Letter from the Democratic national Committee

I just received this from a friend...

From: President Barack Obama
Date: Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 1:04 AM
Subject: I cannot do it alone
To: Susan [REMOVED]

Susan --

I just finished delivering my first State of the Union address.

I set out an urgent plan for restoring economic security for struggling middle class families. This is my top priority, but I cannot do it alone -- and that's why I'm writing to you now.

Tonight, I called on Congress to enact reforms and new initiatives to defend the middle class -- to create millions of new jobs, support small businesses, and drive up wages; to invest in the education of our children and the clean energy technology that must power our future; and to protect the economy from reckless Wall Street abuses.

And I made my position on health reform clear: We must not walk away. We are too close, and the stakes are too high for too many. I called on legislators of both parties to find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.

I have no illusions -- there have been setbacks, and there will be more to come. The special interests who have shaped the status quo will keep fighting tooth and nail to preserve it.

So tonight, I'm asking you to join me in the work ahead. I need your voice. I need your passion. And I need your support.

Can you help fuel our fight for the middle class with a monthly donation of $15 or more?

http://my.democrats.org/page/m/4052b02c/5e2c2c8/61b532a6/74b9638a/460699125/VEsE/

We have just finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don't quit. I don't quit. Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

Thank you for making it possible,

President Barack Obama

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org.

This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003

Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Sorry, but does anyone else see this as funny.  President Barack Obama is suppose to be who is sending the email, and asking for MONEY.  But then there is a disclaimer attached that says:  "This communication is not authorized by any andidate or candidate's committe."   So did President Obama approve it or not?

Personally, I think it should say...  I am getting my butt handed to me by the American public, so please donate so I can start up the propaganda machine again.

State of the Union - The King rules ALL.

Ok, first I want everyone to know that I am not saying this because President Obama is BLACK.  Is he?  I am saying this because I DON"T AGREE WITH HIS POLICIES.   It has nothing to do with race, but has everything to do with what he says and what he does.

First, he will push his agenda no matter what the cost.  Here is a perfect example.  Because he can't get things done with congress, he is going to by-pass congress.   "Now, yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill that would have created this commission. So I'll issue an executive order that will allow us to go forward, because I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans."  WHAT?  WHAT? WHAT did he just say?  Because half of congress does not think that something is a good idea, you will go around them and make an Executive Order.   ALL HAIL OBAMA.....

Second, he thinks the American people are idiots.  He thinks he can say whatever he wants and we won't find out, or don't care if he lies. 

"That's what I came to Washington to do. That's why -– for the first time in history –- my administration posts on our White House visitors online. That's why we've excluded lobbyists from policymaking jobs, or seats on federal boards and commissions.

But we can't stop there. It's time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my administration or with Congress. It's time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office"

Just as a side note, it was posted on-line because FOX News did a freedom of information act request for the guest list.  Lets look at who he has put into places of policymaking on federal boards and commissions.

• Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
• Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
• William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
• William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
• David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
• Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
• Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
• Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
• Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
• Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
• Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
• Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005. [SOURCE]

The Sacred Responsibilities of Parents - M. Russell Ballard

I have recently been trying to listen to/read more talks by LDS Church leaders.  And I have found this really cool website, http://speeches.byu.edu/.  This website has most if not all of the speeches given at BYU over the years.  I was able to pick up 6 years worth in book format for only $20.00.

The talk I wanted to talk a little bit about in this post is called "The Sacred Responsibilities of Parents" by M. Russell Ballard, give during Education Week on August 19, 2003.

Elder Ballard first talks about "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".  He had this to say about it's purpose and the process for drafting the document.

As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I participated in the process of drafting that inspired document. It was a remarkable experience for all of us. As we travel the world, we see things--both within the Church and outside the Church. We were troubled by much of what we were seeing. We could see the people of the world wanting to define the family in ways contrary to God's eternal plan for the happiness of His children. Various world conferences were held dealing either directly or indirectly with the family. Major agenda items were introduced by some delegates that would have greatly weakened the family; yet, through the significant contributions of Church leaders, members, and other like-minded people, the language and thus the effects of those proposals were softened.

