Be sure to get your personal avatar when you visit www.virtualmarchforlife.com

And bloggers get the code for a banner.

Posted at 8:52 PM | 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
Comments (1)

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 will be debating Kim Gandy from NOW on Palin's speech.

Here's what happen the last time Charmaine and Kim "shared" a microphone,

Even Rush Limbaugh noted the altercation. Back on November 5, 2005, Your Business Blogger(R) wrote about the press conference,

Please forgive the-day-in-the-life post from Your Business Blogger[R]. I was in the middle of drafting an article on the glass ceiling for women. And got a first person account instead.

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 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.

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 article.

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

Hit time is 6:30 Eastern. MSNBC Race for the Whitehouse w/David Gregory -- opposite Kim Gandy from NOW -- Segment on Palin and last night's speech

They're taping in Rice Park (across the street from the Xcel center)

Thankyou (foot)notes:

Please tune in and let us know what you think. Watch the fight begin in ernest.

Posted at 3:58 PM | Permalink
Comments (5)

In the Yoest household kitchen Answer: She's not married to Todd Palin.

On CNN yesterday Charmaine reinforced the point that women can succeed in any position at any level, if she has a deep support system. Beyond the government safety net.

The best support system is to marry a guy who will embrace the family mission, the family business. A husband who is not distracted by interns at 2am.

And will lift up his wife when her time comes...

And I'm not just talking pregnancy.

About half of all women who enter into a Ph.D. program do not finish. When Charmaine was working on her disertation at the University of Virginia, Your Business Blogger(R), MBA, and Charmaine's parents, Mom, Ph.D; Dad, Ph.D; Brother, Ph.D. and Penta-Posse gathered together and strategized on the path to make sure that Charmaine was in the half that got 'hooded.'

The extended family decided to invest in Charmaine.

Money was key but not the entire issue. Wisdom and logistical support were the real needs of house hold and five little ones.

Extended family and a hubby who will sacrifice for the family mission is the solution to whatever success the family, the mother, the mission will achieve.

Todd Palin is my kind of guy. Like me, he married way over his head and is not afraid to let the world know.

We are both married to CEO's who advance the family mission. Our extended families have made sacrifices and investments to advance very talented women, very talented wives.

If more feminists had devoted husbands, maybe they'd enjoy more success. As well as the other benefits of marital bliss (re Five Children...).

And this is the real reason the liberals hate Sarah Palin. She is normal.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Fish on a bicycle by Ray Troll Feminist icon Gloria Steinem can be blamed for a lot problems these days in verbiage and communication in the battle of men vs women.

But not this phrase.

Gloria Steinem writes to Time Magazine,

"In your note on my new and happy marital partnership with David Bale, you credit me with the witticism A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. In fact, Irina Dunn, a distinguished Australian educator, journalist and politician, coined the phrase back in 1970 when she was a student at the University of Sydney."

Credit should go to Irina Dunn, graffiti artist and Australian Senator from the Nuclear Disarmament Party.

And made popular more by U2.

Posted at 10:31 AM | Permalink
Comments (10)

Charmaine has been interviewed by a number of media outlets on John McCain's VP Palin pick and the announcement today that Palin's daughter is getting married and is pregnant.

Statement from Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life, on Palin Daughter's Pregnancy

Last update: 3:04 p.m. EDT Sept. 1, 2008 CHICAGO, Sept 01, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life, issued the following statement in response to news that the daughter of McCain running mate Sarah Palin is pregnant:

"As the mother of five children, I know this situation is not the ideal Sarah Palin wished for her daughter.

But the way we react to life's challenges is the true testament to our character. The Palin family is displaying courage and constancy.

We join them in welcoming this new life. Our prayers are with the entire Palin family as they deal with this in the intense glare of the media spotlight."

In Politico, Palin electrifies conservative base
By JONATHAN MARTIN, 8/31/08 7:16 AM EST

By tapping the anti-abortion and pro-gun Alaska governor just ahead of his convention, which is set to start here Monday, McCain hasn't just won approval from a skeptical Republican base - he's ignited a wave of elation and emotion that has led some grass-roots activists to weep with joy.

Serious questions remain about McCain's pick - exactly how much he knows about her and her positions, past and present, on key issues. But for the worker bee core of the party that is essential to any Republican victory, there are no doubts.

"I woke up and my e-mail was just going crazy," said Charmaine Yoest, head of the legislative arm of Americans United for Life and a former top official in Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign. "And then when it was announced - it was like you couldn't breathe."

The Independent from the UK, McCain's choice of running mate heads off potential rebellion, by David Usborne in St Paul, Sunday, 31 August 2008

Republican officials think that Mr McCain has solved that problem with the Palin pick. And they are cheered even more by the belief that it is the evangelical Christians who are most electrified - the same people who did so well by Mr Bush in 2000 and 2004.

Charmaine Yoest, a former top aide to presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee and a leading voice among conservative Republican women said the reaction to Mrs Palin has been beyond ecstatic. "I woke up and my e-mail was just going crazy," she said here in St Paul. "And then when it was announced - it was like you couldn't breathe."

LifeNews writes, Pro-Life Groups Say Sarah Palin's Abortion Rejection Reminds of McCain's' Adoption

Yoest told LifeNews.com that McCain's and Palin's actions and words point to the key differences between them and their pro-abortion rivals Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

"The Republican ticket stands in stark contrast to the stridently pro-abortion ticket put forth by the Democratic party," she said. "You can be sure the vice presidential selections will have far-reaching ramifications in this race."

Obama came under fire for appearing to back a potential decision by his daughters to seek an abortion saying he wouldn't "punish" them with a baby.

Thank you (foot)notes,

In related international abortion news,
LifeNews, Mexico Supreme Court's Decision to Allow Capital City Abortions Upsets Pro-Life Groups

Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- The decision by the highest court in Mexico to uphold the law allowing abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy is drawing sharp criticism from leading pro-life groups. The Mexico Supreme Court voted 8-3 this past week to uphold a federal district law allowing abortions and paying for them at taxpayer expense through the government health care program.

Charmaine Yoest, the president of Americans United for Life tells LifeNews.com that the ruling ignores the negative impact of abortion on women and is a devastating step toward abortion on demand for other Latin American nations.

Yoest's organization was one of the American pro-life groups to file an amicus brief with the Mexico Supreme Court in the case that could have ramifications throughout the region.

"We are dismayed the Mexican Supreme Court would ignore the overwhelming evidence that abortion hurts women. Upholding this law demonstrates a total lack of concern for the health and welfare of Mexican women," she said.

Posted at 3:19 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Matthew Eppinette
Matthew.Eppinette@AUL.org
312.568.4701

Chicago, Illinois -- Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., a well-known pro-family leader, author, and media commentator, takes the helm of Americans United for Life (AUL) as president and chief executive officer on August 11, 2008.

Robert Harvey, Chairman of the AUL Board of Directors said, "Dr. Yoest's experience in pro-life issues, in political strategy, and in organizational communications make her the ideal person to lead the team at AUL in taking on challenges and capitalizing on opportunities in the present legal and political climate."

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2007 Gonzales decision upholding the Federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act marked the beginning of a new era in the battle over life issues. In short, the decision dramatically opened up new doors for protecting life through the law.

In striking contrast, the U.S. Congress and five states this year considered Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) legislation, which would wipe away virtually every law on abortion nationwide, allowing abortion-on-demand in all nine months of pregnancy for any reason, without any restrictions.

