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Audrey's Blog for September '08

September 29, 2008

I was never a fan of the Beatles...but one of the former Fab Four did something recently that deserves praise...

These days...with the rise of anti-Semitism here and abroad...it is more than refreshing to see courage in the face of hate. Former Beatle Paul McCartney was asked to participate in one of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations. His concert was scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. 

But some Muslim encroachers weren't thrilled at all...Omar Bakri, an Islamic preacher, stated that McCartney's decision to perform as part of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations made him the enemy of Muslims everywhere. 

Bakri was quoted as saying, "If he values his life, Mr. McCartney must not come to Israel...He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him."

Sir Paul answered the encroachers with a royal kick in the *arse.

Lighting up Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, Paul McCartney sang his heart out to 50,000 fans. What a great way to say to the terrorists, 'your threats mean bupkiss'.

McCartney deserves praise for refusing to cower in fear to these Islamic murderers. His actions reveal a venerable strength of character.

Sir Paul, you've done a **mitzvah...the blessing of Genesis come to you: 

"And I will bless them that bless thee..." 

Genesis 12:3

Shalom.

*arse - British slang for buttocks.

**mitzvah - a good deed done with the intention of honoring G-d.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 25, 2008

Note: This series is to help keep American voters 'in the know' on where the candidates stand on vital issues.

Facts:

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, our government has acknowledge that securing the homeland cannot simply rely on defensive approaches, well-planned responses and recovery measures.  Our efforts must also involve offensive measures at home and abroad.

Homeland Security must include:

1. Preventing and disrupting terrorist attacks.

2. Responding to and recovering from incidents that do occur. 

3. Continuing to strengthen the foundation to ensure our long-term success, including:

• Applying a comprehensive approach to risk management.

• Building a Culture of Preparedness.

• Developing a comprehensive Homeland Security Management System, including:

• Relevant departments and agencies of the Federal government must take the lead in implementing this system, and State, local, and Tribal governments are highly encouraged to ultimately adopt fully compatible and complementary processes and practices as part of a full-scale national effort. 

• In order to ensure the success of this system, our Nation must further develop a community of homeland security professionals by establishing multidisciplinary education opportunities. 

• Improving incident management.

• Better utilization of science and technology. 

• Utilizing all instruments of national power and influence. 

4. Military action (i.e. war in Iraq) globally must also be on the table to deal with an enemy that considers diplomacy weakness to be conquered. 

Without a strong and vigilant Homeland Security program, we are as vulnerable as we were on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Obama, in his own words:

"I think the problems of terrorism and groups that are resisting modernity, whether because of their ethnic identities or religious identities, and the fact that they can be driven into extremist ideologies, is one of the severe threats that we face. I don't think it's the only threat that we face."

(Answer to from 2007 debate concerning another attack on America's homeland): "Well, first thing we'd have to do is make sure that we've got an effective emergency response. The second thing is to make sure we've got good intelligence, A, to find out that we don't have other threats and attacks potentially out there, and B, to find out do we have any intelligence on who might have carried it out so that we can take potentially some action to dismantle that network."

McCain, in his own words:

"I agree with the [Bush] doctrine. And I'd also like to give President Bush a little credit. Right after 9/11, every expert in the world said there would be another attack on the US. There hasn't been. We created the Department of Homeland Security, and America is safer." 

"No American will ever forget what happened on the morning of 9/11, the moment when the pendulum of history swung toward a new era. It shook us from our complacency in the belief that the Cold War's end had ushered in a time of global tranquility. The opening chapter was tinged with great sadness and uncertainty. But an absence of complacency should not provoke an absence of confidence. What our enemies have sought to destroy is beyond their reach. It cannot be taken from us, but only be surrendered."

Now you know.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 18, 2008

Note: This series is to help keep American voters 'in the know' on where the candidates stand on vital issues.

Facts:

"If every parent in America knew what was really going on in the public schools, there would be a revolution."
 --Columnist Thomas Sowell 

"A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both. --James Madison

The education system was designed to enable and encourage children to think. They were to accumulate facts and information and learn to evaluate situations by utilizing critical thinking. 

