our Freedom of Religion is radically attacked?   Who will stand up for our First Amendment rights, if those in Congress, who don&#8217;t hold the same beliefs as we in the Christian community, choose to follow marching orders from the powers the be?  This<a href="http://politicallore.com/blog/?p=765"> health care bill</a> is critical to the health of our country and is being pushed through by radicals who don&#8217;t seem to care about America&#8217;s life expectancy.  What about the issues that are central to all American&#8217;s rights?   What if they come under attack?   Will any on the left stand up to protect them?  It seems that most have sold their souls to the Devil, and few would sacrificially give up everything to stand for Truth, Justice and Freedom.</p>
<p>They don&#8217;t make &#8216;em like they used to!  Is it because the American people as a whole are no longer capable of electing leadership that is morally and ethically sound; or is it because there are no morally and ethically sound leaders rising to the top to lead?  May only the cream of the crop attain leadership positions and only those who demonstrate the type of leadership on which this country was built.  Courage, Uncompromising Ethics, Integrity and a love for Country and Constitution: The New American Leader!</p>
<p>This is the only change I can believe in!</p>
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		<title>My Christmas Guest</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/my-christmas-guest/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/my-christmas-guest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:11:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Theosobes</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[A beautifully embossed Christmas card arrived today, sealed in wax with an ancient royal signet ring.  Mystified, I carefully opened the envelope hoping to keep the wax seal intact to show my husband the intricate beauty.  As I pulled out the translucent parchment and began to read, my hands shook with disbelief.  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/letter-with-feather.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-541" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/letter-with-feather.jpg?w=245" alt="" width="245" height="300" /></a>A beautifully embossed Christmas card arrived today, sealed in wax with an ancient royal signet ring.  Mystified, I carefully opened the envelope hoping to keep the wax seal intact to show my husband the intricate beauty.  As I pulled out the translucent parchment and began to read, my hands shook with disbelief.  I paused to sit down and halt the flow of salty tears that threatened to ruin the ink on this priceless letter.  I could hear the beating of my heart in the silent room as I resumed reading.  The message was truly a tiding of great joy for my family, and a blessing more desirous than anything my heart could have hoped for.  To tell you the contents of this note would almost be sacrilegious without great pomp and circumstance attached; yet poetry eludes me and song flies away in the face of this momentous note.  So I will just write it bluntly, without the prescribed celebration.  <em><strong>Jesus</strong>, </em>the Son of God, will be visiting our house on Christmas Day!</p>
<p>There has never been enough money to go around during the holiday season.  We always have more year, more month, and more day at the end of each paycheck.  We always have more Christmas wishes and guests than our finances can afford, and this year our house will be full again with family and friends, full of love and joy.  Each year my heart is filled with the desire to make everyone&#8217;s wish list come true and an inability to do so; and now I have the most famous guest of all arriving on December twenty-fifth.  How am I to prepare of this?  The King of the universe is coming to my humble dwelling.  Royalty will be sitting on my old couch.  Nothing in this house is clean enough for my Lord<a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/children-cleaning-a-window.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-546" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/children-cleaning-a-window.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="279" height="235" /></a>.  Nothing will ever make my home worthy of such an arrival.</p>
<p>A week is all the time I have to clean, bake, decorate and shop.Only a week to prepare for Immanuel. How have the chosen few from Bible stories of old prepared for this type of visitation?   The women during Passover so thoroughly clean their homes that no dust remains even in the darkest corners.  Do I have time for that? I  must!  Jesus can&#8217;t enter this house with cobwebs in the eaves and fingerprints on the window panes.</p>
<p>What kind of meal should I prepare?  Traditional?  Gourmet?  Or perhaps something Jewish in flavor?  It has to be perfect.  Nothing less will do!  But I am far from a gourmet chef, so perhaps I should have this momentous meal catered.  I better get a cookbook, as well as a restaurant guide, when I go to the store.  Who will have the honor of sitting on either side of Him at the dining table?  Should I draw straws as each family member enters the dining room?  Jesus, of course, will sit at the head of the table.  We will request His blessing on our feast, whatever we end up eating.  Oh, who will monitor the topics of conversation?  What if someone says something wrong?  What if somehow we dishonor our Guest?</p>
<p>Finally, what kind of gift should I buy?  What does a person wrap up in Christmas red and green for the owner of all the cattle on the hills? What could I possibly give the Give of Life?</p>
