Artie Gross: Articles

In the 1980s, Nancy Reagan confronted the issue of drug abuse in the country. As a former librarian, Laura Bush targeted illiteracy. Now, Michelle Obama has chosen to tackle the problem of obesity. This may seem to be a noble choice, but in reality it is simply another attempt by the current administration to tell us how we should live our lives. It is directly associated with her husband's attempts to take control of our health care industry. If he is allowed to succeed in his efforts, then Michelle will be the queen of fitness. What she says we should eat is what we will have to eat. If not, we won't fit into the new health care system they will have created. This notion may seem ridiculous, but only to those that still don't understand that the Obamas want the government to make all decisions that affect our lives. We must never forget, big government liberalism is the foundation of their beliefs.
If people improve their physical condition, that is a great thing. However, physical fitness is a personal choice. It is not a government directive. I understand that there are certain people who have physical conditions that lead to uncontrolled weight gain. I also know that these people comprise an extremely low percentage of overweight people. The fact is, most people are in the physical condition they choose. Fat is a choice. We eat what we want. We exercise when we want. The government should have no say in either activity.
The easy thing to do is blame the food companies. We say they put too much sugar in their products. We accuse the restaurants of cooking in trans fat oil. Yet, we still continue to eat. Eating is a choice. What we eat, when we eat, and how much we eat are decisions made on a daily basis. If I choose to have a Snickers and a Pepsi for breakfast, that is my choice. I know it's not the best choice, but I'm an American, and if that's what I want, that's what I'll have. As long as I can afford it, I can eat whatever I want.
Many people also complain that they don't have time to exercise. We all get twenty-four hours every day. Nobody gets any more, including the people who choose to exercise. The reality is we do what we want with those twenty-four hours. It would be great to have three hours a day to devote to the gym. I don't have that much time available to do so. I can find a half an hour each day to do sit-ups and push-ups at home. I could even spend some of that time running up and down the basement stairs. Whether or not I do these things is totally my decision. No government bureaucrat can make me. However, if I don't, I can't honestly blame it on lack of time. More than likely, the reason most people don't exercise is a lack of ambition.
What about our kids? We constantly hear about the obesity crisis in our young children. It is definitely a problem. You only have to observe any elementary school at the end of the day to confirm that there are too many overweight children. Whose fault is that? The parents. Common sense should lead anyone to the conclusion that if a child sits in front of a television for ten hours a day consuming junk food, the kid will be fat. What we don't need is Michelle Obama overseeing ten billion dollar initiatives to tell us what any sane person should already know. My kids are not fat. They do play video games. However, the most likely time for them to do so is after dark or when Al Gore's global warming is delivering a foot of snow to my door. When the weather permits, they go outside to run and play. They also eat candy and Happy Meals and drink pop. My wife and I have strict control regarding when these items are consumed. It's called parental control and it is much more effective than governmental control. It is also more logical, constitutional, and American.
Liberals are all in favor of people making choices with and having control over their bodies when a woman wants to have an abortion. Other than that, they feel we are incapable of taking care of ourselves. What we must understand is that our choices have consequences. If a person chooses to smoke, there will be consequences they have to endure. The same is true of obesity. Even children reach a level of maturity when they understand the effects of their eating and exercising habits. Ultimately, each person is responsible for their own health and the medical bills that result from it. If the Obama administration wants to win a war, I suggest they find a more devastating enemy to conquer than fat. Terrorists are a good target. Oh, I forgot, Michelle doesn't want to scare people by talking about those types of reality.

