Thursday Morning Jazz Interlude

This piece is short but sweet. 'The Thunderbirds' was a 1960's British television series that sounds like a cross between Star Wars and The Jetsons, with puppets. I'll reserve judgment on the TV show, having never seen it, but the music is great.

Barry Gray, Spoke City Jazz Soundtrack,
Original Music from 'The Thunderbirds'

Wise Guy: Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin hardly needs an introduction to most Americans; he is a true icon. His wisdom was often couched in humor but occasionally he sharpened his wit and cut straight to the heart of a subject, as in these simple and profound observations.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

"If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone."

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."

"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

One more, just for the Teleprompter of the United States:

"Well done is better than well said."

Buh-Bye Benedict Arlen

Long-time Republican-In-Name-Only Senator Arlen Specter (PA) has been reading the tea leaves, Crumb Crunchers. Faced with a stiff Republican primary challenge from Pat Toomey and the possibility of being unceremoniously dumped by Pennsylvania voters, Arlen has decided to join his ideological comrades in the Democrat party. Good riddance.

On Friday, Rasmussen Reports released polling results in the Specter/Toomey race: Election 2010: Pennsylvania Republican Senate Primary: Toomey 51% Specter 30%

Specter is viewed favorably by 42% of Pennsylvania Republicans and unfavorably by 55%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state. Those are stunningly poor numbers for a long-term incumbent senator. Specter was first elected to the Senate in 1980.

In another sign that could be troubling for Specter, the current poll finds that 79% of Pennsylvania Republicans have a favorable opinion of the “Tea Party” protests against big government spending and higher taxes held across the nation last week. Thirty percent (30%) know someone personally who took part. Overall, 82% of Pennsylvania Republicans say that the federal government has too much money and too much power. Just four percent (4%) say it has too little.

GOP National Chairman Michael Steele said "He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record. Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don't do it first." Woot!

This turn of events leads me to wonder... can we get him to take Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins with him?

Flying Pig Moment: Newspaper Editor Tells Truth!

This has to be the quote of the day:

Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit News, was speaking with WJR-760's Frank Beckmann this morning about the state of the automotive industry. On the federal government owning 50% of - and de facto running - General Motors, Nolan opined that it will not work because 'they're not in the car business. They're in the government business and they can't run that, either.'

Actually, my title notwithstanding, Nolan Finley is one newspaper man who usually 'gets it' and isn't afraid to say so. Now THAT'S news!

April Showers Bring....

...unexpected guests. This is a photo of what will be my tomato garden. As you can see, it is rather flooded right now...but do you see who's enjoying the abundant waters? Look closely, right in the middle of the photo:

Here they are, up close and personal. VERY personal, as they were seriously courting in my garden last night. Mallards! I do hope they don't decide to raise a family there. The water won't last, and the Labs will fetch....

Obamessiah

If you thought I was exaggerating when I referred to the President as Obamessiah, this should dispell any doubt that he is viewed that way by some people.

"The Truth" by painter Michael D'Antuono will be officially unveiled on Obama's 100th day in office at New York City's Union Square. Newsbusters has the story of Obamania in hyperdrive. GACK!

Old Time Gospel Sunday

Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss & Suzanne Cox,
Medley: 'In The Garden' & 'Softly And Tenderly'

Friday Funnies: Obama Walks The Dog

Today's installment comes courtesy of one of my all-time favorite political cartoonists, Henry Payne.

Nick & Pete: Right Michigan Interviews Congressman Hoekstra

Our friend Nick at www.RightMichigan.com has a great, exclusive interview with Congressman Peter Hoekstra, who recently announced his candidacy for Governor of Michigan. Here's a taste:

RM: Fantastic. Thanks! Let's just start with the foundational issues. Where are you on second amendment rights and the right to life?

CPH: I have an unblemished record of supporting and defending second amendment rights and being pro-life. It’s all out there. My record clearly outlines my positions on such important issues. The record will also demonstrate that I have not only voted correctly but that I have been an active and outspoken advocate for these issues during my career. Nothing to guess about where I’ll be. My record is clear and strong.

Read the rest of the interview here and be sure to check out the rest of Nick's site...he was recently named one of the top state political blogs in the nation by the Washington Post. See? Even WaPo gets it right once in awhile!

Thursday Morning Jazz Interlude

It's a gloriously sunny, soon-to-be warm day in Michigan and this bright, happy music just fits my mood. If you don't find your toes tapping.....get some more coffee, stat!

Tommy Emmanuel, 'Here Comes the Sun' - Beatles Medley

Earth Day George Carlin's Way

Earth Day My Way

Psalm 24:1 - The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

The earth is a gift from God to man. We should praise and worship it's Creator, not the creation. He has placed so much beauty all around us; I see it everywhere! If you look closely at these photos, I hope you can see it, too.

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

*Copyright 2008-2009, all rights reserved. All photos are digitally protected.

Wise Guy: Alexis De Tocqueville

Alexis Charles Henri Maurice Clérel De Tocqueville was a French aristocrat who visited the United States from 1831-1840 to study our government and its policies. His first book, On the Penitentiary System in the United States and Its Application in France, was published in 1832. The work for which he is most famous in this country, Democracy in America, was published in two volumes; the first in 1835, the second in 1840.

