Many years of deep suffering that my bride, Susan, and I have endured with our oldest son and his former drug addictions have recently born fruit that seems to be beyond our family. I wanted to let you know what has happened - all good, too! 1.
I'm now in my third year of jail ministry at Ada County Jail (through the Vineyard). 2. In the third quarter of last year I was honored to join some businessmen in initiating New Hope Community Health - a faith based corporation dedicated to helping ex-offenders by offering Christ-centered classes.
We're having an Open House at New Hope and we'd like to invite you to attend! Please click the image below for a blown up version of the invite flyer. Saw this today as I rode home.
Never before saw a tow-truck with an armored car hitched up to it. Interesting..
.. Then it got me thinking.
Must be the Legislature trying to hijack businessmen's first quarter profits, claiming them as "revenue enhancements" for the state. Hmmm..
...
Which one in this picture is Rod Stewart? Give up? Neither.
...
it's actually my long-time friend, Randy Fowler, of Boise. Many in the area know him as Kevin Spacey's older brother. Yes, that .
...
Randy dropped by the office with his love, Trish, the other day and we enjoyed a wonderful hour plus of discussion about the film industry, Vegas, Randy's great Limousine business and just the years of knowing an caring for one another. (We share the month of January for our birthdays and tend to congratulate each other each year about being so older..
.and looking so spry!!
) OK, I look older, Randy looks spry...
er hip...
er cool...
well, you get the drift. He's got a controversial website that I wouldn't suggest you visit, if you are a long-time fan of his brother..
.it'll make Kevin Spacey Fowler be more real and the Hollywood thing will fizzle for you, I think. ( ) I'm also thinking that I need Randy's tailor for future public outings, don't you?
I went to a play tonight...
.and ended up in jail.
Hang on, I'll explain in a second.
The Boise Contemporary Theater (BCT) hosts a wonderful assortment of interesting and insightful plays each year. They've done this now for 10 years. Before the '06-'07 season began, a group of now-dear friends, led by the ever-creative Troy and Sue Maben, invited my bride, Susan and me to join them with season tickets.
We did.
Now, on to the explanation: tonight's play was entitled Bust and stars the amazing actor, Lauren Weedman, as a newbie volunteer at the LA County Jail. (Ms.
Weedman is formerly of the Daily Show with John Stewart and NPR's Rewind. She brings to our little city some big-city talent.)
She plays an ever-auditioning would-be actor/dancer/entertainer, who for some strange reason decides to volunteer at the jail.
..a dark, forboding and alien culture to her.
..and to the whole audience.
Well, almost all. Possibly being one of the few folks in attendance who gets to help at our local jail, I was anticipating a sort of over-the-top portrayal of jails, cons and cops - all recycled from some 30 years of mixed up Barnie Miller-TJ Hooker-Linda Blair-Cops-Criminal Intent culture cocktails of creative license. (Ooh, what an ugly image that conjures up - let alone a lousy/mixed metaphor!
)
Again, Dennis the all-anticipating-sage was not on his game and should have been arrested for Failure to Think!
This one-person show was so wonderfully real - a mixture of well perfomed characters and believeably unbelieveable scenarios..
..yep, as outragious as some were, I have witnessed many with my own eyes in jail each Wednesday!
! It was an 80-minute visit into the odd worlds of jail and entertainment..
.juxtaposing, in the same person, a slowly maturing volunteer and a shallow and ever-diminshing would-be actor.
Though peppered occaisionally with selective F-bombs, the play was refreshing and it worked.
The characters made you willingly suspend your disbelief. I was in jail tongiht and it wasn't even Wednesday. Sad?
Dark? No way..
..really.
She showed a remarkable talent for capturing the manipulation by inmates, the oddness of volunteers (hmmm...
.), the brute strength of jailors and the very wonderfully sweet savor of the occaisional victory of individuals who just happen to be inmates. Man it was good.
And funny.
Go see it? No, not if you subscribe to throw away the key incarceration philosophy.
You'll leave perplexed. Probably, too challenged.
But if you like to grow and think, rush down there and get some tickets.
