Charmaine sends this along,

As we prepare for an Obama Administration...

As we look toward celebrating the New Year on Wednesday night, my email box is filling up with end-of-year appeals, and I know yours is too.

Let me then be plain in telling you how much we appreciate your partnership with AUL this past year and as we head into the new one.

Many people have been asking me how things stand, and what our strategy will be, with an incoming presidential administration that has taken such a radical stance supporting abortion. The short answer: I am, frankly, heartened by the tremendous response of our AUL supporters each time we've asked you to stand for life.

First, we saw the remarkable response to AUL Action's FightFOCA petition. Pro-lifers are not giving in!

The signatures have continued rising, even over the Christmas
holiday, and now stand at over 350,000!

If you haven't signed yet, take a minute and add your voice at: www.FightFOCA.com.

I am also heartened by the response of AUL supporters to the 55-page Wish List pro-abortion forces sent to President-elect Obama. We asked you to enter comments on the document and now there are nearly 3,000 comments, mostly pro-life, on the site.

You can read them here: http://change.gov/open_government/entry/advancing_reproductive_rights_and_health_in_a_new_administration.

US News and World Report noted the surge in comments and observed that:

(http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2008/12/23/pro-lifers-inundate-obama-website-with-comments.html)

That's encouraging!

Of course, a realist must acknowledge that no one really knows what the ground game will look like once we begin confronting an administration so radical that its leader, President-elect Obama, could not bring himself to vote in favor of protecting babies born alive after an abortion. And he is unwaveringly supported by the current leader of the world's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood and its President Cecile Richards, who was the deputy chief of staff to the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi only three years ago.

Even so -- even so! -- I remain hopeful. I have on my fireplace mantle a copy of the classic work, Streams in the Desert, which belonged to my grandparents. The entry to be read each January 6th, addresses the perennial question of uncertainty and recounts the example of the self-opening gate:

There is a self-opening gate which is sometimes used in country roads. It stands fast and firm across the road as a traveler approaches it. If he stops before he gets to it, it will not open. But if he will drive right at it, his wagon wheels press the springs below the roadway, and the gate swings back to let him through. He must push right on at the closed gate, or it will continue to be closed.

Then the author, Lettie Cowman, sums up by saying, "This illustrates the way to pass every barrier on the road of duty."

Duty is an old-fashioned word, rarely heard today. But the AUL team believes that it is indeed our duty, and a high calling, to stand against those who would promote the Culture of Death with every last resource that God grants us, regardless of the barriers that block the road ahead.

We will pray for wisdom, direction, and discernment. And then, we intend to run straight at the gate.

These are difficult times. I've talked with so many of you recently who have told me that you are standing with us, despite financial challenges. We are humbled -- and emboldened -- by your commitment.

Thank you for your faithful support which enables us to "press on and step out boldly."

Yours for life,

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Americans United for Life

PS: If you haven't yet made an end-of-year contribution, please do so today!

"As thou goest, step by step, I will open up the way. . ."

Proverbs 4:12 (Hebrew translation)

Join Fight FOCA

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Don't Drink the King's Wine, has AUL President's Encouragement Heading Into The New Year

Visit The Reagan Conservatives Blog.

See Beltway Blips.

Prayer Request for Our Nation!!! FOCA Act to be signed by President Obama :(

Why not Serve the Lord

Make a comment on Obama's web-site concerning FOCA and the 55 page pro-abortion mandate posted there....

See TruthSeekers

Thank you to Pro-Life Blogs, AUL President's Encouraging Anecdote Heading Into The New Year

Posted at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Short Answer: No.

"...for better or worse,
richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health..."

Excerpt from traditional marriage vows.

True.

"As long as you have your health, you have everything."

HJ Cohen, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

False.

Health should not be a variable in a person or a couple's happiness. Marriage vows remove health as an excuse.

But our base pop-culture holds that health is man's noblest possession. And Dr. Cohen's conclusion, like most 'research' coming from the academy, is wrong.

Without an eternal perspective, modern man worships the body, and its health. If one's health goes then all is lost: there is nothing worthy to worship.

Life is Good(R) only if your health is good.

If your health is not good then all promises are off and you have nothing.

No health = Nothing.

So where does that leave us when the doctor tells us our health is gone?

The best sermon Your Business Blogger(R) ever heard on health was given by David Wayne. As only an insightful Five-Point Calvinist could reason and deliver.

Charmaine and I found Pastor Wayne on the internets. Alert Readers know Wayne's writing through his work at The Jolly Blogger. We first bookmarked Jolly Blogger almost four years ago and then booked over to his church, which happened to be within Sunday commuting distance when we lived in Maryland.

His theme was that happiness is not conditional on health and indeed we do not have a 'right to happiness' or a 'right to health.'

