John Howland from USNA-At-Large, sends this along. It deserves a wide audience.

TJ Hanley and Bob Marsh send; further below Dick Nelson comments --

From a Retired Special Forces Sgt Major:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I served in the SOG (Special Operations Group) in Vietnam with Brockhausen and Hebler, they have both been involved with various disaster relief programs for the last several years to include Hurricane Katrina.

They have both always been straight shooters and known to call a spade a spade, as well as sometimes using very "colorful" language which had to be cleaned up a bit. So I have no doubts as to the truthfulness of what he's saying.

News back from Nick Brockhausen.
He and Dennis Hebler made it back somewhat safe and sound.

To All,
I just returned from Haiti with Hebler. We flew in at 3 AM Sunday to the scene of such incredible destruction on one side, and enormous ineptitude and criminal neglect on the other.
Port o Prince is in ruins. The rest of the country is fairly intact.

Our team was a rescue team and we carried special equipment that locates people buried under the rubble.

There are easily 200,000 dead, the city smells like a charnal house. The bloody UN was there for 5 years doing apparently nothing but wasting US Taxpayers money. The ones I ran into were either incompetents or outright anti American.

Most are French or french speakers, worthless every d*** one of them.

While 1800 rescuers were ready willing and able to leave the airport and go do our jobs, the UN and USAID (another organization full of little Obamites and communists that openly speak against America) These two organizations exemplar their parochialism by:

USAID, when in control of all inbound flights, had food and water flights stacked up all the way to Miami, yet allowed Geraldo Rivera, Anderson Cooper and a host of other left wing news puppies to land.

Pulled all the security off the rescue teams so that Bill Clinton and his wife could have the grand tour, while we sat unable to get to people trapped in the rubble.

Stacked enough food and water for the relief over at the side of the airfield then put a guard on it while we dehydrated and wouldn't release a drop of it to the rescuers.
No shower facilities to decontaminate after digging or moving corpses all day, except for the FEMA teams who brought their own shower and decon equipment, as well as air conditioned tents.

No latrine facilities, less digging a hole, if you set up a S****** everyone was trying to use it.
I watched a 25 year old Obamite with the USAID shrieking hysterically, berate a full bird colonel in the Air Force, because he countermanded her orders, while trying to unscrew the air pattern. " You don't know what your president wants! The military isn't in charge here, we are!"

If any of you are thinking of giving money to the Haitian relief, or to the UN don't waste your money. It will only go to further the goals of the French and the Liberal left.

If we are a fair and even society, why is it that only white couples are adopting Haitian orphans. Where the h*** is that vocal minority that is always screaming about the injustice of American society.

Bad place, bad situation, but a perfect look at the new world order in action. New Orleans magnified a thousand times. Haiti doesn't need democracy, what Haiti needs is Papa Doc. That's not just my opinion , that is what virtually every Haitian we talked with said. The French run the UN and treat us the same as when we were a colony, at least Papa Doc ran the country.

Oh, and as a last slap in the face the last four of us had to take US AIRWAY's home from Phoenix. They slapped me with a 590 dollar baggage charge for the four of us. The girl at the counter was almost in tears because she couldn't give us a discount or she would lose her job. Pass that on to the flying public.
Nick
===============================================


I worked as a political asylum officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (the old INS) in Miami, after retiring from my law firm. About one third of our "clientele" came from Haiti, and we were required to learn a lot of information about Haiti's history, culture, language---and its violent ways. What I am going to say is not a racial statement, it is a cultural statement. Bottom line: an influx of Haitians into the U.S. would be a disaster. The Haitian culture and history are founded on violence, and plenty of it.

There are exceptions, as always, but a mass immigration of Haitians as "refugees" would yield a new population that is largely uneducated, non-English speaking, and which would exist for years on two sources of income: crime and public welfare.

Because the Haitians are now located within their country of nationality, they do not qualify as "refugees" under current law. However, they do have a possibility of using the Asylum laws to get into the U.S, which are administered by USCIS. From that agency's web site, here is how you qualify for political asylum:

"How Does The Asylum Officer or Immigration Judge Determine If I Am Eligible for Asylum?
The Asylum Officer or Immigration Judge will determine if you are eligible by evaluating whether you meet the definition of a refugee. The definition, which can be found in section 101(a)(42)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), states that a refugee is someone who is unable or unwilling to return to and avail himself or herself of the protection of his or her home country or, if stateless, country of last habitual residence because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The determination of whether you meet the definition of a refugee will be based on information you provide on your application and during an interview with an Asylum Officer or at a hearing before an Immigration Judge."

Unfortunately, it is ridiculously easy to qualify, on the basis of a 90 minute interview. If the applicant has been coached, and is willing to lie, he/she can say the right things and the asylum officer is required to accept that testimony, unless the officer has contrary evidence. You will not have much evidence on the applicant, because you are not allowed to contact their country of origin---that might cause "more persecution." Once they are in, they get permanent work status ("green card") and often qualify for public benefits. In effect, they are permanent legal immigrants. If they are convicted of a crime, their status can be revoked. However, there is no data link between law enforcement and USCIS, so the feds will never know, in actual practice.

Aside from that, I now worry about our 10,000 troops that will be on the ground in Haiti to maintain order. What rules of engagement will they have, to quell the ubiquitous Haitian street violence? This is a "country" where gangs run the streets, often with the sharp edge of machete. Inevitably, our troops will be placed in a position where they must use lethal force to protect themselves, property, or innocent people. It is simply a matter of time.

When that occurs, and a soldier or Marine takes out a bad guy, are we going to have a turbo-charged version of the Haditha mess or the current SEAL case? I believe we should stay completely out of Haiti, and leave it to the United Nations, who are in business (theoretically) to keep the peace. We should remember that Bill Clinton tried to fix that place for eight years, and could not make a dent.

Dick Nelson '64

Posted at 8:00 AM | Permalink
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Be sure to watch the video clip at the end...

Your Business Professor has students who regularly misspell my name. On a deliverable assignment.

The Alert Student will know that such critical attention to detail might be bad form and might be a prerequisite to earning an "A."

Students and Media, it seem, have the same challenge with 'Yoest.'

Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) served as a Survivor Assistance Officer in the Army. This is real work. Duty and Honor.

The death of every service member is a public event.

John Howland, editor of USNA-AT-Large sends this article -- it deserves a wide audience.

"Burial at Sea" by LtCol George Goodson, USMC (Ret)

In my 76th year, the events of my life appear to me, from time to time, as a series of vignettes. Some were significant; most were trivial.

War is the seminal event in the life of everyone that has endured it. Though I fought in Korea and the Dominican Republic and was wounded there, Vietnam was my war.

Now 37 years have passed and, thankfully, I rarely think of those days in Cambodia, Laos, and the panhandle of North Vietnam where small teams of Americans and Montangards fought much larger elements of the North Vietnamese Army.

Instead I see vignettes: some exotic, some mundane:

*The smell of Nuc Mam.
*The heat, dust, and humidity.
*The blue exhaust of cycles clogging the streets.
*Elephants moving silently through the tall grass.
*Hard eyes behind the servile smiles of the villagers.
*Standing on a mountain in Laos and hearing a tiger roar.
*A young girl squeezing my hand as my medic delivered her baby.
*The flowing Ao Dais of the young women biking down Tran Hung Dao.
*My two years as Casualty Notification Officer in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

It was late 1967. I had just returned after eighteen months in Vietnam. Casualties were increasing. I moved my family from Indianapolis to Norfolk, rented a house, enrolled my children in their fifth or sixth new school, and bought a second car.

A week later, I put on my uniform and drove ten miles to Little Creek, Virginia. I hesitated before entering my new office. Appearance is important to career Marines. I was no longer, if ever, a poster Marine. I had returned from my third tour in Vietnam only 30 days before. At 5'9", I now weighed 128 pounds - 37 pounds below my normal weight. My uniforms fit ludicrously, my skin was yellow from malaria medication, and I think I had a twitch or two.

I straightened my shoulders, walked into the office, looked at the nameplate on a Staff Sergeant's desk and said, "Sergeant Jolly, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Goodson. Here are my orders and my Qualification Jacket."

Sergeant Jolly stood, looked carefully at me, took my orders, stuck out his hand; we shook and he asked, "How long were you there, Colonel?" I replied "18 months this time." Jolly breathed, "Jesus, you must be a slow learner Colonel." I smiled.

Jolly said, "Colonel, I'll show you to your office and bring in the Sergeant Major. I said, "No, let's just go straight to his office."

Jolly nodded, hesitated, and lowered his voice, "Colonel, the Sergeant Major. He's been in this G*dd@mn job two years. He's packed pretty tight. I'm worried about him." I nodded.

Jolly escorted me into the Sergeant Major's office. "Sergeant Major, this is Colonel Goodson, the new Commanding Office. The Sergeant Major stood, extended his hand and said, "Good to see you again, Colonel."

I responded, "Hello Walt, how are you?" Jolly looked at me, raised an eyebrow, walked out, and closed the door.

I sat down with the Sergeant Major. We had the obligatory cup of coffee and talked about mutual acquaintances. Walt's stress was palpable.

Finally, I said, "Walt, what's the hell's wrong?" He turned his chair, looked out the window and said, "George, you're going to wish you were back in Nam before you leave here. I've been in the Marine Corps since 1939. I was in the Pacific 36 months, Korea for 14 months, and Vietnam for 12 months.

Now I come here to bury these kids. I'm putting my letter in. I can't take it anymore." I said, "OK Walt. If that's what you want, I'll endorse your request for retirement and do what I can to push it through Headquarters Marine Corps."

Sergeant Major Walt Xxxxx retired 12 weeks later. He had been a good Marine for 28 years, but he had seen too much death and too much suffering. He was used up.

Over the next 16 months, I made 28 death notifications, conducted 28 military funerals, and made 30 notifications to the families of Marines that were severely wounded or missing in action. Most of the details of those casualty notifications have now, thankfully, faded from memory. Four, however, remain.

MY FIRST NOTIFICATION

My third or fourth day in Norfolk, I was notified of the death of a 19 year old Marine. This notification came by telephone from Headquarters Marine Corps. The information detailed:

*Name, rank, and serial number.
*Name, address, and phone number of next of kin.
*Date of and limited details about the Marine's death.
*Approximate date the body would arrive at the Norfolk Naval Air Station.
*A strong recommendation on whether the casket should be opened or closed.

The boy's family lived over the border in North Carolina, about 60 miles away. I drove there in a Marine Corps staff car. Crossing the state line into North Carolina, I stopped at a small country store / service station / Post Office. I went in to ask directions.

Three people were in the store. A man and woman approached the small Post Office window. The man held a package. The Storeowner walked up and addressed them by name, "Hello John. Good morning Mrs. Cooper."

I was stunned. My casualty's next-of-kin's name was John Cooper!

I hesitated, then stepped forward and said, "I beg your pardon. Are you Mr. and Mrs. John Copper of (address.)

The father looked at me-I was in uniform - and then, shaking, bent at the waist, he vomited. His wife looked horrified at him and then at me. Understanding came into her eyes and she collapsed in slow motion. I think I caught her before she hit the floor.

The owner took a bottle of whiskey out of a drawer and handed it to Mr. Cooper who drank. I answered their questions for a few minutes. Then I drove them home in my staff car. The storeowner locked the store and followed in their truck. We stayed an hour or so until the family began arriving.

I returned the storeowner to his business. He thanked me and said, "Mister, I wouldn't have your job for a million dollars." I shook his hand and said; "Neither would I."

I vaguely remember the drive back to Norfolk. Violating about five Marine Corps regulations, I drove the staff car straight to my house. I sat with my family while they ate dinner, went into the den, closed the door, and sat there all night, alone.

My Marines steered clear of me for days. I had made my first death notification.

THE FUNERALS

Weeks passed with more notifications and more funerals.. I borrowed Marines from the local Marine Corps Reserve and taught them to conduct a military funeral: how to carry a casket, how to fire the volleys and how
to fold the flag.

When I presented the flag to the mother, wife, or father, I always said, "All Marines share in your grief." I had been instructed to say, "On behalf of a grateful nation." I didn't think the nation was grateful, so I didn't say that.

Sometimes, my emotions got the best of me and I couldn't speak. When that happened, I just handed them the flag and touched a shoulder. They would look at me and nod. Once a mother said to me, "I'm so sorry you have this terrible job." My eyes filled with tears and I leaned over and kissed her.

ANOTHER NOTIFICATION

Six weeks after my first notification, I had another. This was a young PFC. I drove to his mother's house. As always, I was in uniform and driving a Marine Corps staff car. I parked in front of the house, took a deep breath, and walked towards the house. Suddenlythe door flew open, a middle-aged woman rushed out. She looked at me and ran across the yard, screaming "NO! NO! NO! NO!"

I hesitated. Neighbors came out. I ran to her, grabbed her, and whispered stupid things to reassure her. She collapsed. I picked her up and carried her into the house. Eight or nine neighbors followed. Ten or fifteen later, the father came in followed by ambulance personnel. I have no recollection of leaving.

The funeral took place about two weeks later. We went through the drill. The mother never looked at me. The father looked at me once and shook his head sadly.

ANOTHER NOTIFICATION

One morning, as I walked in the office, the phone was ringing. Sergeant Jolly held the phone up and said, "You've got another one, Colonel." I nodded, walked into my office, picked up the phone, took notes, thanked the officer making the call, I have no idea why, and hung up. Jolly, who had listened, came in with a special Telephone Directory that translates telephone numbers into the person's address and place of employment.

The father of this casualty was a Longshoreman. He lived a mile from my office. I called the Longshoreman's Union Office and asked for the Business Manager. He answered the phone, I told him who I was, and asked for the father's schedule.

The Business Manager asked, "Is it his son?" I said nothing. After a moment, he said, in a low voice, "Tom is at home today." I said, "Don't call him. I'll take care of that." The Business Manager said, "Aye, Aye Sir," and then explained, "Tom and I were Marines in WWII."

I got in my staff car and drove to the house. I was in uniform. I knocked and a woman in her early forties answered the door. I saw instantly that she was clueless. I asked, "Is Mr. Smith home?" She smiled pleasantly and responded, "Yes, but he's eating breakfast now. Can you come back later?" I said, "I'm sorry. It's important, I need to see him now."

She nodded, stepped back into the beach house and said, "Tom, it's for you."

A moment later, a ruddy man in his late forties, appeared at the door. He looked at me, turned absolutely pale, steadied himself, and said, "Jesus Christ man, he's only been there 3 weeks!"

Months passed. More notifications and more funerals. Then one day while I was running, Sergeant Jolly stepped outside the building and gave a loud whistle, two fingers in his mouth... I never could do that... and held an imaginary phone to his ear.

Another call from Headquarters Marine Corps. I took notes, said, "Got it." and hung up. I had stopped saying "Thank You" long ago.

Jolly, "Where?"

Me, "Eastern Shore of Maryland. The father is a retired Chief Petty Officer. His brother will accompany the body back from Vietnam."

Jolly shook his head slowly, straightened, and then said, "This time of day, it'll take three hours to get there and back. I'll call the Naval Air Station and borrow a helicopter. And I'll have Captain Tolliver get one of his men to meet you and drive you to the Chief's home."

He did, and 40 minutes later, I was knocking on the father's door. He opened the door, looked at me, then looked at the Marine standing at parade rest beside the car, and asked, "Which one of my boys was it,
Colonel?"

I stayed a couple of hours, gave him all the information, my office and home phone number and told him to call me, anytime.

He called me that evening about 2300 (11:00PM). "I've gone through my boy's papers and found his will. He asked to be buried at sea. Can you make that happen?" I said, "Yes I can, Chief. I can and I will."

My wife who had been listening said, "Can you do that?" I told her, "I have no idea. But I'm going to break my @ss trying."

I called Lieutenant General Alpha Bowser, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, at home about 2330, explained the situation, and asked, "General, can you get me a quick appointment with the Admiral at Atlantic Fleet Headquarters?" General Bowser said," George, you be there tomorrow at 0900. He will see you.

I was and the Admiral did. He said coldly, "How can the Navy help the Marine Corps, Colonel." I told him the story. He turned to his Chief of Staff and said, "Which is the sharpest destroyer in port?" The Chief of Staff responded with a name.

The Admiral called the ship, "Captain, you're going to do a burial at sea. You'll report to a Marine Lieutenant Colonel Goodson until this mission is completed."

He hung up, looked at me, and said, "The next time you need a ship, Colonel, call me. You don't have to sic Al Bowser on my @ss." I responded, "Aye Aye, Sir" and got the h-ll out of his office.

I went to the ship and met with the Captain, Executive Officer, and the Senior Chief. Sergeant Jolly and I trained the ship's crew for four days. Then Jolly raised a question none of us had thought of. He said, "These government caskets are air tight. How do we keep it from floating?"

All the high priced help including me sat there looking dumb. Then the Senior Chief stood and said, "Come on Jolly. I know a bar where the retired guys from World War II hang out."

They returned a couple of hours later, slightly the worse for wear, and said, "It's simple; we cut four 12" holes in the outer shell of the casket on each side and insert 300 lbs of lead in the foot end of the casket. We can handle that, no sweat."

The day arrived. The ship and the sailors looked razor sharp. General Bowser, the Admiral, a US Senator, and a Navy Band were on board. The sealed casket was brought aboard and taken below for modification. The ship got underway to the 12-fathom depth.

The sun was hot. The ocean flat. The casket was brought aft and placed on a catafalque. The Chaplin spoke. The volleys were fired. The flag was removed, folded, and I gave it to the father. The band played "Eternal Father Strong to Save." The casket was raised slightly at the head and it slid into the sea.

The heavy casket plunged straight down about six feet. The incoming water collided with the air pockets in the outer shell. The casket stopped abruptly, rose straight out of the water about three feet, stopped, and slowly slipped back into the sea. The air bubbles rising from the sinking casket sparkled in the in the sunlight as the casket disappeared from sight forever.

The next morning I called a personal friend, Lieutenant General Oscar Peatross, at Headquarters Marine Corps and said, "General, get me the f*ck out of here. I can't take this sh!t anymore." I was transferred two weeks later.

I was a good Marine but, after 17 years, I had seen too much death and too much suffering. I was used up.

Vacating the house, my family and I drove to the office in a two-car convoy. I said my goodbyes. Sergeant Jolly walked out with me. He waved at my family, looked at me with tears in his eyes, came to attention, saluted, and said, "Well Done, Colonel. Well Done."

I felt as if I had received the Medal of Honor.

USNA-At-Large's niche is to provide USNA-related news quickly and reliably to Graduates ** and Friends ** of the United States Naval Academy. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USNA-At-Large/

Then click on "Join This Group." You will create a Yahoo ID, but you will be able to use your normal email address for delivery of the latest zippy posts. If you have ANY questions with the process, email BlackfinSS322@aol.com

Posted at 8:36 PM | Permalink
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A few decades ago I had a boss who demanded that I brush my teeth. Another supervisor from the same organization didn't like my haircut. Or how my shirt was starched. Another manager monitored my weight.

What organization can make those demands?

A Fortune 500?

FOX Cable News?

No. The US Army. Only the very large government organization could make and enforce these demands.

The Army was providing my (free) dental care and demanded that I sit thru tooth maintenance classes.

The Army was providing my (free) health care and demanded that my weight be within government prescribed limits.

That was the deal: The country would would give me all I needed; I would give all.

There was not much Freedom for the Fighters for Freedom.

Here is the deal of ObamaCare: You will be given all: Obama will take all.

There will not be much freedom.

Your Business Blogger(R) as a Second Lieutenant.

Obama will deny care to the elderly to accommodate the 50 million new people added to the health care system. Who will get in line to demand their "free health care."

But Obama will limit resources to fulfill this vast increase in demand.

ObamaCare will deny health care to our elderly patients. No hip replacement for mom...

Alert Reader Larry C. sends the following,

The following is a brief outline of this bill put together by Mat Staver of the Freedom Foundation and Liberty Counsel (contact info is at the end). The comments by the brief are Mat's,

Obama Health Care Plan Details

HR 3200 currently under consideration in the House of Representatives

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit the books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get

Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!

Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice!

Pg 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58HC Bill - Gov't will have real-time access to individual's finances & a National ID Health care card will be issued!

Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for electronic funds transfer.

Pg 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community orgs (ACORN).

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring priv HC plans under Govt control.

Pg 84 Sec 203 HC bill - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private Health Care plans in the Exchange

Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!

Pg 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services.

Example - Translation for illegal aliens.

Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan

Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Ben Levels 4 Plans. #AARP members - Your Health Care WILL be rationed

Pg 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individual will be automat.enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

Pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue Govt on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt Monopoly.

Pg 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.

Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public opt plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll 400k & above who does not prov. pub opt. pays 8% tax on all payroll

Pg 150 Lines 9-13 Biz w payroll btw 251k & 400k who doesnt provide public opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesnt have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay).

Pg 195 Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial and personal records.

Pg 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that. Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.

Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, it does not matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same.

Pg 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr's time, prof judg, etc. Literally value of humans.

Pg 265 Sec 1131Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.

Pg 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

Pg 272 SEC. 1145. Treatment of certain cancer hospitals - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing!

Page 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmissions. (Incentives for hospital to not treat and release.)

Pg 298 Lines 9-11 Drs, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission-Govt will penalize you.

Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.

Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.

pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!!

Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates established of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.

Pg 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans (Part B), HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan.

Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people!

Pg 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. HC by phone/Internet?

Pg 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance [Death] Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life.

Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory!

Pg 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Gov't provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.

Pg 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Gov't has a say in how your life ends.

Pg 429 Lines 1-9 An "adv. care planning consult" will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.

Pg 429 Lines 10-12 "adv. care consultation" may incl an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOV

Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life

(NOTE FROM RJ: The above really does give the government the authority to determine who lives and dies, and when. A government bureaucrat really will be making this decision for you and your loved ones.)

Pg 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services=Non profit orgs. Hello, ACORN Medical Svcs here!!?

Pg 472 Lines 14-17 PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORG. 1 monthly payment to a community-based org. Like ACORN?

Pg 489 Sec 1308 The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. They will insert Government into your marriage. Pg 494-498 Govt will cover Mental Health Svcs including defining, creating, rationing those svcs

PG 502 Sec 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big Brother - Literally.

Pg 503 Lines 13-19 Gov't will build registries and data networks from YOUR electronic med records.

Pg 503 lines 21-25 Gov't may secure data directly from any depart or agency of the US including your data.

Pg 504 Lines 6-10 The "Center" will collect data both published & unpublished (that means public & your private info)

PG 506 Lines 19-21 The Center will recommend policies that would allow for public access of data.

PG 518 Lines 21-25 The Commission will have input from HC consumer reps - Can you say unions & ACORN?

PG 524 18-22 Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund set up. More taxes for ALL.

PG 621 Lines 20-25 Gov't will define what Quality means in HC. Since when does Gov't know about quality?

Pg 622 Lines 2-9 To pay for the Quality Standards, Govt will transfer $$ from to other Govt Trust Funds. More Taxes.

PG 624 "Quality" measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.

PG 624 "Quality" measures shall be designed to profile you including race, age, gender, place of residence, etc

Pg 628 Sec 1443 Gov't will give "Multi-Stake Holders" Pre-Rule Making input into Selection of "Quality" Measures.

Pg 630 9-24/631 1-9 Those Multi-stake holder groups incl. Unions & groups like ACORN deciding HC quality.

Pg 632 Lines 14-25 The Gov't may implement any "Quality measure" of HC Services as they see fit.

PG 633 14-25/ 634 1-9 The Secretary may issue non-endorsed "Quality Measures" for Physician Services & Dialysis Services.

Pg 635 to 653 Physicians Payments Sunshine Provision - Gov't wants to shine sunlight on Docs but not Govt.

Pg 654-659 Public Reporting on Health Care-Associated Infections - Looks okay.

PG 660-671 Doctors in Residency - Gov't will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you'll live.

Pg 676-686 Gov't will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, incl. teaching hospitals.

Pg 686-700 Increased Funding to Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. You mean like the Gov't with an $18 million website?

PGs 701-704 Sec 1619 If your part of HC plan isn't in Gov't HC Exchange but you qualify for Fed aid, no payment.

PG 705-709 SEC. 1128 If Secr gets complaints (ACORN) on HC provider or supplier, Gov't can do background check.

PG 711 Lines 8-14 The Secretary has broad powers to deny HC providers/ suppliers admittance into HC Exchange. Your doctor could be thrown out of business.

Pg 719-720 Sec 1637 ANY Doctor who orders durable med equip or home med services MUST be enrolled in Medicare.

PG 722 Sec 1639 Gov't MANDATES Doctors must have face to face with patient to certify patient for Home Health Svcs.

PG 724 23-25 PG 725 1-5 The same Gov't certifications will apply to Medicaid & CHIP (your kids)

PG 724 Lines 16-22 Gov't reserves rt to apply face to face certification for patient to ANY other HC service.

Pg 735 lines 16-25 For law enforce. proposes the Secretary-HHS will give Atty General access to ALL data.

PG 740-757 Gov't sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured (Thats your tax dollars people)

Pg 757-762 Fed gov't will shift burden of payments to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) to States. (Taxes)

Pg 763 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin

Pg 765 Sec 1711 Gov't will require Preventative Services including vaccines. (Choice?)

Pg 768 Sec 1713 Gov't - Nurse Home Visitation Svcs (Hello union paybacks)

Pg 769 11-14 Nurse Home Visit Svcs include-economic self-sufficiency, employ adv, school-readiness.

Pg 769 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - "increasing birth intervals between pregnancies." Govt ABORTIONS anyone

Pg 770 SEC 1714 Fed Gov't mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Abortion & State Sovereign.

Pg 789-797 Gov't will set, mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs brought to market. Bye innovation.

Pgs 797-800 SEC. 1744 PAYMENTS for graduate medical education. The government will now control Drs' education.

PG 801 Sec 1751 The Govt will decide which Health care conditions will be paid. Say RATION!

Pg 810 SEC. 1759. Billing Agents, clearinghouses, etc req. to register. Gov't takes over private payment sys.

Pg 820-824 Sec 1801 Govt will identify individ. ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal financial information.

Pg 824-829 SEC. 1802. Govt Sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research= Trust Fund. Another tax black hole.

PG 829-833 Gov't will impose a fee on ALL private health ins. plans incl. self insured to pay for Trust Fund!

PG 835 11-13 fees imposed by Gov't for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes.

Pg 838-840 Gov't will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expect kids.

PG 844-845 This Home Visitation Prog. includes Gov't coming into your house & telling you how to parent!!!

Pg 859 Gov't will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes that's Billion.

Pg 865 The Gov't will MANDATE the establishment of a National Health Service Corps.

PG 865 to 876 The NHS Corps is a program where Drs. perform mandatory HC for 2yrs for part loan repayment.

PG 876-892 The govt takes over the education of our Med students and Drs.

