News Blog for social, fiscal & national security conservatives who believe in God, family & the USA. Upholding the rights granted by God & guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, traditional family values, "republican" principles / ideals, transparent & limited "smaller" government, free markets, lower taxes, due process of law, liberty & individual freedom. Content approval rests with the ARRA News Service Editor. Opinions are those of the authors. While varied positions are reported, beliefs & principles remain fixed. No revenue is generated for or by this "Blog" - no paid ads - no payments for articles.Fair Use Doctrine is posted & used. Blogger/Editor/Founder: Bill Smith, Ph.D. [aka: OzarkGuru & 2010 AFP National Blogger of the Year] Contact: editor@arranewsservice.com (Pub. Since July, 2006)Home PageFollow @arra
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics
is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato
(429-347 BC)
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Convicted border agent's injuries are worse than reported
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, met with Ignacio Ramos, who was convicted in March for the nonfatal shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler. Ramos was beaten in his sleep Saturday night by roughly a half-dozen inmates who recognized him from a TV show that aired shortly before 10 p.m. He was pulled from his cell, which remains unlocked until midnight, by the inmates and kicked repeatedly by the men who were wearing steel-toed boots. The boots are issued to inmates for their daily work, according to the prison's Web site. Ramos did not see a doctor until Wednesday.
Ramos was has injuries that are more serious than previously reported. Tancredo was astonished at the injuries on Ramos' body, which he said did not coincide with reports from the prison earlier this week that described his injuries as "minor." "His bruises were deep and severe," Tancredo said. "His arm, chest and back are black and blue with broken blood vessels on his arm. It was terrible." [Read More] Tancredo is also demanding pardons for Ramos and Compean. Tags:border guards, Ignacio Ramos, Jose Compean, presidential candidate, Republican, Tom TancredoTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
By Archie Carroll: The issue of illegal immigration is one of the greatest social problems of our times. There are an estimated 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants already in the United States. One thing is clear: The majority of American citizens think the problem is critical. A Time magazine poll found that 63 percent of those surveyed think the problem is "extremely" or "very" serious.
When the issue of ethics is brought up in discussions about illegal immigrants, usually the topic turns to business ethics because employers who hire illegal aliens are the driving force behind the problem.
The quick answer to the ethics question is that the illegal aliens entering the country are committing an unethical act and that the employers who are hiring them are unethical or amoral. After all, how hard is it to ask for a proof of citizenship? Around the world, governments have historically expected that people can show proof of citizenship or a work permit.
Three of the great ethics principles include those of rights, justice and utilitarianism. Let's explore each of these in terms of the immigration problem. First is the principle of rights. By definition, the illegals do not have a legal right to be working in the United States. Since both Mexico and the United States are sovereign countries that provide regulations regarding who can hold citizenship and work in their countries, it is hard to argue that the illegals have a right to be here and take jobs. Surely, the legal rights of existing citizens surpass the rights of those who are here illegally ... [Read More] Tags:employing illegals, Ethics, illegal immigrationTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
State Legislatures Plot To Abolish Electoral College
Eagle Forum: Beware of mischievous activities in your state legislature intended to change our constitutional form of government and to abolish the Electoral College! This effort to radically alter the way we elect our presidents has become a nationwide campaign, led by a compact of as few as eleven of the most populous states. The plan of the campaign, called the National Popular Vote (NPV), is to get states with at least 270 votes in the Electoral College to enact identical bills requiring their own electors to ignore the winner of their state's election and cast all their state's ballots for the candidate who the state believes received more popular votes than the other candidates nationwide, even if he fails to win a majority of the popular vote. This scheming by frustrated liberals to negate the original intentions of our Founding Fathers is outrageous and un-American!
