What's Jay Say: Eruptions & Abortions

The Icelandic volcano may be old news for some, but the flights in and out of Ireland have been cancelled for several days due to the smoke. It is a reminder: "May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!" (Psalms 104:31-32). When we forget that God made heaven and earth and all of us, a small volcano can bring us back to reality. ===================

The Denver Post printed some great pictures for its movie review of "Babies," May 7. What a shame each day, that 3,000 babies in the womb in the U.S. are being denied the opportunity to crawl or contribute -- as they will be killed in the womb by abortions.

Let's Redistribute Los Sols' Wealth

A brilliant marketing campaign was undertaken yesterday in Arizona in response to the bravery of Gov. Jan Brewer and her State Legislators.It's probably prudent to acknowledge first of all that the rage over the Arizona illegal immigration law would not be nearly as boisterous if Gov. Jan Brewer were not a Republican.  This issue isn't about race for most Americans; it's about abiding by our existing laws.  Conversely, for most in the Democrat Party, the entertainment industry and professional sports teams, it's about their disdain for the Right Wing, hatred of Tea Party goers and a lust for making money off of a crisis. Rev. Al Sharpton supported capitalism yesterday by helping buy up newly printed game jerseys for the Arizona Suns.  Arms linked, Rev. Al and his collection of community agitators walked the streets of Phoenix to protest the opinion of most Americans that we need strict enforcement of our immigration laws; that we can no longer afford to provide expensive entitlements for millions of people not legally here, and we certainly can no longer tolerate the flow of dangerous criminals threatening our safety.  Never letting a crisis go to waste, Rev. Al and all the folks demanding equal rights for non-citizens probably did not offer their sympathy to the rancher recently murdered on his own property by illegals, and I haven't seen him marching in Denver offering solace to the families of Colorado residents murdered at the hands of persons here illegally.  This recent display of Rev. Al's compassion and demand for justice is the typical  one-way street, and yet he believes himself to be someone to be revered.  At least he got a really cool new basketball jersey for his effort.

MSNBC is gleeful this morning because the Suns' won their game last night over the Spurs and they weren't subtle in suggesting those "Los Suns" jerseys had something to do with it.  God is at work, even on the basketball court.  Surely, there was Divine Intervention sent to strike down the work of evil doers that wish to see law, order and justice maintained while blessings abound for those entrepreneurs making lots of money off the new jerseys and such.

The Chicago White Sox organization doesn't want to show up at play-off games in Phoenix, the Suns' have made their political statement, the Denver School District isn't going to confiscate tax dollars to send administrators to expensive retreats and seminars in Arizona and elected officials across the country ranging from the lowliest city council member to the man holding the highest office in the land all are linking arms in solidarity with Rev. Al.   Just last week the President stated he didn't think Congress has the stomach right now to tackle immigration reform, but this morning after that invigorating win by Los Sols', Mr. Obama has found his own stomach tonic and is ready to rumble, saying he's going to hope for some change in immigration policy before the end of this year. 

It would be nice for the Phoenix Suns' to lead by example.  Why not allow anyone to walk into a game without having a ticket?  If I showed up and said I didn't have a purchased ticket but I want to exercise my human right to enjoy the game and fruits of others' labor, shouldn't I be allowed to walk right in?  Wouldn't it be discrimination and profiling if I were denied admission simply because I didn't have the money to pay and I look suspiciously like a person that might go to a Tea Party?   Why continue to require persons to go through security clearance and make sure they aren't carrying a weapon?  Isn't that a violation of civil rights?  Why not  invite all to imbibe and eat as much as they wish at concession stands without having to pay and make sure all the high-priced souvenirs are free for the asking?  Last week the President asked how much money do people really need to make anyway, and it seems fitting and proper for the well paid basketball players in Phoenix to step up first with an answer.  Let their answer be that they make too much money, they should no longer collect royalties for the use of their names or faces and let's just all take what we need and want because as long as we have rich athletes and overpaid, ridiculously wealthy Hollywood stars willingly donating their fortunes, why should the common man work hard to save up for a ticket to a big game?  Why shouldn't tickets for professional sporting events and movies be free?  Why should hardworking, middle class families be expected to pay for beer and hot dogs at the ballgame and why should a child living in a low income housing project not have a closet full of pro team jerseys at no cost?

