John McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin (pronounced pale-in) of Alaska to be his running mate, and a lot of folk are asking "Sarah who?"  In an attempt to answer that question I have compiled the following bio.

Sarah Palin was born in Idaho and moved to Alaska as a child.

Known as "Sarah Barracuda" on the basketball court she helped her High School team win the state championship.  She also led the team in prayers before each game and is an evangelical Christian.

She married her high school sweetheart Todd Palin.  They have 5 children.  A strong Pro-Lifer, she refused to abort her youngest Trig, born while she was governor, when tests showed he had Downs Syndrome.  Her oldest Track, was named after the sport.  He has joined the Army and is about to be deployed to Iraq.

She was a "hockey Mom" who started in politics in the PTA then became mayor of Wasilla (her hometown near Anchorage).  She was Chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004, and the Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, but quit in 2004 in protest against ethical violations by the Alaska Republican Chairman, a member of the Commission.  She went on to defeat the Republican Governor of Alaska in the primary on an anti-corruption platform, and then won the general election.

As governor she cut state spending in Alaska, killed the "bridge to nowhere", and is a big proponent of developing Alaska's oil and gas resources to help the USA become energy independent.  She is not, however, willing to give the big oil companies what they want when she sees that as going against the interests of her state and nation.  Her husband Todd quit his 17 year position with BP to avoid even an appearance of conflict of interest, when that company became involved in negotiations with his wife's administration over a gas pipeline.

She is opposed to same sex marriage, but vetoed a bill blocking health benefits for the partners of gay public employees.

When she needed money to go to college she entered beauty contests.  She won Miss Wasilla and was runner up in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest.

She hunts, ice-fishes, and is a crack shot.  She is a Life Member of the NRA.

She has sued the Federal government to stop the listing of polar bears as an endangered species, and has a grizzly bear her father shot covering the sofa in her office.

Back when pot was legal in Alaska, she tried it.  "I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say I never inhaled."

Todd Palin is a Union Steelworker who worked part of the year in the oil fields of Alaska for BP.  The rest of the year he runs a small commercial fishing operation.  He is part Yupik Eskimo and a 4 time winner of the 2000 mile Iron Dog snowmobile race. Last year he earned $93,000 total.

We know this because as governor Sarah Palin pushed through a strong financial disclosure law.  There is far more detail in the Palin's disclosure forms posted on the Internet, than there are in the Federal forms of our Senators and Representatives.

Ed Morrissey gives the background on how McCain came to select Sarah Palin.

Professor John Mark Reynolds writes about how Sarah Palin's experience is being undervalued.

Here is a side by side comparison of Sarah Palin and Barak Obama.

Here is the comparison in pdf form for easy printing.

No not Michelle Malkin's group, this Hot Air Tour is from the folk at Americans for Prosperity.

They will be in Broomfield and Fort Collins on Wednesday August 20, Pueblo and Colorado Springs on Thursday the 21st, and Glenwood, Grand Junction, and Denver on Friday the 22nd.  Sounds like a whole lot of fun!  Click on the Logo above to learn more and register for the events.

A study was released today showing the correlation between microphone usage and global warming.  It should have been obvious, but before there were microphones there was no global warming.  Global warming is caused by the hot air released when microphones are used.

Now of course the solution to this crisis is microphone control.  Only elected politicians and those who can show a compelling need that is in the government's interest should be allowed to possess, transport, own, or use these dangerous instruments.  Licensing must be at the Federal level after a through background check.  Training in the proper use of microphones should be required, perhaps a class called Global Warming and Microphones with a special guest lecture by Al Gore.

Enforcing the new "microphone laws" will be one of the prime duties of Obama's new "Civilian National Security Force that's just as strong, just as well-funded" as the US military.  After all if we are to reduce the hot air that is the cause of global warming we must get these dangerous devices that threaten the entire world off the street.  Those who persist in trying to keep and hide their microphones instead of turning them in like honest folk will have to be found and locked up for the public good.  Every citizen will be instructed in the signs of secret microphone ownership and encouraged to turn their neighbors in to the Civilian National Security Force.