In the midst of all that was stirring on this subject in the world, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles could see the importance of declaring to the world the revealed, true role of the family in the eternal plan of God. We worked together through the divinely inspired council system that operates even at the highest levels of the Church to craft a proclamation that would make the Lord's position on the family so clear that it could not be misunderstood.

Elder Ballard then talks about the tactics that Satan is using to undermined the family, and warns us to be diligent against their attack.   He talks about how the world is allowing abortions, marriage is now a couples relationship, children are a choice rather than a blessing.  He also discusses how gender and gender roles are being confused.  He then tells us the reason why Satan is attacking the family unit.

When you stop and think about it, from a diabolically tactical point of view, fighting the family makes sense. When Satan wants to disrupt the work of the Lord, he doesn't poison the world's peanut butter supply, thus bringing the Church's missionary system to its collective knees. He doesn't send a plague of laryngitis to afflict the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He doesn't legislate against green Jell-O or casseroles. When Satan truly wants to disrupt the work of the Lord, he attempts to confuse gender and attacks God's plan for His spirit children. He works to drive a wedge of disharmony between a father and a mother. He entices children to be disobedient to their parents. He makes family home evening and family prayer inconvenient. He suggests family scripture study is impractical and not doable. That's all it takes, because Satan knows that the surest and most effective way to disrupt the Lord's work is to diminish the effectiveness of the family and the sanctity of the home.

Look at what he accomplishes when he does that. Couples unhappy in their marriages tend not to give appropriate gospel instruction in the home, both through formal family home evening lessons and through exemplary living. They are less likely to be committed to gospel principles in their own lives. Some drift from the Church. Apathy can overcome even the active members, keeping them away from the temple and weakening their capacity to be effective leaders and teachers--thus leaving countless lives untouched and slowing the Lord's work. And the Internet, when not properly used, is a vicious influence in the home. So we know, without question, Lucifer is the enemy of the family!

He then gives us 5 things we need to do to protect our family, and uses "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" as his text.

1. Full and Equal Partnership (Men and Women)
2. Fathers
3. Mothers
4. Principles for Marriage and Families
5. Family Councils

I am not going to give more details on each point.  I want to encourage you to read the entire talk.

In conclusion, he states:

We have spoken together today about fundamental, guiding principles for our homes and families--about full and equal partnerships, roles of fathers and mothers, principles for marriage and families, and family councils. Remember, also, there is great power in prayer. I strongly encourage personal and family prayer--which are important in building strong families--but I want to emphasize something else as well. I'm wondering if many of you parents--you couples--have lost that essential moment of kneeling together at the end of the day, just the two of you, holding hands and saying your prayers. If that has slipped away from your daily routine, may I suggest you put it back--beginning tonight!

NOTE: I have started running on the tread mill as a health goal I have started.  I am going to pick one speech/talk a week, and listen to it while I am running/walking.  I then plan on posting a link to it, and some of my thoughts about the speech/talk.    I hope this is one goal that I will be able to stick to and make a habit.

Invictus / The Soul's Captain

Invictus - by William Emest Henley (23 August 1849 – 11 July 1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The Soul's Captain - by Orson F. Whitney (LDS Apostle April 9, 1906-16 May 1931)

Art thou in truth? Then what of Him

Who bought thee with His blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood,

Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but Him could bear--
That God who died that man might live
And endless glory share.

Of what avail thy vaunted strength
Apart from His vast might?
Pray that His light may pierce the gloom
That thou mayest see aright.

Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree,
Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth,
Who gave that place to thee?

Free will is thine- free agency,
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto Him
To whom all souls belong.

Bend to the dust that "head unbowed,"
Small part of life's great whole,
And see in Him and Him alone,
The captain of thy soul.

My daughter as one of her Home Schooling projects memorized "Invictus" so I started to do a little research on it.  I love the part of the poem where it says "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."  In the process I found a response to it by an LDS apostle.   What are your thoughts on one or both of these poems?

