VATICAN: MUSLIMS HAVE OVERTAKEN US

In sheer numbers. The writer explained “It is true that while Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer.”

Maybe that's because many Christian ans Catholics find birth control acceptable. It defies traditional teaching and seeks to bypass God's will for families. In other words, what did you expect to happen?

FOX News

HILLARY’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER ON BOARD OF BANKRUPT LENDER

A problem since, as the story notes, “Hillary Clinton spends considerable time on the campaign trail bemoaning unscrupulous lenders who have left millions of Americans scrambling to keep their homes….”

FOX News

POLLS: MCCAIN V. HILLARY AND OBAMA CLOSE

Depending on the poll, each candidate has a lead. (RealClearPolitics)

USA Today is confused as to how McCain could even be in the race as “He robustly backs the unpopular Iraq war. The U.S. economy is in a tailspin under the stewardship of President Bush, a fellow Republican whose favorable ratings with Americans stands at 30% or lower.” (USA Today)

Dobson Editing Radio Show To Avoid Canadian 'Hate Crimes' Laws

(WND) The issue is "hate crimes" laws in Canada, and they are affecting U.S. Christian ministries that broadcast into that nation.

Now comes confirmation from the Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, one of the largest Christian publishing and broadcasting organizations in the nation, that it has been reviewing, and if necessary editing, its broadcasts to avoid complications with Canadian "hate crimes" laws.

"Occasionally, albeit very rarely, some content is identified that, while acceptable for airing in the U.S. would not be acceptable under Canadian law and is therefore edited or omitted in Canada," Focus said.

Cash-strapped Clinton Fails To Pay Bills

From the story: Hillary Rodham Clinton’s cash-strapped presidential campaign has been putting off paying hundreds of bills for months — freeing up cash for critical media buys but also earning the campaign a reputation as something of a deadbeat in some small-business circles.

A pair of Ohio companies owed more than $25,000 by Clinton for staging events for her campaign are warning others in the tight-knit event production community — and anyone else who will listen — to get their cash upfront when doing business with her. Read more…

PowerBlog Cast: Gathering of Catholic Men

Listen to our recent interview about the Catholic Men's Fellowship of Pittsburgh and the upcoming gathering on April 12th.

Listen Here

For more info about the event go to http://www.cmfpitt.org/

Calling All Sane People

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey Jr. claims to be Catholic. He also claims to be "pro-life". However, Senator Casey has gone against the lead of Gov. Rendell (who is supporting Hillary Clinton) and has come out in support of Sen. Obama. Huh?

I'm very confused. I think the support of infanticide or for someone whose greatest regret was that Terri Schiavo did not die earlier is not exactly pro-life. It also does not fit well with Catholic teaching unless you are on heavy medication. Yet we have Catholic Bishops who refuse to take any form of action in response to a blatant disrespect for the Church.

Casey was quoted as saying he favored Obama because the Illinois senator "thinks we shouldn't be deaf to the voices of the next generation." Ahhh, if those voices are silenced before they are born what the heck is he talking about?

Our election choices so far just plain STINK. I still have not convinced myself to vote for McCain because he is the lesser evil. I've tried. But that's like marrying a girl because she has 3 teeth instead of two.

What bothers me is the "oh well" attitude of most people. There were the pro-life Catholics who loved Rudy Giuliani. Huh? Sen. Rick Santorum (a constant voice for pro-life) decided to support Sen. Arlen Specter over the actual pro-life candidate Pat Toomey. Huh?

Jim Powers reported: Conservative Grover Norquist, who heads up Americans for Tax Reform, is headlining a $150 per person fundraiser breakfast for Pennsylvania’s Senator Arlen Specter in Allentown.How can this be? Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) requires that anyone wanting their endorsement sign a pledge to never raise taxes. Obviously, Arlen has never signed, and most likely never will. Huh?

I can't grasp how a person can justify supporting someone who has to exact opposite beliefs. I guess if you fool yourself into seeing shades of gray for moral issues, and mumble "I wouldn't do it but others should have the right to" as the answer to any moral question, then I suppose you could numb your brain into thinking global warming, minimum wage, the the war in Iraq are most the important issues. They trump even protecting the unborn because children would only have to be born in a messed up world anyway.

Forget about the recession. I think we are going through a regression. We are a nation of spoiled children that want everything now and we are never happy. We are all victims and someone should pay.

I believe come November we are going to get exactly what we think we want. But that also includes the consequences. If moral voices only shout into the pillow and those who claim to understand right & wrong sit idlely by or worse lend their support to destructive ideologies then the forthcoming tragic results should come as no surprise to anyone.

SUPERDELEGATE WAR

People and groups are taking sides. Moveon.org, backing Obama, is blasting Hillary’s people for the Pelosi letter. (FOX News)

From another story: The brazen move by Camp Clinton stunned veteran Democrats, particularly because at least eight of the letter's authors have not donated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since Pelosi became speaker. "[Clinton] looks desperate," said one. "There is no way they should have threatened to do this. It is terrible. ... I am sure Obama is raising money off of it already." (NY Daily News)

From Senator Dodd: I think it is hurting. Look, we’ve got five more months to go before the Democratic Convention at the end of August and, candidly, we cannot go five more months with the kind of daily sniping that’s going on and have a candidate emerge in that convention. (Time)

Gallup has a break down of those who say they’ll bail if their preferred candidate doesn’t win. (Gallup)

OBAMA’S CHURCH BULLETIN INCLUDED ARTICLE FROM HAMAS MEMBER

And the hits just keep on coming....
Taken from this article. (LA Times) Obama found a way to actually condemn this action. (Jerusalem Post)

From Investor’s Business Daily on the writer: The Palestinian was indicted in 2004 for conspiring to funnel millions to Hamas to carry out kidnappings, bombings and other attacks on Israel. Believed to be hiding in Syria, he remains a fugitive. Even if Wright didn't know Marzook was wanted by the government, Hamas has been designated a terrorist group since 1995, blacklisted by a Democrat administration. Later: Obama, for his part, says he is shocked-- shocked! -- that his church would support Hamas. "I certainly wasn't in church when that outrageously wrong piece was reprinted in the bulletin," he said in a carefully worded statement that denies only his attendance and not his prior knowledge of the bulletin. (IBD)

OBAMA COMPARES WRIGHT COMMENTS TO THINGS “YOU” SAID

The remarkable statement: "It's as if we took the five dumbest things that I ever said or you ever said … in our lives and compressed them, and put them out there, you know, I think that people's reaction would be understandably upset." Obama seems to have forgotten first how egregious these comments were and second – these were prepared sermons. (ABC News)

If you watch the video, you see him looking at notes. (Youtube)

On The View, Obama said “Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn’t have felt comfortable staying at the church.” When did Wright acknowledge any of that? (FOX News)

Meanwhile, Obama’s church is building a 10,000 square foot home for Wright. (FOX News)

Conservative Grover Norquist to Headline Specter Fundraiser

(Hat tip to PAWaterCooler) Conservative Grover Norquist, who heads up Americans for Tax Reform, is headlining a $150 per person fundraiser breakfast for Pennsylvania’s Senator Arlen Specter in Allentown.

How can this be? Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) requires that anyone wanting their endorsement sign a pledge to never raise taxes. Obviously, Arlen has never signed, and most likely never will.

Casey To Endorse Obama

(Newsmax) Barack Obama will be endorsed by Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey.

Casey is a first-term senator and the son of a popular former governor of the state. His support could help Obama make inroads among Catholic voters. Catholics constitute more than 30 percent of the state. Casey is scheduled to join Obama in Pittsburgh [today] and campaign with him as Obama travels by across Pennsylvania by bus.

Surprising, as the other Democrat heavyweights in Pennsylvania are lining up behind Hillary.