"It is a great honor to join AUL, an organization with a remarkable reputation for excellence and achievement," said Yoest. "AUL has been involved in every pro-life case before the U.S. Supreme Court since Roe v. Wade, and AUL-authored legislation is in place all around the country, saving lives every day."

Yoest added, "I look forward to exciting days ahead, building on this rich legacy and working to increase the legal protection of human lives."

Most recently, Yoest served as vice-president of communications at the Family Research Council, one of the largest pro-family public policy organizations in the country.

Her political experience spans working in the Reagan White House to serving as a Senior Advisor to the 2008 Huckabee for President Campaign.

A regular political commentator, Dr. Yoest has appeared on all of the major networks and cable outlets. In print, she is quoted regularly and has been published widely. She is also the author of Mother in the Middle (HarperCollins), an examination of work/family and childcare policy.

Yoest holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. She lives with her husband, Jack, and their five children in the Washington, D.C. area.

Dr. Yoest succeeds Clarke D. Forsythe, Esq., a 22-year AUL veteran who served as interim president and who will continue in senior leadership of the organization.

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 every human being 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's Frontline program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.

Website: http://www.AUL.org

Blog: http://Blog.AUL.org

Media Contact:

Matthew Eppinette

Matthew.Eppinette@AUL.org

312.568.4701

Posted at 12:44 PM | Permalink
Comments (14)

"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)

"It is something you only want to do once," said Gary Bauer.

"What's that?" I ask. "Running for president?"

"No," he says. "Falling backwards off the platform."

Alert Readers will well remember Gary Bauer falling off the podium while flipping flapjacks on his run for president. It was funny and no one got hurt.

Except, maybe, his chances for president...

The Baby-Boo, the caboose on the Penta-Posse, made a similar slip and fell off the elevated platform at a press conference today.

Falling is something everyone has to do. Baby-Boo has got his 'falling' out of the way -- and is now ready to run without a slip for president.

Baby-Boo may not be 35 years old, but, then, he's not that much younger than Obama.

Gary Bauer still laughs about his tumble and the uncertainly all presidential campaigns generate on the trail. Gary is a class act. (Your Business Blogger(R) would still be mad and a-blaming someone...)

Watch Baby-Boo's fall and his quick recovery. Click here for the Family Research Council site and then click on Judy Bruns's talk.

Pictured behind Judy Brun is Baby-Boo, The Dude and The Diva.

Incidentally, Judy's speech is terrific on the meaning of words.

Following is The Diva's YouTube of her pro-life encounter with teachers at her school. See Pro-Life Student Forced to Remove Abortion T-Shirt.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 10:53 PM | Permalink
Comments (3)

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
Comments (2)

Remembering the fallen

Watch the video
courtesy: Military Times
Alert Readers know that Your Business Blogger(R) does not care to see women any where near combat.

Real men fight their own battles.

Real men fight their country's battles.

Watch how How One Woman Serves. This is why men fight. She is why families sacrifice.

Thank you (foot)notes:

The forward torpedo room Pictured is the Penta-Posse on the retired submarine USS Becuna moored at Philadelphia. This highlights the close quarters men and women would live for months at a time under a Obamanation.

When boys and girls are close together, they get, well, close together.

The Navy will not tell us how many women get pregnant.

Our guess is that the pregnancy numbers are so high that the politically correct Navy will not disclose the prego incidents for fear of feminists. One anonymous service member said that the only women not getting pregnant in the military are the lesbians.

Barack X. Obama, the metro-sexual, girlie-man plans to put women in land combat, in harm's way and into submarines.

He is not quite a real man.

John McCain does not want women on submarines or in combat. He is a real man. With the scars to prove it.

McCain gives us his body once broken. Obama has never broken a sweat. Never had a blister, the poor sweet man.

Our poor country...

Your Business Blogger(R) was once honored to give a speech to some sub vets,

Submariners' Memorial Service, Saturday May 13, 2000, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Debt of Honor

It is an honor to join you here today and remember the submariners "still on patrol." And to remember our debt of honor due. I've asked my son, John, to join us today -- a day I expect him to remember and take to his grave.

During World War II, my dad, a teenager from New Jersey, left high school, went to submarine school and was assigned to the USS Bonefish.

When John saw previews of the blockbuster movie U-571, he asked if it was about his grandfather. The movie is a story about honor, courage, strength, character, what being a man, a warrior really is. Yes John, your grandfather was in the movie, and so were each of the submariners here today.

But in the movie the men came home. We are here today for the men who didn't.

The only women on submarines during WWII were the Korean "Comfort Women" used as sex slaves on the Japanese boats. We won that war.

Posted at 6:43 AM | Permalink
Comments (0)

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
Comments (0)

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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The Superbowl is the Christmas card deadline for most folks sending out a yearly update(!). Not here. Tax Day is a dual deadline for us this year: cards and forms. Alert Readers will recall that the Huckabee campaign provided a delightful distraction for Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine and the Penta-Posse this past season. Merry Christmas!

See Christmas Past and what to take from a burning building.

Posted at 8:00 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

The Penta-Posse
election nite 2004 Me too.

As the father of the five-person cohort called the Penta-Posse, Your Business Blogger is looking for angles for college admission and funding.

And not just Title IX...

Our friends at the Daniel Kovach Scholarship Foundation have an opportunity for cash. $2,000. Real money.

For political bloggers. If you are a college student, or have parents looking for help, go enter the 2nd Annual Political Blogging Scholarship.

And let us know how it works for you.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Thank you to Alert Reader Jennifer Rotman, Scholarship Coordinator, at College Scholarships.

Comments may not be enabled. Nasty DoS attack. Please email us with comments.

Update: Jill Miller Zimon, Freelance Writer, Editor and Blogger has more information and -- as the main stream media like to say -- original reporting,

Hi Jack -

I don't know if you have ever spoken with Daniel, but here's a post I wrote after interviewing him and one that links to a CNN article about him.

Thanks for posting about the blogging scholarship. An Ohio blogger I know used one (though I don't think it was the same one) to cover New Hampshire primary prep last summer.

Best,

Jill

Posted at 12:00 PM | Permalink
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Gianna Jessen
Abortion Survivor
Marathon Runner Years ago, Your Business Blogger was clipping the finger nails of the infant Dude. My fine motor skills and eye sight were not quite what they once were and I clipped deep and The Dude bled red bad.

Everyone present cried.

Nothing hurts more than baby blood.

But this blood may not bother everyone.

Trick Question: To a Democrat, What is botched abortion?

Answer: A Live Birth

This is a world-wide problem. See Alive and Kicking Campaign: Run, Gianna Run!,

Every year in Britain, 50 babies are born-alive -- after an abortion attempt.

Babies born alive. Don't you just hate medical malpractice? The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is mounting an investigation into this horrible rash of babies born alive -- according to their standards an abortionist is supposed to be sure they stop the baby's heart with a direct injection of potassium chloride.

The problem? "In practice, few doctors are willing or able to perform the delicate procedure," says Britain's Sunday Times.

But in the virtuous US of A Congress addressed this abortion loophole and crafted the Born Alive Infants Protection Act,

"The law guarantees that every infant born alive enjoys full legal rights under federal law, regardless of his or her stage of development or whether the live birth occurred during an abortion."

Who could possible vote against saving a baby. A baby born alive?

Barack Obama. Democrat.

Thank you (foot)notes:

My grandparents immigrated from Poland in the 'teens. Mom, or as Babcia as she is now known to her grand-kids, would occasionally let loose a Polish cuss word, Scha-clef.

A horrible, terrible word.

It means, Dog's Blood.