Right Lane Philosophy

A friend and I were talking the other day.  I was discussing how when I get home I am usually upset and tense.  It was leading to anger issues when I got home from work.  The friend gave me a suggestion.  He said that I should drive in the right lane, and go about 5 miles per hour slower than I usually did, and listen to some music that I really like.  So I tried it for several weeks, and the impact was noticeable.  Instead of fighting traffic, I flowed with traffic.  The funny thing was that I arrived home at the same time or even earlier each day, and did not have that aggressive pit in my stomach when I got home.

I was then later telling this same friend about another issue I was having that was causing me some anger issues.  (Anger issues have been a recurring theme for me over the last little while.)   He gave me some good advice, he told me to use the "Right Lane Philosophy" on that problem as well.   He told me to just hang out in the right lane for a few weeks and see what happens.  I have started to internalize the "Right Lane Philosophy" in my life.  It is a hard process, and I am not always able to do it.  So I have started to do a little research on it.

The "Right Lane Philosophy" does not mean you have to stop pushing for goals, or let yourself get walked all over by others, but it is more of a philosphy of patience and taking things easier.  You still should strive to make your goals, but don't strive to achieve them in the shortest/fastest path, but the path that is the most benificial to everyone envolved.

President Thomas S. Monson in the First Presidency Message entitled, "Patience, a Heavenly Virtue" found in the September 2002 Ensign talks about this subject.

Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.

The counsel heard in our youth is still applicable today and should be heeded. “Hold your horses,” “Keep your shirt on,” “Slow down,” “Don’t be in such a hurry,” “Follow the rules,” “Be careful” are more than trite expressions. They describe sincere counsel and speak the wisdom of experience.

The mindless and reckless speeding of a youth-filled car down a winding and hazardous canyon road can bring a sudden loss of control, the careening of the car with its precious cargo over the precipice, and the downward plunge that ofttimes brings permanent incapacity, perhaps premature death, and grieving hearts of loved ones. The glee-filled moment can turn in an instant to a lifetime of regret.

Oh, precious youth, please give life a chance. Apply the virtue of patience.

Notice how he even goes as far as saying that patience is a virtue.  A virtue is defined as something that is a character trait or quaility that is valued as being good, and is required to promote individuality and your collective well being.   If patience is a virtue, then not having patience would be considered a vice.  A vice is a habit characteristic that is immoral, depraved, an/or degrading to society.  We can either make patience a virture or a vice.
Dallan H Oaks in a devotional address at BYU given on September 9th 1975 also addressed the subject of slowing down.   Elder Oaks talks about how BYU students are remarkable for their unselfishness and willingness to server.  But he also tells them to they need to slow down and check their priorities, to make sure that in the future they have enough to serve. 
 

In fact, you have been so oriented toward service and so unselfish with your time that University and Church officials have sometimes had to encourage you to slow down and think more of your own needs for health, education, and self-support during this critical period. Although this caution is not needed for everyone, I would say to a few of you who need this counsel that you should use good judgment not to let your own wonderful impulses to serve others today use so much of your time that you do not obtain the education you need to give maximum service to your family, your Church, and your community in the future. Use good judgment. Remember King Benjamin's caution, as he told his people to impart of their substance to the poor, and to visit and administer to the needs of the sick: "See that all these things are done in wisdom and order," he said, "for it is not requisite that man should run faster than he has strength" (Mosiah 4:27).

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we should be lazy.  The scriptures teach us that being lazy is not an option as well.  I am reminded of a letter that Moroni sent to Pahoran in Alma Chapter 60.  In that letter he says:  "And now behold, I say unto you, I fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of their exceeding aslothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of our government, and their exceedingly great neglect towards their brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain. "  [Alma 60:14]  I am saying that we need to slow down and have patience and think about what we are doing.  We need to examine the problem and not rush to a solution, but find the solution that make us and those around us improve and grow.
 
Our purpose in life is to be steadfast in our beliefs.  Nephi explains that "ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." [2 Nephi 31:20]
 
Alma brings both priciples together when he says, "Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them." [Alma 1:25]
 
We need to be steadfast in our movement and problem solving, but we also need to exercise patients and think about what the solution is, and find the best way to achive that solotion.
 
