Coleman Joins The Commonwealth Foundation

UPDATE: Powerblog brought it to you first. Here is the offical announcement:

HARRISBURG, PA -- The Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania's independent public policy research and educational institute, announced today that retiring State House of Representatives member Jeff Coleman (60th District) will join its staff as Vice President on January 1, 2005.
"Jeff Coleman's willingness to put principles and conviction ahead of political opportunity make him an effective leader and role model," said Matthew J. Brouillette, president of the Harrisburg-based think tank. "We are thrilled to enlist Jeff in the cause of promoting the brand of public service he represents in state government."
Coleman says his role as Vice President will allow him to play a "vocal and active role" in upcoming legislative policy debates. "The last four years have taught me that state government public policy is not driven by sound and proven ideas that will make Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, and raise a family," he said. "That must change if our commonwealth ever hopes to be leader among states once again."
"The Commonwealth Foundation is well positioned to equip lawmakers and citizens with the information and tools they need to bring about the reforms and changes in Pennsylvania state government that are necessary to revitalize our great state," said Coleman. "I look forward to advancing the same principles I ran on 4 years ago--limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility--with the premier organization known for championing real solutions and proven ideas."
In 2000, Coleman, a Republican, defeated a long time incumbent despite a heavy Democratic registration edge of 67 percent. An outspoken critic of tax hikes on Pennsylvania families and job creators, he was often cited as a "rising star" in the state's conservative movement. An aggressive campaigner, Coleman is widely credited with helping the Republican House Caucus expand its membership in Western Pennsylvania. In 2004 Coleman decided to retire from the House to pursue "a new venue of public service."
Coleman, 29, is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is a former radio news anchor and Apollo Borough Councilman. He is married to the former Rebecca Collins.

Original Post:

Congrats goes out to (soon to be former) PA State Rep. Jeff Coleman. Jeff will soon be named Vice President of the PA Commonwealth Foundation. It has not been announced yet but POWERBLOG NEWS has confirmed it and brings you the information first. Jeff has done a tremendous job as State Rep. and has fought for more than his own interests. I am confident the people of Pennsylvania will continue to benefit from Jeff's work in his new role.

The Next Step

There is a headline today in the Washington Times that reads "U.S. told of Iranian effort to create nuclear warhead." It's not a surprise to me. Iran has been a terrorist thorn in our side for years. All the experts ponder the next step when those of us paying attention have already been told. Think back to the infamous "Axis if Evil" speech that President Bush gave in 2002. Yes almost 3 years ago our President openly shared with Americans and the world what he was going to do. He talked about Iraq, (You can check that of the 'to do' list) Iran and North Korea. He said, "North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens. Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom." So there is the list of problems he intends to deal with. He also said in that speech, "States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world." Notice he said world and not just America. I have said a few times that America is bound to take military action in Iran and North Korea next and I get a puzzled look from people. Folks, we just re-elected President Bush and he told all of us he plans to do this. I think we need to deal with these problems and support doing so in whatever manner it requires. For those of you wondering how a Christian can say this, consider peace is often the result of war and not the avoidance of it.

"Blog" Named Word of the Year

Merriam-Webster Inc. has reported that blog, defined as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks," was one of the most looked-up words on its Internet sites this year. Americans are calling up blogs in droves for information. "Blog" will be a new entry in the 2005 version of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. I wonder if POWERBLOG will be listed?

School Poem

The principal of Georgia High School apologized for reading a poem called ``The New School Prayer'' over the school's intercom, which brought complaints from some parents who said it violated the principle of separation of church and state.Tommy Craft said he wanted not to promote religion but to provoke thought and discussion among students about the changing political climate in school when he read the poem before the Thanksgiving break.

Many of you have requested the poem that was read on the air. Well, here you go!
Author is unknown...

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites
It violates the Bill of Rights.
Anytime my head I bow
Becomes a federal matter now.
The law is specific; the law is precise.
Praying out loud is no longer nice.
Praying aloud in a public hall
Upsets those who believe in nothing at all.
In silence alone we can meditate
And if God should get the credit - Great!
They are bringing their guns;
I don't dare bring my Bible,
To do so, might make me liable.
So, now Oh Lord, this plea I make;
Should I be shot in school, my soul please take.

Boycott on 34th Street

We all know Macy's from the 1947 Christmas movie classic"Miracle on 34th Street" and the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, but Macy's is now the focus of a boycott campaign protesting the department-store chain's replacement of "Merry Christmas" with more politically correct greetings. A group called the Committee to Save Merry Christmas says Macy's and its umbrella Federated Department Stores have ignored several requests that "Merry Christmas" signs be returned and that its advertising acknowledge the time-honored phrase. POWERBLOG has discovered that Macy's and its affiliated stores have been systematically removing references to "Christmas" over the past several years. Federated Department Stores, Inc., operates more than 450 stores in 34 states under names such as Bloomingdale's, Bon-Macy's, Burdines-Macy's, Goldsmiths-Macy's, and Rich's Macy's. In the Pittsburgh area they are Lazarus-Macy's.