Three Mile Island security incident hushed

A security problem occurred last year at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, but federal regulators who are reviewing it have refused to reveal what happened. Read More

LCB head's law firm does $5.7 million in Pa. business

Ballard Spahr, a Philadelphia law firm where Gov. Ed Rendell used to work, has earned millions of state dollars in the past five years doing legal work on a potential Pennsylvania Turnpike lease and other matters. But it isn't the only group of legal eagles who are cashing in on their connections to the Rendell administration. Read More

$400 state checks won't be in mail

Gov. Ed Rendell is backing off his plan to give $400 checks to low-income Pennsylvanians. Read More

Adding Up the Costs for the North Shore Connector

Costs for the Port Authority’s North Shore Connector keep rising. Not only are the costs of the project itself increasing, but so are the costs being imposed on the public, transit riders, and businesses who are being inconvenienced , and in some cased harmed, by its construction. While the Authority has built in a contingency fund for inevitable project cost overruns, the ink on the proposal wasn’t even dry yet when problems began to occur. The finished Connector will look very different from the one approved by Federal authorities a few years ago. Nor will the final price tag reflect the true total cost of its construction since the Port Authority’s estimates do not take into account the costs imposed on the public caused by the construction. Continue

Radio Waves

A Bit if the B lands at Q
WLTJ (Q92.9)/Pittsburgh has hired taps 21-year market vet John Cline for mornings, becoming Q92.9's first air personality. Previously, John was part of the B-9 morning show. After that he he handled mornings at crosstown WZPT-FM (Star 100.7) from 2003-06 before being a casualty of budget cuts.

WXDX Used As Part Of Contest Scam
CARTER MCDONALD pleaded guilty to pulling off a prize scam on 14 separate occasions around PITTSBURGH. MCDONALD would tell people he met on the street that he worked for CLEAR CHANNEL Alternative WXDX (105.9 THE X) and offer them concert tickets, flat-screen TVs and other prizes. All they needed to do to collect the purported freebies was pay cash up front to cover shipping costs.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY Judge DAVID R. CASHMAN sentenced him to consecutive terms of two years' probation on each of the theft counts and ordered him to submit to drug screening and pay $1,775 restitution.

Chicago Legend Wally Phillips Dies
WGN-AM/CHICAGO is reporting the passing of local radio legend WALLY PHILLIPS. The station, where PHILLIPS served as morning host from 1965 through 1986, and then moved to afternoons before his run at WGN ended on JANUARY 20, 1998, reports that PHILLIPS passed away after a five-year battle with Alzheimer's disease at 82. PHILLIPS, who worked at the old WCOP-A/CINCINNATI before moving to CHICAGO, served 42 years with WGN and hosted a weekly show on crosstown WAIT-AM after his retirement from WGN. He was inducted into the RADIO HALL OF FAME in 1993.

CALIFORNIA HOMESCHOOLING DECISION VACATED

From the story: “This is a great first step,” said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA. “We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority,” he added.

HSLDA

DEMOCRATS TAKE SIDES

There is trouble in paradise! The story begins: Twenty top Democratic donors who are supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a letter asking her to retract her comments on superdelegates and stay out of the Democratic fight over their role in the presidential race.

A little later: The letter also noted the donors “have been strong supporters” of the House Democrats’ fundraising arm. “We therefore urge you to clarify your position on superdelegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the national convention in August.” (FOX News)

Another story looks at how the party is splintering over the two candidates. (Washington Times)

Then this from Maureen Dowd: Even some Clinton loyalists are wondering aloud if the win-at-all-costs strategy of Hillary and Bill — which continued Tuesday when Hillary tried to drag Rev. Wright back into the spotlight — is designed to rough up Obama so badly and leave the party so riven that Obama will lose in November to John McCain. If McCain only served one term, Hillary would have one last shot. On Election Day in 2012, she’d be 65. (NY Times)

OBAMA: PASTOR COMMENTS WERE JUST “STUPID”

He says it's no big deal. Not “outrageous” “bigoted” “racist” or “anti-American.” Just stupid. Revealing how he still doesn’t get it, Obama said “This is somebody that was preaching three sermons at least a week for 30 years and it got boiled down ... into a half-minute sound clip and just played it over and over and over again, partly because it spoke to some of the racial divisions we have in this country.”

Later: “We cannot solve the problems of America if every time somebody somewhere does something stupid, that everybody gets up in arms and forgets about the war in Iraq and we forget about the economy." (Washington Post)

Republican Crossovers Fuel Record Democratic Voter Registration in Pennsylvania

(ABC News) Republican crossovers are a key factor in record-level voter registrations for the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary, officials say.

State Democratic party officials touted a record-level four million registered Democratic voters in anticipation of the upcoming primary on April 22. The Philadelphia suburbs and the state's central region, including counties where Republicans still outnumber Democrats, had some of the highest proportions of party-switchers.

While I don’t have the numbers yet, the Butler County Election Bureau has been swamped with registration changes.

Rendell Wants to Borrow $240 Million Immediately For Roads and Bridges

From the story: [On Wednesday] Gov. Ed Rendell called on the state Legislature to quickly enact a "supplemental debt authorization" of $240 million to jump start necessary improvements to ailing bridges, roads and flood-prone areas.

The $240 million in borrowed money "will enable us to quicken the pace of repairing critical components of our state infrastructure," the governor said in a letter sent today to all 253 legislators. Read more....

When facing a mass transit shutdown in 2005, Rendell “flexed” $412 million in federal highway and bridge dollars into mass transit. Surely the governor can now simply “flex” $240 million back out of mass transit to fix our roads and bridges.

GIRL DIES WHEN PARENTS PRAY FOR HEALING

The 11-year-old had a treatable form of diabetes. From the story: The girl's parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, attributed the death to "apparently they didn't have enough faith," the police chief said.

FOX News

TRANSGENDERED PERSON SAYS SHE’S A PREGNANT MAN

Good luck following this story. An Oregon person says (he) is five months pregnant. The picture evidence spread like wildfire all over the Internet.

How can that be? It goes against the laws of nature. No need to worry. Those laws have not changed. The pregnant "guy" is Thomas Beatie, who was born Tracy Lagendino... a woman. "He" appeared in the most recent issue of The Advocate, a magazine for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender readers.

Despite all the outward cosmetic changes made, inside was nothing changed. I guess you can fool yourself and others but not God. Since he is the one who made you. Like it or not.

This is where is gets very sad. This person is obviously very confused. Beatie is legally married to a woman. A natural born woman who can not conceive. That's why Beatie decided to carry their child even though he lives as a married man. The child was conceive through artificial insemination.

I can't imagine what impact this will have on the child to be. When your mom is your dad who used to be a woman but is now married to your mom..... I'd save for therapy and college.

Beatie writes: "Our situation sparks legal, political, and social unknowns. We have only begun experiencing opposition from people who are upset by our situation. Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender. "

Did they consider all of this before bringing a child into this mess? It certainly seems like the child is being used to push a homosexual agenda even before birth. How can this person have falsely presented them self as a man (which is a blatant lie) and expect "support" from family who does not even really know who this person is?

Some may call this discrimination and if it is so be it. However this whole "tolerance" issue has been pushed way too far. We debate same sex marriage. We debate sex changes. We allow abortion on demand. It all falls under the "It's my right" umbrella. You have the right to live your life in any morally depraved manor you choose so long as it does not violate the law. However, once you begin inflicting harm on a child or another person the line must be drawn.

Beatie says of a doctor he went to see, "He then required us to see the clinic’s psychologist to see if we were fit to bring a child into this world and consulted with the ethics board of his hospital. A few months and a couple thousand dollars later, he told us that he would no longer treat us, saying he and his staff felt uncomfortable working with “someone like me.”

At least one medical professional recognized that this is not a suitable environment to raise a child. Yet even though the couple was rejected by medical professionals, they still pursued their selfish desires.

Beatie reveals in his own words the true agenda behind all this "But our situation ultimately will ask everyone to embrace the gamut of human possibility and to define for themselves what is normal."

This child is a pawn. Normal is not a personal definition. It must follow the laws of nature and the plan of the Divine Creator. No matter how much we as humans think we can manipulate science and the body, we can never outsmart God. It's impossible. The moment we think we have, dire consequences are sure to follow to remind us of who is really in charge.

MICHELLE OBAMA RIPS IGNORANT AMERICA

Youtube bites Obama again! A video surfaced from a speech she apparently gave in January at the University of South Carolina. About 1:18 minutes in, she said “Sometimes it’s easier to hold on to your stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your ignorance. That’s America.”