Traditionally, each state has cast its electoral votes, equal to its total representation in Congress, for the candidate who receives the most votes statewide. The Electoral College is one of the legacies of the inspired genius of our Founding Fathers because it allows all states, regardless of size, to be players in the process of electing our President. It induces presidential candidates to gear their time, money, and policies toward the whole country, not merely toward the half dozen most populous states. .. . [Read More] Move to Dump Electoral College Defeated in Montana, North Dakota Note: National Popular Vote supporters say they have legislative sponsors in 46 states, and have introduced legislation in 22. The Colorado Senate approved the measure last month. The California legislature endorsed the agreement last year, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it. North Dakota State Rep. Lawrence Klemin (R) says, "...if this were to become the law, our presidential elections would be controlled by the vote in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston..." Tags:Electoral College, National Popular Vote, NPVTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Admission Of Lying By Government In Ramos/Compean Case
FireSociety.com: Under questioning by Rep. John Culberson, a Department of Homeland Security representative admitted that his department did NOT have evidence to back up a number of claims made to members of Congress last fall to bolster its case against imprisoned agents Ramos and Compean, including: that the agents “wanted to shoot a Mexican,” confessed to shooting an unarmed suspect, were belligerent to investigators, lied and submitted false reports, and stated during the investigation that the illegal alien did not pose a threat. According to Culberson, "(DHS Inspector General) Richard Skinner admitted yesterday under oath that his top deputies gave members of Congress false information painting Border Patrol agents as rogue cops who were not in fear for their lives and who were 'out to shoot Mexicans."
Government lied to Congress to bolster its case.
Basically, the government has admitted that its officials lied to Congress in an effort to bolster its case in the public against agents Ramos and Compean. These charges have caused many to question the validity of the agents' claims that they are innocent and acted in response to an imminent threat from an illegal alien drug runner. The truth is, Johnny Sutton and our government turned what is at most a procedural violation (punishable by at the most a few days unpaid leave) and made it into a witchhunt against our agents.
As Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R - CA) said in a speech from the floor of the House on 2/7/07 [See video below], "The initial decision to prosecute the two border patrol agents instead of the drug smugglers was indefensible, period. Sutton's only defense... has been to lie and to demonize the two border patrol agents." [Read More] Listen to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher
Tags:border guards, Dana Rohrabacher, Ignacio Ramos, illegal immigration, Jose CompeanTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Christian Newswire -- In anticipation of the Feb. 10 announcement in Springfield, Ill. that Sen. Barack Obama will run to become president of the United States, Christians for Social Justice has launched ObamaNation.Com, a website exposing the hypocrisy of Obama on the greatest moral issues of our time – abortion and homosexual unions.
Pastor Clenard H. Childress, Jr., an African American Pastor and Director for Christians for Social Justice, the largest Black Pro Life group in America, says "abortion is black genocide. Each day, 1452 African Americans are murdered by abortion. 4,000 children over all. There has been over 15 million African American children dismembered in the womb by the abortion holocaust and as many women victimized. Sen. Obama supports of the wholesale slaughter of our own community by abortion." Obama voted to not outlaw Partial Birth Abortion (1997 Illinois ban, 2003 Federal ban) Obama voted against protecting born alive infants from abortionists (2002, Induced Infant Liability Act, and the Born Alive Infant Protection Act ) Obama voted in support of homosexual unions (06/07/2006, Same Sex Marriage Resolution) [Read More]Tags:abortion, Barack Obama, black americans, Clenard Childress, homosexual activism, presidential candidateTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Is the Republican Party going the way of the Whigs?
by Patrick Johnston: If the Republican Party doesn't return to principled conservatism, the party faithful will hold a graveside service for the GOP within two decades, and none of the new leaders will even attend.
Political parties are not permanent. A political party is a framework for implementing ideas in government, but the framework is no more stable than the ideas that energize its supporters. The Republican and Democratic parties certainly appear permanent to the political landscape, like the Twin Towers soaring into the blue sky on a concrete foundation twenty feet thick, but the shifting winds of public opinion can bring them down much faster than they were erected. Just ask the Whigs.