He had a unique insight into our national psyche and offered some profound analysis not only of American government but of American citizens as well.

'A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.'

'Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.'

'Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.'

Of particular relevance to current events are the following:

'The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.'

'There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.'

Durban II: A Prayer Request

I'm passing on this prayer request from Ebenezer Operation Exodus because I know many of you join me in supporting Israel and the Jewish people. This conference promises to be such a hate-fest that the United States will boycott the meetings. Read more about it here, here and here.

In 2001 an Anti-Racist Conference took place in Durban, South Africa. Its target was the Jewish state. Many nations turned against Israel in hatred and condemned and accused her of being guilty of Apartheid. Their most honored guests who greeted the delegates then were Arafat - the father of modern terrorism, together with the founder of the oldest dictatorship in the western hemisphere, Fidel Castro.

Now these nations are planning a follow-up conference, called Durban II. It is going to take place from April 20-24, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference is deliberately planned to start on Hitler's birthday, April 20 and the honored speaker will be Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran.

In Durban 2001 the Jewish organizations were left to defend themselves on their own. This year a delegation from the European Coalition for Israel, as well as other Christians, will be actively involved in the events in Geneva in order to support Israel. ECI will organize a special public ceremony in the synagogue of Evian on the opposite side of Lake Geneva on Tuesday 21 April to mark the 70th anniversary of the Evian conference which rejected the Jewish refugees and which by some historians is seen as having given Hitler the green light to genocide. On Wednesday 22 April in the evening there is a pro-Israel demonstration planned where all Christians are welcome to take part.

Please exalt the name and the word of the Lord over this conference and pray for:

• The important event, on Tuesday April 21 in Evian, organized by ECI (Tomas Sandel and Helmut Specht). Ebenezer representatives and intercessors will also take part in it.
• The massive pro-Israel rally of Jews and Christians to be held in front of the UN Geneva headquarters building on Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m. Ebenezer representatives and intercessors will also take part in it.
• The Lord's protection over everybody participating in the rally and for no disruption by pro-Palestinian groups.
• The many Christians to be a real comfort and support to the Jewish people at the rally and the other events (Isaiah 40:1).
• The Lord to cause many nations to cancel their participation before the conference will start.
• The Lord to confuse the plans of the enemy and thwart any attempts of the participating nations to condemn Israel during the conference. Instead of cursing may there flow blessings for Israel (Numbers 23:20)
• The Swiss government to have discernment about what is going on.
• The Swiss churches and believers to take a stand for Israel.
  

'God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.' Psalm 47:8-9

What's In A Name?

I'm often asked about the origins of my online nic - and almost everyone gets it all wrong - so here's the 'rest of the story'.

You will recall, Crumb Crunchers, that during his campaign for the Presidency our Dear Leader described his own grandmother as "a typical white person". Well. That didn't sit too well with me, so I started thinking about creating a nic that would express my opinion of his comment.

The first part was easy: Grammy. My young granddaughters call me Grammy, so I had the grandmother angle covered. Now what else would pair well with that? In the strange and mysterious recesses of my fertile brain I found the perfect answer: Cracker. Meant to be a racial slur, it's really just funny - at least to me. I thought of Uncle Kracker. Hey, if it's good enough for him, why not? It's also quite fitting, since I'm about the whitest white girl on the planet. Bwaaah!

So we have..... Grammy Cracker! Ta-da! It's a great play on words, is a bit politically incorrect (bonus!) and brings us full-circle back to the whole 'white grandmother' line. The only thing left to do was Photoshop the 'Honkey Maid' cracker box (another laughable 'slur') and I was good to go.

There you have it, then. I have just one request: the Cracker is singular. As in not plural. As in no 's' on the end. I am a one-of-a-kind, not-your-typical white Cracker. And the world breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Old Time Gospel Sunday

I posted a different version of this song last week, but you just can't hear this message too many times and David's voice is a treasure. Listen all the way to the end....at 4:25, WOW!

David Phelps, 'He's Alive'

The More Things Change...

This cartoon was originally published in the Chicago Tribune in 1934. Unfortunately, it's as timely today as it was then: young pinkies from Columbia and Harvard are running the show and the first three items in the 'Plan of Action' have already been implemented.

If we fail to learn the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat it. Tyranny will not rest. The price of liberty really is eternal vigilance, Crumb Crunchers. Silent No More! Pass the tea, please!

Lansing, Michigan Tea Party Photos, Part Two

UPDATE: There is now a separate site dedicated to free-use Tea Party signs and slogans!  Visit Tea Party Signs to see them all.

Signs of the times:

Unlike the current President!

Uh, Madame Pelosi....
do these look like 'Bush-supporting wealthy people' to you?

I am SO stealing this one!

Scenes from the crowd:


Tea on the Capitol steps

A shout out to all the Smart Girls

Paul Revere & Uncle Sam

Joe 'The Plumber' Speaking

'Famous' Faces:

Congressman Mike Rogers

Congressman Thad McCotter

Former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis

Joe 'The Plumber' Wurzelbacher

State Senator & Candidate for Secretary of State
Michelle McManus

Two of Michigan's finest. Thanks, guys!