The Election Truth Laid Bare and Why the GOP Lost the House: Are We Ready for Some Fiscal Tough Love?

I like people who cut to the chase and dispense with long-winded analysis. That's why I like this man who could lead the country back from the brink of fiscal delinquency.

Representative Mike Pence, R-Indiana, speaks the truth about the Republican routing in the House yesterday. It is the best and truest summary I have seen of what happened long, long before election day. I do not think the War in Iraq is bothering the electorate as much as how we are going to pay for the war and the continuing growth of federal government programs.

Now the question, are we ready to listen to the likes of Pence and more importantly to act?

Pence who hopefully will become House Minority Leader in the next Session of Congress released this statement:

"It is the duty of the losing party in a free election to humbly accept defeat ... Some will argue that we lost our majority because of scandals at home and challenges abroad. I say ... [that] [w]hile the scandals of the 109th Congress harmed our cause, the greatest scandal in Washington, D.C. is runaway federal spending.

"After 1994, we were a majority committed to balanced federal budgets, entitlement reform and advancing the principles of limited government. In recent years, [however,] our majority voted to expand the federal government's role in education, entitlements and pursued spending policies that created record deficits and national debt....

"Our opponents will say that the American people rejected our Republican vision.

"I say the American people didn't quit on the Contract with America, we [Republicans] did. And in so doing, we severed the bonds of trust between our party and millions of our most ardent supporters of the Republican party."

Well said, Mike.

Read the whole thing here at NRO.

I don't want my children paying for our wreckless spending decades from now. We have to get our financial house back in order.

Mr. Corker Goes to Washington and Traditonal Marriage Preserved in Tennessee

Congratulations Bob!

History 101: Why Democrats Are Weak on Defense and Can't Be Trusted in Wartime....Still

I have read this piece several times in Investors Business Daily and think it is well worth reading again and again, especially on election day.

If we can't remember or obfuscate history, we are condemned to repeat it.

Here are 97 reasons why we ought to vote for conservatives who are strong on national defense and the War on Terror, tough on immigration, and believe that government's role is not to be all things to all people, all the time.

The stock market is considered a leading indicator of current events and a truer polling device for many. It is, then, heartening to see markets trending upwards, towards a better than expected showing for the Republicans today. Larry Kudlow says it best here.

If We're Turning Purple, Let's Hope It's More Magenta Than Lavender

Poll after poll says we're a country going purple in our politics, if not true blue sadly in our social habits. In the election Tuesday, prognosticators predict Virginia may be going towards blue from red, and Maryland from blue towards red.

If we must have purple, then I'm rooting for magenta to prevail over lavender.

Long live magenta!

In Tuesday's elections, I support the following candidates to keep the national pallette more magenta than lavender:

****Bob Corker in Tennessee's US Senate race over blue candidate Harold Ford for the seat being vacated by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

****Bob Krumm in Tennessee Senate race against incumbant of all incumbants Doug Henry.

****Michael Steele in Maryland's US Senate race over Ben Cardin for the seat now being vacated by Sen. Paul Sarbanes.

****Senator Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania's US Senate race over Bob Casey.

****Senator Jim Talent in Missouri's US Senate race over Claire McCaskill who continues to falsely portray stem cell research in this country as totally hinging on federal government funding. Stem cell research goes on and will continue to in this country and worldwide in the private sector.

Hopefully voters will not be hoodwinked by such false advertising in Missouri and many other states as well. Michael Fox notwithstanding.

So looking at the realities of tomorrow's election, I'm cheering for magenta over lavender and hope you will too.

But I still like fire engine red the best.

Sunday Morning: Finding Joy in All Circumstances

We so often think that we'll be happier and more content in the future when such-and-such happens: a new project or job, more money, a new relationship or rise to public acclaim. However, the Apostle Paul counsels us to be joyful in all circumstances. This weekly devotional elaborates.

This is almost impossible without Christ being invited into and indwelling our daily lives, at least for me. Even then it can be very difficult.

No where in recent history is such contentment better illustrated than in the life of Horatio Spafford (1828-1888), a devout Christian who after losing all four of his and his wife Anna's daughters tragically at sea, penned the famous hymn "It is Well with my Soul." Its history and lyrics are found here.

Unimaginable tragedy ultimately produced supernatural peace and contentment with no bitterness. Impossible without a supernatural Saviour in our lives, in my experience.