OBAMA GIVING: VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE

From the story: What is surprising, given the recent controversy over Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ, is how little the Obamas apparently gave to charity -- well short of the biblical 10% tithe for all seven years. In two of the years, the Obamas gave far less than 1% of their income to charity; in three of the years, they gave around 1% of their income to charity. Only in the last two years have they given substantially more as their income skyrocketed -- 4.7% in 2005 and 6.1% in 2006.

TaxProf Blog

MEDIA GO AFTER HILLARY

The main ABC News headline last night and this morning: Dems Fear Clinton’s ‘Tanya Harding’ Option. From the story: What will she have to do to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in order to eke out her improbable victory? She will have to "break his back," the official said. She will have to destroy Obama, make Obama completely unacceptable. As though he isn’t doing that on his own. (ABC News)

ABC News drilled her for the exaggeration and the fact that she hasn’t pulled out of the race. The reporter called her “defiant.” (Youtube)

And CBS News, who broke the Hillary/sniper story, dug up this gem: She claimed she misspoke and was sleep deprived, but CBS News has found several times in the past few months Senator Clinton used the Bosnia trip to try to show her international experience, reports Sharyl Attkisson. Clinton did so in Iowa in December, Texas in February and also last week. Later: Clinton did her best to change the subject Tuesday. (CBS News)

Where were these investigative reporters when only Matt Drudge broke Clinton stories? And why have they ignored the Obama audio from his first book?

Tiller's Appearance at NEA-Hosted Event Draws Pro-lifers' Attention

From the Story: The National Education Association is being denounced for hosting an event honoring infamous abortionist George Tiller who is facing 19 criminal charges for performing illegal late-term abortions.

George Tiller, a man many pro-lifers call "Tiller the baby killer," received a standing ovation at the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Women's Leadership Conference held recently at the NEA's headquarters in Washington, DC. During his talk, Tiller attempted to justify his work by showing the approving audience pictures of babies he had aborted who had fetal abnormalities. Read more…

Can someone from the PSEA and NEA membership please explain something to me?

Assume an average class size of 25 students and then apply the number of abortions per year (1.3 million). That means that this year alone, there will be 52,000 teachers not needed (hence, not hired) from your ranks. Now, let’s look at grades K – 12. This means that 676,000 teachers are not hired because of abortion. And your union supports this!?!

Can anyone name any other union that actively supports policies that decreases the ranks within their own union's membership by over a half million members?

Crucial Decision Time Comes To Mt. Lebanon

After holding fairly steady for decades, Census estimates of Mt. Lebanon’s population point to a significant drop since 2000. The 2006 estimate of 30,836 represents a decline of 6.6 percent from the 33,017 figure recorded in 2000. This rate of decrease, if sustained, will lead to very serious consequences for the people, government and school system in this highly regarded Pennsylvania community. Continue

Radio Waves

WEAE/Pittsburgh Names Thompson as General Manager
ESPN Radio vet Mike Thompson is named General Manager of Sports/Talk WEAE-AM (ESPN Radio 1250), the company-owned station in Pittsburgh, effective April 1. For the past year, he served as New Media PD for ESPN Radio at the company's headquarters in Bristol, CT
DOJ Approves XM-Sirius Merger
Saying the "evidence does not establish that combination of satellite radio providers would substantially reduce competition," the Department of Justice on Monday approved the XM-Sirius merger.

Let The Stones Bidding War Begin
While THE ROLLING STONES focus on the imminent release of their latest album, "Shine A Light," record companies are vying to sign the band to a long-term deal. UNIVERSAL MUSIC, SONY BMG and WARNER MUSIC have already begun courting THE STONES in an effort to wrest them away from their long-time label, EMI. The band’s contract expires in JUNE.

Jack Armstrong Remembered
XM 60s On 6 host TERRY YOUNG is doing a show dedicated to JACK, THURSDAY (3/27) from 4-8p (ET) on XM 6.

Mel Returns to B
After B-94 was killed in 2004, Melanie Taylor took over WTAE-TV taffic reports. Who says you can't relive the past? Taylor will be back on 93.7 again come April 1 when she joins the morning show. I like Melanie. I worked with her for awhile. While I wish her the best, I can't say I would recomend the move. Anyone want to do TV traffic at WTAE?

US: IRAN RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACKS IN IRAQ

Story begins “Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said the rockets fired Sunday into the Green Zone, the heavily protected area where U.S. operations and the Iraqi government are based, were Iranian-made and supplied by the Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.”

USA Today

HILLARY CAUGHT IN LIE/EXAGGERATION/MISSTATEMENT

CBS News broke the story of Hillary’s claim she entered Bosnia under sniper fire. Some great video included. (CBS News)

The Obama camp jumped on the story, saying it “joins a growing list of instances in which Senator Clinton has exaggerated her role in foreign and domestic policy-making.” (FOX News)

Hillary says she “misspoke.” She explained, “I think that, a minor blip, you know, if I said something that, you know, I say a lot of things -- millions of words a day -- so if I misspoke, that was just a misstatement.” (USA Today)

OBAMA DEFENDS CHURCH.... AGAIN

He called the anti-American church “one of the finest churches in Chicago” that is “just like any other church.” Ahhhh, it's nothing like mine.

Again, Obama has no real outrage over the statements made by Reverend Wright. (USA Today)

In a blistering column, Thomas Sowell points out “Obama didn't just happen to encounter Jeremiah Wright, who just happened to say some way out things. Jeremiah Wright is in the same mold as the kinds of people Barack Obama began seeking out in college -- members of the left, anti-American counter-culture.” (RealClearPolitics)

State Wide Tax On Property Insurance Proposed By Rendell

The Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities Locator is reporting that Governor Rendell has proposed a surcharge of seven cents for every $100 of property insurance premiums paid by property owners. This surcharge (read property tax) will be earmarked for flood mitigation projects.

I understand that before the Roman Empire fell, the government levied over 200 different types of personal taxes on its citizens. There is a legend that as the Barbarians entered the Roman Senate chambers, the Senate was engaged in a heated discussion looking for even more ways to tax its citizens. The Senators were so engrossed in this discussion, that they were oblivious to the presence of the Barbarians in the Senate chambers.

I bet that even the tax-hungry Roman Senators NEVER thought of taxing insurance premiums!

Who Caught Spitzer?

I was reading a story about who blew the whistle on Elliot Spitzer. The federal probe into the case suggested a Republican political operative provided the FBI with evidence four months before he resigned.

My question is "so what?" In a Nov. 19 letter, an attorney for Roger Stone, once a consultant to Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, said Spitzer had spent "tens of thousands" of dollars on prostitutes using prearranged financial transfers. The letter was first reported in the Miami Herald on Saturday.

The irony here is Stone is a longtime GOP operative who resigned from Republican Bob Dole's presidential campaign when an ad seeking a sexual threesome with him and his wife was discovered in a Washington swingers magazine.

However, unless Stone forced Spitzer somehow to do this, Spitzer remains the guilty one. The intentions behind reporting this might have been self serving, however a crime is still a crime even if a shady character reports it.

Take all the high profile names out of it and what you find is a prostitution ring that is illegal and should be prosecuted even if it does not make the nightly news.

Three women excommunicated for participating in ordination ceremony

Two Catholic women who participated in a ceremony to be ordained as "womenpriests" last November and a third woman who officiated were served a "declaration of excommunication" March 12 by St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke.

The women are Rose Marie Dunn Hudson of Festus, Mo., Elsie Hainz McGrath of St. Louis and Patricia Fresen, who now lives in Berg, Germany. Hudson and McGrath were allegedly ordained; Fresen officiated.

They are part of a group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests. Begun in 2002, it claims to have had "womenpriests" ordained every year since then. The ceremony took place Nov. 11 at a synagogue, the Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis' central west end.

The declaration said the three incurred excommunication "by reason of the crime of schism" and it imposed a censure of interdict "for having pertinaciously rejected a definitive truth of the faith after having been admonished by the ordinary." Fresen also was disciplined for "the crime of simulation of the administration of the sacrament of holy orders."