PG 898 The Govt will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps to ensure supply of public health prof.

PG 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of civilian employees of the U.S. as Secretary deems.

PG 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of officers of Regular & Reserve Corps of Service.

PG 900 The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians.

PG 901 The Public Health Workforce Corps WILL include commissioned Regular & Reserve Officers. HC Draft?

PG 910 The Govt will develop, build & run Public Health Training Centers.

PG 913-914 Govt starts a HC affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.

PG 915 SEC. 2251. Govt MANDDATES Cultural & linguistic competency training for HC professionals.

Pg 932 The Govt will estab Preventative & Wellness Trust fund- initial cost of $30,800,000,000-Billion.

PG 935 21-22 Govt will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control YOU!!

PG 936 Govt will develop "Healthy People & National Public Health Perform. Standards" Tell me what to eat?

PG 942 Lines 22-25 More Gov't? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Svc, Minority Health, Women's Health

PG 950- 980 BIG GOV'T core pub health infrastructure including workforce capacity, lab systems; health info sys, etc

PG 993 Gov't will establish school based health clinics. Your kids won't have a chance.

PG 994 School Based Health Clinic will be integrated into the school environment. Say GOVT Brainwash!

PG 1001 The Govt will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?

Licensed in Florida and the District of Columbia

Take Action Now.www.stoptheabortionmandate.org

Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @JackYoest and @CharmaineYoest

Posted at 9:30 AM | Permalink
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A paper delivered by Charmaine at UVA in 1997.

Foundations of the American Presidency: From Character to Charisma... and Cherry Trees to Big Macs,

"The pious ruler is by far the most likely to promote the public good."

Introduction: The Question of Character

On the 50th anniversary of Meet The Press, moderator Tim Russert told his special guest, President Bill Clinton, about an NBC poll that had asked "What is the image you have of Bill Clinton?"

Forty-two of the respondents replied "playing the saxophone;" six percent replied "eating at McDonald's." The President laughed. "It's funny," he replied. "And I haven't eaten at McDonald's a single time since I've been president."(2)

Presidency-watchers sprang into action and produced photographs of President Clinton leaving McDonald's, Big Mac in bag, on several occasions.

The following week, Russert brought up the discrepancy. Russert, obviously amused, commented that the President's spokesperson had explained that President Clinton meant he hadn't eaten AT a McDonald's in the last six years.

Russert's colleague, Lisa Myers queried, laughing, "Does this mean that when I get fires at the drive-thru, they don't count?" Russert turned to his guest, radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh and asked his opinion.

Limbaugh replied that he wondered how we could believe the President when he talks about Iraq if we can't believe what he says about Big Macs. The two venerable members of the Fourth Estate, Russert and Myers, just kept laughing.(3)

This incident illustrates Clinton's tendency to take liberties with the truth. No one, with the possible exception of Ray Kroc's heirs, really cares whether or not the President eats at McDonald's.

The episode, therefore, is significant only insofar as it gives us any insight into the President himself, his character.

It provides an occasion to ask: Does honesty in the chief executive, as an element of his character, matter?

Russert and Myers answered by laughing.

***
Continue reading at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 3:50 PM | Permalink
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Back in 2005 Charmaine debated the Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss on MSNBC hosted by Rita Cosby.

They debated the buying and selling of a woman's...time...?

Heidi was for.

Charmaine was against that kind of market transaction.

You Can Rent the woman on the Left.

You Can't Touch the woman the Right.

The type of cash for favors reported at the notorious Moonlight Bunny Range where every girl has her price. YouTube of half-clad Bunnies follows:

Charmaine Yoest debates
Heidi Fleiss on Bunny Ranch

The Alert Reader will recall that the Bunny Range series was one of MSNBC's most popular features. This may have been the high point for the now liberal cable outlet.

MSNBC has gone down (in viewship?)

(in politics?) since.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Since this report Heidi, The Hollywood Madam has signed a Hollywood movie deal for Five Million Dollars, and

Charmaine has been appointed as president and CEO of Americans United for Life.

Every girl has her price; every girl makes her own deal.

Rita Cosby Live and Direct transcript.

Also see Beauty is as Beauty Does.

Be sure to follow Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine on Twitter: @JackYoest and @CharmaineYoest

Video Credit: Peter Shinn and The Dude.

Posted at 1:50 PM | Permalink
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The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.

Margaret Sanger
Founder Planned Parenthood

Happy 4th of July...

Alert students of Your Business Professor know that men are not equal to each other.

This is one of the great challenges in Business Law: understanding that the Law is King. Not the KIng is King. But Lex Rex.

Men are equal in the eyes of our Creator; in the eyes of the Law. Our governance and justice should be based on Natural Law and the original intent of our Constitution.

Conservatives and Liberals see equality, so to say, differently:

Conservatives:

Creator

Law
over
Man.....Man

Where all men are equal under the law.

The modern Liberal flow chart is different and cascades so,

Creator (irrelevant)

Law (extension of policy-judges become legislators/politicians)

man = man

Men are equal to each other under the new Liberal equation.

Conservatives however, would submit that each person has equal value under law, under the Creator.

But if the Liberal removes the Creator and Law simply becomes an extension of a political policy shop then the Liberal is left with only Man. Who must be then equal to one another. Because we still do believe in equality.

Maybe.

So how can we judge the new Liberal paradigm of equality without the Creator or the Law?

By observation -- By how we treat the least among us. How we treat "retarded people."

Since all men are obviously "not equal" directly to each other -- what do liberals think of the weak, with no Creator? --

What do liberals think of those unequal in their liberal equation; what do they think of those "beneath" them?

NewsBusters' Noel Sheppard saved us an article from the liberal Huffington Post, HuffPoster: 'Palin Will Run In '12 On More Retardation Platform', July 3, 2009 - 19:52 ET

This is about as disgusting as Palin Derangement Syndrome can get.

A blog just published at the Huffington Post is disgracefully titled "Palin Will Run In '12 On More Retardation Platform."

The author, fiction and comedy writer Erik Sean Nelson... actually wrote the following (readers are seriously warned to proceed with caution as this is really vile stuff):

In Sarah Palin's resignation announcement she complained about the treatment of her son Trig who always teaches her life lessons. She said that the "world needs more Trigs, not fewer." That's a presidential campaign promise we can all get behind. She will be the first politician to actually try to increase the population of retarded people. To me, it's kinda like saying the world needs more cancer patients because they teach us such personal lessons.

Her first act as President: To introduce a Pre-K lunch buffet that includes lead paint chips. Sort of a Large HEAD-START Program.

She will then encourage women to hold off on pregnancies until their 40's just to mix up some chromosomes.

She now is in favor of abortion only in case of diploid birth [normal chromosomes-this liberal is saying that Palin would only want abortions on "normal" babies. This passes for humor for abortion supporters].

Her policies will increase jobs because Wal-Mart is building new stores each day and someone has to be the greeter. [Liberals hate, just hate Wal-Mart.]

This will lead to smaller government because fewer Americans will have the cognitive ability to hold a government job

Wow. Is this what passes for comedy today?

It will be interesting to see how long this post stays up before someone at HuffPo pulls it.

Stay tuned.

*****Update: The article has been pulled, apparently by the author who claimed: "I got some emails from offended loved ones of the retarded. No one was seeing the absurdity of Palin hiding behind her children, so my piece was not accomplishing anything good."

Imagine that.

Well, for posterity purposes, here's a screen-cap of the piece courtesy NB reader Brett Scheer:

Nice job, [HuffPo writer] Erik. Don't be a stranger.

--Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.

Liberals support Barack Obama's vote against his state's Born Alive Infant Protection Act before he became president. His vote would allow babies born alive -- from a botched abortion -- to die by withholding treatment.

Obama's concern was that his vote might lead to overturning Roe v Wade which made abortion legal through all nine months - and beyond.

His philosophy is not new.

Barack Obama
Supports Planned Parenthood

This thinking was born, so to say, at the turn of the last century and made "popular" by Margaret Sanger, founder of modern Planned Parenthood.

In 2003, Edwin Black wrote a national bestseller War against the Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign To Create A Master Race.

War Against the WeakAuthor Edwin Black does not oppose abortion. But he is nevertheless horrified by the disgust that elite Americans feel for the weak, "the least among us."

Edwin Black writes,

Sanger's solutions were mass sterilization and mass segregation of the defective classes, and these themes were repeated often in [her book] Pivot of Civilization.

"The emergency problem of segregation and sterilization must be faced immediately. Every feeble-minded girl or woman of the hereditary type, especially of the moron class, should be segregated during the reproductive period.

Otherwise, she is almost certain to bear imbecile children, who in turn are just as certain to breed male defectives. The male defectives are no less dangerous.

Segregation carried out for one or two generations would give us only partial control of the problem.

Moreover, when we realized that each feeble-minded person is a potential source of endless progeny of defect, we prefer the policy of immediate sterilization, of making sure that parenthood is absolutely prohibited to the feeble-minded."

Edwin Black then guides us to Margaret Sanger's solution,

Sanger was willing to employ striking language to argue against the inherent misery and defect of large families. In her book, Woman and the New Race, she bluntly declared,

"Many, perhaps, will think it idle to go farther in demonstrating the immorality of large families, but since there is still an abundance of proof at hand, it may be offered for the sake of those who find difficulty in adjusting old-fashioned ideas to the facts.

The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."

It would appear that liberal elitists like Obama, in keeping with Margaret Sanger's world view, might have prefered that the Palins abort Trigg, Sarah's Down syndrome newborn.

Why?

To avoid the "pain and despair" these children have and cause, so says Obama.

Because an unexpected child is a "punishment."

What kind of political party would even consider a man with this world view to govern?

Edwin Black tells us more and connects the events in War Against The Weak,

During the period between the wars, the American [eugenics] movement viewed National Socialism [in Germany] as a rising force that could, if empowered, impose a new biological world order. [National Socialism] eugenicists promised to dispense with the niceties of democratic rule.

So even if America's tower of legislation, well-funded research and entrenched bureaucratic programs still monopolized the world of applied eugenics in the 1920's, National Socialism promised to own the next decade.

American eugenicists welcomed the idea.

Obama and the The Party of Death.

Thank you (foot)notes,

Follow us on Twitter: @jackyoest and @charmaineyoest

Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine are celebrating Independence Day at The Dude's All Star baseball tournament with our large family -- The Penta-Posse. When we got married we didn't know it would be so large...and so much fun. This is (un)planned parenthood. What would Margaret Sanger and Cecile Richards say?

Posted at 5:27 AM | Permalink
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Charmaine sends this out to the AUL good-guy list,

It's nearly Independence Day, and, here in the Yoest household, that means a road trip!

Friday afternoon, Jack and I are filling up our black Suburban and taking our 'Penta-posse' -- our five kids -- to Charlottesville, VA, for our 14-year-old son John's all-star baseball tournament. How wonderful to spend July 4th in a city steeped in American history near the University of Virginia (my alma mater!), which was founded by Thomas Jefferson just a few miles from his Monticello home.

John Yoest, age 14
[Pitched a no hitter on his JV team -- as an 8th grader]
Photo Credit: Hannah Yoest

But although the calendar -- and the heat index -- says it's July 4, in my heart it feels like late November.

Independence Day has always been a kind of early Thanksgiving for me. I think about the sacrifices made by the Founding Fathers and their families, and of the blood shed by patriots so that America could be free, and I am so very thankful to be able to raise my children in the greatest country in the world.

The Founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

In naming three inalienable rights as endowed by humanity's Creator, the Declaration's authors were recognizing something unique and beautiful about being human. Taken together, those rights enable all the goods necessary for human flourishing.

More than that, the order in which the Founders listed the rights carries special meaning; it reveals the way one right flows from another. The right to liberty -- the freedom to thrive -- flows from the right to life, and from that liberty flows the ability to seek the happiness that will give one's life meaning and purpose.

I'm so honored to be working with the AUL team to further the understanding that the right to life enshrined in our Declaration extends to all humanity and includes the unborn.

The right to life is the foundation of all the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. This is what we must teach our children on this family holiday, so that they and their children and their children's children may continue to live in a free country long after you and I have left this world.

My friend and AUL colleague Bob told me today about a wonderful Fourth of July tradition in his family. Every year, he and his wife host a barbecue that is highlighted by having one of the children present, usually his own daughter, read out loud the entire Declaration of Independence.

Jack and I like that idea so much that we are adopting this as a Yoest family tradition. I think we'll have Helena, our 12-year-old who has a dramatic flair, read the Declaration of Independence before we watch the fireworks after John's baseball game. If you'd like join us in that tradition, click here for a printable copy of the Declaration.

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Fourth,

Charmaine, and the Yoest family

P.S. On Monday, the AUL team will be back at the job of defending the right to life, all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. For the latest news on President Obama's high-court nominee, visit Sotomayor411.com. It's a one-stop resource we've created to share in-depth background and analysis from our legal team on Judge Sotomayor, including detailed information on why she is worse on life issues than retiring Justice David Souter.

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

Follow us on Twitter.

Pro-Abortion Hispanic Group: Sotomayor Set Policy, Not Involved in Legal Briefs, by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, July 1, 2009,

"Although the Senate will have a significant amount of materials to wade through, Charmaine Yoest, the president of Americans United for Life, has seen enough to say Sotomayor is pro-abortion and worse than Justice David Souter, whom she would replace.

Yoest points out that, during Sotomayor's time on the PRLDEF's board, its efforts "included no less than six briefs in five abortion-related cases before the Supreme Court -- pushing aggressively for an interpretation of abortion rights that would eliminate most or all state and federal abortion regulations while requiring state and federal funding of abortion."

In two of the legal briefs, "the PRLDEF's briefs took positions more extreme than those of Justice Souter, who joined with the court's majority to uphold restrictions the fund wanted struck down," Yoest added.

Ultimately, "Justice Sotomayor has never disavowed any of the PRLDEF's briefs, which are packed with the kind of extreme rhetoric more typical of left-wing blogs than of serious legal documents." "

U.S. appeals court upholds Virginia's ban on partial-birth abortion, By Catholic News Service

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia's ban on partial-birth abortion is constitutional, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 6-5 decision June 24.

"The head of Americans United for Life, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case and assisted the state with the litigation, said the "ban protects not only the unborn, but also the health and welfare of women."

"We are thrilled that the 4th Circuit followed clear U.S. Supreme Court precedent and upheld Virginia's ban on partial-birth abortion - which is more accurately called partial-birth infanticide," said Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO.

"It is a law that the vast majority of Americans are justified in supporting," she said. Opponents of the ban are expected to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appellate court's decision.

The 2003 Virginia law makes it a felony to perform a partial-birth abortion, but it never went into effect because its constitutionality was challenged by a Richmond doctor who said the procedure can be necessary to protect the life of the mother. He also said the ban could prevent doctors from performing legal procedures for fear they would be prosecuted. "

From PA Pundits - International
"the relentless pursuit of common sense" - A Variety of Opinions From Various Writers -
"Only the pro-life group Americans United for Life has made a significant campaign against Sotomayor's ascension to the high court, calling her record on abortion rights "worse than [current Justice David] Souter's." Still, the fight should pick up once Sotomayor's confirmation hearings begin July 13."

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At a recent funeral -- they seem to come faster and faster as we get older and older -- Charmaine and I talked about burials. Cremation, well, lights our fire and speeds up that dust-to-dust transition.

Charmaine asked what we'd plan to do with the ashes, where on earth to put them. We talk about the extended family's burial plots.

"Where do you want to get buried?" She asks.

"37º18'N, 137º55'E," I say.

"What?"

"The Sea of Japan," I remind her.

She just looks at me. Women!

"What's there?" she wonders.

Bonefish.

June 18th is the day we remember the loss of USS Bonefish.

This piece was originally published by The Virginian Pilot and the Courier Post.

My father, then only a teen-ager from Jersey, left high school, went to war and was assigned to the submarine, USS Bonefish. Just before the final mission of the Bonefish, my father walked off the gangplank - transferred to another assignment. Another man took his place.

On its eighth mission, on June 18, 1945, Bonefish was lost fighting the enemy in the Sea of Japan, with the loss of all 53 officers and men. It was the last U.S. submarine sunk in World War II...

Article at the jump.

Follow us on Twitter: JackYoest and CharmaineYoest

Continue Reading »

Posted at 11:25 PM | Permalink
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LifeNews reports that Kim Gandy is leaving the leadership of the National Organization for Women (NOW) to spend more time with her family. Maybe...

It is more likely that she will join the liberal feminists running the Obama administration.

Charmaine has crossed paths with NOW's Gandy a time or two. The most memorable was in November 2005. At the time Your Business Blogger(R) noted the altercation,

I was in the middle of drafting an article on the glass ceiling for women. And got a first person account instead.

Click on image to enlarge; Charmaine on Right in red.

Today I thought I'd give the little woman a respite from the laundry and the kids. "Go play in the Nation's Capital," I said to Charmaine this morning. "Have a fun lunch with the girls!"

Then on the radio I hear Rush talk about a smack down at the Supreme Court and see a photo of Charmaine in her red power suit at Rush Limbaugh EIB Extra... .

She had Kim Gandy in a half-nelson. Elbowing Gandy aside at a press conference.

I have sat through a number of cantankerous board meetings. Adversarial budget negotiations. Hardball sales presentations. Terminations. Giving and getting.

But no one actually got spanked.

I thought the gathering of girls today would be a powder puff tea party of cooperation. Sweetness and light and reason and 'Please' and 'Thankyou.'

I was wrong. No one fights like a woman on a mission.

I'll have to rewrite the glass ceiling article.

(It is a joy to marry over your head.)

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

Be sure to follow us on Twitter: jackyoest and charmaineyoest

Press Release: AUL Senior Counsel Clarke Forsythe Publishes new book.
Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL President & CEO said, "Politics for the Greatest Good is a critical book for the pro-life movement at this time in history. This important focus on the achievable in political strategy...AUL Action

FOXBusiness reports, Americans United for Life Senior Counsel Clarke Forsythe Publishes Politics for the Greatest Good is now available at bookstores and Amazon.com.

Posted at 11:29 PM | Permalink
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Alert Readers following Your Business Blogger(R) on Twitter know that Charmaine has recently hired some world-class talent.

Where does she look for the best people?

The blogosphere.

Dawn Eden Senior Fellow, Publications and New Media Outreach

Start a blog. Follow on Twitter. You might find a job. An employer might find you.

From an AUL press release,

Author and Blogger Dawn Eden Joins Americans United for Life,

Washington, DC -- Dawn Eden has joined Americans United for Life (AUL) as Senior Fellow, Publications and New Media Outreach. Her focus will be on writing and research to promote AUL's legal expertise through both traditional media and "new media" outlets.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL President & CEO commented: "I am very pleased Dawn is joining our team. As a best-selling author and award-winning journalist, she brings a strong set of skills to the AUL team. With her dedication to the pro-life cause, Dawn will be a key part of our efforts to protect human life."

Miss Eden said: "It is my honor to join the team at AUL, America's oldest national pro-life organization. AUL is known for its unparalleled expertise across the spectrum of life issues and for its demonstrated success in motivating the grassroots. My goal as Senior Fellow is to expand the organization's publications and media presence in ways that will increase the public's recognition and support of not only AUL, but the entire pro-life movement."

Miss Eden is author of The Thrill of the Chaste (2006), a guide for young adults on being counterculturally virtuous. Now in its eighth printing, the book has been translated into Spanish, Polish, and Chinese.

A graduate of New York University, Miss Eden began her career as a music journalist in New York City. In 2004, she was awarded the Associated Press' top award for her work as a copy editor and headline writer for the New York Post.

In February 2002, she became a pro-life blogger (The Dawn Patrol), and has since contributed articles on politics and culture to the Wall Street Journal and National Review Online. In addition, she has been featured on NBC's "Today" and on EWTN, and has spoken throughout North America, England, Ireland, Poland, and Australia.

Get a job, start a blog.

Be sure to follow Jack and Charmaine on Twitter; jackyoest; charmaineyoest

Posted at 9:52 PM | Permalink
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If any statement has the conjunctive 'but' in the middle -- what follows the 'but' is more important than what precedes the 'but.'

Most Americans are not a yes or no on abortion but -- but! on a continuum.

Nancy Gibbs at Time magazine notes this challenge; the simple bogus binary choice,

Are you Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?

And suggests more nuance is needed.

So Americans United for Life is giving Time news some nuance, a Plan B, so to say: To get from Binary to But.

Charmaine first noticed this when she saw the Gallup Poll showing that 51percent of Americans are self-identified Pro-Life. But, but, when she drilled down thru the numbers the cross tabs didn't change.

In 1975 abortion:

22 percent illegal in all cases

21 percent legal in all cases

54 percent legal under certain conditions

In 2009 abortion:

22 percent illegal in all cases

23 percent legal in all cases

53 percent legal under certain conditions

The numbers really haven't changed.

In 1995 Gallup added another question, "With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?"

(The Alert Reader will notice the order in the choices...)

In 1995 only 33 percent of Americans self-identified as Pro-Life.

Today in 2009, 51 percent are Pro-Life.

But, but, this was the only number that really changed.

51 percent are Pro-Life, but, but, 76 percent want abortion legal under some circumstances.

Your Business Blogger(R) had to take graduate statistics twice to earn a Gentleman's C B, so even this numbers novice can see that there is some over lap of Americans who are both Pro-Life but, but want abortion legal.

Obama might be confused when life begins in the womb. But he has company in his confusion: most Americans are confused when/if/why it ends in the womb -- We are Pro-Life but, but Abortion should be legal.

Would it be true, as one political wag winced, The masses are @sses?

No, but.

But we are nuanced.

Charmaine Yoest, with her doctorate in political science from Mr. Jefferson's University, commissioned a scientific poll to get to the nuanced granularity of the American Public.

Her findings as president and CEO of Americans United for Life did not surprise her. And, indeed, confirmed sub-trends that now have a majority of Americans as Pro-Life.

Americans have always wanted commonsense oversight of abortion.

So let's combine a premise and an outcome, a but not binary statement, to give Time's Nancy Gibbs the nuance we all need. Here's what Charmaine's poll found,

Gallup: Abortion should be legal.

Most Americans, Abortion should be legal, but...

Americans United for Life: Abortion is legal but...

...Not in the third trimester.

...Not with my tax dollars.

...I won't pay for them overseas.

...I better know if my daughter is having one.

...Law makers should make abortion law, not judges.

...There must be some restrictions.

Americans overwhelmingly want some restrictions on abortion. They will oppose any Judicial nominee who will legislate from the bench lifting any regulation to codify Abortion on Demand.

Obama will suffer a severe loss in power and popularity if he nominates a judge who will permit the removal of commonsense regulation of abortion. A judge who advocates FOCA by stealth will have a real battle on her hands.

And as the pro-choice activists say, Pro-Lifers take no prisoners.

For over forty years, Americans United for Life has been working on incremental changes in law, state-by-state to protect women's health and well being.

And to collaterally save a few children.

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

Oklahoma recently passed legislation forbidding sex-selection abortion. India and China routinely abort first-born baby girls. (I married a first-born girl -- I've got one too. They are really quite useful...) The citizens of Oklahoma don't think this is a good idea and passes a commonsense law. Planned Parenthood is not happy and supports abortion on demand for any reason. The Supreme Court of the United States will overturn this law if Obama gets a radical on the court. Full Disclosure: AUL assisted in the legal crafting of this bill. See LifeNews.

From The Washington Post, Nancy Northup, president of The Center for Reproductive Rights, called the [AUL] campaign "a relentless anti-choice attack that is consistent with what their strategy has always been: to take no prisoners.''

Follow us on Twitter.

Posted at 8:53 AM | Permalink
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Charmaine recently appeared on FOX discussing the shift in polling -- America is now 51 percent Pro-Life according to Gallup:



Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D. on FOX

Charmaine was also interviewed for National Journal,

Abortion Debate Intensifies, Awaits Nominee, Tuesday, By Amy Harder, May 19, 2009

Abortion has re-emerged as a hot issue, and if history is any indication, it will get even hotter when President Obama makes his Supreme Court nomination.

Obama -- who first spoke out for a nominee with "empathy" before a Planned Parenthood audience in 2007 -- rekindled conservatives' wariness over the weekend with his speech at the University of Notre Dame, calling for "fair-minded" dialogue and "common ground."

Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, found Obama's speech at Notre Dame troubling in light of the names at the top of his short list. "He continues to want to use rhetoric to describe a mythical common ground while at the same time pursuing a real radical actual agenda," Yoest said. Her group recently released a report criticizing possible nominees such as Solicitor General Elena Kagan, appellate judges Sonia Sotomayor and Diane Wood, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and outgoing Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears.

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

Follow Jack and Charmaine on Twitter: @JackYoest @CharmaineYoest

Pro-Life Group Details Pro-Abortion Views of Likely Obama Supreme Court Picks, by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, May 19, 2009,

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life legal group has compiled a detailed analysis of the pro-abortion views of the several leading contenders from which President Barack Obama is expected to pick the next Supreme Court justice.

Americans United for Life indicates pro-life advocates should expect a fierce battle over abortion with virtually any of the leading candidates.

Read, AUL's short list for justice, with two notes to readers...

Posted at 3:36 PM | Permalink
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The household of Your Business Blogger(R) has been involved in a number of studies -- commissioning statistical polling.

A number of years ago, Charmaine's dissertation centered on data gathered with a $230,000 budget. To pass academic peer-reviewed scrutiny, she was most careful in 'framing questions' to get unbiased responses. And she had an expert team study the study so that all the actors involved in the questioning understood the questions.

The Little Woman knows statistical sampling and polling pit-falls.

It was of great interest to learn about the new Gallup poll showing a move of America from Pro-Choice to Pro-Life. Reporters began calling.

Charmaine did an outstanding interview with the LA Times reporter, Robin Abcarian, who was engaging and fair. (I know this 'cause I was driving while they talked on the phone...) The interview follows later.

I wanted to know more on the cause of the dramatic shift to America's current Pro-Life self-identification. So I asked Charmaine, Why such a big change?

This passes for pillow talk in our house...

She says that America has always been Pro-Life and there are four reasons for the poll shift:

Reframing Pro-Choice,
Obama Backlash,
Advances in Technology,
Financial Independence

Reframing Pro-Choice

How polling questions are framed can prompt a particular answer. But this was not the challenge of Gallup: They have asked the same question for years. The issue may well be the question itself. It seems that the public is beginning to understand when an abortion occurs -- in which trimester -- is important to being Are you Pro-Life or Pro-Choice in this black and white question. No shade of gray.

So. If a Pro-Choicer recoils at partial birth abortion, as do all normal humans, can she still be Pro-Choice? The question (and Cecile Richards at Planned Parenthood) does not allow this.

Or, more likely, if the Pro-Choicer is confused about any abortion after viability, is she no longer Pro-Choice? Maybe. If I am not Pro-Choice, then I am Pro-Life.