The Commissioner of Microphones

Over at Protein Wisdom there is a post disecting Newsweek's latest on Katrina and the response to it. I have rarely seen such a blatent example of media bias, and Protein Wisdom has done a service by (at least partially) responding to it. Newsweek casts President Bush as the uncaring fool, and Mayor Nagin and Govenor Blanco "a motherly but steely figure known by the nickname Queen Bee" as the heros even if they have to throw out all inconvienient facts and rely on slanders from "aides" who it is implied are fearful for their jobs, to attack the President. Newsweek also displays a total lack of understanding of how our Federal system of government operates under our Constitution, not to mention how disaster response and FEMA operates.

Read the whole thing! HT Michelle Malkin.

Unfortunately as I was posting this the Protein Wisdom site has been taken down, probably due to all the traffic this post has brought. Check back later if you can't get through.

Alvaro R. Morales Villa has posted a photo gallery of what it was like to stay in New Orleans through Katrina. These are some amazing pictures with commentary. 197 photos in all, and you will want to view them all. Among the interesting things are his take on the looters, police, firemen, and reporters. Any guess who he wound up with the least respect for? HT Mudville Gazette.

UPDATE: The link to the photos has now been updated to the new location.

Here is an inspiring story of how folk with no particular means saved themselves and others in their neighborhood in New Orleans. They planned ahead, worked together, and survived. What a great example! HT to Instapundit.

For those who don't understand how the National Guard works, the units in each state are under the command of their respective Governors until and unless the President calls them up for National service. Therefore the Guard in both Louisiana and Mississippi were and are totally under the control of the Governors of their respective states. Under our laws the President can't send in the Guard or our military to do police work, however, a Governor of a state can legally use his own Guard to assist the police. Those who criticize President Bush for not sending in the Guard to restore order in New Orleans are either ignorant or intentionally trying to deceive the American public.

Today Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief, National Guard Bureau of the US Department of Defense gave a briefing to reporters about the National Guard and their efforts to rescue victims of Katrina, and restore order in New Orleans. HT to Michelle Malkin for the link.

One of the most interesting facts to come out of this briefing was that of about 1500 police in New Orleans, less than 500 are still doing their jobs. In other words there has been a massive breakdown of the police with at least 2/3 of the department missing or deserting their duty.

Read the whole thing!

DJ Drummond looks at some of the possible options for rebuilding after Katrina, and in particular the problem of rebuilding New Orleans. He looks at the example of Galveston Texas where a similar hurricane totally wiped out the city killing between 8 and 12 thousand people. Read the whole thing!

Today Hugh Hewitt posted a link to an excellent piece by Donald Sensing titled Moral Levees. In it he discusses what went wrong and what went right when the moral levees failed in New Orleans. Read it!

The American Motor Coach Association has asked their members to send 500 buses to help transport folk out of the disaster area in coordination with FEMA. Grace Coach Lines/International Family Missions a bus company from Lafayette Colorado is participating.

Vinelife Community Church in Boulder Colorado is sending a driver and team from the church youth group on one of GCL/IFM buses with supplies down to the disaster area. They are asking for supplies and volunteers to go help with the rescue efforts. If you can bring non perishable food to the church between 8:30 and 10 AM Saturday 3 September 2005 it will get on this bus. For directions to the church click here.

They would also like to bring down:

Bibles

Paper Goods - plates, cups, diapers, tissue

Cleaning Supplies - Bleach, Top Job, Mr. Clean type products

Water - Bottled drinking water (NO glass containers)

Single Serving Snacks - Pop Tarts, Cereal Bars, Granola bars

Peanut Butter

Canned Meat

Heat and Eat Foods - Chili, stew, canned pasta with sauce, canned vegetables etc.

Lunchables or other single serving foods that DO NOT REQUIRE REFRIGERATION

MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat)

Personal care items

Formula

Diapers

Even if you can't get items to the church at that time, please call the church at (303) 449-3330 and drop things off to go on a later bus.

They are also looking for places to live for folk who might want to relocate to Colorado. If you know of living spaces that would be available please contact Vinelife (303) 449-3330.

Power Line posts an email from a New Orleans native with interesting background on hurricanes and the warnings given every year so folk will know what to do. He also relates the harrowing story of an escape from New Orleans (and how the Police tried to prevent it!)