 The idea won't work because some wet blanket tea party-type will spoil the fun by pointing out that if everyone doesn't pay their way into a game or movie and support the people selling food and soveniors, eventually those industries will collapse and cease to exist.  Hollywood stars and music icons won't work hard to entertain us for very long if they aren't paid for their effort, and pro athletes won't amaze us with their God-given talent if they don't get a nice paycheck in return.  Darn.  It sounded like a really good plan there for awhile.

Whether its actor Russell Crowe that spoke out yesterday that he's all in favor of redistribution of wealth (his wealth  made off his new Robin Hood movie excluded, no doubt), the Phoenix Suns or Al Sharpton, they will make all the politically correct noise they can but as is always the case in the Land of Liberalism, its YOUR money and MINE they intend to redistribute.  They'll throw a few bucks here and there for charity while Entertainment Tonight camera's are rolling, but rest assured, they will hold onto the bulk of THEIR wealth.  The rules only apply to the average taxpayer trying to care for his own that is the target.

The Oil Slick of Liberalism

Navy Seal Matt McCabe awaits trial for defending his country; Rev. Franklin Graham still hasn't heard back from the Commander-in-Chief about reversing the ban on Mr. Graham at the National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon, and Freddie Mac needs another bailout.Sounds like more of that change we're supposed to buy into.  Let's all continue to pray for young Matt McCabe that he, too, will be acquitted and that he can forgive his country for questioning his patriotism and personal sacrifice to keep us safe. Rev. Franklin Graham and his father, the beloved Rev. Billy Graham, generously and graciously received Barack Obama last week for a photo op so it would look as though Mr. Obama wanted to reach out to the Graham family in friendship following a drone attack on the Christian faith by the military.  During their chat, Rev. Graham spoke to Mr. Obama about being disinvited to offer prayers for Mr. Obama and all our leadership, our military, our nation and the world at the Pentagon today.  Mr. Obama assured Mr. Graham that he'd "look into it".  Barack Obama is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Military.  He can invite and disinvite any person he chooses to speak at a gathering at the Pentagon.  Was it Mr. Obama himself that sent down the order to make sure the Christian faith was not represented by Rev. Graham or was it one of his handlers, perhaps the same guy that had images of Christ covered up at Georgetown University last year during a presidential speech? Rev. Graham vows to show up today on the lawn of the Pentagon and exercise his right to free speech on this National Day of Prayer and he will pray in the name of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in spite of White House objection.

The subject of financial reform and breaking monopolies on Wall Street has taken a back seat these day due to an oil rig explosion, a law enforcing the law in Arizona and an attempted car bomb in Times Square.  The heated rhetoric and threats from the Administration in recent weeks to make sure nobody in the financial sector makes more money than the federal government deems appropriate has all but died away in recent days; there are more pressing issues.  That must be the reason that the news of Freddie Mac asking for over a $10 billion in bailout from us to overcome first quarter losses is only getting a notice in the crawler news at the bottom of TV screens this morning.  They've had at least $50 billion handed over to help balance their books but apparently that wasn't enough to cause Tim Geithner and his crew to shake up the leadership and demand the money changers come before Congressional grilling.  In fact, this Administration is so unconcerned about the waste, fraud and abuse coming from Fannie and Freddie, they've recommended quick passage of law to discipline every other entity involved in the mortgage industry and that they'll take a look at Fannie and Freddie "sometime in the next year."    The banks that so outrage this Administration actually have paid most or all of their borrowed money back; but Fannie and Freddie just keep asking for more and it somehow isn't headline news.

Pray, America.

Declaration of Dependence

(Denver Post, May 2) “Son, you have become a man. Mom and I are so proud of your maturity. In turning 21 today and taking a bride tomorrow, you reach the age of emancipation. This is literally your time of being set free, entering upon self-determined adulthood. What a milestone. Because we care for you and your wife and children, we’ll stay involved as parents in a few small ways. We will provide a house for you, and cars as needed. We will supply you energy for all those. Of course we’ll always cover the medical bills for you and the kids. Costs of school and college will be on us as well. Plus an income floor. Pay a share of these things if you can, but don’t strain yourself. It’s our tribute to your independence.” Independence, Dad? Who are you kidding? That’s a gilded cage. Any mother and father who coddled their grown children this way (some do, of course, to their sorrow) would be committing parental malpractice. Any son or daughter thus “cared for” should feel insulted, indentured, and infantilized.