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (aka the nation's report card), virtually 60 percent of US high school seniors do not even possess a basic knowledge of US history. Academic subjects have become secondary. 

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), measures student literacy in science, math, and reading among 15-year-olds, and is an often-cited reference for policymakers sounding the warming bells regarding the state of education in the United States and its implications for the ability of Americans to acquire jobs in a global economy. In a recent study of 57 countries in the area of science, t he US ranked 29th, behind countries like Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Liechtenstein, and ahead of just nine other OECD countries. 

Fifteen-year-olds were tested in 32 of the world's most developed countries as part of the Program for International Student Assessment. The areas assessed were reading, math and science skills. The results showed that 14 countries ranked higher than the United States in overall literacy, with Finland, Canada and New Zealand topping the list. 

Because of the tragic performance of US schools (despite the billions that have been poured into it), a movement has begun by parents desiring vouchers to send their children to the school of their choice. The homeschooling movement has also grown in response to the failing school system.

Obama, in his own words:

"We'll make sure that every child in this country gets a world-class education from the day they're born until the day they graduate from college...We need to fix & improve our public schools, not throw our hands up and walk away from them. We need to uphold the ideal of public education, but we also need reform. That's why I've introduced a comprehensive strategy to recruit an army of new quality teachers to our communities--and to pay them more & give them more support."

(Quote from the Obama Campaign): "Senator Obama has always been a critic of vouchers...Throughout his career, he has voted against voucher proposals and voiced concern for siphoning off resources from our public schools...Mr. Obama's education agenda does not include vouchers, in any shape or form."

(Concerning a Wash. D.C. voucher program): “We don’t have enough slots for every child to go into a parochial school or a private school. And what you would see is a huge drain of resources out of the public schools.”

McCain, in his own words: 

“Choice and competition is the key to success in education in America. That means charter schools, that means home schooling, it means vouchers, it means rewarding good teachers and finding bad teachers another line of work.”

"Many parents fear their children won't have the same opportunities they had. That is simply unacceptable in a country as great as ours. In many schools, particularly where people are struggling the hardest, the situation is dire, and I believe poses the civil rights challenge of our time. We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition; hold schools accountable for results; strengthen math, science, technology and engineering curriculums; empower parents with choice; remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward superior teachers, and have a fair but sure process to weed out incompetents."

Now you know.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 22, 2008

Today (Monday, Sept. 22nd), an anti-Iran rally (organized by the National Coalition to Stop Iran Now [NCSIN]) is being held in NYC, across from the UN headquarters. Its purpose is to protest the visit of Iran's President Ahmadinejad. But it appears, by their actions, that some Jews are more concerned with partisan politics than the hatred toward Jews and the Jewish State...

The focus was to protest the presence of an anti-Semitic, Holocaust denier at the UN General Assembly's session. Sen. Hillary Clinton was invited, and so was Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), (a stanch supporter of Israel). But her majesty Hillary didn't know Gov. Palin was invited. So when she found out, she canceled. The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) then demanded that Gov. Palin be disinvited...and she was...

Wah, wah wah (Dem war-cry)!!! And so, to please this whining participant, the NCSIN complied. 

Shame on the Dems. 

They were unwilling to put aside their partisan hatred for one single moment in order to send a poignant and critical message to a renowned Jew-hater, the anti-Jewish Muslim coalition at the UN, and the ever-growing anti-Semitic world.

It appears that since Sarah Palin has entered the scene, Dems just can't contain themselves. Their hatred is in such abundance that it's spilling over and infecting any reason they had left. The battle against the loathing of the Jewish State is far too important to be hindered by a group of ignorant putzes. On the issue of supporting Israel, the Dems need to keep all the friends they can get (because that group is diminishing by the hour).

To the Democrat Jews, from one of the greater *mishpochah: You are a shandeh un a charpeh (A shame and a disgrace) to Jews everywhere. 

Consider that with the High Holy Days approaching.

Shalom.

*Mishpochah - family

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 18, 2008

Note: This series is to help keep American voters 'in the know' on where the candidates stand on vital issues.

