The overt is often more dangerous than the covert.

As many predicted, implementing the rape of women with ultrasounds and probes is not politically savvy. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who had initially promised to sign the bill requiring women to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound before terminating a pregnancy has had a change of heart. Today, in a statement, The Governor asks the General Assembly to amend the bill, so that only a transabdominal, or external, ultrasound would be required…While it’s great that McDonnell won’t sign the state rape law, the take away from this is let’s violate women in a kindler, gentler way, over the belly, not through the vagina, so it’s more palatable to and draws less opposition from voters. Forcing women to undergo any unnecessary procedures before being “allowed” to have an abortion, is a violation and either an attempt to prevent women from having an abortion or a way to punish them for making the decision to abort. It may be less painful and less icky over the belly. But we have to fight against it just the same.

The best kind of abortion supporter for the feminists is an ignorant who still lives in the Dark Ages of prenatal medicine.

Throughout the primary campaign Rick Santorum has regularly criticized President Obama, pointing at the rapid rise in the number of Americans receiving food stamps under his administration (a 44 percent increase since January 2009). He’s promised to cut the food stamps program significantly should he be elected president, questioning how a nation struggling with obesity can justify doling out a benefit meant to alleviate hunger to nearly one-sixth of it’s population. While Santorum’s position is in line with the other candidates in the GOP field, there may be no one left in the race, including the President himself, who is more directly responsible for the growth in the food stamps program than Rick Santorum.

The last realistic opportunity to rein in federal spending on food stamps came with the Bush Administration’s 2005 budget proposal, when Republicans still held the majority in both houses of Congress . The administration proposed to close out a loophole in the criteria used for food stamp eligibility, a change which would have resulted in $574 million in program cuts over 5 years. An outcry ensued of course from all the the usual sources, accusing Republicans of attempting to “slash” food aid for the poor. In truth, this change would have resulted in a reduction in spending of only three tenths of one percent (.3%) without actually cutting the program at all.

It would, however, have set an important precedent, but the proposal never came up for a vote on the Senate floor. Proudly leading the charge to kill the measure was none other than Senator Rick Santorum, who served on the Agricultural Committee which decided it’s fate. As evidence of this, his office issued a press release touting that Santorum had played a “major role” in defeating the proposal, lauding Santorum for “shielding nutrition programs from funding cuts” for “needy Americans”

If Obama and Santorum essentially hold the same view of government and we should not expect any serious reductions in how fast government grows, then the social issues will be the key difference between the two. I am not particularly thrilled with big government Conservatism, and doubt that a Conservative label should even be attached to someone advocating big government. But in the end, someone who is socially Conservative on the issues is by far the best choice.

HT: Rebel Pundit

Charges may be filed against a man accused of causing a disturbance on a Continental Airlines flight bound for Houston on Tuesday.
Passengers said the man was a hassle from the beginning and once the flight took off, he tried to light an electronic cigarette.
Flight attendants asked the passenger to turn off the cigarette, but he refused.
Other fed up passengers helped subdue the unruly man while the pilot turned the plane around and headed back to Portland.
The passenger was taken into custody when the plane landed.
According to one of the passengers, the unruly passenger kept repeating, “Allah is great.”
The flight resumed and departed Portland around 2:05 p.m. The passengers finally arrived to Houston Tuesday night.

HT: Jihad Watch

Looks like Sharpton needs to re-read the part where Jesus talks about loving fellow Christians, because Sharpton supports an agenda that does not do that.

HT: GWP

In keeping with his “We Can’t Wait” initiative, President Barack Obama has once again asserted that if Congress does not enact his policies in the future, he will continue to forge ahead on his own.

“When Congress refuses to act, Joe and I are going to act,” Obama said on Tuesday, with Vice President Joe Biden at his side. “In the months to come, wherever we have an opportunity, we’re going to take steps on our own to keep this economy moving.”

Obama, speaking at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, praised Congress for voting to extend the payroll tax cut. He said this helps the middle class, adding that he will fight for middle class voters regardless of what Congress does.

“With or without Congress, I’m going to continue to fight for them. I do hope Congress joins me instead of spending the coming months in a lot of phony political debates focusing on the next election.”

Translation: Obama will legislate from the White House.

The Rev. Franklin Graham says presidential candidate Mitt Romney is not a Christian.

Appearing on MSNBC’s Morning Joe show, Graham was asked whether Romney is a Christian.

Graham said he likes Romney, but added, “He’s a Mormon.”

When one of the hosts suggested Romney still is part of the “Judeo-Christian faith,” Graham responded: “Most Christians would not recognize Mormons as part of the Christian faith.”

