Thursday, February 28, 2008

NC Congresswoman Foxx Applauded For Her Stand On Earmarks

The Club For Growth issued the following news release:

The Club for Growth applauds Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-05) for accepting a self-imposed moratorium on earmarks.

Rep. Foxx joins a small but growing group of congressional members who are rejecting earmarks as part of a larger movement to reform Congress and reduce wasteful government spending. In a statement following President Bush’s State of the Union address, Rep. Foxx declared: “Congressional earmarking is a broken system. The president has proposed cutting the number of earmarks in half. I think we can and must do better than that. That’s why at the end of last year I decided to request no new earmarks.”

“These are admirable words, and the American people would be better off if more congressmen followed Rep. Foxx’s lead,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “North Carolina taxpayers can be proud of Rep. Foxx’s initiative and leadership on this important issue.”

The Club for Growth is a nationwide membership organization dedicated to advancing public policies that promote economic growth. The Club’s website can be found at http://www.clubforgrowth.org/.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Just For Fun

I haven't posted any jokes before but I'm going to post this one, I thought it was pretty funny! My Dad sent it to me, I'm not sure who wrote it.

Hillary Clinton goes to a primary school in New York to talk about the world. After her talk she offers a question time. One little boy puts up his hand.

The Senator asks him what his name is?
'Kenneth.'
'And what is your question, Kenneth?'

'I have three questions:
First - Whatever happened to the medical health care plan you were paid to develop during your husband's eight years in the office as President?
Second - Why would you run for President after your husband shamed the office?
Third - Whatever happened to all those things you took when you left the White House?'

Just then the bell rings for recess. Hillary Clinton informs the kids that they will continue after recess. When they resume, Hillary says, 'Okay, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?' A different little boy puts his hand up.

Hillary points to him and asks him what his name is.
'Larry.'

'And what is your question, Larry?'

'I have five questions:
First - Whatever happened to the medical health care plan you were paid to develop during your husband's eight years in the office as President?
Second - Why would you run for President after your husband shamed the office?
Third - Whatever happened to all those things you took when you left the White House?
Fourth - Why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early?
Fifth - What happened to Kenneth?'

Dole Files For Re-election

NC Senator Elizabeth Dole has filed for re-election. Here is information from her press release: Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) today filed with the State Board of Elections to run for a second term representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Dole was first elected to the Senate in 2002.
"It is an honor to work every day for North Carolinians, and I am proud of my record of accomplishment for our state," said Dole. "There is much more I plan to do in a second term, and I look forward to again asking the good people of North Carolina for their votes."
Among her accomplishments, Dole has:
**led the successful effort during the base realignment and closure round to protect North Carolina military bases, with no major closures and Fort Bragg gaining more than 8,900 jobs;
**delivered a statewide plan for North Carolina sheriffs and federal immigration officials to coordinate to identify and process illegal aliens who have committed crimes;
**secured $4 billion for rural North Carolina by achieving the tobacco quota buyout;
supported military personnel and their families through initiatives such as an anti-predatory lending law and Family and Medical Leave Act coverage for military families;
**fought for significant concessions in trade agreements to support North Carolina textile and other jobs; and
**secured a moratorium on a Bush Administration policy, thereby preventing North Carolina hospitals from losing $330 million last year for services provided to poor and low-income patients.

For more information, please visit her website by clicking here.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Thug Journalism

The New York Times has once again lowered itself to print articles you won't even find in the National Enquirer. It has unleashed a clear hatchet job article on Senator John McCain that is irresponsible and unbelievable.

The article is critical of McCain and suggests through inuendo (but has no facts to prove it) that he was involved in an affair with a lobbyist.

McCain addressed the article today and stated, “I’m very disappointed in The New York Times piece. It’s not true."

Rick Davis, McCain's Campaign Manager issued the following statement: "Today's front-page NewYork Times story is particularly disgusting - an un-sourced hit-and-run smear campaign designed to distract from the issues at stake in this election. With John McCain leading a number of general-election polls against Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the New York Times knew the time to attack was now, and they did. We will not allow their scurrilous attack against a great American hero to stand. The New York Times -- the newspaper that gave MoveOn.org a sweetheart deal to run advertisements attacking General Petraeus -- has shown once again that it cannot exercise good journalistic judgment when it comes to dealing with a conservative Republican. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has led the charge to limit the money and influence of the special interests in politics and stomp out corruption. His life and his record prove just how preposterous the smear by the New York Times really is. Objective observers are viewing this article exactly as they should - as a sleazy smear attack from a liberal newspaper against the conservative Republican frontrunner. Sean Hannity said, after reading the article three times, "It was so full of innuendo and so lacking of fact, and so involved in smear, I came to the conclusion that the goal here was to bring up a 20-year-old scandal." Washington attorney Bob Bennett, who was the Democrat counsel during the Keating investigation, said, "This is a real hit job." Joe Scarborough called the allegations "outrageous." Even pundit Alan Colmes -- not known for his conservative leanings -- concludes"this is a non-story." Yet, it is there, right on the front page of the New York Times. It is now dominating the cable news coverage. We can only expect these sorts of baseless attacks to continue as we move into the general election cycle."