These are no women seeking to serve the church, rather they wish to destroy it though their own selfish desires and blatant disregard for authority. Not only is their communion with the church jeopardized, but their very souls.

Radio Waves

Jackson Armstong Passes
Former "13Q" WKTQ (1320) personality who was also a fixture on Buffalo's WKBW (1520) has died. According to a message posted on Armstrong's MySpace page by his daughter, the 62-year-old DJ, whose real name was John C. Larsh, died Saturday at his home in North Carolina.

WLTJ becomes "Q 92.9"
Proclaiming itself as "Pittsburgh's Best Music Mix" WLTJ is now Q 92.9. The music format hasn't changed much, but rumor has it the entire airstaff has been wiped out. There is also a computerized voice after each song which announces the song and the artist followed by a liner.

Abortionist Admits to Aborting 1 Day Before Delivery

George Tiller, who currently faces 19 criminal charges for performing illegal late-term abortions in Kansas, was caught on hidden tape admitting that he has performed abortions as close as one day before the mother's delivery date.

Students for Life of America, a pro-life student group, recently released a video on YouTube with footage of Tiller's comments during and after the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Women's Leadership Conference held Mar. 9 at the National Education Association in Washington D.C.

The video shows Tiller presenting graphic slide images of fetuses that were aborted for their fetal abnormalities.

The crowd at the NEA event applauded Tiller's presentation and Kathy Spillar, vice president of Feminist Majority Foundation, even commended the abortion practitioner's acts as "courageous."

Following the event, Hawkins and another SFLA member questioned Tiller about the 2002 Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a federal bill signed into law that protects born children from murder and illegalizes infanticide.

He said it was "reprehensible" for a doctor performing an abortion to let the baby accidentally slip out alive. "If the baby is born alive, that is sloppy medicine," Tiller said in the video.

Last year, Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison filed 19 criminal charges against Tiller for failing to get the permission of a second doctor who was financially or legally independent of him before carrying out late-term abortion procedures. Morrison had also dismissed 30 more serious criminal charges against the abortionist filed by the former attorney general before he left office.
If convicted under Morrison's charges, Tiller will face up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine for each of the 19 charges. Furthermore, Tiller’s medical license to practice could be suspended or revoked.

More

State Support for Education and School District Performance

One of the most frequently repeated distortions about education is that the Commonwealth is inadequately funding poor and underachieving districts while better off districts are receiving unfair state subsidies. For some reason, people are allowed to go unchallenged when they make the claim. However, the assertion is not true and needs to be put to rest. Continue

CATHOLICS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AT EASTER VIGIL

It was great to welcome 10 new members into full communion with the Catholic Church in my own parish this weekend. Our church was not the only ones receiving new members.


A Muslim author and critic of Islamic fundamentalism was baptized a Catholic by Pope Benedict on Sunday. He is now in great danger because of his conversion.


"I realize what I am going up against but I will confront my fate with my head high, with my back straight and the interior strength of one who is certain about his faith," said Magdi Allam.


That is an incredible faith. While often we Christians debate trivial matters and some even wonder if the Catholic faith is part of the Christian church, here is a man who is willing to risk his life to say "yes" it is.


In a surprise move on Saturday night, the pope baptized the 55-year-old, Egyptian-born Allam at an Easter eve service in St Peter's Basilica that was broadcast around the world. The conversion of Allam to Christianity -- he took the name "Christian" for his baptism -- was kept secret until the Vatican disclosed it in a statement less than an hour before it began.


His conversion, which he called "the happiest day of my life," came just two days after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused the pope of being part of a "new crusade" against Islam.


Maybe this is a "new crusade". One in which hearts and minds are changed through freedom and access to truth. It is a peaceful crusade that could change the world.


Allam defended the pope in 2006 when the pontiff made a speech in Regensburg, Germany, that many Muslims perceived as depicting Islam as a violent faith. Sadly we are constantly supplied with new evidence to convince us of such.

Allam said he made his decision to convert after years of deep soul searching and asserted that the Catholic Church has been "too prudent about conversions of Muslims."


The Vatican statement announcing Allam's conversion said: "For the Catholic Church, each person who asks to receive Baptism after a deep personal search, a fully free choice and adequate preparation, has a right to receive it."

It said all newcomers to the faith were "equally important before God's love and welcome in the community of the Church."



Story

OBAMA TIED TO ANOTHER ANTI-WHITE PASTOR

Though the relationship is nothing like the one he has with Wright. James Meeks is a delegate pledged to Obama. (FOX News)

Meanwhile, Steyn tears into Obama’s arguments defending Wright. (NRO)

From Victor Davis Hanson: For some bizarre reason, Obama aimed his speech at winning praise from National Public Radio, the New York Times, and Harvard, and solidifying an already 90-percent solid African-American base — while apparently insulting the intelligence of everyone else. (NRO)

From Novak: In rejecting the racist views of his longtime spiritual mentor but not disowning him, Obama has unwittingly enhanced his image as the African-American candidate -- not just a remarkable candidate who happens to be black. That poses a racial dilemma for unelected super-delegates, who as professional politicians will pick the winner since neither Obama nor Clinton can win enough elected delegates to be nominated. (RealClearPolitics)

From Maureen Dowd: Hillary got a boost from the wackadoodle Jeremiah Wright. As a top pol noted, the Reverend turned Obama - in the minds of some working-class and crossover white voters - from "a Harvard law graduate into a South Side Black Panther." (IHT)

From Harry R. Jackson: …the Church must lead the way in solving the problem of race in America. My loyalty to biblical faith is greater than my allegiance to my ethnic group. Many ministers under 40 years of age share my feeling, while those over 60 are often entrenched in an antiquated, old school, civil rights mindset. (Townhall)

A daily tracking poll shows Obama’s lead gone. (Rasmussen)

EASTER

Let me take a moment to wish all of you a wonderful Easter. I'd like to share an email that was sent to me from Peter Herbeck. Peter will be coming to Pittsburgh to speak on April 12th. You can get more information at http://www.cmf.org/

Peter's words put this moment in perspective:

Jesus is the truth about you and me. Never is that truth more eloquently communicated than from the cross. On the cross he bears our grief, our shame, the isolation and the ultimate judgment that sin, our sin, has produced. He took my place, bore my punishment, and took my destiny upon his shoulders. He shows us our end, where our lives were headed, what we deserved, and in that act, he is telling us the truth about what our attachment to sin has produced.

Sin is a lie. It’s a false promise, a dark delusion. It promises life but delivers death. It promises life apart from God, but Jesus declares to us and to all the principalities and powers that it is a lie! There is no life apart from God! Not only did he reveal the truth about sin and sin’s destiny, but he broke its power over us: “he abolished death and brought life and immortality to light.” (1 Timothy 1:10)

He is our brother, the faithful Son, God’s ultimate man, “one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He fought a no limit battle against sin, “to the point of shedding his blood” (Hebrews 12:4) so that he could bring “life and immortality to light” for us. Because of the cross we can now see, and the way to life is revealed.
Jesus speaks powerfully to each one of us today from the cross: “Follow me. This is the way to life! Obey the Father no matter what the cost. Love Him, trust Him and you will find life.” This is what it means to be a man: to say no to sin, and yes to God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength!

Jesus is the Father’s word to us. May we all hear that word today with new clarity and power; may he grant us a new capacity to trust him in every circumstance and to more radically abandon ourselves to him no matter what the cost. - Peter Herbeck

State disables voter registration Web site

A design flaw in a state voter registration Web site left vulnerable the private information of people who used the site, a Pennsylvania State Department official said Wednesday. Read More

CONGRESSMAN DINGELL WANTS 50 CENT GAS TAX HIKE

Thank you sir, may I have another? Does Dingle know what it costs people that have to actually pay for their own gas? Rep. John Dingell is from Michigan. How clueless do you have to be to pitch this with straight face in the American Automotive Capitol?