Actually, you can't ask the Whigs because there aren't any around. Have you ever wondered what happened to the Whigs and the Tories, the primary political parties at our nation's birth? To put it simply, the public's political priorities evolved and the political parties did not. When the old political party could not satisfy the public's new mandates, the old party was buried. . . . [Click for more]
Tags:Arkansas Republican Assembly, conservatism, GOP, Republican National PartyTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Arkansas Republican Assembly leads party in opposition to the ERA
Laura Kellams reported in her ERA article (ref. below) that, “The Democratic Party of Arkansas was in favor of ratification, while the Republican Party of Arkansas took no official stance.” However, the Arkansas Republican Assembly (ARRA) (the conservative wing of the Republican party) has no qualms about taking a stand supporting Arkansas’ marriage, supporting pro-life issues or addressing other issues affecting traditional family values. The ARRA provided Republican leadership to successfully defeat the ERA while in committee. ARRA published and circulated a pamphlet titled, "Six reasons to oppose the ERA." Committee member Daniel Greenberg (R-Little Rock) said that he referred to it to form the right questions needing to be asked during the debate. The ARRA is chartered under the NFRA, the nation's oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization. President Ronald Reagan said that the Republican Assembly is, "The Conscience of the Republican Party." Members often call themselves Reagan republicans, representing the values of the majority of Arkansans. They are social, moral, and fiscal conservative Arkansans who believe in God, family, and country and are working together to strengthen the Republican Party by upholding the traditional, Republican ideals that represent the American founders’ original intent. The ARRA mission is to strengthen the Republican Party by registering voters, recruiting members, developing party leadership, endorsing candidates, and supporting officials who share conservative beliefs and principles. We support policies that expand the rights, liberties, and responsibilities of individuals and that reduce the size and spending of government.” Assembly president, Patrick Briney commented that, “The Assembly is here to provide Arkansas with the leadership that represents their values and best interests.” In 2006, the ARRA provided leadership in the defeat of the perpetual highway bond proposal that would have taken the power of taxation out of the hands of the voters.
Black Leader Says Abortion Continues to Diminish African-Americans
by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor: A leading pro-life advocate in the black community says abortion diminishes the worth and value of African-Americans in the same way slavery and a lack of civil rights did before. Day Gardner, president of the National Black Pro-Life Union, hopes Americans will learn more about this travesty during Black History Month. ...
Gardner, a former Miss Delaware and the first black woman to be named a semifinalist in the Miss America pageant, said that black Americans made great strides in the 1960s and afterwards in achieving civil rights and establishing their ability to achieve the American dream. Since that time, African-American people have been able to rise to the highest ranks in the political and business worlds and achieve tremendous success. But Gardner worries that abortion is taking a heavy toll on her community.
Gardner said that 15 million of the 44 million unborn children killed via abortion since 1973 were black. "Abortion has become the number one killer of black people in this country -- killing more African Americans that accidents, heart disease, stroke, crimes, HIV-AIDS and all other deaths combined," she explained. Gardner says she's bothered that African-American leaders ... fail to see how abortion has targeted the black community and how a isproportionate number of the abortions done in the United States are on black women and children. More than 37 percent of all abortions involve black Americans, she says. [Read More]
History repeats itself as Arkansas rejects the ERA Again
In a special order of business Wednesday February 7, 2007, the Arkansas House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs heard the pros and cons of ratifying the ERA sponsored by House Rep. Linsley Smith (D) of Fayetteville. The ERA was rejected in a 10-10 tied vote. Larry Page, Executive Director, Arkansas Faith & Ethics Council, reported that the debate was intense. Phillis Schlafly of Eagle Forum flew into Little Rock to testify before the committee. She told the lawmakers that, “The amendment pretends to help women, but it does nothing for them.” She added that the amendment would make all federal laws sex-neutral.
Committee member Daniel Greenberg, R-Little Rock, thanked Arkansas Republican Assembly President, Patrick Briney, for his pamphlet, Six Reasons to Oppose the ERA saying, “I appreciate the way it addressed serious legal issues, which is sometimes lacking in our discussion of these things in the state legislature. I tried to follow the model of your approach in my discussion of the ERA in committee today (I voted no).” Arkansas Family Coalition newsletter reported that Mr. Greenberg, “asked some of the most incisive questions about ERA to its chief sponsor Lindsley Smith. Rep. Greenberg cut right to the heart of the matter in the course of his questioning….”
According to Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the NRLC, some lawmakers withdrew support when they heard that ERAs have been used to require tax funding of abortion. Twenty of the original sixty co-sponsors of the bill removed their names from the amendment on Tuesday after being educated on the history and ramifications of the amendment. As of this latest failure to be ratified, the ERA has been rejected three times in Arkansas.
