Outsourcing parenting...laugh if you can!

Report: Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing Child Care Overseas

How Hillary looks upon a crook...and looks at an American hero

Telling.

Adult views on social issues - not exactly encouraging

In August, Harris Interactive conducted a nationwide survey to glean adults' views on eight different social issues. Note the following results:

• Almost two-thirds (64%) support the death penalty, with 19 percent opposing and 12 percent saying that they neither support nor oppose.
• Fifty-seven percent of U.S. adults support research into embryonic stem cells, with 19 percent opposing and 15 percent indicating neither support nor opposition.
• Fifty-six percent support separation of church and state. Again, one in five (19%) oppose and 17 percent are neutral.
• Just over half (52%) support abortion rights, with almost three in ten (29%) saying they oppose and 15 percent mentioning that they neither support nor oppose.
• Gay rights are supported by 40 percent, with one-third (33%) opposing and 22 percent saying neither.
• Physician-assisted suicide is supported by 39 percent and opposed by 31 percent. One in five (21%) neither supports nor opposes.
• Thirty-six percent support affirmative action, though three in ten (29%) oppose the issue. A significant quarter (24%) doesn't oppose or support.
• Same sex marriage is the only issue where the opposition is higher than support. A plurality (46%) says they oppose and 31 percent indicate support. Another one in five (19%) neither oppose nor support.

From the Pastor's Weekly Briefing.

Not sure it is much of a bragging point, but it is something

The number of inmates in adult correctional facilities in the United States has topped two million for the first time, but in a reversal from 2000, more Americans now live in college dormitories than in prisons, according to the Census Bureau.

Consider:

o Some 2.3 million Americans live in college and university dormitories compared with 2.1 million in adult correctional institutions.

o The number of state and federal prisoners in 2006 was more than double the prison population in 1990 and up slightly from nearly 2 million in 2000.

o Women accounted for 10 percent of the inmates in 2006, compared with 8 percent in 1990.

Among people living in group quarters:

o Whites were almost twice as likely to be living in a dormitory as in prison.

o Asians were nine times more likely to be in a college dorm than in prison.

o Blacks and Hispanics were about three times more likely to be imprisoned than living in a dormitory.

However, while black male prisoners outnumber black men living in college dorms, more young black men (18- to 24-year-olds) are enrolled college:

o In 2003, according to Justice Department figures, 193,000 black college-age men were in prison.

o While 132,000 black college-age men were living on campus, an additional 400,000 or so were attending college but living someplace else.

Source: Sam Roberts, "College Dwellers Outnumber the Imprisoned," New York Times, September 27, 2007.

For text:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/us/27census.html

For more on Social Issues:

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/?Article_Category=28

Josiah Bunting of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute shares his reading list

Asked Bunting for his reading list to get us beefed up on our civic knowledge:

George Washington by James Flexner
History of the American People by Paul Johnson
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson--
The Puritan Heritage by Bernard Bailyn
Thomas Jefferson by Dumas Malone
Alexander Hamilton by Ronald Chernow
The American Revolution by Forest McDonald
John Adams
1776 by David McCullough

I have read Flexner, Johnson and McCullough. All good.

Take this test to see which prez candidates you most resonate with

Might surprise you. Didn't surprise me. Try it.

American Civics Test

Take it, and compare your score with the disaster that is American education.

Harvard educated

"As yesterday's positive report card shows, childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured," he said. Ouch.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus sounds good

...but especially so in front of an abortion clinic, where we sang it this morning. Right there in front of the "gates of Hell."

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

Values Voter Debate, in case you missed it

The First Ever Values Voter Presidential Debate Straw Poll, held last night at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, declared Governor Mike Huckabee as the pro-family winner. Read the Press Release and view the Poll Results.

Click Here to watch the replay of the Values Voter Presidential Debate held at Broward Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Monday, September 17, 2007.

Sally Fields speaks for the Moms of the world?

Michelle Malkin doesn't think so.