Charmaine's work reminds us that most Americans have always been Pro-life. But only now have the extremists of the Pro-Choicer agenda -- of abortion on demand -- pushed the public out of the comfortable gray area -- the mushy middle -- into a stark admission: I am not a part of any group who holds for partial birth abortion.

The public perception -- the shifting of the frame of the question -- changed.

It was: Yes, I am Pro-Choice because a woman can abort her baby in the first trimester.


It is: No, I am not Pro-Choice because there is no reason to abort in the third trimester.

The shift was not in the framing of the question but in the understanding of when the abortion was taking place during the pregnancy.

This demonstrates that the incremental strategy of changing law state-by-state in universal, common-sense regulation is what all Americans want. The incremental strategy of Americans United for Life is working.

Obama Backlash

This is why Planned Parenthood was so insistent that Candidate Obama push and pass The Freedom of Choice Act or FOCA. This law would kill all incremental controls passed by local lawmakers on abortion. The public is not happy with the extremism of the current Executive Order allowing Federal funding for abortions overseas. Americans don't want to pay for abortions in any country.

Americans do not want to pay for any abortion bailout.

President Obama has installed radical pro-abortion political appointees to implement Planned Parenthood's abortion on demand agenda -- abortion at any place; at any time; for any reason; at taxpayer expense. People don't like this. This makes self-identification as Pro-Choice unpalatable.

The Obama Backlash began when Jill Stanek documented his position against Infants Born Alive. What politician dare be against legislation protecting infants born alive?

Advances in Technology

Four Dimension Sonogram -- where the mother can watch her baby move about in real time. 85% of women who see the sonogram do not go through with a planned abortion -- which is why Planned Parenthood doesn't care for the science of the sonogram: It kills profits.

Babies can now survive at very young stages. Years ago Your Business Blogger(R) worked with aggressive technologies to help neonates with underdeveloped lungs to 'breathe' and to live. The public understands the new survival rates and is beginning to understand the illogical of aborting a child who could, today, survive outside the womb, where, a few years ago, could not.

Financial Independence

Most legal scholars -- even Obama short-listers -- agree that Roe v Wade was poorly reasoned and poorly decided. Even back then, the Justices cited a compelling state interest against third trimester abortions.

But recent Supreme Court cases have shifted from the healthy viability of the baby to the financial viability of the mother, a "reliance interest." The Court has now ruled that abortion is necessary so that women can break the glass ceiling.

And this is why liberals are so unhappy with Sarah Palin: She could have lotsa babies and still be a governor. Palin proves that financial success is compatible with motherhood (X 5).

(No, it is not easy. Do not just drop by our house unless you want to help do laundry...)

51% identify as 'pro-life' in U.S. It's the first time the Gallup Poll finds 'pro-choice' outweighed -- at 42% -- and a near-reversal of last year's figures, By Robin Abcarian,May 16, 2009

At a time when President Obama is trying to convince opponents in the abortion battle that they can find middle ground -- in rhetoric, if not reality -- a new Gallup Poll shows that more Americans describe themselves as "pro-life" than "pro-choice."

For the first time since it began asking the question in 1995, Gallup reported Friday, a majority of adults questioned for its annual survey on values and beliefs -- 51% -- said that when it comes to abortion, they consider themselves "pro-life"; 42% consider themselves "pro-choice." (The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.)

...antiabortion activists think they have more than the new poll on their side. "This isn't new," said Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life. "It tracks pretty much with what we've always known: People generally are pro-life depending on how you ask the question."

But Yoest said abortion foes were not placated. "There has been such an avalanche of pro-abortion activity that it's jaw-dropping. It's not just that his rhetoric doesn't square with reality; the gap is Grand Canyon-size. I think this administration has fundamentally miscalculated how out of step they are with the American people."

robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:
From the Gallup organization,

May 15, 2009, More Americans "Pro-Life" Than "Pro-Choice" for First Time
Also, fewer think abortion should be legal "under any circumstances," by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

Follow us on Twitter: @JackYoest @CharmaineYoest

Posted at 8:39 PM | Permalink
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Each year in May Your Business Blogger(R) remembers the Cold War loss of submarine Scorpion. We are so lucky to have such brave men. And their families.

Our prayer is that our current Commander-in-Chief would know the culture of our warriors.


In Remembrance of
those in the
Submarine Service Some 40 Years ago the USS Scorpion was due in my hometown, Norfolk, VA. She never returned.

She is, as the veterans say, on Eternal Patrol.

Your Business Blogger(R) wrote an article for National Review Online about those left behind from the loss of the USS Scorpion.

Five Days in May: The loss of the USS Scorpion.

By Jack Yoest

Yolanda Mazzuchi was about the prettiest girl in our school class. Our dads were in the Navy, often gone for months at a time. And they would be welcomed home at dockside with cheers and homemade signs. These gatherings at the D&S Piers at the Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, were a regular part of our lives growing up. Families often took children out of school to celebrate a ship's homecoming.

At 1 in the afternoon on Monday, May 27, 1968, at the height of the Cold War the USS Scorpion was due in port.

Yolanda didn't know it then, but her dad was already dead....

Continue reading here.

John Howland at USNA-AT-LARGE has set up a group for the boat,

Dedicated to and in honor of the 99 U.S. Navy submariners who perished in the loss of SCORPION in May 1968. The 40th Anniversary of that tragedy ...[is] (May 2008), yet the cause(s) of the loss remain a complete mystery.

USS Scorpion
40 Years on Eternal Patrol

This lack of clarity and closure has created a void into which charlatans now have full play in creating bogus theories for profit.

This unsatisfactory situation may result in the SCORPION 99 going into history forever at the mercy of the unscrupulous.

The solution that this group will work toward will be to encourage the U.S. Navy to, at the very least, put to rest the loss scenarios which have MINIMAL TO NO PROBABILITY of having actually occurred.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Follow Jack and Charmaine on Twitter: @JackYoest and @CharmaineYoest

More from BubbleHead.

And read about the Loss of the Bonefish.

Your Business Blogger(R) of Management Training of DC, LLC, is a licensed agent for the William Oncken Corporation, presenters of Managing Management Time(TM) fondly known as Monkey Management.

Remember Me at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:43 AM | Permalink
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Following press release was issued this morning from Americans United for Life.

Charmaine is scheduled for a number of media appearances today. Follow her on Twitter: @CharmaineYoest

Press Release: AUL Comments on Reported Retirement of Justice David Souter from the Supreme Court

By Daniel McConchie | May 1, 2009

"Pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee will read Freedom of Choice Act into the Constitution."

WASHINGTON - Major media outlets are reporting that United State Supreme Court Justice David Souter has informed the White House that he plans to retire at the end of the Court's current term.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO of Americans United for Life, stated, "We will work to oppose any nominee for the Supreme Court who will read the Freedom of Choice Act into the Constitution in order to elevate abortion to a fundamental right on the same plane as the freedom of speech. In his search for a replacement for Justice Souter, President Obama should avoid a pro-abortion litmus test."

Dr. Yoest continued, "This nomination represents a test for a President who has expressed a public commitment to reducing abortions while pursuing an aggressive pro-abortion agenda. Appointing an abortion radical to the Court -- someone who believes social activism trumps the Constitution - further undermines efforts to reduce abortion. In the days ahead, Justice Souter's retirement also represents a test for the Senate: will they uphold their duty to raise serious questions over a nominee's judicial philosophy?"

"The irony is that even many abortion rights supporters agree that Roe v. Wade was poorly decided," Yoest said. "One person often cited as a potential Obama pick, legal scholar Cass Sunstein, has argued that Roe 'badly overreached' and that the decision rests on shaky constitutional foundations."

Regarding Souter's tenure on the Court, Americans United for Life Senior Counsel Clarke D. Forsythe stated, "Justice David Souter is one of the most pro-abortion members of the United State Supreme Court. During his tenure, Justice Souter voted to uphold abortion on demand and to strike down common sense abortion regulations that the vast majority of Americans support. He voted in 2000 and again in 2007 to strike down prohibitions on the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. As many votes on abortion have been 5-4 decisions, his presence on the Court has extended the tragedy of abortion by restricting the right of states to make their own decisions on abortion law."

###

About Americans United for Life: Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS' Frontline program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.

Charmaine is scheduled for a number of media appearances today. Follow her on Twitter: @CharmaineYoest

Posted at 8:42 AM | Permalink
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Charmaine, Your Business Blogger(R)
Penta-Posse at the Grand Canyon
Easter 2005 Disciplines of the Risen Christ celebrate the Empty Tomb on Easter Sunday.

A few years ago Alert Readers will recall that Your Business Blogger(R) with Charmaine and the Penta-Posse attended a Sunrise Service on the rim of the Grand Canyon in John McCain's home state. The Grand Canyon is Federal Property, but the surrounding locals quietly support a congregation of church and state.

Easter is a Red-State kind of celebration -- even though Arizona is one-third blue.

So, is likely that Obama would permit a continuation of Easter Services on Federal Lands?

Would the leftist, blue-state messiah tolerate the red-state Messiah? The One without the teleprompter?

Obama ceased attending church regularly since the bungled swearing-in. But He attended Easter Services at nearby St. John's Episcopal.

Will the messiah choose St. John's? We may have a hint. He might be just as happy where the Clintons churched.

We know the church habits of Obama and the Clintons.

Cross Obama attended the Hate America First church and was mentored by Jeremiah Wright for some two decades.

The Clintons attended Foundry Methodist church when they lived in the White House in Washington, DC.

Your Business Blogger(R) attended services a time or two at Foundry Methodist during the Clinton tenure. It is a liberal church that differs from Obama's Chicago church only by degree, not kind. I stopped visiting.

Your Business Blogger(R), John Wesley Yoest, now has little use for the church founded by John Wesley.

The United Methodists at Foundry have run off the Biblical rails,

"...we proclaim this statement of welcome our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters: we affirm you..."

Obama and Clinton support liberal churches. Clinton's former church supports Obama's former church. It is likely He will continue to enjoy liberal theology.

It is certain Obama will support liberal positions in his pro-abortion-choice in the church chosen.

Sunrise Service, Grand Canyon
Photo Credit: The Dreamer

I would predict that the messiah will shut down Easter Services at the Grand Canyon.

And the president will be happy only in a pro-choice church.

Happy Easter.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Easter: He Is Risen; Family, Faith & Freedom

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Posted at 8:07 AM | Permalink
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George Weigel says that the real winner in the last election was...

the 1960's.

The Woodstock-er Flower Power, Free Love-Hippy-Hypocrites are having children and presidents of their own.

Love Hypocrites? Yep.

If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with!

Sex sells as nothing else. But only sex. Nothing else.

Your Business Blogger(R) was at a local high school sporting event in the stands next to another doting dad who truly cares about his daughter. (Note: this story is essentially true; some details have been changed for obvious reasons.)

I know about the daughter. A lot. Too much.

Charmaine and I regularly monitor The (teenaged) Dreamer's and the Dude's Facebook friends. And saw pictures of someone else's daughter that would not get her hired in any company I advise.

I gently suggest to the Dad that Facebook is a good source to learn if teenage daughters are well, "active."

He says. "I don't want to know." I am perplexed.

He smiles, "They are just going to do it anyway."

He didn't want to know about his daughter's (potential) amorous adventurous.

But he might get concerned...

If he learned that she might be smoking.

And without a doubt, if her football friends were drinking and driving.

Sex: OK anytime.

Smoking: BAD anytime.

Drinking: BAD while driving.

Facebook: WHAT?

Woodstock-ers don't mind if their daughter's are sexually active, as long as they really care about their health: no smoking and don't drive while drunk.

(I'm still waiting for the public school system Safe Smoking Class; the Safe Drinking Class.)

The contraceptive pill known as Plan B soon will be made available without prescription to minors without parental consent . . .

This is Woodstock-ing your children.

NATASHA SINGER writes in The New York Times, Contraception Pill Strictures Are Eased by a Judge

A federal judge ordered the Food and Drug Administration on Monday to make the Plan B morning-after birth control pill available without prescription to women as young as 17....

The agency has 30 days to comply with the order, in which the judge also urged the agency to consider removing all restrictions on over-the-counter sales of Plan B. The drug consists of two pills that prevent conception if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse...

Not until 2006 did the F.D.A. rule, saying that the drug could be sold without a prescription only to women over 18. In order to enforce the age restriction, the agency also ordered that Plan B be stocked behind pharmacy counters, in contrast to other over-the-counter contraceptives like condoms.

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York unilaterally determined in Tummino v. Torti that 17 year old girls should have unrestricted, over-the-counter access to Plan B or so-called "emergency contraception." In doing so, the court overruled a previous decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requiring that minors first obtain a valid prescription for the potentially dangerous drug.

The Obama Administration is widely expected to welcome the ruling and not pursue a meaningful appeal in the case.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO of Americans United for Life said, "Given legitimate concerns about the safety of self-medicating with Plan B, it is incomprehensible that we would allow a minor to walk into any pharmacy and obtain this drug without medical oversight or parental involvement."

So where did this new nonsense originate?

Sam & Dave sum it up,

I was educated at Woodstock
When I start lovin', oh, I just can't stop

Join Fight FOCA Maybe the Obama administration is right:

Kids are going to do it anyway:

They just can't stop.

But they better not have a cigarette after...

The Woodstock-administration is working to promote prescription pills to underage girls.

Abortions are coming next.

Stop the Woodstock-ers.

Fight FOCA.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Some versions From the Blues Brothers have,
I was educated from good stock
When I start lovin' I just cant stop

The Woodstock-ers have created the party of death.

Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) spent a number of decades in pharmaceutical and medical device companies and had to work with FDA requirements.

The FDA has its reasoning upside down, backwards, wrong.

That is to say: They are making political -- not a medical -- decision.

The normal contraceptive Pill requires a prescription from a licensed physician.

Plan B IS the Pill, except much, much stronger.

Now Plan B will require no prescription, but its stronger dose twin does?

This is lunacy. This is anti-science. This is anti-health.

This is the new administration.

See Truthspeaker's Weblog

Visit Court Gives 17-Year-Old Girls Unrestricted Access to Morning-After Pill
Tuesday, By Susan Jones, Senior Editor

Posted at 6:41 AM | Permalink
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When does life begin? Obama wasn't sure, but the science is settled.

Life begins at conception.

Charmaine on an earlier appearance on C-SPAN

From an article by William L. Saunders, Jr., graduate of Harvard Law School, in the Fordham Urban Law Journal,

Lethal Experimentation on Human Beings: Roe's Effect on Bioethics,

There is no mystery about when human life begins. It is only within the political and ideological context that this matter is contested...

When the matter is not being debated in a courtroom or on the floor of the Congress, when it is left for scientific analysis, the resolution is clear.

Human life begins, in the normal, ordinary case, at "conception," that is to say, at fertilization...

See, e.g., C.R. Austin, Fertilization, in Germ Cells and Fertilization 103, 103 (C.R. Austin & Short eds., 1972).

Charmaine is scheduled to debate against Embryonic Stem Cell Research and for Adult Stem Cell Research on Fox and Friends on Sunday morning the 8th.

Note this is not the Sunday morning Fox with Chris Wallace.

Hit time estimate is 8am eastern.

Thank you (foot)notes,

See Adult Stem Cell Research: Benefits and Successes

The Politico Quotes Yoest on Embryonic Stem Cell Legislation
Charmaine Quoted in Congressional Quarterly on Stem Cell Research

West Wing propaganda on stem cell research

What's a Blastocyst, Anyway?

Posted at 7:18 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine at AUL was interviewed by the Associated Press by phone while we were in Laguna Niguel over the weekend.

Sebelius, credit: Tony's Kansas City

JOHN HANN writes, Abortion foes vow to fight a Sebelius nomination,

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- National anti-abortion groups promise a vigorous fight if President Barack Obama nominates Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as U.S. health and human services secretary....

"It's not just that she has a pro-abortion rights viewpoint," said Charmaine Yoest, president and chief executive officer of Americans United for Life Action. "It's her very close association with one of the most infamous abortionists in this country."...

Abortion foes said Friday an important issue is a reception Sebelius once had with a late-term abortion provider who's now facing criminal charges.

Administration officials disputed the idea that abortion is an issue as to whether Obama nominates Sebelius. She is considered a leading candidate for the HHS job, although the White House has said others are being considered.

Abortion opponents acknowledged Friday that they'll probably be uncomfortable with nearly anyone Obama nominates, but they're particularly upset by the prospect of Sebelius.

A major reason is an event in April 2007 at the governor's residence with Dr. George Tiller and his Wichita clinic's staff. Abortion foes eventually obtained photos from the reception and posted them last year on the Internet.

Charmaine's reports that Sebelius opposes and has voted against Parental Notification and safe, clinical standards for abortion offices. See the Americans United for Life Action blog,

The need for this critical legislation was predicated, in large part, on evidence of shocking conditions in Kansas abortion clinics.

For example, two inspections of the same Topeka abortion clinic discovered fetal remains stored in the same refrigerator as food;

a dead rodent in the clinic hallway;

overflowing, uncovered disposal bins containing medical waste;

unlabeled, pre-drawn syringes with controlled substances in an unlocked refrigerator;

improperly labeled and expired medicines; carpeted floor in the surgical procedure room; and visible dirt and general disarray throughout the clinic.

Dr. Krishna Rajanna, who operated the unsanitary clinic, also consistently violated the practice guidelines for conscious sedation.

These unsanitary medical practices would close a restaurant, let alone an abortion office. Other issues that disqualify Sebelius,

On balance, Gov. Sebelius' record demonstrates that she is unfit to serve as HHS Secretary and should not be in a position to make such important policy determinations including:

* Whether to rescind, modify, or retain HHS rules requiring that recipients of certain federal funding certify their compliance with existing federal law supporting healthcare fights of conscience;

* Whether to expand the over-the-counter availability of abortifacients such as "Plan B" (so-called "emergency contraception") to allow minors to obtain these controversial and dangerous drugs without a prescription or doctor's involvement; and

* Whether to rescind approval for or, at a minimum, review the safety and efficacy of RU-486 ("the abortion pill") which has killed at least 7 women in the U.S. since it was approved by the FDA in September 2000.

Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) worked in a restaurant as a teenager. My boss was always worried that the Health Department Inspector might find some random rat dropping. My restaurant manager would have nothing to fear if Sebelius was the governor. Sebelius is not qualified to oversee a food service business. And she is not qualified to run Health and Human Resources.

See KansasCity.com

Posted at 10:03 AM | Permalink
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Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine are spending a few days at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel for a series of meetings.

This Ritz sold us in the first two minutes.

The car valet attendant took our car and offered assistance with our bags. Walking thru the front entrance, the staff welcomed us.

By name.

We are escorted to the check-in counter (of magnificent stone) and Charmaine addresses the lovely clerk (young, but mature and a happily married mother we soon learn),

Charmaine asks, "How did the door man know our names?"

She looks up. "He's got special powers," she replied matter of factly.

Funny. Smart. Ladies and Gentlemen Serving Ladies and Gentlemen.

The Ritz knows how to sell. The lifetime value of each regular guest of the hotel is over $300,000.

Commitment, Attention to Detail, Immediate Follow-up: Selling.

Save the Date:

Question: What lost Vietnam?

Answer: A failed sales presentation.

Well-run organizations have decision makers and influencers who are sales professionals at every level. People who persuade.

They sell to customers, superiors and peers. They are 'salesmen' who work to control events - both inside and outside the organization. Salesmen in business development who are account managers.

Who: Professionals and life-long students in management or in business development - sales, fund-raising, leadership.

What: The seminar will equip the attendee with background on how to manage and how to sell both tangibles and intangibles -- To sell ideas, and products, and services.

When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 11:00pm to 12:15pm

Where: Northern Virginia Community College,
Alexandria Campus, campus map
The new Bisdorf Auditorium, room 196
3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 street map

Why: Increase sales, Increase funding,
Sell an idea, Save the world.

Cost: No Charge. Register here at JYoest@NVCC.edu. Space is limited.

Suggested class reading:

Selling your skills, Do You Have An Incompetent Manager? From The Washington Post.

Management_Time__Who_s_Got_the_Monkey___HBR_OnPoint_Enhanced_Edition_.pdf Harvard Business Review. How not to sell in the office.

One Minute YouTube Introduction: Office Politics: Someone is always selling, Someone is always buying.

Come to this class. You might be the one to prevent another Vietnam.

Jack Yoest
202.215.2434
Adjunct Professor

Posted at 11:05 AM | Permalink
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Join Fight FOCA Charmaine sent this note to 300,000 of her closest friends who are Fighting FOCA, the so called 'Freedom of Choice Act,'

Thank you for recently taking action by contacting your Member of Congress and asking them to sign onto a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi defending pro-life riders.

Yesterday, the Jordan/Shuler letter was sent to Speaker Pelosi and released to the public with 180 Congressional signers -- 157 Republicans and 23 Democrats.

Thank you for contacting your Representative. Because you took action with us, a broad coalition of Members of Congress made a public stand to defend our pro-life principles.

As we've mentioned before, the attacks on pro-life riders is the first attempt by the pro-abortion movement to pass the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) "by stealth".

It is so vital we do whatever we can to defend these vital amendments to federal budget bills and keep our tax dollars from being used to pay for abortion here in the United States and on our military bases worldwide. Repealing these laws is the first target of Planned Parenthood and their allies -- and their first step toward pushing the FOCA agenda.

The full text of the letter with all of the signatures is available on the AUL Action blog (PDF).

We look forward to keeping you informed as things progress on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures across the country.

Yours for Life,

Charmaine

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
AUL Action The Legislative Arm of Americans United for Life
FightFOCA.com

Thank you (foot)notes:

DAVID CRARY at The (liberal) Huffinton Post writes, Anti-Abortion Groups Invigorated By Obama Win, which generated 559 comments,

"The hardline, divisive tactics they've used have been resoundingly rejected," said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "We'll probably see some splintering within the conservative community. ...I'd hope some of the folks on the right, if their goal is to reduce the need for abortions, would link arms with us."

But for now, anti-abortion leaders are eager to appear undaunted.

"Any time you have a loss like that, you have an opportunity to reassess and come back stronger," said Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life. "If they want to see this as a big loss that will set us back, that's OK. Our people are very energized, and ready for Round Two."

John Cronin writes about the win in the battle on the war on FOCA in comMITTed to Romney,

As I wrote in my post from several days ago, we have won another battle in the fight to protect innocent life in the womb, but the war continues.

I post this email...to help share the conviction that grassroots activism does work. Together, we are making a difference.

See What horrors await us in the penumbras formed by emanations.

All About Americas Sweetheart - Sarah Palin.

Visit soulpants with Advocates prepare for uphill battle to end abortion under pro-choice president.

Roundup: Condoms Trump Abstinence in Obama Global AIDS Policy.

Read Women of Faith with FOCA on the Family, Pardon the pun, but churches and families need to be aware of how the Freedom of Choice Act will impact their community, something we should expect to see enacted...

SPECIAL: Interview with AUL Action's Charmaine Yoest...

Read More Local More Personal.

Posted at 11:46 PM | Permalink
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Obama is speaking to a joint session of congress. The War is not a priority for Obama and liberals.

Every soldier's death is a public event.

Back in the day of the horse cavalry, Your Business Blogger(R) was privileged to be a Survival Assistance Officer helping families who lost a service member. As a young Cavalry Officer, I commanded a number of burial details. The part that hurt and still moves in slow motion in my mind's eye, is handing the tri-folded American flag to the widow.

I never cried at these funerals. I was too young. It was a task, a detail that had to be done.

Charmaine and I have two sons who we expect will serve our country in uniform. And they may serve a commander-in-chief who does not demand victory over our enemies.

Americans want Victory over -- not justice for -- terrorists.

The following article was written a few years ago and deserves a wide audience, courtesy of John Howland of USNA-At-Large.

TAKING CHANCE23 Apr 04 - The enclosed article was written by LtCol M.R. Strobl USMC who is assigned to MCCDC Quantico, VA and served as the officer who escorted the remains of PFC C. Phelps USMC from Dover AFB, DE to his home. PFC Phelps was assigned to 3d Bn, 11th Marines - an artillery unit functioning as a provisional infantry battalion during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 2. PFC Phelps was killed in action from a gunshot wound received on 9 Apr 04 during combat operations west of Baghdad. He was buried in Dubois, WY on 17 Apr 04.

PFC Chance Phelps

Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn't know Chance before he died.

Today, I miss him...

Read at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 12:19 PM | Permalink
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Alert Readers have noted that Charmaine did not make a number of points about the Octo-mom on Huckabee.

The segment was edited down for time. But Charmaine at AUL and some media outlets are reporting about the need for regulation of fertility clinics and Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART).

Cheryl Wetzstein writes
WETZSTEIN: Fertility industry in need of rules in the Washington Times,

Lawmakers in a hurry might want to consider model ART legislation from the pro-life Americans United for Life (AUL).

The bill recommends limiting the transfer of embryos to two at a time and encourages using frozen embryos before creating new ones, AUL official Mailee Smith said. It also would require comprehensive informed consent, so women can understand the range of health risks associated with multiple births, she said.

Charmaine was scheduled to appear on Larry King Live to continue the fertility debate, but was canceled.

Thank you (foot)notes,

See more of AUL's incremental abortion strategy in, MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH New trend: Ultrasounds before abortion 12 states may require doctors to offer image of baby prior to terminating life, By Chelsea Schilling, © 2009 WorldNetDaily. For example, in,

Missouri: Physicians and other "professionals" performing abortions must provide information about free ultrasound services, allow the woman access to an ultrasound and provide her with a chance to listen to the heartbeat of her unborn baby.

Currently, a patient must be informed of risks of abortions 24 hours before terminating her pregnancy. Doctors must have written parental consent or a court order to perform abortions on minors.

According to Americans United for Life, the state's General Assembly "has found that the life of each human being begins at conception." The state prohibits partial-birth abortion throughout pregnancy.

Most fertility clinics break the rules.

Posted at 9:12 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Charmaine will be appearing on Larry King Live on CNN on Thursday, 19 Feb 2009.

She will be doing another debate on the mom with 14 children.

Charmaine lecturing on a college campus.

Hit time is 9 pm eastern. Please tune in and let us know what you think.

Watch Charmaine debate this issue on Huckabee.

Be sure to follow Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R) on Facebook. Charmaine puts all the good stuff on Facebook -- go 'Friend' her.

Visit Little Saints in the Making.

Posted at 10:20 PM | Permalink
Comments (0)

Charmaine appeared on Mike Huckabee's Huckabee cable show on FOX this past Saturday and Sunday.

She debated the Octo-mom issue.

Please let us know what you think.

Thank you (foot)notes,

See Americans United for Life.

Visit Pro-Life Choices Network letter on FOCA.

Congressman John P. Murtha (D-PA) to Oppose FOCA on Vivficat.