Dingel and the rest of these nimrods need to go in the other direction. If they had any common sense they would be calling for a temporary suspension of all federal and state taxes. In Pennsylvania alone that would mean an instant 51 cent drop in costs per gallon. On average it would save consumers 47 cents a gallon. (Site)

But that would mean money stops rolling into the federal and state coffers. Instead let's raise it 50 cents and get gas well above $4.00 a gallon. The story doesn’t mention what the Democrat’s idea would do to the economy. (FOX News)

Let's hope this idea runs out of gas.

OBAMA PULLS BLACK PANTHER ENDORSEMENT FROM WEBSITE

Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor issued a statement rejecting the Panther backing, and told FOXNews.com: “The page in question has been removed from our campaign Web site. It’s our policy with any content generated by a group that advocates violence.” (FOX News)

Well how did it ever go up in the first place? Did the not know about the Black Panthers? There is a developing series of really bad moves here. See my previous post on Crosswalk.

While Obama's team has scrubbed their site of the he post, it live on in cyberspace (Google)

HILLARY’S LEAD GROWS OVER OBAMA

Up to seven points. Of Obama’s attempt to distance himself from his pastor/mentor’s remarks, the story notes “The initial indications are that the speech has not halted Clinton's gaining momentum, as she led by a similar margin in Tuesday night's polling as compared to Monday night's polling.” (Gallup)

Reuters has Obama in the lead, but the gap closing. (Reuters )

MCCAIN PULLING AWAY FROM HILLARY AND OBAMA

From the story: John McCain currently leads both of the potential Democratic presidential candidates in the race for the White House, according to a Reuters/Zogby Poll released Wednesday. Zogby's polling shows the Republican senator from Arizona leading Sen. Barack Obama 46%-40% and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 48%-40%. (USA Today)

Another poll has the Democrats leading but the gap closing. (CBS News)

Discrimination Case Over Restaurant Sign Dropped

A Philadelphia restaurant has been cleared of a discrimination complaint triggered by the owner's sign telling patrons, "This is America. When ordering, please speak English."

The controversy began in October 2005 when [restaurant owner Joey] Vento put up a small bumper-sticker size sign.

"There was no testimony in the eight-hour hearing that found Joey or Gino Steaks did anything that violated the law," [Vento’s lawyer Al Weiss] said. "Joey never turned away anybody from any protected group from getting served at the restaurant." Read more...

Finally some sanity!

Judge to Hear Criminal Charges against Planned Parenthood

From the story: Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri is facing 107 criminal charges, including 23 felony counts of falsifying medical documents related to late-term abortions. The felony charges will be examined at preliminary hearings set for April 7 and 8 in Johnson County District Court in Olathe, Kan.

In addition to the felony counts of falsifying documents, there are 26 misdemeanor counts of unlawful failure to maintain records, 29 counts of unlawful failure to determine viability for a late-term abortion and 29 counts of unlawful late-term abortion. Read more….

No mention if the Planned Parenthood of Kansas accepted racist donations earmarked for aborting minority babies…

Political Pastors

I have not posted much on Obama and Rev. Wright simply because it already everywhere. They have talking heads debating every aspect of the mess 24 hours a day.

I prefer to take the path less traveled. In doing so, it's interesting to look at Sen. John McCain and his association with Rev. John Hagee. McCain has received the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee.

There are definitely some distinct differences here between Obama and Wright and McCain and Hagge. McCain was never a member of Hagee's church. Hagee was never an official member of the McCain campaign. However, Pastor John Hagee has made numerous intolerant comments about Catholics, women, African Americans, Muslims and homosexuals.

Hagee's position that Hurricane Katrina was punishment from God because "New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that." Or his position that "all Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews." [NPR Fresh Air, 9/18/06] To help students seeking odd jobs, his church newsletter, The Cluster, advertised a "slave" sale. "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone," it said. "Make plans to come and go home with a slave."

Here is the question that no one seems to be asking. Where in all of this is the teachings of Christ? Both Hagee and Wright men claim to be ordained members of the clergy. They both claim to follow the same Scripture and serve the same God. But are their churches built around them as individuals or Christ?

I can't tell you how many people are running around calling themselves Reverend, Pastor, Bishop, Minister. Some lead very large churches and often without an overseeing ecclesiastical authority they stray from the Word of God. In fact there are times when even the overseeing authority becomes infected with self righteousness that they lose their own credibility like we now wittiness in the Episcopal church.

John Hagee in a pre-election mailing wrote: "why can’t the church… realize that we are a political force to be reckoned with? As Christians, we must exercise our sacred right to vote…If you vote the Bible, you are voting for the right candidate.”

Sacred means “dedicated to or set apart for the worship of a deity; worthy of religious veneration; made or declared holy.” Can we as Christians honestly describe our privileged right of voting in such a way? And what does Mr. Hagee mean when he talks of “voting the Bible”? Does that mean his interpretation of various passages?

The Bible says that all authority comes from and originates with God. Therefore, if you believe Scripture, then any president past or present, good or bad was granted that position by God. We must also concede that any member of the clergy including Rev. Wright & John Hagee were also granted that position from God.

It is the often seen fall from grace that is self inflicted.

WHY EASTER IS EARLY THIS YEAR

From the story: Spring arrives on Thursday and the moon will be full on Friday, the earliest Paschal moon since 1913. And that means Easter, the Christian holiday marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is this Sunday. It won't come this early again for another 220 or so years.

FOX News

Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment Passes

Michael Geer from the PA Family Institute reports: I am pleased to share the great news that the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment, SB 1250, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tues. morning (3-18-08) by a 10-4 vote.

This is the first of many hurdles for the Amendment; next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee, then the full Senate floor for a vote, and then, should it pass there, the House. So there is much work to be done in contacting State Senators and Representatives.

In the meantime, it's time to say thanks. First, thanks to God for this great result, and answering prayer.

Second, thanks to all of you who have prayed, written, visited, and even attended the hearing and vote at the Capitol. It made a great difference, and we need to keep up the pace.

The Senators who supported the bill are likely to face strong, targeted criticism. They need to hear the support and thanks of their constituents. Please take a moment to thank these Senators and to encourage their continued support.

PLEASE contact the following Senators to thank them for their YES vote to pass the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment out of committee, and encourage their continued support through the process.

Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, Chair, Capitol: (717) 787-6599 - local 215-471-0490 sgreenleaf@pasen.gov
Sen. Mary Jo White, Vice Chair Capitol: (717) 787-9684 - local 814-432-4345 mwhite@pasen.gov
Sen. Joseph B. Scarnati (Co-Sponsor) Capitol: (717) 787-7084 - local 814-726-7201 jscarnati@pasen.gov
Sen. John R. Gordner (Co-Sponsor) Capitol: (717) 787-8928 - local 570-784-3464 jgordner@pasen.gov
Sen. Jane Clare Orie Capitol: (717) 787-6538 - local 412-630-9466 jorie@pasen.gov
Sen. Jeffery E. Piccola (Co-Sponsor) Capitol: (717) 787-6801 - local 717-896-7714 jpiccola@pasen.gov
Sen. John C. Rafferty, Jr. Capitol: (717) 787-1398 - local 610-831-8830 jrafferty@pasen.gov Sen. Lisa M. Boscola Capitol: (717) 787-4236 - local610-868-8667 boscola@pasenate.com
Sen. Michael J. Stack Capitol: (717) 787-9608 - local 215-281-2539 stack@pasenate.com
Sen. J. Barry Stout Capitol: (717) 787-1463 local - 724-225-5400 stout@pasenate.com

These are the Senators who voted no. Please encourage them to change their position on future votes.

Sen. Jay Costa, Minority Chair Capitol: (717) 787-7683 - local 412-241-6690 costa@pasenate.com
Sen. Patrick M. Browne Capitol: (717) 787-1349 - local 610-821-8468 pbrowne@pasen.gov
Sen. Jane M. Earl Capitol: (717) 787-8927 - local 814-453-2515 jearll@pasen.gov
Sen. Wayne D. Fontana Capitol: (717) 787-5300 - local 412-344-2551 fontana@pasenate.com

Marriage Protection Amendment Passed In Judiciary Committee 10-4

The Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment, SB 1250, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tues. morning (3-18-08) by a 10-4 vote.