<p>So you see my dilemma.  I am so honored, yet so unworthy, so unready.  I have spent three days spring cleaning my home in the dead of winter.  It has never been so sanitary.  The carpets are clean, the windows Windexed, an the children&#8217;s toys have been wiped down and put in the proper places. Any sign of a mess will result in some form of discipline!</p>
<p>All the customary Christmas decorations are put in place.  I wondered if I should put any Santa Clause decorations out, or leave them packed away for next year?  Is there anything in my traditional Christmas that would offend my Guest?</p>
<p><a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/christmasshopping.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-544" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/christmasshopping.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="249" /></a>I now face the challenge of a lifetime, the mission impossible, the task of finding the perfect present for God&#8217;s perfect gift to me.  Ironically, I end up at the mall with a mass of humanity also looking for their perfect gifts as well.  I wander through the shops and realize how ludicrous it is to search here for a gift for God.  What would He want from a mall?  A tie?  a Sweater?  After-shave?   How about a monogrammed stationary set?  I can just see it now, embossed in gold,<em> </em><strong><em>&#8220;GOD&#8221;</em></strong> in the center of the page.  Perhaps something from His creation would be more appropriate: a perfect poinsettia or basket of fruit might make a lovely gift.  Yet after three days of frantic searching, I still haven&#8217;t found anything to wrap up for the King of kings.  As I sit at the foot of our Christmas tree, looking at all the other gifts, I weep because of the loss I feel not having something for my Savior.</p>
<p><a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/christmas_family460.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-542 alignleft" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/christmas_family460.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="180" /></a></p>
<p>Christmas morning arrived and the children rushed out happily to ransack their stockings.  I was caught up in their smiles and happiness as we sat down to read the Christmas Story from the Bible.  As the story unfolded, and the children sat quietly listening to the part where the angel told the shepherds about Jesus&#8217; birth, a quiet rap came from the front door.  All became silent as we realized Whom the knock represented.  I quickly surveyed the room and the children, as my husband and I made our way to the door.  Were we ready to welcome the Birthday Guest into our home?  Before I could answer the knock however, my youngest child reached the entry way, threw open the door, and jumped into the arms of Jesus.</p>
<p>My heart stopped as I watched Jesus walk through the door with my child hanging on His arm.  This wasn&#8217;t how I planned this moment.  Was Jesus offended by such a rambunctious and an utterly un-worshipful welcome?  I was mortified at what it said about my child&#8217;s behavior and my parenting!</p>
<p>The moment of entry seemed to last an eternity, until the shrill squeals of my brood restarted the hand of the clock.  I realized that I had been holding my breath, as I sharply exhaled.  I then caught a glimpse of Jesus&#8217; face and the delighted twinkle in His eyes, as He reached down to touch each child.  How I wanted to weep and repent, dance and laugh, at my foolish heart.  I recalled the verse in an instant, that says, &#8220;Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not.&#8221;  I had been so worked up about how to make my home, my children and my life acceptable, that I had forgotten that He only requires my love.  Nothing more, but my love.  All else had been done for me two thousand years ago on the cross.</p>
<p>He looked at me as He entered the room and held His arms open wide.  I walked to Him and embraced Him with every ounce of love and devotion a hug could convey.  He wiped the tears from my face and led me to the couch.  We sat down and Jesus began to tell us about His Christmas Story.  We were mesmerized as the familiar Sunday School lesson was told by the Author Himself.  Awestruck, the children hardly moved as they listened to Jesus. The perfect Christmas gift sat on our couch and we worshiped Him.<a href="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/christmas-2006-001.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-552" src="http://theflipsideofthecoin.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/christmas-2006-001.jpg?w=280" alt="" width="280" height="332" /></a></p>
<p>As other guests arrived, the peace, joy and love that permeated our humble home, filled each heart.  No other Christmas will equal the one spent with Jesus as the Honored Guest.  Never will I forget how He played with the new train set or teasingly put on the princess crown and feather boa.  Always will we remember the laughter over Christmas dinner and the reverent thanks offered to God our Father.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">However, my greatest memory was the forgiveness, unconditional acceptance and the love His smiling face, twinkling eyes and warm hug conveyed to me.  Merry Christmas my Lord!  I am honored to have You in my house each and every day!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;">Written by Mary Selby for her children Christmas 2003.</p>
