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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Where Are We Going As A Nation? 
By Gill Rapoza
October 12, 2010

I read a lot of material on a daily basis.  I buy good books when I can, as well as read the stuff I see on the net.  I do take a lot of things on the web with a grain of salt.  Several of you on this list send me interesting material sometimes too.  I enjoy reading what I see in Scripture.  Seems I learn things all the time.  A lot of it is a warning, and certainly not that silly “happy all the time talk” some preachers on TV put out.  God tends to give warnings, particularly when things are not right.  He lets thing happen He would not otherwise.  Even Israel, His witness, got warned and knocked about from time to time when they were not paying attention to doing right. 

All of this led me to wonder; where are we going as a nation?  That was not a rhetorical question, I wonder.  We have willingly as a nation, and as many individuals, gone so far down this road away from what is right, that I think maybe God might let just continue on.  It could be to our own national demise if we don’t turn around. 

As nations go, we are still largely free.  But that freedom is slowly eroding.  We let it go, so we should not complain when it is gone.  Who would have ever thought this country would hire a Socialist nut job, who does not like Christianity or Capitalism, who openly bows to the Muslim leader of a country whose citizens caused the greatest single destructive hit on US soil, who has no real experience other than a community agitator, whose only true love seems to be himself, to be president?  Just in case anyone was wondering, we did it ourselves as a nation.  This article is not about Barry, it is about us messing up. 

I don’t think we are done as a nation just yet, but it is not for a lack of effort.  “I want, we want, government give me… gimme, gimme, gimme …”  Those that think that way are praying to the wrong god!  That would be government with a little “g” or goods, with another little “g”.  On this road we travel we will soon enough see most all our freedoms go away.  You will have a right to do what the little g says you can have, and it may change overnight if we get that far. 

What have we lost?  It is forbidden in places if you openly speak out against Muslim terrorist activity on our soil (mosque next to twin towers), gay marriage (no such thing), or abortions (50 million plus killed).  If you peacefully protest against government wrongs, government officials (hello Nancy) will accuse you of being non-tolerant (I hate that word), bigoted, and get this, a “terrorist.”  If you dare say the man living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the wrong fellow for the job, you must be hateful, racist, or both according to not only those in high politics, but the shills in the media cheering them on.  The new national health care (phooey on us) will REQUIRE you belong to the government system, as in health insurance, no matter if you want it or not.  That is not freedom!  If you happen to belong to the NRA, are a returning member of the military, say the two party system is corrupt, and/or want to openly preach Jesus Christ as the only way (my personal favorite), then you too will be labeled with the bad guys.  Who would have thought?  That is right here in America! 

People are sort of waking up; but I return to the question of where will we go as a nation?  Perhaps I should also ask; what will the citizens of this sometimes great nation do?

Complete government control over anything is a very bad idea, and people are wondering about what comes next.  I am only speculating as to what others may be thinking.  I sometime think of the one famous line in the movie Network, where one of the main characters tells people to yell out their windows, “I’m as mad as Hell and I’m not going to take this any more.”  <www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMz_RQuTBlI&NR=1>  Some are that mad perhaps, but who will do what?  Where are we going?  Do we have the will to do better? 

There are the Tea Party folks, which I like even though I only went to one event ever.  If they would continue to do what is right while getting bigger, and not go way off track as the big parties have, it would be a great improvement.  But will it be enough?  Is the One God in Scripture included in their overall picture?  Perhaps with some of them.  We may see in time if they can overcome things through the ballot box. 

There might be some open armed rebellion if many are that angry and think they are backed into a corner.  That sort of reaction would certainly mean people get killed.  Not one of the better options.  I have no problem taking up arms, but it would be for the defense of my family or self, and others in some cases.  But I am not looking for a battle.  Open rebellion worked during the American Revolution, with the Colonists against the Brits.  I don’t know if it would work the same now.  Those people on the other end of the anger at are not the Brits from far away, but our own right here.  And it would not be like the Civil War either, with North and South.  The territories and boundaries would not be nearly so clear. 

We could possibly see a break-up of the country into several smaller nation states, and that is not something pleasing to me either.  It could happen by peaceful means or violent means.  I don’t think it would go down too peaceful.  I keep in mind the unpleasant thought that America is not listed in Scripture, and that makes me think she will not be much of a power in the end.  If it happens, it would only be because we rejected God first.  And then He let us go our own way. 