Facts:

"If every parent in America knew what was really going on in the public schools, there would be a revolution."
 --Columnist Thomas Sowell 

"A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both. --James Madison

The education system was designed to enable and encourage children to think. They were to accumulate facts and information and learn to evaluate situations by utilizing critical thinking. 

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (aka the nation's report card), virtually 60 percent of US high school seniors do not even possess a basic knowledge of US history. Academic subjects have become secondary. 

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), measures student literacy in science, math, and reading among 15-year-olds, and is an often-cited reference for policymakers sounding the warming bells regarding the state of education in the United States and its implications for the ability of Americans to acquire jobs in a global economy. In a recent study of 57 countries in the area of science, the US ranked 29th, behind countries like Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Liechtenstein, and ahead of just nine other OECD countries. 

Fifteen-year-olds were tested in 32 of the world's most developed countries as part of the Program for International Student Assessment. The areas assessed were reading, math and science skills. The results showed that 14 countries ranked higher than the United States in overall literacy, with Finland, Canada and New Zealand topping the list. 

Because of the tragic performance of US schools (despite the billions that have been poured into it), a movement has begun by parents desiring vouchers to send their children to the school of their choice. The homeschooling movement has also grown in response to the failing school system.

Obama, in his own words:

"We'll make sure that every child in this country gets a world-class education from the day they're born until the day they graduate from college...We need to fix & improve our public schools, not throw our hands up and walk away from them. We need to uphold the ideal of public education, but we also need reform. That's why I've introduced a comprehensive strategy to recruit an army of new quality teachers to our communities--and to pay them more & give them more support."

(Quote from the Obama Campaign): "Senator Obama has always been a critic of vouchers...Throughout his career, he has voted against voucher proposals and voiced concern for siphoning off resources from our public schools...Mr. Obama's education agenda does not include vouchers, in any shape or form."

(Obama, concerning a Wash. D.C. voucher program): “We don’t have enough slots for every child to go into a parochial school or a private school. And what you would see is a huge drain of resources out of the public schools.”

McCain, in his own words: 

“Choice and competition is the key to success in education in America. That means charter schools, that means home schooling, it means vouchers, it means rewarding good teachers and finding bad teachers another line of work.”

"Many parents fear their children won't have the same opportunities they had. That is simply unacceptable in a country as great as ours. In many schools, particularly where people are struggling the hardest, the situation is dire, and I believe poses the civil rights challenge of our time. We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition; hold schools accountable for results; strengthen math, science, technology and engineering curriculums; empower parents with choice; remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward superior teachers, and have a fair but sure process to weed out incompetents."

Now you know.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 15, 2008

Our presidential election on November 4th is important for many reasons...among these is the next president will most likely choose 2 Supreme Court Justices, which will change the complexion of the court for many years. But there are situations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan that could speak volumes to us in the War on Terror if the wrong man is placed in office...

The Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas' term in office comes to an end on January 9, and as of yet, Abbas has not scheduled new elections, nor have any candidates offered themselves or begun campaigning. According to the PA constitution, if elections are not held the speaker or deputy speaker of the Palestinian parliament will become the new president.

Both of these men are members of terrorist group Hamas.

So why should this matter to Americans? 

• The US lists Hamas as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization." 

• Members of Hamas, as well as Hamas sympathizers, have thrown their support behind Barak Obama.

• The church Obama willfully attended for 20 years (and named the senior pastor Rev. Wright as his spiritual advisor) published a manifesto by Hamas that defended terrorism as legitimate resistance, refused to recognize Israel's right to exist and compared Hamas' official charter – which calls for the murder of Jews – to America's Declaration of Independence.

• The Obama campaign quietly removed a page, managed by a fundraiser tied to the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, from its official website.

• Ahmed Yousuf, Hamas’ top political adviser in the Gaza Strip, officially endorsed Obama.

• Hamas has called for the murder of Jews and Americans.

• Obama believes terrorist claims are legitimate.

With our courageous soldiers fighting jihadists to keep our citizens, and many worldwide, safe from their reach, the last thing we need is a friend of Muslim fiends calling the shots as commander of our military. 

So remember come November...the friend of my enemies is my enemy. 