Charles Barkley once drew attention for proclaiming that he was not a role model simply because he was famous. Although this is not the only controversial statement ever made by Sir Charles, it is the one that is most often debated. Now, thanks to Tiger Woods, we are again asking ourselves, "What kind of role models are today's athletes?" Should we encourage our young boys to look admirably at men that can make jump shots, hit home-runs, or swing a golf club? The fact remains, and this is the part that Barkley failed to acknowledge, that our children are drawn to those they constantly see on television. Part of the reason for this is that not everyone can dunk a basketball, sing with a beautiful voice, or bring a fictional character to life. When we are young, the possibilities are endless. We think that someday we will be the one winning the Heisman Trophy or the Grammy. After all, we live in America where anything is possible.
I am all in favor of people chasing their dreams. We do live in a country that offers opportunities beyond limits. I am no different than anyone else. My childhood dream was to play middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. I had many "heroes" that wore the star on their helmet: Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Bill Bates. There were other famous men that had an influence on my attitudes as I continued to grow. Among them were Hank Williams, Jr. and Dale Earnhardt. To this day I believe "A Country Boy Can Survive" is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. I love the image of a rebel. Many NASCAR fans disliked Earnhardt because of his attitude. He drove with one purpose: to win. That was something that appealed to me. Hank and Dale were my kind of guys. Still, I would not call them my role models.
My role model was, and still is, a man most people will never know. Everyone that knows him calls him Arthur Gross. Everyone, that is, except my siblings and myself. We respectfully call him Dad. He is the person most responsible for me being the man that I am today. He taught me how to drive, but not at 200 miles per hour. He sang with his family in church, but you could not distinguish his voice. As for football, he gained most of his knowledge watching me play in high school. So what did he do that was so great? He not only taught me how to be a country boy, he showed me how to be a man. He did not simply tell me how to fill my "role" in life; he "modeled" it for me. That is what a role model does. It is from Dad that I learned the importance of having Jesus in my life and making sure your family is involved in a good church. By watching how Dad honored, protected, and loved Mom, I learned how a lady should be treated. Witnessing the long hours Dad worked at his job and at home instilled in me the proper way to provide for a family. Dad would always put activities with his family ahead of friends and there was never any doubt that only one woman was ever on his mind. It is from Dad that I learned being a man is not defined by the number of women one can get in the sack. A real man finds that one special woman and makes her, in the words of another Hank, Jr. song, the "Queen Of My Heart."
I agree with Barkley in that athletes should not be role models. Unfortunately, many kids do not have the advantage that I did. They have fathers, but many of them choose not to be the role model they should be. Fathers, unlike athletes, cannot use the excuse that they do not want to be a role model. It is their job. Many fathers in America have become lazy or absent and this phenomenon has led to most of the societal ills that plague our country today. Being of the male gender does not automatically make a person a man. A real man keeps his pants on unless he is with his wife. A real man protects and provides for his family. A real man does not let another person, especially someone he only sees on television, teach his boy how to be a man. It is time that America's fathers accept their responsibility to raise the next generation to be moral. There is nothing wrong with admiring the ferocity with which someone hits a quarterback, the nerve someone possesses to bump and run at high speeds, or the talent someone has to play almost any musical instrument known to man. There is also nothing wrong with children dreaming of someday pitching a no-hitter in the big leagues. It is tragic, however, to not teach our children to uphold a moral standard whether or not they achieve great feats. What America truly needs is fathers that are real men, and she needs them now.

About a month and half ago, I turned on the television a few minutes before nine o'clock in the morning. Unlike eight years ago, I knew exactly what to expect, yet I was still horrified to see it. You never get comfortable watching passenger planes full of innocent people used as missiles. The morning was September 11. All of the news channels were replaying their footage from eight years ago as if the events were occurring for the first time. This has become the ritual of the media as we remember that tragic day. Unfortunately, this is also the only time many in the media, as well as some politicians, choose to acknowledge the vicious attack that prompted our country to engage in a War on Terror.
Seeing those images on a daily basis would only cause us to become desensitized to the magnitude of what happened that day. However, there are those that choose to pretend that it never happened and this leads to an attitude of complacency and apathy. The events that took place on that beautiful Tuesday morning are the reason our soldiers are now engaged in battle on the other side of the world. For people in this country to go about their daily lives without giving thought to the sacrifices being made by the men and women of our armed forces is an insult to the word patriotism. For our president to not make victory the number one priority for these men and women is disgraceful beyond comparison.
"This isn't a football game. I'm not interested in victory." These are the repugnant words used by President Obama recently in regards to our current war effort. If the commander-in-chief isn't concerned about victory, what message does that send to the soldier who is at this moment face-to-face with an Islamic terrorist that wants to kill him? To truly understand our president's comments, we must first understand what victory is. As defined in the dictionary, victory is 1) defeat of an enemy or opponent, 2) success in a struggle against difficulties or an obstacle, 3) the state of having triumphed. These are the things in which President Obama has no interest.
One of President Obama's greatest weaknesses is that he has no understanding of the enemy that we are fighting. He believes we can negotiate with crazed terrorists. He believes that if we apologize enough for being the greatest country on earth, then rogue states such as Iran and North Korea will respect us. All we have to do, in his opinion, is talk to them. The fact that Barack Obama goes to work everyday in the Oval Office is what makes his childlike beliefs so terrifying. There are people in this world that have no desire to talk to America. They want to see us destroyed. They want as many of us as possible to die. They are willing to kill themselves to make this happen. You can't talk to people with that mindset.
Imagine if George Washington had not been interested in victory. Would this country have ever been founded? Victory was all that President Lincoln desired because it was the only way to keep this country united. Victory on our part was all that could stop Hitler and the Japanese from dominating the world. Why else would President Truman decide to drop a second atomic bomb after he knew the devastation created by the first one? President Bush understood that defeating our enemies(victory) was the only way to stop a repeat of September 11, 2001. Now, President Obama has told us that he doesn't care.
President Obama is right about one thing: this isn't a football game. I've never seen a football game that caused people to jump out of a window on the 90th floor. I've never seen a game that caused people to rush into a burning skyscraper to save someone else with full knowledge that the building beside it had just crumbled. I've never seen a game that would cause someone to plunge a plane into an open field so that it wouldn't strike a government building in a crowded city. This is more important than any game, and anything less than victory is unacceptable. Fortunately, Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and Truman are not here to feel the spit of President Obama's words on the faces of their memories. Sadly, his lack of leadership and support is felt by the brave men and women of our armed forces. President Obama would do well to remember that George Washington didn't talk to his enemies; he shot them. Without victory, American won't survive.