It ends Feb 3. BCT is the best kept secret in the city (to conservatives, I am sure!!
).
Matthew Clark, Founder Artistic Director for BCT, is to be sincerely commended. He and his fellow creative friends have brought to Boise a decade of brillance.
I'm glad to be a season ticket holder this year. Many more to come, I'm certain. Thanks, (Troy and Sue for introducing us to BCT.
)
I was one of 10,000 people who listened to Al Gore give his comments on the environment and our responsibilities as individuals. I went to the event anticipating sheer and utter boredom, as Mr. Gore has never been much of a public speaker.
The thought of sitting through a couple hours of his historic droning on and on and on made me look anxiously for my next dental examination.
I was as wrong as could be.
Mr.
Gore presented a witty and very informative mulit-hour information and education monologue. And quite frankly, it was great. His passion and growing stature as a statesman was unusual to watch.
His handling of his side of the debate was, as expected, very refined. He knew what he was doing. What I found especially interesting was his handle on his opposition's comments.
He knew his enemy.
Also, I've never thought of Mr. Gore as a particularly physically impressive man, but he was.
Much more confident in his older age, he dominated the stage at the Taco Bell Arena.
Did I agree with all that he said? Heavens no.
But let's examine the things that I did agree with him on:
- We believe environmental stewardship is a biblical mandate and commission from God.
- All of God’s creation is important to Him, down to the last sparrow and blade of grass.
- We have wrongfully assumed that creation exists for our own consumption.
- It is the responsibility of every true citizen to take stewardship seriously, and that includes environmental stewardship.
- This is an issue for all faiths, beginning with whatever you believe.
- This is a matter of personal responsibility- beginning at your home.
- There is no political party ownership of the environment.
10,000 people- a personal meeting? Nah. Yet you could see Mr.
Gore's sincerity and willingness to go out on the hustings. That's pretty impressive.
I hope you can see my sincerity as well.
I listened and learned. Can't beat that.
Right to Life of Idaho is dead.
Long live the Idaho pro-life movement. On a c-c-c-cold day, this past weekend, of sunshine and jubilant emotions (prepared by the fans of BSU and the University's athletic dept.), two Marches occurred.
Both started from a near-by perimeter point and both ended at the Capitol. Both were colorful and had emotions. One spoke of victory and the other of defeat.
I saw the contrast with my own eyes. On the day that 20,000 wonderful fans came out to cheer on the victorious BSU Broncos at the State Capitol, of Idaho held a March just hours earlier to commemorate the anniversary of Roe V. Wade.
About 500 attended. Short term, the pro-life march seemed to provide some in attendance with an emotional lift - a once a year cheerleading session. In the longer lens of history, it was a .
From the forced nature of posing "pro-life leadership" to the incredibly divisive speech by a self-absorbed 30-something year old youth pastor, the event was a flop. Three times a speaker spoke of how those of us in the Pro-Life community had "lost the fight, lost in the Courts, etc". Several times more than that, the main speaker, dressed inappropriately in jeans and with a slovenly appearance, divided the audience on issues of the death penalty, the war in Iraq and the way in which we spend taxpayer monies to end poverty in the US.
He edged ever so closely to "gay marriage" but seemed to shy away from torquing off everybody. And Right to Life approved of it all. What a loss of credibility.
Quite frankly, what a loss of reason to exist; but then maybe not...
.maybe they want to have a defeatist mindset..
...
you CAN "keep fighting" an issue when it is never solved, can't you...
.and the dollars keep comin' in. Hmmm.
Just hours later BSU gave us all a reason to cheer. Same streets, same day. Different mood.
Many pro-lifers in attendance, many pro-choicers too. Why the difference in the two marches? Because Victory breeds Victory.
Joy and life go with those who promote joy and life. The future is a breath of fresh air to those who see things as they are not now and believe in what can occur. The Blue and Orange of BSU Broncos was a joy to behold.
The death of Right to Life of Idaho was a sad moment to observe. It is high time for the pro-life community to tell the supposed emperor, called Right to Life, that not only does it NOT have clothes on, but it's strutting naked body makes all of us sick. The King is dead, Long live the king.
