HT: Ace

As we close out this very long campaign season John McCain offers what might be one of his best ads yet:

Years of dedicated service to country versus an opponent who has not been seriously challenged or questioned during his legislative career or throughout this campaign.

For me it’s a no-brainer.

Governor Palin on the effects the media has had on the Presidential election:

“If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations then I don’t know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media.”

Sad, but true.

First Obama said anyone making $250,000 per year as a couple would get a higher tax, while those singles making $200,000 would get the same tax raise. Why not exempt couples making $400,000 which is double the single guideline, instead of adding just $50,000 to their status?

Then he lowered it to $150,000 when Biden dropped that number in Scranton, PA, the first of the week.

Now we hear Gov. Bill Richardson saying it will be $100,000 and anyone making that or higher will get a tax increase in Obama’s plan.

Listen to one of Obama’s top surrogates explain at what income level a person? family? would receive in an Obama administration:

Now, remember Obama and Biden both voted for a non-binding Senate resolution to roll-back the Bush tax cuts and increase taxes on individuals making $42,000 a year.

What is the middle class and what is the hope and change other than the hope some of you Obama supporters will change your mind if you haven’t already voted.

When Herbert Hoover was in office there was a deep recession. What did he do to fix the problem? He increased taxes and put us into a deep depression, carried on by Roosevelt’s New Deal and rising taxes.

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Does that sound like the Hoover plan is the same as the Obama plan? Raise taxes while we are in a recession and fighting two fronts on the war on terror, or extend the Bush tax cuts and let the American people pull themselves out of the hole the politicians are responsible for digging.

Ordinarily I might not consider posting this video but these are not ordinary times. We are on the cusp of one of the most important presidential elections in decades.

After listening to this presentation, it is clear not much else need be said in relation to the candidates or their positions.

(There is one section which some might find not suitable for children)

Reading stories like this just makes me shake my head at scoffers and smile at earthly confirmation God is revealing more and more to unbelievers that He is real and so is His Holy Word, the Bible.

HIRBET QEIYAFA, Israel — An Israeli archaeologist digging at a hilltop south of Jerusalem believes a ceramic shard found in the ruins of an ancient town bears the oldest Hebrew inscription ever discovered, a find that could provide an important glimpse into the culture and language of the Holy Land at the time of the Bible.

The five lines of faded characters written 3,000 years ago, and the ruins of the fortified settlement where they were found, are indications that a powerful Israelite kingdom existed at the time of the Old Testament’s King David, says Yossi Garfinkel, the Hebrew University archaeologist in charge of the new dig at Hirbet Qeiyafa.

Other scholars are hesitant to embrace Garfinkel’s interpretation of the finds, made public on Thursday.

Why is it such a surprise to learn Jews lived in Israel when the Bible says they did?

I am constantly told by non-believers the Bible is just a collection of stories written by unknown men and is not literal. Then they insist I “prove” God exists. Duh! Look out the window and take in nature. Try to tell me it all happened by chance.

A couple of weeks ago I read that scientists now believe (at least some of them) that there is a void around the earth and that void is protecting us from objects in space. I immediately thought of Genesis 1, the story of creation and the first two verses of that book: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

If you want to know more about past, present and future happenings in the world just go to the Bible. The answers are all there if you have the eyes to read and the open mind and heart to understand.

None of these things surprise me. It only surprises me that I seem to be in the minority of people in this world, and getting that way in our country, who believes God and His Word. It disappoints me more than surprising me because I hate for someone to die and not know Christ and our Wonderful God Who loved us so much He became man while still God and shed His Godly and righteous blood that you and I can have the fellowship with Him that He has always wanted with us, but will not force upon us. We have the free will to accept or reject His message of love and salvation.

There can be no compromises. There is one God and only one way to heaven. That one way is through confession of our sins and acceptance of Jesus as God’s begotten Son, Who gave up His physical life, went to the depths of Hades, and rescued the righteous and took those souls to heaven. Until then they had been in a “holding area” of Hades because the souls couldn’t go to heaven until Jesus shed His blood.

If there is no God then we have been fooled for all our history. If I’m wrong what will happen other than I will die as a pet does and just rot in the earth? If I’m right, and I’m positive I am, I’m on my way to a place much more beautiful than this planet in all its glory.