Our duty is not that our life should be of pleasure,. . .but does our life please our Creator.

Not are we happy with life.

But is our God happy with us.

(With no God, modern men have only themselves to please.)

The Follower of Jesus has an eternal perspective beyond this celestial orb.

And one can still have all that is worth having.

If we have health. Or not.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

David Wayne has cancer. Stage four. Liver.

Please pray for The Jolly Blogger.

Lookin' for Laughs in All the Right Places

Blogger Meetup in Your Nation's Capital

Trust, But Verify: Christians and the Harriet Miers Nomination

Selling the Great Wall of China

Posted at 8:40 PM | Permalink |

The Dancer, friend of all animals, wanted a date with Dad. And off we went to see the flicka that is making moviegoers cry across America.

She was one of the five million who read the book and wanted more.

Here's what we learned, as the 22 doggie-double Marleys gnawed their way across 15 years.

Yes, it is a dog story and no humans were hurt in the filming. But the lessons were made for the alphas in us all.

1) A dog is as much cost and effort as a child. Your Business Blogger(R) had a tamer Marley-like hundred pound German Shepherd: Shadrach, The Dog Genius, who chewed his way thru four houses. Shepherding our first two children. Dogs add more than they subtract. The shaggy dog is the origin of fuzzy math.

The Dreamer and The Dude at Shadrach's last Christmas, 1995

2) Dogs are a cost-center not a profit-center: a consumer of resources. But the indoor animals (with outdoor voices) generate enough goodwill to be an asset that doesn't need to be sold to be realized or appreciated. A lot like children.

3) The domestic animals do not always produce domestic tranquility. Until housebroken. Just as, Charmaine would say, husbands.

4) Moms and Dads always cry after a miscarriage. There's one in the movie. If you are Pro-Choice you have our permission not to look at the sonogram. Then again, go ahead. There was no heartbeat. One pregnancy in five miscarries. One woman in four has an abortion. There is a lot of crying in America, and it's not only over a dog in the Marley & Me movie.

5) Funerals are for the living. As Yogi Berra said, "Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours." There must be closure for the living over the dead. A miscarriage needs closure. An abortion needs closure. Too bad the Pro-Choice community insists that abortion is a private matter. Women (and the dads) would heal quicker with some remembrance of what was. What could have been. Funerals provide the venue for a good cry. Like dog movies.

Go read the book. Go see the movie. Take a date.

Even if you don't need a reason to cry.

Posted at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Nobel laureate Milton Friedman said that a cultural prerequisite of capitalism is the holding of truthfulness as a common virtue. When you can trust a merchant's word, says Friedman, "it cut[s] down transaction costs." Without adherence to common moral principles we must substitute external controls to govern business behavior; efficiency demands a framework of standards and accountability.

Even the 18th-century atheist philosphe, Voltaire, recognized this problem. Though he believed Christianity was an "infamy," much like Christopher Hitchens, Voltaire wrote that "I want my attorney, my tailor, my servants, even my wife to believe in God...then I shall be robbed and cuckolded less often."

So. If you are not a Jesus-lover, it is still good (and safer) to do business with 'em. Less chance of getting cheated.

The Fools for Christ are easier to spot during Christmas.

They run ads like this.

Thank you (foot)note,

Hat tip to Don Wildmon with the American Family Association for pointing us to David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby.

See The Nativity Story. One family. One journey. One child who would change the world forever.

Human Resources: 2 Things To Count On At Christmas.

Posted at 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Join Fight FOCACharmaine was interviewed by Dan Gilgoff from USN&WR in Pro-Lifers Inundate Obama Website With Comments,

"The president of Americans United for Life, Charmaine Yoest, gave God & Country a heads-up that pro-lifers have inundated the Obama transition team's website with comments opposing passage of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade and strike down abortion restrictions currently on the books.

When she sent the E-mail last night, Yoest says, there were fewer than 200 comments responding to a memo titled "Advancing Reproductive Rights and Health in a New Administration," on the Obama site, change.gov. Now, there are almost 2,000 comments. Most--almost all, in fact--appear to be from abortion rights opponents."

Gilgoff researched the comments and reported that the comments of the Pro-lifers were consistently polite. Odd in the blogosphere. Alert the media.

"Comments areas are notorious for their nastiness, but I'm struck by the respectful tone of these protests.

[T]he volume of comments also shows that the pro-life movement is very much engaged right now and can be quickly activated. If he removes Bush-era abortion restrictions, as expected--like banning U.S. funds from going to foreign groups that offer or promote abortion in family planning services--Obama will face a firestorm of criticism. And should he move beyond such traditionally Democratic policies to actually expand abortion rights through a law like FOCA, pro-lifers would go ballistic. They're already watching closely."