The ERA was first introduced in 1972. To amend the U.S. Constitution, thirty-eight states must ratify the ERA. Proponents of the bill claim that thirty-five states have ratified ERA, and only three more states are needed. However, five states (Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho, Kentucky, and South Dakota) have since rescinded their ratifications. The fifteen states that never ratified the ERA include Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia.
House Rep. Linsley Smith, the measure's lead sponsor, vowed to bring the bill up again before the Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs at a later date. "I'm looking forward to continuing the fight for equality," she said. See Also:After debate, vote of 10-10 mires ERA in House panel (NW AR Edition of Arkansas Democrat Gazette) Tags:Arkansas, Arkansas Republican Assembly, ARRA, Equal Right Amendment, ERA, Patrick BrineyTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) and 15 state representatives want to bring the lottery the natural state. Arkansas Rep. Will Bond (D-Jacksonville) filed HJR 1005 an bill to refer an amendment to establish a State Lottery the voters. Joining Bond as Sponsors of the bill are Arkansas State Rep.s Reep, Harrelson, Dunn, Wills, Cook, Davis, Gaskill, House, Hyde, Kidd, Moore, Saunders, Shelby, L. Smith, Wood
Opponents express concern that once lottery money starts coming in, funds already earmarked for education are often re-routed, leaving the schools with the same budget they had before the lottery. Another concern is a lottery making money at the expense of the poor. HJR1005 has been read the second time and referred to the Arkansas House Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs. Currently it is not scheduled on any agenda. Tags:Arkansas, Bill Halter, HJR1005, lotteryTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Texas Gov Perry's HPV vaccination order angers pro-family group
AgapePress - A Texas pro-family group says Governor Rick Perry's executive order mandating HPV shots for schoolgirls entering sixth-grade not only usurps the authority of the State Legislature, but also the rights of parents. In addition, the American College of Pediatricians has recommended against the vaccine for young girls. A conservative group in Texas is raising strong objections to Republican Governor Rick Perry's executive order mandating HPV shots for 11- and 12-year-old female students.
On Friday, Governor Perry signed an order that requires all Texas schoolgirls entering sixth grade to get Gardasil, Merck & Company's new vaccine against the Human Papilloma Virus, beginning in the fall of 2008. Perry says the vaccine gives Texas "an incredible opportunity to effectively target and prevent cervical cancer." Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum leader said "We have a strong voice that this is not a good vaccine for little girls; the American College of Pediatricians strongly opposes requiring students to have the HPV vaccine." Adams also fears the governor's order will give young girls a false sense of security, because the vaccine will protect them from only four strains of the virus and will not protect them from other sexually transmitted diseases. [Read More]
Tony Perkins on Mandatory HPV Vaccinations Tags:Rick Perry, HPV shots, Texas, Tony Perkins, videoTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
ERA - Arkansas HJR1002 Defeated in Committee Today
ARRA Editor: ERA bill, HJR1002 was heard today before Arkansas' State Agencies and Governmental Affairs House Committee. After a heated debate, the committee split on a vote of 10-10 and the proposed bill died in committee. A majority vote was needed for the bill to advance from the committee to the Arkansas House for a vote. Larry Page, Executive Director,Arkansas Faith & Ethics Council, observed today's debate. He relayed that due to the intensity of the discussions, it is doubtful that the bill will be reintroduced again this legislative session.
WA Ballot Proposal Would Require Couples to Have Kids
Proponents of same-sex marriage in Washington state have introduced a ballot measure that would require heterosexual couples to have a child within three years or have their marriages annulled. The Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance acknowledged on its Web site that the initiative was "absurd" but hoped the idea prompts "discussion about the many misguided assumptions" underlying a state Supreme Court ruling that upheld a ban on same-sex marriage.