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		<title>Small Foxes</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/small-foxes/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:39:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor Jane</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Most people are familiar with the phrase, “It’s the small foxes that spoil the vine.” It is actually a paraphrase of Song of Solomon 2:15, which says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” This scripture refers to a time when foxes in search of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://girlpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/king-solomon.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3254" title="king solomon" src="http://girlpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/king-solomon-233x219.jpg" alt="king solomon" width="233" height="219" /></a>Most people are familiar with the phrase, “It’s the small foxes that spoil the vine.” It is actually a paraphrase of Song of Solomon 2:15, which says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” This scripture refers to a time when foxes in search of food would enter a farmer’s grape orchard, devour the grapes, and spoil his crop. And because the smaller foxes were unable to reach the grape bunches, they would chew on the vines to make the bunches drop, ultimately destroying the vines. As a result, the farmer lost more than just his crop; he also lost his vines-the source of future crops.</p>
<p>In our society, many people compromise their values, beliefs, and morals for wealth, social status, a mate, notoriety, or promotion. I have also seen Christians fall into the trap of situation ethics by compromising their faith, convictions, and even the Word of God in an attempt to fit in. They believe that as long as they don’t commit what they perceive as “major” sins such as murder, adultery, and so on, God will overlook the “little” things such as gossiping, complaining, unforgiveness, or compromising the truth.</p>
<p>Believers must not compromise, even in the midst of changing norms and values. Too many Christians are looking the other way instead of taking a stand against sin. It is our responsibility to uphold God’s Word as the final authority in the earth in these last days and be an example of truth, light, and love to the world. We cannot do that if we are blending in rather than being set apart.</p>
<p>Remember, it’s the “little” foxes that spoil the vine. Therefore, don’t allow your desire to “fit in” or to be popular to cause you to compromise your faith or moral convictions. And don’t manipulate scripture to justify your actions, by trying to make the Bible fit your desires rather than allowing it to transform and renew your mind to its truths. I encourage you to identify the areas in your life where you may be tempted to compromise. Then make a decision to exemplify godly character by doing what’s right because it’s right.</p>
<p>Your feedback and comments are valuable to us and we would love to hear from you. Please e-mail us at CHANGE@worldchangers.org or send your thoughts to:</p>
<p>CHANGE Magazine<br />
Creflo Dollar Ministries<br />
2500 Burdett Road<br />
College Park, GA 30349</p>
<p>Taffi and I love you and pray for you daily. Remember, Jesus is Lord, and &#8220;in all your getting, get understanding.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>CUFI Celebrates House Vote</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/cufi-celebrates-house-vote/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/cufi-celebrates-house-vote/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:22:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor Jane</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act by an overwhelming margin of 412-12. Our Congressmen have spoken, and they have sent Iran a clear message that there will be a steep economic price to pay for their illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Christians United for Israel has been a leading supporter of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the <strong>Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act</strong> by an overwhelming margin of 412-12. Our Congressmen have spoken, and they have sent Iran a clear message that there will be a steep economic price to pay for their illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons.</span></p>
<p>Christians United for Israel has been a leading supporter of this legislation.  Through our visits to Capitol Hill and our e-mail action alerts, we have made it clear to Congress that America&#8217;s Christians support tough economic sanctions against Iran. And Congress has listened.</p>
<p><strong>Congratulations to all of you who have supported CUFI in this effort.  This is an important victory, and you helped;to make it happen!</strong></p>
<p>Nehemiah told those helping him rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that &#8220;the work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. We heard the sound of the trumpet, and we came together in action. Our efforts have been blessed.</p>
<p><a href="http://girlpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/cufi_logo1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3247" title="cufi_logo1" src="http://girlpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/cufi_logo1-233x233.jpg" alt="cufi_logo1" width="233" height="233" /></a></p>