Perhaps some would hold up someplace and see if and when it will all be over.  The survivalist mentality is very alive and well in parts of the nation.  Many of these just want to protect their families and stay away from it all.  To go “off the grid” can be very appealing.  Lots of work would be involved.  Raising your own food and providing for other needs is not all that easy, but it certainly can be done here in America, or even what she may become. 

Some think there will be an over run attempt by other nations, or even parties in agreement with the United Nations.  There are many scenarios involved in this one.  Some peaceful and some not.  The sad part is that we have idiots and traitors in our own ranks that will go along with this one world happy crap.  It will not be happy.  The idiots and traitors would come from both the government and some churches.  Dead Michael Jackson may have gotten a bunch of people to sing with him that they were the world, but not me, not for Christians who are supposed to be in the world but not of it, and not for real American Patriots. 

We as Americans have never seen the likes of what is going on now.  I learned from reading some good articles and books that in Russia, when it was the Soviet Union, the people did a lot of things in an underground economy.  China has an underground economy in their Communist system now.  The people are not free really.  You can not worship freely there.  They have the government approved churches, just as the Russians did, but those were the only ones where the Gospel was preached.  The government approved churches had the social gospel only. 

You may notice that I did not offer a lot of answers just yet.  It is coming.  I am curious as to where you want to go, and what you want to do. 

My plan is simple.  And this is mostly because I think any combination of the above can happen to us as a nation.  I plan to be ready for near anything that comes my way.  I pray regularly for our nation, that our leaders will wake up, do right, or be replaced with ones that will.  I ask that I and others will be ready, awake for what shows up on the horizon.  Most of you know me well enough by now that I am not so good at following instructions when they are wrong.  I don’t believe any of us were called to do that.  Will I, and we, have hard times yet to come?  Probably.  I strongly recommend that you too pray for our nation, or if God has tolerated us long enough, for those who will still be here.  You have got to be right with God first before you can expect any of this to happen. 

So, where are we going as a nation?  What will you do?  Looks like something is coming our way.  I’d love to hear from you on this. 

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 



Sunday, September 5, 2010

The Universalism Rally – A Spiritual Issue For Christians


The Universalism Rally – A Spiritual Issue For Christians
By Gill Rapoza
September 5th, 2010

I have gotten several links or articles from members of this list and from other folks on the Glenn Beck rally of 08/28/10. With the exception of one article in the generally conservative venues I reviewed of what was sent me, they were all positive as to what Beck and company accomplished. However, I am not going to write a glowing report. Beck was wrong on August 28, and the rally had other serious spiritual issues.

First of all I will tell you that for the most part I like Beck for his political views, at least the ones he talks about regularly. I like his offbeat sense of humor. I like the idea that he is smart enough to hire and employ a very good research team. I have a couple of his books. His premise and delivery of the big “Restoring Honor” rally of August 28, I do not applaud at all! It was wrong.

It was quite an accomplishment to gather the huge crowd that Beck got, probably numbering in the several hundred thousands. It was wonderful to see the ability of a tremendously large group like that to peaceably assemble. The constitution speaks well of this. The patriotic flags and the pro American stance taken was great! But what was the rally about?

Beck had on stage with him some 240 religious leaders, said he, and even if that number was off, I still saw a bunch of them. Beck said we must all honor and turn back to God. I like that idea, but what or who does Beck and all those other leaders pray to and honor. While there is but one true God, it is not the same for each of them of those on stage with Beck, and Beck’s god, along with at least a few others’ god is not my God. The Mormon god has no place in prayer or otherwise with the One God.

Beck honors the god of Latter Day Saints (LDS), Mormonism. The Mormon god was the one that has physical sex with Mary the mother of Jesus Christ <www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon385.htm>. That is not my God. The “Jesus” of the Mormon faith was/is a brother of Lucifer the Devil, but their “Jesus” had a better plan for salvation so some council or other said to go with the Mormon “Jesus” plan. In the LDS records their founder Joseph Smith claimed to do what our Jesus could not do, hold a church together <http://carm.org/joseph-smith-boasted>. The present LDS teaching is that the Bible may be a holy book, but not as perfect as the Book of Mormon (LDS – History of the Church, November 28, 1841, Vol. 4, p. 461), what they call “another testament of Jesus Christ.” I have a problem with all this.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8

If there was nothing else to go on but LDS’ Beck leading other religious leaders that would be enough for me to say “run don’t walk to the nearest exit” if I can toss my best Walter Martin imitation in there. If you get God wrong, Jesus wrong, the virgin birth wrong, Lucifer wrong, multiple gods (a wrong Mormon teaching), LDS founder Joe Smith wrong for thinking he can do better than Jesus, the Bible wrong, “another gospel” wrong, I don’t have to give Beck or anyone else that follows the LDS a whole lot of more chances at being right. This was a “we are all of the same god” Mormon like rally made to look like it was acceptable to and in line with Christianity, the faith most involved in America’s founding.