Since Gilgoff's article appeared a few hours ago the pro-abortion liberals jumped into the comments section. Bringing the usual blog snarkiness and forcing the website moderators to work over time over the Christmas holidays. Readers are regularly now treated to,

Which was not seen before the abortionists joined the discussion. Abortion is a nasty business.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

How bad is the liberal nastyness? See blogger TBogg's hate for Charmaine and Michelle Malkin.

Even though Obama has promised to sign FOCA into law as his first order of business, he might consider doing politics in Your Nation's Capital a bit differently. A Change.

Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) teaches management skills to private clients and at the local college. One of the best bosses in the practice of management happens to be a woman, Carol Clews. She happens to run a center for pregnancy concerns. Carol emailed us about FOCA, the "Freedom of Choice Act,"

Mr. Obama, before you make such an important, life-depriving decision, will you please take time to visit a pregnancy center (like the one I'm director of here in Baltimore City) and see just what we do here. After all, you visited Planned Parenthood -- the least you can do is visit a place where truly ALL of a woman's options are discussed and she truly has freedom of choice.

Perhaps Obama will take note of Carol's suggestion. It would be good politics. For A Change.

See also Charmaine Quoted in God-O-Meter.

Consider The New Book by Dan Gilgoff.

Posted at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Baby-Boo and The Dancer were asking, "Is Santa Claus real?"

"Of course," I said.

"How does he know where to go?," They wondered.

"He knows," I said. "The Marines trained him..."

SantaClaustraining.wmv

Thank you (foot)notes

A salute to John Howland at USNA At Large.

Your Business Blogger(R) worked with Marines as an Army Officer. I always had a half dozen or so Marine classmates in a 60 man class (no girls allowed: Combat Arms) -- The Marines always -- ALWAYS -- got the top grades, regularly beating Your Business Blogger(R).

Which, some would say, is a low hurdle...

Anyway, it would be logical that the Marines would be the Santa trainers. And not the liberal community organizers who trained Barack Obama.

Posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Charmaine sent this out to a few hundred thousand of her closest friends. Please sign the FightFOCA petition today.

Tell Obama To Stop Supporting FOCA

Pro-abortion forces have given President-elect Obama 55 pages of instructions on what to do when he becomes President. A top priority? The "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).

Some insist FOCA isn't a real threat, that we can stop it easily. But that's not what pro-life leaders on Capitol Hill are saying.

Last week, I was in a meeting with Representative Mike Pence of Indiana -- one of the key incoming House leaders -- and he listed FOCA as one of the top four threats he sees in the next few months.

The Obama transition website has posted the 55-page pro-abortion marching order and opened it up for comment.

Let's tell him to ignore it.

Click here to ask President-elect Obama to stop supporting FOCA. FOCA would eliminate every abortion-related law nationwide -- even common-sense laws that protect women and minors -- and force us to pay for the radical pro-abortion agenda with our tax dollars.

We can do it!

May you and your family have a Blessed Christmas.

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Americans United for Life Action
FightFOCA.com
FightFOCA@FightFOCA.com

P.S. -- The fight against FOCA is just beginning. Please forward this email to friends and family members who can help us Fight FOCA. And please consider making an end-of-year contribution to help us tell even more people about the dangers of FOCA.

________________________________

Join Fight FOCAQuick Links
FightFOCA Petition
FightFOCA FAQ
About FightFOCA
About AUL Action

FightFOCA.com is a project of AUL Action

Chicago Office:
310 S Peoria St | Ste 500 | Chicago, IL 60607

DC Office:
1413 K Street, NW | Ste 1000 | Washington, DC 20005

A Project of AUL Action

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

As of tonight, Monday nite, there are almost 700 comments on Obama's website -- most comments look to be pro-life against FOCA. Tell Obama To Stop FOCA and protect our little girls.

See Involving the Parents by Ramesh Ponnuru at NRO.

See "Right of Conscience" Rule Passed. What's Next? By Anna Boyd

Brad Feld writes,

As I work my way through Vonnegut, my inner cynic is rewarded with gems from 40 years ago. For example:

Kilgore Trout (near the end of the book): "The problem is this: How to love people who have no use? In time, almost all men and women will become worthless as producers of goods, food, services, and more machines, as sources of practical ideas in the areas of economics, engineering, and probably medicine, too. So - if we can't find reasons and methods for treasuring human beings because they are human beings, then we might as well, as has so often been suggested, rub them out."

Don't try to understand it - it won't really make any sense without the context of the rest of the book. But - if you want a good jolt, read the book. One thing is for certain: Vonnegut knows how to string words together in a magical way.

Brad is a hi-tech, very bright, successful entrepreneur from Colorado. He supports abortion on demand: Abortion anytime for any reason; we might as well, as has so often been suggested, rub them out... Liberals are not logical.

Posted at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

If you fight against IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich, you might be a good-guy.