This is the first of many hurdles for the Amendment; next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee, then the full Senate floor for a vote, and then, should it pass there, the House.

Voting Yes:
Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, sgreenleaf@pasen.gov
Sen. Mary Jo White, mwhite@pasen.gov
Sen. Joseph B. Scarnati, (Co-Sponsor) jscarnati@pasen.gov
Sen. John R. Gordner, (Co-Sponsor) jgordner@pasen.gov
Sen. Jane Clare Orie, jorie@pasen.gov
Sen. Jeffery E. Piccola, jpiccola@pasen.gov
Sen. John C. Rafferty, Jr. jrafferty@pasen.gov
Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, boscola@pasenate.com
Sen. Michael J. Stack, stack@pasenate.com
Sen. J. Barry Stout, stout@pasenate.com

Voting No:
Sen. Jay Costa, Minority Chair costa@pasenate.com
Sen. Patrick M. Browne, pbrowne@pasen.gov
Sen. Jane M. Earl jearll@pasen.gov
Sen. Wayne D. Fontana fontana@pasenate.com

Primer On Sub-Prime Mess

From Jeff Jacoby: “The sub-prime mortgage collapse is another tale of unintended consequences. The crisis has its roots in the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, a Carter-era law that purported to prevent ‘redlining’ —denying mortgages to black borrowers—by pressuring banks to make home loans in ‘low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.’ Under the act, banks were to be graded on their attentiveness to the ‘credit needs’ of ‘predominantly minority neighborhoods.’...[T]o earn high ratings, banks were forced to make increasingly risky loans to borrowers who wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage under normal standards of creditworthiness.

The CRA, made even more stringent during the Clinton administration, trapped lenders in a Catch-22. ‘If they comply,’ wrote Loyola College economist Thomas DiLorenzo, ‘they know they will have to suffer from more loan defaults. If they don’t comply, they face financial penalties... which can cost a large corporation like Bank of America billions of dollars.’ Banks nationwide thus ended up making more and more ‘sub-prime’ loans and agreeing to dangerously lax underwriting standards—no down payment, no verification of income, interest-only payment plans, weak credit history. If they tried to compensate for the higher risks they were taking by charging higher interest rates, they were accused of unfairly steering borrowers into ‘predatory’ loans they couldn’t afford.

Trapped in a no-win situation entirely of the government’s making, lenders could only hope that home prices would continue to rise, staving off the inevitable collapse. But once the housing bubble burst, there was no escape. Mortgage lenders have been bankrupted, thousands of sub-prime homeowners have been foreclosed on, and countless would-be borrowers can no longer get credit. The financial fallout has hurt investors around the world. And all of it thanks to the government, which was sure it understood the credit industry better than the free market did, and confidently created the conditions that made disaster unavoidable.”

Down and Out

Thanks to Jim Powers there was at least one new post today. I'm not feeling so hot so my usual blog level is suffering as well.

Just a few thoughts and then I'm going back to the infirmary. Looking at the stats for the most popular PowerBlog posts: How to Kill Your Wife takes the number 3 spot, OBAMA HOMOSEXUAL CONTROVERSY GROWS comes in at number 2 and the number one most popular post is Spitzer's Girl

It seems the more twisted the story the more popular it is.

Also, are you aware that Allegheny County has given 452 acres of land near Settler's Cabin Park (along with the mineral rights) away? The land donated by the county was appraised at $2.04 million. Cranberry-based Mashuda Corp. was awarded a $7 million contract to reclaim 72 acres of abandoned mines at the site. They will remove remaining coal, pump or cap wells and fix mine acid drainage problems. Any profit from the mining will go to the Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania and be used to fund and outdoor botanical garden. The garden, which will include a visitors' center, meeting rooms and cafe, is estimated to cost $32 million.

That's all for now.....

Jane Earll: PA Marriage Amendment “..a dangerous precedent”

From the story: The Senate Judiciary Committee held round one yesterday on a controversial amendment to the state constitution intended to stop men from marrying other men and women from marrying other women in the Keystone State.

The judiciary panel is due to hold round two today, when it's expected to vote on whether to send the so-called Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Act to the full Senate for action.

Sen. Jane Earll, R-Erie, broke with her Republican colleagues and opposed the constitutional amendment. She called it "a dangerous precedent'' that was based on fears of "a ghost in the corner.'' Read more...

Just to think, if the state Republican leadership had their way in 2002, State Senator Jane Earll would now be in her second term as Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania. In their infinite wisdom, they paired a pro-life gubernatorial candidate, Mike Fisher, with a pro-choice candidate, Jane Earll, for Lt. Governor. In trying to please all sides, they pleased no one and the Fisher – Earll ticket was trounced.

In 2007, if the state Republican leadership had their way, State Senator Jane Earll would be sitting on the Pennsylvania Superior Court in place of pro-life Superior Court Justice Jackie Shogan. Quite possibly, a Superior Court Judge Earll would be ready and poised to strike down the 1996 Marriage Protection Act should a test case be submitted.

Right now, State Senator Jane Earll is one vote of fifty. But she could have been one vote of twenty on the PA Superior Court or even be in a position as Lt. Governor to break a possible tie in the State Senate on this legislation.

Bottom line – These decisions to pick the future candidates of the Republican Party are made at the Republican State Committee. State Committee votes and attendance are not released to the public. Republican voters have no idea if their values were represented, or if their elected committee members even bothered to show up.

The good news is that Republican leadership did not get their way and State Senator Earll is still only one vote in fifty. The bad news is that we can’t vote out the 145 Republican State Committee members who voted to endorse Earll over Shogan for Superior Court, because we don’t know who they are.

Christian News

Lutherans Issue Human Sexuality Statement In an unprecedented social statement on human sexuality, a task force of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination said the church should continue to uphold marriage between a man and a woman.

It is the first draft for review by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – of a long-awaited statement on family, marriage, sexual morality and the Bible.

Episcopal Church Defrocks Bishop
Episcopal leaders ousted a breakaway conservative bishop in a struggle for control of the Diocese of San Joaquin and its properties. The Episcopal House of Bishops, meeting in Texas, took the action against Bishop John-David Schofield, who last December led the Fresno diocese to secede from The Episcopal Church.

Schofield, who opposes ordaining women and gays, called it a "shame that the disciplinary process of The Episcopal Church has been misused in this way," he said in a statement.

Christians Speak Out on Iraqi Archbishop's Death
The death of a high-ranking Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Iraq has provoked outcry from the Christian community over the increased violent acts directed at Iraq’s tiny and rapidly shrinking Christian community.

Christian leaders as well as political leaders worldwide have condemned the kidnapping and death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who was buried Friday outside of Mosul in northern Iraq. The 65 year-old priest was the second most senior Catholic cleric in Iraq.

Pittsburgh Education Success Story

So much concern is focused on public education in the City with its low test scores and high costs that a local education success story goes largely overlooked. The Extra Mile Education Foundation, with the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, has quietly been providing a quality education for many of Pittsburgh’s disadvantaged youth at its elementary schools, three in Pittsburgh and one in Wilkinsburg. About 800 students, predominantly African-American and non-Catholic with more than 70 percent economically disadvantaged are being educated in the Extra Mile supported schools. All families pay a nominal tuition. Extra Mile’s support enables the schools to charge tuition that is affordable to urban families. Continue

PLANNED PARENTHOOD APOLOGIZES

Responding to a fake caller wanting to give money to abort black babies, the Planned Parenthood employee said “Understandable, understandable. ... Excuse my hesitation, this is the first time I've had a donor call and make this kind of request, so I'm excited and want to make sure I don't leave anything out." (Idaho Statesman)

NEW: Extended Audio & Video

OBAMA STRUGGLES TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM PASTOR

But he didn’t exactly express outrage over Wright’s comments. Instead, he seemed to write them off. From the story: "I noticed over the last several weeks that the forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again. And I'm not here to cast blame or point fingers because everybody, you know, senses that there's been this shift," Obama said. "It reminds me: We've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country. We've got a lot of pent-up anger and bitterness and misunderstanding. ... This country wants to move beyond these kinds of things." (AP)