If you are not a believer and you are right then you, too, will just rot after you die and become fertilizer. But if you are wrong…You will spend the rest of eternity in torment reserved for Satan for his rebellion. And don’t think you’ll see your buddies there because they will be in the same torment and pain and won’t have the energy to recognize you, if there is any light for them to see you. Think about it, and then pray and go to your Bible or to Bible Gateway and read the Book of John, first.

May the Holy Spirit of God open your eyes and your hearts. You’ll never again agonize over what’s going to happen because you will know there is a plan of God for everything.

A Texas woman who was evicted from her home due to foreclosure attended the bank auction on Saturday and got the surprise of her life.

While attending the auction to help her son purchase a foreclosed home Marilyn Mock purchased Nancy Orr’s foreclosed home for $30,000 and told the former owner she could move back in and make payments to her instead of the bank.

Ms. Orr purchased the home in 2004 for $80,000 but lost her job and soon fell behind on her payments. She passed her story on to Ms. Mock while attending the auction to see her house be sold. Ms. Mock decided she would buy the house for Orr and had a winning bid of $30,000. She is awaiting funding from Fanny Mae and the sale will be complete.

Such a refreshing and non-controversial story to brighten your day a bit. We still have kind people who want to help others and it warms my heart to have read the story.

I did not watch Barack Obama deliver his infomercial last evening. Frankly, I wanted to enjoy the World Series and not begin it with my head ready to explode from listening to more campaign speak.

What tickled me though was to see the reaction of this AP writer in critiquing the Senator’s words:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his programs and the crushing budget pressures he would face in office.

Obama’s assertion that “I’ve offered spending cuts above and beyond” the expense of his promises is accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money by “eliminating programs that don’t work” masks his failure throughout the campaign to specify what those programs are - beyond the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

This writer must not have received the memo..don’t criticize “The One.” Here’s a sample of the fiction v.fact for those who chose to partake:

THE SPIN: “That’s why my health care plan includes improving information technology, requires coverage for preventive care and pre-existing conditions and lowers health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year.”

THE FACTS: His plan does not lower premiums by $2,500, or any set amount. Obama hopes that by spending $50 billion over five years on electronic medical records and by improving access to proven disease management programs, among other steps, consumers will end up saving money. He uses an optimistic analysis to suggest cost reductions in national health care spending could amount to the equivalent of $2,500 for a family of four. Many economists are skeptical those savings can be achieved, but even if they are, it’s not a certainty that every dollar would be passed on to consumers in the form of lower premiums.

—

THE SPIN: “I’ve offered spending cuts above and beyond their cost.”

THE FACTS: Independent analysts say both Obama and Republican John McCain would deepen the deficit. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates Obama’s policy proposals would add a net $428 billion to the deficit over four years - and that analysis accepts the savings he claims from spending cuts. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, whose other findings have been quoted approvingly by the Obama campaign, says: “Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next 10 years.” The analysis goes on to say: “Neither candidate’s plan would significantly increase economic growth unless offset by spending cuts or tax increases that the campaigns have not specified.”

There are more examples at the link and it is well worth a read especially if you are one of those still undecided voters.

If you are still on the fence, perhaps you also might take a look at this:

Obama’s socialistic views about sharing our hard earned money with others who did not work so hard to earn their money or who throw their money away on drugs or something is bad enough. Scary for sure. But if you want to be terrified think of an Obama administration which uses the NSA to listen in on calls AND has a Homeland Security Army to impose its will:

“Loving your country shouldn’t just mean watching fireworks on the 4th of July,” he said. “Loving your country must mean accepting your responsibility to do your part to change it.

As we say here in the Strata-Sphere, McCain wants to change DC, Obama wants to change America. But how?

“We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set,” he said Wednesday. “We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.“

This man want to “change” our country. He wants “your help”..what exactly that means at this juncture is not crystal clear but when he speaks of a National Security Force..well I think it becomes a bit less foggy. Afghanistan has National Security forces, Iraq has National Security Forces. They are the equivalent of their military, but wait…we have a United States military so are we to have this force he advocates replace other law enforcement branches (police etc.)?

Folks, this might be the most radical candidate (wrapped in a cool, smiling package) we have ever had for President of the United States. If elected, Obama might change the face of this country as we know it in ways which will be difficult if not impossible to reverse.