March 22nd-April 1st 2007 offers friends and family the opportunity of joining my wife, my son, and myself as we head to Israel and Egypt.
This will be my fifth trip to the Holy Land, and may very well be the best. Allow me to explain.
Over the last twelve years that I've visited Israel, there is a remarkably calm after any kind of political or military disturbance. Simply put: the people and land of Israel extend a hospitality born out of tiredness, hurt, and pain. In this case, our trip offers a tremendous opportunity to see both Israel and Egypt.
Think of that! Haven't you really wanted to see the Pyramids, the Nile River, the Jordan River, Jesus' tomb, and so much more?
Here's the down side: you've got to sign up real soon.
We have to reserve your air fare (appx. $1250 per person) and we've got to do it now. "Now" means before January 3rd.
Too soon? Maybe..
.but haven't you been waiting long enough to go to the Holy Land? (I bet you have.
)
So please visit and sign up!
P.S.
A tour like this is ideal for couples to renew their wedding vows, individuals to re-connect with their love of the Bible's geography, and all to be re-baptized in the Jordan River. Is it a rush rush rush? Yeah, but haven't some of the best surprises in your life been spontaneous?
As Donald Rumsfield's time in the Bush cabinet comes to a close there are a few things I'd like to share. As you read the entire post you'll see how Secretary Rumsfield fits into this story.
Robin Hanley is one of the most creative artists to whom I've had the honor of being introduced.
Her photographic artwork combines the images of American and Israeli soldiers, along with an amazing backdrop of Old Testament figures.
For those of us who see the value of Israel and America standing shoulder to shoulder , I would highly suggest that you visit Robin's website and purchase one of her prints. They'll ship it to you.
Should you desire to have framed artwork sent to you, please call her sales manager, Tony Ball, in Boise, ID at 208-870-6400.
As I prepare to go to Israel in March, I'm suggesting a visit to Robin's website and a phone call to Tony would be in order for those interested in going with us. As we visit military sites (as well as Holy Sites, you will get a flavor for the depth of God's love for Israel.
)
Don't worry about telling them I sent you. I have no business relationship with Robin or Tony..
.I just love her art.
Dennis
This evening at 9:38 I was informed that Rep.
Lawerence Denney was selected by the Republican members to the House of Representatives as the next Speaker of the House (thanks to my contact and for the approval to post this.)
Susan and I have known Lawerence Denney for over 15 years. He and I were at each others sides on some of the toughest conservative issues in Idaho.
This gentle giant of a man is soft spoken with strong truth. Lawerence Denney endorsed me in my recent race for State Senate. He bucked the tide and endorsed my candidacy against a GOP incumbent, when others, at the State Capitol who said they were my friends and supporters, couldn't find the political will.
I am very proud to call Lawerence Denney my friend and supporter. He is a farmer/businessman from Midvale with a beautiful wife and a wonderful family.
Here's my call on the implications of his Speakership: there will be no more power hungry Rino centered bate-and-switches in public policy.
My call is that this man of integrity will bring trust and respect back into the Speaker's office.
You won't ever hear of him threatening Legislators. You will only see him honoring Legislators.
I have been at the Legislature now under four Speakers. Lawerence Denney is the top drawer, the best of the bunch. His appointed Chairmanships to the committees in the House will be fair and balanced.
In many ways he will bring balance to the House just as has led the Senate GOP with honor (Senator Geddes has been forced to play the part of a cat rancher, needfully hurting Senators- unnecessarily if they would pretend they were actual Republicans.)
Representative Denney has real Republicans in his chamber. Most of the Rinos were thinned out from the herd this past election.
Because of that, Lawerence Denney is the conservative Speaker of this House, and not the other fella.
In summery: woohoo!
Haven't seen Borat yet, but plan to - full review to follow soon.
(click on link to left to see article) seems to truly miss Cohen's main point: humor has a way of nailing issues down flat, when raw facts and debate eludes the essence of the truth...
or complicates it. As I prepare to take another group to Israel (and Egypt, this time), I am reminded of just how anti-Semitic Europe (and some parts of the US) have allowed themselves to become. The new anti-Semite is Israel-focused (country verses the people), lying to himself that such proximity to hatred of a country is different than individual Jewish people in the world.