Renewing My Faith, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 writes,

I was really disappointed that Charmaine was not able to touch more on the important topics such as:

1. These Dr. are operating as self-regulated with no laws preventing them from what they are doing. The need to have public policy stating what is ethical for Dr. to perform.
2. Are these Dr. doing harm to the patient by implanting 8 embryos?...

Brook B asks good questions. Her interview was taped and was much, much longer but was edited down for the show. Many of the issues were covered in the original debate.

Your Business Blogger(R) is confident that the debate that Brook is looking for will be seen on Larry King Live tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 on CNN. Charmaine is schedule to appear and will continue the conversation.

Posted at 5:35 PM | Permalink
Comments (2)

Charmaine will be appearing with Mike Huckabee on Huckabee on FOX.

She will be debating the issues spawned by the octo-birthing 33 year old Jolie-wannabee, octuplet mom Nadya Suleman.

Her bills are paid for by the taxpayers.

She might bankrupt her home state of California all by herself...and her 14 [bad word removed by editortrix] fatherless children.

George Weigel gave a lecture the other night in Your Nation's Capital. His theme was about the cultural shift in the recent election. It was not so much that Obama had won, but who, or, rather 'what' the real winner was.

The real winner of the presidential election was...the 1960's.

George Weigel recounts that the 60's as the winner actually began when convicted felon Bill Clinton was able to remain in the office of the president. The liberals and the elites and the academics and Hollywood and mainstream media would rather have a sexual harasser remain in office than restrain -- in any fashion -- the libertine sexual freedom born in the 60's generation.

Obama embodies that leftist sexual license, George Weigel writes,

My reading of Senator Obama's record is that he is a genuine leftist: not a pragmatic liberal, like Clinton, but a true man of the left, in the European sense of the term. And that's probably why he's so popular in European circles.

On abortion, though, he is not simply a leftist, but a radical: in the Illinois state legislature, he led the fight against a partial-birth abortion ban, and against a law that would have given legal protection to infants who survive a late-term abortion.

From the latter, one would have to include that Senator Obama thinks a women has a right, not only to an abortion, but to a dead baby.

This is a position far, far to the left of the American mainstream. Obama's instincts in foreign affairs are also leftist: he does not seem to understand that there are people who hate the West and who are determined to do it harm for their own reasons, not because of anything the West has putatively done for them.

The 1960's won. It will take some time for the adults to take back power.

The sexual revolution separated sex from procreation.

And today the sexual revolution has separated procreation from sex.

The Octo-mom wanted children. Lots of them. But a husband; a father for her children wasn't happening. No need. Like feminists the world over, she needed a man like a fish needs a bicycle.

Why a man? When the taxpayer will send home the bacon and pay the rent.

Tune in and let us know what you think. Hit time is 8pm eastern on FOX.

Thank you (foot)notes,

Charmaine served as Senior Advisor traveling with the Huckabee for president campaign.

Read more on Wiegel's Cube and Cathedral.

Posted at 10:31 PM | Permalink
Comments (2)

Americans United for Life has released a state-by-state review of local abortion laws. The ranking is based on a numerical evaluation-criteria. See State by State Legal Guide to Abortion, Bioethics and the End of Life.

The Best States

1. Pennsylvania
2. Louisiana
3. South Dakota
4. Oklahoma
5. Mississippi
6. Texas
7. North Dakota
8. Nebraska
9. Arkansas
10. Indiana

The Worst States

50. California
49. Hawaii
48. Vermont
47. New Jersey
46. Connecticut
45. Nevada
44. Oregon
43. New York
42. Washington
41. Illinois

And please sign the FightFOCA petition!

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

The KansasJackass loves abortion and Planned Parenthood.

Also see LifeNews reports, Missouri Bill Introduced for Ultrasound, Better Informed Consent Before Abortion

See 12 States Weigh Ultrasound Abortion Bills, by Christianity Today.

Is The State You Live In For Or Against Life?

See Craig's Cogitations.

Is your state for or against life?

Read the outstanding writing by Meredith Turney at California Ranks DEAD Last.

SwampFox discusses FOCA

Jeremy Alford blogs How pro-life is Louisiana?

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL president, says the ranking offers every reason for optimism for conservatives in Louisiana, especially with the election of Democratic President Barack Obama, who is pro-choice. "Since the election, we have seen a huge outpouring of grassroots support for our work opposing the radically pro-abortion Freedom of Choice Act as well as hundreds of inquiries about life-affirming legislation," Youest says.

Life as it Happens has more on Obama and FOCA.

Kyrie Eleison gives a link.

The Spin Cipher has Freedom of Choice for who?

Cellar dweller has California at bottom of list in pro-life group's ranking of states.

Posted at 8:45 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) advises students and clients to memorize important presentations.

Brute memorization is mocked by educracrats, the union thugs well-meaning liberals who run public education.

Brute memorization is loved by home-schoolers, the brilliant parents and students who are get education right.

There are some facts that must be learned. Must be memorized.

Our Penta-Posse was home-schooled for a season. And have now moved into the public school system. (High school sports beckon.)

The idea for this YouTube comes from The Dude. His elementary school teacher once asked about the presidents and who followed who. The Dude knew the answer, and volunteered a bit more.

"It seems that you know all the presidents," says The Dude's teacher. "Can you name them in order?"

"Sure," says The Dude. "How do you want them? Forwards ...or backwards?"

Here are the presidents in order Washington to Obama:

And reverse order Obama to Washington:

What to learn the State Capitals and the presidents in order? Then order States and Capitals and the Presidents by Jerry Lucas

Posted at 9:04 PM | Permalink
Comments (4)

Conservatives have the correct content and communication, but what is needed now is control -- the control seen as a component of management*.

Quin Hillyer at the AmSpecBlog, the American Spectator Blog, writes, We Need Managers,

I can think of all sorts of conservative organizations that need better management skills. Maybe they should try to learn something here.

Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) reminds students and clients that management is defined as more than merely getting things done through others.

Management is getting things done through the ACTIVE SUPPORT of others. Lean how.

Your Business Blogger(R)
at the Stern Business School
at the New York University

Following is your invitation.

You Are Invited.

The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey: An Introduction
How to Manage Your Staff and How to Manage Your Manager

Well-run organizations have managers and staff who work to control events, instead of events controlling them. They anticipate the future . . . adapt to the present . . . and learn from the past.

Who: Managers who need to get in control of events or to better influence results

What: An introduction to The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey

1. The Management Equation:
Vocational Time vs. Management Time

2. How Management Really Works:
The Molecule of Management

3. The Who and How of Promotions:
The Freedom Scale

Alexandria Campus, campus map
The new Bisdorf Auditorium, room 196
3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 street map

The class will center on the work of Ken Blanchard and Bill Oncken in their book The One Minute Manager Meets The Monkey. Also used will be the Harvard Business Review article, Managing Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?, published in 1974, by Bill Oncken, Jr.. The article, an edited excerpt of the Managing Management Time™ seminar, has gone on to become one of the two most requested reprints in the history of the Review. The training summarized in the article is sometimes called the "Monkey Management" seminar.

Jack Yoest, Adjunct Professor of Management and President of Management Training of DC, is a former Armored Cavalry Officer in Combat Arms. His military leadership training and experience guides his management philosophy at the core of Managing Management Time™. He has managed software, health care and international human resource management companies.

Jack also served in the Governor's Office of the Commonwealth Virginia as Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Resources where he acted as the Chief Technology Officer for the secretariat. He was responsible for the successful Year 2000 (Y2K) conversion for the 16,000-employee unit. He was also a manager with a medical device start-up and helped move sales from zero to over $12 million, resulting in a buy-out by Johnson & Johnson. Jack has consulted in China and India.

Questions? email JYoest@NVCC.edu or call Jack at 202.215.2434 to save your spot.

Suggested class reading:

Do You Have An Incompetent Manager? From The Washington Post

Who's Got The Monkey? from the Harvard Business Review

One Minute YouTube Introduction:

Jack Yoest
202.215.2434
Adjunct Professor

*Management is traditionally defined as planning, organizing, leading, motivating and controlling.

There is no free lunch. The class is not FREE. It will be presented at no charge to the guests.

Parking and Directions at the Campus here.

Posted at 9:22 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

The movie theater was packed. But no one was eating popcorn. No one was expecting to be entertained.

No one expected a good time.

However, expectations were exceeded. We were watching a movie about pain and death.

A movie about abortion.

There are over 500 serious botched abortions, re: Live Births, each year.

The movie 22 Weeks tells the true story of one of them.

Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R) attended a screening of 22 Weeks in Washington, DC.

We talked with director Angel Manuel Soto after his movie. Charmaine commented that the film was well done. Hollywood quality. (This was, in this case, a compliment.)

Charmaine asked about the funding. Soto said 22 Weeks was "low budget."

What does that mean? "How low?" Charmaine asked.

"$25,000 from two donors," said director.

$25K? For a film that might change the world.

Soto feels that the story is compelling and could be a game changer. (Let's not call it a killer app...)

He feels the movie can change the culture on abortion, like the book Uncle Tom's Cabin changed the nation's emotions on slavery.

When Harriet Beecher Stowe visited the White House during the War Between The States, Lincoln greeted her, "So this is the Little Lady Who Started this Great War."

Perhaps 22 Weeks will start a different kind of war.

Join Fight FOCA

Alert Readers know that Charmaine will be speaking at the Blogs 4 Life just before the annual March for Life.

She will be speaking to alternative media outlets. She will lead with the news that the Americans United for Life Action web site FightFOCA.com petition crossed over to 500,000 signatures tonight on the eve of the March.

As Charmaine and I walked thru Union Station to catch 22 Weeks, we noticed that it was a bit more crowded than usual.

"Maybe all these people came for the Obama inauguration -- and are staying over for the 22 Weeks movie...?" I asked.

Charmaine just looked at me, "Not likely."

Thank you (foot)notes:

Fight FOCA with Catching Butterflies

Royalty expounds on FOCA.

Posted at 9:24 PM | Permalink
Comments (9)

People are divided. The country is divided.

However one feels, Obama has promised to make this division worse. He has promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act or FOCA.

The Coweta-FayetteRTL blog reminds us that FOCA would,

* Provide for taxpayer-funded abortion on demand at all 9 months of pregnancy

* Grant abortionists protections from legal action

* Allow abortionists to perform abortion on minors without parental notification

* Deny health care workers the right to refuse to make abortion referrals as a matter of conscience

* Take away legal protection from religiously-affiliated hospitals who refuse to allow abortions within their facilities

* Overturn laws requiring abortions to be performed by a licensed physician

In April 2007 the Senate considered FOCA. Read the bill foca_2007_senate.pdf.

The Supreme Court has allowed abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Obama goes further (and later) and supports post-birth abortion. A civilized people will not stand for the destruction of its most defenseless citizens. Obama is in for a fight.

Join Fight FOCA

December before last Your Business Blogger(R) followed Charmaine as she worked on the Huckabee presidential campaign. I drove the Penta-Posse in the monster Huck-a-truck and we lived out (lots!) of suitcases across Arkansas, Iowa, New Hampshire.

All of the campaigners, liberal and conservative, stayed in the same hotels. We often crossed paths and chatted in the elevators.

Sometimes we'd compliment the Obama team. "He's a very attractive candidate," I remember saying to an Obama worker at one time...

Anybody was better than Hillary.

Now we have both of them.

So what do we do now with the coming socialists? Waiting for the party of death?

Sign FightFOCA, to start.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Be sure to see Charmaine speak at Blogs 4 Life this Thursday, the 22nd in Your Nation's Capital.

Random Thoughts has graphics of partial birth abortion, which would be permitted under Obama's Freedom of Choice Act.

Thank you to NRL for the FOCA legislative link.

Please sign the petition. Almost 470,000 have signed to date.

Pro-Life and Pro-Obama?

See the Americans United for Life blog.

See Major Scoop on FOCA.

Read Father Jim,

As Catholics, we must oppose passage of the evil "Freedom of Choice Act." To read more about our U.S. Bishops' opposition to FOCA, visit www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/FOCA. Americans United For Life is also encouraging pro-lifers to sign a petition against FOCA at www.fightfoca.com. Also certain to arise soon is the issue of federal judgeship nominations. President Obama's picks for these key positions are all expected to be pro-choice, as are his choices for the Supreme Court. Committed pro-life Catholics have ample opportunity to pray for our nation, the very anti-life direction we are going towards now and our new President. God help America!

Abortion and FOCA is uniting all different religious traditions. See Making My Own Colors.

Be sure to bookmark Jill Stanek. We will need her insight over the next 4 years.

Obama: Abortion & The Death of a Live Birth, "Let all the babies be born. Then let us drown those we do not like."

Watch the videos on Lisa's blog. And thank her for installing the FightFOCA code on her template.

ComMITTed to Romney has Sign FightFOCA.com's Petition to Protect Human Life!

A former submariner is Fighting FOCA.

A and A have got the code.

Barbara takes on "Choice."

Abortions are decreasing.

And no, Abortion is not a right.

Tom McMahon asks about The Change.

2nd Cup of Coffee has Just One Wish.

Posted at 8:13 AM | Permalink
Comments (3)

Question: Who Declared Jan 22nd as National Sanctity of Human Life Day?

Answer: Ronald Reagan.

January 22nd is commemorated each year as National Sanctity of Human Life Day; the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe vs Wade.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Sunday, January 22, 1984, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

I call upon the citizens of this blessed land to gather on that day in homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life, and to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of each human life.

No wonder liberals hate Ronald Reagan.

Join Fight FOCA Charmaine was interviewed for Moody Bible Radio on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), Sanctity of Life Sunday and The March for Life.

Visit Paul Butler's blog for the audio link. Good stuff.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Paul Butler at Paul Butler's Production Blog points us to Ronald Reagan's proclamation of January 22nd.

Reagan issued the Proclamation on January 13, 1984,

"The values and freedoms we cherish as Americans rest on our fundamental commitment to the sanctity of human life.

The first of the "unalienable rights'' affirmed by our Declaration of Independence is the right to life itself, a right the Declaration states has been endowed by our Creator on all human beings -- whether young or old, weak or strong, healthy or handicapped."

Conservatives are now the protectors of the "little guy."

The text of Reagan's proclamation at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 12:55 PM | Permalink
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Sanctity of Life Sunday is being celebrated on the 18th -- before the March for Life on Thursday, January 22nd.

In between these two dates, the most pro-abortion president in history, Barack Obama, will be sworn in on Tuesday the 20th.

What a week.

Americans United for Life has a church bulletin insert available to alert voters on the Obama abortion agenda. See the full page insert here. Read Charmaine's letter at the jump.

The Family Research Council writes,

"Blogs for Life is scheduled to take place the day of the 36th annual March for Life, during which hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates gather in the nation's capitol to celebrate life and demand the reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

The conference will feature several prominent conservative voices including Senator Sam Brownback, Amanda Carpenter, Jill Stanek, Michael New, Ph.D., Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., Michael Illions, Chris Gacek, J.D. and Martha Shuping, M.D. all speaking with bloggers live from Family Research Council headquarters."

Join Fight FOCA To date almost 425,000 people have signed the FightFOCA petition.

It just might get Obama's attention.

Because it is the right thing to do.

How can Your Business Blogger(R) be so sure?

Because Chuck Norris approves of FightFOCA.

Chuck Norris writes at Human Events,

"Please, before FOCA flies onto the congressional floor in the upcoming days, sign the online petition to fight FOCA (www.fightfoca.com), and then contact your representatives and senators to tell them how you expect them to vote on the bill."

Chuck Norris is always right. He's smart. As The Dude says, 'Chuck Norris can divide by zero.'

Thank you (foot)notes:

The Dude worked backstage with Chuck Norris on the Huckabee presidential campaign trail in December 2007.

Pro-Choice abortion-approver Christina doesn't care much for the Fight against FOCA. She used to work for Planned Parenthood and says there is no such procedure as a partial birth abortion. I don't think she's seen the pictures...warning: graphic dead baby unwanted human tissue.

The Secular Heretic telling the news as it really is, has the FightFOCA code in his template. A good-guy.

UPDATE: Blogs 4 Life is on the Right Wing Watch list from People for the American Way. The anti-American PfAW has more time for abortion, now that Obama will soon be surrendering in Iraq and to Iran.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:36 PM | Permalink
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The church was full to overflowing. Even visiting priests had to stand in the aisle.

I'm sure this exceeded the Fire Marshal's Max Occupancy. But no NYFDer was going to stop this Mass demonstration.

Father Richard John Neuhaus was buried today. We were reminded of his final writings on abortion. That we would never tire nor grow weary in defending Life.

Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine talked about the funeral on the train back to DC. Pleased and humbled and encouraged by what Father Richard accomplished.

We were resolved to do two things to help carry on his work:

1) Continue to fight the good fight for the sanctity of Life. And,

2) Have more dinner parties.

We will pass on the cigars.

The abortion debate will have some challenges during the Obama administration.

Sarah Pulliam writes in Christianity Today, Battle Fatigue
Abortion opponents head into Obama presidency after big losses

"The first thing I'd do as President," Barack Obama told Planned Parenthood in 2007, "is sign the Freedom of Choice Act." The bill would remove almost all state and federal restrictions on abortion. But observers wonder if the anti-abortion movement has enough life in it to successfully fight the legislation or similar measures...

Signs of fatigue aside, observers agree that abortion will remain a major political issue.

"People are still energized and ready to fight a radical agenda on abortion as it comes down the pipe," said Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life.

[She should have said 'pike' not 'pipe.' She has a delightful way of mixing the metaphor: Belly up to the plate; Step up to the bar, Easy as cake, It's a piece of pie. She is a fun woman to live with...]

Polls and other research suggest that younger evangelicals are more supportive of abortion restrictions than older evangelicals are. A 2007 study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that 70 percent of younger white evangelicals favor "making it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion," compared with 55 percent of older white evangelicals.

The Pro-Life Movement as the Politics of the 1960s by Richard John Neuhaus

Copyright (c) 2009 First Things (January 2009).

Whatever else it is, the pro-life movement of the last thirty-plus years is one of the most massive and sustained expressions of citizen participation in the history of the United States. Since the 1960s, citizen participation and the remoralizing of politics have been central goals of the left. Is it not odd, then, that the pro-life movement is viewed as a right-wing cause?...

These are the issues addressed in a remarkable new book out this month from Princeton University Press, The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right, by Jon Shields, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College...

The pro-life movement is a movement for change, indeed for what some view as the radical change of eliminating the unlimited abortion license. "Meanwhile," writes Shields, "the pro-choice movement is a conservative movement defending the status quo. Pro-choicers have little to gain from engaging their opponents and from the deliberative norms that facilitate persuasion."

...the abortion battle is over abortion and whether the unborn child counts as a human person, but where one comes out on that question is, I believe, powerfully influenced by a host of other beliefs and attitudes aptly summarized in the pro-life language of a culture of death versus a culture of life. There are two cultures, one focused on rights and laws and the other on rights and wrongs; one focused on maximizing individual self-expression and the other on reinforcing community and responsibility....

"One of the great political ironies of the past few decades," writes Shields, "is that the Christian Right has been much more successful than its political rivals at fulfilling New Left hopes for American democracy. Far more than any movement since the early campaign for civil rights, the Christian Right has helped revive participatory democracy in America by overcoming citizens' alienation from politics." As one has all too many occasions to observe, history has many ironies in the fire. To the 1960s proponents of participatory democracy, the maxim applies: Be careful what you hope for. To those flirting with despair in the face of an Obama presidency, the advice is offered: You might want to get a copy of The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right by Jon Shields. And all of us would do well to ponder the wisdom in the observation that there are no permanently lost causes because there are no permanently won causes.

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

We had dinner last night at the Algonquin Hotel, birthplace of the New Yorker. Where writers and what-not would gather at the The Roundtable in the 1920's and 30's. We sat at The Roundtable and learned about the literary giants who walked those floors and sat at these places. We stared at the large wooden table and marveled and mumbled something about history to the waiter.

"The Table? Nevermind. It's a replica. Dunno where the real one is," he said. "New owners did something with it..."

The table was a fake. Made us think about all those authentic pro-choicers at the New Yorker.

Read more from First Things at the jump.

Vital Signs also recommends First Things.

Also see Wake for Father Richard John Neuhaus.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 7:40 PM | Permalink
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The train was delayed and we all moaned and complained. Until we learned the train ahead of us killed a man.

Life can come at you fast.

The fur's in the center, The Dreamer, center right, in her first fur coat.

Your Business Blogger(R) rushed from his Business Class to Union Station to join Charmaine, the Princess Bride and we Amtraked business class to New York City to celebrate the life of Father Neuhaus.

Jody Bottum, a scribe at First Things spoke from the pulpit about the pro-life activism of Father Neuhaus. "We will someday overturn Roe v Wade..." generating an enthusiastic response in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on 14th Street. (About the only clapping we've ever heard inside a House of God -- outside a Pentecostal Church.)

Jody said to us later that abortion was an easy applause line in the Catholic Church.

Just like opposlng slavery used to be.

The church was standing-room-only on a frigid 26 degree night. (Global warming, it seems, has skipped a season.)

Alert Readers know that I have permission from Charmaine to approach strange women and compliment them. If they are a wearing fur coat.

A woman in fur.

In the church during the Neuhaus Wake a number of gorgeous women -- beauty is as beauty does -- were wearing fur coats, this being January with sub-freezing, non-global warming weather.

I complimented the women on their wearing fur coats. "Thank you," they each would say. "And it's warm." Practical New Yorkers. Catholics in fur.

(The Catholic Church is the largest provider of healthcare in NYC to people...with Aids. And liberals call Catholics bigots. Because Catholics wear fur, I guess.)

No PETA people threw blood on the women in fur. Didn't have to.

The women were already washed in The Blood.

Posted at 11:10 PM | Permalink
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About a month ago, while in New York City, Charmaine had the opportunity to visit Father Richard John Neuhaus, who served on the Board of Advisors for Americans United for Life. They talked about leadership and the Pro-Life movement.

At the time, Charmaine noted his remarkable dignity and thoughtfulness. But she also mentioned that he didn't seem entirely well.

Indeed. He was leaving this side and rowing for a distant shore.

AUL Mourns the Loss of Richard John Neuhaus

By: PR Newswire
Jan. 8, 2009 02:00 PM

CHICAGO, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans United for Life (AUL) mourns the loss of advisory board member and former governing board member Father Richard John Neuhaus. Fr. Neuhaus passed away this morning in New York City.

Throughout his adult life, Fr. Neuhaus engaged the most pressing issues of civil rights and social justice facing the nation and world. He consistently defended the rights of the unborn, the handicapped infant, and the terminally ill against the terrible realities and threats of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia.

His numerous books, including The Catholic Moment, The Naked Public Square (1996), Doing Well and Doing Good: The Challenge to the Christian Capitalist, Death on a Friday Afternoon (2001), and As I Lay Dying (2002), were major contributions to the understanding of religion in public life. As founder and editor in chief of the journal First Things, Fr. Neuhaus promoted public dialogue and understanding on the religious, philosophical, and political dimensions of democracy and culture.

"Father Richard Neuhaus consistently worked to encourage religious leaders to understand the centrality of the sanctity of human life as an issue of civil rights, and to put aside denominational differences and work together for the common good of protecting the unborn. He never wavered on the centrality of the life issue as a matter of human rights and social justice," said his close friend and AUL Board member, George Weigel.

"As a former board member and generous supporter of the work of Americans United for Life, Father Neuhaus inspired us and a generation of pro-life leaders, and we will strive to carry on this work with unwavering determination," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL President & CEO.

AUL's Defending Life 2009 -- a state-by-state legal guide to abortion, bioethics, and the end of life, which will be released this month -- will be dedicated to Fr. Neuhaus in memory of his service to the life movement and AUL.

About Americans United for Life

Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS' Frontline program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.

SOURCE Americans United For Life

Posted at 2:46 PM | Permalink
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Just before the election, Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R) attended an intimate off-the-record lunch with Karl Rove.

Karl Rove, Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R)

Rove talked about election strategy and the Obama wish list.

Obama promised Planned Parenthood that the 'Freedom of Choice Act' or FOCA would be the first item of legislation he would sign.

Karl Rove has some experience against the Planned Parenthood machine -- the billion dollar enterprise that will push for FOCA; for the removal of any regulation of abortion on demand: Partial birth, parental notification, clinical standards, physician standards. It is possible to win against Planned Parenthood.

Rove has beaten a Richards before.

Rove was the, well, architect of the Bush victory over Ann Richards for Texas governor. The late Ann Richards is the mother of Cecile Richards, the present president of Planned Parenthood. Richards the younger has been trained in the workings political machinery.

To beat the current wily Richards (let's not call her "Tricky Dick"), Rove might suggest tactics he's done before to win. This time to FightFOCA; simple as 1-2-3,

1. Unify
2. Target
3. Turnout

1. Knowledge is good; and a winner. Conservative Pro-Lifers will be able to unify and bring together even Pro-Choicers who are concerned about knowing if their daughters are going to have an abortion. Pro-Abortionists would approve of the abortion. But all parents want to know if their children are playing with edged weapons and more so if they go under the knife. FightFOCA brings together Pro-Choice and Pro-Life voters. Obama would indeed be a 'uniter.'

2. Rove would suggest targeting this constituency who would have a passionate position on knowing if their children are going to have surgery by strangers. And who would be paying for the abortion. No parent would allow a stranger to give candy to their children; parents would not allow a stranger to operate on their child. Rove would identify this group, persuade them and then prompt them to action. The best sales process involves acknowledging pain -- avoiding the pain and providing a solution to solve the problem. The fear that mom and dad will lose control over the health decisions of their child is worrisome enough without Uncle Sam stepping in.

3. During an election the Rove strategy was to get a segment to the polls -- he knew he didn't need all the voters, only 50 percent + one to win a state. The action to FightFOCA is to bring the voters to movement -- so that Obama would have to delay the FOCA coming from Reid and Pelosi. This will be a challenge: Cecile Richards served as Pelosi's deputy chief-of-staff a few years ago. The tactic would be to make FOCA a costly, bloody fight of Obama against parents. Win or lose, Obama would be severely weakened in approval polls. And 'Pro-Life' Senator Reid, a Mormon, is not doing so well in his re-election polling from his home state of Nevada. His approval is 38 percent; negatives at 54.

Alert Readers know that it is nearly impossible for a candidate to win an election with negatives above 40 percent. Reid is in trouble.

Reducing abortion now polls very well for Lifers. Parental involvement polls at 70 percent approval. No liberal, finger-in-the-wind president fights this trend in the polling numbers.

At least not in his first term. Obama will delay if there is any chance that key voting groups of groups would vote against him in 2012 -- from Pro-Choice parents to Pro-Life activists; from liberal Catholics to conservative Evangelicals.

Not all agree. Alert Reader SoMG sends this counter-analysis on FOCA

Obama has everything to gain by passing FOCA. It will establish him as someone who means what he says. His friends will rejoice in his smile and his enemies will tremble at his frown.