The measure would require couples to prove they can have children to get a marriage license. Couples who do not have children within three years could have their marriages annulled. All other marriages would be defined as "unrecognized," making those couples ineligible for marriage benefits. [Read More] Tags:homosexual activism, Washington State, WA, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Boarder Agents update: Government admits lying & Imprisioned agent attacked
WorldNetDaily: A Department of Homeland Security official admitted yesterday the agency misled Congress when it contended it possessed investigative reports proving Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean confessed guilt and declared they "wanted to shoot some Mexicans" prior to the incident that led to their imprisonment.The admission came during the testimony of DHS Inspector General Richard L. Skinner before the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, according to Michael Green, press secretary for Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas . . . [Click for more]
Christian Newswire: Former Border Agent, Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos was brutally attacked by as many as five illegal immigrant inmates on Saturday evening (2/3) following the airing of an America's Most Wanted segment featuring both Ramos and Compean. The attack began around 10 pm, after Ramos fell asleep. "Nacho was assaulted Saturday night by about five illegal immigrants who were yelling at him in Spanish, Maten a la migra--which means kill the Border Patrol Agent." He has multiple and severe injuries. They put him in isolation for now and he may not have received medical attention for up to 48 hours. [Read More]
Tags:border guards, Ignacio Ramos, illegal immigration, Jose CompeanTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani moved another step closer to a full-fledged candidacy on Monday by filing a statement of candidacy and removing the words "testing the waters" from his exploratory committee papers with the Federal Election Commission in Washington and told reporters he'll make a formal announcement later.
A leading pro-life advocate says he thinks the 62-year old Rudy Giuliani is too pro-abortion to deserve support form the overwhelming majority of Republican voters who are pro-life. Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, says he does not think the former New York mayor will be able to capture the party's nod. "Giuliani is known for his impressive leadership in the wake of 9/11, but most pro-family Americans do not yet realize how far outside of the mainstream of conservative thought that Mayor Giuliani social views really are," Perkins added. "Once people focus on this election and the candidates Giuliani's lead will diminish." [Read More] Tags:2008 Election, GOP, presidential candidate, Republican, Rudy GiulianiTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
The ERA bill, HJR1002 will be heard before the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs House Committee tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. as a special order of business. Committee Members' Names, Email and Contact Info for the are on line at -- Click Now
We need as many people as we can get to come to the hearing. We have been told by legislators that the people who have signed on as sponsors don't really know what the bill will do. If you can't come to the hearing or even if you can, please do one of the following.
1. Call one of the committee members at this number and leave a message for them asking them to not let ERA bill, HJR1002 out of the committee because ERA has been used as the legal basis for court-mandated, Government Funded Abortions and gay marriage in some states. You can do this by calling House: 501-682-6211 and telling the person who answers that you want to leave a message for a representative. 2. Email the Committee members and give them the same message.
Summary of ERA Agenda in Arkansas: Instead of lobbying for special rights in the face of growing opposition, the Left is promoting legislation that would quietly usher in their agenda through the backdoor at the state level. Arkansas is facing a powerful challenge by anti-family groups lobbying for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which, until recently, was a largely irrelevant piece of feminist propaganda dating back to the early 1970s. Now, state Rep. Lindsley Smith (D) is dusting off the amendment in a campaign to "protect women," when in fact, the U.S. Constitution already does so. Smith is pushing her state to ratify the ERA, which seeks not to end discrimination, injustice, or chauvinism, but to undermine motherhood, traditional sexuality, and innate gender differences.
The ERA specifically states that there can be no discrimination based on "sex," language which has since been used in the courts as an argument to legalize same-sex marriage in such states as Maryland, Hawaii and New Mexico. Now the Left, desperate to find some way around public opposition to homosexual marriage, hopes to revive the amendment under the guise of "female oppression." As the Arkansas Republican Assembly points out, the ERA is problematic because it surrenders more rights than it confers. If approved, the ERA could forfeit: women's rights by requiring them to serve in the military; voters' rights by allowing the courts to interpret whether the ERA nullifies the state's marriage protection amendment; and the right to life by requiring the state to pay for abortions as it would for any other "medical procedure."
Again - the ERA is scheduled for debate tomorrow morning, so again as detailed above please take action. The ERA movement in Arkansas is part of an aggressive strategy to obliterate the traditional family.What happens there could determine the fate of the ERA in America. Tags:Arkansas, Equal Right Amendment, ERA, HJR1002
The Arkansas Republican Caucus is proud to commemorate February 6th as Ronald Reagan Day in Arkansas, celebrating the 96th anniversary of his birth. In 2003, the 84th General Assembly passed HB1004, a bill recognizing this day as Ronald Reagan Day and we are delighted Arkansas is preserving his legacy against the fading effects of time.