(One feeds the other.) That is why Harry Truman signed-off on the US support of Israel in 1948. He knew then what we pretend NOT to know today.
All of our leaders that have supported Israel since 1948 have supported a working democracy in the Middle East, and whether or not you agree with everything that country is doing; it [Israel] is a better democracy than most any other country on the continents around them. Heading west, driving into the sun, Stones fans everywhere - closest Ruby Tuesday is in SLC, but I will get me some Satisfaction tonight.
a couple folks who have been fans for quite a while.
..
Inside #2 - stage is ready, Mick's extended stage looks good.
Drums are doing a nice practice thump
6:40ish, hunkered down by the stage, well fed, 25 feet from the stage. Can see the strings on the column of at-ready guitars. The concert goers?
mixed bag, but a lot of 60's era - I'm right at home. But I also think back to another time I was here at the Idaho Center - Promise Keepers, worshiping God - good times!
7:05 front band not on yet.
..Stones at about 8:15 I guess.
Tie-dye everywhere
Merch stuff 7:40 front band from Houston, Blue October, is rocking. 8:00 lights are going down..
.is it time? Not yet, but it is close.
You are a rock star means something big. Deep thoughts before the Stones come out - #1) I keep going back to the crowd - speaker - response thing and I see why so many from the last 40 years find church a distant 2nd place to this type of worship #2) if the style of culture moves, why do conservatives wish not to move forward? Probably fearful, hmmm.
..
8:37 over 11,000 people here.
All eyes on a bunch of 60+ year old guys. (I suppose the 60's has a new meaning..
.ha) Want to also introduce you to 2 or our new friends, Jason and Rachel -
9:40 Mick Jagger is about 160 pounds and in great shape. 3 songs so far and he is amping up like a 20 year old.
The songs are form 40 years ago, but the energy is today...
quite amazing. Right now he's actually pronouncing Boise's name correctly! (good advance team)
Mick on stage
10:00 Jagger singing to us, waving to folks young and old.My son, Colin, and I are amazed at the 'connection' these guys have with EVERYONE. Why? Your thoughts?
The scent of weed is wafting over the place like a sensory return to the 70's. After seeing its impact on folks I love, I cringe
The only time tonight when the microphone was quiet.
Mick Jagger brought up BSU's football team and he knew we are 10-0.
Again, amazing advance team work.
10:15 Sitting here we are enjoying the show and sharing in the company..
. the question is where really is the heart of a nation? Music?
ok - where else?
10:22 and the place is still rockin. Setting aside conservative taste, why would 11,000 folks not care a whit about the time?
Joy. Yep, LOTS!
The Stones' songs are shared by at least 3 generations.
It's a common secular hymnal, of sorts.
Keith Richards is solo singing and he clearly likes this bluesy piece with Ron Wood playing slide guitar. He's a melancholy man.
Sad face up close. Do you wonder?
10:35 it's late and the stage has moved to the center of the Idaho Center.
The crowd has gotten its second wind.
10:54 Sympathy for the Devil is both an intriguing and controversial song. 'Please to meet you, hope you guess my name'.
.. the Stones know he's there, but the fans?
11:50 The last hour of the concert went fast. All the great oldies for all the great oldies. One huge encore with Brown Sugar and Satisfaction.
Everyone singing. The flab is in the audience, not on the stage (that Super Bowl gig didn't show how thin these guys really are). Idaho has now hosted The Rolling Stones!
I am the son of William E. Mansfield --- a WWII-era Navy Veteran, who followed that up by service in the Army Air Corps (becoming the Air Force) in Korea. He then retired in the middle of Vietnam, at the highest NCO rank in the US Air Force - Chief Master Sergeant.
My brothers and I all served in the military, in one branch or the other. My youngest brother Ken, (a nurse by occupation), just re-joined the Army Reserve at age 43 and will be a Drill Instructor, training new recruits.
My mom, Virginia Maguire Mansfield, was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps in WWII, before she married my dad.