Shame on the New York Times. They have proven once again they practice an irresponsible thug journalism not worthy of reading.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Is America Over The Hill?

Is it over for Hillary? She has lost 10 straight primaries and her numbers in the polls are dropping. In the past several primaries, the votes she would typically count on went to Obama instead. So it does look like America's Democrats are over the Hill and are seriously considering the candidacy of Obama. A good article on Senator Clinton can be found here.

Obama has been recognized as the most liberal senator and Hillary wasn't too far behind him. Neither candidate, in my opinion, offers anything our country needs.

Good Advice From A Founding Father

"It is a wise rule and should be fundamental in a government disposed to cherish its credit, and at the same time to restrain the use of it within the limits of its faculties, "never to borrow a dollar without laying a tax in the same instant for paying the interest annually, and the principal within a given term; and to consider that tax as pledged to the creditors on the public faith."" Thomas Jefferson

I'm glad our government is doing something to stimulate the economy. However, one major item that needs to get fixed is government spending. Congress needs to eliminate the failed earmark system and they need to work within a balanced budget. No more promises, no more debate - just do it.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Sign Petition For Huckabee/McCain Debate

Take a moment to sign a petition asking for a debate between Mike Huckabee and John McCain. Click here!

Christians in Burma Get New Bible

According to an article in the Feb 2008 Voice of the Martyrs magazine, Christians in Burma have recently been given an updated translation of the Bible. The first Bible translation they had was from the 1800's. So far, approximately 45,000 copies of the updated translation have gone out.

How significant is it for Christians in Burma to have a Bible in their language? Click here to read a brief article, and click here for another one.

If you look through the articles in my blog you will see a lot on Burma and may wonder why. It is because the Burmese Christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is the most under-reported event in our world today.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Think About It!

What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times?...a sense of national responsibility...a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. Abraham Lincoln

Friday, February 15, 2008

Democratic Leader In Burma Assassinated

Phado Mahn Sha, leader of the Karen people and one of Burma's most prominent leaders was killed Wednesday night while resting at his home.

Here is more information from an email I received from the US Campaign for Burma:
While details are still unclear, it is likely that the assassination was organized by Burma's military regime and/or its cronies. He was one of the most principled and courageous people we have ever met, and now he has made the ultimate sacrifice for human rights, democracy, and self-determination.

Mahn Sha was the General Secretary of the Karen National Union, the leaders of the Karen ethnic nationality in Burma. The Karen are one of Burma's largest ethnic nationalities in Burma. In some ways politically similar to the Native Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States, Mahn Sha and the Karen people struggled to hold onto their ancestral homelands under the rule of Burma's brutal military regime. Seeking to destroy the Karen and other ethnic nationalities' desire for self-determination, Burma's military regime has carried out a war on civilians in eastern Burma, destroying or forcing the abandoment of 3,200 villages in the last ten years. At least 1.5 million people have fled their homes. To put this in the context of a more well-known world crisis, it is estimated that this is twice as many villages as have been destroyed in Darfur.

The attacks on Karen and other ethnic minority civilians in eastern Burma are one of the most under-reported stories in the world. The attacks have been aimed at civilians -- destroying food supplies, rice fields and barns, homes, medical clinics, and schools.

Several consecutive United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council (previously Human Rights Commission) resolutions have called on Burma's military regime to enter into peaceful dialogue with the Karen people and Burma's other ethnic minorities, along with the democracy movement led by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. Mahn Sha and the KNU have been strong supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi and her political party the National League for Democracy. Like Suu Kyi, the KNU believe that peace, human rights, and equality among all ethnic nationalities will come to Burma through negotations under the auspices of the United Nations.

However, the regime has defied these UN requests, refusing to enter into talks while continuing its attacks on civilians. The regime is able to continue these attacks mainly because of China's protective cloak at the UN Security Council. The Security Council is the only body at the UN that has the authority to force countries to make changes, but because China holds veto power over all Council decisions, it has effectively paralyzed the entire United Nations. As a result of China's veto, the UN is making the same mistakes it made on Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur -- yet again.