In the real world, not all women think with their wombs instead of their brains. In the real world, you can’t just give evil a “time-out.” Sally Field fancies herself the mother of all spokesmothers. To which I say, in my most maternally combative tone: Speak for your own bleepin’ self, sister.

11%

Wow. Far lower than even Bush. This Congress has major image problems

Pro-lifers to protest at Dem convention

As it should be.

O.J. Endorses...

Interesting viewing, I guess.

Provocative stuff - "What WE think about abortion...by the women who've had them

Read and comment. One small comment:

"I don't feel guilty, and I justify it by saying to myself that I only have one life and I can't give up my own happiness and dreams for the sake of a baby."

Can't give up my OWN happiness or dreams for a baby. How Western. How us. How sad.

NFL Cruelty to Children vs. NFL Cruelty to Dogs

Someone on the radio show yesterday wanted to take up for the dogs. Sigh. Michael Medved.

Quarterback Michael Vick may never play again after pleading guilty to a dog-fighting charge, but Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry signed a $25 million contract earlier this year—despite his record as a dead-beat dad with nine out-of-wedlock children with nine different women. At least seven of the mothers went to court to get 28-year-old Henry to help support his off-spring—even as he spent $100,000 on a new car and $146,000 on jewelry for himself. Even if he obeys court orders to send money, the long-term damage to society remains severe: children growing up in fatherless households face innumerable emotional, educational, and even criminal problems. America will only begin to make progress against the plague of out-of-wedlock birth when celebrity skunks like Travis Henry fall from their privileged positions and, as columnist DeWayne Wickham rightly demands, the NFL takes cruel treatment of children at least as seriously as horrible abuse of dogs.

Remembering 9-11

Petraeus powerpoints from Capitol Hill today

Interesting.

MoveOn.org frustrating even Dems

So...go for it MoveOn!

The ad, running in Monday's edition of the New York Times, shows a picture of Petraeus. Bold letters spell out "General Petraeus or General Betray us?"

Moveon.org Political Action, which paid for the ad, accuses Petraeus of "cooking the books for the White House" on progress being made in Iraq and calls him "a military man constantly at war with the facts."

White House spokesman Tony Snow called the ad, running the same day the general testified before Congress about Iraq, a "boorish, childish, unworthy attack."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed frustration Monday with the ad.

Hey, we are all sinners. Get over it.

John Pitney on moral questions at the presidential debate last eve.

Early in the debate, there was a discussion of Larry Craig. Toward the end, a college student asked Rudy Giuliani whether his personal life sets a good example. Together, these two moments suggest a question that will haunt Republican candidates for all levels of politics. In light of Craig, Vitter, and God-only-knows-who’s-next, some voters will ask: “How can Republicans preach about moral issues when so many of you are moral menaces?”

It’s a tough question, but Republicans could turn it around in support of conservative principle. Here’s one way to answer: “Everybody on this earth is flawed. That applies to members of my party. It certainly applies to me. And precisely because we’re imperfect, we need policies that support the better angels of our nature. Schools should teach about virtue. Children should have the chance to pray if they wish. And couples should have every encouragement to choose life.

“That’s what our party stands for, and I’m proud of it.”

“The question isn’t whether the messenger is faultless. It’s whether the message is right.”

This way, Republicans could stand firm without inviting charges of moral arrogance and hypocrisy. And the acknowledgment of human imperfection has the added advantage of being true.

So, the question is - is this good enough perspective for you Republican cheerleaders out there?

Thompson - on the campaign trail

Not exactly the campaign trail that his GOP brethren wanted him on last eve, but still...

His campaign website.

On Jay Leno:

Single issue voter?

Had a friend who was at a RudyGiuliani fundraiser (he was present but had not given any $).

He was out on the front porch with a number of Republicans talking about the candidacy when my friend wondered aloud how anyone could possibly vote for someone who is pro-abortion.

A couple of them said, of course, that there was no way in this day and age you could be a single-issue voter.

My friend's retort: "If Giuliani was right on all the issues but the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan I bet you would be a single issue voter."

Ah-hem!

What do you think of Fred Thompson? His first ad...