Tabloid News Tidbits Under the Radar Screen for Saturday

Love and romance continue on the global stage, even though our collective attention is focused on Tuesday's election here in the US.

But lest we forget, take a look at a few seen and heard tidbits over the past week, remembering that love is still in the air all around the globe.

Did you know that:

Russia and Iran continue to go steady? Not only that, they are being so generous with their foster children, Syria and Hezbollah, by giving them everything they want so the little radishes can go and raid the Lebanese sandbox again with their blessing. But this time their little bullies want to snatch the whole Lebanese box and not just some of their sand.

Meanwhile, the UN and USA want Israel to play nice with its neighbors and just get along as best they can. And everyone is advising Israel to remain single.

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Did you know that feisty Bill Clinton and his new global foundation is still courting North Korea by making nice. He's spearheading a "peace park" in the DMZ between the northern and southern countries. Perhaps that'll get him a Nobel Peace Prize, like his predecessor, the peacenik of all time, Jimmy Carter.

Such thoughtfulness.

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Did you know that global sex symbol and man of unlimited gas Victor Chavez and company are happily working overtime to get Venezuela, you know the country where democracy goes to die, admitted to a seat on the UN Security Council?

Remember, the UN is our current best hope for a One World Governement.

That rascal has been wooing global delegates by using Venezuelan beauties passing out chocolates with his sexy image on it all over the halls of the UN to sway its way to the top. But so far, after 46 rounds of voting, it hasn't consummated the deal.

Yet.

But stay tuned, never underestimate the power of an ardent suitor, bearing chocolates.....and lots of gas.

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Rumor has it, Saddam Hussein, who is flourishing in an Iraqi prison resort, will be sentenced as early as Sunday. Did I use the word "early?"

What I meant by early can only be construed in the context of geological time. I am still uncertain why he hasn't long ago been dispatched into a rose-colored vault for being such an equal opportunity oppressor and mass murderer.

Oh yes, he's still a romantic figure to many in the MSM.

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Did you know that Nancy Pelosi, the woman who would be head of our Congressional Household, is getting her "to do" list ready and choosing her personal shoppers for the next session? Let's see, there's Charlie Rangel for chairman of her House Ways and Means, John Conyers for her House Judiciary, and Alcee Hastings for her House Intelligence.

I would go on, but I am feeling faint and need to run outside and get some fresh air.

*************************************

And finally, up at West Point Military Academy, the lovefest with Muslims and Mecca is heating up: did you know that the Academy has just built and dedicated a new mosque there complete with green carpets, shoe racks and a pulpit facing Mecca to make everyone feel right at home?

And just so it will be increasingly used, The Army is actively recruiting recruits from Muslim countries. Muslims students has shot up from 2 to 32 in the last few years.

Ain't love grand.

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That's all the love, I can bear to disclose this week, but stay tuned for more tales of true romance, tabloid style, in future episodes.

Meeting Bob Krumm, Where the Campaign Trail Meets the Hiking Trail

For months, I had been reading about the 21st District State Senate race in Tennessee over at BillHobbs.com where State Senate candidate Bob Krumm is often talked about and endorsed by Hobbs, who blogs daily about grassroots politics in Nashville and Tennessee.

I liked what I've read about Bob Krumm's background, values and positive campaigning.

And as a new blogger, I was also interested that Krumm has started a blog himself and is taking full disclosure to new levels in his campaign.

Krumm is running against a man I know well: Senator Douglas Henry, 80, the incumbant who has been in office for 36 years. He is a fine Southern gentleman. But if you believe in term limits, or even if you don't, you've got to wonder if this office doesn't need a little new blood by now for the 21st Century and beyond. Henry is running for his tenth term in office, for heavens sake!

After checking Krumm out, I decided he was getting my vote. (Full disclosure: I've already voted for Krumm in early balloting.)

Then, I got a nice surprise on the hiking trail several days later:

Invited by some fellow lady walkers to join a hike for the homeless on a Saturday morning in one of our city's most beautiful parks, the four of us were walking and talking as fast as we could. At some point, I interjected myself into the gabfest and told them that I had just started a new blog........there was silence.

A what? they responded.

"A blog, ladies. You know a b-l-o-g. BLOG," I enunciated.

Oh, Okay, whatever....A blog?

I was a bit forlorn at this tepid response as we trekked onward and upward.

When suddenly a voice of recognition came out of the blue:

"You've started a blog!! Tell me about it. What's it about?"

Someone knew what I was talking about!