We expecially respected Mahn Sha because of his compassion toward child soldiers and other Burmese army deserters. Burma's military regime has conscripted more child soldiers than any other country in the world, up to 70,000. Child soldiers and other Burmese army deserters fleeing Burma's regime often sought refuge with the KNU and Mahn Sha provided homes and protection for many of former child soldiers and Burmese army deserters. His political integrity was clearly matched by the size of his heart.Burma's regime has targeted numerous leaders of Burma's ethnic minorities. Instead of entering negotations as called for by the UN, Burma's regime is violently attacking ethnic minorities. Three years ago, a leader of the Shan ethnic nationality, Khun Htun Oo, was sentenced to 93 years in prison along with several other Shan leaders. Khun Htun Oo is an elected member of parliament from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, a party aligned with Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

From The Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Funds For Cancer

I believe government should only do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. For example, have a military to defend us, fire departments to protect our lives and property, etc. Another area I believe our government should help its citizens in is the area of cancer funding.


Currently there are not enough funds for community based breast and cervical cancer screening programs run by the CDC. Only 1 in 5 eligible women are able to get this screening. Millions of women are going without this lifesaving screening. We must urge our Senators and Representatives to vote for more funding and support the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.


I have lost family members to cancer and I know cancer survivors. For me, cancer statistics aren't numbers - there are human lives behind each "statistic." For every person that dies from cancer there is a grieving family left behind, it isn't just another number in the statistic charts. Unfortunately federal funding for cancer has remained flat.


I urge everyone to get involved. You can learn more about cancer from the American Cancer Society. Also, you can show your support by wearing a cancer wrist band.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Congresswoman Foxx Is First To Sign "Do Not Robo Call" Pledge

NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is the first member of Congress to sign the "Do Not Robo Call" pledge. By signing the pledge, Foxx agrees not to robocall constituents who have signed up on the National Political Do Not Contact Registry.

Here is a portion of a press release from Congresswoman Foxx: U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (R-5-NC) today announced that she pledges not to conduct “robo” calls to voters in her district who have registered their phone number with the National Political Do Not Contact (NPDNC) registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org. Rep. Foxx is the first Member of Congress to take the “Do Not Robo Call” pledge since the non-profit Citizens for Civil Discourse launched the list last October. Rep. Foxx is leading the efforts in Congress to legislate a political “do not call” list and last year introduced H.R. 248, the Robo Calls Off Phones (Robo COP) Act. “It is a travesty that people can sign up for the Do Not Call list for commercial calls but political calls are exempt,” said Representative Foxx. “The public can’t stand it when the Congress makes one rule for constituents and another for politicians. We must not set Congress and other elected officials apart from the way we treat business and industry. Instead of people being encouraged to get out and engage with candidates, they are being turned off from the entire process with ‘robo’ calls.”

I really appreciate this action, and Foxx is right - voters don't like it when Congress makes rules for us that don't apply to them!

For more info on Citizens for Civil Discourse (CCD) and the National Political Do Not Contact registry, go to www.StopPoliticalCalls.org

Saturday, February 9, 2008

The Hand of Providence - God Rules In The Affairs Of Men

"All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imaginethat we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?" Ben Franklin at the Constitutional Convention

Congress Must Fix The Broken Earmark System

The following article was sent by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. It is a very interesting article, please take the time to read it. I am very thankful to have Congresswoman Foxx watching out for us in Washington. Thank you Congresswoman Foxx!!!!

Economic stimulus? Try fixing the broken earmark system.
Foxx calls on Congress to kick its pork habit

By Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

The Congressional budget system is broken. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The example of the Defense Department serves as a cautionary tale. Pentagon officials recently said that they have received funding for $20 billion worth of earmarked projects that they had not requested or did not need. Who is the culprit? Look no farther than our earmark-laced, pork barrel budget.

In 2007 alone Congress tallied up 12,000 earmarks, costing taxpayers more than $19 billion. North Carolina taxpayers have a broken earmark system to thank for this wasteful spending. Last year I decided that the way Congress awards earmarks was so flawed that I could no longer participate in the practice.

While plenty of innocuous and seemingly praiseworthy projects receive a generous sum of federal largess, there are piles of outrageous earmarks that sneak through our flawed system. It’s gotten so bad that even the president has called on Congress to reduce earmarks and bring openness to the way money is spent. He suggested cutting the number of earmarks in half. That is not good enough.

Congress cannot keep operating within a flawed system. Earmarked spending is often airdropped into legislation in the dead of night, ensuring that no one can expose it to the light of day before it becomes law. Until the system is fixed, and until every earmark is open to direct challenge on the floor of the House, I will call on my colleagues to place a moratorium on all earmark spending.

The other downside to earmarks is the drag they put on the federal budget. At a time when we are discussing how best to keep the economy strong, wasteful, special interest spending is the last thing America needs to maintain a robust and growing economy.

Our historically strong economy showed signs of slowing at the end of 2007 and in January employers trimmed payrolls for the first time in 52 months. The specter of a bump in the economic road has Congress buzzing—and rightly so—about an economic stimulus package.