The payoff will swamp the investment in political capital. Any honest right-winger from Machiavelli to Pat Buchanan to Carl Rove would say the same. What does he have to lose? Right-to-Lifers in general and the Catholic Church Hierarchy in particular declared war against him more than a year ago and their prosecution of their war has been limited only by fear of losing tax-exempt status and after the election by not knowing how vengeful he might turn out to be. He has nothing to lose.

As much as Obama wants chaos so that he can attempt to consolidate power in a single payer national health care system, he cannot lose the health care capacity in the near term of the closing of the Catholic hospitals. One hospital in 8 is controlled by the Catholic Church. And close they will if FOCA passes.

SoMG continues,

I count a filibuster-proof pro-FOCA majority in the Senate. Fifty-seven Dems, plus two Independents, minus RTL Dem Casey, plus three pro-choice Republicans makes sixty-one and that's assuming the scheisskopf beats the clown in Minnesota which doesn't look so likely given that if the recount's too close the US Senate decides...

My prediction about FOCA: with great pomp and circumstance (to coin a phrase) the Congress will amend FOCA to specify that it doesn't mean Catholic hospitals have to refer for abortions in order to get paid by the government.

That's the most likely interpretation anyway--the Act forbids governments, not the providers paid by the governments, from discriminating against (or for) abortion.

If your client gets an equal choice between a Catholic hospital that doesn't do abortions, and an abortion clinic that doesn't do live births, you're not discriminating, right? But they'll write it in explicitly.

Then the GOP will take credit for saving the Catholics from abortion, the Dems will take credit for being reasonable in victory (much more so than the Republicans were), women in the armed forces will be able to get abortions without going off site which it's very stupid for them to have to do.

Everybody will win. Right-to-lifers will rejoice in new Federal protection for the right to refuse abortion and grow your pregnancy, which will be increasingly important as we continue our ongoing transfer to government health care and government acquires a greater interest in aborting problem pregnancies.

Conservatives and the Catholic Church have picked FOCA as the hill to live or die on -- if FOCA passes with religious exceptions, conservatives know that this would be a liberal incremental step to first minimize, then marginalize and finally eliminate the church in the public square.

Join Fight FOCA

Thank you (foot)notes:

Read the commentary at Eternity Matters with post, Fight the Freedom of Choice Act by Neil.

Visit DeaconJohn about FOCA.

Obama and how he will FOCA women and children. Obama's Abortion Bombshell:
Unrestricted Abortion Over Wishes of Individual States a Priority for Presidency.

See Online Prayer Requests by our friend Horace Cooper.

Social conservatives have long road ahead, by Ed Stoddard at Reuters.

Fight FOCA at Spreading Joy.

Visit rosettasister.

Visit Fight FOCA at Streams From The Rock. This writer is worth knowing.

See Austin's Everyone Should Know.

Get Informed at The Old House Spill.

Can Obama keep up with all his promises? asks dmweblife.

Visit AbortionAbout.com, and thank them for posting the FighFOCA code, Against the Holocaust of Our Unborn Children

Posted at 8:19 AM | 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
Comments (0)

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)

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

"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."

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
Comments (0)

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
Comments (0)

Benjamin Franklin A few years ago Your Business Blogger(R) packed up kith and kin for some conference in Boston. While Charmaine was at a meeting, we remainders traveled around Plymouth Meeting to see a rock and a boat.

National Symbols of the American Experiment.

Plymouth Rock on the water had a security gate with "1620" helpfully chiseled large. The Penta-Posse was not impressed. A short walk away is a replica of the Mayflower.

But I'm sure the Rock was the real thing...

So I am standing near the Rock; still with the emotion of the sacrifice. For family, faith and freedom.

The kids ask, "So, what's the big deal?"

The American marketing had yet to work its magic.

We walk over to the museum and then board the wooden boat where constant maintenance is a way of life and large expense. So much (Christian) history.

I chat up the boat crew. The re-enactors on the Mayflower were not helpful. "The Mayflower Compact" was simply a legal document to keep from getting sued, they said. (Quite common among investors in those days too.)

The Compact, the Massachusetts actors asserted, was not, is not a religious relic. The Actors were animated, "It had nothing to do with God." The phrasing undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith... was legal mumbo-jumbo used by the lawyers of the day to preface any brief.

The Pilgrim Puritans aimed for Virginia and got Massachusetts. Land of Kennedy, Kerry and Barney Frank. I should not have been surprised at the ship's crew's blasphemy.

The Mayflower itself, the Actors in period custom said thru a smile, was simply, "A water borne taxi..."

No wonder my kids were bored. The Actors were bored. And boring.

And wrong.

We are so lucky. We should be thankful. Even if Massachusetts is not.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Real Story of the First Thanksgiving
By Benjamin Franklin (1785)

"There is a tradition that in the planting of New England, the first settlers met with many difficulties and hardships, as is generally the case when a civiliz'd people attempt to establish themselves in a wilderness country.

Being so piously dispos'd, they sought relief from heaven by laying their wants and distresses before the Lord in frequent set days of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation and discourse on these subjects kept their minds gloomy and discontented, and like the children of Israel there were many dispos'd to return to the Egypt which persecution had induc'd them to abandon.

"At length, when it was proposed in the Assembly to proclaim another fast, a farmer of plain sense rose and remark'd that the inconveniences they suffer'd, and concerning which they had so often weary'd heaven with their complaints, were not so great as they might have expected, and were diminishing every day as the colony strengthen'd; that the earth began to reward their labour and furnish liberally for their subsistence; that their seas and rivers were full of fish, the air sweet, the climate healthy, and above all, they were in the full enjoyment of liberty, civil and religious.

"He therefore thought that reflecting and conversing on these subjects would be more comfortable and lead more to make them contented with their situation; and that it would be more becoming the gratitude they ow'd to the divine being, if instead of a fast they should proclaim a thanksgiving.

His advice was taken, and from that day to this, they have in every year observ'd circumstances of public felicity sufficient to furnish employment for a Thanksgiving Day, which is therefore constantly ordered and religiously observed."

Of course, today, in our age of super-sized gluttony, one wonders if we might ought to go back to the fasting idea. . .

Excerpted from The Compleated Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin, edited by Mark Skousen, a professor at Columbia University and a descendant of Franklin's, at Human Events Online. Hat tip: Drudge.

Originally posted The First Thanksgiving -- by Benjamin Franklin, November 24, 2005, at Reasoned Audacity.

How did Benjamin Franklin get so rich as to retire at 42? Follow Ben Franklin's Business/Personal Success Model. Today's Politicos are not the first to get comfortable from public service service.

The Mayflower Compact at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 11:07 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Join Fight FOCA Log on.
Take a number.
Hit the lottery.

Sign on at www.FightFOCA.com and let us know if your number is 250,000.

A quarter million is a nice number. Will it be yours?

Dollars?

Nope.

Maybe something better -- if you are for Life.

FightFOCA is an on-line petition to persuade our national leadership: President-Elect Obama, Senator Majority Leader Reid and House Majority Leader Pelosi that limiting states rights is not what the voters want.

[Correction: Alert Readers will note that Pelosi is the Speaker of the House, Democrat Steny Hoyer from Maryland is the House Majority Leader.]

The public wants the financial market regulated.

The public wants the abortion market regulated.

The public wants common sense oversight of abortion.

Parents want to know if their child is having an abortion.

Women want all surgical procedures to be to the highest medical standards.

The public wants licensed doctors doing surgery; not social workers.

Women want information about their babies through the science of sonograms.

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, is against all these regulations. Why?

Quo Bono?

Follow the money. Planned Parenthood grosses -- so to say -- a billion (that's B as in Billion) (a 1,000 million) dollars each year.

L: A Baby
R: A BabyPlanned Parenthood profits from abortion.

Planned Parenthood gets a $300 million bailout each each year from the taxpayer.

Planned Parenthood wants a blind eye on their abortion money-machine.

Your Business Blogger(R) is a capitalistic-for profit kind of guy -- but who would want to earn earnings from the slave trade?

Or abortion?

If you want your state's rights to guard your child's health, sign the petition.

Their will be a special recognition for the 250,000 milestone.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Robert was Number 45,704. An early adopter, as we say in marketing...

FOCA Would Wipe Away Every Restriction on Abortion Nationwide.

This 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.

Be sure to visit the Americans United for Life blog.

Even our liberal friends are noticing the work of Americans United for Life. Right Wing Watch writes,

"Any time you have a loss like that, you have an opportunity to reassess and come back stronger," said Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life. "If they want to see this as a big loss that will set us back, that's OK. Our people are very energized, and ready for Round Two."

Visit The Webbs, Fight for Life.

LifeNews.com, Election Results Don't Mean Pro-Life Movement to Stop, Limit Abortions is Dead.

ZENIT, Life and the Elections,

In 2008, 45 states considered nearly 450 measures related to abortion alone. Among 2008 pro-life victories are:

-- An omnibus measure in Oklahoma, requiring that a woman undergo an ultrasound prior to an abortion, regulating the provision of RU-486, and prohibiting coerced abortions;

-- New laws in Ohio, South Carolina, and South Dakota requiring that abortion providers offer a woman the opportunity to view an ultrasound prior to an abortion;

-- Legislatures in Colorado, Maryland, and Michigan limiting the use of taxpayer funding for abortions and abortion counseling;

-- Idaho lawmakers strengthening the state's informed consent law and prohibiting coerced abortions;

-- Meaningful funding of abortion alternatives in Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

DFW Catholic posts, Fighting the Freedom of Choice Act. And visit ProLife Dallas.

The international All News Web reports, Abortion: Obama's nightmare,

Obama has promised to restore federal funding to international family planning services, that is, his administration will financially support institutions around the globe that perform abortions. Obama has also promised to sign FOCA or the Freedom of Choice Act. Anti-abortion activists are mobilising for a battle as they now realise they no longer have an ally in the White House.

Americans United for Life is gathering up signatures at a frantic pace to oppose FOCA.

CNSNews.com has Catholics Who Vote for Freedom of Choice Act Could Face Automatic Excommunication, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago says,

"Parental notification and informed consent precautions would be outlawed, as would be laws banning procedures such as partial-birth abortion and protecting infants born alive after a failed abortion. Abortion clinics would be deregulated," said George.

"The Hyde Amendment restricting the federal funding of abortions would be abrogated. FOCA would have lethal consequences for prenatal human life," he said.

"FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children," George continued.

"It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil. On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of good will."

The liberal, etiquette-ly challenged Low and Left Part Deux will not link to Americans United for Life, behaving more like the liberal main stream media than a hard-working blogger. Spiteful when he should be cite-ful...The Pushback and 2012 Has Started. Note the link.

TIM DRAKE, Senior Writer at the National Catholic Register writes, The Abortion President? Pro-Lifers Sound Warning on Freedom of Choice Act.

Kenrick Social Justice blogs, Americans United for Life has Petition Against FOCA.

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, Study to show thyself approved unto God... (2 Tim. 2:15), writes, Fight FOCA.

Good links at Random Junk from an Intellectual Wannabe.

Vivificat! posted the code.

Women of Faith and Culture has FOCA on the Family. Bringing Faith and Reason to Life.

If you have posted the FightFOCA.com code on your template, please email us! We will be in your debt.

Posted at 11:43 AM | Permalink
Comments (4)

So pre pre-schooler Baby Boo walks by as Your Business Blogger(R) is watching The Story of the Intrepid. The story of the famed WWII aircraft carrier.

The boy catches a few seconds of battle, of war, the triumph of good over evil; an American civics lesson. He listens to the music.

He asks, "Is this a Jesus movie?"

"No," I said. "But it's hard to tell the difference..."

Must see clips: USS Intrepid

We don't know exactly how Obama will attempt to lead as Commander-in-Chief. But we do know his liberal belief philosophy.

Where?

From his pastor: Jeremiah "God D@m America" Wright.

MEDIA ALERT: Charmaine on FOX, Cavuto Obama and Wright: Do They Hate America?

In contrast, another must see clip,

Thank you to USNA at Large for Intrepid's link.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:27 AM | Permalink
Comments (6)

Warning: Adult material. Safe for work, maybe. Charmaine's had a dozen gigs on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. The following episode features Hustler Magazine publisher, Larry Flynt, Musician Edwin McCain (no relation to John McCain) and Actor Steve Hytner.

Charmaine was on to flog her book Mother in the Middle: Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars.

Jesus-loving normal mom on the same set as a porn-peddler.

Only in America.

The work an author has to do these days...

Bill Maher, Politically Incorrect
Charmaine Yoest on the right,
of course... The topic was kiddie pornography. Re: Chester the Molester .

So it was four Hollywood liberals against one normal conservative.

About even.

Thank you (foot)notes:

This show originally aired on February 2, 2000 on the ABC network.

Your Business Blogger(R) recommends Kiddie P*rn: Dirty Old Men Are Slow Learners

Also see Charmaine on CNN Debating Condoms;
Obama Will Export Abortion-Condom Funding Overseas

Posted at 9:41 PM | Permalink
Comments (0)

Warning: The Condom Commercial is for mature audiences.

In the 1990's CNN had a terrific talking-heads-shouting-show called Crossfire. Regular Hosts included Michael Kinsley, liberal, then moved to Slate. Pat Buchanan, conservative, former GOP, now gone from the Republican Club but still Pro-Life.

The show ran five nights a week for 30 minutes. Hosts earned about $200K and were worth every dime.

Charmaine appeared in a number of segments. In this episode she debated Kristine Gebbie from the Clinton administration on the marketing and efficacy of condoms. Charmaine's points are valid today -- truth is, well, timeless. John Sununu is in the conservative chair, on the right, of course.

Oddly, liberals demand that conservatives use science in any debate -- but whenever a conservative uses real science with real data, we are then accused of "imposing our values." A liberal pivot.

The actual condom failure rate is some 20 percent. The cost of failure could be pregnancy. Could be death.

This is described by anti-science liberals as "fear based sex ed."

So what will Obama do about abortion and condoms?

Even before Obama gets legislation from congress on abortion, Obama will, by Executive Order, repeal the The Mexico City Policy (1984) which,

Prohibits the use of federal funding for organizations and programs "which perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."

Media Alert: Obama may very well use the Clinton's Dancing Condom Marketing Campaign. For the Domestic and International markets.

Watch the video and let us know what you think.

Join Fight FOCA

Sign up on FightFOCA. Your Business Blogger(R) did.

Thank you (foot)notes:
CatholicCitizens writes,

For starters, we may expect removal of the present administration's ban on destructive embryonic research, and rejection of the Mexico City accords which restrained abortion and eugenics.

Crossfire: The Condom Campaign first aired on January 4, 1994.

Posted at 8:58 PM | Permalink
Comments (8)

FOX reporter Molly Henneberg is doing a story on Sarah Palin's speech on Special Needs Children for Special Report tonight Friday, 24 October. Hit time is 6pm.

A baby within its mother

Charmaine will be discussing Sarah Palin's passion on this Pro-Life issue. From RealClearPolitics,

One of the most wonderful experiences in this campaign has been to see all the families of children with special needs who come out to rallies and events just like this. We have a bond there. We know that children with special needs inspire a special love. You bring your sons and daughters with you, because you are proud of them, as I am of my son.

My little fella sleeps during most of these rallies, even when they get pretty rowdy. He would be amazed to know how many folks come out to see him instead of me.

When I learned that Trig would have special needs, honestly, I had to prepare my heart. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. I did a lot of praying for that understanding, and strength, and to see purpose.

And what's been confirmed in me is every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. You know that there are the world's standards of perfection, and then there are God's, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake. And the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable.

As for our baby boy, Trig, for Todd and me he is only more precious because he is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand to learn more from him than he does from us. When we hold Trig and care for him, we don't feel scared anymore. We feel blessed...

John McCain and I have a vision in which every child is loved and cherished, and that is the spirit I want to bring to Washington.

Every Child. Born and Unborn. Please watch and let us know what you think.

Posted at 5:38 PM | Permalink
Comments (0)

Charmaine and Jonah at National Review both had speaking gigs at major schools.

Q: Who Knew?
A: No one.

Charmaine lecturing on campus

I drove the wife and The Dreamer, The Dude, The Diva, The Dancer, and Baby Boo* down to Mr. Jefferson's University so Charmaine could speak on women in leadership at Darden, UVa's business school. The first thing we see are well-armed police.

Uniformed dark blue. Unsmiling.

I ask the sergeant about his job and the small gaggle of 150 women, "Crowd control?"

He looks me over. I'm holding a four-year old's hand: I am not a threat.

I am the conservative.

The cop's face moves a millimeter into what passes for a smile. His head shakes a millimeter into what passes for no.

His eyes return to the assembly. He's looking for trouble.

I speak to one of the organizers about the number of attendees, the marketing of the event...the security. (Your Business Blogger(R) cares about such things; teaching Business at the Northern Virginia Community College. Where James Carville also taught.)

The event planner whispers, "We didn't publicize the event...we weren't sure who would come..."

Even though Charmaine spent ten years at UVA, earned her Ph.D. and taught (Politics and the Family) the organizers were fearful. Charmaine, a woman and a conservative who worked for Huckabee, Pro-Life, now a president and CEO of a law firm, might cause two horrors on the Campus Grounds:

1) A violent campus protest, or, worse,

2) A good conservative turn out.

The police were out in force to keep pie throwing liberals away from the conservative speaker.

Or keep a woman from making a citizen's arrest.

Or having a Democrat scratch KKK on our monster SUV, the Huck-a-Truck.

Jonah Goldberg
and wife Jessica Gavora

The police were there to protect us from the Brown Shirts with the party of death.

The police are on the side of law and order...so far.

We have been lucky with Charmaine's public speaking in academia.

It's particularly odd because the majority of the time I speak on a college campus -- even when debating a liberal -- I'm told that I'm the first conservative they've had there for a while and that I was brought in for "balance."
You'd think if that were the case, the various administrations would at least want some credit for providing equal time.
Even though, even a brief perusal of almost any college or university's events calendar will quickly show that they could have the entire masthead of National Review speak month after month and it still wouldn't equal balance...but the idea that simply inviting one or two objectively conservative speakers every couple years provides ideological balance is just absurd.

The joke is even bigger when you discover as I have at numerous schools that many professors tell their students they shouldn't go hear conservative speakers.

Jonah Goldberg gets this right: students should get both sides of any debate.

That would be, well, Fair and Balanced...

* Alert Readers know our five children are also known as the Penta-Posse.

Posted at 7:48 AM | Permalink
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Charmaine recently debated Eleanor Smeal from the Feminist Majority Foundation on Abortion restrictions in the United Kingdom.

Alert Readers will note that the CNN International host identified Charmaine as Pro-Life. Something that never happens on this side of the pond.

The host did get a bit confused about fetus and baby. Impossible for the abortion supporter to say "baby" or "mother."

This debate becomes important here in US of A because of Obama's promise to eliminate parental notification state laws and any waiting periods. Obama does not want to regular the clinical cleanliness of abortion facilities.

The GOP is the party of life. Obama is the party of death.

Charmaine is now president and CEO of Americans United for Life.

This is a media war: abortion vs pro-life; liberal vs conservative; Obama vs McCain.

So. Your Business Blogger(R) homestead watched Family Guy last night.

We wanted to follow-up on the Fast Company article by Josh Dean on the Seth MacFarlane success and his $100 million deal with FOX.

The episode: Stewie, the British-accented baby and Brian the talking dog time travel back to September 1, 1939 when N@zi Germany invaded Poland. Stewie and Brian end up in Storm Trooper uniforms...with a McCain-Palin campaign button.

Funny.

But this speaks to the projection the liberals make of their world view.

Conservative politicians want to protect life. Liberals want abortion, euthanasia, denial of care.
Conservative politicians want people to keep their own money. Liberals want high taxes and your money.
Conservatives want abortion clinics regulated. Liberals want home schoolers regulated
Conservatives want to be left alone. Liberals demand power and intrusion.

Is it possible that the H!tler Youth of the 1930's might be more comfortable in today's Party of Death than with the Rascally Republicans?

Liberals have abortion clinics to get rid of unwanted life. The National Socialists had gas ovens to get rid of unwanted life.

Not that there is any connection...

Posted at 9:54 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Obama will not salute our flag Your Business Blogger(R) did a tour of duty in combat arms.

One of the first tasks to learn on assuming a military position was

(as Bill Clinton was slow to learn) the military salute.

Another Democrat, Obama

and the war hero,
the war injured McCain

have one thing in common with the military.

If either is elected, neither will salute.

Obama: Because he won't.

McCain: Because he can't.

It was a delight to be in a very large room with with people with big ideas. Each who loves his country.

One of the Hosts, Colin Hanna, from Let Freedom Ring, was about to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and reminded us of legislation allowing veterans to render a hand salute, even if out of uniform, even if separated from active service.

The law was made possible by Senator Jim Inhoufe of Oklahoma -- a Republican, of course.

A conservative, of course. Who loves Jesus. Clinging to his religion and his guns...

So the next time you are at a ball game look for veterans during the National Anthem.

They'll be the ones saluting.

Inhofe Legislation Allows Veterans to Salute the Flag

By Ryan Cassin,
Thursday July 26, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the
passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans
and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag.

Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in
uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or
should salute the flag.

"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service," Senator Inhofe said.

"Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.

"Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.

"I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens.

Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."

See
Gold Star Moms
Visit a cranky vet
Respect for the Flag

Alert Readers have also noticed that Barack Obama has no American Flag on his campaign aircraft. It is not known if he will remove the flag from Air Force One, if he is elected...

Barack Obama also demonstrates that it is impossible for him to support the troops. He took millions from Bill Ayers, the domestic terrorist who attempted to blow up the Pentagon.

How can Obama support the troops and support a terrorist who tried to kill the troops? Obama is not qualified to be commander in chief.

From NRO,

"There's reason to doubt that oft-repeated pledge of 'supporting the troops' when you've worked for a man who tried to kill the troops."

UPDATE on new regs at the jump.

UPDATE: 23 Dec 2008, New York Times, Obama Tries Out His Salute, By Jeff Zeleny,

KAILUA, Hawaii - He's not the commander in chief yet, but was President-elect Barack Obama briefly practicing his salute on Sunday?

On the first morning of his vacation here, Mr. Obama arrived at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii for his daily workout. As he walked out of the Semper Fit Center, his gray T-shirt soaked in sweat, he lifted his right hand and gave a quick salute to two Marines in fatigues who were standing in the distance.

[Reagan knew how to salute; it was within his experience.
The Cubscout is saluting.
Expect homosexuals in both the military and the Boyscouts
under Obama.]

The brief moment was not captured by cameras. Photographs and video were not permitted to be taken on the military base, according to campaign aides.

Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, opened their day with a 45-minute workout inside a large gymnasium at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which is located on the Mokapu Penninsula on the windward side of Oahu, about 30 minutes outside Honolulu. It is sunny and warm here, a world away, at least in terms of the weather, from Chicago.

Alert Readers well know that Reagan served in uniform, like most patriots, in WWII.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 7:44 AM | Permalink
Comments (5)

Last Thursday AUL held their annual fund raising event at the Palmer House in Chicago.

The Henry J. Hyde Defender of Life Award was presented to Jessica Shanahan, president for New Yorkers for Parental Rights. (Obama has promised that Parental Rights would be the first right to be outlawed under his administration.)

Ramesh Ponnuru from National Review gave the keynote. Key Takeaway: "What mother wants to introduce her son, The Abortionist...?"

Abortion is on the decline because of the work of AUL and the public's awareness that that abortion kills a baby.

Charmaine gave a spell-binding presentation. (Biased Opinion, Your Business Blogger(R).) PowerPoint and her notes here: AUL gala 10-9-08.ppt.

James M. Kushiner, the Executive Editor at Touchstone Magazine attended and blogged. Read his outstanding commentary at Obama Lied Fewer Died. Good Read.

Not everyone wants babies to live. See Leslie Bradshaw's list. AUL made it. This is proof of a pro-live organization's effectiveness.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 1:26 AM | Permalink
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The liberal Mark Warner is running against conservative Jim Gilmore for Senate in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mark Warner says that the "Right to Lifers" and the National Rifle Association and Homeschoolers and the Christian Coalition is,

Why do these liberals hate normal people?

Warner and Obama believe in abortion on demand through nine or ten months.
Warner and Obama do not believe in the right to bear arms.
Warner and Obama do not believe parents should educate their children.
Warner and Obama believe in homosexual marriage.
Warner and Obama believe in our surrender in the wars.
Warner and Obama believe in raising our taxes.

This is normal?

Listen to the short audio clip of Mark Warner, his voice dripping with disdain, on our conservative values,

Full Disclosure: Your Business Blogger(R) served as Assistant Secretary in Health and Human Resources in governor James Gilmore's administration.

L to R: Roxane and Jim Gilmore; Charmaine and Jack Yoest

"I was told that if I voted for Barry Goldwater that there would be war in Southeast Asia.

And sure enough, I voted for Barry Goldwater and there was war in Southeast Asia," went the popular joke after Democrat Lyndon Johnson was elected president.

We are now told that if we vote for John McCain we will have endless war in Iraq. I will vote for John McCain...and if Obama steals the election -- we will, indeed, have endless war in Iraq...

Posted at 5:27 PM | Permalink
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The following video clip is based on the actual Obama-cult song recorded by (non-aborted) children who were manipulated into supporting a presidential candidate...and, of course, a clip from the famous movie "Cabaret."

This might be a more accurate representation than the letter sent to the Americans United for Life office in Chicago this week. From the Party of Death.

Eyeblast at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 2:03 PM | Permalink
Comments (3)

Charmaine participated in a panel discussion on the Palin phenomenon. The Harbour League sends us the audio clip.

Listen Here.

The Harbour League has received numerous requests for the audio from our most recent conference call entitled "What Sarah Palin Means for Conservatives".

Charmaine, Your Business Blogger(R), The Diva, circa 1997

We are therefore pleased to let you know that the audio can be found at www.TheHarbourLeague.org/past.htm.

Presenters include:

Herb London, Hudson Institute President & THL Trustee, will take a look at Sarah Palin and her exposure to Foreign Policy.

Grover Norquist, American's for Tax Reform President & THL Trustee, will give an overview what Gov. Palin offers to conservatives and why all the concern from the left.

Mark Hyman, Syndicated TV Commentator & THL Trustee, will discuss the media's attention to Sarah Palin.

Allison Kasic, Director of The R. Gaull Silberman Center for Collegiate Studies at Independent Women's Forum, will address what the nomination of Gov. Palin means to conservative women.

Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life President, will discuss what Sarah Palin means and would as Vice President mean to the pro-life movement.

Rarely do Vice-Presidential candidates get the attention that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is currently receiving. No other vice presidential candidate in modern history has excited their base and caused such concern and scrutiny into leadership experience, foreign policy and national security qualifications, and family values by the other party as has Sarah Palin.