If you win against IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich, you might be on the side of the angels.

Charmaine was interviewed for CitizenLink, a division of Focus on the Family, Good News: Illinois Pharmacists Can Challenge Discriminatory Rule,

"This is a huge victory for the freedom of conscience of all health care providers," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life. "Pharmacists now have proper recourse against a discriminatory law that would force them to check their constitutional rights at the workplace door."

Here's how it started against Illinois governor Blago,

CitizenLink also quotes AUL's legal eagle Denise Burke,

in Good News: Regulations Protect Doctors' Freedom of Conscience

Life advocates are praising the timing of new government rules that protect health care providers' freedom of conscience.

The Department of Health and Human Services put the regulations in place last week to reinforce rules that protect doctors from being forced to participate in abortion and other anti-life practices.

"By releasing them now, they will be in the federal register for 30 days before the Obama administration takes office," said Denise Burke, vice president and legal director for Americans United for Life. "For that reason, the Obama administration cannot simply erase these rules."

Join Fight FOCA

Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards does not care for rights of conscience. (Except her own conscience -- don't even think about asking her about her own abortion.) David G. Savage at LA Times writes, Health providers' 'conscience' rule to take effect
The last-minute Bush administration declaration lets doctors, clinics, receptionists and others refuse to give care they find morally objectionable.

"We are shocked that the Bush administration chose to finalize its midnight regulation and to take this parting shot at women's health and ignore patients' rights to receive critical healthcare services and information they deserve," said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in a statement. "We look forward to working with President-elect Obama and leaders in Congress to repeal this disastrous rule and expand patients' access to full healthcare information and services, not limit it."

Many of the abortions at Planned Parenthood are performed to rid the world of African-American babies. This is one lucky baby girl.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Other related news,

LifeSiteNews reports, Illinois Supreme Court Decision Supports Conscience Rights of Pharmacists

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life (AUL) President and CEO, responded to the Supreme Court decision, stating, "This is a huge victory for the freedom of conscience of all healthcare providers. Pharmacists now have proper recourse against a discriminatory law that would force them to check their constitutional rights at the workplace door."

"Conscience Rule" to take effect

See the Americans United for Life Amicus Curiae Brief

CathNewsUSA writes, "Conscience" rule to cover health providers

Not everyone believes in conscientious objection. Not liberals, anyway. See, Are There Limits to the So-Called "Conscience Rule?"

Visit (and bookmark) Jill Stanek, Breaking news: IL Supreme Court rules for pharmacists/against Blagojevich

See AUL's press release, Americans United for Life Applauds Illinois Supreme Court Decision Supporting Constitutional Rights of Pharmacists

Deep Thoughts doesn't like the conscience clause either -- But note: Mojoey does refer to the Pro-Life position as, well, Pro-Life. An honest liberal! Who knew?

Alert the (Mainstream) Media!

...

Never mind.

See The Center blog.

Visit Social Developments Americans United for Life Applauds Adoption of HHS Rules Protecting Freedom of Conscience, Urges Vigilance in Protecting Both Providers and Healthcare Access

More from AUL on HHS conscience protection.

Posted at 10:29 AM | Permalink |

The T-Shirt comes as a gift from my son, The Dude, whom I love and in whom I am well pleased.

Pull My Finger

When he was four or so, he said when he got older he wanted to have a little boy. It seemed like such fun, I guess.

Meanwhile, The Dude will have to settle for the two males in his life who have yet to grow up:

Alert Readers know Your Business Blogger(R) teaches business and that "you never let them see you sweat."

The leader must be cool.

And never sweat.

Like the President-Elect Obama.

Obama in his youth smoking...Kools?

This is not a role model.

Now, Obama would be cool, if --

If he was wearing a T-Shirt with Pull My Finger...

That would be cool, even when sweating.

Posted at 6:21 PM | Permalink |

Paul Weyrich died last night too young at 66. He was the first president of the Heritage Foundation and was founder and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.

At a tribute for Weyrich on Sept 10, 2008, George Will recounted a special encouragement from Paul decades ago.

George Will has a son with Down Syndrome. When he was born, Paul called him. "George," said Paul, "You are so lucky. Your son is like the angels." George hesitated. Every parent would think this of his newborn son. But a child with Down Syndrome?

"He is like the angels because he will never know sin..."

Those same angels carried Weyrich home.

Weyrich was a pioneer in the conservative movement. He assembled and managed a talented team -- he had content and was a pioneer in focusing on communicating the message.

One of his ventures in the early nineties was National Empowerment Television, NET. C-Span with an attitude. Charmaine appeared a number of times on his show. She says, "He was always so gracious; a gentleman." We were excited to get his signed Christmas cards over the years.

See Rob Bluey at the Heritage blog.