Is it possible for a politician to speak to a crowd without the benefit of having every word they say scrolled on a teleprompter at the back of the room? Can someone really have a heartfelt message about which they are passionate? Can that message be relayed to an audience in a manner that keeps their interest and shows them the true speaking ability of someone that doesn’t have so much as an index card with notes? Has President Obama changed the definition of a talented speaker to include someone with the ability to look over a crowd and see what the machine would have him say?
Fortunately, there are still people involved in the political process that have deep convictions which guide their lives. Representative Pete Hoekstra(R-MI) is one of those people. To see someone that knows what principles drive their decision making process have the ability to relate those principles to a crowd by speaking to them simply as people is very refreshing.
I recently had the privilege to attend the Lenawee County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner in Adrian, Michigan where Rep. Hoekstra was the featured speaker. I knew that when it came to ideas, he was definitely the opposite of President Obama. The encouraging part is that his presentation style was also a true contrast to that of the president. For the past couple of years we have been told that President Obama is the greatest speaker to ever step to the podium. It is said that no person has ever had the ability to capture the undivided attention of a crowd the way that he does. These statements may be true if we were in fact attributing them to the president’s teleprompter instead of to him personally. Rep. Hoekstra is the anti-teleprompter. He took the microphone in hand, and without the use of any notes, kept the crowd’s attention as he spoke directly to them.
The clearest difference between Rep. Hoekstra and President Obama, however, was not their presentation styles. Whereas the president speaks in elegant phrases intended to disguise his true intentions, Rep. Hoekstra spoke with substance. He presented ideas that made sense. Having served on the committee that oversees our intelligence agencies since 2001, Rep. Hoekstra spoke very intelligently about the threats that our country still faces, despite the Obama administration replacing the term terrorism with the phrase “man-caused disaster.” Rep. Hoekstra summed it up best when he stated, “AIG is a man-caused disaster. Terrorism is terrorism.”
Rep. Hoekstra also addressed an issue that many people are most likely not even aware exists. The Obama administration would like to see the Senate ratify a United Nations treaty that would give government the ability to interfere with a parent’s right to raise their child in the way that they consider best. The treaty would give the government the right to interfere with families for the “best interest of the child.” The government will be the one that gets to determine what the best interest of the child is. Now that is a scary thought. Rep. Hoekstra has introduced a constitutional amendment that would clearly state the government can only intervene in a family when instances of abuse or neglect are present. It would also clearly state that the Constitution overrides any treaty that may be ratified. It is truly a shame that we have reached a point in our country where we have to incorporate language into the Constitution that states the Constitution is the final authority in the United States of America. For over two hundred years, this simple fact has been understood, but due to the rise of extreme liberalism, we must now clearly spell out things that have been known to common sense people from the founding of our country.
Rep. Hoekstra has announced that he will be running for governor of Michigan in 2010. Many speeches will be given over the course of the next year and a half, and all of the candidates will have an opportunity to educate voters on their views. What was obvious in Adrian the other night is that Rep. Pete Hoekstra is setting a bar that all of the other candidates will be challenged to meet, but I hope they will all be able to rise to his challenge. Michigan led the country in the economic decline. Next year’s gubernatorial race will be a chance to lead the country in the political resurgence of honest conservatism that is so desperately needed at this point in our history.

