Category: Politics

Voters take control of the debate

I didn’t get a chance to watch it last night – I even forgot to DVR it – but according to CNet, the CNN/YouTube DNC debate went over well last night.
CNet said the candidates dodged a number of questions and Anderson Cooper failed to pressure them to answer but overall the debate appeared to be a success.
Read the full story.
NPR also has a story on All Things Considered.

Bush signs exec order against torture

From NPR:

President Bush has signed an executive order setting new rules for holding and questioning suspects in the war on terror.
The order is part of the administration’s continuing response to court rulings that threw out earlier procedures for handling detainees whom the Bush administration regarded as enemy combatants.

Cheney takes command of the Oval Office


You may not have known this – I didn’t – but VPOTUS Dick Cheney took over the powers of the US Presidency over the weekend for 2 1/2 hours.
Luckily no one was bombed while President George W. Bush was under sedation for a routine medical procedure (colonoscopy I think).
Cheney spent his time as POTUS in the small bayside town of St. Michaels, Md.
NPR has a great story on the changing of guard early Saturday morning.
This is the second time Cheney has assumed the role of President. The first was on June 29, 2002.
The only other VPOTUS to do so was George H. W. Bush under Ronald Reagan’s term as POTUS.
Bush Sr. took the reigns from Reagan on July 13, 1985 when President Ronald Reagan underwent surgery to remove polyps from his colon.
Oh and don’t forget – Democratic President Josiah Bartlett gave up control of the Oval Office to Republican Speaker of the House Glen Allen Walken during the first few episodes of season five of The West Wing. Bartlett relived himself of power to the opposing party after his daughter was kidnapped and his VP had resigned due to an affair had while in office.

Highland Park gives presidential money

Highland Park smack dab in the middle of Dallas has given the most money per Texas zip code to presidential candidates this year.
Surprised?
Here’s how HP’s funds stack up:

Rudolph W. Giuliani (R) $166,975
John Edwards (D) $107,474
Mitt Romney (R) $83,300
Barack Obama (D) $78,300
John McCain (R) $77,600
Hillary Clinton (D) $47,600
Bill Richardson (D) $17,300
Ron Paul (R) $14,350
Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D) $10,770
Tom Tancredo (R) $4,600
Christopher J. Dodd (D) $2,100
Mike Huckabee (R) $2,000
Sam Brownback (R) $1,250
Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D) $1,000

In the Dallas area Giuliani has received $1,276,975.
Huckabee has received $79,300 and placed 9th on the local list, which looks to be 4th out of GOP candidates.

So far Rudy Giuliani is the top money getter in the state as well with $3,446,764 total.
Huckabee comes in 9th with $178,949 or 5th out of GOP candidates. Not bad for someone who’s supposedly not ranked in the top tier. Ron Paul came in 4th with $337,868.
Find out more

Locally, in the Waxahachie 75165 zip code, John Edwards and Barack Obama are the only candidates who have officially received money (more than $100 per donation) for this year’s campaign. Edwards has received $5,200, compared to Obama with $1,755.

Nationally, Huckabee is 8th in money received with $765,873 and $437,169 on hand, in addition to $31,045 in debts. First place GOP money raiser Mitt Romney has raised $20,997,715 but only has $12,121,554 on hand and has debt of $8,945,028.

Praise God for his grace, mercy and protection

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Received an update on Kathryn from Matt and her mom late last night…

PRAISE THE LORD AND HALLELUJAH!!!
I hope all of you’ve heard the miraculous way in which the Lord answered our prayers for Kathryn and the Buckner team. Ron and I have been away from our email most of the day and are just now able to send our tremendous thanks to you for your prayers. Please pass it on to others who were also praying.
Please continue to pray for the team, for one-on-one conversations with the kids, and for Kathryn’s arm and wrist that has been hurting since she arrived in Russia. Your prayers are part of the way in which GOD IS WORKING! Please keep it up.
For those who may not have heard, here’s a brief account of the results:
The government officials came out and had a great conversation with one of the Buckner staff members. The official apologized for everything and the caregiver was fired. The Buckner team had a really great day with the kids. Keep praying for this time for the team to present God’s love and salvation to these precious children. Please also keep praying for SVETLANA’s salvation, the caregiver who was fired.

“Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of thy redeeming love.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above!”

Wow. I can’t even read the lyrics of that hymn now without tearing up.
What great words of encouragement and grace and mercy.