Hugh Hewitt linked to a lengthy article in Foreign Affairs about avian influenza. The bad news is that this variety of the Flu has at least in theory the possibility of killing a huge percentage of the world's population. So far only 109 are known to have contracted this Bird Flu, but of those 59 have died. The good news is that at this time there is no evidence that it can be transmitted from one human to another although there are unexplained cases.

In 1918 - 1919 the "Spanish" Flu killed 50 million people. Scientists say this Flu known as "H5N1 influenza" has the potential to be much worse than the "Spanish" Flu. "In short, doom may loom. But note the "may." If the relentlessly evolving virus becomes capable of human-to-human transmission, develops a power of contagion typical of human influenzas, and maintains its extraordinary virulence, humanity could well face a pandemic unlike any ever witnessed. Or nothing at all could happen. Scientists cannot predict with certainty what this H5N1 influenza will do."

This has doctors concerned and uncertain what to recommend. Rushing out to "Do Something" such as the USA did in 1976 over fears of a possible flu epidemic that never happened would be a mistake. This lengthy article offers no real advice as to what the USA could do (other than give the doctors more money). It does make clear that if such an epidemic should happen you are better off living in the USA or another wealthy country as opposed to living in the third world where medical resources are far more limited.

So what should we as individuals do? First pray that the world will be spared this flu. Then do your best to stay healthy. Those with weakened systems will be more succeptible. Like for many other dangers in modern society, if you can move out of a major city and into a smaller town, that may tilt the odds in your favor. Of course stay informed. Information is one of the most powerful things we have going for us. If this does turn into a real danger there will be lots of information available as to how to minimize the risks of catching this. Look for sources like Flu News Blog as well as more conventional sources like the Washington Post.

Back in February we noted the attack on James Watt and Christians in general by Bill Moyers based on fictionalized versions of Watt's statements and Christian's beliefs. After Power Line drew attention to Moyer's remarks and James Watt's response to them, Moyers called Watt and apologized and promised to print an apology.

What was printed fell far sort of an apology, however. At the time I wrote "After launching a vicious attack on Christians and claiming that Christians did not care about the environment, and then using James Watt as the poster child for all that is wrong with Christian beliefs, he now switches and tries to claim that he, Bill Moyers, and those that think like him are the true Christians, and James Watt is merely the poser who falsely claims to be Christian."

Scott W. Johnson wrote on Power Line "In other words, Moyers says the quote was fake but accurate, and in any event, Watt is a lousy Christian. Moyers is a disgrace. He not only misquoted Watt, he completely misrepresented his environmental policies. And virtually every other "fact" in Moyers' hate-filled tirade against conservative Christians was a lie, as was its central thesis."

Today the Washington Post published a column by James Watt about the attempts by the Religious Left to use the issue of the environment to divide the "coalition of Jews, Catholics and evangelicals" that had such a significant impact on the last election.

Watt quotes Barbara R. Rossing of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago where she fabricated a lie by among other things selectively quoting half of a sentence spoken by Watt in a way that made it sound as if he had said the opposite of what he actually said. This brings to mind the great "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" from 1962 in which C.S. Lewis pointed out the demonic trends in American education. "We now have an intelligentsia which, though very small, is very useful to the cause of Hell." Unfortunately things have only gotten worse in our "education system" since Lewis wrote this as evidenced by this sort of thing coming from a school devoted to training ministers of the Gospel.

Watt also quotes a statement from the National Council of Churches about a straw man anti-environment "false gospel" promoted by "proud preachers". However when asked by Watt, they could not name a single person who actually believed this "false gospel" nor name a single "proud preacher" who taught this.

John Hinderaker of Power Line writes:

"This would be shocking, if we were not so thoroughly accustomed to the mendacity of the left. A Lutheran theologian offers, as the key support for her attack on a former government official, a single sentence--from which she has removed the second half, thereby reversing its meaning. Is this really what they teach in the seminary? As a Lutheran, I hope not. Then, the National Council of Churches issues a press release attacking a purported body of theological opinion which is said to be associated with "emboldened political leaders and policymakers"--Republicans all, of course. Yet, when challenged to name a single person who holds these supposedly widespread views, the person who headed up the task force for the NCC is stumped. He can't name a single human being who holds the views he has so vigorously denounced. This is, apparently, the quality of scholarship we should expect from the National Council of Churches. Pathetic.