Another Chicago Sun-Times story managed to discuss the defense of the church without specifically mentioning the controversy. (Chicago Sun-Times)

And yet, the press hounded George W. Bush for speaking at Bob Jones University. (SP Times)

Meanwhile, Obama is going after Hillary over accountability and ethics. (FOX News)

From Mark Steyn: Jeremiah Wright is not exactly peripheral to Barack Obama's life. He married the Obamas and baptized their children. Those of us who made the mistake of buying the senator's latest book, "The Audacity Of Hope," and assumed the title was an ingeniously parodic distillation of the great sonorous banality of an entire genre of blandly uplifting political writing discovered circa page 127 that in fact the phrase comes from one of the Rev. Wright's sermons. Jeremiah Wright has been Barack Obama's pastor for 20 years – in other words, pretty much the senator's entire adult life.” (OC Register)

From Harry Jackson, Jr.: “Should Mr. Obama be judged because of the acts of his pastor.” My answer is yes! Pastor Wright’s worldview and his understanding of race, culture, and religion of the bible will in some measure affect how Barak Obama views the world. (Townhall)

From Michael Medved: In the Jeremiah Wright affair, Barack Obama is most certainly lying about something. He now insists that he is “shocked, shocked” (in the style of Claude Raines in “Casablanca”) to hear that anti-Americanism had anything at all to do with Wright’s ministry. He has also claimed to be a “devout Christian” who attends church every week and is deeply involved in the life of Wright’s congregation (where he’s been a member for twenty years). It’s simply not possible that he could be an active member in the church without hearing something about sermons in which the pastor blamed 9/11 on America’s past sins, or called down curses repeatedly (“God D---n America!”) on his own nation. (Townhall)

MUTILATED BODIES FOUND IN DUMPSTER

Normally I do not use my blog to quote an entire commentary from another source, but this is so tragic, so vile, so very evil, I have no choice other than to share the despicable acts of a single abortionist who was literally caught dumping bodies as though they were nothing more than soiled tissue paper. The following report comes from Rock for Life :

Dumpster dive at abortion clinic yields horrific findOver the course of a month, pro-lifers involved with Citizens for a Pro-Life Society have run an organized campaign of snatching bags of trash from WomanCare clinic in Lathrup, Michigan. WomanCare is part of a chain of six abortion clinics run by abortionist Alberto Hodari. The CPLS investigation yielded a horrific find: unshredded medical records, improperly disposed biological waste and the remains of several aborted children!

The group alerted the police, who raided the clinic dumpster on Monday, using hazardous materials gear to haul away the blood-soaked trash bags.Dr. Monica Miller, who organized the CPLS dumpster investigation, says she has been digging through abortion clinic dumpsters for years to rescue the remains of aborted babies and ensure that they are given a proper burial. She has been given a guarantee by the local police that they will allow her to bury the aborted babies who were recently removed. Because no one told her to stay off the property, she will not be charged for going through the dumpsters on private property.

Linked is the report Dr. Miller made to the police, provided courtesy of the Catholic Pro-Life Committee:

Onorato, Ravenstahl back Clinton

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham will collect the endorsements of Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today as she courts voters in the city in her campaign for the upcoming Pennsylvania Democratic primary. Read More

McCain & Rod Parsley: Endorsment Enforcemnt

Senator John McCain hailed as a "spiritual adviser" Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio. Parsely is a megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a "war" against the "false religion" of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati Parsley. Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a "strong, true, consistent conservative." The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. With Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, McCain called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

Parsley has written several books outlining his fundamentalist religious outlook, including the 2005 Silent No More. In a chapter titled "Islam: The Deception of Allah," Parsley warns there is a "war between Islam and Christian civilization." Without specifying what actions should be taken to eradicate the religion, he essentially calls for a new crusade forgetting that that history has proven that a failing course of action.

As I look at the the modern mix of "faith" and "politics" I have a sudden urge to go take a shower and wash clean of all it. It's no longer faith and politics, it's more influence and power.

Why does McCain consider Parsely a "spiritual adviser?" It's not beacuse he has guided him on deep issues of faith. Rather Parsely puts 5,200 butts in the seats who eat up every word, and a television show where Parsley can distribute his instructions to his followers.

I'm no fan of Islam or Rod Parsley. But that's besides the point. It's clear McCain and his staff do not know how to deal with Republican Christians. Cuddling up to high profile televangelists is a weak attempt to prove otherwise.

Let's not forget during McCain's 2000 presidential bid, he referred to Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance." Fine, if that's your view then go with it. But six years later, as he readied himself for another White House run, McCain repudiated his own remarks.

Recently, McCain accepted the endorsement of the John Hagee, a Texas televangelist who has called the Catholic Church "the great whore" and a "false cult system." After Catholics protested and called on McCain to renounce Hagee's support, he praised Hagee's spiritual leadership and support of Israel and said that "when [Hagee] endorses me, it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for or believes in." McCain then backed off slightly, saying, "I repudiate any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee's, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics." But McCain did not renounce Hagee's endorsement.

What is the purpose of endorsements and what do the endorsers get out of the deal? Parsely and Hagee got media exposure for their false preaching outlets. If a candidate disagrees with a person, then they should not accept that endorsement . Don't parade a line of people in front of voters in the hopes that they might like someone. If that's the case, then they vote not for the candidate, but the person who agreed to participate in the political marketing machine.

US SEES COOLEST WINTER SINCE 2001

From the story: In the contiguous United States, the average winter temperature was 33.2°F (0.6°C), which was 0.2°F (0.1°C) above the 20th century average – yet still ranks as the coolest since 2001. It was the 54th coolest winter since national records began in 1895. (NOAA)

Using the same data, the New York Times headline: Winter Has Been Warmer Than Average. (NY Times)

Meanwhile, the founder of the Weather Channel wants to sue Al Gore for fraud. (FOX News)

SENATE VOTES TO RAISE TAXES, SPEND MORE

Three trillion, loaded with pork. (FOX News) The Senate also rejected a McCain effort to ban pork for the year. (FOX News)

VIDEO SURFACES OF OBAMA PASTOR’S HATRED

Shocking video that makes one wonder how Obama could sit through the blistering, bitter sermons that would outrage the average American. Wright also blames the U.S. for 9/11. (Youtube, Townhall)

The Chicago Tribune says of Obama: In Wright he had found both a spiritual mentor and a role model. (Chicago Tribune)

As a presidential candidate, Obama has tried to distance himself from Wright. The story notes Wright “baptized Mr. Obama at the Trinity United Church of Christ, presided over his wedding there and inspired him in his career as a community activist and a politician.” (Washington Times)

From Victor Davis Hanson: The problem is that he is not simply a well-meaning black pastor, sounding themes of African-American self-improvement. His loopy references about the past, and the many sins of a white racist America, coupled with his promiscuous use of slurs about other races and religions, (and his own country), put him clearly in the camp of extremists. In other words, he is a nut, and the more Obama’s tries to pooh-pooh that, the worse it gets. Most who could sit through those diatribes and venom each week might find it difficult to have a balanced view of so-called “white” people or the country at large. (NRO)

Another story notes Jews are concerned because “Obama's own pastor has a history of supporting Palestinian causes.” (ABC News)

With This Ring I Thee Wed…

Next Tuesday, March 18, the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee is to vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) which is Senate Bill 1250. There will also be a public hearing on Monday, March 17th at 10:30 AM. This bill needs to pass in this Committee before it can be voted on by the full Senate.

Last time this was attempted, the State Senate watered down the House version with amendments to permit Civil Unions. The contact list for the PA Senate Judiciary Committee can be found here.

Pa. Dems take some heat for backing Obama

There is nothing that infuriates State Sen. Lisa Boscola more than the two-syllable adjective hurled at her in recent weeks -- and from fellow Democrats, to boot: traitor. All because she supports Sen. Barack Obama for president. Read More

Spitzer's Girl

It's beyond my comprehension how a married man could spend $5000 on another woman and not have that noticed. If I spend 5 bucks on a cheese burger my wife notices! Elliot, what in the world were you thinking?