The British with the King's Language, also use bloody words. As in Bloody Fool. This is actually a blasphemy referring to the Blood of The Christ. Should not be used in polite company (or in a respectable blog...).

Alert Readers remember the Roman governor Pontius Pilot publicly washing his hands of the blood of The Innocent Man.

And we will also remember Lady Macbeth's problem with blood that would not wash, "Out, out d@mn spot..."

There is power in the blood.

Text of the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection law (Public Law 107-207)

See Heart of Darkness at The Caferteria Is Closed.

Barack Obama has baby blood on his hands. And he doesn't hurt.

Posted at 5:59 PM | Permalink
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Official
CPAC
Blogger
Here in Your Nation's Capital, at CPAC this week conversation has centered on our Presidential candidates -- and the acceptability of their positions.

Mike Huckabee and John McCain are said to be imperfect candidates because there are some disputes with one position or another.

But if they are "not conservatives" as some would say, then why are conservatives voting for them? And not a Romney or a Thompson?

Back in Iowa, Your Business Blogger asked Frank Luntz about his book on Words That Work, and what he thought was going on with the electorate.

He said that voters seem to be interested, "less in issues -- but in the attributes of the candidates -- are they believable?" Are they likable?

This seems to at least partially explain the success of Huckabee and McCain -- there may not be perfection on issues, but people like and trust and believe these candidates: the attributes of the candidates are more important; in some ways even more than the positions on issues.

This also explains the success of Obama. Who has a rather thin record of achievement . . . but has an infatuated following. No one can point to what Obama has done, but he's done it with panache.

Little Miss Attila, Charmaine and
Baby Boo at CPAC

Thank you (foot)notes:

Charmaine has served as an adviser to the Mike Huckabee campaign. Huckabee will be speaking at CPAC tomorrow, Saturday, at 9am. Be there!

Posted at 6:17 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine at the podium
addressing last year's
crowd of 1,700 The Family Research Council is having their annual Briefing in Your Nation's Capital.

This year will be interesting. All GOP presidential candidates will speak. Sen. Sam Brownback, Rudy Giuliani, Rep. Ron Paul, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Sen. John McCain, Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Tom Tancredo, Fred Thompson.

No Democratic candidate has accepted.

Liberals: won't fight; won't debate.

From FRCAction,

The Washington Briefing 2007: Values Voter Summit is cosponsored by American Values, Focus on the Family Action, Alliance Defense Fund and High Impact Leadership Coalition.

The Briefing will be held October 19-21 at the Hilton Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C. A presidential straw poll, exhibit hall, radio row, book signings, bloggers' row, and much more will be packed into this three-day conference. Saturday evening Dr. James Dobson will be honored at a gala dinner where he will receive FRC's inaugural Vision and Leadership Award.

Members of the media must register for FRC media credentials prior to the event.

Contact J.P. Duffy at jpd@frc.org or fax, names, numbers and e-mails on company letterhead to 202.393.2134.

For more information regarding the log onto www.frcactionwashingtonbriefing.org or call the FRC Press Office at (866) FRC-NEWS.

More from FRC Action, the C(4)

In addition to the GOP presidential candidates, the speaker line-up includes Sean Hannity, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Colson, Gary Bauer, Bishop Harry Jackson, Alan Sears, Mark Levin, Roger Hedgecock, Rich Lowry, Paul Weyrich, Dr. Richard Land, John Fund, Ed Meese, Ben Stein, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Representatives Marsha Blackburn and Jean Schmidt, Star Parker, Phyllis Schlafly, Senator Rick Santorum, Michael Steele, Father Frank Pavone, Bill Bennett, and Judge Robert Bork.

Charmaine, as Vice President for Communications for FRC will be working The Political Blogosphere with Soren Dayton, Political Consultant; David All, The David All Group; Matthew Eppinette, Americans United for Life; Erick Erickson, RedState; Joe Carter, Director of Web Communications for FRC

Thank you (foot)notes:

From last year: The Real Story: The Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC

The Family Research Council, FRC Action Briefing: Family, Faith and Freedom

FRC Action Briefing September 2006

People for the American Way weighs in FRC's Perkins Suggests Romney Better Than Huckabee on Religious-Right Issues

For more info,

Attendees at the Summit will now have the chance to make their own assessments of the GOP contenders in person at the Summit. In addition, members of FRC Action (see the web site address that follows) can vote in the first-ever Values Voter Presidential Straw Poll, either online or in person on October 19 and 20.

For information or to register, go to www.thewashingtonbriefing.com or call toll-free at 1-888-372-2284.

Pam Spaudling's take at Mark your calendars for the 2007 Values Voters Summit/Washington Briefing

A Buck For Huck has Washington Briefing

Posted at 3:35 PM | Permalink
Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

Your Business Blogger and me
running the Richmond Marathon We are training for our third marathon. And this year The Dreamer will be able to join us.

She has done a triathlon, so she knows training and preparation and, well, pain, I think. A child's pain, is always more painful to parent than child.

Which makes this marathon doubly painful. I got mine. I got hers.

Jack is a pain...sometimes. And sometimes not.

So we have the hurts and the runners' high at the same time. Highs and Lows. Contradictions.

Except I'm not sure just how much pain she's in. The Dreamer has not been running for a decade yet. (One track coach said she had natural talent. The only thing her parents could do was mess her up...) At the track, she laps her parents with ease.

So we don't really know her pain level, but we do know ours. And knowing the pain will be a-coming, the hardest part is getting started. We are using the Jeff Galloway training program and he has advice for GETTING STARTED,

Those who run for 20 years or more tend to have the following things in common:

They enjoy most of the miles of almost every run.

They take extra days off from running to recover from aches, pains and burnout.

They don't let goals (and training schedules) interfere with running enjoyment.

Or any of life's enjoyments. With all of its contradictions:

Life is solidary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

And,

Life is Good.

On our New Balance we've had more of the latter than the former.

Thank you (foot)notes:

This is an unpaid advertisement/endorsement - From Running Getting Started by Jeff Galloway.

Nasty, Brutish and Short is not a law firm. But there is a very good blog Nasty, Brutish & Short, Penned by legal counsel, of course. Jack and I share a passion for ellipitcals with the lawyer at NBS. Both the trainers and reasoning, I guess.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 6:50 AM | Permalink
Comments (2)

I have had a horrific number of strike outs, on and off the field. And it hurts.

But, only one thing hurts more.

To watch your boy strike out.

The Dude was playing for the Yankees, the local little league. Saturday before last, his team was in the District playoffs for the championship. Charmaine and I and the Penta-posse were all in attendance.

Please forgive the day in the life reflection, but we have always thought that life should not be too easy for kids -- that anything worth having has a fence around it. (Like a base ball diamond.) And they should learn to deal with overcoming obstacles.

So we are forever designing small age-appropriate challenges to stretch the young ones thinking, reasoning, and physical dexterity.

Alert Readers will remember that we allow our children restricted use of power tools to teach self-reliance. And to get some work done around here.

I wanted start early and teach our infant children about the harsh world outside their cribs... by placing barbed wire along the top rail. Charmaine did not think this amusing.

The Dude swings for the fences So The Dude had struck out.

But like most things in life, it was not his last time at bat. He had another chance.

He came to the plate and confidently stood his ground in the batter's box. Faced the pitch.

And swung and hit. Sending the ball over the fence ending the game.

A home run.

There is nothing better to have your son beat you at your own game.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Credit to Don Suber for citation for Rick Lee Photo.

See Rich Galen's similar experience of having a son surpass.

Full Disclosure: No barbed wire is used in our Management Training classes. Unless requested.