Please take the time to listen to and forward on this important Harbour League conference call to discussing what Governor Sarah Palin means to the Conservative movement.

Please Note: The Harbour League is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. This call is not intended to be an endorsement or in support of any candidate.

Sincerely,

The Harbour League

Listen to the audio clip here.

Media Alert: Your Business Blogger(R) was interviewed for The Washington Post on management, bad bosses and sub-par employees. Should run this Sunday, Sept 28th.

Posted at 8:56 PM | Permalink
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The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.

Margaret Sanger
Founder Planned Parenthood

Barack Obama voted against his state's Born Alive Infant Protection Act. His vote would allow babies born alive -- from a botched abortion -- to die by withholding treatment.

Obama's concern was that his vote might lead to overturning Roe v Wade which made abortion legal through all nine months - and beyond.

His philosophy is not new.

Barack Obama
Supports Planned Parenthood

This thinking was born, so to say, at the turn of the last century and made "popular" by Margaret Sanger, founder of modern Planned Parenthood.

In 2003, Edwin Black wrote a national bestseller War against the Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign To Create A Master Race.

War on the WeakAuthor Edwin Black does not oppose abortion. But he is nevertheless horrified by the disgust that elite Americans feel for the weak, "the least among us."

Elitists like Obama.

Edwin Black writes,

Sanger's solutions were mass sterilization and mass segregation of the defective classes, and these themes were repeated often in [her book] Pivot of Civilization.

"The emergency problem of segregation and sterilization must be faced immediately. Every feeble-minded girl or woman of the hereditary type, especially of the moron class, should be segregated during the reproductive period.

Otherwise, she is almost certain to bear imbecile children, who in turn are just as certain to breed male defectives. The male defectives are no less dangerous.

Segregation carried out for one or two generations would give us only partial control of the problem.

Moreover, when we realized that each feeble-minded person is a potential source of endless progeny of defect, we prefer the policy of immediate sterilization, of making sure that parenthood is absolutely prohibited to the feeble-minded."

Edwin Black then guides us to Margaret Sanger's solution,

Sanger was willing to employ striking language to argue against the inherent misery and defect of large families. In her book, Woman and the New Race, she bluntly declared,

"Many, perhaps, will think it idle to go farther in demonstrating the immorality of large families, but since there is still an abundance of proof at hand, it may be offered for the sake of those who find difficulty in adjusting old-fashioned ideas to the facts.

The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."

It would appear that elitists like Obama, in keeping with Margaret Sanger's world view, might have prefered that the Palins abort Trigg, Sarah's Down syndrome newborn.

Why?

To avoid the "pain and despair" these children have and cause, so says Obama.

Because an unexpected child is a "punishment."

What kind of political party would even consider a man with this world view to govern?

Edwin Black tells us more and connects the events in War Against The Weak,

During the period between the wars, the American [eugenics] movement viewed National Socialism [in Germany] as a rising force that could, if empowered, impose a new biological world order. [National Socialism] eugenicists promised to dispense with the niceties of democratic rule.

So even if America's tower of legislation, well-funded research and entrenched bureaucratic programs still monopolized the world of applied eugenics in the 1920's, National Socialism promised to own the next decade.

American eugenicists welcomed the idea.

Obama the Democrat: The Party of Death.

Thank you (foot)notes,

See Planned Parenthood's condom installation guide...on the Teenwire site -- for teens.

The pornographic TakeCareDownThere website by Planned Parenthood has been taken down largely through the work of the American Life League.

Posted at 6:47 PM | Permalink
Comments (2)

Charmaine has been quoted by a number of outlets on Google's recent policy decision to accept ads from pro-life supporters

ABC News Google OKs Religious Groups' Abortion Ads

Google Agrees to Place 'Factual' Abortion Ads; Groups on Both Sides Question What That Means
By KI MAE HEUSSNER

Sept. 18, 2008--

As part of an out-of-court settlement with a British Christian organization, Google agreed Wednesday to display anti-abortion ads purchased by religious groups.

In April, The Christian Institute took legal action against the Internet search giant when Google did not approve an abortion-related ad with the text:

UK Abortion law
Key views and news on abortion law from The Christian Institute
www.christian.org.uk

At the time, Google said its policy did not permit the advertisement of Web sites that contain "abortion and religion-related content."

Arguing that it was being treated differently because of its religious beliefs, the institute filed a lawsuit against Google under the U.K. Equality Act 2006, a law that prohibits religious discrimination.

Instead of continuing to fight the case in the court, Google reviewed its abortion ads policy and agreed to revise its policy....

Stateside, religious and anti-abortion rights groups are hailing Google's decision as a victory for both free speech and people of faith.

"We really applaud Google for making the right decision and standing by freedom of speech. It really was outrageous to censor The Christian Institute," Charmaine Yoest, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit, anti-abortion organization Americans United for Life (AUL), told ABCNews.com.

Yoest said AUL had not attempted to purchase abortion-related ads on Google. But she said she had observed discrimination when attempting to purchase ads for print campaigns.

"They raise the rates -- that's usually the kind of discrimination [we see]," she added.

Thursday, September 18, 2008 12:05 PM

By: Jim Meyers

Facing a legal challenge, the Internet search giant Google has relented and agreed to accept pro-life ads for the first time.

In April, The Christian Institute -- a British organization -- took legal action when Google did not approve an anti-abortion ad.

Google said at the time that its policy did not allow ads for Web sites containing "abortion and religion-related content."

Also see It Wasn't Easy...BUT Google Agrees to Pro-Life Ads

Posted at 1:43 PM | Permalink
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Gianna Jessen,
abortion survivor Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R) have run a number of marathons. Charmaine always cries the last 4 miles. It always hurts -- both the physical and mental. Real Pain.

But at least Charmaine's mom didn't try to murder her...

Gianna Jessen is an abortion survivor and also runs marathons. It takes her 8 hours. (If we were on the same course, she would be the only one behind me and Charmaine.)

Watch Gianna's 30 second video
on protecting Infants Born Alive. Gianna needs a third of a day to complete the 26.2 miles because she has, as she says, "the gift of cerebral palsy."

It is a "gift" because the alternative, the intention of the mother and her "doctor" was death for Gianna.

It is not known if the "doctor" is a Democrat. But abortion is a sacrament of The Party of Death.

Gianna lived to tell her story, was adopted, and is an advocate for Infant Born Alive protections.

Our Aunt Carol spoke with Gianna and has an update.

Bookmark Americans United for Life.

"If Barack Obama had his way I would not be here," says Gianna. Visit BornAliveTruth.com.

Read more at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:36 AM | Permalink
Comments (6)

Tom McMahon is the best on the planet on presenting complicated ideas simply.

Here he compares Obama and Palin's position on THE issue of our times: Abortion.

The only improvement one could make would be that Obama calls a baby a "punishment" not just a "burden." But you get the idea.

Review Tom's matrix and decide this day who you would trust.

Visit Tom McMahon's 4-Block World

Posted at 10:15 PM | Permalink
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Your Business Blogger(R) teaches business, marketing and management at the local college.

I like to remind students and clients that the hardest product to sell is an intangible, an idea. The easier product to pitch has tangible characteristics -- it has a form that can be introduced through the senses, a product that can be seen and touched.

One of the most interesting marketing campaigns of the century is the promotion of abortion as 'choice' and 'reproductive freedom.'

And for many, abortion has become a vote-changing issue during the current presidential campaign.

To learn more about this interesting abortion-vote market segment, I stepped out of the DC summer heat in Your Nation's Capital and sat in on an off-the-record meeting on abortion polling data for battle ground states.

The confidential numbers revealed that 57% of the public was self-identified as Pro-Life.

This raised two marketing questions:

1) Why is Obama still actively embracing an abortion position? And,

2) How did the country move from supporting abortion rights to Pro-Life?

I was curious about the Obama Abortion Marketing Machine. He is in favor of abortion and in denying medical treatment of some infants born alive. He aggressively supports the feminist's power position of control of a mother over her baby.

Power is an intangible and intangibles are normally a 'difficult sell' as we old sales guys are wont to say. It seems odd that any seller of public policy would take pride in working this hard.

But this intangible is what has sold in the past -- a woman's complete control over her body and absolute power over her destiny, even if this meant killing her unborn baby. Power sells and people will pay most anything to get it, use it and to project the appearance of power.

It was absolute power. And Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

But it was not Lord Acton's theorem that changed the mind of the American public. It was a picture. Or rather two pictures:

A) If a woman sees a picture, a sonogram of her baby, she will not have an abortion.

B) The Chicago hospital room where babies can be left to die.

Nurse Jill Stanek has the story and original reporting of the Chicago hospital's "Comfort Room" where babies born alive are left to die without medical intervention. She has more pictures.

Polite society might call this 'infanticide.' Calling the venue a "Comfort Room" is clever marketing. Like "Pro-Choice." A case study on word framing to sell. Brilliant.

But the new pictures are powerful images that can now sell the product: a child.

The tangible child is trumping the intangible power.

This provides a clear choice this presidential election between a women's power and a person's right to life.

McCain is Pro-Life.

Obama has a clear pro-abortion position: He would sign the Planned Parenthood backed Freedom of Choice Act which codifies Roe v Wade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8

Thank you (foot)notes:

Bill Bennett and Jill Stanek on Obama Abortion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY&NR=1

Jack and Charmaine also blog at Reasoned Audacity. Your Business Blogger(R) of Management Training of DC, LLC, is a licensed agent for the William Oncken Corporation presenters of Managing Management Time(TM) fondly known as Monkey Management.

Posted at 7:13 AM | Permalink
Comments (6)

"Let all the babies be born. Then let us drown those we do not like."
Babies and Distributism, GK's Weekly, 11/12/32

Where do Obama and McCain stand on abortion and 'live birth' abortion?

Position/
Candidate........Sonogram of baby......Picture of baby

Pro-Life ......................Live ...................Live

Pro-Choice .................Die ....................Live


McCain .......................Live ...................Live


Obama .......................Die ....................Die

Obama is the full-service abortion candidate.

Abortion from conception to birth
Abortion at partial birth
Abortion after birth

Obama aggressively demands that some babies born alive be left to die. Obama does not support any Born Alive Infant Legislation. Amanda B. Carpenter writes in Human Events, Obama More Pro-Choice Than NARAL where Obama spoke out against the legislation similar to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act,

Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) portrays himself as a thoughtful Democrat who carefully considers both sides of controversial issues, but his radical stance on abortion puts him further left on that issue than even NARAL Pro-Choice America.


In 2002, as an Illinois legislator, Obama voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which would have protected babies that survived late-term abortions. That same year a similar federal law, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, was signed by President Bush. Only 15 members of the U.S. House opposed it, and it passed the Senate unanimously on a voice vote.


Both the Illinois and the federal bill sought equal treatment for babies who survived premature inducement for the purpose of abortion and wanted babies who were born prematurely and given live-saving medical attention.

Here is what Obama has said about abortion and judges he would appoint,

Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it's never been more important to protect a woman's right to choose. Last year, the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5-4 to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, and in doing so undermined an important principle of Roe v. Wade: that we must always protect women's health.

With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women's fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election.

Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law.





When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it. And I will continue to defend this right by passing the Freedom of Choice Act as president."

Obama is not the candidate of change.

Charmaine says, "It's all about women's perceived power -- the power a woman has over her fate, her future, her convenience."

The mother-feminist even wants control of life and death: The ultimate power.

The power-hungry feminist does not choose life for her baby. The pro-choice, abortion-option movement is the desire to have the power of life and death."

Obama believes that feminist power over the baby is more important than the life of the baby.

Obama claims to support a women's health, but what he is demanding is the women's power over life and death.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Gary Bauer pointed us to the Obama speech.

Tom McMahon may not the originator of the 2 X 2 matrix, but no one does them better. Enjoy his intellectual property at the 4-Blockworld. Free! It takes hard work to make complicated subjects so simple. Bookmark him.

Tom provides us perhaps the real reason women will vote for John McCain: Who can keep us safe in our current war?

A New Report Indicates Voters Most Interested in Barack Obama's Position on Abortion

The Internet traffic monitoring firm HitWise indicates abortion is now the number one political issue voters are looking for when they conduct a search on Obama's campaign web site.

As a great leader, Mr. Obama should take a principled stand on the issue of Muslims and Islamophobia. While anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. is substantial, it is not an insurmountable challenge.

The vast majority of Americans are sincere and open-minded; anti-Muslim sentiments are a product of fear and lack of understanding. These sentiments can be overcome.

From an article in the The Wall Street Journal by Mr. Junaid M. Afeef, director of public and government Affairs at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.

Posted at 10:01 AM | Permalink
Comments (8)

BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD, PSALM 33:12

Your Business Blogger(R) is rather clever at discerning patterns. But I missed this one:

Each of the 50 states (57 if you're voting for Obama) mentions the Creator in the opening of their governing document.

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..

Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

[California!]

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:49 AM | Permalink
Comments (0)

"Let all the babies be born.

Then let us drown those we do not like."

GK Chesterton, Babies and Distributism, GK's Weekly, 11/12/32

GK Chesterton writes a prophesy: He sees evil and wants it to stop --

Barack Obama writes a policy: He sees no evil and wants it to continue.

Obama is the full-spectrum abortion candidate.

Abortion thru nine months
Abortion at birth
Abortion after birth

Obama demands that some babies born alive be left to die.

Obama makes clear what he will do about the killing of babies -- born and pre-born,

"Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it's never been more important to protect a woman's right to choose. Last year, the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5-4 to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, and in doing so undermined an important principle of Roe v. Wade: that we must always protect women's health.

"With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women's fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 12:05 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

The following has been circulating on the web and deserves a wide audience. Please comment if the author is known. The writer should be acknowledged and acclaimed.

BUSH'S RESIGNATION SPEECH

The following 'speech' was written recently by an ordinary Maineiac [a resident of the People's Republic of Maine ]. While satirical in nature, all satire must have a basis in fact to be effective. This is an excellent piece by a person who does not write for a living.

The speech George W. Bush might give:

Normally, I start these things out by saying 'My Fellow Americans.'

Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don't know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that many of you are really not fellow Americans any longer.

I'll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: There's been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office.

The reason I'm quitting is simple. I'm fed up with you people. I'm fed up because you have no understanding of what's really going on in the world. Or of what's going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too d@mned lazy to do your homework and figure it out.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 1:39 PM | Permalink
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Your Business Blogger(R) has a degree in Education and was pressured by the National Education Association (NEA) to join the union years ago.

"The NEA is great when you get sued," said the (very large) union rep.

I declined to teach and went into a less violent business: The Army.

The NEA is having their convention in Your Nation's Capital next week. On July 2nd Pro-Life Educators and Students (PLEAS) will be conducting a rally at the Washington Convention Center from 10:00am and 2:00pm.

This press conference would have my attention even if I didn't have 5 kids in the public schools or if Charmaine wasn't speaking.

If Charmaine is speaking, you'll want to listen. And this time we own the mic.

Charmaine is pictured above elbowing aside pro-abortion NOW President Kim Gandy at a open press conference in 2005. This is the only Women in Combat of which conservatives would approve.

PLEAS Coordinator Bob Pawson says, "Pro-Life teachers, school employees, parents, and students are invited to come pray and peacefully picket...Hillary Clinton and/or Barack Obama will surely address NEA's 9,000 Delegates, as they did last year."

Pro-Life teachers are concerned that their teacher union dues support and promote abortion and political candidates who tolerate the holocaust of the unborn.

Pawson explains, "Late-term abortionist George Tiller spoke at NEA headquarters for the [pro-abortion] Feminist Majority Foundation's Leadership Conference in March 2008." Watch the YouTube video here. Warning: graphic pictures of dead children.

No pro-life speakers or political candidates are supported by the NEA.

NEA union President, Reg Weaver is backing Obama; "every public school employee needs to get squarely behind the Obama candidacy."

The union tells us,

"The National Education Association supports...the right to reproductive freedom" -- the abortion code-words.

The "NEA supports the ...Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision which now permits abortion on demand through nine months of pregnancy. The NEA is silent on the Dred Scott decision which also codified the ownership of one human being by another. The Dred Scott slave owner is the Roe v Wade feminist.

UPDATE: Press Conference at the Family Research Council building at 9:30 to 10:15am, then on to the presser at the Convention Center at 10:30am.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:53 AM | Permalink
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Two items for June 18th:

1) It is a day of remembrance in Your Business Blogger(R)'s household, and
2) Charmaine gave speech.

Charmaine's talk was on the impact that women can have in our culture.
See her From Femme to Fatale.ppt Power point presentation.

MEDIA ALERT: Charmaine to speak at the EPC 28th Assembly

Charmaine's talk reminded us of the eternal values. Life and Death; this side of eternity and beyond.

At a recent funeral -- they seem to come faster and faster as we get older and older -- we talked about burials. Cremation, well, lights our fire and speeds up that dust-to-dust transition.

Charmaine asked what we plan to do with the ashes, where on earth to put them. We talk about the extended family's burial plots.

"Where do you want to get buried?" She asks.

"37º18'N, 137º55'E," I say.

"What?"

"The Sea of Japan," I remind her. Women!

"What's there?" she wonders.

Bonefish.

June 18th is the day we remember the loss of USS Bonefish.

My father, then only a teen-ager from Jersey, left high school, went to war and was assigned to the submarine, USS Bonefish. Just before the final mission of the Bonefish, my father walked off the gangplank - transferred to another assignment. Another man took his place.

On its eighth mission, on June 18, 1945, the Bonefish was lost fighting the enemy in the Sea of Japan, with the loss of all 53 officers and men. It was the last U.S. submarine sunk in World War II...

The article was first published by a number of outlets including the Virginian-Pilot in my hometown.

Posted at 10:38 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine recently appeared on CNN with a sound bite on the recent court actions in California. The video clip is here.

Charmaine, the Vice President for Communications at FRC, appeared on CNN's Situation Room June 16, 2008 to discuss the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in California.

This is not good for civilization.

The liberals with an anti-family world view are over reaching in this political season.

Charmaine above on an earlier cable appearance on homosexual "marriage."

Posted at 7:20 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine on an earlier
CNN appearance Charmaine will be recording a taped interview to appear on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.

She will be discussing the recent court actions in California on homosexual marriage.

One of the questions these court rulings have is to remind us that we have allowed ourselves to be governed by judges. Five Guys now rule America: An oligarchy.

When Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government our infant nation had created for ourselves, he replied, "A republic, if you can keep it."

So what is the problem with homosexual marriage? Maggie Gallagher tells us that the homosexual activists are equating homosexual preferences with racial civil rights. Conservatives who disagree with homosexuals are called bigots and worse.

There is no free and open and honest debate with the members of the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). (Motto: Sex by 8 or it's too late.)

Just as racists these days cannot get, say, an FCC license, Gallagher says that the homosexuals will make it impossible for "homo-phobes" to be a part of the mainstream of society. "Gay Pride Parades" will be considered first normal then mandatory. And you better be there with your children, smiling. At all the nekked men.

John McCormack writes in The Weekly Standard, May 26, 2008,

...[T]wo Christian doctors [in California] are being sued for refusing to artificially inseminate a lesbian, and last summer four firefighters sued the city of San Diego on sexual harassment grounds after they were required to participate in a gay pride parade over their objections. How would California deal with doctors who refused to treat an African American? Revoke their licenses. How would San Diego treat firefighters who objected to marching in a Martin Luther King Jr. parade? Fire them.

Is this self-governance as envisioned by our Founding Fathers? Nope.

The homosexuals are on a marketing campaign using marriage and the military through the courts for acceptance.

Robert P. George, Ph.D. believes that we should have open vigorous debates on marriage, abortion, stem cells; the big moral issues of our day. George writes in First Things, January, 2008,

We will be advised to frame arguments in coded language so as not to scare off the soccer moms or whoever is playing their role in the next election cycle.

All of this must be resisted...

The question, then, is not whether there are truths about such things as the morality of abortion and the nature of marriage; the question in each case is, What is true?

The homosexual activists do not want truth or government by the citizens. Liberals and the homosexuals in the Obama-Nation are happy with the dictatorship of the courts.

Most people want the self governance of a constitutionally-limited republic -- protected by good Republicans...

CNN is attempting to open up the conversation on homosexual marriage. We are anxious to see how they edit the tape.

Hit time for Charmaine is between 4 and 6pm today. Tune in and let us know what you think.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Dr. George teaches at Princeton University and sits on a number of boards, including the Family Research Council and Americans United for Life.

Your Business Blogger(R) also blogs at Management Training of DC, LLC.

Posted at 1:52 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D. will speak
at the 28th General Assembly
of the Evangelical Presbyterian ChurchCharmaine will be giving a talk at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Wednesday, June 18 - Pre-Assembly Workshop: Re-Engage: Christ as Culture's Hope

Dr. Charmaine Yoest is Vice-President of Communications for the Family Research Council. In that role, she oversees all aspects of FRC's strategic communications and messaging. Dr. Yoest is an author, a political analyst and an expert on domestic and international social policy. She has served as a Contributing Editor at the Heritage Foundation in Policy for FRC. Dr. Yoest holds the Ph.D. and M.A. in Politics from the University of Virginia. She and her husband, Jack, live with their five children in the D.C. area.

Dr. Yoest will speak to the ways the Gospel message intersects contemporary culture and its influence on the hearts and minds of women.

Charmaine is joining the following speakers,

Sinclair Ferguson is Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Church (ARP) of Columbia, South Carolina and Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. A graduate of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, he is the author of some two dozen books, has authored numerous articles and has contributed to various symposia. His writing interests have ranged from works of scholarship to books for children. He has served as minister of two congregations in Scotland, one on Unst, the most northerly inhabited island in the United Kingdom, and the other at the center of Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. For more than twenty years he has been a member of the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and Dallas, and has served as a visiting professor in various other seminaries. Sinclair and his wife Dorothy have been married for thirty-five years. They have three sons, a daughter, and three grandsons.

Jeff Jeremiah began serving as the Executive Pastor/Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in October, 2006. Prior to that he served as pastor of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Renton, Washington for twelve years. His ministry in the EPC began in 1987 when, as an associate pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Bethesda, Maryland, the church joined the denomination. At Fourth Presbyterian his pastoral responsibilities ranged from diaconal and visitation ministry to executive pastor and senior associate, beginning his ministry under Dr. Richard Halverson in 1980.
He is convinced that the church of Jesus Christ must come to grips with the 21st century reality that the United States is a mission field and that the missional agenda of the EPC is the most effective way forward.
Jeff has been married to Cindy for thirty years. Together they have three sons – Daniel (26), Jeffrey (24) and Michael (20) who all live in Washington State.

Robert Norris, host pastor, has been Senior Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian
Church since 1984. Rob came to Fourth after serving three years as Executive Pastor of Program at First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood,
California. Originally from Wales he also previously served as Assistant Minister at The City Temple, London, Chaplain to the City of London University, and Chaplain to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. He holds degrees from Kings College, London, and St. Andrews, Scotland, has served as adjunct professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, and has taught in seminaries in Ukraine, Malta, Japan, and Sudan. He and his wife Caren have five children.

Bill Vogler, Moderator of the 27th General Assembly, will speak at the Moderator’s Service of Communion and Prayer on Friday morning. Rev. Vogler is the founding pastor of Grace EPC in Lawrence, Kansas, where he has served for the last 19 years. Bill has served on several committees in Mid-America Presbytery and General Assembly.
Bill has been married to Karen for 34 years. Karen has served in women’s ministry in General Assembly, Mid-America Presbytery and at Grace. She leads Bible studies and retreats on various books of the Bible, prayer and reading through the Scripture. Bill and Karen have three children (Joshua, married to Nicole; Sarah, married to Damon; and Grace, a Sr. at Kansas State University), and one grandchild (James to Josh and Nicole).

Denis Haack is the author of The Rest of Success: What the World Didn’t Tell You About Having It All, and has written articles for such journals as: Reformation & Revival Journal; Eternity; Covenant; and World. He is currently working on his Master of Theological Studies at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. His undergraduate studies were done at the University of Minnesota and University of New Mexico. After a few years of living in a Christian commune (yes, that’s right, they were hippies), he staffed a church as a youth pastor and was recruited by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship with whom he eventually became area director of New Mexico, Arizona, and part of Texas. To support himself and his family, he did everything from pumping gas to delivering flowers to starting a janitorial business that didn’t boom until he gave the business to a friend who took the idea and ran with it. Before he and Margie owned a home, he always declared that their lawn would be made of rocks so he wouldn’t have to mow, but he’s now the proud owner of a self-propelled Honda lawnmower which he also uses to mulch every leaf that blows into the yard.
Denis will bring a keynote address and lead one of the breakout sessions. Learn more about Denis and his ministry at www.ransomfellowship.org

Steven Garber has a classroom among many people in many places. Known as “a public teacher,” at the heart of his own calling is the longing that people understand the integral character of faith, vocation, and culture. He directs The Washington Institute, whose core conviction is that the church and society are renewed as a richer, truer vision of calling is taught and practiced. Steven is the author of The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior. A Senior Fellow for the C.S. Lewis Institute, he has contributed to the volumes, Faith Goes to Work: Reflections From the Marketplace and Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalogue, as well as to the Mars Hill Audio journal, (Tacit Knowing, Truthful Knowing: The Life and Work of Michael Polanyi). A native of the great valleys of Colorado and California, he, his wife Meg and their children live in Virginia where they are members of The Falls Church.
Steven will bring a keynote address and lead one of the breakout sessions.
You can find out more about Steve and his ministry at www.washingtoninst.org

Walt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, serving churches,
schools, and community organizations around the world: in their efforts to communicate the Gospel cross-culturally by helping those who know and love children and teens to understand today’s rapidly changing youth culture. He has appeared on numerous media outlets internationally – including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC – to discuss teenagers and their world. The work of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding has been embraced by the federal government, offering CPYU numerous opportunities to be salt and light in the culture-at-large. He is the author of five books including Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture:
Bridging Teen Worldviews and Christian Truth, and the Medallion Award winner, Understanding Today’s Youth Culture, which is currently being totally re-written with Zondervan. Walt’s commentary and analysis
on youth culture is heard on CPYU’s daily radio program, Youth Culture
Today. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Geneva College, his M.Div form Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his doctorate in ministry to postmodern generations from Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary. Walt and his wife, Lisa, live in Elizabethtown, PA., and have four children: Caitlin, 23, a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh; Joshua, 21 a junior at Messiah College; Bethany, 19, entering
college; and Nathaniel, 14 in the ninth grade.
Walt will be leading one of our breakout sessions.