I'm not going to rehash everything that has been said already. (Poor wife, guy is stupid, glad I'm not him. There, done) It's a shame it ever came to this for everyone involved.

I do have to admit though, I could not help but wonder what a $5000 dollar a night woman looked like. So I put the PowerBlog investigative staff to work. (It's the tamest photo available folks) "Kristen" is really Ashley Alexandra Dupré. But wait, there's more!

Photos were not the only thing our investigative staff turned up. Ashely has another "career" she is pursuing. Singing. Why am I not surprised?

Ashley's Myspace page has been scrubbed of photos and info but we have obtained a copy of her song. So you can listen to Spitzer's Greatest Hits with out spending a dime. Ashley sings "What We Want" Go on Simon, take listen and tell us what you think.

COLORADO COUNTY TO REMOVE GRADES

First they want cats kept indoors and now this! They want to banish the entire grading system AND grade levels. Story explains “The district says it will put an explainer on transcripts for students applying to college, since the students will not have grade point averages or class rankings.”

Or a way to track progress, or any sense of the real world, or the ability to respond to praise and criticism. I give this plan an "F"

Why didn't California think of this first?

FOX Colorado

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR WALKING TEN YARDS FROM HER CHILD

The child was asleep in the car. She got out of the car so she and her two older daughters could donate money to the Salvation Army. They never entered a store. The writer of the story felt the need to add “statistics show thousands of children are injured and dozens die every year after being left unattended near or inside vehicles.”

MSNBC

HILLARY APOLOGIZES FOR FERRARO REMARK

Saying “I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply that it was said. Obviously she doesn’t speak for the campaign, she doesn’t speak for any of my positions, and she has resigned from being a member of my very large finance committee.” Hillary also acknowledge she may not be the nominee, saying “I have a lot of supporters who have voted for me in very large numbers and I would expect them to support Senator Obama if he were the nominee.” (FOX News)

From another story: "David Axelrod, his campaign manager, has chose to spin this as a racist comment because every time anybody makes a comment about race who is white - he did it with Bill Clinton, he was successful; he did it with (Pennsylvania governor and Clinton supporter) Ed Rendell, he was less successful; and he is certainly not going to be successful with me," Ferraro told CBS'"The Early Show.""He should have called me up ... He knows I'm not racist." (AP)

Another story notes how race is playing a major role in the Democratic battle. From the story: Beneath Obama's easy win in Mississippi on Tuesday, exit polls show a state polarized along racial lines, with white Democrats there rejecting his candidacy 70 percent to 26 percent, while 9 of 10 blacks voted for him. It's a dramatic reflection of a recurrent pattern most pronounced in the South. (Chicago Tribune)

From the Wall Street Journal: … for all of Mr. Obama's soaring rhetoric about the nation's need for a post-racial politics that "brings the American people together," his campaign at times has seemed overly sensitive about race. It also seems to want it both ways. Mr. Obama claims that his brand of politics transcends race, but at the same time he's using race as a shield to shut down important and legitimate arguments. (WSJ)

SPITZER STEPS DOWN

I'll have my own thoughts on this whole mess at some point. In the meantime:

From Thomas Sowell: Many in the media refer to Eliot Spitzer as some moral hero who fell from grace. Spitzer was never a moral hero. He was an unscrupulous prosecutor who threw his power around to ruin people, even when he didn't have any case with which to convict them of anything. (IBD)

From Nicholas Kristof: The last time I saw Eliot Spitzer, he encouraged me to write about his work involving prostitution. So here goes. (NY Times)

OBAMA’S PASTOR: “HILLARY AINT NEVER BEEN CALLED A N-“

The anti-American, anti-white pastor wasn’t done there. He also said “Bill did us, just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirty.” (FOX News)

Meanwhile, the mayor of Detroit is in trouble for use of the n-word. (FOX News)

NPR's Intolerant Listeners

(David A. Keene – Town Hall) I was surprised, but not shocked, over the weekend when I opened my Sunday paper to read that more than a few National Public Radio listeners were upset that a number of conservatives had actually been interviewed by network reporters attempting to plumb conservative attitudes on a variety of public issues. The apparent thrust of e-mails and other missives from listeners was that NPR had no business giving a bunch of “right-wing nuts” access to its subsidized microphone.

Actually, the outrage of NPR’s listeners is important in that it reflects a growing tendency on the left to want to shut the rest of us up lest we contaminate their world and perhaps corrupt the young and naïve. Commercial talk radio has proved especially vexing in this regard. They’ve been unable to compete in this arena and have been examining bringing back the old “fairness doctrine” to force radio stations that air conservatives to give “equal time” to their spokesmen and –women, knowing full well that this would lead to the death of talk radio because no one would listen. Read more….

The Forgotten Forum

Not long after this blog began many readers requested a forum where ongoing discussions could take place. You are always welcome to post comments on posts but if you have a question or something to say, the comments section does not always work.

So let me take this opportunity to remind long time readers and inform new readers the we do have a talkback forum.

I've posted a question on future leaders. There is a permanent link on the right hand column. So feel free to check it out, and chat away.

Ex-Rendell firm bills Pa. $1.8M -- report

Gov. Ed Rendell's former law firm has billed the state $1.8 million as special counsel for privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a pet project of the governor's, according to documents posted on an Internet site. Read More

Fumo will quit race, sources say

State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, besieged by legal, health and political problems, is expected to announce today that he will not seek reelection, sources said. Read More

State primary blitz begins

The Democratic presidential campaigns staked out turf Tuesday ranging from a college campus south of Pittsburgh to a factory near Philadelphia. Read More

Catholic Judge agrees to civil unions

A judge in Middlesex County , NJ who is also training to become a Roman Catholic deacon has said he is willing to perform civil unions in his position on the bench.

John A. Jorgensen, a municipal court judge for the past 15 years had worried gay-rights activists because he has refused to perform civil unions. After officiating what he estimated as hundreds of marriages, Jorgensen stopped doing weddings in January 2007, shortly after New Jersey's civil union law was signed.

But Monday, as the Senate Judiciary Committee took up his nomination to become a Superior Court judge, Jorgensen said he is willing to perform either type of ceremony and has been available to do so since November.

"I'm fully in support of the civil union act. I think that any time we can have an expansion of the rights and equalities of individuals, it's a very good thing," Jorgensen said at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Well he has traded one problem for another. That being the teaching of the Catholic Church.

The church said Monday that clergy must consider their faith at all times, regardless of their other roles.

"The Catholic Church teaches unambiguously that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Therefore, priests and deacons may never officiate at same-sex unions," said the Rev. Msgr. William Benwell, vicar general of the Diocese of Metuchen, where Jorgensen is studying.

"Ordination produces a permanent change in a deacon's fundamental character that cannot be separated from his secular profession or other responsibilities. In other words, a deacon, or a priest for that matter, cannot step "outside' of his priesthood or diaconate to officiate as a civil official at a union not recognized by the church."

It seems like Mr. Jorgensen has a decision to make. Does he want to be a deacon and serve God or a judge and serve man?

Story

SPITZER EXPECTED TO RESIGN TODAY

From the story: Eliot Spitzer is going to resign his post as governor. Sources tell CBS 2 HD he's using the resignation as a bargaining chip with the feds. But after negotiating all day there was still no deal Tuesday night. Spitzer doesn't have the luxury of playing deal or no deal. Experts agree that his involvement in a prostitution ring makes him damaged goods. "I think his career is politically at an end," noted criminal defense attorney Ronald Fischetti told CBS 2 HD. (WCBS)

As John Podhoretz explains, Spitzer has been a crook for a long time. (Commentary Magazine)

From the Boston Globe: Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is faced with an awkward choice: Call for the resignation of a fellow Empire State Democrat and raise comparisons with her own husband's behavior as president, or keep quiet and risk the appearance of condoning Spitzer's alleged offense. (Boston Globe)

Gallup notes “As of December 2006, just 22% of Americans held state governors in high esteem for their moral character.” (Gallup)

In a bizarre op-ed, an evolutionary biologist tells us why he believes Spitzer was just doing what comes natural. (LA Times)