Posted at 10:24 PM | Permalink
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Marathoning in Style
in Richmond, Virginia.
Your Business Blogger and
Charmaine Have you ever watched a woman cry for five miles?

This is how Charmaine usually finishes. And Your (compassionate) Business Blogger is most concerned. Yes, the dehydration.

And the pictures.

Charlie, your mascara's streaking.

The Dreamer and The Dude
Triathlon-ing in North CarolinaThis is The Dreamer's first year being legal to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October. Charmaine was not about to let her train alone so we three registered and began Galloway's regimen for running the 26.2 miles.

Please let us know if you are in the race also.

Reasoned Audacity at
The Country Music Marathon

Thank you (foot)notes:

Thank you for not asking our run times.

There are two types of marathoners: Competers and Completers.

We are in the former latter category.

Posted at 10:28 AM | Permalink
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A post from last year and the year before by Charmaine.

Every time we've made the left turn onto Eisenhower Drive, and passed through the imposing brick gates of Arlington National Cemetery, I've been overwhelmed with emotion. Family members of those buried at Arlington National Cemetery are given a special pass and may drive onto the Hallowed Grounds to visit the grave of their loved one. It's an enormous honor which makes me feel humbled.

The Penta-Posse
at Arlington National Cemetery

My husband's father served thirty years in the United States Navy, and died the year I married into the family, so I didn't know him well. And the fact is, after a lifetime of nine-month Mediterranean tours, wars, and rumors of war, there is a lot my husband doesn't know as well.

However, over the 15 years that we've been married, I have gotten to know my mother-in-law well. She doesn't talk either about the sacrifices she made, but there is one story that she has told me several times.

Once, when my father-in-law was out on tour, and she was home with three small children, the car broke down and, of course, she had to take care of it. My husband marched up and said, "Don't worry, Mom, I'll fix it." He was about five years old at the time.

My mother-in-law laughs. . . the little man, takin' care of things. But it makes me cry.

We owe a lot to our military families.

When we visited Arlington this past week, we passed at least three funeral ceremonies on the way to Section 64. I lost track of the fresh graves and the still-standing tents, either just vacated by other grieving families, or awaiting the afternoon's fresh, raw sorrow.

As we pulled up on Bradley Avenue, an Air Force honor guard was marching precisely back to their bus after a ceremony for an airman who had been a POW in Korea. While we searched for my father-in-law's headstone, an empty horse-drawn caisson lumbered past, and settled briefly in the shade nearby, awaiting their next assignment. . .

We found my father-in-law's headstone: The front has the Christian Cross with the old Chief's Curriculum Vita. Chief Yoest cut high school to catch World War II. He retired with rows of ribbons and a "v" device, and pinned butterbars on his boy. He now has a grandson, The Dude, who bears his name and wants to be a Navy pilot.

The reverse of the stone is blank, awaiting the inscripton for Chief Yoest's high school sweetheart, his wife, Jack's mom, "Babcia" (Polish for Grandmother), who is still with us. In the end, they will be buried together, an honor she earned.

As we turned to go, the Diva took her jingle-bell necklace from around her neck, and left it on the headstone. A fitting tribute for a warrior.



Sailors, rest your oars.

We drove back down Bradley Avenue -- past a fresh grave covered by a tarp. In front of us, sparkling in the bright sunlight of a gorgeous day, stretched row after row of white marble markers, orderly, peaceful, some weathered, others new and crisply chiseled . . .

I turned to the Penta-Posse. "I want you to look," I said. "I want you to understand, that each one of these headstones represents someone who gave their life so that you could be free."

They were quiet and solemn. The weight of it is beyond measure.

The Dreamer said, "Don't cry, Mom."

We made the right turn onto Eisenhower. We drove slowly toward the exit, passing the drive to the Tomb of the Unknowns to our left, until we came to a crosswalk thronged with tourists. The guard on duty motioned to the crowd to stop, and we drove through, passing through the gates, back to a busy day, leaving behind -- the curious crowds, the chattering school children. . . and the silent stones.

More on Arlington National Cemetery at the jump.

Memorial Day fine time to visit historical sites.

Other Memorial Day Links from years past:
Blackfive with "Opening the Gates of Heaven."
Intel Dump

Marine Corps Moms

LaShawn Barber's Corner

See Traffic Jam

Jo's Cafe has Specials.

Mudville Gazette has Open Post.

Michelle Malkin has Memorial Day Links.

Wiz Bang has links.

LaShawn has tributes.

California Conservative has Memorial Day Tribute.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 10:20 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

President Bush at the
National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Credit: Peter Shinn
from Pro-Life News TV There is one thing the White House Press Corps never does.

Applaud the President.

Your Business Blogger is attending the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Your Nation's Capital. And received White House Press Pool credentials.

So my fellow press jackals kindly let me know that it was very bad form for me to clap for the president. Whooping and cheering is frowned upon in the press gallery. We all must keep a professional, detached demeanor, you see.

And don't even think about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Plege was led by Marine Corporal Michael Blair. Got his body blown up by an IED in The War. He still hobbled up and stood tall for the 1600 attendees. I looked at Cpl Blair...then over at the press corps.

The White House Press Corps -- I was reminded of a slander my old First Sergeant would often invoke: They all wouldn't add up to a pimple on a corporal's backside. Except Top didn't say backside...

('Top' is the term of endearment for the senior enlisted rank-holder in a company size Army unit.)

So I join my fellow Jesus-loving Christians, who are in the Catholic tradition. [Caution: Christian humor to follow.]

Catholics are easy to spot -- they're the one's with tabbed Bibles...to make the individual books easy to find.

Protestants smugly don't need the table of contents and page numbers; having grown up with 'sword drills' to find a particular Biblical passage. Although we Protesting Protestants could use the sacrament of confession...

...Or maybe just this Calvinist.

(I'll match my humility against anyone's.)

Anyway, Austin Ruse began the welcoming after the breakfast meal.

President Bush came to the podium punctual. On time: The Courtesy of Kings.

A war protester yelling something about stop the war was quickly and safely escorted from the ball room. It was not clear if she was addressing President Bush...or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. (Not present.)

The President starts by complimenting the Catholic crowd, "You make a Methodist feel at home." Bush noted the wisdom of the planners that the breakfast bash, was "...on the Friday after Lent...[so you can now] eat the bacon..."

George Bush speaks about the sanctity of human life -- he is at home in this pro-life crowd. Standing O's.

Laura Bush did not attend.

In the gathering:

Wendy Wright, Concerned Women for America; Janice Crouse, Ph.D., Beverly LaHaye Institute.
Justice Alito, Bill Saunders, Board member of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

Reverend Thomas G. Bohlin, Vicar, Prelature of Opus Dei in the United States

Colleen O'Boyle, CRC; and
Diana Bannister, Shirley & Bannister
putting the PR in PRayer Jacqueline Halbig, Board member of the National Prayer Breakfast

Ken Blackwell, fellow at the Family Research Council, and Michael Steele.

The Breakfast is the kick-off for the day-long conference. The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast was created and influenced by Pope John Paul the Great for a "New Evangelization, new in ardor, methods and expression."

Well Done, good and faithful servants.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Schedule at the jump.

All links are unpaid.

Be sure to watch Charmaine on Cavuto today between 4 and 5 on Fox in a debate on Imus. (Not present.)

UPDATE: 14 April, Kathryn Jean Lopez, from NRO was there, of course. K-Lo is every where. See The Guy Can Deliver, and Breakfast with the Catholics.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:06 AM | Permalink
Comments (2)

Albert Einstein
Baby Boo, The Diva, The Dancer
living proof of The Roe Effect
at PrincetonCharmaine's speech at Princeton was noted in that area's newspaper of record the Daily Princetonian.