Throughout our history, a few great leaders have stood the test of time and continued to influence future generations of Americans. Ronald Reagan stands as one of the most influential presidents of our great nation, touching the hearts and lives of millions. When he finally succumbed to illness on June 5, 2004, the nation mourned the passing of a national hero.
Reagan boldly accepted the helm of a country plagued by disillusionment and inspired a renewed optimism in the weary American people. His defense policies brought about the demise of the Soviet Union, opening the gate to freedom for hundreds of millions of world citizens, and laid the groundwork for our victory in the Gulf War. America overwhelmingly voiced approval of his leadership when 49 of the 50 states reelected him president in 1984.
Thanks to Ronald Reagan’s economic policies, our nation flourished in one of longest economic expansions in American history . Although his vision of a less obtrusive government was considered revolutionary at the time, Reagan’s strong belief in the power and ability of individuals revitalized the American spirit. Even our last Democrat president agreed with him that the era of big government must come to an end. Please join with us in remembering a great Republican leader, former President Ronald Reagan.
Representative Johnny Key
House Republican Leader
Arkansas Republican Caucus
Tags:Arkansas, Johnny Key, Republican, Ronald Reagan
ARRA Editorial: Former Gov. Mike Huckabee instituted Arkansas' plan to send home obesity report cards to warn parents of overweight kids' health risks. Arkansas was the first state to create this new program which notified parents "officially your kid is fat -- are you too stupid to know this."
Gov. Mike Beebe is questioning this plan and has said the school weigh-ins and report cards had "a lot of negative, unintended consequences" and hurt some children's self-esteem. Beebe favors letting parents drop out of the program more easily and wants the state to test children less often: "There are a lot of things schools should be doing, but there are a lot of things parents should be doing and one of them is trying to make sure their kids stay healthy."
Arkansas' program began in 2004 when the Legislature directed public schools to weigh and measure children, calculating their body-mass index (BMI), a number used to determine whether their weight is appropriate for their age. The plan was championed by the formerly obese Gov. Huckabee had dropped 110 pounds.
Since Arkansas adopted its school-based anti-obesity program, California, Florida and Pennsylvania have launched similar efforts and Huckabee has sold lots of books. Public health officials have noted a slight drop in the state's childhood obesity rate since the program began, however, the real source of the reduction could be from the many Arkansas schools who were being forced to limit access to vending machines in the schools. Schools were making a "little extra cash"by peddling high calorie candy and sodas in schools.
Rep. Keven Anderson, R-Rogers, filed a bill last week to eliminate the BMI test. Anderson questioned the effectiveness of the BMI reports and said, "At some point, the parent has got to take some responsibility for the health of their children. I don't think sending a report home saying you're in or out of the range is going to make a difference." Thank you Rep. Anderson for a bill based in a fundamental Republican belief: "the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well, by individuals." Parents can weigh and monitor their own children. Parents are responsible for their health and well being not the state.
In addition to this public obesity program, former Governor Huckabee can be credited with the significant loss by Republicans in Arkansas. His actions failed to remain rooted in Republican beliefs and supported more government control, higher taxes, rewarding illegal aliens, and in this situation advocated the use of the school system and taxes to intrude further into the lives of Arkansans. Tags:Arkansas, education, Mike Huckabee, Obesity, ARRA
by Dr. Timothy Ball:Global warming, as we think we know it, doesn't exist. And I am not the only one trying to make people open up their eyes and see the truth. But few listen, despite the fact that I was the first Canadian Ph.D. in Climatology and I have an extensive background in climatology, especially the reconstruction of past climates and the impact of climate change on human history and the human condition. Few listen, even though I have a Ph.D, (Doctor of Science) from the University of London, England and was a climatology professor at the University of Winnipeg. For some reason (actually for many), the World is not listening.
by Dennis Prager: In general, the Left does not ask the question, "What will happen next?" when formulating social policy. Not thinking through the long-range consequences of their positions is liberalism's tragic flaw. Take almost any position that distinguishes the Left: Will higher taxes help the economy? The major reason the Left advocates tax increases is not that these tax increases will help the American economy. Higher taxes rarely help the economy, and most liberals don't even make that argument . . . [Click for more]
Other Questions addressed in this article
- Is continued illegal immigration good for America or for Mexico?
-Is bilingual education good for immigrant children?