For more reaction to what is the “doom and gloom” of this great country of ours, see here.

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow could stop our Phillies from winning the World Series.

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays too for a Series well played.

Watch closely:

Hmmm.

Listening to the news the past couple of days for the first time since we got the new puppy, I am hearing the polls are tightening up. Gallup showed a 2 point Obama lead among likely voters last night, a 4 point surge by McCain overnight. I am reminded of the famous 1948 Chicago Tribune headline held up by Harry S Truman, stating Dewey had defeated Truman. We all remember President Dewey, don’t we?

Now it seems the Obama campaign has released an urgent memo with a fill in the blanks form for a call to GOTV.

” Friends - Please take the time to read this.

After two years of working with Barack, I’ve been down in Miami now for about four weeks helping put together our final push for getting out the vote. Early voting started 8 days ago and we feel like we have a slight early advantage — but we are urgent. Polls for the last couple of weeks have given us a small lead of 4-5 points. If we are successful in getting out the massive numbers of voters that live here in Florida, Barack will win this state and make history.

We have last minute needs and I need your help. Here are our urgent needs:

1. People who are willing to come to Florida to do key GOTV activities of knocking on doors and making phone calls — this is our single biggest need. We don’t need anyone who wants to come down and hang out — we need workers. There are 600,000 African Americans who were registered to vote in 2004 who did not vote; 900,000 registered voters under the age of 35 who did not vote in 2004 and around 400,000 Hispanics who were registered but didn’t vote in 2004. These are key groups for us and with poor voting history, a special effort needs to be made. There are also 900,000 newly registered voters in the state — a large number are Democrats and Independents who we also need to pay special attention to. We will take anyone who is willing to talk to voters — and in Florida, with such a diverse population, we could use as many diverse people as possible. Spanish-speaking and those who speak Creole are in high demand.

2. We also need help with our Faith Outreach Program — people who will be here before Sunday morning to attend services, possibly speak on behalf of Barack Obama and help with GOTV churches and African American voters in general. We also need help with Hispanic churches, progressive denominations like Episcopal, United Church of Christ, etc.

3. We need experienced people who can help with inner-city GOTV efforts - mostly African American and Hispanic.

4. We need a few people who can help with GOTV logistics — creating walk packets, managing phone banks, running transportation systems, etc.

5. Attorney who can help with voter protection.

6. I’m sure there are other things we need that I’m not thinking about right now — but the bottom line is we need help.

There is a lot at stake here — 27 electoral votes, but also the future of building Florida into a majority Democratic state in the years to come. After an aggressive voter registration program here, Democrats now have a registration advantage of around 650,000 voters. In 2010, there will be critical races to oust Governor Christ and Senator Martinez. In 2012, after a new census, redistricting will take place and Democrats need to have a serious role in drawing the map. Florida is likely to pick up 3-4 new congressional seats, which means 3-4 additional electoral votes, making it even more important to keeping a U.S. House majority and an increased role in presidential races to come.

Winning Florida could be what gets Barack over the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. But it will also be a major moral boost and provide momentum for Florida Democrats to build and succeed in the future.”

I’ve noticed Sen. Obama looks a bit haggard this week, almost as though he were worried about something. It could very well be his sick grandmother and I’m sure that has a lot to do with his worries, but it wouldn’t explain why he spent two days in Pennsylvania this week, Biden spending one with him and another by himself and Bill Clinton hustling votes for him in Pennsylvania Thursday.

Why all this attention to Pennsylvania by Barack Obama in the final week of the campaign if internal polls are not showing a disturbing trend? After all, Pennsylvania was supposed to be a reliably blue state.

Here is the opening line of the above-linked story:

In a phone interview with FOX News, Barack Obama’s deputy campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand said: “John McCain is right. Things are tightening in the battleground states.”

Hildebrand then goes on to admit similar memos were sent to North Carolina, Georgia and Ohio, but says things are not so “acute” in Pennsylvania.

Hmmm. We shall see what we shall see next Tuesday, but knowing how many stops he and surrogates have made in “safe” Pennsylvania when the plan was to campaign in “safe” Red States makes me think Hildebrand doth protest too much.