Two of my sisters married men who served as officers in the military. Two sisters produced sons who are now entering the service.
I do not understand the thinking behind the facts of this article.
Please let me know your thoughts. Maybe I am not elite enough..
...
Dennis
--------------------------------------
Unexcused Absence
Why Don't Elite Americans Serve?
(from Breakpoint)
November 10, 2006
When the son of John McCain announced he was joining the Marines a few
months ago, it made headlines across the country -- not only because his
father was famous, but also because his decision was so unusual.
Few sons of senators serve in the military these days, nor -- with few exceptions -- do the sons of congressmen or presidents or governors, or NEW YORK TIMES editors.
They're too busy doing what they consider more important things -- like attending Yale, or running their father's company.
And yet, these are often the very same people who one day are going to lead
our country. This situation is not only inherently unfair, but also deeply
dangerous.
Whether you're left, right; have tusks attached to the front of your pickup or hang ja shoes from the rearview mirror in your prius - this story is for you!
on the first section is a keeper. Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel team up together to agree that term limits are needed today.
The article starts out with the editor asking both guys; "Beyond Election Day, how can we bring change to Washington?" To cut to the chase - Term Limits. I fought to retain term limits in Idaho and lost to the big power folks.
I still believe in the concept. Read USA Today's balanced look.
Maybe in 10-20-50-100 years we'll take term limits away - maybe not.
Right now with the real problems facing our country - debt, corruption (moral and other kinds), social security, medicare medicaid costs going stratospheric we need something drastic. Cal Bob lay it out simply and easy; I can understand and you can understand. Some of you may "feel" disenchanted coming up to this election - don't.
Go vote next Tuesday and then let's see real change in the coming years. After you read this article please comment back with your views and ideas on how to bring term limits to the forefront of the political system. If after reading this article you think term limits is not an answer (I'm not naive to think that is an end-all solution) let me know.
I'd like to see this issue with a fresh perspective.
With Dennis away this week I wonder how much I [ ] can tweak things around here..
.
I know that title sounds like a tag line for search or category listing, but hey we're coming into the home stretch of 2006. What do you want to accomplish in the remaining days before you throw together your 2007 goals-resolutions?
Sit down with friends, family and get down to business. Let's not wait till December 30, 2006 to start sketching out your plans. I sat down October 2005 and decided before I turned 40 - yeah 40, I wanted to be at or under 200lbs.
Well I did it by October 2006! My family and friends thought I was pretty stupid (they really do love me) to start a diet before the holidays. But you see I didn't start a diet - I decided to make a life change and to 7734 (go dig out your old Ti and figure out that one) with all around me!
Ok under our New Media post we talked about Prop 2. We've found some new information and we wanted to update things. Check out this , other than the slightly annoying opening music, you will find some more info on things related to the support of Prop 2 in Idaho.
Whether you agree or disagree about Prop 2 you need to be informed before you go to the booth to vote soon. Please read and make sure you understand everything. The has done an amazing job of collecting information.
As of now the famous Centenial Baptist Church ad has been removed from the airwaves, whether the confusion around it has cleared is still tbd. The facts are out there, but not easy to dig up. I hope in the future people use their websites in a way to dispel the potential of confusion.
It is handy to be able to verify and validate all the positions. As we can, we will try to make sure that any and all websites are linked here in our articles as best we can.
You've got to give it to state-wide candidate .
..she is a Democrat running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Idaho and she is standing up fully as a liberal Democrat, not pretending to be an Idaho conservative or pro-family educator.
She has embraced her liberalism publicly. Many will say, "Good for her". Let's look at it for a minute.
She's not some RINO, but a full-on Democrat -- witness this: yesterday Ms. Jones stated in an editorial meeting that she is now an opponent to HJR 2 (the Marriage Amendment). The LDS and Evangelical communities may well turn their backs on her, en mass.
The Catholic community, too.
Yet maybe none of that matters.
Possibly Ms.
Jones has enough liberal folks supporting her that it mattered more to her to come out against traditional marriage in Idaho and still believe the parents (so united by that type of traditional marriage) will hand their children over to her, come November.