"Thanks to Jim Watt for pointing out today's article to us. Mr. Watt is a kindly gentleman who was enjoying a well-deserved retirement from public life, when he was dragged back into the political fray, against his will, by virtue of being relentlessly libelled by Bill Moyers and other liberals. It's good to see that, having been forced to participate once more in public debate, he is defending himself with the skill and determination that, decades ago, he brought to his years of public service."

A big thank you too to Power Line for calling attention to the attacks on Mr. Watt and other Christians.

Today James Watt sent an Open Letter to Christian Leaders to Reverend Ted Haggard among others. In it he warns that "there are Anti-Christian forces moving in the political arena to divide the Christian community on the issue of the environment."

I am sure he is right, and that there are forces of Evil that would love nothing more than to see the Church disrupted and made ineffective by turning Christian against Christian. This is one of the themes so wonderfully developed by C. S. Lewis in his classic "Screwtape Letters" and in particular in the story "Screwtape Proposes a Toast".

So as James Watt urges lets "Be Alert!". Don't let anyone get away with claiming that Christians are "anti-environment", as nothing could be further from the truth. The whole concept that we are responsible for taking care of the environment is based on the teachings of Scripture.

James Watt has given me permission to post his open letter to Bill Moyers responding to Moyers' so called apology.

While James Watt sets the record straight he also notes "As a practical matter, neither you nor I will be able to turn off the lies of the Grist story and your expansion on that quote." Once lies start spreading they will quickly expand and will never be able to be completely stopped.

However James Watt embodies the Christian attitude towards what people have said about him. "When I became the Secretary of the Interior, I knew that I was responsible for my character. “Character is who you are; reputation is what others say you are.” Others would control my reputation." While he sets the record straight he does not either attack Bill Moyers, nor expect that everyone will stop slandering him.

For 4 pages James Watt carefully addresses all the issues and implications Bill Moyers made and shows how they are contradicted by the record. James Watt is not someone who will return evil for evil and attack in return. However, he will also never back down when he is in the right. His email signature line says "BE THERE. Never retreat. Never surrender. Never cut a deal with the devil."

The Main Stream Media may not be the devil, but they certainly don't like Christians or Republicans. As John Hinderaker notes regarding a different example of an attack on Christians in the MSM "If an assertion sounds outlandish, like the claim that roving bands of 18th century Catholic priests went about hanging people, realize that it may very well be a fabrication. (Or, to take another example, the claim that a Secretary of the Interior expressed the view that environmental preservation is unnecessary in view of the imminent end of the world.) And bear in mind that false statements seem to be made more frequently about some people--Catholics, say, or Republicans--than about others."

Originally posted Friday 2005-02-11 12:20 AM

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit." Matthew 7:15 - 17

There are many false prophets in the world. Some of them claim the banner of "Christian". Among these are "Christian Science", "The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints" (Mormons), "Unity school of Christianity", and a host of others.

Yesterday Bill Moyers "called James Watt and "apologized profusely" for misquoting him and misrepresenting his views on the environment". Further he said he would make a "written apology". Today he wrote in the Minneapolis Star Tribune "I talked to Mr. Watt on the phone and expressed my own regret at using a quote that I had not myself confirmed." This is a far cry from an apology for misquoting him. It is nothing more than trying to claim his worst offense was sloppiness.

However Bill Moyers could not leave it at that. He then wrote "I also told him that I continue to find his policies as secretary of the interior abysmally at odds with what I, as well as other Christians, understand to be our obligation to be stewards of the earth." Lets see if I have this straight. After launching a vicious attack on Christians and claiming that Christians did not care about the environment, and then using James Watt as the poster child for all that is wrong with Christian beliefs, he now switches and tries to claim that he, Bill Moyers, and those that think like him are the true Christians, and James Watt is merely the poser who falsely claims to be Christian. Moyers evidently does not think anyone will remember what he wrote a little over a week ago.

Scott W. Johnson wrote on Powerline "In other words, Moyers says the quote was fake but accurate, and in any event, Watt is a lousy Christian. Moyers is a disgrace. He not only misquoted Watt, he completely misrepresented his environmental policies. And virtually every other "fact" in Moyers' hate-filled tirade against conservative Christians was a lie, as was its central thesis."