Shalom.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 11, 2008

Note: This series is to help keep American voters 'in the know' on where the candidates stand on vital issues.

Facts:

In our capitalistic system, those who have worked hard to get ahead, mostly small business owners (SBO), supply the majority of jobs in our country. When taxes are raised on the SBO, in order to continue to turn a profit, they will either be forced to increase the price of their product or service (which hits middle income earners), or cut benefits, or cut jobs (which also hit the middle income earners). Those that earn between $200K-$250K fall into the SBO bracket. 

Obama, in his own words:

"I've ... proposed exempting all startup companies from capital gains taxes."

Obama wants to:

• Increase the minimum wage and index the rate to inflation so that it goes up every year 

• Eliminate all capital gains taxes for new business start-ups 

• Give a $500 credit to business owners to offset the self-employment tax 

• Proposes making the R&D tax credit system permanent 

• Give a 50% refundable credit for employee health insurance premiums that are paid by the employer 

• Suggests that entrepreneurship in rural America is critical - his solution? 

• Create a small-business and microenterprise initiative where investors can get a 20 percent tax credit for $50,000 investments in small businesses 

• Require all employers to automatically enroll workers in 401(k)s or IRAs 

• Keep the estate tax rate at 45% and increase the exemption limit to $3.5 million 

McCain, in his own words:

"We ... need to keep the IRS from taking more of your income and making life harder for small business."

McCain wants to:

• Lower the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25% 

• Wants to reduce the chances of taxes going up by requiring a three-fifths majority vote in Congress necessary to raise taxes 

• Allow small business owners to expense new equipment and technology purchases in their first year 

• Proposes creating a permanent ban on Internet taxes (states like New York and Texas are trying to push forward an Internet sales tax initiative) 

• Make the R&D tax credit system permanent, but change the formula 

• Wants to ban cellphone taxes (federal tax code states business people can only write off the portion of their cell phone bill that applies to business and not personal use) 

• Create a tax credit system to allow people to buy personal health insurance that they can take with them from job to job 

• Reduce the estate tax rate to 15% and increase the exemption limit to $5-10 million 

Now you Know.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 11, 2008

Comments:  blog@ediblog.com

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 7, 2008

Pummeled in the press the minute her name was announced, on August 29th, as John McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin has revealed more about her enemies than her enemies expected...

For the majority of Palin's foes are so because of her strong stand against abortion. Oh, there are those who dislike her for being an advocate for the Second Amendment and for shooting, skinning and eating animals (isn't that what they're here for?)...but the chunk of her adversaries find her a bane because of her stance for the unborn. And so the liberal major media has been sniping at her for almost 2 weeks now...and there's been nary a word from woman's groups (in particular feminist groups) in her defense. The only Feminist group standing with her is Feminists For Life, a group that supports the traditional values that the first feminists held dear. But where is the National Organization for Women (NOW)? They claim to speak for all women (which they don't)...but they are undeniably and vehemently silent on behalf of this woman.

For what reason would NOW remain silent when one of their own gender is being persecuted? Because, after all, they are an organization for women, right? 

Not so fast...

The invisible small print on NOW is, they are for woman, as long as those women choose to murder their babies. Period. That's why they are mum on Sarah. And will remain so as they quietly sit and stick pins in their 'hockey mom' dolls...hoping their liberal cohorts in the media will demoralize her and eliminate her positions from ever reaching the ears of Americans...American women, that is.

Sarah is the acid test. NOW is silent on the pejorative way Palin is being treated in the media. NOW is silent on Palin's free speech rights being violated. NOW is silent on the blatant attacks upon a member of the gender they say they defend. NOW is not NOW at all.

And NOW we know.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

( This is the Editor's and Audrey's Blog)

September 5, 2008

"I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s."

                   ---Sen. John McCain on Love of Country

At a time when our nation is challenged by threats of Islamo-terrorism and a resurgent Russia (that has visions of KGB dancing in its head)...only a man of substance and character is fit to be commander-in-chief of the greatest nation on earth.

That man would have to be courageous, committed, selfless, veracious and filled with wisdom. He would choose a running mate with a similar veracity and the boldness to stand up against corruption and special interest. 