On the stage with Beck were, if I understood him correctly, among the 240 religious leaders, there were Muslim Imams, Roman Catholic priests, Evangelical Christians, Jewish Rabbis, and just about every other type represented. I tried to find a list of who was actually there in that group, but have so far only identified a few by name. I looked at the pictures Beck published of those with him <www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/44930/> and some were Native American leaders. There is one picture in the group that looked like the Native American leaders were in a collective opening prayer with some type of minister that I did not identify.

The Salt Lake Tribune had a lot to say of the recognized leaders that showed up:

Southern Baptist (SBC) executive Richard Land was pleased at how religious Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally turned out to be.

Bishop Harry Jackson, a black evangelical leader, was pleasantly surprised that the Fox News talk show host and Mormon convert said things “some of my close friends could have written.”

And Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. was among the faith leaders to enlist in Beck’s new “Black Robe Regiment.”


I suspect the Mormons had a field day with this and it will be used as propaganda. The SBC used to think of Mormons as a cult, but now in the age of “we are the world,” basic doctrines do not matter any longer for some.

As to the “Black Robe Regiment” that it says that Jerry Falwell Jr. was joining (above). I have big problems with that. Falwell, an evangelical leader, son of the preacher most associated with the term “Religious Right,” will lead by example that it is OK to be under the spiritual authority of someone who believes wrongly. And if you look up history you will see the members of the Black (Robe) Regiment were the Christian preachers of the American Revolution! And that makes it a claimed spiritual endeavor, one that long predated the Joseph Smith-LDS system. The second issue I take with it is that Chuck Baldwin already began this in a Christian (not Universal) fashion, as in “No King but Jesus,” three years earlier, www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070724.html. I posted this way back then!

Here is something some who are supposed to be Christian leaders who praised the Beck rally forgot:

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
I John 2:15-23

Some of these Christian on stage, with Beck leading them in prayer, forgot that Beck’s god is not their God, and that Beck’s group does not know Jesus as the Christ. By now you will have figured my biggest problem was not that others wish to practice a different religion than I, but those that claim they practice the same faith as I are willing to be led in prayer, Christian (religious) singing, and otherwise imitation Christianity (religion) by a non-Christian. Yeah, I have a problem with it. I will be, and have for a long time been very respectful to others doing any religious service different to mine. I am not good at the same when a non-Christian leads any Christian thing for me.

I saw people singing “Amazing Grace” (my favorite) <http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/Features/Glenn-Becks-Restoring-Honor-rally-in-DC/3759/8/> with people that do not believe in grace but works, and other things. And the LDS still need Joseph Smith to give them permission to be with God in Heaven <http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/sermons_talks_interviews/jofdvol7p282_291smithholdskeystoheaven.htm>. If we need all that, it is not grace, something which God gives freely, then works will not suffice, and neither would making Joe Smith happy.

And here is a little more evidence that our own “good” is not enough, and Smith (who may be elsewhere) has nothing to do with it.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Romans 5:14-18

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
Isaiah 64:6-7

Here is a Southern Baptist that said things very right,

“A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the evangelicals cheering that they’ve heard the gospel, right there in the nation’s capital.”

“The news media pronounces him the new leader of America’s Christian conservative movement, and a flock of America’s Christian conservatives have no problem with that.”

“It’s taken us a long time to get here, in this plummet from Francis Schaeffer to Glenn Beck. In order to be this gullible, American Christians have had to endure years of vacuous talk about undefined “revival” and “turning America back to God” that was less about anything uniquely Christian than about, at best, a generically theistic civil religion and, at worst, some partisan political movement.”

“Too often, and for too long, American “Christianity” has been a political agenda in search of a gospel useful enough to accommodate it. There is a liberation theology of the Left, and there is also a liberation theology of the Right, and both are at heart mammon worship. The liberation theology of the Left often wants a Barabbas, to fight off the oppressors as though our ultimate problem were the reign of Rome and not the reign of death. The liberation theology of the Right wants a golden calf, to represent religion and to remind us of all the economic security we had in Egypt. Both want a Caesar or a Pharaoh, not a Messiah.”

Russell D. Moore – Moore to the Point – Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Read the whole article; it was great!