- Does affirmative action help black students?
- What would the Kyoto Protocols do to the American and world economies?
- Would withdrawal from Iraq increase or decrease human suffering?
- Does nationalized health insurance work?
by Adam Graham: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? -Matt. 16:26, The same question can be asked of a political party. The names of America's political parties have long since ceased to mean anything. While certainly, there's a difference between a Republic and a Democracy, these difference do not define our political parties and their members.
The soul of the Republican Party is conservatism. That conservatism is different than past generations, but at it's heart the Conservatism of today believes in limited government; a wise, prudent, yet firm foreign policy; a respect for traditional values; and lower taxes. This is in it's essence the heart and soul of the Republican Party.
The Republican platform is why I and many others are first generation Republicans. Yet, in recent years, much of the platform has become a dead letter under the leadership of President Bush. Limited government has become a cruel joke, traditional values have been fought for when convenient, and fundamental tax and social security reform has been little more than rhetoric despite six years of Bush and Republican congresses.
Conservatism was nurtured by Phyllis Schlafly, Ronald Reagan, and numerous others who created a movement that is now at risk. The risk doesn't come from the big liberal press or any of the usual suspects, but from unprincipled folks who plan to make 2008 the year conservatism dies in the Republican Party.Read More Tags:Phyllis Schlafly, Ronald Reagan, conservatism, GOP, Republican, Republican PartyTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Spending Half a Trillion Dollars an hour & Missing $70 Million in 28 Earmarks
by Congressman John Boozman Press Office: The Continuing Resolution, CR, is supposedly designed to keep the government running since a budget was never passed (which is a different post entirely). That is what normal CR’s do: keep the government running. Today (1/28), normalcy is on vacation and, in its stead, we get to see what it is like to spend nearly half a trillion dollars in an hour. That total also includes at least 28 earmarks (those things we were all supposed to be against) worth at least $70 Million and a cut of $1.4 Billion in the Basic Housing Allowance for our men and women serving in the military.
On top of that, we’re spending less time to talk about how to spend half-a-trillion dollars than Americans families spend talking about the grocery budget.
Here are a few of the earmarks which were missed:
Tropical Rain Forest in Iowa, $44.6M
High Energy Petawatt Laser Development, University of Nevada-Reno, $2M
UNLV Research Foundation, $2.5M
Consortium on Terrorism and Fire Science, University of Nevada-Reno, $3M
Operations and Security, Atomic Testing History Institute, $500K
Radio Analytical Services Laboratory, UNLV Research Foundation, $2M
National Center for Biodefense at George Mason University, $1M
Science and Technical Programs, Wilberforce University, $2M
Science and Technical Programs, Central State University (OH), $2M
Science and Technical Programs, Vorhees College (SC), $1M
Science and Technical Programs, Florida Memorial University, $1M
The Democrat Spending Bill by the Numbers:
Size of spending in the bill: $463.5 billion
Floor Time on Democrat Spending Bill: 1 hour of general debate
Cost per minute of debate: $7.725 billion
Cost per second of debate: $128,750 million Tags:Continuing Resolution, CR, earmarks, Congressman, John Boozman, Wahington, D.C.
U.S. Attorney Firings Set Stage for Congressional Battle
By Dan Eggen, Washington Post - H.E. "Bud" Cummins III had served for five years as the U.S. attorney in Little Rock -- a longtime GOP lawyer and avid supporter of President Bush was surprised when he got a call from the Justice Department last year asking him to resign. He was told there was nothing wrong with his performance, but that officials in Washington wanted to give the job to another GOP loyalist. ... Cummins was replaced by J. Timothy Griffin, a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove.