Richard Cizik, an EPC minister, is Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals. His primary responsibilities include setting NAE’s policy direction on issues before Congress, the White House, and Supreme Court, as well as serving as a national spokesman on issues of concern to evangelicals. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Whitworth College; an M.A. in Public Affairs from the George Washington University
School of Public & International Affairs; a Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary; and an honorary Doctorate of Ministry from the MethodistEpiscopal Church in Christian Leadership. He is the author of over one hundred published articles and editorials, author and editor of The High Cost of Indifference (Regal Books), a contributor to On Christian Freedom (University Press of America), and the Dictionary of Christianity
in America (Inter-Varsity Press). Richard and his wife, Virginia, have two boys, Rich Jr., and John, ages seventeen and fourteen. The family resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Richard will be speaking during the lunch gathering at the Hyatt Regency
on the National Association of Evangelicals’ landmark document “For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Engagement,” to which he was a major contributor.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Your Business Blogger(R) served as a Deacon in the EPC.

Charmaine and I are indebted to the Fourth Presbyterian Church. We met there. I picked her because she was virtuous and industrious. I don't know why she picked me... The Alert Reader will notice that both the Norris's and the Yoest's have five kids in each family: We will fix Social Security all by our selves.

This is in no way an endorsement of Richard Cizik, who does not believe that abortion is the evil of our time. He would be more comfortable in another mainstream denomination -- like say, the ones that are losing membership for fuzzy thinking and confused Biblical interpretations.

What is the purpose of life? The EPC gives the answer in the first question. At the jump.

Your Business Blogger(R) of Management Training of DC, LLC, is a licensed agent for the William Oncken Corporation presenters of Managing Management Time(TM) fondly known as Monkey Management. No, evolution is not taught. But I do subscribe to Intelligent Design.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:18 AM | Permalink
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The Women in Leadership & Philanthropy program, is hosting a conference at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

You are invited.

Charmaine will be speaking from her experience as a senior adviser to the Huckabee for President campaign.

Alert Readers will recall Charmaine also served in the Reagan Administration as a White House (unmolested) intern .

She also served in the Office of Presidential Personnel under Bob Tuttle, current Ambassador to the Court of St. James's.

The Women in Politics panel is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, from 9:30 to10:45 a.m., at the Darden School's Abbott Auditorium.

From UVA,

...[S]peakers on this panel: UVa. alums

Charmaine Yoest [Ph.D.] (Family Research Council, former adviser to Mike Huckabee) [confirmed]

Cheryl Mills (advisor to Hillary Clinton) [confirmed],

and Janet Napolitano (Governor of Arizona) [awaiting confirmation].

We may also ask [other] alums... The panel will be moderated by Vesla Weaver, assistant professor of politics and a UVA alum as well.

At this point, our conception of the Women in Politics panel is:

More than ever before, women - Republicans, Democrats and Independents - are making a difference in the American political arena and U.Va. alumnae are among those leading the way. Please join us for a panel discussion of the contemporary role of women in American politics.

Potential topics include the 2008 presidential election, the historic role of Senator Hillary Clinton's candidacy and the short list of women who may be considered as vice presidential nominees in both major political parties.

For more information on the conference, please visit the conference Web site.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Tips for visiting Mr. Jefferson's University. While at UVA, never say 'campus.' Say 'grounds.'

Address Ph.D.'s not as 'Dr.' but as 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' in keeping with our third president's sense of fraternite and Voltaire and all things French. Egalite run amuck.

See Christopher Hitchens on Thomas Jefferson.

Work and Family: One Size Does Not Fit All

Your Business Blogger(R) of Management Training of DC, LLC, is an adjunct professor of management at NOVA and a licensed agent for the William Oncken Corporation.

More at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:03 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine giving a lecture
at Princeton Nothing good comes out of a "shack job" as Dr. Laura often says.

Charmaine will be on Glenn Beck tonight to debate recent trends in co-habitation.

See
More view cohabitation as acceptable choice, By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY

An analysis of cohabitation, marriage and divorce data from 13 countries, including the USA, shows that living together has become so mainstream that growing numbers of Americans view it as an alternative to marriage.


The National Marriage Project study of a sampling of Western European and Scandinavian nations, Australia, Canada and New Zealand found that cohabitation elsewhere is far more common and indeed viewed as an option to matrimony.


The study found that anywhere from 15% to 30% of all couples identified themselves as living together, compared with about 10% right now in the USA.

The guys get the sex, the girls get the heart-break, the kids get Prozac and few couples stay together for long.

"Just like marriage," some would say. "After all, half of all marriages fail."

Wrong.

This is my favorite wrong statistic. Half of all marriages do not fail.

The 50% failure rate goes like this: In any one year there are about 2 million marriages and about 1 million divorces.

So: half of all marriages fail, right?

Nope.

The caveat needed to be emphasized is: "In any one year."

To get the numbers right, the stats should evaluate couples ever married. Not those marriages/divorces in a single year. One person can have multiple, multiple marriages.

This is the media run a-muck attempting to screw-up the culture.

For example, only marriages are counted, not the people in them. Charmaine and I have one marriage, Elizabeth Taylor has eight of them and she finally gave up, I think. Her last relationship with a Jason Winters was merely a shack job. Hollywood.

Not good for the couple. Not good for any children. Sharon Jayson continues,

Glenn Beck on CNN

The National Marriage Project report also cites findings from earlier studies showing that children of cohabiting couples are more likely to experience emotional problems, alcoholism and drug abuse.


But Raley says the research leaves unanswered questions.


"Many cohabiting couples use cohabitation to weather economic uncertainty or uncertainty about a relationship," she says. "We can't tell if the negative outcome for the child is due to the cohabitation or to the economic uncertainty or maybe the relationship uncertainty. That's a limitation of the data."

Guys: go get married. Make an honest woman out of her. For the children. For your health.

Hit time is 7 and 9 pm on CNN's Headline News. Email and let us know what you think.

Thank you (foot)notes:

The Baptists get it right, of course: More view cohabitation as acceptable choice.

See the Legal Theory Blog with Leckey on Cohabitation. Read how a professor can use the higher educational word "discursive" not once, not twice, but three -- THREE times in a single paragraph. "Diachronic" is used but once (in that same paragraph.) No network is going to ask that Ph.D. to debate on air, thank goodness...

Charmaine makes it look easy.

Your Business Blogger(R) also blogs at Management Training of DC, LLC.

Posted at 3:45 PM | Permalink
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The number one reason teenage girls have sex is not the pleasure, but the peeps. Peer pressure is the largest motivator.

Charmaine reminds us of this fact and was quoted by The Washington Post in Decline in Teen Sex Levels Off, Survey Shows,

...the onslaught of movies, books, advertising and cultural messages...glamorize sex.

"The No. 1 movie that all teenage girls want to see right now is 'Sex and the City,' " said Charmaine Yoest, a spokesman for the Family Research Council. "Our culture continues to tell them the way to be cool is to dress provocatively and to consider nonmarital sexual activity to be normative."

The WP reporter Rob Stein implies that more condoms and "comprehensive sex ed" will fix all,

New data from a large government survey show that by every measure, a decade-long decline in sexual activity among high school students leveled off between 2001 and 2007, and that the rise in condom use by teens flattened out in 2003.

Moreover, the survey found disturbing hints that teen sexual activity may have begun creeping up and that condom use among high school students might be edging downward...

Condom failure rates are seldom mentioned in any reporting. In these times, a failure may result in more than a pregnancy.

See What course for schools on distributing prophylactics?

Watch Charmaine debate condoms for college kids on NBC back in 2006. The debate hasn't changed much...

Thank you (foot)notes:

The article was picked up by newspapers across the country. The comments are encouraging.

For example, Tulsa World and DallasNews.

The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)/Women's Studies girls at Feministing are not happy. At all.

See Top 10 Facts on Teen Sex.

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., was named one of the Evangelical Women of the Year 2005.

Your Business Blogger(R) of Management Training of DC, LLC, is a licensed agent for the William Oncken Corporation -- presenters of Managing Management Time(TM) fondly known as Monkey Management.

Posted at 9:04 AM | Permalink
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The Dreamer scored in the 93rd percentile in Math for her grade in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I promised her a reward night out -- But a daddy-daughter-dinner-date at Subways won't be happening.

A good deal of her education was in homeschooling where Your Business Blogger(R) worked with her on that topic that counted: Counting. The hard sciences that "girls don't do well."

Not good in Math? Not my girls. My expectation was that they would do well in the quantitatives. (Parent and teacher expectations are the biggest variable in the success of students.) My wife is a genius with SPSS and regression analysis . The Dancer and The Diva are rabid readers and love 'rithmatic -- and are bloggers.

The Penta-Posse are outliers on the bell curve of school age young'ums.

So. I promised The Dreamer a night out. But not at Subway. The restaurant is off the good-guy list for two reasons:

1) The company doesn't care for homeschoolers, and

2) They can't spell.

Our friend Don Wildmon at the American Family Association sends this along,

Subway tells home schoolers: We will not allow you to participate in our contest. Subway discriminates against home schoolers.

Subway, the sandwich restaurant, wants to hear your child's story – unless he or she is home schooled.

The national chain's "Every Sandwich Tells a Story Contest" offers prizes and a chance to be published on the Subway Web site and in Scholastic's "Parent & Child" magazine but specifically excludes home schoolers. Subway's website states:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contest is open only to legal residents of the Untied (sic) States who are currently over the age of 18 and have children who attend elementary, private or parochial schools that serve grades PreK-6. No home schools will be accepted.

Subway will probably say they excluded home schools because of the main prize ($5,000 worth of athletic equipment to the winning child's school). But Subway could have given it to a local park, church or school of the winning home schooler's choice.

Subway's Web site promotion not only misspells "Untied (sic) States," but offers the grand prize winner a "Scholastic Gift Bastket (sic) for your home."

Subway's leadership clearly does not understand the value of homeschooling. In addition to learning how to spell, we are keeping our kids clear of the public schools' Family Life Education: Which is, as is commonly known, Sex Ed taught by liberals. When almost 20% of teens have herpes -- one would hope that this objective fact might persuade our feminist free-lovers that the condom classes might not be working.

Nope. The public payroll sex trainers are working even harder.

Here's some of what appears in Family Life Education for grades six through eight,

6.1 The student will learn that there are many health care and safety agencies in the community.
No need to talk with mom or dad, or aunt Sally or uncle Joe. The Planned Parenthood abortion clinic is just around the corner.

6.7 The student will be able to describe the etiology, effects and transmission of the HIV virus.
Clean needles for drug users? Contaminated blood supply? This is more important than spelling or math? The school will not reveal the detail of homosexual sex acts in the spread of the HIV virus. I did see a very nice man who teaches the course, however.

6.8 ...[E]valuate ...sexuality, and gender stereotyping...
The feminists are determined to get women in combat in the armed services.

7.7 The student will recognize that sexual behaviors are conscious decisions...
The public schools are a bit confused even about their own world view: homosexuality is a conscious decision; a preference -- not an orientation. FLE lurched into the truth.

So Subway supports only public schools, can't spell and doesn't like homeschoolers.

Dinner at Subway? No sirree -- We all are a-going to Chick-fil-a.


Chick-fil-A

Thank you (foot)notes:

Tom Peters once remarked that excellence should permeate an organization, especially for managing the perceptions of the customer. This is why managers make so much money. Airlines, in the consumers' mind, must understand that if the tray tables are dirty, the airline doesn't do engine maintenance.

The Army taught if boots were not shined, the soldier couldn't shoot straight.

If Subway can't spell, their food will make you [sic].

Send an e-mail to Subway President Frederick A. DeLuca. Tell him you will not eat with them anymore until and unless they allow home schoolers to participate. ©2008 Doctor's Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.

This is an unpaid endorsement of Chick-fil-A.

See some commonsense at The sexual ‘revolution’ that keeps on turning

This is a cross post from Pro-Life Unity.

Posted at 10:36 PM | Permalink
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The Penta-Posse at
Arlington National Cemetary, 2005 Our good friend Mackubin Owens, Ph.D., has a terrific article up on NRO, Mystic Chords of Memory, From America's Founding, to the sacrifices of her sons and daughters, we remember.

This weekend, we mark the 140th anniversary of the first official observation of the holiday we now call Memorial Day, as established by General John A. Logan’s “General Order No. 11” of the Grand Army of the Republic dated 5 May, 1868. This order reads in part: “The 30th day of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers and otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” Logan’s order served to ratify a practice that was already widespread, both in the North and the South, in the years immediately following the Civil War.

Alas, for many Americans today, Memorial Day has come to signify nothing more than another three-day weekend, a mere excuse for a weekend cook-out. Such an observance of Memorial Day obscures even the vestiges of its intended meaning: a solemn time, serving both as catharsis for those who fought and survived, and to ensure that those who follow will not forget the sacrifice of those who died that the American Republic and the principles that sustain it, might live.

"Mac" continues,

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address gives universal meaning to the particular deaths that occurred on that hallowed ground, thus allowing us to understand Memorial Day in the light of the Fourth of July, to comprehend the honorable end of the soldiers in the light of the glorious beginning and purpose of the nation. The deaths of the soldiers at Gettysburg, of those who died during the Civil War as a whole, and indeed of those who have fallen in all the wars of America, are validated by reference to the nation and its founding principles as articulated in the Declaration of Independence.

Some will object, claiming that linking Memorial Day and Independence Day glorifies war and trivializes individual loss and the end of youth and joy. How can the loved ones of a fallen soldier ever recover from such a loss? I corresponded with the mother of one of my Marines who died in Vietnam for some time after his death. He was an only child and her inconsolable pain and grief put me in mind of Rudyard Kipling’s poem, Epitaphs of the War, verse IV, “An Only Son”:

I have slain none but my mother, She
(Blessing her slayer) died of grief for me.

Kipling too, lost his only son in World War I.

But as Holmes said in 1884, “[G]rief is not the end of all. I seem to hear the funeral march become a paean. I see beyond the forest the moving banners of a hidden column. Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death — of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope and will.”

This Memorial Day the household of Your Business Blogger(R) will fly our Flag as we always do and remember those who "gave the last full measure" and died in service.

Dad is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The years on his head stone tell of his full life. Our family was so lucky.

Nearby head stones tell of service men who died far too soon. Far too young. In war for us.

Danny Boy
The BalladThe Irish classic Danny Boy has a long and varied history. The following explanation is my favorite and the simplest,

Once, a long time ago there was an old man who had raised many sons who he loved dearly. A war raged over the land that they lived in and one by one he saw each of them go off to fight and not return. Then one day, as harvest time drew near, he knew that his youngest, and most precious, son would soon be going off to fight just as his brothers before him. The old man was sad and knew that he may never see his last boy alive. He looked intently at the young lad, and with tears in his eyes he sang this song.

The ballad cannot begin to reveal the emotion and the pain of fathers and mothers who bury sons in a time of war.

I do not know how families do this.

But I do know that we must be grateful.

We are so lucky. Happy Memorial Day.

Thank you (foot)notes:

See Meditation on Suffering and Sacrifice,

The famous chapel on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains is more truly a cathedral. Outwardly, it is all sleek silver-wing metal, with seventeen external buttresses, knifing severely skyward. Designed to evoke an air-frame, the architecture does not immediately summon spiritual devotion.

But cross the threshold, step inside, and one is transported to another plane. The solemn air is bathed in the soft splendor of muted light. While the stern steel silhouette dominates the external view, the interior reveals the fragile panels of stained-glass that the harsh ribs support. The intricate glass panes filter and animate the sunlight, illuminating the sacred space with almost a visual hush.

At the front of the chapel, a single row is roped off. "Reserved" the sign says, for all the United States aviators who are missing in action or prisoners of war. The only occupant of the pew is a single, burning candle.

"Greater love hath no man than this. . ." reads the plaque. The Scripture it alludes to concludes: "that a man lays down his life for his friends."

My thoughts immediately fly to my boy, my sweet Dude, who wants to be a fighter pilot. And baby Boo, who will almost certainly want to follow his older brother. My heart blanches. How could I bear it? And yet so many other mothers -- gold-star mothers -- even this very day, must find a way when their sons have given the last measure of devotion.

Be sure to read Charmaine's post from 2005, Memorial Day: Arlington National Cemetery

Danny Boy Lyrics at the jump

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:54 PM | Permalink
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Launching area for the crew regatta
click on image for live feed web-cam Building Teams and Teamwork is the mantra of the modern manager.

How does a manager take a group of talented individual contributors and motivate them to, well, pull together as one unit in the same boat?

Last year The Chronicle of Higher Education lurched into the truth in an article All for One.

It was a story on rowing.

And in it Your Business Blogger(R) read a business lesson.

For both my business practice and The Dreamer's crewing at her high school.

Race Course
Click on image for live feed
web-cam The Oak Ridge Rowing Association and the Scholastic Rowing Association of America is sponsoring the 2008 National Scholastic Championships in Oak Ridge, TN. Several thousand visitors will go down to the river and pray for blue skies and flat water.

We are packing up the monster Huck-a-truck and the Penta-Posse (minus The Dreamer traveling with her team) and will gas-guzzle our way to the Volunteer State to watch our girls compete at the regatta.

With a monster carbon footprint.

Listening to the Oak Ridge Boys .

(Ain't America great or what?)

The Women's Freshmen Eight will row at 10:15am on Friday the 23rd. Please check the schedule.

The Women's coach was able to persuade decision makers to allow his team to use the Invictus. A new and faster boat used by upper class men at their high school.

Where tenths of a second determine winners, the perception of crewing a world-class shell can make the difference. If the women think they are faster, they will be.

Rowing is 90 percent mental, the other half is physical.

Apologies to Yogi Berra.

Scholastic Rowing Association
of America
Regatta 2008
Which brings us back to Notes From Academe, in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Writer Scott Smallwood visited the Cambridge University Boat Club in the UK to write about the yearly Oxford-Cambridge competition.

Alert Readers will recall that Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R) read at Oxford and attended our first rowing event on the narrow creeks that pass for rivers at ox ford.

Duncan Holland, the Cambridge coach with some 20 years experience, helped Dutch rowers to an Olympic medal. He well understands that even though he's got winning seasons, only one race matters as a condition of (enjoyable) employment:

Beat Oxford.

Picking eight rowers seems like an easy task for a coach,

With rowing machines that can spit out reams of numbers about how fast and hard every rower can pull, what's so hard about choosing a team? Why not just pick the eight strongest guys and be done with it? It turns out...that team dynamics are trickier than that. The eight who are eventually chosen will be not necessarily the fastest individual rowers, but the best combination of rowers.

Smallwood continues,

Quintus Travis, a past president of the boat club and now treasurer, puts the mystery more bluntly: "There are always a couple [of rowers] who are stunted, but somehow they make the boats go faster."

The Brits can be brutal.

Mr. de Rond is a professor at Cambridge's Judge Business School and is studying the Cambridge athletes and the team and the coach,

...de Rond sees the answer [of the faster boats] in how team members bond. He draws a comparison from a 2005 paper in the Harvard Business Review by Tiziana E. Casciaro, of Harvard, and Miguel Sousa Lobo, of Duke University. The pair studied likability versus competence. Their work boils down to this: When choosing whom to work with, do you pick the lovable fool or the competent jerk? People, especially managers, often say they value competence above all. But in practice, they'll often trade some of that competence for likability. And that may not be so dumb.
Mr. de Rond doesn't think any of the Cambridge rowers are incompetent. No matter how lovable you are, you can't get in this boat unless you're a top-notch rower.

But here the Cambridge rowers become a self-directed team. Something business managers talk about but seldom see,

When the tentative roster was chosen," says [de Rond], Dan wasn't originally on the list." The other men successfully lobbied the coaches to put him in the varsity boat, even though by the numbers he was a borderline choice. Now, he says, [Dan's] social skills -- he's the class clown, really -- have improved the psychology of the entire team.

Like the coaches, this is where managers work their magic. To assemble a team that maximizes strengths and minimizes weaknesses, as Peter Drucker said.

So the women's coach got a better boat for his team. Coaches and managers get paid to figure out the immeasurables; the intangibles that go into building a winning team.

This Freshman Women's coach has got it figured out.

If he reported to me, I'd get him a raise...

Yorktown Crew Boosters Thank you (foot)notes:

On April 7, 2007, in the 153rd match-up: Cambridge beat Oxford.

This is a cross post from Management Training of DC, LLC.

All for One by Scott Smallwood was published on May 4, 2007 in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

See video from the Stotesbury Regatta.

From The New York Times, From a World-Class Rower, Tips to Sharpen Technique. Watch the video on how to film a rower's movement and a slide show on training.

Mix It Up

“There’s this saying that ‘Miles make champions,’ ” Michelle Guerette said. So she spends up to five hours a day on the water, doing a variety of workouts. Mix these pieces into your own sculling training:

BUILDING BLOCKS A base training session “addresses fitness, feeling and rhythm,” Charley Butt said. As with a runner, he said, what matters is “how a rower gets in the miles.” He advised rowing for 25 minutes at 75 percent of full pressure at a stroke rate of 16 to 20. Then, he said, paddle for 5 to 10 minutes and repeat. Maintaining a low stroke rate allows you to concentrate on technique.

Stan Hudy will not be at the races. A loss for us all.

Posted at 12:26 PM | Permalink
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WARNING: Bad Language Links.

Charmaine on an earlier
appearance on C-SPAN

Charmaine returns to Neil Cavuto to discuss an on-air(head) talent dropping the F-Bomb on an open mike.

The Sue-Simmons-talking-head said one word too many. And the station did NOT fire her.

She though the mike was off...

Hit time is today, Wednesday at 4:40pm eastern on FOX, of course.

Sue Simmons
berates a staffer
Watch Simmons out of control here.

She apologized for saying "A word many people find offensive..."

That would be normal people.

Sue Simmons is not normal, of course.

The word does not bother her or her liberal friends on NBC --

Coarsening the culture.

Fortunately, nobody watches NBC anymore.

Please tune in and let us know what you think. Comments are down, so please email me.

America's Secular Challenge
Stacey Herb London Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine and The Dude had dinner last night with Herb London and Grover Norquist, Board Members of The Harbour League.

Dr. Herb London (yes, the dad of Stacey London) (no, she wasn't there) states that John McCain can win California. I ask him why.

"Obama can't get the Hispanic vote in California and McCain can," says London, who runs the Hudson Institute.

London believes that McCain is going to win big because there are still enough good Americans "in the heartland who share McCain's values." McCain holds for "American Exceptionalism" -- as so do most Americans, London says.

London, a Professor Emeritus at NYU and author of 21 books, says that he was once asked to write an essay on the most significant event of the last 1,000 years.

He wrote that the most significant event was not the internet or some war or penicillin or the creation of nation states.

It was the creation of America -- with our creed that states that the "citizens' rights are endowed by their Creator," unlike other 'democracies' in the world.

Pro-Life McCain will win because he loves America and loves life and the voters believe him. Barack X. Obama may love America but most voters don't believe him. And liberals don't care if he loves America or not...

McCain believes that America is exceptional. And he has the scars to prove it.

Thank you (foot)notes:

See How Voting for McCain is Like Getting a Root Canal.

The Harbour League is the 'go to' conservative organization in Maryland. Go visit.

Even though Stacey London, from What Not To Wear on The Learning Chanel, didn't attend, her mom was also at The Harbour League. She is a class act. The London's are great Americans. Buy their books.

Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform; hosts a weekly Wednesday meeting in Your Nation's Capital for conservative thinkers. It is invitation only.

Posted at 7:37 AM | Permalink
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Eli Gold, from The Harbour League writes,

Dr. Herb London

As you are aware by now, on this Tuesday May 13th the Harbour League will be hosting a talk by the Hudson Institute president and THL board member, Dr. Herb London. In consideration of the attendance of our entire board of trustees, the event will take place at: The Cloisters, 10440 Falls Road in Lutherville, Maryland and not at the Harbour League's office.

The evening will begin at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30pm)with a talk given by Dr. Herb London entitled, "America's Secular Challenge: The Rise of a New National Religion". Dr. London will suggest that the rise of secularism in the United States is a flaccid response to the challenge presented by the fanaticism of radical Islam. In the so-called war of ideas we are handicapped in our ability to thwart the inroads of fanaticism by a reflexive belief in relativism, one dimension of secular humanism.

The rise of secular humanism not only challenges the traditional antecedent of the nation, it is an ineffective response to the challenge of Islam. The result? If you don't know what you believe in, you are unable to defend what is worthwhile. Something that, if understood, can change Maryland for the better.

Following the talk and question and answer session, there will be a dessert reception that will give you a chance to talk with any member of member of the board regarding the movement.

To RSVP to this for this event or to the dinner prior to the talk please visit www.TheHarbourLeague.org or call 410-753-4560.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The Harbour League
2800 Quarry Lake Drive, Suite 140
Baltimore, MD 21209
410 753-4560
410 415-0800

Thank you (foot)notes:

Herb London's daughter, Stacey London, will NOT be present (I don't think). Although he might answer questions...

Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine and The Dude will be attending.

More on Dr. London at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 7:57 AM | Permalink
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Charmaine giving a lecture
on abortion at Princeton Rakes, Cads and leering Don Juans -- that is to say: all normal men -- have been attempting to seduce women for 4,000 years.

Our institutions of higher learning have noticed this and are helping out. No, not helping the parents, not the girls, not our culture.

Nope. Your local college administrator, acting in place of the parents, has now made it possible for the young women to undress in front of the young men in the privacy of their own (parental-paid) room.

This is not the No-Tell Motel. It is the college dorm room.

Higher Education has been working for decades to help separate not the women from men, but women from their clothes in front of men. And now the colleges and the men have succeeded.

The colleges, Your Business Blogger(R) would suggest, are acting less loco prarentis but just plain loco.

Charmaine recently appeared on CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck Show Monday, May 5, 2008 to discuss the emergence of co-ed dorm rooms on college campuses.

Watch the clip here at the Family Research Council. Sorry for the extra clicking.

"Professor" Diana York Blaine
Womyn's Studies

Normal people think co-ed dorm rooms are lunacy.

But the "professor" on the left is a typical Leftie that passes for normalcy on the local college campus.

Womyn's Studies Professor and lunar worshipper Diana York Blaine offers Alert Readers Full Disclosure on helping college men in learning all about the modern womyn. The nutty professor Blaine teaches at USC. It is not known if clothing is optional.

Higher Education at its best.

Research Institutions pride themselves on 'advancing scholarship.'

These days, Higher Ed is advancing an agenda.

And it is not a pretty site.

Thank you (foot)notes:

But sure to catch Charmaine's recent appearance on FOX News March 1, 2008 where she debated the prevalence of shock-style -- nasty -- advertising in the media. Click here to view the video -- please forgive the extra click on thru on the FRC site. Now that's a Pretty Woman.

Full Disclosure: Charmaine has taught Politics and the Family at the University of Virginia; Your Business Blogger(R) teaches Business at the Northern Virginia Community College.

Blaine tells us on her site that,

Dr. Diana Blaine is a PhD philosopher, writer, adventurer, bon vivant and buttkicker. She's read and studied how gender dynamics function in our culture...

Emphasis mine. Some lady. Email us your comments.