And if that was not enough, read the following from that same Salt Lake Tribune article,

“But, as his religious rhetoric attests, Beck has gone fishing for a new audience recently. Weeks before the rally, he gathered about 20 prominent religious leaders for a dinner at which, according to Land (Richard Land of the SBC), he said God was leading him to talk about revival in America.”

The night before the rally, he held a “Divine Destiny” event that promised to leave participants with a “strong belief that faith can play an essential role in reuniting the country.”

Now if you are a Christian leader, and you are at a dinner with a well-known Mormon personality, and he says he has got a message from God for America and you, what do you do?

1. Ask for the check and leave
2. Wait for desert and hear the plan out

You would need to choose option number one and also not promise support and attendance at the rally. And you best not bring your membership with you if you have your thinking hat on right! Remember, it was Joseph Smith that started off just like that, a “message” from God. Problem was he did not have any such thing, but was rather a charlatan looking to get rich and take other men’s wives in the process. Even the Blues Bothers said they were on a “mission from God,” and that was just a movie! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xtJYIwfYo

Back in the early 1980’s, when I was driving a bus for a living, I drove a charted bus to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Mormon group rented the whole place for a couple of days at least. The event culminated with this tremendous full stadium of cheering, shouting, flag waving, singing “Godly” and patriotic songs. Man, it was a sight to see and hear. But it was a Mormon rally that sounded something like what a big Christian or patriotic rally might sound like. I would be the first to admit that it was exciting and fun, but even by then I understood enough of what they really taught to not be fooled by a great event. When I saw the clips of the Beck rally, I saw it as the same kind of staged event that I saw in the Rose Bowl.

It is important to know that getting people feeling good about the LDS religion is what they do. And they know how to do it well. The LDS teach that there would be a “burning of the bosom” also called “bosom burning” (LDS – Doctrines and Covenants 9:8) where they test the “Spirit” and see if it feels right. When I was at that Rose Bowl rally I felt pretty good about the patriotic music and such, as it was very well done, but I still did not change my mind and join up. I saw all those very happy looking people at Beck’s rally and wondered how many at that point thought that it was all the same.

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.”
Matthew 24:23-25

I will venture that many of those people at the rally, including those of the different faiths and creeds may have thought, hey we are all the same really. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some were Christians, some Jews, some Mormons, some Muslims, some pagans, and just about anyone else in a group that big. If we say we are all the same, then we deny our individual and very conflicting beliefs. Something has to give.

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”
Amos 3:3

The way people try to fix it is that they drop a little of this and a little of that, so all are the same. In the end there is one big universal religion where the only ones that are wrong are those that disagree with the big group.

When a Christian lets down his guard and says everyone is going to the same place no matter what, they deny what Jesus Christ said.

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:1-6

Jesus also had something to say about the rest and what choice they needed to make.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

In the end there will be this great One World Religion, led by the Anti-Christ and the Beast. They are not going to come on the scene like mean old dogs, but nice and friendly, pleasant to the touch, and easy to hear. These two bad guys and their many deceived followers are going to be sweet, at first. They’d be your best friend if you’ll let them. But the end result will be very bad.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:15-20

So what do you in all this? You pray for wisdom, and not good feelings. You pray for guidance that God will show you what to do or say. You first make sure you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and it was not just a feel good exercise.

Then you continue to study, pray, and fellowship with like-minded folks. You certainly will not go wrong by praying for your nation and your leaders. But if they refuse to listen, you pray for their replacement. Failing that you pray for the protection of yourself and those around you, because you will need it about then. It will get very bad at some point. You pray for your enemies while you pray for your friends. You pray that none around you will be confused and go wrong. You pray for your own continued mercy and grace from God. And let God do the work and get the praise in anything you do or say.

As to Beck himself, I don’t know what his full intents are, other than promote a message he was taught was good, as are Mormons taught in general. Beck just might be one of the many deceived followers, one who is a very popular radio and television personality. In any case, what he preaches is still wrong, and anyone who is a Christian leader of any kind is wrong for following along. Pray for him as well. But singing happy religious songs with anyone of a wrong belief system is very detrimental to one’s Christian walk, including all those at the big rally. It would not be a good Christian testimony.