“I’m just saying that most Christians would not recognize Mormonism. Of course they believe in Jesus Christ. They believe in a lot of other things, too, that we don’t accept theologically.”

Graham said he would not have an issue with Romney’s becoming president.

“He would be a good president if he won the nomination because I think he’s got the strength, business-wise, politics-wise. He’s sharp guy. And he’s proven himself,” Graham said.

But the respected evangelist noted that former Sen. Rick Santorum is the one candidate who shares his beliefs more than the others.

“I would say on moral issues, no question, Rick Santorum,” Graham said.

“He’s a very sharp guy as far as his Christian faith being more in line but all of them are when it comes to policy and running the country. You’ve got to have a person make good decisions that are best for all of us, and I think all the candidates that are running are capable men.”

The biggest 40 Days for Life campaign in the history of the prayerful pro-life event starts Wednesday, as pro-life advocates in hundreds of cities across the U.S. and around the world take prayer and peaceful signs to abortion centers.

“Are you ready to be part of something big?” asks Shawn Carney, the director of the campaign. “Are you ready to pray and fast, stand in peaceful vigil, change hearts and minds — and save lives? If so, it will require sacrifice … but it will be worth it.”

“Tomorrow, you have the opportunity to join the largest spring 40 Days for Life campaign in history, as it kicks off in 258 cities across America and around the world,” Carney said.

Carney says he is still surprised by the success of the pro-life event.

“When we conducted the first 40 Days for Life campaign in College Station, Texas, back in 2004, if you had told me that 40 Days for Life would spread around the globe … I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. “We thought there would be one — and only one — 40 Days for Life campaign. Ever. Thankfully, God’s plans were bigger than ours … and 40 Days for Life has now been conducted in hundreds of cities and towns across all 50 American states — and thirteen other countries.”

Carney said Great Britain is one of the foreign locations where the pro-life event is making an impact.

“One of those countries where 40 Days for Life is making a profound impact is England. This spring, there will be four local campaigns conducted across Great Britain,” he said. “A few days ago, they flew 40 Days for Life national director David Bereit and me “across the pond” to help kick off campaigns in London, Birmingham and Manchester. We were amazed to see how God has inspired thousands of people across the UK to pray and fast, stand in peaceful vigil and participate in community outreach.”

From Wednesday, February 22, through Sunday, April 1, 40-day campaigns of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach will be held in 258 cities all across the United States (44 states and the District of Columbia) plus Canada, Australia, England, Ireland and Spain

Twenty of these locations are launching their first-ever 40 Days for Life campaigns.

The pro-life campaign has had a tremendous effect, Carney said, because it has resulted in the closing of abortion facilities.

“As we prepare our hearts for this campaign, there is some big news. Since the last 40 Days for Life campaign ended, four more abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils have been conducted have shut their doors and closed and a fifth is scheduled to lock its doors forever on March 1,” he said. “This will make 21 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils have occurred that have shut down.”

“If you’ve not taken part in 40 Days for Life before, I hope this shows you what can happen when you put your trust in God and step forward in faith,” Carney concludes. “Find the 40 Days for Life campaign nearest you and learn how you can help make a life-saving difference in your own community.”

But now that gas prices are over $4.00 a gallon, it seems that this is much better for us. Here is amazing Orwellian spin coming from the Left about high gas prices now that Obama is President. The clips of Democrats now praising high gas prices comes in about 3:30 in the clip.

Remember, this is what Obama wants.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Like I have said before, Christians should lover others, but especially their fellow Christians and look out for them. Obama’s faith can be questioned because his agenda is jeopardizing the safety of Christians.

HT: HAP

One of Obama’s first acts as president was to expand eligibility for Medicaid’s State Children Health Insurance Program.

Medicaid enrollment has grown by more than 3 million since then, helping to increase Medicaid spending by more than $23 billion in just three years (see Table 11.2).

And Obama expanded Medicaid eligibility even further, all the way up to 138 percent of poverty, through Obamacare. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid predicts an estimated 25 million more Americans will be enrolled in the program by 2020.

Obama has also greatly expanded unemployment compensation eligibility. Before he was president, most states only offered 26 weeks of benefits. Now the many unemployed can get checks for 99 weeks —that is almost two years’ worth of benefits.

Food stamp allowances were also liberally expanded under Obama’s stimulus. According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2012 Index of Dependence on Government, between 2008 and 2011, food stamp spending nearly doubled from $39.3 billion to $75.3 billion.

On Obama’s watch, America’s welfare state is undergoing a profound transformation. According to the Congressional Budget Office, while the bottom fifth of households received 54 percent of all government transfer payments in 1979, in 2007, they collected only 36 percent.

“The government safety net was created to keep Americans from abject poverty,” the Times reported. “But the poorest households no longer receive a majority of government benefits.”