<p>Of course, our work is far from over. The bill moves next to the Senate. We will be watching this legislation closely and will let you know when we need your help to ensure that it passes the Senate by the widest possible margin. And we will continue to provide you with other opportunities to speak out against Iran&#8217;s threats and aggression, such as <a href="http://www.cufi.org/site/R?i=ATrVt0rbYq1K_qfwJTRSVQ.." target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">our petition to indict Iran&#8217;s President Ahmadinejad for incitement to genocide</span>. </a></p>
<p>Thank you for your support of CUFI and Israel.  Together, we are making a difference.</p>
<p>Blessings to you and those you love.</p>
<p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;">Pastor John Hagee                              David Brog<br />
National Chairman                               Executive Director<br />
Christians United for Israel              Christians United for Israel</p>
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		<title>How to help finance the build up in Afghanistan</title>
		<link>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/how-to-help-finance-the-build-up-in-afghanistan/</link>
		<comments>http://girlpundit.com/2009/12/how-to-help-finance-the-build-up-in-afghanistan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:12:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor Jane</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[By Senator Ben Nelson
As the war in Afghanistan escalates some have suggested increasing taxes, which I think is a bad idea especially at a time when many Americans are still struggling with the economy. We need to get our fiscal house in order, and be honest about the costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By Senator Ben Nelson</p>
<p>As the war in Afghanistan escalates some have suggested increasing taxes, which I think is a bad idea especially at a time when many Americans are still struggling with the economy. We need to get our fiscal house in order, and be honest about the costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, for the time being that means that the wars will continue to contribute to the federal deficit. I have proposed a patriotic and cost-effective way to finance the wars and reduce our dependence on foreign creditors.</p>
<p><strong>War Bonds</strong></p>
<p>The US War Bonds Act of 2009 finds a precedent in World War II savings bonds. From May 1, 1941 through December 1945, the War Finance Division and its predecessors were responsible for the sale of nearly $186 billion worth of government securities. Of this, more than $54 billion was in the form of War Savings bonds. Although the times and economic circumstances are significantly different than what we faced in the 1940’s, America’s commitment to protecting freedom and our way of life has not waned.</p>
<p>The commitment to protecting our national security is costly and so far has been a burden shouldered by the men and women in our military and their families. I believe that many Americans if given the opportunity to directly support the effort to protect our national security interest would do so, which is why I have introduced the United States War Bonds Act of 2009.</p>
<p>The Act would authorize the Treasury to issue War Bonds to aid in funding our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. My hope is that we can tap into the same spirit of patriotism and create a sense of participation in the war effort akin to that shown by the greatest generation.</p>
<p><strong>The National Debt</strong></p>
<p>As we know all too well, America is deeply in debt. The debt held by the public is more than $7.6 trillion dollars. An equally unsettling fact is that nearly $3.5 trillion – 46 percent – is held by foreign investors. We must get our debt under control, but as we pursue that goal we should also seek a better balance of domestic and foreign creditors.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t believe our first instinct should always be a rush to tax. The government has gone to great lengths to address the economic downturn and adding new taxes right now could undermine those efforts. My bill recognizes that now is not the time for additional taxes that can be avoided; but if we’re going to owe a debt to someone, it should be to ourselves.</p>
<p>My legislation will authorize the Treasury to issue and market War Bonds to the American people. Savings bonds are a cost-effective way to reduce our dependence on foreign creditors and create an outlet for Americans to express their patriotism and support for our servicemembers and America’s mission.</p>
<p><a href="http://girlpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/official_400_SenBebNelson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3242" title="official_400_SenBebNelson" src="http://girlpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/official_400_SenBebNelson-233x295.jpg" alt="official_400_SenBebNelson" width="233" height="295" /></a></p>
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<p><strong>Search:</strong> <a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/search.cfm?num=10&amp;q=Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>, <a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/search.cfm?num=10&amp;q=Defense">Defense</a>, <a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/search.cfm?num=10&amp;q=Taxes">Taxes</a>, <a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/search.cfm?num=10&amp;q=National%20Security">National Security</a>, <a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/search.cfm?num=10&amp;q=Troops%20and%20Veterans">Troops and Veterans</a>, <a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/search.cfm?num=10&amp;q=Speeches%2C%20Op%2DEds%2C%20Columns">Speeches, Op-Eds, </a></p>
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