When it comes to movies, it is hard to beat a good western. Nothing in the world of film is as enjoyable as watching John Wayne or Clint Eastwood ensure that the bad guys get justice. With that in mind, consider this plot and see if you can determine who would be best to portray each character.
The movie starts with the arrest of several wealthy ranchers. It has been exposed that these ranchers were overseeing a variety of illegal activities. Their crimes included stealing cattle and horses, as well as driving families off their small farms in order to acquire the land. As word of the arrests spread across the prairie, a crowd began to gather outside the jail. As nightfall approaches, the crowd grows to quite a large number. It seems as if everyone within hundreds of miles had been affected by the actions of these greedy men. The one thing being demanded by everyone is justice. The only defense the ranchers have is that they were pressured into these actions by a former sheriff. Their claim is that he threatened them with arrest if they didn't do as he demanded. They had even sacrificed some of there own men so that the sheriff could garner favor with the people in town by getting outlaws removed from their midst. This idea actually worked. The people disregarded most of the crime that was being committed out on the prairie, because the town was safe.
There is a new sheriff now. He is adored not only by the people in town, but the people on the prairie as well. This is because of days like today. The new sheriff is waging war against the wealthy ranchers. He is bringing justice to the little guy. The sheriff's top deputy is a man with a questionable past where the law is concerned. Despite this, he is regarded with respect by the people simply because the new sheriff assured everyone he is the best man for the job.
This particular town has two judges. Both have sat on the bench for many years. There is nothing that either loves more than verbally flogging a rich man in their courtroom before sending him to the gallows. However, a court of law is the last place they want to see these ranchers. That is because if the truth were to be revealed it would be the end of their careers. You see, they were the unknown conspirators with the former sheriff. They made their own illicit fortune from those people gathered in the streets. There was only one option: the men in jail could not live through the night.
The judges immediately begin to spread word through the crowd that these men would face the full force of the law. They also put out the word that these men would eventually have their convictions overturned due to their political connections. Despite the best efforts to these two judges, the wealthy ranchers would never pay for the lives they had ruined. It didn't take long for the crowd's anger to turn to hatred. People that would never consider breaking the law are now gathering ropes and looking for a good tree. The only thing that keeps them from rushing the jailhouse is their great respect for the new sheriff.
Inside the jail, the sheriff senses the outrage that is growing in the streets. With a sly smile, he chats with his deputy about how they will soon have all of the power. What people don't know is that the new sheriff has a far more devious plan than the former sheriff. The new guy isn't going to be happy with controlling the town. He wants the entire territory. They each take their turn standing in front of the jail admonishing the crowd to go home. "There will be no lynching tonight, " they proclaim. Despite telling the masses to go home, the sheriff subtly lets the crowd know that he will not resist them. He hopes they aren't so angry that they miss his thinly veiled invitation.
Fortunately, there is a John Wayne in the crowd. He becomes the voice of reason. Yes, some of the ranchers are guilty and must answer for what they have done. However, some of them were good men simply trying to help the territory grow towards statehood. These were the men that brought the railroad to town, and also provided jobs for many of those in the crowd. As for the judges, he reminds the people that they haven't always been honorable. He also brings it to the attention of the emotionally charged mob that the judges are the ones that whipped them into such a frenzy. Why would men sworn to uphold the law be so quick to sir up a lynch mob? As the crowd begins to settle, the voice of reason refreshes everyone's memory about the deputy's former life on the wrong side of the law. How could the crowd trust this man? The hardest part is to get the people to see the sheriff for who he really is.
The movie comes to a climatic end. As all good movies do, the conclusion is as it should be: good triumphs over evil. The judges are arrested for their part in the scam. The deputy slips away out the backdoor and spends the rest of his life as a wanted man on the run. Both the former sheriff and the current sheriff live out their lives as disgraced individuals. The voice of reason becomes the new sheriff and makes the town and the surrounding countryside a safe place for all.
Who could possibly fill these roles? This is the way I see it. This movie is simply a glimpse of the current banking turmoil in this country. The former sheriff that put the whole thing in motion is former president Bill Clinton. The two crooked judges that helped him are Senator Chris Dodd and Representative Barney Frank. The corrupt deputy is Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The new, deceitful sheriff is President Barack Obama. The one role that is yet to be cast is the one we need to know the most. Who is John Wayne?

President Barack Obama has delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress. This speech was highly anticipated by many in the media. We were told that it would be Reaganesque. Given the hatred that liberals and the media have for President Reagan, it seems odd that they would choose such a description and use it in a positive way. This was done because, despite their dismal view of President Reagan, the media understands that the country still loves him. The thing they will never understand is why he is loved. That is obvious in the fact they would compare our current president to him in any way. If there was one person that President Obama's speech did not resemble, it would be President Reagan.
It is undeniable that our country is in the midst of economic uncertainty. However, President Obama's plan is not new and it offers little hope, if any. He correctly stated that this problem resulted from people and the government spending more than either one had. He was also quick to remind us that he inherited this recession from the previous administration. What he failed to mention was that he was a member of the United States Senate for the last four years and that his votes helped spend all the money about which he now seems so concerned. He didn't appear to have any reservations about spending your money when he supported the bailout last October or when he signed the horrendous stimulus bill just days ago. Completely throwing commons sense aside, the president told us that his solution to all of this reckless spending is simple: spend more money.
There is no reason to be concerned with that approach, because he has a plan. He is taking a page from the playbook of one of his financial advisers, Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan. Admittedly, when she entered office in 2003, the economy of Michigan was not doing as well as the rest of the country. She had what President Obama now has: an opportunity to shine. What she did was the exact opposite. Under her leadership, Michigan led the national decline. Today, Michigan's unemployment rate is over ten percent and it leads the nation in the number of people leaving for another state. Now, she is one of the people our president turns to for financial advice. Unfortunately, he seems willing to follow her lead. His idea for fixing the deficit is to raise taxes.
Michigan tried that approach a couple of years ago. Governor Granholm actually initiated a government shutdown for a few hours until she was able to achieve the largest tax increase in Michigan history. The result has been more people leaving the state, more businesses closing, and a decrease in state revenue. Now, the president wants to implement Michigan's approach to a bad economy and expects it to have a different result. That is one definition of insanity.
Nothing in the president's speech was reminiscent of President Reagan. Neither the policy nor the tone was comparable. One of President Reagan's greatest attributes was his optimism. He would have told us that America would survive this economic downturn because of the ingenuity and determination of the American people. He would have told us that the government would be getting out of our way, not trying to supervise us. He would have told us that our money would be coming back to us so that we could create more wealth. He would not have tried to make us jealous of those that have succeeded. After all, America is about opportunity. We should not have the attitude that we are pleased to see the punishment of those who have succeeded. In the end, if those people making over $250,000 a year have it taken away from them by the government, what does that actually do for your situation? Nothing. Don't begrudge the so-called "rich." Strive to be like them. That is what President Reagan would have told us.