Full Disclosure: Your Business Blogger(R) conducted management training at Weyrich's Free Congress Foundation facility. He made the space available for the good of the conservative community. At no charge. We will miss his leadership and generous spirit.

Posted at 8:56 AM | Permalink |

This is this year's Christmas Card from our house to yours. The card may not be as interesting as the out takes.

Or, as The Dude says, the 'ruined pictures.' See more on The Dude's Facebook page.

See

See Christmas 2006.

We once asked Charmaine's old boss, Gary Bauer, about life before and after children. A Look Back. "Before they were born," He says of his kids, "They were always there -- like shadows." Eternity past meeting eternity future.

And like shadows they will be gone, off to college, off to their own families. Soon -- too soon. See What to take from a burning building, or Christmas by the Numbers; 16 Each

Posted at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

The Commonwealth of Virginia is a terrific state to do business.

Alert Readers and my students well know the bias of Your Business Blogger(R) has toward Virginia -- a talented labor pool, low taxes, and a right to work state (re: employees don't have to join a union).

Virginia has had a business friendly culture since the county's founding. A few decades ago the beliefs were memorialized.

A Code for Virginians
Developed by a special committee of the Virginian State Chamber of Commerce and adopted by the membership in annual session at Roanoke on April 9, 1942

Preamble

Virginia was the scene of the first permanent English settlement in the New World. In its colonial legislative halls the fundamental principles of a new democracy were developed. Here the pattern of a government for a free people was evolved.

Patrick Henry sounded the keynote of the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Deceleration of Independence. George Washington led the army that made the formation of the United States a possibility. James Madison fathered the Constitution. George Mason's Virginia Bill of Rights. Here in Virginia was launched the struggle for freedom that gave birth to a new government conceived and fostered by the sons of its soil.

It is fitting, then, that we who enjoy and seek to preserve the benefits that our forefathers provided for us, should reaffirm our faith in the principles upon which this nation was founded. We should pledge our support and dedicate ourselves, our institutions, our organizations, and our individual businesses to the principles whose adoption has brought our nation and our people to be the exemplars and leaders of the civilized world.

Since a system of free enterprise is not based upon any fundamental human right, the obligation rests upon our conduct of business that under this system the public welfare is best served.
To Virginians and Virginia institutions has come the opportunity to raise anew the battle cry of freedom, to crystallize into fulfilling action the tenets that have made of this a promised land. They who gave to us this priceless heritage will not sleep if we who now enjoy it let it slip from our grasp.

[Free enterprise may not be based on an enumerated right, but capitalism is Biblically based. The Commandment Thou shall not steal is a protection for private property and that property can only change hands -- legally -- with a willing buyer and seller.]

That we may express our faith in and pledge our support of our system of private enterprise the following code has been adopted by the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce to be displayed by all its members and proclaimed to the people pf this state and nation.

1. Business in all its forms, in all its activities, must command the respect, confidence, and support of the public and its own personnel. to this end it must keep its own house in order. only through the adoption and self-enforcement of ethical standards of conduct can business justify the right to freedom of action. By this means business can minimize the need of governmental regulation.

[Any human behavior needs to be protected from evil. Many cultures use government. We are blessed with self-government with self-regulation...enforced not with brute government, but with 'intermediating institutions' -- associations between citizens and government.]

2. The privilege of doing business in Virginia is freely acquired. It is a license to serve which imposes obligations upon business to deal fairly, openly, and honestly with the public, the employee, the investor, and the government.

[Virginia has low taxes and low barriers to entry to open a business.]

3. Laws regarding business should be based on the principle of guaranteeing freedom of action to all. They should prevent the abuse of power. Fulfillment of the statutes in spirit as well as in letter in an obligation of business.

[President Jefferson said that the purpose of government is to restrain evil -- not to do good.]

4. The freedom enjoyed by individuals in a democracy imposes commensurate obligations, applying equally to those engaged in business, professional, and governmental activity. All business enterprises, enjoying rights guaranteed to persons, must recognize the same obligation as are required of the individual.

5. The foundations of our established form of government rest upon the preservation of the fundamental, inalienable rights of the individual expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States of America. These rights can best be preserved under a system of free enterprise.

Posted at 3:25 PM | Permalink |

Following is the introduction to upcoming Defending Life 2009 from AUL by Charmaine

Dear Friends of Life:

Welcome to Defending Life 2009, our third edition of this annual compendium of resources related to advancing law that undergirds our Culture of Life.

Charmaine at The Pew Forum on Religion and Politics

As we go to print on this year's edition, we do so in the midst of tumultuous times.

Faced with an incoming presidential administration that has a stated commitment to advancing an anti-life agenda as a fundamental precept, coupled with leadership on Capitol Hill similarly hostile to defending life, both of which have strong ties to a newly energized abortion industry . . . understandably, many people have been asking: What now? Which way?