The reporter was remarkably fair and balanced working this liberal campus -- even considering the biased title:

Anti-abortion speaker sparks heated debate

It might have been more accurate to report,

Pro-Life speaker sparks heated debate

Which proves we each have our biases. Our own world-views.

Angela Cai, Princetonian Senior Writer reports and quotes Charmaine,

"I believe Roe v. Wade is on its way to extinction ... precisely because abortion harms women," [Dr. Yoest] said.

Speaking to a large audience..., Yoest faced a crowd of students and community members anxious to argue with her during the question-and-answer session that followed the lecture.

She maintained that the United States is "on the road, long term" toward the overturning of Roe v. Wade. "There is an intellectual rot at the heart of that decision," she said, noting that even many liberal scholars agree that there is no constitutional basis for the controversial 1973 Supreme Court ruling. She added that the case was an example of the inappropriate use of judicial power. [see the Alan Dershowitz quote on the slide presentation.]

Yoest argued that abortion's consequences hit home on a more personal level for many women who undergo the procedure. "It's very sad to me when you look at how many relationships break up after abortion when women say they had abortions to save their relationships," Yoest said. She described what she called the problems of Post-Abortion Syndrome, which include effects such as "drug and alcohol abuse, personal relationship disorder, sexual dysfunction ... and attempted suicide."

Alert Reader Jill noted that the title of the speech changed. Originally advertised as "How Abortion Harms Women," the more accurate and complete title is "The Politics of Abortion: Moving Toward a Post-Roe America." So Charmaine changed the title to reflect the added, expanded content.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Mother May I be Born says,

While some in the audience nodded or facially expressed their approval of Charmaine Yoest’s anti-abortion message at Princeton University last night, others made it clear during questioning that Yoest spoke a foreign language which they had no desire to learn.

Do Elite Women Want to Breed?

Jessica at Bush v. Choice blogged.

See Charmaine's PowerPoint presentation on the FRCBlog. Thanks to the technical influence of Managing Editor Joe Carter.

Posted at 10:09 AM | Permalink
Comments (3)

Charmaine, Your Business Blogger
Penta-Posse at the Grand Canyon
Easter 2005 In this political season, every Presidential Candidate will be in church on Easter.

A photo op, if nothing else.

Two Easters back we traveled west on business and celebrated Easter in Arizona.

Your Business Blogger had the Family celebrate our Faith with tax supported Freedom at the government owned and operated Grand Canyon.

I remember asking the officiating pastor at Sunrise Service if liberals were attempting to shut down the event at Mather Point. Church/State and all that.

He said, "We've been having [Easter sunrise service] for decades. No one has bothered us." Preaching on public land. Imagine.

Alert the (main stream) media. Call the ACLU.

The sponsoring church secures the permit and 1,600 people show up well before dawn. To watch the sun rise.

Which makes for the perfect photo op.

Be sure to visit Pro-Life News. To see this Faith in action.

Pro-Life News TV

See the press release at the jump.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Peter Shinn at Pro-Life News TV is the tech-guru for Your Business Blogger.

Easter at the Grand Canyon? Maybe not necessary...Finding God in a Technical Memo.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:17 AM | Permalink
Comments (2)

How Abortion Harms Women
Princeton University Charmaine and Your Business Blogger will be a-traveling with the Penta-Posse (minus The Dreamer at crew camp) to Princeton University over the spring break.

Charmaine will be giving a talk on abortion/women/work/life. Alert Readers will remember that she used to teach a course The Family and Politics at The University of Virginia.

From the Princeton Campus Announcements,

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.

A lecture titled "How Abortion Harms Women" is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, in 16 Robertson Hall.

The talk will be delivered by Charmaine Yoest, [Ph.D.] vice president for communications at the Family Research Council, a nonprofit lobbying organization that promotes socially conservative views.

Yoest also is project director of the Family, Gender and Tenure Project at the University of Virginia, a nationwide study focused on parental leave policy.

She is the author (with Deborah Shaw Lewis) of "Mother in the Middle" and is working on a new book, "A G.I. Bill for Moms: Mothers, the Market and the American Way."

The talk is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions.

The event is free and is open to the public. Come by and join us and let us know what you think.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Special thank you to Andy McCarthy at The Corner at NRO for "How Abortion Harms Women" -- a forum sponsored ... by Princeton! Andy says that he has,

...duked it out before (in an exchange at Commentary on international law) with Anne-Marie Slaughter, the Dean at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She is, though, a fair-minded liberal in the great but dying academic tradition of allowing all thoughtful voices — including, yes, conservative voices — to be heard on campus.

Thank you also to Tiger Hawk for the announcement and poster pic.

See also Princeton to allow Charmaine Yoest to speak about abortion! at RealChoice: The reality of "choice" in America. In a breathtaking, courageous example of fostering real diversity of thought...

And note Abortion foe to lecture at Princeton University from The Princeton Packet.

Posted at 10:53 AM | Permalink
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Ken Blackwell Ken Blackwell recently joined the Family Research Council. He will be introduced by Tony Perkins.

Plan on coming to see Charmaine also. And the Penta-Posse and Your Business Blogger.

Ken Blackwell will give a talk on Lessons of 2006: Moving Forward to 2008.

A must see,
if you're in DC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2007 CONTACT:
J.P. Duffy or Maria Donovan, (866) FRC-NEWS

Washington, D.C. - Tuesday, 3 April, at 5:30 pm, Family Research Council and the Board of Directors, will host a reception in honor of Mr. Ken Blackwell, a former Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission. Mr. Blackwell is joining the Family Research Council as the Senior Fellow for Family Empowerment, where he will focus on issues such as family economics, tax reform, and education. The evening reception will include remarks by Mr. Blackwell on the 2008 presidential election as well as an opportunity for media interviews.

When: Tuesday, April 3, 2007
5:30 pm

Where: Family Research Council
801 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Please RSVP: 1.800.225.4008, they need to get a headcount for the (free) hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Business attire is preferred.

Ken Blackwell's appointment at FRC was noted by the Associated Press, where he is quoted,

“They (FRC) asked me to sort of build up the economic and fiscal dimension and show how that is an important part of what they do and what they find to be important. One of the areas where Buckeye and FRC share a public policy interest is in the area of advancing school choice and parental empowerment. It’s 21st century civil rights,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell, a former state treasurer, is well-suited to discuss economic issues, but his position against abortion and on other issues will allow him to speak to many constituencies, FRC President Tony Perkins said.

“Ken is well rounded as a former (Cincinnati) mayor, secretary of state, gubernatorial candidate. He has a well-rounded conservative portfolio,” Perkins said. “He has consistent conservative positions and he has not been bashful.”

Please come and welcome Ken Blackwell.

Thank you (foot)notes:

And be sure to see Charmaine on Anderson Cooper 360 tonight, Monday, at 10:00pm Eastern. She will be debating Intelligent Design, Creationism and Evolution in the classroom.

Posted at 7:42 PM | Permalink
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Charmaine on NBC

Charmaine will be appearing in a taped segment on couples without children.

She will be discussing the trend of couples who choose not to have children: Choosing to be Child-Free.

Childfree(vs. Couples who want children but can't: Un-Chosen Child-Less.)

Interview scheduled hit time during the 6pm EST hour. Taped for the NBC Nightly News by the local NBC affiliate, so we don't know where all it will air, or even exactly when.