There was a time in this country's history when we were deeply divided by war. The war was being lead by a Republican president that had received only forty percent of the popular vote. This president faced fierce opposition to not only his strategy, but also to the fact that we were involved in this war. At times, some of the harshest criticisms came from members of his own party. Many questioned the domestic tactics that he was using to ensure that our country remained unharmed. He suspended certain freedoms, which resulted in outcries of tyranny from the most respected news agencies in the country. He believed that the Constitution granted him the authority as commander-in-chief to undertake the actions he felt were necessary to protect the country in a time of war. The war was claiming an unimaginable loss of life. Things were so bad that families were divided over this man's belief that spreading freedom to all human beings was a just and noble cause. At the end of his first term, a decorated Democratic war veteran challenged him. His opponent spoke of peace without including talk of victory. Due to a new strategy that included a surge in the amount of American soldiers on the battlefield led by a new commanding general, progress was being made in the fight that would bring freedom to millions of people. These people were of a different ethnic origin than the soldiers that were shedding blood in this brutal fight, but their descendants would be forever grateful that this man was given a second term in the Oval Office and allowed to finish the job he had started. This great man knew that history would be his judge, and it has been kind to him.
Of course, the man to whom I am referring is Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican to be elected President of the United States. It is because of the action that he undertook that we are still the United States. He is rightfully remembered for his fight to preserve the Union at all cost and bring an end to the institution of slavery in our country. What many don't know is that he did this under intense scrutiny and opposition from a variety of sources. There were those that did not believe that preservation of the Union was worth the bloody price that was being paid on the fields of Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi. His strategy was questioned by some of the very men that were charged with executing it. General George McClellan was the supreme commander of the Union army at the beginning of the war. After McClellan proved ineffective, President Lincoln shuffled through several generals, including giving McClellan another chance, before deciding that General Ulysses Grant was the man to carry out the plan that would lead to victory. McClellan then challenged President Lincoln in the election of 1864, claiming that we must have peace, but not presenting a clear plan for doing so that would also secure the unity of our country.
With all of the euphoria associated with the first African-American president, President Lincoln's name has been mentioned quite often of late. Without a doubt, this could never have happened if President Lincoln did not have the resolve to see his fight through to the bitter end. He was a man that taught himself to read by using the Bible and tried to live his life according to what it said. Some ask how a man can send so many young men into the violence of war and claim the mantle of Christian. It is because he believed that some things in life are worth dying for. God and country topped that list. Because of his courage in the face of harsh and unrelenting criticism from all sides, our country is united and blessed to this day. As we celebrate what would be his 200th birthday, an African-American fills the highest position in each major political party. This day may have taken longer than it should have to arrive, but without Abraham Lincoln, it might still not be here. Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Your country appreciates everything you did for us.

So much attention is being given to the change that is taking place in our country. This year's inauguration is being called historic. Every time we transition from one president to another, it is historic. Some changes have been beneficial for our country, others have not. So, on this "historic" occasion, what kind of change can we expect?
First, consider what we are losing. President George W. Bush is a man about which everyone has an opinion. Some good, some bad. I have not agreed with everything that President Bush has done or wanted to do. That being said, I believe we are losing a great man. He is a man of impeccable character and deep belief in Jesus Christ. As he said in his farewell address, you may not agree with all of the decisions he made, but you must give him credit for being willing to make the tough decisions. Many Americans start their day by reading newspapers that tell them how horrible President Bush is. The president begins his day by reading reports that detail how terrorists want to kill Americans. Since September 11, 2001, America has not been attacked. Every person in this country owes a great debt of gratitude to President Bush for this fact.
President Bush has been a great friend of the unborn. He has never faltered in the fight for innocent life. He also restored integrity and morality to the Oval Office. After eight years of Bill Clinton, the Office of the President had lost quite a bit of its moral character. Overall, as a country, we are losing a man that will be hard to replace.
So, what do we get in exchange? A diehard, left-wing liberal is now the president. President Obama can't wait to sign the Freedom of Choice Act which will virtually eliminate all restrictions on abortion. He also wants to pay his debt to the labor unions by removing the secret ballot in union elections. He will allow homosexuals to openly serve in the military. He believes in the mythology of global warming and will therefore enact laws that raise all of our taxes while simultaneously destroying the free market. The list could go on and on.
We are told that we should put aside our beliefs and rally behind our new president because of the "historic" nature of the first black president. We are told that this is a fulfillment of the dream put forth by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. I disagree. What Dr. King wanted was for people to be judged by their character, not their skin color. What has happened is the exact opposite. Many people voted for Barack Obama based solely on the color of his skin. They were willing to overlook his character flaws, of which there are many. I can't believe that Dr. King would support unfettered abortion, especially considering the impact it has had on black families. No, this change is not a fulfillment of Dr. King's dream. Our new president needs our prayers, but they must be the proper prayers. I will not pray that his liberal agenda succeeds. I will pray for his health and safety. I will pray that he receives Godly wisdom. I will pray that he does the thing about which he constantly talks: change.