Together they would exemplify positive change that would bolster this free republic, rather than enslave it to self-serving narcissists that appeal to our lowest morals rather than our highest virtues.

In this election...at such a time as this...that man could only be Sen. John McCain.

Comments:  blog@ediblog.com

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 4, 2008

Note: This series is to help keep American voters 'in the know' on where the candidates stand on vital issues.

Facts:

The recent mantra that there are 47 million Americans without healthcare in our nation is false. This number was invented by those desiring a national healthcare system (socialized medicine), and sadly, this fabrication has been reiterated extensively. The number is open to debate, with millions excluded for the following reasons: Those who are illegal residents (@10 mil.); those who can afford their own insurance, but choose not buy it (8.3 mil. making $50G - $74G/yr and 8.7 mil. making $75G+/yr); and those who already qualify for, but have failed to sign up for, existing government coverage. Note: According to the Congressional Budget Office, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months.

Many who are able to and desire to purchase insurance find it impossible to do so due to the exorbitant costs created by government restrictions and limitations. Our government prohibits us from purchasing health insurance out-of-state, reducing competition and driving up the price to make insurance inaccessible. 

A Free-Market solution, allowing individuals to purchase the healthcare of their choice (including out-of-state), would dramatically reduce healthcare costs. Government-controlled healthcare problems, as seen in countries already employing socialized medicine, include: (1) the massive costs and tax increases required to fund these healthcare programs, (2) the eventual deterioration of the quality of care, (3) extensive shortages and long waiting lists, (4) morally objectionable practices (i.e. abortions, euthanasia, infanticide, and drug needle programs) funded by these tax-supported structures, (5) still slower approval times than currently exist for beneficial new drugs and therapies, and (6) the accessibility of the finest medical resources to those who are able to circumvent the bureaucracy while inadequate care is sanctioned for everyone else.

Obama, in his own words:

"The problem is not that folks are trying to avoid getting health care; the problem is they can't afford it. My plan emphasizes lowering costs, not only setting up a government plan so that people who don't have health insurance can buy into it and will get subsidized, but also making sure that those who have health insurance but are struggling with rising co-payments, deductibles, premiums."

McCain, in his own words:

"The real question is: How are we going to keep health care costs down, because we have the highest quality of health care in the world in America today? Unlike the Democrats, I'm going to preserve that quality of health care, and at the same time stop the inflation & the skyrocketing costs of health care. And there's a couple of principles:(1)To make the recipient of the health insurance much more responsible in health-care costs.(2)To address wellness & fitness. (3)To give every American family a $5,000 refundable tax credit so they can go anyplace in America to acquire the health insurance policy that best suits their needs. (4) And, if they've got money left over, then invest it in a health savings account....I hope that we will never see the day in which the government tells us which health care plan we may enroll in or who will provide the care. To socialize our health care system, will be to ruin it."

Now you Know.

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com 

September 1, 2008

Presidential candidate and Senator John S. McCain is a friend of Israel. This is not a new position, as the Obama camp is donning...but the real deal...

Just an example: A short while following the Second Lebanon War, in one of his speeches concerning the situation McCain said, "My dear friends, you have probably seen our European friends say, 'Well, the Israelis have got to stop.' But what would we do if somebody came across our borders and killed our soldiers and captured our soldiers? Do you think we would be exercising total restraint?"

Bingo...this man understands the situation on the ground.

Sen. McCain also said recently, "Jerusalem is undivided, Jerusalem is the capital and we should move the embassy to Jerusalem..." Congress overwhelmingly passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, in 1995, firmly recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and obligating the administration to relocate the US Embassy there by 1999. Clinton and George W. Bush have failed to do so. 

This is sure to be accomplished with a President McCain, a man of his word.

McCain's VP pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shares in the senator's position on Israel. She signed a resolution supporting Israel and Alaska's ties to the Jewish state, and has an excellent working relationship with her Alaskan Jewish constituents (@6,000).

This is not only a win-win ticket for America...but a blessed one for the Jewish State.

Shalom!

Comments:  audreyblog@ediblog.com