Join Fight FOCA The current Defending Life 2008 is available in readable sections at AUL Defending Life.

continue reading at the jump

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Charlie Butts writing at OneNewsNow posts, Focusing on FOCA, fighting for life,

Americans United for Life (AUL) is already gearing up for a major thrust to defeat the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) -- a piece of legislation that Barack Obama, in a speech to Planned Parenthood, promised would be one of his top priorities upon taking office. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of AUL, explains what would happen if FOCA is enacted.

"The Freedom of Choice Act would eliminate every single abortion restriction that's been passed at the state level in the past 30 years," says Yoest. "It would completely federalize the abortion issue...it's just an extremist piece of legislation."

Yoest says her organization is depending on a grassroots effort to head off passage. "We have a website [FightFOCA.org] and it's a one-stop shop where people can read the text of the bill, they can get constitutional analysis from our attorneys, and most importantly they can go and sign our petition against FOCA."

See Freedom of Choice Act FOCA posting at by Andrew Biddinger

The Brown Pelican Society of Harahan, Louisiana has FightFOCA.com.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:31 PM | Permalink |

Bank Managers of the 1800's would not recognize today's Banking-Finance ethics let alone the bailouts. "Bankers' Hours" would not come until over a hundred years later.

Huddleston & Bradford was a bank that transferred large sums of money -- in safes on trains in London.

Edgar Trent was the bank owner and published "Rules for Office Staff" in 1854.

1. Godliness, cleanliness and punctuality are the necessities of a good business.

2. The firm has reduced the working day to the hours from 8:30 to 7p.m.

3. Daily prayers will be held each morning in the main office. The clerical staff will be present.

4. Clothing will be of a sober nature.

5. A stove is provided for the benefit of the clerical staff. It is recommended that each member of the clerical staff bring 4 lbs. of coal each day during cold weather.

6. No member of the clerical staff may leave the room with out the permission from Mr. Roberts. The calls of nature are permitted and clerical staff may use the garden beyond the second gate. This area must be kept clean and in good order.

7. No talking is allowed during business hours.

8. The craving of tobacco, wine or spirits is a human weakness, and as such is forbidden to the clerical staff.

9. Members of the clerical staff will provide their own pens.

10. The managers of the firm will expect a great rise in the output of work to compensate for these near Utopian conditions.

There is no mention of tattoos or body piercings.

The "near Utopian conditions" are actually enjoyed today. All staff these days are warm, well-fed, granted tobacco consuming smoke breaks and counter-consuming healthcare.

Even without unions.

We are so lucky today.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

The Great Train RobberyAlert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) does not work on Sundays. It is indeed a Biblical injunction but taking a real day off per week is physically and spiritually a goodly habit to live by.

So Charmaine and I attempt to do nothing productive on the Sabbath day of rest (not that we are all that productive the remaining days...). We read for pleasure that day. My current "Sunday Book" is an early publication (1975) by Michael Crichton, The Great Train Robbery. Terrific read. Yes, it might even be better, if that were possible, that his later books.

Be sure to catch Your Business Blogger(R) discussing completed staff work on YouTube.

Posted at 10:21 PM | Permalink |

Planned Parenthood has covered up another rape. Or did they?

Indiana Planned Parenthood Covers Up Sexual Abuse of 13-year Old -

Planned Parenthood
Rape cover upLifeNews reports,

Lila Rose, a UCLA student journalist and president of right-to-life advocacy group Live Action, posing as a 13-year-old seeking abortion. In an appointment with a Planned Parenthood nurse, Rose says she has been impregnated by a 31-year-old man, a clear case of child molestation punishable as a felony under Indiana state law.


On tape, the nurse acknowledges her responsibility to report the abuse, but assures Rose she will not. The nurse says, "I am supposed to report to Child Protective Services," but tells Rose, "Okay, I didn't hear the age [of the 31-year-old]. I don't want to know the age."


She then instructs Rose how to obtain a secret abortion by crossing state lines to avoid Indiana's parental consent law.


The nurse also coaches Rose to cover for the 31-year-old man by saying he is only 14. She says, "You've seen him around, you know he's 14, he's in your grade and whatever. You know what I mean."

The diminutive and talented Lila Rose can act like and pass for a 13 year-old and appeared on Hannity and Colmes Friday December 5th.

The liberal Alan Colmes went after Lila for misleading Planned Parenthood and "filing a false report" and taking up "valuable staff time" for a problem that did not exist.

Did Lila Rose cross an ethical line in a sting operation on Planned Parenthood?

No.

Your Business Blogger(R) teaches business ethics at the local college. The bright line in ethics is Quo Bono? Who Benefits?

Is there unjust enrichment?

Lila did not enrich herself by exposing a malicious, felonious intent of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.