Very seldom will I ever concede that Vice-president-elect Joe Biden is right about anything. However, recent events show that he actually hit the nail on the head at least once in the presidential campaign. Biden told all of us to be prepared for the world to test Barack Obama. He went so far as to say that it could happen within six months of Obama taking office. Although Biden was right about the test, he was a little off on the timeline.
President-elect Obama will have his test waiting on him the minute he takes the oath of office. The subject of his first exam is more important than the economy. It is hard for some people to believe anything is more important than the economy. What they fail to realize is that without national security, none of us will enjoy the prosperity to which we have become accustomed. That is why our new president must pass this crucial test.
The test has only one question: Will the United States continue to support and defend Israel? The importance of supporting Israel can't be overstated. History has proven that any country that stands against Israel will suffer for doing so. Some say that there is no substance to such an assertion. They say it is a myth based on religion. I say it is a Biblical fact based on Genesis 12:3. That is when God promised Abraham that those that blessed Israel would be blessed and those that cursed Israel would be cursed. Even if you don't believe the Bible, as I stated earlier, history has proven these outcomes to be true. Babylon, the Roman Empire, and Nazi Germany are just a few of the people that learned this lesson the hard way. The United States has always been Israel's best friend since they were reconstituted as a nation in 1948. As a result, no country has been more blessed in the past sixty years.
There will be much pressure put upon our new president by the United Nations and Arab countries. The United Nations could quite possibly be the most anti-Semitic organization ever formed. They will try to get him to side with the Palestinians and rebuke Israel. This is one area where president-elect Obama needs to take a page from President Bush's playbook. He needs to tell the United Nations and the world that he will act in the best interest of the United States and no one else. What I'm not so sure of is that he understands that supporting Israel in their fight for survival is what constitutes our best interest. Remember the tape the Los Angeles Times released before the election that showed Senator Obama at a party toasting one of his pro-Palestinian teacher buddies? Oh yeah, they never showed us that tape, did they? We were told that his past associations didn’t matter. Now we watch as the test unfolds. As we do so, we need to remember that Biden also told us that we would not like Obama's response to his test and we must be patient. The only good part of that is that Biden already got one thing right, so that greatly decreases the odds of him being right about Obama failing the test. Unfortunately, because it is Obama, Biden is back on even ground to be right again.

The phrase "Happy Holidays" is already upon us. The phrase that was created so as not to offend people at Christmas time has crept its way backwards into late November. Just as it is vital to remind people that Christmas is in fact about Christ, it is equally important to remember why we celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a time to stop and realize all of the blessings God has bestowed on us and give Him thanks for what He has done.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy watching the Dallas Cowboys while eating a big turkey dinner with family as much, if not more, than anyone. However, if that is as far as your holiday celebration goes, then you are missing the point. There should be moments of actual giving thanks to God, sharing your blessings with family, and teaching our children why they should be thankful. Because of the economic times, the war on terror, and a variety of issues, many people find it difficult to be thankful. If that describes you, allow me to make some suggestions.
As a Christian, be thankful for your salvation. Many people around the world went to bed last night and woke up in hell. That won't be you. You serve the God of the universe. There is no reason that you shouldn't be able to find a blessing God has given you. Remember, you live in America. We still have the freedom to openly proclaim our belief in Jesus. Not every country has the ability to do that.
If you live in America, you are blessed beyond compare. As I've said before, as long as you wake up in America, it doesn’t matter where in America. This is the greatest country on Earth. You also should express deep gratitude for the men and women who are putting their lives on the line at this very moment for the freedoms we enjoy. They are the reason we can sleep in peace at night.
The thing to remember is that no matter what your situation is, there is someone that is in a worse situation. This doesn't mean that we take pleasure in other people's hardships. It simply means that we cherish the things we have as opposed to dwelling on the things we don't. If you have your health, be thankful. If you have a roof over your head, be thankful. If you have a job, be thankful. If you don't have any of these things, be thankful. Someone, somewhere is missing these things and more. Pray for them and give thanks for what you do have.
On a lighter note, be thankful that we have the Dallas Cowboys and aren't dependent on the Detroit Lions for our holiday football entertainment. If you can't laugh a little, you missed the whole point of this article. Happy Thanksgiving.

With a monumental election just days away, Americans need to consider the choice we have before us. Christians, in particular, must come to grips with the facts. It is time to look past the mesmerizing rhetoric and see the truth. America is about freedom and, according to Jesus, the truth is the source of freedom. Many people think that truth has abandoned the political arena. I disagree. In reality, too many people simply don't want to admit the truth.
So, what is the truth in this election? To be blunt, a Christian cannot Biblically support their decision to vote for Barack Obama. You may not like that statement, but it is a fact. Many people are upset about the current economic situation of our country. I am not pleased with it myself, but I know that God, not Wall Street, is my provider. That doesn’t mean that times aren't tough. It means that God will see me through the tough times.
That leads us to another fact: a Christian should never vote based on their money. If we do, we allow our money to become our main priority and Jesus told us that a man cannot serve both God and money(Matt 6:24). God's Word must be applied to the facts that we know. When we do that it becomes obvious that Senator Obama should not receive one Christian vote. If you don't agree, consider what we know and put those facts under the "light of Scripture."