"Well, I said," looking for the voice that was asking about my blog, " it's conservative politically and culturally and, you know, I write about anything I want to spout off about."

A smiling face greeted me and introduced himself and his pre-teenaged daughter as we all continued walking.

It was Bob Krumm.

For the next five minutes Bob and his daughter were surrounded by the four of us, walking , chatting and yes, even talking blogs.

We all were impressed with what we saw and heard during that walk in the park with Bob.

When finally we separated and walked on, one of my friends said that in only three minutes with Krumm, whom she had never known before, she would be voting for him. She was that impressed. Then the other three of us chimed in: "Me too!"

So, Bob Krumm has four more sure hiking voters, and a new blogger in his corner next week. The 21st District in Tennessee is fortunate to have him running.....and walking....and blogging there! We're rootingfor Bob!

And we're also grateful for his running such a positive and issues focused campaign. Duty and honor for the 21st District in Tennessee--give us all you got, Bob.

Even Glenn Reynolds is endorsing Krumm over at Instapundit. And if you want to send a contribution, it's never too late. Click here.

The Nanny State Continues....As if Our Government Hasn't Enough To Contend With Already

Webutante's First Cigar Award: It's A 'No Cigar' to John Kerry for Boring Us to Death for Over 30 Years

Senator John Kerry is not only an unrepentant traitor to our nation's veterans and troops, a man stuck in the sixties and the Vietnam era, he is also a monumental bore. This has been going on for over 30 years.

Enough is enough. It's time to simply walk away, turn off the tellie, stop reading and talking about it. And for me, to stop writing and thinking about it.

So today, without further ado and needless rhetoric, Webutante's first 'No Cigar' award goes to Mr. Kerry.

"Hit the road, Jack, and don'tcha come back no more."

Halloween Fright: Nancy Pelosi on Her Way to Becoming Speaker of the House?

In case you're not scared enough about world events and the upcoming elections next week, please take time to click on the link taking you to Michelle Malkin's Halloween Vent in which she talks about committee appointments, if the Dems sweep Congressional races and take majority leadership. Click the link above, then double click on her screen for Hot Air TV and then listen carefully. But prepare to get really, really scared!

Do you know who Alcee Hastings, Charlie Rangel and John Conyers are and where they might be headed? It's time you learn the truth and weep!

Take time to educate yourself on the possible consequences of voting conservatives out, disappointing as the past Session was.

And if you're not scared enough, and want to get really, really, really freaked, then check out this article on what gay marriage advocates may really want. And it's not just monogamous gay marriage which is bad enough.

Yikes!

Please get out to vote for conservative candidates and conservative principles next week and encourage family and friends to do likewise.

RNC's new ad on Hollywood Harold, Not Racy, Just Scary

This week the Republican National Committee released this new ad on Harold Ford who's running against Bob Corker in Tennessee's hotly contested Senate race. This portrays him as the liberal his record shows him to be.

A Hollywood type liberal?

Harold votes, you decide.

Is a Christian who's liberal better than one who's conservative?

Harold speaks, in this video, you decide.

The picture of Ford above was taken at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington D.C. for a magazine shoot for Washington Life and features Ford wearing "an Ermenegildo Zegna suit and shirt and a Brioni tie," in an article on men of substance and style.

In these latter days of the '06 campaign, Ford is sounding so sophomoric and silly that I'm embarassed for him.

Hopefully the voters of Tennessee will see through Ford's unsubstantial propaganda and will elect Bob Corker to the Senate on November 7.

Two of James' Favorite Scripture Readings

First, Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."


And then, Psalm 91:1-2

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Read the whole thing, as they say in the blogosphere. And thank you again, James for these recommendations on Saturday.

Meeting James, an Unexpected Entrepreneur and Evangelist, in a Parking Lot in Bethesda, MD

Getting a car wash Saturday afternoon in D.C. was the last thing on my mind.

In fact when driving in the nation's Capitol, I never get one. Locations are scarce and inconvenient and the lines way too long to make the monumental effort worthwhile.

I was focused on finding a certain crocheted chapeau, anyway, to give a friend for Christmas, and had run out to one of my favorite boutiques to look. With limited time, I drove into a paid lot behind the shop and ducked into the last parking place.

Enter James, the Entrepreneur and Evangelist.

Getting out of my car, I saw him scrubbing away on someone's BMW parked across the lot. What a great idea, I thought---getting a car wash here while shopping. And no down time!