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

________________________________________

All of the Bible quotes were from the New King James Version
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. – Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

________________________________________

As always, if you have comments, questions, and even complaints, send them my way. I will answer what I can when I can.
The usual Copyright © rules apply with the exception that this writing may be republished, reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact and that full credit is given to the writer. And please let me know if you want to post this someplace.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Hooray For Utah; Boo For Indiana

Hooray For Utah; Boo For Indiana
By Chuck Baldwin
May 11, 2010

The Tea Party in Utah flexed its muscle over the weekend and booted longtime establishment Republican senator, Bob Bennett, from office. Hooray! (Now, Arizona, please do America a favor and show John McCain the door!) Unfortunately, Tea Party activists were unsuccessful in Indiana, as longtime establishment Republican, Dan Coats, defeated the principled patriot, John Hostettler. Boo!

Predictably, mainstream Republican spokesmen are lamenting Bennett’s ouster, saying Bennett was a true conservative, touting an 80% ranking in the American Conservative Union (ACU) index. However, the ACU index is completely irrelevant to the true measure of a congressman’s fidelity to constitutional government. The index that people should pay attention to is the Freedom Index (formerly called the Conservative Index) at The New American magazine. This index is far and away more accurate in determining a congressman or senator’s fidelity to limited government. In this index, Bennett’s latest rating was a pathetic 50.

Bennett needed to go; the good people of Utah did America a great favor by showing him the door. I trust and pray that this is an indication of how the November elections will fare. I would have been extremely optimistic that this might be the case, except for the miserable election results recorded in Indiana. Dan Coats is merely another establishment neocon in the similitude of Bob Bennett.

In the 105th Congress, Coats’ final rating was a dismal 55 in The New American’s index. On the other hand, John Hostettler’s last ranking stood at 85. Hostettler deserved the enthusiastic support of Tea Partiers throughout Indiana. It is tragic that he lost to someone such as the neocon, Dan Coats. Therefore, what was gained in Utah was lost in Indiana.

And this is going to be the danger for the Tea Party movement this year: If Tea Party activists do not truly understand the issues of limited government, or if they are fooled by establishment politicians, or if they fail to materialize at the polls on election day, all that will happen is one Big Government neocon will be replaced with another Big Government neocon. And, as Sonny and Cher used to sing, “The Beat Goes On.”

Proponents of limited government already had a setback in Texas when establishment neocon Rick Perry defeated Debra Medina. Obviously, Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin campaigned hard for Perry, and another Tea Party” leader,” Glenn Beck, did a hatchet job on Medina on his TV show, characterizing her has a “Truther” (with the associated vitriolic condemnation that such a person must be awful). Now, Texas is stuck with the same old same old establishment neocon.

This is why I again warn Tea Partiers to be very cautious of Palin and Beck. They promote limited government on one hand and then turn around and promote Big Government candidates on the other hand. If Tea Partiers do not grow a large head of discernment quickly, Washington insiders will quickly neuter both their voices and their votes.

Perhaps the biggest threat to the Tea Party movement is Newt Gingrich. Be alert, Tea Partiers: Gingrich is not a friend to limited government. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He proved that in 1995 when he (almost single-handedly) destroyed the Conservative Revolution of 1994. He will do the same to the Tea Party movement in 2010, if he is given the opportunity. Avoid him like the plague!

There are scores (probably hundreds) of great constitutionalist candidates running for State and federal offices this year. It is critical that Tea Partiers learn who they are and turn out in force to support them in the various primary elections. If we wait until the general elections in November, most of the good candidates will already have been defeated, and we will be left with the same old choice between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. That was a big problem in Indiana: voter turnout was anemic.

Believe me, Big Government pariahs are watching the elections of 2010 intently. By electing solid constitutionalists en masse (at both the State and federal levels) this year, Tea Partiers could literally ignite a modern revolution—a revolution of freedom and constitutional government rivaling the Tea Party of 1773--that could continue right on through the 2012 elections.

On the other hand, if establishment types such as Gingrich, Coats, Perry, McCain, etc., are allowed to beguile Tea Partiers, the revolution for limited government will be dead by midnight on November 2. Furthermore, it is extremely important that Tea Partiers not be conned by the major media into neglecting their State elections. Electing principled constitutionalists to State office is probably more important than who we elect to federal office. State sovereignty and freedom issues are mushrooming all over America, and truly our liberties will ultimately be won or lost at the State level.

The elections in Utah and Indiana send mixed signals. While Utah heralds great hope, Indiana portends more Big Government—all the Tea Party hype notwithstanding. Which Tea Party will show up next time? It’s anyone’s guess. All I know is, the stakes could not be higher. Whichever way then elections go in 2010 will probably determine the rise or fall of freedom in America.

I pray the Tea Party of 2010 is worthy of the Tea Party of 1773.
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Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit


Wednesday, May 12, 2010

When Is America Going To Wake Up?