Hmmm..
..it's a gamble, but could it be a fool's jackpot?
has come out in support of marriage and the the amendment from the moment it was presented.
Right up front, there is a HUGE difference between the two candidates. Luna seems like a better "gambler" to me.
...
because it isn't a gamble. It's just life..
.and it works. Hard to beat those odds.
You tell me, am I off base? Who'd have thought a right-wing conservative Christian would be speaking out on this issue? Me, that's who -- you know why?
Because I spent a lion's share of the 80's planting millions of square feet of re-vegetated land, hyrdoseeding countless acres of burn areas and working with the green industry to be better stewards of the land. There are many folks who care and realize that God's creation is our responsibility.
Your thoughts?
It’s Saturday morning (6:45 am. plus) and I’m at KIDO again for a ”candidate morning”. This time around it’s Andy Hedden-Nicely, founder of the United Party, as he runs for US Congress in Idaho’s 1st District.
Andy founded the Boise Weekly in 1993. He and I debated weekly on CBS/KBCI TV for the past 3 years during their news hour. He’s an articulate man, a passionate person.
About ready to go on…Greg Smith just showed up, Doug McConaughey is again leading the charge. No other legislators, no other candidates. No attorneys….
.oh my gosh this is either going to be interesting and explosive, or boring…..
no second candidate…no debate.
Let’s see what happens. We are on the air.
Here's an email that came to us about something the campaign has admitted to.
Not sure about the legality of what they did, but if I were Larry Grant, I'd sack the unethical staffer that was trying to be cute. Just days after posting my own comments on the three candidates (along with their websites) this pops up its ugly head.
For those of us in the blog world (or who live with email as a big part of our life), the initial action by Larry's team of stealing the addresses simply stinks. Kudos for admitting it. Applause will follow for firing the person(s).
Now is someone going to...
.. git 'er done?
Or not...
..
What do you think?
Helen, John, Helen's daughter Meg, my wife Susan and I worked together for years after we founded the Idaho Family Forum in 1990. Our families have lived down the street from one another for the last eight years.
T he news of her death leaves me saddened.
..and yet hope-filled.
Helen's , like mine, is anchored in the resurrection of Christ. She and I worked together, laughed together and prayed together. The reality of heaven was always on her horizon.
Today it is a part of her life.
When I ran for U.S.
Congress in '00 Helen was gracious enough to allow television and radio commercials that spoke of our common beliefs. Chief among those beliefs is the truth that This life will soon be passed and only what's done for Christ will last .
Helen's life is an example of focused love, committed principle, and a firm belief in a loving God.
Today, Helen Chenoweth Hage has entered in to heaven, and heard the words...
Well done, my good and faithful servant, be thou at rest .
The first Sunday of October, 1991, the pro-life community in Idaho held its first Life Chain. 15 years later the culture has changed even more.
In '91 was 18 years old, and roughly 20 million children had, had their lives in the womb interrupted (The term normally is "terminated"-but that's not true. Termination of an a ir flight happens when you land safely. Termination of a train trip occurs when the train pulls into the terminal.
). In 2006 we stand at the threshold of over 50 million human beings who have lost their life in abortion clinics, or hospitals.
If the pro-choice people are correct, we've only had 50 million minor operations-as if they were all liposuction or appendix related.
If the pro-life people are correct, our nation has killed almost 10 times the amount of humans extinguished in the Holocaust.
From my point of view, I fear greatly that the pro-life people may be accurate. What do you think?
Here are some pics of a quiet afternoon with 150 volunteers on a strategic business corner-each holding a sign reflecting their pro-life beliefs. On this great issue can there really be compromise? If you are truly open to considering the pro-life position please check out .
Hanging out this morning down at KIDO studios...
things are getting ready for the debate. Here's the; ready for prime time players : Bill Sali, Larry Grant, Greg Smith, Doug McConaughey, Kate Kelly (legislator - Democrat) and a cast of thousands..
.ok 5 or 6.
Just a few minutes before we start.