As I stared at him and his buckets, he looked at me and said, "That car of yours looks like it could use a good washing. Give me twenty minutes and I'll have it looking like new for twenty dollars. My name is James. Everyone knows me here."

I liked this man's succinct, to-the-point pitch and, he was correct, my car hadn't been washed in weeks, for at least a thousand miles.

"Twenty dollars, huh," I said. The thought of my car looking clean and shiny was priceless. I had to contain my enthusiasm!

"Sold, James, nice to meet you," I said. Twenty dollars in twenty minutes. Go!

"I'll be back in a few."

Twenty-five minutes and no hat later, I was back. James was still working away.

So I sat down on the curb beside my car.

"You're from the South like me," he said. "I just love that accent."

James said he's a retired Marine who started washing cars in parking lots years ago. He made enough money to put his now grown daughter through four years at a good college and also support himself.

"I work seven days a week, except when it rains and when I go to church," he continued. "People love me to wash their cars here all year round, especially in icy weather. It's hard work but I do pretty well for myself. Today I live alone, it's just me and God. I like it that way."

Here was a happy, hard working man. A man content with who he is and what he does in life. A man who is an inspiration to sit and talk to in the back parking lot of a one of the toniest shopping areas in the country.

I pressed him to continue while I listened.

"I'm a believer in Jesus Christ. He came and died for my and your sins. I am thankful for that and try to live every day giving Him glory."

Does he think the end is near?

"Oh yes baby, The Almighty, He has the trumphet up to his mouth right now."

Well, I pressed, then what should we all do?

"Repent, know you need a Saviour and ask Christ into your life for real. Then read the Scriptures, pray and live like every day your last," he replied.

In the last few minutes we talked, he quoted me some of his favorite Bible verses which I wrote down to post on Sunday. He thanked me for bringing out the evangelist in him. But I said it was I who had the most to be grateful for that day.

Then James finished washing my car. And just as he said, it was shiny like new. I paid him $20 plus a good tip. And I thanked him again so much.

As I left that parking lot today, I realized that more than my car had gotten a shine. My soul was a bit spiffier than when I arrived.

Thank you James, for washing my car and walking the talk of your beliefs.

In a city of consummate power seekers and brokers, I met one of the truly powerful men in all of D.C.--- James, The Entrepreneur and Evangelist, working and preaching out of a back parking lot in Bethesda, Maryland.

Saturday

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces people into thinking they can't lose."--Bill Gates

"I attribute my success to this---I never gave nor took any excuse." --Florence Nightingale

"Everything in excess is opposed to nature." --Hippocrates

Afternoon Museum Fix at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

First, we were off to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery to see portraits of some of American's greatest historical figures. The banner in front of the museum here features Pocahontas looking like a British Grande Dame, which it turns out she was, among other things. Going to places like this helps me bone up on my early Amerian history, and I realize how much I have to learn and relearn. Why is it the older I get the more fascinated I become with history, especially with this country's great history and the many stories of its people?




Then we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue for a late afternoon snack at the Willard Hotel, one of D.C.'s great old landmarks and world-class center for power smoozing. A wonderful day all around.

Too Hot for Corker in Tennessee, but Not Too Hot for Here

This ad by the Republican National Committee on Harold Ford is priceless, a bit wicked, and well worth a look, even if Republican candidate Bob Corker won't run it now.

So, take a look, if you dare. And enjoy.

Wink, wink.

Obama: Auditioning for West Wing or Playing Grown-up with the Real Thing?

Did I read that correctly? Barack Obama is really interested in running for president in 2008? The junior senator from Illinois, who's only served two of a six year term since 2004, certainly has his sights set high.

Why does the word "hubris" come to mind? Or "premature?"

"Inexperienced" is what VP Dick Cheney was thinking.

This is the kind of silly, even ridiculous, news story that happens when you combine a liberal drive-by news media with an elite, left-wing electorate which has no rock solid principles yet is desperate for a "rock star" candidate to get all mushy about.

Enter Mr. Obama straight out of central casting: Handsome, multicultural with an American mother and African father, articulate, Harvard educated and oh so very ambitous. Ambitious enough to know a good thing when he sees it.

An editorial in today's Investors Business Daily describes The Obama Effect on a recent television appearance:

"'During a book tour stop on NBC's "Today" show, new host Meredith Vieira hailed Obama as a "rock star" and "electrifying." Commenting on his convention speech, Vieira said: "Many people, afterward, they weren't sure how to pronounce your name, but they were moved by you. People were crying.'"