But consider: The dependence we find so repugnant if indulged within the family is all around us politically, under paternalistic big government. Housing, heating, healing, food, fuel, lighting, leisure, teaching, transportation, and pocket money are ALL now provided, subsidized, or facilitated for many of us by the omnipotent State. And the trend line keeps rising, no matter which party is charge. We’re hooked.

To feed our habit, Americans will pay more in taxes this year than everything we spend for food, clothing, and shelter. And to meet the remaining cost of paternalism, we’ll borrow yet more from our grandkids. This year’s actual Tax Freedom Day, deficit included, isn’t until May 17. Obama’s spending orgy in 2009 and 2010 has pushed it later than at any time since World War II. Then we were fighting for survival. Now we’re just gorging for appetite.

Don’t worry, though. Those health care heroes, the Democrats, have the cure for our fiscal obesity: more calories. In honor of April 15, state Sen. Chris Romer warned that Colorado can’t hope to have a thriving economy “until we learn to raise our taxes.” That same week, US Sen. Michael Bennet claimed the Tea Party movement is “trafficking in a kind of nihilistic vision that says we don't have a responsibility to the next generation.” So now dependency is a duty?

Most Coloradans, whether their party is R or D or Tea, would snort in disgust if you gave them a Declaration of Dependence to sign. Statehood was only granted us, after all, on condition of upholding the Declaration of Independence. We pay it lipservice, picturing ourselves as “a free people” who honorably direct their own “lives and fortunes,” and resist despotism “with manly firmness.” Yet sadly, we’re more like a fatty seeing muscle in the mirror. The firm self-reliance of our forefathers has gone to flab.

The collectivist freebies we all depend on are scarcely imagined in the Colorado Constitution – and unauthorized in the United States Constitution. Immense unfunded liabilities for entitlements and pensions, state and federal alike, loom like Katrina headed for landfall. Yet the political establishment shrugs off the impending emergency. Democrats and Republicans, courts and media, labor and business have combined to weaken this state’s best protection, TABOR.

Citizens unwilling to declare their dependence have put on the ballot a TABOR rescue package. Amendment 60 restores our vote on property taxes. Amendment 61 restores our vote on debt. Proposition 101 cuts the tax on cars, phones, and income. Womb-to-tomb paternalism will suffocate our liberty and prosperity if we don’t bestir ourselves. Passing those three measures would be a start.

Riot Police?

The President visited his adopted home state of Illinois yesterday.He spoke in Quincy to a hand-picked group of swooning supporters.  While he chided Americans with respect to how much money he thinks each ought to make, a peaceful group of tea partiers gathered on city streets outside.    Local police donned riot gear in order to 'control'  the suspected malefactors.  Sharpshooters monitored the tea party participants from roof tops with keen eyes set on grandfathers in lawn chairs suspiciously waving  American flags.  Surely, Mr. Obama and his team knew this display of force would be widely spread through videos and photos.  A message needed to be sent.  Interestingly enough, no YouTube videos have yet surfaced showing riot police patroling the Obama supporters that also lined streets to greet the motorcade.  Remember when the President of the United States didn't fear kindly grandmothers that simply want to express their concern over the country they are leaving behind?  Since when does the sitting President think its necessary to line the streets of small town America with heavily armed officers to keep an eye on returning war heroes?   Is it a threat to an Administration when law abiding, tax paying citizens join their neighbors on streets and sidewalks paved w/ their hard-earned dollars to hold up a homemade sign in peaceful dissent? 

When Mr. Obama promised to fundamentally change America,  little did we know the extreme he had in mind.  What can we expect now at future tea parties and patriotic 4th of July celebrations, honoring our Constitution and Founders?  Even more troubling is the anticipation of what might happen in November at voting locations.  Memorial Day will be here soon; a time to remember with humble, insufficient thanks those that served and died gallantly to protect our free speech and right to peacefully assemble. 

Is this change we can all believe in, or dare we hope for something much better?