Even though posed Lila as a 13 year-old, is this action actionable? Is it a lie?

I would submit that Lila's act was a misdirection that all businesses should welcome and use.

Decades ago Your Business Blogger(R) worked as a sales rep for a manufacturer producing a private label product for a national retailer. It was a part of my job description to regularly "shop" my client to test their salesman's product knowledge, sales techniques, in store displays and product availability.

I reported my findings to the store manager and my boss.

I did indeed take up "valuable staff time" as Colmes would charge in a sting operation. Managers would recognize this exercise as the 'control' part of managing. To learn what the store is doing right.

Or, in the case of Planned Parenthood, what the business is doing wrong.

Planned Parenthood should thank Lila Rose for acting as a "mystery shopper" providing valuable feedback on the conduct of the Planned Parenthood abortion operations.

Join Fight FOCA

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Planned Parenthood does not have the integrity to process the 360 millions of our tax dollars. Planned Parenthood should be defunded.

And Planned Parenthood president, Cecile Richards (with her million dollar salary), and the so called 'Freedom of Choice Act' FOCA should be stopped. Join FightFOCA.com

"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just"-Thomas Jefferson. See Values Voter.

Charles Lewis, at National Post has Obama bill could fan flames of abortion debate.


Bio Medicine has Americans United for Life Urges State Legislatures to Oppose Federal Power Grab: Provides Model Resolution Denouncing Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)
'Freedom of Choice' Act Promotes Extreme Abortion Agenda

CNS News, Faith-Based Hospitals Could Close If Obama Signs Freedom of Choice Act

Posted at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Over 50 per cent of Americans will purchase gift cards this year.

Will you be getting one from Planned Parenthood?

Not likely.

Americans don't like to talk about abortion.

Much less paying for one.

Leslie Olsen at WISHtv.com writes,

Gift certificates for Planned Parenthood,

The certificates come in $25 increments.

"They can be [used] for sexually transmitted disease screenings,..." said Struben-Hall.

Some Hoosiers 24-Hour News 8 talked to asked if the gift certificates could be used towards abortions. The answer is yes. But, Planned Parenthood said that's not the purpose of the gift certificates.

Planned Parenthood earns income from abortions and is attempting to re-brand their image. They are attempting to emphasize birth control (from Planned Parenthood's early days in eugenics) away from abortion; the Final Solution Birth Control.

But abortion is, well, birth control and a revenue stream for Planned Parenthood.

Charmaine will be on MSNBC News Now today, Thursday, December 3rd Eastern. Hit time is 2:30.

Please tune in and let us know how you think the marketing debate went.

Marketing is reach, frequency and awareness. Planned Parenthood is using constant repetition -- frequency -- to persuade the public that they are (Reproductive) Health Clinics and not Abortion clinics.

Planned Parenthood does not want the public to be aware that the new gift cards could be used for abortions.

Leslie Olsen continues,

Planned Parenthood hopes philanthropists look at it differently. The organization hopes people might purchase the certificates, and then turn them back in for their patients who need reproductive healthcare, but can't pay for it.

Planned Parenthood is not even pretending to sell the gift cards for services -- the cards are simply a re-gifting vector for donations.

Planned Parenthood Condom Key Chains
Gift card sales totaled $97 billion in 2007, up from $83 billion in 2006, according to data from The Tower Group cited in The New York Times.

Gift Certificate usage among recipients is about 85 per cent, meaning that some 15 per cent are never redeemed.

This means that some 15 billion dollars are left on the table -- money consumers paid and that businesses didn't have to deliver.

One of Your Business Blogger(R)'s clients in India sells pre-paid phone cards. He loves them and the cash-flow. He says, "One in seven cards are never used; cash straight to the bottom line, upfront."

The low redemption rate of gift cards has spawned an opportunity for entrepreneurs to collect and repackage and re-sell. Cash re-gifting. The data on the secondary market for gift cards is fascinating: 1 adult in 6 "re-gifts" a Gift Certificate.

But I doubt that there would be a gray market for the Planned Parenthood Gift Certificates.

(Ramesh Ponnuru reminds us, "No mother wants to introduce her son, the abortionist." No one is going to give or re-gift a gift card, "Here's $50 toward your next abortion...
Here's a Benjamin for your next STD...")

There is much confusion on the Abortionist's money making Industry. But what is sure is that no one wants to talk about that most common of surgical procedures: elective abortions.

Your Business Blogger(R) has an interest in a number of advertising and promotional companies. So I am most interested in the branding methods that Planned Parenthood uses in the marketing of their "health" services.

The Planned Parenthood Condom Key Chain line is one of my "favorites." I am not so sure that it is a big seller...

In a fashion, we applaud Planned Parenthood for their marketing innovation to attract donations.