1. Senator Obama supports abortion-on-demand, partial-birth abortion, and refusing medical treatment for babies that survive abortion attempts. The Bible says abortion is wrong.
2. Senator Obama supports the radical homosexual agenda. The Bible states that marriage is the union between one man and one woman. It also teaches that sin is not to be tolerated.
3. Senator Obama will reduce military spending and appease our country's enemies. If this country isn't properly defended, Israel will lose the best friend it has ever had.
4. Speaking of Israel, Senator Obama has many close associates that openly despise Israel. God's promise to Abraham is still in effect. Senator Obama cannot be trusted to continue the support of Israel upon which our blessings are based.
5. Senator Obama believes in the socialist idea of "spreading the wealth." God's plan for provision is the family and the Church. It doesn't include the government.
6. Senator Obama wants to put radical liberal judges on the Supreme Court. This would result in an entire generation being forced to live by judicial decrees that could change the basic structure of our country forever.
7. Senator Obama attended a church for twenty years while his pastor cursed America and taught racist theology. The Bible is full of warnings about false teachers.

I could list many more things that should eliminate Senator Obama from consideration for any Christian, but I won't. If you can consider the facts I've listed and still vote for this man, you are in denial of the truth. I am in no way suggesting that voting for Barack Obama takes away your salvation. I'm simply saying it is the wrong thing for a Christian to do

I often wonder what the founders of this great country would think if they could see it now. Would they be proud of how their experiment has worked or would they be disappointed? They gave us a great document to guide us down the path of prosperity. I can’t help but think they would not be pleased with the way we have treated the Constitution.
The Constitution established a government consisting of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. These three branches are supposed to balance each other. However, one has overstepped its bounds. The judicial segment of our government has declared itself to be the final voice on any argument we have in this country. Although we are taught in school that this is the function of the Supreme Court, the Constitution does not agree.
In 1803, the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison was meant to be a political strategy by Chief Justice John Marshall against President Thomas Jefferson. It is from this case we get the term “judicial review.” This is the policy that allows the Court to overturn congressional and presidential decisions. What Chief Justice Marshall meant for his party’s political gain has become a plague on this country.
One of the greatest examples of this violation of power came in the 1973 case Roe v. Wade. The Court decided that abortion was guaranteed by the Constitution despite the fact that the word never appears in the document. It’s funny how the justices find words in the Constitution that aren’t there, yet they have difficulty understanding words that are clearly written. Earlier this year, the Court decided that when the Second Amendment stated, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”, it actually meant that private citizens could own a gun. As obvious as this is, the justices were split 5-4. That means they were one vote away from amending the Constitution. That happens to be another power the Court doesn’t have; yet they still try on occasion to do so.
The latest attack on society by men and women in black robes is the advancement of the homosexual agenda. Recently, the Supreme Court of Connecticut overturned a state law defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. This made Connecticut the third state to allow gay marriage. As in Massachusetts and California, it was a court, not the people, which made this decision. The people of California have a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Hopefully, in a few weeks, they will take back their state.
Although economic times are tough, the Supreme Court needs to be the deciding factor in the upcoming election. Financial markets rise and fall. Legislative mistakes, although it may take time, can be undone legislatively. The next president could get up to four Court appointments. The people sitting on the Court for the next 25-30 years could have an unchanging impact on our country. If these people are liberal, it could send our society into moral decay. History has shown that all great civilizations have succumbed to moral decadence from within before ever being defeated by an outside enemy. We can’t allow that to happen to the United States. For this reason alone, we must ensure that Barack Obama’s only say regarding the Court comes from a Senate vote.

In recent weeks some prominent liberals have had a bit of a problem defining exactly what the role of Jesus is. Most notable among them was Donna Brazile who was the campaign manager for Al Gore is 2000. She made the comment that Jesus was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor. Several others then repeated this phrase. The intent of these comments is obvious. We are to believe that Jesus is as great as Barack Obama is and Sarah Palin is willing to stand by and allow evil to be done.
The problems with this line of thinking are numerous. The one thing that should be clear is that true liberals have no clue as to who Jesus is. Given this fact, it becomes easier to understand how liberals can believe abortion isn’t murder, homosexuals can marry, and all the other ideas they have that are so detrimental to society.
A community organizer is someone that works to achieve community unity by coordinating the efforts of a variety of organizations. In the four Gospels that relate the events of Jesus’ life, there are no accounts of Jesus partaking in this type of activity. He had a slightly more important job. The Bible lists many roles that Jesus filled. Just to name a few, He was the Son of God(Romans 1:4), the Savior of the world(I John 4:14), and the King of Kings(I Timothy 6:15). All of these are slightly more important than being a community organizer.
It is true that Pilate was a governor. However, to compare the modern role of governor to those during the Roman Empire is unfair. The emperor appointed Roman governors and their lives could depend on being able to control their territory. Modern day state governors in the United States are elected by the people of their state in free and open elections. They are held accountable to the people, not an emperor.
There is a reason liberals wanted us to associate Jesus with community organizers and Pilate with governors. They want us to see Barack Obama, the community organizer, as being comparable to Jesus. They also want us to equate Sarah Palin with Pontius Pilate. Liberals have made ridiculous comparisons over the years, but this may be the worst. Senator Obama has very few actual accomplishments. Jesus died for the sins of the world. No one can compete with that. Pilate sentenced a man to death despite the fact he knew Jesus was innocent(Luke 23:4). Sarah Palin gave birth to a child despite the fact she knew the baby would have Down’s syndrome. Pilate was feared by the Jewish people because of the power he had over them. Sarah Palin has an eighty percent approval rating among the people of Alaska. Liberals, as well as the rest of the country, need to understand three things: Sarah Palin is not Pontius Pilate, Jesus was not a community organizer, and Barack Obama is not the savior of the world.