TSA was brought in to wand the candidates. Drumsticks fell out of Sali's pockets, Grant gave up a fountain pen, Smith coughed up a mathematical matrix, McConaughey was clean. They never wanded me, even though I wanted them too.
.. a little too much.
We're 'bout ready to start.
Intro - bunch of JD's attorneys and 1 DJ. They're now contrasting each other's views.
The format's pretty interesting - each person gets to ask anyone in the room any questions...
so it's an open debate. Oh btw it includes candidates ;)
McConaughey is a mediator in his other job, so it seems rather appropriate. Both are casually dressed,; Grant and Sali shook hands.
Here's a pic before going on air.
Here's something to read while you are deciding what film to watch this weekend in the movie theaters: Robert Knight is one of the finest thinkers in the US o n cultural affairs. His article on the new low-budget film, Facing the Giants, is a good one.
Bob has well-served American families over the years as an editor at the , a key leader and thinker with Gary Bauer at the the Family Research Council, as the Cultural and Family Institute Director at Concerned Women for America (Mrs. Tim Lahaye's organization - husband is the author of the Left Behind mega-success books)..
...
and now Bob is heading the new Institute on Culture and the Media (ICM) at the in Alexandria, Virginia,. MRC is a sister organization of the , founded by Brent Bozell. I headed up PTC for a brief stint in 2004.
PTC suffered at that time from an overdose of neo-conservativism and an imbalance of folks of faith. MRC seems to be leading the way of retouching the heart of America. Their hiring of Knight is a promising start.
I consider his voice on family issue to be vox populi...
..your thoughts?
Just finished Edmund Morris' - after also having finished Morris' (which followed Morris' approved biography on Reagan entitled ). That's a glut of Morris-obelia, or is it?
Edmund Morris is one of the premier authors of the last 30 years- all the more considering he's only written these three books, the first of which won him the .
The Reagan link to Roosevelt that allowed Morris to become the first in-house White House biographer was that Reagan loved Teddy's bold and authoritative leadership.
Contemporary politicos often cite T.R.
as an example of strong, conservative leadership- the type that loses in the "arena", marred with blood and grime- and regains his or her footing in order to fight on in the current battle (I may be one of the chief culprits of this historical thievery). But was he conservative?
Theodore Roosevelt was a raging liberal with a guilty conscience for having been born rich.
His early life was a series of theatrical posings that would make proud. The terrible death of his mother and wife on the same day understandably gave him reason to step away from his life. The problem was.
..he had a newborn daughter and he dumped baby Alice on his sister.
Father and daughter never bonded. Conservative, pro family? Hmmm.
..
His entire political career had nothing to do with fiscal conservativism.
He spent tax dollars like a on leave, and personally never understood finance (his second wife said he was an "idiot" in dealing with money and would only give him $20 per week spending money).
And let's face it, conservative Presidents had never used an Executive Order to circumvent the Constitutional balance of powers regarding the initiation of National Parks. He did it and didn't blink twice.
The real proof of the pudding is when his Presidency was over and he was a private citizen for four years. A conservative out of office would have sought personal and private means of enacting social change- not Roosevelt. He ran again for office, was deprived the GOP nomination, and stormed out of the convention saying he was now the founder of the "Progressive Party" (for those from Rio Linda or , that means liberal).
So, don't be thinking that Teddy Roosevelt, as he smiles down from is the benevolent 20th century stone faced statue of conservetivism. Rather, be honest about him and honest about yourself, acknowledging that you both may be liberals (" ").
Kind of makes you fully aware why so many "Republican" Senators and Legislators at Idaho's State Capitol enshrine Teddy as their beau ideal.
Was my salted index finger suitably burrowed deep enough into your cornea and retina on this? Next stop, Churchill was a philosophical politician of-the-evening. Wanna bet?
Went to the concert here in Boise a night or so ago. The arena was sold out. Elton John did not let the audience down!
Great show. My bride, Susan, remembers Elton's concert from the 70's as "one of the best" she ever attended..
.(and she was a frequent Elvis concert attendee in Vegas..
.even being invited and going to his penthouse to be with him, his friends and family (but that's another story for another time). She and I attended the concert together to see if Elton John "still had it"!