Go get money directly from the public. Then maybe Planned Parenthood will not demand the 300 million tax dollars from Americans who do not want to pay for anyone's abortions.

This is not likely: Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood earns a million dollar salary to manage the Planned Parenthood billion dollar empire. To get all the revenue she can -- even bailouts from the taxpayer.

Join Fight FOCA

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Planned Parenthood is not about to go bankrupt. But many businesses -- including car manufacturers, I hope -- are in for trouble in the coming Obama administration. Do not bother with any Gift Certificate from a company headed for Chapter 11; they do not have to be honored.

Help fight Planned Parenthood. Help Fight FOCA.

See Jill Stanek on The Party of Death by Ramesh Ponnuru.

Read Margaret Sanger, Barack Obama & Planned Parenthood, Where Sanger says, "The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."

Remember to FIGHT FOCA.

And visit Godless.

We appreciate The Sanctity of Human Life.

Americans United for Life Urges State Legislatures to Oppose Federal Power Grab: Provides Model Resolution Denouncing Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)

UPDATE: MSNBC just canceled the segment...at 2:11pm. Some might say at the last minute -- This is showbizness. The (other) bailout hearing is pre-empting. [GM's CEO says that his company failed "due to events beyond his control." He forgets that his job, as CEO is to control events -- or to so structure his company as to minimize disaster. He did neither. The GM board should fire him.]

Posted at 7:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Join Fight FOCA Yes, unless we stop it.

Unfortunately the proposed law has got friends.

FOCA is the proposed legislation that would eliminate all regulation and oversight of abortion. No parental notification for minors. No licensed doctors doing the cutting.

So how can we be so sure FOCA might be a-coming?

Because of the relationships of Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood.

I've had both a dot gov email address and ran a dot com software company; now I teach.

At the start of every semester, Your Business Blogger(R) instructs my class on how Business Gets Done.

It is not technique. It is not brilliance. It is not killer apps. It is not resources. It is not capital.

Business Gets Done thru relationships.

The Business of Politics is no different.

Barack Obama promised Cecile Richards that FOCA would be the first item of law that Obama would sign.

Obama will sign FOCA because it will be forced thru congress.

It will be forced thru congress because Nancy Pelosi wants FOCA.

Nancy Pelosi wants FOCA because Cecile Richards wants FOCA.

Here is where Cecile Richards earns her million dollar salary:

Cecile and Nancy are very close. And not because Planned Parenthood gives campaign donations to Democrats.

Cecile Richards used to work for Nancy Pelosi.

Cecile Richards served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Pelosi when Nancy was House Minority Leader.

Cecile served her boss well. Pelosi will reward Cecile Richard's loyal service; good friends. Kindred spirits. Pro-Abortion.

Relationships. Get Business Done.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Stop them both: Please visit fightFOCA and sign the petition.

The petition has almost reached 299,000. If you are number 300,000, please let us know for a special treat.
If FOCA gets anywhere get ready for a cultural battle!!!

See Ladies for Life

Why I decided not to be an abortionist.

Something Matters

What Planet are you living on?

See Americans United for Life blog.

Posted at 9:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Join Fight FOCA Liberals whine,
Don't Like abortion?
Don't have one.

Conservatives remind,
Don't like abortion?
Don't pay for one.

Obama's so called "Freedom of [abortion] Choice Act" (FOCA) would force taxpayers to buy abortions here and abroad.

And it would appear that there will be tax increases to fund abortions on demand.

FOCA would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

* Bans on Partial Birth Abortion * Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion * Only licensed physicians can perform abortions * Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Please visit FightFOCA

Currents signers number over 293,000. When you sign, you will be able to see your number. Let us know if you've signed and what you number was -- we are looking for number 300,000. You will be recognized!

Following and at the jump are websites that have mentioned the petition by Americans United for Life.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

If Your Business Blogger(R) has missed your citation for the FightFOCA petition.

Wikipedia

Don't Drink the King's Wine

JIMMY AKIN.ORG: Fight FOCA

Reflections of a Paralytic » Fight FOCA, Sign the petition to help AUL fight FOCA. ...

Fight FOCA Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
Nov 15, 2008 ... Please read the expert analysis by Americans United for Life (AUL) and sign the Fight FOCA petition at: http://www.FightFOCA.com. Thank you! ...

Les Femmes - the truth: FIGHT FOCA!

ADF Alliance Alert Campaign To Fight FOCA Under Way

Care2 - Sign the Fight FOCA Petition
Americans United for Life (AUL) , a pro-life law and policy organization; Please add your name to the Fight FOCA petition and let your friends know ...

FIGHT FOCA - Please read even if you are Pro-Choice - *Taking Back ...
Please read the expert analysis by Americans United for Life (AUL) and sign the Fight FOCA petition at: http://www.FightFOCA.com ...

Continue Reading »

Posted at 7:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)