Our country not only can’t afford to put the middle class on welfare, Heritage estimates that the federal government will spend $10 trillion on welfare over the next 10 years. But most Americans don’t want to become dependent on the federal government, either.

“I don’t demand that the federal government does this for me,” Ki Gulbranson told the Times about his kids’ free school lunches. “I don’t feel like I need the government.”

And there is no reason Gulbranson should. Left to their own devices, Americans can provide for each other just fine. But government does not leave them alone. Take Social Security, the cornerstone of middle-class welfare state dependency.

A middle-income—$49,445 a year—American, who began working in 1968 and retired last year will receive $1,358 a month from Social Security. But if that same worker had instead invested the money he paid into Social Security in an index fund, according to a Cato study, he could be receiving $2,621.

And what about a low-income ($24,723) American? Through Social Security, he will get $891 a month. Through the market: $1,287.

If our country wants to avoid a Greek-like debtpocalypse, we are going to have to return the safety net to its original purpose: helping the very poor get back on their feet. In order to do that,we have to get the middle class off the welfare state.

The Supreme Court said today it would take up another hot-button social issue – affirmative action – around the time of the next presidential election.
The court has agreed to hear a case brought by Abigail Fisher, a white student, who says she was denied admission to the University of Texas based on the color of her skin.
The case has been closely monitored because supporters of affirmative action fear the high court might now be willing to curtail or restrict further race conscious admissions programs at public universities. Justice Elena Kagan will not participate in the case because she dealt with the issue in her previous job as U.S. solicitor general.
With a full slate of arguments already scheduled for its spring term, the court will most likely hear the case next fall, around the time of the election.
“This case presents the court with an opportunity to clarify the boundaries of race preferences in higher education, or even reconsider whether race should be permitted at all under the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection,” says Edward Blum, the director of the Project on Fair Representation, a non-profit legal defense foundation that has provided legal counsel for Fisher.
The Texas legislature passed the “Top Ten Percent Law” in 1997 that mandates that Texas high school seniors in the top 10 percent of their class be automatically admitted to any Texas state university. In addition to that program, the school considers race along with several other factors for admission. Fisher did not qualify for automatic admission.
Instead, she competed with other non-Top-10 state applicants, some of whom were entitled to racial preferences. She was denied admission and argues it was because of her race.
Her lawyers argue in court papers, “Whether a public university can layer racial preferences over a non-racial admissions plan that ensures very substantial levels of minority enrollment is a question which itself warrants review by this court.”
It was only in 2003 that the Supreme Court took up a similar affirmative action case and narrowly upheld the limited use of race as a factor in law school admissions.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote the 5-4 decision – Grutter v. Bollinger – and held that the government has a compelling interest in diversity in public universities…

An obstetrician-gynecologist confirmed on Monday Rick Santorum’s claim that amniocentesis, a type of prenatal test used to detect Down syndrome, most often leads to aborting the fetus if the genetic disorder is detected.

“What prenatal care has developed into is a search and destroy mission,” said Dr. Gene Rudd, who is also senior vice president of Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

Santorum, who is leading among GOP presidential candidates in the latest national poll by Gallup, made the statements concerning prenatal tests in a speech on Saturday and an interview on Sunday.

Amniocentesis, which takes amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman’s uterus, is usually a second line test, Rudd explained. Ob-gyns will typically offer a blood screen first. The results of that test can show if there is a chance that the fetus has Down syndrome or a spinal cord defect. The sensitivity of that test is set low, though, so there is a high rate of false positives. If the blood test suggests there may be a problem, an amniocentesis is typically used to get a definitive answer.

As Santorum noted, the procedure carries some risk. About one in 200 amniocenteses will result in a miscarriage, according to Rudd.

A 1999 study in the American Journal of Medical Genetics found that 92 percent of amniocenteses that diagnosed Down syndrome resulted in an abortion…

Liberal shave embraced eugenics on this. Not very compassionate to kill someone because it is determined his or her quality of life will not be like yours.

MSNBC host Chris Matthews said Monday at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., “if you’re really anti-gay you become a Catholic now.”

“There are a number of people who have chosen to convert to the Catholic faith because they don”t like the liberal positions taken by their sectarian groups,” said Matthews, “that’s a fact, you can write that down.”

Scott Whitlock of the Media Research Center asked Matthews to clarify.

“I’m saying that some people who are bigoted against gay people have changed religions, yes,” he responded.

The gay rights agenda poses the single greatest threat to the First Amendment in this country. The tolerance of religion is at stake as the sin of homosexuality is normalized. The answer is to keep preaching the Gospel, the repentance from sin, no matter how much of a fascist response the Left comes at you with.