Please tune in and let us know what you think.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Childless by ChoiceIf children were brought into the world by an act of pure reason alone, would the human race continue to exist?

Or at any rate not take it upon himself to impose that burden upon it in cold blood.

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)...As Alert Readers might guess...
from "Sufferings of the World" (1851)

Posted at 8:12 AM | Permalink
Comments (7)

"What about the baby?" asked The Dreamer.

Charmaine and our first born, The Dreamer, ventured to an academic venue to answer "What is Feminism?"

Charmaine was joined on the panel by Carrie Lukas, from the Independent Women's Forum.

The Dreamer was aghast at the harsh feminist literature on abortion.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Charmaine served as an Advisor to the Independent Women's Forum.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:18 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Policy Review
November & December 1996In the mid-nineties, Charmaine wrote a column for Policy Review magazine. One of her articles reviewed the Family Policy Councils. The FPCs are state based non-profits considered faith-based, cultural and economic conservatives.

A conservative president usually needs Ohio to win. And the embrace of the Family Policy Councils.

These state-based organizations work somewhat with the Family Research Council in DC and Focus on the Family in Colorado.

Originally published in 1996; and even more important today.

State Groups That Fight for Mom and Dad

by Charmaine Crouse Yoest

Rudy Gonzalez, a "cowboy poet" with a handlebar mustache and a home-on-the-range accent, strummed his guitar, then launched into a joke. The crowd relaxed into laughter as he regaled them with tall tales and folk wisdom.

This is the Idaho Family Forum's annual summer fundraiser, the Spud Bake, where this group of moms and dads marks the end of summer by eating baked potatoes. Lots of them. Followed by spud-shaped ice cream.

But cowboy poetry soon gave way to public policy. U.S. Senator Larry Craig rose to address the group, and the question-and-answer session that followed was brisk and well informed. The Idaho Family Forum (IFF) and its supporters are dedicated to changing cultural trends that are undermining the stability of families -- from no-fault divorce to teen pregnancy to chronic welfare dependency.

Led by executive director Dennis Mansfield, a former businessman, the IFF is part of a growing national movement of independent, state-based policy organizations called Family Policy Councils (FPCs). There are now more than 30 such organizations across the country, loosely affiliated by shared goals, common strategies, and mutual support. In order to win the ears of lawmakers, the media, and academics, they prefer research over rallies and education over activism.

Continue reading at the jump

Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Your Business Blogger served on the Board of Directors for The Family Foundation, a Family Policy Council in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 10:07 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

After an evening of lit drops, the Penta-Posse poses for their candidate, Michael Steele for Senator for Maryland.

Research shows that a bumper sticker has an in-kind equivalent value of $250 to the political candidate. Smart campaigners will also put the bumper sticker on the driver's side front bumper to greet on-coming traffic.

The Roe-Effect will take effect sooner or later.

Lord willing, tomorrow.

The Steele Family

From Steele's web site, His Agenda for Economic Empowerment,

Economic empowerment creates opportunities poverty will never let you see. Whether you are an employee looking for a better job, or a business owner working to expand your company, you must be empowered to turn your hopes into action, and turn opportunity into ownership. The Steele Agenda for Economic Empowerment contains policies devoted to increasing homeownership, business ownership, and the prosperity of Maryland families.

Vandalized Stop Sign
in the Nuclear-Free Hippie Zone
Tacoma Park, Maryland

Steele has an uphill battle in the Commie counties close to DC and Baltimore.

Maryland is a Blue State full of Red Diaper babies.

Save for mine.

More from the Steele website,

Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele was the first African-American ever elected to statewide office in Maryland. Michael made history once again in October 2005, when he announced his candidacy for the state's open seat in the United States Senate.

Since taking office as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Robert Ehrlich in 2003, Michael has produced real solutions to the real problems facing Marylanders. The Lt. Governor has lead the fight to improve access to better-performing schools; worked alongside law enforcement officials to reduce crime and secure communities; strengthened the state's minority business program to foster greater entrepreneurship; and worked with Maryland conservationists to protect the environment for future generations.

Posted at 9:45 PM | Permalink
Comments (3)

The Diva
and Dancer at the
Air Force Academy Not long ago Your Business Blogger was advising a boss on a product roll out. His team had never done anything quite as large. I suggested a 'FireDrill.'

It consists of three parts:

1) FireDrill; The plan

2) The Drill, and

3) The Fire

The Plan is a checklist, The Fire is the execution, But The Drill, the practice is the toughest. Because teams need dry runs to learn because things will always, always go wrong. Your team will gain wisdom and judgment through simulation. And learn. Today, permit me to be Your Drill Instructor. And learn how I was surprised by a pilot project.

The F-14 Tomcat

Your (Army) Business Blogger had no business in the cockpit. My instructor was a Vietnam vet with MigKlr license plates on his truck.

He said the F-14 was a "Man's Plane." He sounded sexist. He explained that the old-generation hydraulics required real strength -- after a couple of hours, even the manliest studs needed two hands on the stick.

No place for girls.

Or so I thought.

But I was wrong, again.

I bring the Five-kid Penta-Posse to Oceana Naval Air Station to show them how macho military men (like their father) defeated Communism.

We get invited to some F-14 training. I climb in the simulator. No photography is permitted. And a good thing, too.

The instructor guides me through the take- off and some maneuvers. The room spins. The world spins.

And nobody was shooting at me. Although lots of people were yelling at me...

Time to bring the baby home. I turn. Lots more yelling. It might have been me.

The world freezes, the screen freezes. At a funny angle. In Real Life it would have been a $38 million mistake and DNA remains of Your Business Blogger.

My instructor: "Success. You did great!"

Me: ?

My instructor: "The seat is dry."

Me: ?

My instructor: "No puke, no p!ss."

Navy humor.

After my showing off, the Posse is not impressed. The Diva, age 6, female, issue-one-each slides into the (dry, thankyouverymuch) front seat sim. Confident. In control. And zooms. Flying circles around anything in the sky.

(I remember her as a little wee-one, who used to throw-up all the time. But not today, even on inverted rolls. Lord, where do the years go? Where did my baby girl go?) Practice is complete.

Perfect landing. "Just like PlayStation," the Diva says.

I expected a few more years to pass before they passed by the Old Man. She had practiced. I didn't.

The Diva
at a static display at
The Franklin Institute.
Entirely too comfortable
in the cockpit During the Drill no one is hurt. And we all process lessons and understand our capabilities.

And learn the limitations of the team.

And the boss. And the Dad.

A FireDrill will bring out the best in your people. And your managers.

Without the crash and burn.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Women are not permitted in land combat. Unfortunately, little girls (not much older than my Diva) are permitted to fly combat aircraft. The Air Force loses about 75 jets each year in routine accidents. The Navy budgets for the loss of two jets per carrier per deployment. The losses would be much higher, of course, absent intensive training, intensive practice.

Posted at 8:48 AM | Permalink
Comments (4)

Your Business Blogger
in a central China
university amphitheater When Your Business Blogger was consulting in China, I visited a large university (redundant: there are no small Chinese universities) and had a conversation with a post-grad working on international contract law. His English was better than my Chinese.

In every Chinese town there is an "English Corner," just as every major American city has a "Chinatown." These corners in China are where the locals gather to practice speaking English.

The inverse parallel is, of course, that the Chinese speak English in both China and America, and the Americans speak English in both China and America.

Anyway, I asked the student what he wanted to do with his advanced degree. Without prompting, he says, "I want to work for Wal*Mart. It is big and powerful."

"Powerful?" I ask.

"Yes, more powerful than some countries."