"Environmentalism" as worshiped by Bill Moyers and many others is indeed a religion. Environmentalists worship "Mother Earth" under any of a number of names. When it suits their purpose, they claim to be "Christian". When it suits their purpose they burn down buildings, and engage in other terrorist acts. Radical "environmentalist" groups are among the most dangerous terrorist organizations that are native to the USA.

Christians need to remember Jesus words in Matthew 7.

Originally posted Wednesday 2005-02-09 10:00 PM

In my post below, I wrote "Of course I am not holding my breath that either Bill Moyers or the Minneapolis Star Tribune will retract any of their slanders of Christians or James Watt." However according to Powerline, less than 24 hours later Bill Moyers "called James Watt and "apologized profusely" for misquoting him and misrepresenting his views on the environment". I can only second John Hinderaker's statement "Congratulations, Mr. Watt."

The O'Reilly Factor this evening had Scott Johnson of Powerline on to discuss this story. This certainly has given it more exposure which is good. It was pointed out that even though Moyers has apologized and promised "he will produce a written apology and think about ways to make the apology as public as the smear was", so far the Minneapolis Star Tribune has been totally silent.

What was not examined on The O'Reilly Factor was the statement by Scott Johnson "The whole speech [by Bill Moyers] is premised on the assertion that the Bush administration and Christians are delusional, that Christians want to hasten the destruction of the environment because it will the Second Coming nearer."

Bill Moyers appears to be of the same "liberal" or "educated" mindset as Robert Reich, and have the same bigotry against Christians. This "enlightened" contempt for Christians and Christian values permeates our universities, "main stream" news media, the upper reaches of the Democratic party, and large segments of our popular culture.

Hollywood would never think of defaming Islam the religion of the 9/11 terrorists. For example, the movie version of Tom Clancy's excellent book "The Sum of All Fears" replaced the Islamic terrorists with American Neo Nazis. It is fine for Americans to be the "Bad Guys" in a film. If they can cast their caricature of a "Christian" as the villain it is better yet.

Christians need to get active in all aspects of our culture and civilization and reclaim it. We can no longer afford to abandon large segments of our society to those who oppose all we hold dear. Education, politics, pop culture, and the news media to name a few, need active Christian influence. Will you do your part?

Originally posted Tuesday 2005-02-08 9:00 PM

Below I noted the slander of James Watt by Bill Moyers in the Minneapolis Star Tribune January 30.

This morning John Hinderaker added an additional note to his story, relating that The Washington Post (the liberal paper in our nation's capitol) had repeated one of Moyer's slanders of James Watt, and called on them to recant.

Well Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles, John Hinderaker received an email from Blaine Harden the reporter who wrote the Post article informing him "the Post is running a correction on the Watt quote in Tuesday's paper". You have to give credit where it is due, and Mr. Harden and the Post have done the right thing.

Of course I am not holding my breath that either Bill Moyers or the Minneapolis Star Tribune will retract any of their slanders of Christians or James Watt. This is the same paper which has repeatedly printed slanders of Powerline and asserted that doing so "appeared to violate no Star Tribune standard".

Originally posted Monday 2005-02-07 10:30 PM

I have never met James Watt although I know his sister. Back in 1984 I read his wife's book about his time as Ronald Reagan's first Secretary of the Interior. I consider him a good and honest man smeared by his intellectual and moral inferiors. He has been out of the public eye for many years and been trying to live quietly putting all the vicious attacks behind him.

However, the radial left are not content to leave things be but feel they must continue to libel Christians in general, and James Watt in particular. On January 30 the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an op-ed by Bill Moyers that had originally been delivered as a speech to a group at Harvard Medical School.

As you read the comments by John H. Hinderaker of the Powerline Blog keep in mind that these sorts of frothing at the mouth attacks on Christians are considered perfectly acceptable by the leaders of academia (Harvard University), the environmentalist movement (Center for Health and the Global Environment), and the Main Stream Media (PBS).

Much has been written about Ward Churchill and his contemptible ideas lately. Many are calling for him to be fired. However little attention has been given to the extremist left wing culture of our institutes of higher education that allowed such a person to be hired and kept on staff for all these years. The same culture that approved the hiring of Ward Churchill also honors Bill Moyers with a Global Environmental Citizen Award.

Originally posted Sunday 2005-02-06 11:30 PM