The "Right Lane Philosophy" is just that.  You have to make it from point A to point B.  But you have a large number of choices to make in the process.  If you slow down and work steadfast to make it to point B, you still reach point B, but the end result is more uplifting to those around you.  Instead of reaching point B irritated and angry, you reach point B with a calm sense of self.  This can be applied to almost any trial or goal that we have.  We should slow down, and patiently think of a solution and the be steadfast in our progress to that solution.
 

Eternal Perspective... "We can’t have you here. Go."

I am currently reading (well, listening to) a talk By Jack Marshall called - Calming Storms - Overcoming Hurt, Injustice and Anguish.  In this talk he talks about an experience that Elder John Groberg gives in the May 1980 Ensign.  (John Groberg wrote the book The Other Side of Heaven.)

Here is the story he shared in the talked entitled "Writing Your Personal and Family History".

In the early 1900s, a young father and his family joined the Church in Hawaii. He was enthused about his new-found religion, and after two years of membership both he and his eldest son held the priesthood. They prospered and enjoyed the fellowship of the little branch. They anxiously looked forward to being sealed as a family for eternity in the temple soon to be completed in Laie.


Then, as so often happens, a test crossed their path. One of their daughters became ill with an unknown disease and was taken away to a strange hospital. People in Hawaii were understandably wary of unknown diseases, as such diseases had wrought so much havoc there.

The concerned family went to church the next Sunday, looking forward to the strength and understanding they would receive from their fellow members. It was a small branch. This young father and his son very often took the responsibility for blessing and passing the sacrament. This was one such Sunday. They reverently broke the bread while the congregation sang the sacrament hymn. When the hymn was finished, the young father began to kneel to offer the sacrament prayer. Suddenly the branch president, realizing who was at the sacred table, sprang to his feet. He pointed his finger and cried, “Stop. You can’t touch the sacrament. Your daughter has an unknown disease. Leave immediately while someone else fixes new sacrament bread. We can’t have you here. Go.”

How would you react? What would you do?

The stunned father slowly stood up. He searchingly looked at the branch president, then at the congregation. Then, sensing the depth of anxiety and embarrassment from all, he motioned to his family and they quietly filed out of the chapel.

Not a word was said as, with faces to the ground, they moved along the dusty trail to their small home. The young son noticed the firmness in his father’s clenched fists and the tenseness of his set jaw. When they entered their home they all sat in a circle, and the father said, “We will be silent until I am ready to speak.” All sorts of thoughts went through the mind of this young boy. He envisioned his father coming up with many novel ways of getting revenge. Would they kill the branch president’s pigs, or burn his house, or join another church? He could hardly wait to see what would happen.

Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes—not a sound. He glanced at his father. His eyes were closed, his mouth was set, his fingers clenched, but no sound. Twenty minutes, twenty-five minutes—still nothing. Then he noticed a slight relaxing of his father’s hands, a small tremor on his father’s lips, then a barely perceptible sob. He looked at his father—tears were trickling down his cheeks from closed eyes. Soon he noticed his mother was crying also, then one child, then another, and soon the whole family.

Finally, the father opened his eyes, cleared his throat, and announced, “I am now ready to speak. Listen carefully.” He slowly turned to his wife and said, meaningfully, “I love you.” Then turning to each child, he told them individually, “I love you. I love all of you and I want us to be together, forever, as a family. And the only way that can be is for all of us to be good members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and be sealed by his holy priesthood in the temple. This is not the branch president’s church. It is the Church of Jesus Christ. We will not let any man or any amount of hurt or embarrassment or pride keep us from being together forever. Next Sunday we will go back to church. We will stay by ourselves until our daughter’s sickness is known, but we will go back.”

This great man had proper eternal perspective.