Hello Everyone,

There are times when we must absolutely pay attention to what is around us.  It should be very clear by now that those in charge are not interested in doing what is right.  When there is obvious evidence that tells you what is going on before you is wrong, and at the same time the powers that be continue to say “No it’s not,” then are not in safe place to be.  The day may come quicker than any of us want, and I pray and hope it is NOT so, that we are on the edge of some awful time not so far away. 

At least a couple of my friends and associates think we are nearing WWIII.  One or two lean toward the idea of a national break-up on the horizon.  Some I know think a complete financial collapse is real close.  Maybe some see a combination of these or worse. 

The fellow in the white house does not seem to notice or care so long as he can look in the mirror and smile at his own arrogance.  The media, once great that was supposed be the watchdog has completely lost its bark.  Too many of our fellow citizen just believe what they our told and see nothing at all going on. 

I remember reading that God used other nations to cause calamity or even destruction on Israel of old.  I recall in the Old Testament in particular where God did the same for other nations, after sending warnings for them to get their act together.  Could these things be our warnings?  Might God withdraw His hedge and allow Islam to do their bad deeds because we no longer have the desire to follow as we should?  And these are not rhetorical questions, but something I wonder about. 

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit




When Is America Going To Wake Up?
Islamic radicals are here
By Laurie Roth
May 4, 2010

Once again we see an attempt at a horrific Islamic terrorist attack in New York by Faisal Shahzad who lived in Bridgeport, Conn.  He drove the SUV with a major bomb set up in it hoping to murder 100s or 1000s of New Yorkers this week.  He almost did.  We know from careful analysis that the bomb was major.  Doug Hagmann recently investigated the makings of the bomb and concluded this was no ‘amateurish’ job. Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was also quick to describe this bomb in Times Square as ‘one off,’ minimizing it as a one time occurrence.  Hagmann described the bomb:

‘The bomb was composed of three filled propane tanks, two 5-gallon containers of gasoline, an ammunition locker type of box filled with inert fertilizer.  The triggering mechanism was identified as a can filled with about 2 dozen M-88 type commercial firecrackers hooked to at least one alarm clock.  A second alarm clock inside the vehicle was destroyed by fire.  The construction of the bomb is very similar in design to the vehicle bombs used in the attempted attack in London in 2007.’

Isn’t it fascinating that most of what we see by this administration and media in response to domestic attack attempts is manipulative, minimalist and pathetic at best?  We saw recently with the Christmas airplane attack and Fort Hood attack…..a 3 day delay before we heard from Obama; Media and Obama saying ‘Don’t rush to judgment’ regarding the Ft. Hood attacker, which was obviously an Islamic radical in our military, and chronic minimizing of the whole Islamic agenda and danger that surrounds us.

The Christmas attack was within a smoky inch of happening, while the Ft. Hood carnage was horrifyingly real.  Now, we see most recently the bomb starting to smoke and explode in the SUV in Times Square, New York.  Isn’t it a shock, but it was put there by another Islamic radical from Pakistan, just caught while trying to leave the country.  This too was within an inch of happening and wiping out a sea of passing New Yorkers.

What do we hear from the leftist idiots?  Well, Mayor Bloomberg made sure his glowing, opinion was known with that extraordinary mind, Katie Couric.  She asked the Mayor if he thought the bomb was home grown.  He went on to speculate that the bomber was most likely mad about ObamaCare and a domestic person, meaning a conservative or Tea Party activist.  Bloomberg didn’t say one time in this interview that it could possibly be an Islamic terrorist attack. 

How quickly we forget when we are a liberal at heart!  Never mind, that New York was bloodied and partially gutted in 2001 by Islamic radicals on a Jihad mission.  Naturally, now, though we have just had recent attacks on Christmas and with Ft. Hood (many others since 9/11 domestically) we should assume that any new attacks will be domestic terrorists (tea party and conservatives) mad at Obamacare.  I knew Bloomberg was a liberal but he now enters my new category of specialness.  ‘HE IS DUMB AS A POST.’

Already, 8 others have been arrested and are in custody in Pakistan in connection with Faisal Shahzad and this attack in New York. 

Gee, there seems to be an organized, funded, planned and very Islamic radical plan to this New York attack.  It was hardly amateur hour, a ‘one time’ event and tea party attack.  Expect more attacks NOT from conservatives or Tea Party folks, but from the usual, Islamic radicals who have infiltrated our country.