Please spare us anymore, Meredith.

But please do tell what this man stands for? What has he done that might make me consider him a viable candidate in the next presidential election?

With a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1991, he worked briefly for a Chicago civil rights law firm and taught constitutional law at University of Chicago Law School, before becoming an Illinois state senator in 1996.

In his first run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, Obama was resoundingly beaten by incumbant Bobby Rush, a former Black Panther community activist who accused his defeated opponent of not "being around the first congressional district long enough to really see what's going on."

Today, Obama, as a U.S. Senator for two years, has been around the national political scene long enough to see his superficial star rising and to know he'd best get on with saving our country from itself while he's still "hot."

So now with a keynote address at the Dem's National convention in 2004, a new book tour and two years in Washington, D.C. under his belt, what else can we say about a man who's now suffering Potomac Fever and positioning himself as a rock star candidate with the frothing liberal media?

IBD goes on to say today: "Obama is a hard-core liberal whose voting record in the Senate is virtually indistinguishable from (Ted) Kennedy's.

"Half the Democrats in the Senate voted for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, even Patrick Leahy and Russ Feingold. But not Obama.

"When nominated in 2004 for the Democratic Leadership Committee's list of 100 rising stars, Obama bristled at the suggestion he was a "mainstream" Democrat. In a letter to the magazine Black Commentator, he said he didn't "view such inclusion as an endorsement on my part of the DLC platform."

"I spend much of my time with audiences trying to educate them on the dangers of the Patriot Act, Patriot Act 2 and the rest of John Ashcroft's assault on the Constitution," Obama said.

Indeed, he voted no on reauthorizing the Patriot Act. His position on the war on terror is enough to make anyone cry. Obama has voted:

No to private gun ownership.

No to mandatory sentencing and the death penalty.

No to prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.

Says he would have voted no to authorize going to war in Iraq.

No to oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge but supports mandated ethanol use and raising fuel economy standards. "

As liberal as Ten Kennedy? The candidate to deal with North Korea, Iran, Iraq? Tough on the War on Terror? Doesn't want me to own a gun?

Obama is getting less and less "handsome" by the minute.

But make no mistake, Obama's star is rising with the MSM and will continue to make a meteroic ascent with liberal Democrats in search of a star.

Surely they don't really take him seriously for president. However, with the possibility of running on a ticket with Hillary in 2008 as vice-president, Obama must be beside himself with anticipation. I can only imagine what the elite press is gearing up for.

Warning, much emotional frothing and swooning ahead!

I think I'd rather go fly fishing than to watch.

Why the Democrats Have George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Rolling in their Graves

This just in from Paul Teller, Deputy Director of the House Republican Study Committee. The rest of this post speaks for itself:

Democrat Agenda?

In light of ongoing Democrat criticisms of the Republican legislative agenda, the following is an abridged list of actual bills that have been introduced by House Democrats this or last year, including bills regarding condoms for prisoners, crack-cocaine, and adult diapers:
http://www.house.gov/pence/rsc/doc/102306_
demagenda.doc.

The baby boomers must be breathing a sigh of relief that adult diapers are a top priority for the Dems. They don't want to hurt us.....they just want to help us! Forget the War on Terror. This is just in time for The War on Dotage.

Didn't Washington, Adams and Jefferson fight for this inalienable right for us? And isn't the federal government supposed to do this kind of thing?

Vive la Nanny State!

Quotes on the Long War: Lincoln or Bush? WWLD?

"There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed."


"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."

In the American Civil War, lasting from 1838 to 1865, there were 620,000 casualities. Of those, one-third were from battle and two-thirds from disease. At the Battle of Antietam a total of 23,000 men were killed. It was the single bloodiest day in American history.

Throughout the Civil War, Lincoln was bitterly criticized by the press and citizenry on both sides. He agonized about every aspect of the war's (at times bumbling, inept) prosecution, but never the rightness the Union's cause: which was first to save the Union and second to end slavery.

Today, in the War on Terror, I wonder: What would Lincoln do? WWLD?

Where would our country be, if he had lost his nerve and ended the war prematurely?

A Thought for Today

This from C. S. Lewis,

"When a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he understand his own badness less and less.

A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right.

This is common sense really. You understand sleep when you're awake, not while you're sleeping...You can understand the nature of drunkeness when you are sober, not when you drunk. Good people know about both good and evil: bad people do not know about either."