Elton John often publicly represents many of the very things that are counter to what I have spent my adult political life defending...
.his recent homosexual "marriage" is a case in point. During the concert I was able to glimpse a side of him that surprised me.
Many of his new songs are reflective tunes about eternity, death and living well with those you love - certainly written from a perspective t hat may differ from my background. Or does it? Each of us craves love.
..from the time we were babies and toddlers.
..teens too.
..and then we begin living life as adults.
Pain hits us, hurts surround us and glimpses of love too infrequently invade our protected space. Without a handle on we all end up seeking what turns out to be counterfeit love and treat it as truth. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.
...
my guess is that it's a desire to be loved and appreciated - the sex aspect is where the counterfeit bills are exchanged. Elton surely was appreciated in Boise..
.and he is loved across the world. So, as I looked at his truly sincere smiles of appreciation throughout the concert and at one time, saw him reach through the crowd to a severely disabled teen (who was being held by his 50-ish dad - as father and son "danced" together), I saw true love that Elton John released to them.
..and it was beautiful.
Publicity stunt? Nah. May I learn to exhibit that type of love, refocusing the truth of biblical love from God's point of view towards people.
..not against people.
Who makes the call and who gets to choose? Who gets to win and who gets to lose? Listening to RelientK's Apathetic EP this post is sorta like a commercial break from the normal Dennis stuff ;) Love ya man and thanks for the mic!
Earthquake in Hong Kong recently, off the west coast of Florida also recently - not normal places, as described by scientists and those who experienced them
now I know what Jesus said about stuff, so I'm aware that the world can't see it coming; Now another observation - Microsoft is trying something called Zune. M$ partnered with MTV and MTV's entertainment behemoth, can't even remember all the connected companies, and called it Urge it is growing in popularity, will Zune? If you go to you'll see a really cute video using a song called "The Second Coming of the Monkey God".
Now I was pulled in by that vid and music. I'll check out Ashtar Command later when I have a moment.
What is really intriguing to me is that might be Microsoft's Hammer (think ) that finally unseats Apple's singular dominance of the portable mp3/video player market.
So if "Brother Bill" is Thor does that make "Uncle Steve" Loki? Then we'll see Apple fight back and the Coke-Pepsi war will rage on, the Ying-Yang kinda thing that makes capitalism so great. But wait - I don't believe what the world calls Ying-Yang, equal duality, etc.
- but wait here we're not talking about good and evil, God and satan - we're just talking about some stupid mp3 player that you can carry around and look hip, right?
On we find that M$ is looking to create "connected entertainment". Now if I read this right; seeing the proverbial , and if M$ succeeds we'll see the next evolution of the MySpace phenomenon.
Now I remember when I first signed up on MySpace almost 3 years ago, a non-profit - , I didn't get it. I still sometimes wonder if I "get it". Oh I read and write, communicate, laugh and listen to music.
MySpace is great, especially when you're reading what your 14 year old comments on his - now if you need an aspirin after reading that I can help you with MySpace - drop me a line at info at audioyarn.com. And if you want to continue kicking these thoughts around click Comment below and be watching.
Connected Entertainment might be a big deal, then again I'm enthralled with my (actually my wife's) new MacBookPro, loving Parallels on Mac running XP/Vista, Urge is way cool, Zune looks cooler; iPod-iTunes-iTV-iJustdontknow; maybe I'll go hop on my ScottTrade and lay down a little bit on MSFT and AAPL, watch the wheel spin and let you know later how I make out. What is it ? There have been a lot of its in the past and many quotes like it's the economy stupid and many others.
For this website the it for now is an attempt in fusing politics, culture, business, personality, religion, you and me.
No longer will there be a perceived hidden agenda - you'll get the straight scoop right here. There has never been a hidden agenda in my life; I like to lay myself right out there.
Along with some friends there is a plan to bring many thoughts and plans to help businesses succeed, to help people reach their true potential and see a fusion of different perspectives become a stronger entity.
You'll see video, documents to download, links to other sites and people that speak into this dream - hang on hope you like it !
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