This is why I voted for an economic package with $150 billion in tax relief for more than 3.5 million North Carolinians and job-creating incentives for small businesses. This economic medicine, if delivered promptly and without pork, can help hold off a serious slowdown.

All of this talk about an economic stimulus plan implicitly endorses the idea that cutting taxes is good for the economy. That bodes well for the taxpayers of North Carolina. But earmark spending still represents an area where Congress could be saving taxpayers billions more. If abusive and wasteful earmarks were eliminated Congress could return billions of dollars to the taxpayers each year.

In 2007 Congress tried to earmark $1 million for a Woodstock museum. No one really knew why it was a federal priority, but there it was, plain as day in the legislation. While we can all agree that America should remember its history, I doubt we need a cool million to help jar the memories of those who attended the 1969 music festival.

There’s also the National Drug Intelligence Center. Sounds important, right? It turns out that, according to a federal government report, 19 other government agencies already do what it does. The Office of Management and Budget recommended shutting it down in 2005. U.S. News and World Report called it a “Drug War Boondoggle”. You guessed it. An influential Congressman earmarked $39 million to expand its operations in 2008.

Countless similar projects litter the budget, wasting taxpayer money at every turn. Imagine if we could eliminate them all. If Congress could reign in this runaway spending and return the savings to average Americans we would have an economic package that would stimulate our economy for years to come.

Editor’s Note: Virginia Foxx is a United States Representative from North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District. You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.foxx.house.gov.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Rambo Depicts Truth In Burma

According to an article by Ryan Pickett on the US Campaign for Burma website, "Rambo does a decent job of portraying the level of violence and human rights abuses currently occurring in Burma. A montage at the very beginning of the film of actual footage taken from inside Burma fills the screen with horrific images of peaceful protesters being shot at and people fleeing into the jungle with the Burmese military giving chase and opening fire. The film realistically portrays violent actions committed by the Burmese military towards innocent people including rape, land mine usage, and massacring a village by rolling up to it and firing their tanks and guns at the people."

If you want to learn more about the atrocities in Burma and how you can help, check out the following websites:
US Campaign for Burma
Christians Concerned for Burma
Myanmar Christian Mission
Burmanet News

(Please note that I am including these websites for informational purposes only and listing a site does not indicate my endorsement. I have not had a chance to completely review all sites.)

A Two Man Race!

Yes, the Republicans are in a two man race - Huckabee and McCain! As much as everyone wanted Super Tuesday to put an end to the Huckaboom, the voters told the pundits differently.

Mike Huckabee won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. It was a solid performance!

I'm really getting tired of hearing Mitt Romney and his cohorts calling on Huckabee to quit. I was disappointed with Sean Hannity taking that position last night on Fox News. I like Sean Hannity but seriously disagree with him on his position that Huckabee is stealing votes from Romney. Mr. Romney, Mr. Hannity - you must understand that a vote for Huckabee is just that - a vote for Huckabee.

Huckabee offers a clear choice to our country - and last night everyone heard another Huckaboom delivered by the voters!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Burma Updates

On January 4, First Lady Laura Bush issued this statement on Burma. January 4 was the 60th anniversary of Burma's independence. She called on all nations to join in condemning the military junta that is committing atrocities against their own citizens.

On January 31, Mrs. Bush spoke with Panamanian President Martin Torrijos (President of the UN Security Council) on the importance of international action in support of freedom for the people of Burma.

Today, new sanctions were imposed on Burma by the US. These new sanctions are being imposed on the relatives of Burma's military leaders.

The Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com) says this about Burma: "The government of Burma continues to discourage, harass and use other, more severe, forms of persecution on any group or belief they consider harmful to the state. Christianity is high on their list for eradication; all the while the government claims freedom of religion."

Monday, February 4, 2008

Rambo Banned In Burma

According to published reports, the military leaders in Burma (Myanmar) have issued orders banning distribution of the new Rambo movie. Sylvester Stallone's latest film depicts the atrocities happening in that country and obviously the military is threatened by the truth.

Bootleg copies have already been distributed in Burma. There are some people that are hoping the movie brings about a change in the government and ends the oppression the Burmese people are under.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

'Til The End

Despite the major media trying to make the Republican race all about McCain and Romney, Mike Huckabee has vowed to fight for the nomination to the end.

Fox News reports on line that Huckabee said, "If this were a boxing match, you’re gonna have to completely knock me out and carry me out of the ring because I’m not throwing in the towel. Absolutely not going to leave the ring and I’m going the distance … On any given day another candidate can say something that can take them completely out, so I’m never one that gives up hope.”

Keep fighting Mike - we are with you! Let the voters and not the reporters decide who gets the nomination!