And Wal*Mart is getting powerful in China. To make the move to world-wide acceptance, Wal*Mart is assuming the triple-threat position: Unions, Communism, Homosexuality.

Alert Readers will recall that Your Business Blogger is was an enthusiastic cheerleader for the Bentonville World Dominator. The Penta-Posse et. al. consumed $4,328.37 in consumable goods in the 12 trailing months at Sam's Club.

The embrace of Unions and Communism are in China, of course. As a compromise to get sales. The embrace of Homosexuality is here in the U S of A as a compromise... to get more sales?

A source close to Wal*Mart who preferred to be off-the-record, emailed Your Business Blogger:

...the [homosexual] chamber that Wal-Mart has joined is simply that -- a chamber of commerce -- and organization of businesses. And, as I said, Wal-Mart is a member of dozens of them. Wal-Mart isn't trying to make a political statement by joining. And it's certainly not ascribing to any particular agenda.

But Wal*Mart/Sam's does fit a particular agenda because of the particular demographic. Wal*Mart shoppers have lots of kids, and those parents of lots of kids are conservatives: Liberals don't breed. Which gives us the Roe Effect. Allan Carlson, President of the Howard Center wrote in The Weekly Standard that,

IN THE INTERNAL POLITICS OF the Republican coalition, some members are consistently more equal than others. In particular, where the interests of the proverbial "Sam's Club Republicans" collide with the interests of the great banks, the Sam's Club set might as well pile into the family car and go home.

Go home, stay home. Indeed. Dr. Carlson reminds us that,

...when push comes to shove, social conservatives remain second class citizens under the Republican tent. During the 2004 Republican convention, they were virtually confined to the party's attic, kept off the main stage, treated like slightly lunatic children. Republican lobbyist Michael Scanlon's infamous candid comment--"The wackos get their information [from] the Christian right [and] Christian radio"--suggests a common opinion among the dominant "K Street" Republicans toward their coalition allies.

Conservatives are maligned from the right and the left.

Tony Perkins, the President of Family Research Council, says:

In an apparent concession to the heat from the radical left, Wal-Mart has entered into a new partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

... Recently, they described efforts to defend traditional marriage as an attempt to "write discrimination into the Constitution..."

The NGLCC also advocated attaching a pro-homosexual "hate crimes" amendment to legislation intended to protect children from violent sex offenders. Their advocacy delayed the legislation for several months.

What demographic is Wal*Mart pursuing? What new market segment? Do the boys in Bentonville really think boy-toys from the Tenderloin will truck to Sam's for the two-gallon jar of pickles?

"Dee Breazeale, vice president of divisional merchandise for SAM'S CLUB Jewelry will serve on the organization's [National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce] Corporate Advisory Council," reports 247gay.com.

As if. As if any homosexual would buy jewelry from Sam's.

Goodness, even I wouldn't buy the jewelry from SAM'S.

Oh no, I do have something in common with gay men!

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Communications at The Family Research Council and is the wife of Your Business Blogger. And I have a mail box on "K Street" in Washington, DC.

A Lady's Ruminations has more: Sickening news.

The Bleechers has the Christmas story.

Starling Hunter, Ph.D. has all the news on Wal*Mart.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 3:09 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

On the C-SPAN set Charmaine has been doing media interviews for a couple of decades on the "shouting shows." Debating or interviewing Andrew Dice Clay, Jesse Jackson, Bill Mahr, Chris Matthews, Gloria Steinem, Patricia Ireland, Vanessa Redgrave, Dennis Weaver, Jason Alexander, David Crosby, Ray Ramono, Adam Goldberg, Victoria Jackson, Maury Povich, Christopher Titus, Mmi Rogers, Larry Flynt, Alexandra Wentworth, Joshusa Morrow, John Salley, John McLaughlin, Katie Couric, Naomie Wolf, Sean Hannity, James Carville, Michael Kinsley, Pat Buchannan, John Sununu, Bob Novak, Tucker Carlson, Ron Wydne, Bob Beckel, Lynne Cheney, Heather Wilson, Stephanie Coontz, MacNeil-Lehrer, Phil Donahue, Mo Rocca, Jesse Ventura, Jeff Greenfield, Montel Williams, Sam Donaldson and others.

But this debate on C-SPAN this Saturday was the worse. It was the first time a debating opponent accused her of witchcraft. And that Planned Parenthood receives no government funding (!).

Here's the C-SPAN clip of Charmaine "debating" the local president of Planned Parenthood, Jatrice Martel Gaiter.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Yes, they did spell Your Business Blogger's last name wrong. Won't be the last. But C-SPAN did spell "Jatrice Martel Gaiter," correctly. Go figure.

Posted at 11:53 PM | Permalink
Comments (1)

BreederLast week Charmaine participated in a round table discussion on the world's de-population. The take-away from the research was that a growing population is a market driver. That there was more innovation from 1900 to 1950, than from 1950 to 2000 -- As good as life has become in the last 50 years all advances, including, well, blogs, were merely incremental improvements. As compared to the great advancing leaps in the first 50.

Growing populations are wealth creators and wealth drivers. Growing populations produce innovation and inventors. And more. De- population doesn't. For example, the creator of the HIV-AIDS vaccine...was aborted in 1974.

This is a cross post from Charmaine late last year.

The New York Times is horrified. Elite young women at prestigious Ivy League schools are indicating an interest in, gasp, motherhood.

The article and its supporting 'research' is heavy on anecdote and fails to explain its methodology -- the source of its "data" is email responses from some young women at the Ivy's. So, even though I think the conclusion is interesting and one that I agree with, in all honesty the researcher in me has to point out to you that this is not terribly reliable reporting.

The more interesting question is: what is that sterile Grey Lady, The Times up to here?

Well, the headline may read neutrally: "Many Women at Elite Colleges Set Career Path to Motherhood," but the text is anything but. The idea that young women might choose motherhood is clearly, from their perspective, a bad trend.

Let me offer my own anecdotal evidence: frankly, the young women The Times quotes, who feel comfortable expressing a preference for motherhood, don't sound at all like the co-eds I taught at the University of Virginia, a few years ago, who felt pressured to be single-mindedly devoted to a high-powered career track, and would admit to interests in marriage and motherhood only sotto voce.

Here's the good news, Shirley Tilghman, President of Princeton, [now the #1 school, besting Harvard] said to the reporter:

"There is nothing inconsistent with being a leader and a stay-at-home parent. Some women (and a handful of men) whom I have known who have done this have had a powerful impact on their communities."

Cheers for her.

Here's the bad, from Peter Salovey, dean of Yale:

What does concern me, is that so few students seem to be able to think outside the box; so few students seem to be able to imagine a life for themselves that isn't constructed along traditional gender roles.

The man is dean at Yale and he misses the irony that he is the one who isn't thinking outside the box?

Memo to Peter: You've got it exactly backward. In today's world, thinking outside the box involves constructing a life outside traditional male career paths. For both men and women, but especially for young women.

It is precisely the female inclination to think outside the box -- sequencing, part-time work, entrepreneurial innovation -- that is enlivening the 21st century work world.

Alert Reader, Carl at Gelf Magazine has outstanding reporting and an astute observation.

Dr. Yoest, I saw your post about yesterday's NYT article ...And noticed your comment about the methodology: "The article is heavy on anecdote and fails to ever explain its methodology, the source of its "data" is email responses from some young women at the Ivy's. So, even though I think the conclusion is interesting and one that I agree with, in all honesty the researcher in me has to point out to you that this is not terribly reliable reporting."