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Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit



Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Audacity of Illegals and Federals

Timothy Baldwin
May 5, 2010

For generations, the federal government has pissed on the integrity of the union, supposedly formed by the bonds of choice, reflection, friendship and likeness[1]. It has treated the people of the States as scoopers in the valley of the crap they roll down hill, of which they claim to be king. The society of each state serves as nothing more than just another creditor to their addictive gambling game of power, corruption and debauchery.

Anymore, one cannot even possess an accurate knowledge of just how much degradation permeates the entire system of the federal government and its chain-gang of states. Amazingly, some still believe that freedom can be restored through the political gamesmanship in Washington D.C. For this reason, some of the States have finally awakened to this reality and are beginning to act appropriately and accordingly.

Another blaring contemporary illustration highlights just how true this is.

As many now know, Arizona passed an illegal immigration law which is designed to secure the borders of its State from those who are in that State illegally. The response from the federal government was predictable and typical: “Arizona can’t do that; it is our sole prerogative to ‘secure’ the border. Arizona’s action is unconstitutional. Blah, blah, blah.” Of course, there are always those nationalists and statists who criticize a State for doing anything without the federal government’s permission: “The new law, which is due to take effect in late July or early August in the unlikely event it withstands constitutional challenges, essentially codifies racial profiling, throwing civil liberties to the wind.”[2] (Emphasis added). Together, they make a beautiful partnership of distortion and misinformation.

The federal government and its supporters would rather oxymoronically protect illegal immigrants’ supposed “legal rights” than protect the natural and compact rights of the state citizens, governments and societies. They would rather each state suffer the irreparable harm and costs of allowing (and yes, encouraging!) millions of illegals to come here and suck the life out of these States for now and most assuredly for later.

These people paint a portrait with a set of children’s crayons on cheap toilet paper and frame it with used cardboard paper from a flea market. And somehow we are supposed to hang it on the walls of our most revered sanctuaries and say, “look how pretty our country is with the federal government in control.”

Why would these illegals confidently and self-righteously protest against such a state law: because they have no respect for the law to begin with; they do not know what the purpose and responsibility of the state government is; they could not care less about the cultural, moral and American ideals forming the individual republics of the States and the United States; they do not respect the union of the states’ formation, nor do they care about its foundation; and they know the federal government has no intention of enforcing the already-existing laws to secure U.S. borders. Ultimately, just leave them alone: they are doing fine with the federal government in control of illegal immigration.

Why would the federal government ignore its responsibility in securing the borders and then criticize a state for protecting itself in response to the federal government’s failure to do so: because its agenda is one of amnesty and integration; it is ready and willing to buy illegals’ votes and support by “guaranteeing” them all of the social and governmental benefits that we, the legal workers in America, pay for and provide; and it prefers and seeks after a one-world system of government and despises the sovereignty of individual states and nations. Ultimately, just leave them alone: they are accruing the power and control they desire by exercising unfettered control.

Thankfully, some of the States do not agree. Best-selling author, Jerome Corsi, recently described Arizona’s illegal immigration law as “sparking a state rights revolution”.[3] His acknowledgment of the State rights revolution is correct, but Arizona’s law is not the spark. Rather, it is another burst of oxygen on the fire that has been burning brightly for over a year and has been stoking for many.

The fire will only continue to grow given the despicable manner in which the federal government and its faithful supporters disrespect and even despise the (original) U.S. Constitution, the tenth amendment, the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the ideals of freedom founding the union of thirteen independent and sovereign states of America.

I welcome the fire’s growth and encourage its success. In fact, I just happen to have some (very expensive) gasoline I am willing to donate to Arizona and its like.

Copyright 2010 Timothy Baldwin



[1] “[We are called upon to decide whether] societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.” Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper 1 (emphasis added). “With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people–a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.” John Jay, Federalist Paper 2 (emphasis added).
[2] Author Unknown, “When it comes to illegal immigration, Arizona goes too far,” APP.com (May 3, 2010), found at http://www.app.com/article/20100503/OPINION01/5040309/1029/OPINION/When-it-comes-to-illegal-immigration-Arizona-goes-too-far
[3] World Net Daily, “Arizona law sparks states’ rights revolution,” (May 3, 2010), found at http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=149085.


Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit


Friday, May 7, 2010

Why Would Anyone Want to Blow Up Times Square?

Hello Everyone,

It is not so hard to see that the media and the politicians go out of their way to not offend the evil that Islam is.  It is a pagan religion based on hate, lies, and death.  Outside of a few, not so many want to say what is before them. 