President Barack Obama will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 5, the White House said on Monday.

Netanyahu will be in Washington to address the annual policy conference of the influential pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, which will be held on March 4-6.

The announcement of the White House meeting came in a briefing of a weekend visit between Netanyahu and Obama’s National Security Advisor, Tom Donilon, in Jerusalem, amid heightened concern that Israel might attack Iran to thwart its nuclear program.

“Mr Donilon and his delegation addressed the full range of security issues of mutual concern,” the White House said. “The visit is part of the continuous and intensive dialogue between the United States and Israel and reflects our unshakable commitment to Israel’s security.”

Donilon’s talks were to have included Iran and Syria, the White House said before he left on the trip. The West accuses Tehran of using its nuclear program to pursue weapons capability, while Iran insists it is for peaceful purposes.

I do not see how Israel can do nothing as Iran has made it’s intentions clear in regards to getting nuclear weapons and wanting Israel wiped out of existence.

The United States’ rapidly declining crude oil supply has made a stunning about-face, shredding federal oil projections and putting energy independence in sight of some analyst forecasts.

After declining to levels not seen since the 1940s, U.S. crude production began rising again in 2009. Drilling rigs have rushed into the nation’s oil fields, suggesting a surge in domestic crude is on the horizon.

The number of rigs in U.S. oil fields has more than quad­rupled in the past three years to 1,272, according to the Baker Hughes rig count. Including those in natural gas fields, the United States now has more rigs at work than the entire rest of the world.

“It’s staggering,” said Marshall Adkins, who directs energy research for the financial services firm Raymond James. “If we continue growing anywhere near that pace and keep squeezing demand out of the system, that puts you in a world where we are not importing oil in 10 years.”

There are doubts that energy independence is that close. But many say the booming shale oil fields in Texas and North Dakota and the growth of deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico will allow the nation to cut its reliance on oil imports significantly over the next couple of decades.

Last month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration upgraded its forecast of crude production in 2025 to 6.4 million barrels per day – 1 million barrels more than were pumped in 2010.

Previously, the EIA had projected the U.S. would peak at 6 million barrels in 2022.

“The growth that we’ve seen in shale, that’s one of the biggest changes that’s contributing to our outlook,” said Dana Van-Wagener, a research analyst for the agency. “It’s evolving so quickly. We weren’t anticipating enough growth.”

Low energy bills for the middle class and poor is not something Obama wants. Obama’s policies only seem to further punish hard working American’s by raising our cost of living through regulation.

HT: Instapundit

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are in a statistical tie in Arizona, according to the latest survey from Public Policy Polling.

Romney leads with 36 percent support to 33 percent for Santorum, however the poll has a 4.8 percent margin of error. Newt Gingrich came in at 16 percent, followed by Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) at nine percent.

In a survey last week from conservative polling firm Rasmussen, Romney led Santorum by eight points in Arizona.

Voters head to the polls on Feb. 28 for the primary, and there will be a debate – possibly the last of the primary season – in Mesa on Wednesday.

As attention has turned to Santorum’s rising campaign following his surprising three-state sweep in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri earlier this month, it could be the backers of now-second tier candidate Gingrich who help determine the outcome in Arizona.

Fifty-four percent of Gingrich’s supporters in Arizona say they might change their minds before the election. Of those, 40 percent identified Santorum as their second choice, compared to only 25 percent who said Romney…

Residents of the tranquil Berkeley hills were in shock Sunday after police described a horrific slaying, with a homeowner beaten after confronting a young man – an apparent stranger – who had trespassed onto his property.

Authorities did not identify the victim, but neighbors and public records indicated that the owner of the home where the Saturday night killing occurred was Peter Cukor, 67, who owned a logistics consulting firm. His family declined to talk.

Shortly after the attack outside the large home near Tilden Park, a Berkeley police officer found Daniel Jordan Dewitt, 23, of Alameda, less than a block away. Dewitt was booked on suspicion of murder, and was being held Sunday without bail.

Dewitt suffers from mental illness, said his mother, Candy Dewitt.

“I’ve been telling people for years he needs help, but they’re just throwing people with mental illness onto the streets,” she said before declining further comment. “I’m too upset.”

Police said Daniel Dewitt attacked the victim at about 8:45 p.m., after he and his wife returned home to find Dewitt near their garage. The victim told Dewitt to leave, went inside, then came out again and was attacked, said Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss.

The victim had called police on a nonemergency line after first seeing Dewitt, according to sources familiar with the case. But police were busy monitoring an Occupy Oakland march to UC Berkeley, and officers were dispatched only to high-priority calls…

UPDATE:
Thanks to IOWNTHEWORLD for the link.

HT: HAP