Many questions have arisen since Senator McCain announced that Governor Sarah Palin from Alaska was his choice to be the next vice-president of this country. The one that is generally considered the most ludicrous is "Does wanting this job mean she is a bad mother?" We keep being reminded that she has a newborn baby with Down's syndrome and that her teenage daughter is pregnant. On top of all that, her oldest son is headed for a war zone.

If we remove the name of Sarah Palin from this profile, it sounds like a mother any of us might know. The issues may be different, yet the fact remains that every mother has issues to deal with in her family. This does not stop them from being teachers, store clerks, lawyers, police officers, nurses, engineers, soldiers, or even politicians. Does having these jobs while still dealing with family issues make these women bad mothers?

The obvious answer is: no. For many years, women have successfully managed careers and family. Although there are many in the liberal media that question Governor Palin on this issue, you would think that the spouse of a female governor would be the last place from which such an attack would come. You would be wrong.

On September 3, Dan Mulhern decided to call the Frank Beckman Show in Detroit. Mr. Mulhern happens to be the husband of the governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm. Governor Granholm and her husband have raised three children as she worked her way to the top of Michigan politics. Yet, her husband questions whether Sarah Palin, who has the same job as his wife, can be a good mother and a politician at the same time.

Mr. Mulhern raised the familiar questions about the special needs baby and the pregnant teenager. Thankfully, Mr. Beckman pointed out the bizarre logic being used considering the job held by Mr. Mulhern's wife. That, however, did not stop the attacks. Although the Mulhern/Granholm family may not have the specific issues the Palin family does, I'm sure something has come up during Governor Granholm's years in politics. Does that mean she should have quit and Mr. Mulhern considers her a bad mother because she didn't? I doubt it.

If Mr. Mulhern's logic was not already wacky enough, he said that on the national level Michigan was comparable to a small town in Alaska. There are only seven states in the country that have more electoral votes than Michigan. That doesn't sound like a small town to me. Ironically, on the very day Mr. Mulhern was making his ridiculous statements, Governor Granholm was holding a hearing to determine if Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick should be allowed to stay in office. Mayor Kilpatrick was charged with perjury, official misconduct, and assault. All of the national news outlets were watching the outcome of this hearing. I wonder if Mr. Mulhern actually knows what his wife does while she simultaneously raises his children.

The point is, Jennifer Granholm is not a bad mother simply because she chooses to be a governor. If she had accepted a cabinet position in what she hoped would be a Hillary Clinton administration, she could have still been a good mother to her children. Likewise, Sarah Palin's motherhood should not be questioned because she is a governor and now seeks a higher office.

Our country had a great opportunity a couple of weeks ago to see the two presidential candidates in a unique forum. This was an especially great chance for Christians to learn about the candidates. What made this experience unique was that Senators John McCain and Barack Obama answered questions in a church. The same church. The encounter took place at Saddleback Church in California and was moderated by well-known pastor and author Rick Warren. So, what did we learn?

One topic that is always high on Christians' list of concerns is abortion. Both candidates were asked at what point a baby receives human rights. Senator Obama stated that the answer to that question was "above my paygrade." He then rambled along for a moment before ultimately professing that he was pro-choice. Senator McCain quickly answered "at conception."

Another question asked each candidate for a definition of marriage. Both senators replied that marriage was the union between one man and one woman. Senator Obama went on to express support of civil unions. Senator McCain did not.

The candidates were asked about the Supreme Court. Appointments to the court could be the single most important thing the next president does. Senator Obama cited Justice Clarence Thomas as someone he would not have appointed. Senator McCain expressed high regard for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. All three justices are pro-life, so the candidate's opinions of each tell us something about the senators.

These are only a few of the questions Pastor Warren asked, but these answers alone are enough to teach us one scary fact. Is it that Senator Obama believes in the right to kill a baby? No, we already knew that. Is it that Senator Obama doesn't realize that there is no decision which is above the paygrade of the President of the United States? No, that should have been relatively clear. Is it that Senator Obama would push forward the homosexual agenda or that he would stack the Supreme Court with pro-abortion liberals? Again, no, these facts were already known.

The scary lesson learned at Saddleback is that someone with Senator Obama's radical liberal views can be supported by Christians. He actually received applause when he stated that he would not have appointed Justice Thomas. Justice Thomas happens to be one of the most pro-life people to ever serve on the Court. We also learned that some of the most prominent Christian leaders in America today are willing to let politicians have a pass on the important issues of the day. Pastor Warren allowed Senator Obama to give his liberal answers and never once pressed him to explain how he would justify his positions with Scripture. In a later appearance on "Hannity and Colmes", Pastor Warren refused to say that Senator Obama is Biblically wrong in his beliefs and is not someone that Christians should support. Unfortunately, the lesson learned from Saddleback is that Christians in this country are not always willing to take a stand for the God whose name they use to describe themselves.