The daughter’s health problem was resolved; the family did go to the temple when it was completed. The children did remain faithful and were likewise sealed to their own families in the temple as time went on. Today over 100 souls in this family are active members of the Church and call their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather blessed because he kept his eyes on eternity, because he used his priesthood to bless his family, and because he recorded his feelings. How the heart of this father turned to his children, and how his children’s hearts turned to him.

I know that the topic of the article is writing a personal history, but this story makes you ask the question, how would you of responded to this situation.  Would you of acted like the Brother in the story and not left the Church or would you of looked for revenge?

We need to look at the Eternal Perspective of what we do, not just the here and now. 

Royal Household

May I just offer one or two more thoughts. One of our Latter-day Saint men during World War II was over in England. He had gone to an officer's club where they were holding a riotous kind of celebration. He noticed off to the side a young British officer who didn't seem to be enjoying himself at all. So he walked over to him and said, "You don't seem to be enjoying this kind of a party." And this young British officer straightened himself a few inches taller than he was before and replied, "No, sir, I can't engage in this kind of a party, because, you see, I belong to the royal household of England."


As our Latter-day Saint boy walked away he said to himself, "Neither can I, because I belong to the royal household of the kingdom of God." Do you realize that, you young people? There are things that you cannot and must not do if you remember your heritage.

I am reminded of the old court jester who was supposed to entertain his king with interesting stories and antics. He looked at the king who was lolling on his throne, a drunken, filthy rascal, doffed his cap and bells, and said with a mock gesture of obeisance, "O king, be loyal to the royal within you." And so I say to you young people today, remember your heritage, and be loyal to that royal lineage that you have as members of the church and kingdom of God on the earth.

Source: Be Loyal to the Royal Within You - Harold B. Lee 09/11/1973

The Health Care Bill

This is why the Health Care bill scares me.   This is my two cents....

Cent 1... The federal government is forcing me to buy something.  They are making every American purchase a product, and if you don't purchase this product, you will then be taxed because you exercised your right to be a non-consumer.   But not only that, it is going to set a precedence.  It will open the door for the federal government to force us to buy, pay for, and join any group they feel like we need to be a part of.

Some of you may be saying, come one Mike, that is a stretch.  And I say, the Health Care Debate is a perfect example of what I am talking about.  How many times have you heard "the government already makes us buy Car Insurance" as a reason why it is OK for the government to mandate Health Insurance?  (Barack Obama said just that in a speech given September 2009).  This statement or idea has been used several times by the Pro-Forced Health Care camp.  They insist that there is no difference.  BUT THERE IS.  If you don't buy a car, your consumer choice, you don't have to buy car insurance.  See the difference?  We are being forced to buy something that was not initiated by us.  You buy a car, you know you have to get car insurance.  You buy a house, you know you have to pay property tax.  You buy something, you accept the additional costs for that something.  So, what do we have to buy to be forced into Health Insurance?  Nothing, by the fact you live, the government is mandating you have to buy health insurance, or pay the tax.  This analogy is flawed.

But here is where it gets really scary to me.  Once we are forced to buy Health Insurance, how many things will use it as a precedence.  If they are using Auto Insurance as a precedence for Health Insurance, then what will Health Insurance become a precedence for?  I can hear it now...  "But the federal government already mandated Health Insurance..."   You get the picture.  Once we give away our liberties, it is almost impossible to get them back.   I think this will lead to more freedoms being taken away.  Since they make us pay for Health Insurance, why not force other medial stuff on us.  It could be seen as a precedent for mandatory vaccinations, etc...  Since they mandate our Heath Coverage, why not mandate what we eat, how we sleep, how we exercise, etc..

Cent 2... Another point about the Health Insurance is the whole thing with Nebraska.  For those who are not following it, there is a clause added to the bill so that Nebraska does not have to pay its share of the bill.  (This was added so that the Senator from Nebraska would vote for the bill.).   This is really in direct conflict with the Constitution of the United States.  It is giving one state a mandated advantage over another state.  This is in direct violation of Article 1 - Section 9 - Limits on Congress. "No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another:"

Your thoughts and comments as always are welcomed.  Here is a great comment about the Health Care reform made by Congressman Rogers from Michigan.