Carl continues:

It seems you had reason to be suspicious. Over at Gelf, to which I contribute, we've run a copy of the survey the NYT reporter emailed to Yale students, as sent to us by one of the recipients. The survey seems to have leading questions, basically implying that all Yale women must be straight and want kids: story here David Goldenberg byline .

Well said. Carl nails it down:

Among the leading questions, many from right at the top of the survey:

When you have children, do you plan to stay at home with them or do you plan to continue working? Why?

If you plan to continue working, do you plan to work full-time in an office, or full-time from your house, or part-time in an office, or part-time from your house? Why?

If you plan to stay at home with your kids, do you plan to return to work? If so, how old will you wait for your kids to be when you return?

Was your mom a stay-at-home mom? Explain whether she worked, and how much she worked! Were you glad with her choice (to either work or stay-at-home or whatever combination she did)?

How do you think college-age men at Yale feel about whether wives should stay at home with their kids?

In polling we call this "priming the pump." It is used to direct answers with subtle questions with subtle assumptions. Good polls are designed to uncover the truth (of opinion) across a broad sample. Bad polls have an agenda. This is, as Carl suggests, a bad survey.

No matter what our differences in the blogosphere, the work by Gelf Magazine shows us why the NYT chopped 500 off the head count and is bleeding red ink. The NYT has lost the public trust -- because of such questionable reporting.

As Arthur C. Brooks writes in The Wall Street Journal in The Fertility Gap, swing states like Ohio will soon be populated with the next generation -- that is tilting toward conservatives. The Roe Effect.

Thankyou (foot)notes:

The New York Times isn't doing much better since Charmaine's post from last September.

Outside The Beltway has more on the NYT's firings.

Posted at 11:34 PM | Permalink
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I thought the US was supposed to be "hung up" about sex. Turns out we're doing pretty well compared to the rest of the world, if you want to lend any credence to a new study. And I'm not saying I do, but here you go anyway.

A survey of nearly 30,000 middle aged and older people in nearly 30 countries, says that men are "more satisfied with their sex lives than women in the same age group" and that age has little to do with sexual well-being.

The survey also revealed that sex is better in Europe, North America and Australia than it is in the Far East.

The Penta-Posse

Even better news: in the US "about three-quarters of men and two-thirds of women" reported they were very satisfied with their sexual relationships. The USA is on top of the world.

Still, a big caveat. I'm skeptical about some of the details -- with these kind of surveys you get an awfully high "selection bias" that skews the results. You have to ask how the people who were willing to participate in the project differ from society at large. And I also wonder about the variables they were looking at to differentiate between the factors that contribute to a good sex life. The news report attributes having "more or less equal relationships" to positive findings. But that begs the question: what does "more or less equal" mean?

Well, it's not rocket science, and you don't need high-priced studies to tell you the answer. It's just basic common-sense -- a good sex life is rooted in a committed, married relationship founded on deep, enduring respect and consideration for each other. We have to be careful about the political freight "equality" brings -- if equality degenerates into keeping score, you've lost the essence of caring for each other that keeps a love relationship alive.

Hat tip: My Way News.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Cross Post from Reasoned Audacity. So that's where all those kids came from...

Posted at 11:21 PM | Permalink
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At Dusty Brand shirts

How great is this??

From Seeker at two or three.net.

Cross Post from Reasoned Audacity.

Posted at 7:58 PM | Permalink
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Only one American male in nine has worn a military uniform. This includes the WWll vets passing on.

Charmaine and I were talking about war and rumors of war and she remarked that it seems as if no one cares, if the polls are to be believed. This is a common conversation, when you have sons who want to serve and sacrifice.

Because some folks these days, usually in Blue States, don't understand the military. And people these days are not having kids.

And so, as the cliche goes, The Greatest Generation has begot the Me Generation. A sad MyGration.

But there is hope. There are still soldiers. And the Roe Effect is rolling in. Soon.

I Was A Soldier

By Colonel Daniel K. Cedusky, USA, Retired

I was a Soldier: That's the way it is, that's what we were...are. We put
it, simply, without any swagger, without any brag, in those four plain
words.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:54 AM | Permalink
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Commissioned. As a Second Lieutenant. In the Army.

Ours.

Officer Commissioning, Liberty University, 2006

It's been decades since I witnessed the swearing in of ROTC Cadets into the officer corps. (My own.) So Your Business Blogger packed up Charmaine and the Penta-Posse and headed south from DC to watch another. To Lynchburg, Virginia. Home of Jerry Falwell, Chancellor and President of Liberty University, and founder of Thomas Road Baptist Church. A 3,000 seat church with 22,000 members.

The ceremony is a solemn, emotional occasion. And they weren't even my kids.

They now belong to all of us.

The oath of office goes,

I (insert name),

having been appointed a (insert rank) in the U.S. Army under the conditions indicated in this document,

do accept such appointment and do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,

foreign and domestic,

that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely,

without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;

and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter,

so help me God.

So help me God. Which is why you will not see a commissioning at Harvard.

Jack and Charmaine
Thomas Road Baptist Church

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Thank you (foot)notes:

From the 33rd Baccalaureate May 12, 2006,

Today, Liberty University celebrates with the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) as we commission eleven Second Lieutenants in the United States Army. Army ROTC is a four-year program of study focusing on leadership, and the technical and tactical skills required to become a U.S. Army Officer....

In Liberty's Corps of Cadets, there are graduates from the Airborne, Air Assault, Mountain Warfare Schools. Our Cadets have trained with the Special Forces, and with Army units in Korea....

Coincidentally, good Friends Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer received Honorary Doctorates. With Senator John McCain.

Open Post at Mudville Gazette.

Mudville has McCain quote.

Posted at 7:52 PM | Permalink
Comments (2)

Charmaine and Michelle
protesting at the Afghan Embassy So the Little Woman is on her way to Nordstroms with two of our girls a few weeks ago. They decide to stop by Your Nation's Capital and visit with Jesse's Girl. Maybe do some window shopping, have a spot of tea, try on some Manolo Blahniks.

And stop the Muslims from sawing off another Christian head.

The Dreamer and The Diva,
learning to take over the worldThe Dreamer and The Diva are enjoying a take your daughters-to-work day of protest and havoc. The Roe Effect gone wild.

This is the place for women in combat.

Charmaine and Michelle
are plotting...
The chicks are hatching a plot. Of World Domination. Because of superior moral clarity. And will power.

They are synchronizing strategeries. They will advance.

They advance in the winner's bracket. If one has to come in behind anyone, a woman couldn't do better than Michelle.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Tom McMahon has the sharpest moral vision in the blogosphere. Simple is hard. Visit his 4-Block World. Truth is simple.

Posted at 5:49 PM | Permalink
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8 Simple Rules
Around 1999 or so I wrote an essay Dating Our Daughters based on materiel that made the web rounds sans copyright. Later I posted the piece to my static website. I credited Anonymous.

Anonymous no more, as many would recognize. 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter is the intellectual property of W. Bruce Cameron.

As penance, I bought his book (new!). And so should you.

This posting is an unforced error correction with no admission of guilt. (Well, some guilt: I was raised Catholic.)

Thank you (foot)notes:

See a credited version at Reasoned Audacity.

Update: 12 Oct 2005 Grow a Brain was very gracious in providing a link to the old page.

12 Oct 2005 Blazer Blog has a similar version.

12 Oct Jamey Ragle has it too.

12 Oct Decadent Grace has a very kind link.

12 Oct Bits and Pieces also linked. I am honored. I wish I could take credit.

Posted at 9:18 AM | Permalink
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