Cummins was the first in a wave of seven U.S. attorneys to be fired by the Justice Department, ... including the U.S. attorney who oversaw a prominent public corruption probe in San Diego and a prosecutor in New Mexico whose life as a military lawyer was portrayed by Tom Cruise in the movie "A Few Good Men." Most have told colleagues that they have no idea why they were shoved out ... Dismissals include the heads of two of the most important U.S. attorneys' offices in the country: Carol S. Lam in San Diego and Kevin Ryan in San Francisco. Others were David C. Iglesias in New Mexico; Daniel G. Bogden in Nevada; Paul K. Charlton in Arizona and John McKay in Seattle described as "a rock-star U.S. attorney" and whose effort to build a law enforcement database is the template for a new nationwide program at Justice. ... A new provision, which was quietly tucked into USA Patriot Act reauthorization legislation last year, allows Attorney General Alberto R.Gonzales to appoint interim prosecutors indefinitely. [Read More] Tags:Attorney General, U.S.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Current birth rates could produce Muslim domination
OneNewsNow.com The Population Research Institute says the Western world is facing a crisis as virtually every country has birth rates well below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman. A pro-family organization has done extensive research into birth rates around the world and has concluded that if the Western world wants to survive, it better start having more children. The Population Research Institute (PRI) says virtually every Western or Westernized nation on the planet is slowly dying off because birth rates have fallen below the 2.1-child-per-woman replacement level . PRI spokesman Joseph D'Agostino says for the most part, only Muslims have high birth rates. . . [Click for more]Tags:Birth rates, Christianity, Muslim, Population Research Institute, PRITo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Eagle Forum of Arkansas: Representative Lindsley Smith (D) has filed a Equal Rights Amendment bill in Arkansas, HJR1002. bill on ERA has been referred to the House STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS and will probably come up next week sometime. This should be of great concern to anyone who opposes abortion or homosexual marriage. The following excerpts from an article entitled, "Marriage Must Be Protected from the Judges," is proof that the opponents of Equal Rights Amendment (that nice sounding law supposedly designed to prevent discrimination against women) did not exaggerate the negative consequences of the ERA Amendment as ERA supporters vehemently claimed. Read entire article Names of Legislators who are listed as Sponsors on the ERA bill HJR 1002.
In the recent case Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health cited the Massachusetts state Equal Rights Amendment as authority to legalize same-sex marriages. The state ERA was added to Article 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1976. It provides: "Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed or national origin."
The Goodridge decision did use the Massachusetts ERA to legalize marriage between people of the same sex. This caused UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh to post on his website: "Phyllis Schlafly said it would be like this." He cited typical examples from the liberal press ridiculing the opponents of ERA for "canards," "scare tactics," and "hysterics" in predicting that ERA would require same-sex marriage.
- U.S. News & World Report (4-28-75): "Opponents, for example, suggested passage of ERA would mean abortion on demand, legalization of homosexual marriages, sex-integrated prisons and reform schools -- all claims that were hotly denied by ERA supporters."
- New York Times (7-5-81): "Discussion of [the ERA] bogged down in hysterical claims that the amendment would eliminate privacy in bathrooms, encourage homosexual marriage, put women in the trenches and deprive housewives of their husbands' support."
- Washington Post (2-19-82): "The vote in Virginia [against the ERA] came after proponents argued on behalf of civil rights for women and opponents trotted out the old canards about homosexual marriages and unisex restrooms."
Dr. Patrick Briney, President of the Arkansas Republican Assembly issued a statement Commemorating Fellow Black Americans During Black History Month: Black History Month is a tribute to black Americans who have contributed to the greatness of American culture, a time to highlight the ever present spirit of freedom for all from every kind of oppression, and a celebration of dreams and real triumph for right over wrong.
If Frederick Douglass were alive today, he would be pleased with the answer to his question whether the American people had loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough, to live up to their own Constitution. They do. They are the champions of freedom in the world thanks to the black Americans who provided the courageous leadership to challenge oppression against all odds and suffering. As black Americans continue to champion the fight against the ever present plague of injustice and oppression that so easily besets mankind, not only America but the world is better because of their indomitable efforts. History Channel: Black History Month Biography Channel: Celebrate Black History Month Fredrick Douglass
Tags:ARRA, Arkansas Republican Assembly, Patrick Briney, black Americans, Black History Month, Fredrick DouglassTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, met with Ignacio Ramos, who was convicted in March for the nonfatal shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler. Ramos was beaten in his sleep Saturday night by roughly a half-dozen inmates who recognized him from a TV show that aired shortly before 10 p.m. He was pulled from his cell, which remains unlocked until midnight, by the inmates and kicked repeatedly by the men who were wearing steel-toed boots. The boots are issued to inmates for their daily work, according to the prison's Web site. Ramos did not see a doctor until Wednesday.