Obama has a well-oiled campaign machine, tons of money, and most of the press on his side. McCain has run a lousy campaign, has stuck to $84 million in public campaign financing, has been hit upside the head with almost everything the Obama press has to use, Sarah Palin has been personally attacked as well as her family, and yet Obama is still campaigning in Pennsylvania. He can’t quite close the sale and with new information about PLO links he has to be hoping the LA Times will stick to its guns and not release the tape that will probably be more damaging than the written transcript. Otherwise, why not ask for its release if it would help him?

We have heard the Obama campaign plans a victory party that includes caviar. (How “middle-class”. I eat it once a week. NOT!) They can still have the caviar, but will it be a victory party or a pity party?

Again, we shall see what we shall see next Tuesday.

“We resent it when liberals like Obama question our way of life.” So says Hanks Williams Jr. in this McCain/Palin radio campaign ad:

Via Confederate Yankee:

North Carolina voters are more likely than those in other states to cast ballots in national elections without making a choice for president.

Unlike many states, a straight-party vote in North Carolina does not cast a vote for president. A ballot expert says the split makes it more likely that voters, especially new voters, will leave their polling places failing, by mistake, to vote for president.

[emphasis-mine]

If you reside in North Carolina do not miss the balance of the above post!

About that tax plan offered by Senator Obama:

bama’s been lowering the bar on his tax plan. Where he once claimed that only Americans making over $250,000 would see tax increases, he’s now down as far as $200,000 and maybe even $150,000 if his running mate Senator Foot-In-His-Mouth is to be believed.

But one aspect of Obama’s tax plans have been ignored. See, Obama and his comrades are also promising to let the Bush tax cuts expire. If that happens, we’d see massive tax increases for Americans making as little as $50,000/year.

Pretty soon the only people receiving any tax break at all will be those who pay none to begin with!

Hope for McCain supporters (even if it’s just a little bit) from DJ Drummond:

I have been saying all along, that McCain was closer to Obama in the election campaign than the polls were indicating. However, I have been doing so by focusing on party affiliation, the demographic most fiddled with by the polls. Those critiquing my analysis have sometimes pointed to internal demographics which show problems for McCain. With just a week until the end of the season, let’s see where the thresholds for election are, with regard to demographics. That is, what is the minimum performance in each area which was enough to get the win?…..

Over at Musing Minds I found the one line post of the week to date.

Check it out..it has something to do with that wealth distribution we’ve heard about lately. It seems the concept really does run in the democratic family.

Who knew that the Speaker of the House is such a comedienne? Made me laugh!

Live From the Ministry of Truth. A new video from Ed Driscoll..good stuff!

Very important information for military voters submitting absentee ballots in the state of Virginia:

The State of Virginia announced that a number of Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) members submitted Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB) which will not be counted due to administrative errors. Virginia requires FWABs submitted as both an absentee ballot application and as a voted ballot contain both the witness’ signature and the witness’ address to be counted in the General Election. Having consulted both FVAP and the Virginia Absentee Voter Office, we recommend that voters who submitted the FWAB as both their application and their ballot complete a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) and email it to their county voter registration office NLT 1700 28 OCT 08. Once the FPCA arrives, the voted ballot already on hand becomes valid and will be counted. The Army Voting Action Officer is emailing this information to the Senior Voting Assistance Officers (SVAOs) and Installation Voting Assistance Officers (IVAOs) for dissemination and action by voters. See your Unit Voting Assistance Officer (UVAO) for assistance

Folks, if you don’t have the heebie jeebies yet about Obama I don’t know what it’s going to take.

I am a partisan Republican but I have never in my life been so afraid of a man becoming president as I am of Barack Obama. This is the truth as straight as I can give it.

We are hearing now of the change he is going to bring. He said it to Joe the Plumber and everyone laughed at that. Now we know and have heard, thanks to the post Sue made below this one, that Obama has harbored these thoughts for at least seven years and most likely most of his life.

It’s not too late if you haven’t already voted to change your mind and vote for the only choice that makes sense to keep the great United States of America the country we grew up in and have loved all our lives.

You earned your money and you should decide if you want to give it to someone and who that someone will be if you do.

I beg you to consider this and your country as we get ready to go to the polls in one week and one day.

So. Sharing the wealth is not a new concept for Senator Obama.

Just listen:

So this can be achieved “administratively?” Well, should the Senator become President with a majority in both Houses of Congress..just use your imagination!

HT: Ace of Spades