Posted at 12:00 PM | Permalink
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McDonald's is funding homosexual activism--and I'm NOT lovin' it!

Charmaine and the Penta-Posse
at a McDonald's
somewhere in Middle America
circa 2005 Buying a McDonald's hamburger now promotes the homosexual lifestyle. Here's a sample open letter to the McDonald's leadership, supplied by the Family Research Council,

Dear Chairman McKenna,

We are writing to request that you end your "Corporate Partnership" with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and refrain from making corporate contributions to this or other homosexual organizations.

[If individual members of the board of McDonald's wishes to give to any charity, have it your way, so to say -- but a corporation should not
use earnings for charity. Charity is a test of the individual heart -- not corporate or government largess.]

We also request that you adopt a policy which would prevent your corporate officers from using the McDonald's corporate name to lend legitimacy to work they may do for such organizations. The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce exists to generate business for companies that are owned by homosexuals. While we do not object to McDonald's doing business with any suppliers who can provide a quality product or service at a good price, we also do not understand why anyone would engage in affirmative steps to seek out suppliers based on their sexual behavior, or assist in promoting businesses for that reason.

[Your Business Blogger(R) has spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in McDonald's PlayPlaces. I'm not sure I've ever seen a homosexual in a McDonald's. The demographics do not fit the fast food market segment.

No. The homosexuals do not want to eat at McDonald's any more than they really want to serve in the military. Homosexuals are on a marketing campaign for normalcy. And they are looking for a stamp of approval in basic cultural institutions: Ronald McDonald, marriage and the military.]

However, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce does not exist just to promote the economic interests of their members. They also promote an extensive political agenda, including explicit support for legislation and litigation that would:

* Undermine the unique treatment granted to marriage between one man and one woman under the law
* Treat homosexual and "transgender" behavior on the same basis as race under federal civil rights laws
* Label disapproval of homosexual behavior a form of "hate" under so-called "hate crime" laws.

[Parents should ask if McDonald's will embrace open unisex restrooms where transgenders and transvestites and cross-dressers can have proximity to the wee ones.]

The NGLCC promotes a controversial social and political agenda that is offensive to tens of millions of your customers. A corporation like McDonald's, which prides itself on providing a family-friendly product in a family-friendly environment, should not be associated with any narrow political agenda. Thank you for considering my views.

Let the homosexuals dine on fast food at Starbucks. With the rest of the liberals.

Nope. The next time I need to take the Penta-Posse out for fast food -- Lord, the money we spend -- we will not go to McDonald's. And neither should you.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Market Research for McDonald's

Your Business Blogger(R) has enjoyed eating at McDonald's the world over. I'm not sure of the support for homosexuals in, say, China. See China's New Statue for Brotherhood and World Peace. And learn where the ad, I'm Lovin' It was developed.

Posted at 9:04 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine was interviewed by LAURA MECKLER from The Wall Street Journal, McCain Speech to Shed Light On Judicial Philosophy:Social Conservatives Look for Assurance Of Common Agenda, May 6, 2008; Page A8,

In town-hall meetings, Sen. McCain makes a point to explain his positions on terrorism, taxes, the economy, energy and health care. But in his prepared remarks, he never mentions abortion, same-sex marriage, judges or gun rights. When asked, he often responds quickly and moves on.

McCain and Huckabee
How Important is Pro-life?

"Imagine if you were an economic conservative and someone never talked about tax policy unless they were asked about it," said Charmaine Yoest, [Ph.D.] a vice president at the Family Research Council, a conservative advocacy group focused on social issues.

Asked whether she thinks Sen. McCain really cares about the abortion issue, she said, "I don't know, and that's his problem."

When asked in February what social issues are most important to him, Sen. McCain didn't directly answer. "It's hard for me to rank them because a lot of us who are social conservatives focus on what we think are the threats to them," he said. "It's not so much that you have priorities...It's very difficult for me. I can't prioritize them for you."

John McCain is now giving a speech on the abuse of power by the courts -- liberal judges have no self-restraint and are making law based on their "own experience" -- not legislators' and the founders' intent. Liberals want "judges who push the limits of constitutional law."

And McCain is right. The country must have conservative judges.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

John McCain's body language gives his positions away. See Is John McCain Courting the Religious Right? by Your Business Blogger(R)

Full Disclosure: Charmaine served as senior advisor to the Huckabee presidential campaign.

Posted at 9:30 AM | Permalink
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Glenn Beck on CNN Today is Cinco de Mayo. Memorable for Your Business Blogger(R) for a number of reasons. One of which is our anniversary. The guys say this is not fair -- because it is so easy to remember...

So Charmaine and I are a-celebrating. Off to New York City. The Big Apple. See some old friends. Take in a couple of shows. Charmaine is looking forward to them...

I wish I was with her.

She will be appearing on The Glenn Beck Program: The Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment. (Which might be about the best reason to tune in CNN these days. CNN is trying.)

Delectare et Docere

She will debating the wisdom of the trend for co-ed dorms in institutions of higher education. See more at the jump.

Hit time is 7pm and 9pm eastern on CNN HeadLine News. Tune in and let us know what you think.

Martha McCallum on FOX Charmaine will also be appearing on the FOX News Live Desk with Martha McCallum to discuss today's hot topics:

Michigan and Florida Delegates, Celebrity Endorsements, Oprah Winfrey in Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church.

Hit time is 1pm eastern on FOX News.

Thank you (foot)notes:

National Review Online is running an article by Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine on Hillary Clinton's management style:

JACK & CHARMAINE YOEST: The woman can’t manage. “Bad Management” 05/05 4:00 AM More at the jump.

Please email us your comments.

May is also the anniversary of getting my car. (This is important to car guys.)

Continue Reading »

Posted at 10:26 AM | Permalink
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This is a guest post by The Diva. The script was written by The Diva. Really.

Talent on screen, The Diva ; Camera-Direction, The Dude;
Grip #1, T-shirt, clapper, The Dancer;
Grip #2 ALL paper, Baby-Boo
My name is Helena Yoest, and I was harassed by the principal of my school because of a shirt.

Ok, so I went to class, just like a regular school day, I had the shirt on, no one was offended or anything by it.

Then my teacher- Mr. Young- says "Mrs. Schaffner wants to see you"

I walk over to her in the hall, she was talking to some other teachers with one or two students flocking around her.

She stops talking when she sees me, pulls me over to a corner, and says plainly

"you can't wear the shirt"

Wow. 5 minutes into the day and I've been caught in this t-shirt. (say sarcastically) Shoot.

I say very politely "may I go get something from my locker?"

Mrs.Shaffner says, "eh, yes"

So I go down to my locker to get a piece of paper, it's a magical piece of paper that gets me out of trouble.

National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day From the American Life League.

Actually, it states my civil rights and how I CAN wear the shirt, no harassment.

I hand over the letter and she hands me a t-shirt with the school name on it. Oh joy.

So I head to the bathroom to change and I hear her say, "were going to have to visit the principal about this."

So there I am, in the principal's office. Mrs. Annan (the principal) reads the letter Mrs. Shaffner is babbling about how they've never had this happen before, while Mrs. Annan is reading.

Mrs. Shaffner gets called away to do vice principal stuff and

Mrs. Annan pulls up a chair to sit beside me. "How do you know about this political issue?" she asks. "My mom" I say.

"What would you think if a kindergartner went up to you and asked you what it is?" she says pointing at my shirt.

"I would say 'it's where doctors and hospitals kill babies'"

You should've seen her face when I said that. "I just don't want you to be uncomfortable."

She leads me to a bathroom "you can turn it inside out, or you can change, whichever you want" so I change into this ew yucky t-shirt with the school name on it, so they would be happy and quit bothering me.

This is how it was in the classroom:

"Whydya change your t-shirt?" my classmates ask.

"She made me" I say, which isn't stretching the truth.

I went to art, and my teacher came in the middle of it and said

"walk with me" so I walk with him and he says "you can change into your shirt now, or after art, what do you want?"

I changed after lunch.

Can you believe that?

The principal of an elementary school, pressured and manipulated a 5th grade student to do her wills.

The principal, of all people! Wow.

Growing, Growing...Gone Pro-Lifers are the new Progressives.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Please send us your comments!

The Penta-Posse L to R: Baby-Boo, The Dancer,
The Diva, The Dude, The Dreamer
The Roe Effect
The American Life League sponsors the annual trouble-making event. The Dude was also spoken to by school officials. But no action was taken against him.

The "magical piece of paper" from the American Life League.

See The Roe Effect

The Diva protesting at the Afghan Embassy, 2006
She is no stranger to controversy

The Diva making phone calls for Mike
at the Huckabee for President headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa
Video Credit: The Dreamer See The Dude's post on the Abortion T-shirt at Panzer Commander.

Posted at 7:01 PM | Permalink
Comments (6)

UPDATE: School Officials direct student (our Diva!) to remove Pro-Life T-shirt. DEVELOPING...



The Penta-Posse L to R: Baby-Boo, The Dancer,
The Diva, The Dude, The Dreamer
The Roe Effect Today is the Sixth Annual National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day.

The bright blue t-shirt shows a baby growing and growing then black -- nothing. So simple even school age children understand what abortion does.

So compelling that even the teen-aged Dreamer donned the shirt.

Our five wee-ones will be wearing the garment-billboard today at school and around town.

Here comes trouble.

Our public school system is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democratic party, Planned Parenthood and the teachers' union.

(The only debate allowed is who would be better for the country, Obama or Hillary. And how awful Ronald Reagan governed and when global warming will kill us all. War is not the answer, etc and etc...)

National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day So our city is our mission field.

The schools will not be happy to see Pro-Life T-Shirts. We will be setting up a legal defense fund when the sheriff comes a-calling. Details to follow.

The American Life League sponsors the annual trouble-making event. The legal eagles at the ALL non-profit have provided a helpful handout for the students if they are confronted with the intolerant abortion lovers.

Free Speech in the public schools? We'll see.

Growing, Growing...Gone Pro-Lifers are the new Progressives.

Thank you (foot)notes:

UPDATE: It took 8 minutes before one of the Penta-Posse principals called -- comparing abortion to the disruption of "liquor, cigarettes or guns..." The school is really unhappy with the Pro-Life T-shirt. Your Business Blogger(R) was most polite. DEVELOPING...

UPDATE: The school leadership has made The Diva turn her shirt inside out -- Charmaine found out and lost her sense of humor -- the t-shirt is right side out, we think. A school official asks The Diva, "What will you say when the kindergarteners ask about your t-shirt?" The Diva doesn't miss a beat, "That doctors kill babies..."

The Diva hits the mark.

From the American Life League,

Harassment

The Diva protesting at the Afghan Embassy, 2006
She is no stranger to controversyIf you are a student at a public school, you have a right to wear a pro-life shirt to school. Our experience is that most young people who wear a pro-life shirt to school on National Pro-life T-shirt day do not have any problems. Occasionally a misguided school official may ask you to remove the shirt. This is a violation of your rights.

Read more at the jump from the good-guys at the ALL.

The Diva making phone calls for Mike
at the Huckabee for President headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa
Video Credit: The Dreamer

Continue Reading »

Posted at 7:20 AM | Permalink
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Stacy London This ad is not approved by The Harbour League.

Save the Date: May 13, 2008.

"Stacy London is co-host of The Learning Channel's What Not to Wear and has been with the show since its first season. After growing up in Manhattan, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College with a double degree in 20th-century philosophy and German literature."

Stacy London is a very bright young woman with a father almost as famous, Herb London.

[Stacy] began her career as a fashion assistant at Vogue magazine and later returned to Conde Nast as the senior fashion editor at Mademoiselle. She has styled fashion photos for other editorial publications, including Italian D, Nylon and Contents.

The Harbour League is hosting a star-studded event on May 13th in Baltimore, Maryland. Make plans to be there. Eli Gold runs the non-profit think tank and writes,

I want to make you aware of a very special evening that The Harbour League will be hosting. It is an evening that will give you a chance to meet and chat one-on-one with leaders of today's conservative movement.

America's Secular Challenge
Stacey Herb London

On May 13th, 2008 The Harbour League will host an evening with the board. This will be the first time that our entire board will be in one place at one time to answer your questions regarding today's conservative movement, where we are and where we are headed.


The Harbour League's Board of Trustees includes: Eli Gold, Chairman; Herb London, President of the Hudson Institute; Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform; David Keene, President of American Conservative Union, as well as various other leaders in the movement.

The evening will begin at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30pm) with a talk given by Dr. Herb London entitled, "America's Secular Challenge: The Rise of a New National Religion". Dr. London will suggest that the rise of secularism in the United States is a flaccid response to the challenge presented by the fanaticism of radical Islam.

In the so-called war of ideas we are handicapped in our ability to thwart the inroads of fanaticism by a reflexive belief in relativism, one dimension of secular humanism.

The rise of secular humanism not only challenges the traditional antecedent of the nation, it is an ineffective response to the challenge of Islam.


The result? If you don't know what you believe in, you are unable to defend what is worthwhile. Something that if understood can change Maryland for the better.

Following the talk and question and answer session, there will be a dessert reception that will give you a chance to talk with any member of member of the board regarding the movement.

I also would like invite you to a private VIP dinner prior to the evening's event. For the first time we will open the board's pre-event reception and dinner to the first fourteen reservations.

The cost for dinner is $200 per plate (dinner is discounted for members). This is an opportunity to have an intimate dinner with these opinion leaders. So reserve your spot soon! Dinner reservations can be made by calling The Harbour League at 410-753-4560.

The presentation and dessert reception is free for Harbour League members, $5 for non-members. Please feel free to forward this invitation to your colleagues. A RSVP is highly recommended since seating is limited. Media covering this event should contact The Harbour League in advance.

I hope to see you at the event on May 13th.

Sincerely,

Eli Gold
Chairman

When you RSVP click "America's Secular Challenge."

Stacy London will not be there. Sorry for the bait and switch: Terrible marketing. My bad.

But her father, Dr. Herb London, will be there. Meet the proud papa and get a hint on why she is a success. And buy his book.

More on Stacy London at the jump

Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine and one of the Penta-Posse will attending -- we hope to see you there!

UPDATE: Alert Readers noticed that Your Business Blogger(R) originally spelled Stacy as "Stacey." Error corrected and she provided a nice pub shot -- a class act.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 7:33 AM | Permalink
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Father Frank Pavone Pro-Life Group Challenges Pro-Abortion Politicians With Video of Abortions.

Some 85% of women choose to keep their babies once they view a sonogram of their child.

There is no data yet on the number of politicians who will choose life after watching Father Pavone's video.

The video is, well, graphic. But why does it offend so? The baby is not protected by the Constitution.

A parasitic blob of tissue.

Nothing to see here; move along...

The video reminds Your Business Blogger(R) of those old black and white photographs of lynched black men.

Or something out of a concentration camp for Jews.

Blacks and Jews at one time had no rights. And now Babies have no rights.

Goodness, Is Jeremiah Wright right?*

Heaven forbid.

Thank you (foot)notes:

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report has the story,

Pro-Life Group Challenges Pro-Abortion Politicians With Video of Abortions
Staten Island, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life Catholic group is challenging pro-abortion politicians with new YouTube videos illustrating the two most common types of abortion methods. The videos are part of a campaign Priests for Life has started, called "Is This What You Mean?" Father Frank Pavone, the head of the pro-life group, talked with LifeNews.com about the new initiative. "Our campaign is based on a simple challenge: We quote the words of the doctors who perform abortions, and then we ask supporters of legal abortion, 'Is this what you mean when you say the word abortion?,'" Father Pavone explained. "People worldwide can use this approach with those who hold or seek public office and say they support the legality of abortion,"

*Obama's former preacher Jeremiah Wright says we are under God's judgment, "God D@mn America." For different reasons.

Posted at 7:33 AM | Permalink
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Election 2008 Our good friends at AdvanceUSA have a new Candidate Comparison chart,

"Make sure you cast an informed ballot this November with AdvanceUSA's 2008 Candidate Comparisons for the presidential election. AdvanceUSA compared the major presidential candidates on twelve important issues of concern for conservatives."

The group lists 12 "voting changing issues" as Grover Norquist calls them in his book, Leave Us Alone,

Abortion, Marriage, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Judges,
Taxes, Iraq Withdrawal, Energy, Hate Crimes,
Guns, Earmarks, Education, Health Care

Get Leave Us Alone
by Grover NorquistAbortion is at the top of the list. Where it belongs: First.

Obama is pro-abortion. McCain is pro-life. A vote changing issue for conservatives.

Obama is anti-gun. McCain Voted to protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits over the misuse of their products.

War? Obama will surrender. McCain will win.

Vote changing issues for Americans.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Charmaine, wife of Your Business Blogger(R) served as senior advisor to the Huckabee for President Campaign.

Be sure to visit AdvanceUSA's blog.

Posted at 10:49 PM | Permalink
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Watch Kristi Burton, founder Colorado for Equal Rights
She is The Roe Effect. She is the future. She is the Change.

Thank you (foot)notes:

The Roe Effect on Wikipedia,

The Roe effect is a hypothesis about the long-term effect of abortion on the political balance of the United States, which suggests that since supporters of abortion rights cause the erosion of their own political base, the practice of abortion will eventually lead to the restriction or illegalization of abortion.

James Taranto, from The Wall Street Journal, says,

[o]ur theory is that abortion is making America more conservative than it otherwise would be.

We base this on two assumptions. First, that liberal and Democratic women are more likely to have abortions. Second, that children's political views tend to reflect those of their parents--not exactly, of course, and not in every case, but on average. Thus abortion depletes the next generation of liberals and eventually makes the population more conservative. We call this the Roe effect, after Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court's 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.

An Alert Reader sends an old Paul Greenberg column; at the jump.

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Posted at 6:46 AM | Permalink
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The Harbour League
Presents

America’s Secular Challenge

Herbert London Addresses The Rise of Secularism In The United States

(BALTIMORE, MD) – Herbert London is the president of the Hudson Institute. London is a noted social critic, whose work has appeared in every major newspaper and journal, including The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, National Review, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Investors Business Daily, and Forbes.

London is editor of 21 books, including Myths that Rule America (with Al Weeks). London shows that while secular humanism has it’s saints, sinners, and even its quasi-religious rituals, it is too anemic and self-centered a philosophy of life to serve America and the West in its battle against the threat of radical Islam.

WHO: Herbert London

WHAT: America’s Secular Challenge

WHEN: Doors Open 6:30 PM, Tuesday, May 13, 2007
Presentation 7:00 followed by dessert reception

WHERE: Baltimore

Dr. London will suggest that the rise of secularism in the United States is a flaccid response to the challenge presented by the fanaticism of radical Islam. In the so-called war of ideas we are handicapped in our ability to thwart the inroads of fanaticism by a reflexive belief in relativism, one dimension of secular humanism.

The rise of secular humanism not only challenges the traditional antecedent of the nation, it is an ineffective response to the challenge of Islam. The result? If you don’t know what you believe in, you are unable to defend what is worthwhile.

The cost of the London presentation and Dessert is free for Harbour League members, $5 for non-members. An RSVP is a must since seating is limited. Media covering this event should contact The Harbour League in advance.

Posted at 5:30 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine and Your Business Blogger(R) will be attending MRC's Gala tonight with some 3,000 of our closest friends in Washington, DC.




Brent Bozell L. Brent Bozell III and the Board of Directors [presents]
Media Research Center’s
2008 Gala
The DisHonors Awards
Roasting the Most Outrageously
Biased Liberal Reporting of the Year

Master of Ceremonies
Cal Thomas
Presenters
Ann Coulter, Larry Kudlow, and Mark Levin

William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence
Honoree: Tony Snow
A Special Tribute

Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Your Business Blogger(R) is a freelance journalist for the Business & Media Institute, a division of MRC.

See last year's Big Winner.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:35 AM | Permalink
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Charmaine on an earlier FOX appearance Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., Vice President for Communications for the Family Research Council appeared on Fox News on March 1, 2008 to debate the issue of edgy ads and to discuss the prevalence of shock-style advertising in the media.

Click here for the clip. Please forgive the extra click thru to the FRC site.

Thank you (foot)notes:

For more on the ads click here. Safe for work. I think...

Posted at 7:48 PM | Permalink
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Management Training for Church Leaders.

Management Training for Church Leaders:
The QuestionsYour Business Blogger(R) would often tease Preachers about their work-load.

After all, they only work one hour a week. On Sunday.

Pastors always laugh at that old joke. Diplomacy is part of their discipline.

But as managers, Pastors have double duty.

They have the work of an individual contributor.

They have the responsibilities of management.

Between the christening, marrying and burying, they really do have the hardest job on this side of eternity.

The Christian Church which shepherds believers and their faith worldwide, is nevertheless much like any organization in terms of order and structure. Basic management principles apply.

Pastors often must focus on numbers: numbers: attendance, budget, seating, parking, programs.

But the Pastor as manager doesn’t manage numbers, he manages behaviors.

If not of the congregation, then hopefully of his staff.

The following questions concern management strategies. The numbers will follow once skills are in place.

All church organizations and staffs experience personnel challenges and management concerns. The following questions concern management strategies and skill building for pastor-managers who can benefit from knowing that the numbers will follow once the staff is trained and trusted, and skills are in place.

Remember:
The Pastor leads people and manages behaviors.
The Pastor doesn't manage numbers; he manages behaviors.
The Pastor doesn't manage staff; he leads people.

The YouTube video presents 5 common questions. Here are the 5 answers and bonus solutions to many church management problems.

1. What does the church leader, the manager really do?
Plan, Lead, Organize, Control, Motivate.

The pastor’s focus must be on both the congregation and his staff. This requires skill building and continuous learning as the pastor also undoubtedly must commit serious time and attention to study and sermon preparation.

Here the Pastor is radically different from the manager in business and government. In business there are many areas of which the manager will know little or nothing. But he depends upon department heads to support him.

A great deal of the Pastor's time is consumed in the research and review of the sermon. This is work that only the Pastor can do -- this is vocational time.

The Pastor is one of the few managerial disciplines that has considerable management time and the vocational-knowledge responsibilities of an individual contributor.

For most managers the formula is simple: Knowledge plus Network equals Success. The manager's success is dependent on getting his network...to work. To succeed, the manager needs the support of his Ruling Board, outside peers, and staff.

2. What does the individual contributor do?
The work. The individual contributor does the hands-on work -- in business it would be the accountant, brick layer, college professor. This is the vocational, the knowledge-worker.

The manager, in a routine management position, has few vocational duties.

Except for the Pastor.

His is one of the few positions requiring both extensive hands on -- sermon writing -- and management skills. Little wonder Pastors run out of time.

3. Pastors, why were you hired?
If management wasn’t mentioned, that’s not unusual. Indeed, the search committee had a list of KSA’s (knowledge – skills – abilities), but often they don’t delve into management maturity or the candidates ability to garner support of his network. Pastors usually are hired for their wisdom and judgment.

Traditionally, seminaries haven’t focused on the day-to-day management challenges. So even pastors over 50 may only have the management maturity of a twenty something. Henry Ford once said that, "If you take all the experience and judgment of men over fifty out of the world, there wouldn't be enough left to run it."

4. Can the church manager be a victim?
Many Church leaders feel this way – but the Pastor must have impact on his church and the community. The manager must be in control of events or favorably influence outcomes.

The successful Pastor- manager is able to develop a team that is proactive. The Pastor and his staff are on the "offensive" for good. For example, a church received visits by the police for violating noise level ordinances. That church was on defense.

The best Pastor-manager and his team would have anticipated any community friction and worked out solutions.

5. What happens when the team/church staff is angry?
Even if the staff displays no emotion because they are “people of faith,” they still need
a trusted manager to whom they can turn and who knows how to deal with their concerns and get to the bottom of the matter. The worst outcome of an angry staffer in a church work environment is not disobedience, but incentive-stifling compliance. Such negative attitudes, in turn, damage the manager who will often need his team to protect him from (his) mistakes.

In the army the cliché was, “Take care of the troops and they will take care of you. And if you don’t take care of the troops, they will take care of you – the troops always get even.” But even if the staff displays no emotion, the manager will often need his team to protect him from (his) mistakes. The worst outcome of an angry staffer is not disobedience, but supervise compliance.

Of course church staff aren't really into vengeance; they just hurt, withdraw, and stay
out of sight as much as possible. This is especially true for staff with a distracted pastor-boss and it is why staff-building events, lunches, silly contests and required prayers together seldom work.

Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine
and the Penta-Posse on Easter Sunday
2005 Grand Canyon 6. Who are the church ‘constituents’ and ‘customers’?
This is the classic dilemma in the non-profit world – the disconnect between who gives and who gets. The constituents, who tithe in the pews, are not the customers; recipients of charity from the pastor’s discretionary fund or outreach budget are the actual customers.

These ‘customers’ probably are not even members of the church. This poses unique challenges for church managers and staff, who need skills and understanding. Many church employees, especially the young, don’t know that the dynamics they find frustrating are the result of working for a non-profit.

7. When is counsel, coun-‘sell’?
A council of advisors - akin to a church’s Administrative Board or Vestry - should ‘sell’ counsel, advice to the pastor. The pastor can buy the advice or not and making the best decision is the wisdom of mature management.

If the senior pastor isn’t trained to make good decisions by asking for recommendations, people at all the other levels will suffer the consequences and have no opportunity to express themselves.

8. What is the most important concern for the church staff? The work/ministry, the people/congregation or the boss/Pastor?
The Pastor. (Staff and Pastors always get this wrong – staff thinks it has the answer and gives the wrong answer. Pastors know the right answer and give the wrong answer, out of embarrassment…)

Even in the atmosphere of 'servant leadership' the Senior Pastor is the final arbiter, the final decision maker and sets the tone for decisions made by subordinates.

Here again, the church leader is quite different than other business leaders. In any other 'industry' some managers might prefer to be low profile. Pastors do not have this option; commanding a pulpit three times or more a week puts him, well, front and center whether he wants to be seen or not.

It is the Pastor's direction that counts in making decisions on the strategic direction of his church. Every church staff member, of course has his work to do.

The staffer does not have his own agenda.

Only the Pastor.

9. Is office politics good or bad?
Politics is the normal interaction of people and power and position and process. Office politics in a church setting is a tool to be acknowledged and used by church management.

10. Is it better for the church leader to have the answers, or to ask the questions?
Neither. It is best for the church leader to have competent staff who anticipate questions, research alternatives and present recommendations. Why does the pastor have to think of everything? (I know, I know…I’m sorry to ask.)

But if the structure only allows for a few associate pastors – those who insulate the church leader or senior pastor – to offer information, the intelligence and experience of other staffers who work in different parts of the church is wasted.

The subordinate should bring not only questions, but suggested answers. The church leader can then grade the answers and make decisions on staffer’s recommendations.

11. How does the Pastor know when he is managing well?
The best church staff will bring a memo/course of action/decision that will require nothing more than the Pastor’s signature.

There