Remember that you can not defeat and enemy you will not name.  Even the idea of saying we are fighting terrorism is completely insufficient.  Either we are fighting Islamic terrorists or we are not.  How foolish! 

Godspeed,
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit



Why Would Anyone Want to Blow Up Times Square?
by Daniel Pipes
May 5, 2010

When news comes of Muslims engaging in violence, the triad of politicians, law enforcement, and media invariably presumes that the perpetrator suffers from some mental or emotional incapacity. (For a quick listing of examples, see my collection at “Sudden Jihad or ‘Inordinate Stress’ at Ft. Hood?”).

Instead, I argue, they should begin with a presumption of jihadi intent. That is, the default expectation should be ideological passion, not insanity. Spreading Islam and applying Islamic law are the goals. Of course, some crazy Muslims exist and they do engage in violence, but they constitute a microscopic percentage of the 15,247 Muslim terrorist incidents since 9/11, as counted by www.thereligionofpeace.com.

The failed effort to blow up an SUV in New York’s Times Square prompted speculation about the would-be bomber’s motives even before the identity of Faisal Shahzad, an immigrant from Pakistan, had been made public. The Nation’s Robert Dreyfuss discounted the possibility of a jihadi from the Pakistan-based Taliban, “it seems far more likely to me [he] was either a lone nut job or a member of some squirrely branch of the Tea Party, anti-government far right.”

Then, just hours after Shahzad had been arrested, authorities rushed to assure the public his action had nothing to do with Islam. Examples from May 4:

·        Mike Bloomberg, mayor of New York City: the bomb could have been placed by “somebody with a political agenda who doesn’t like the health care bill or something. It could be anything.”

·        Mahkdoom Qureshi, Pakistan’s foreign minister: “This is a blow back [for U.S. military activities in Pakistan]. This is a reaction. This is retaliation. And you could expect that. Let’s not be naive. They’re not going to sort of sit and welcome you eliminate them. They’re going to fight back.”

·        Nadeem Haider Kiani, spokesman for the Pakistani embassy in Washington: it’s too soon to tell exactly what motivated the bomber but early indications suggest he is “a disturbed individual.”

·        Cable News Network: “It can confirm that his house has been foreclosed in recent years. I mean, one would have to imagine that brought a lot of pressure and a lot of heartache on that family.”

·        CBS News: “It isn’t clear if more suspects are at large OR what the motive could be.”

·        The Washington Post: Under the title, “The economic crisis meets terrorism,” Ezra Klein notes that Shahzad’s house was foreclosed and comments: “This guy is like string theory for the media: He brings together the seemingly incompatible stories that drove the past decade. That said, you of course don’t want to speculate on why someone ‘really’ did something. The hearts of men are opaque, and motives are complex.”

And here’s a collection from today’s papers

·        Law enforcement (as reported by NY1): “Investigators say they still have no motive for Shahzad’s actions.” (May 5, 2010)

·        Kifyat Ali, a relative of Shahzad’s: “We are shocked. He had no connection with any political party or jihadi group.” (May 5, 2010)

·        Associated Press headline: “NY car bomb suspect cooperates, but motive mystery.” (May 5, 2010)

·        Associated Press story: “Federal officials aren’t talking about a motive in the arrest of a naturalized U.S. citizen charged with attempting to set off a bomb in New York’s Times Square.” (May 5, 2010)

·        New York Post “exclusive”: Shahzad “said he was driven to evil by the slew of deaths among leaders of the terror group, law-enforcement sources revealed yesterday. Sources said he was an eyewitness to the onslaught throughout the eight months he spent in Pakistan beginning last summer.” (May 5, 2010)

·        USA Today headline: “Motive of NYC car bomb suspect remains a mystery.” (May 5, 2010)

·        The Guardian headline: “Times Square bomb: Pakistanis puzzled by bomber’s motives.” (May 5, 2010)

The establishment agrees - Islam played no role in Faisal Shahzad’s attempted terrorism.


Comments:
(1) Some of these interpretations say the motives are mysterious, some of them speculate about one thing or another – but all assiduously avoid the elephant in the room.
(2) You can’t win a war if you don’t have the courage to name the enemy.
(3) Naming the enemy means changing some of the more pleasant aspects of Western life, and so is tough to do.
(4) I expect that naming the enemy will occur only after a cataclysm ends our patience with minced words.



Mr. Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.
This text may be reposted or forwarded so long as it is presented as an integral whole with complete information provided about its author, date, place of publication, and original URL.


Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit