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Joe

Mayberry Will Never Be The Same

Knotts' goofy Fife, Furley unforgettable | IndyStar.com:

"Knotts died Friday night of pulmonary and respiratory complications at a Los Angeles hospital."

If you're like me, you grew up watching Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show, and you know that no one could ever fill his shoes. Don Knotts had a style all his own, and all the wannabes in the world will never fill his place in television history.

Joe

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

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In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "To improve health care, keep America competitive, achieve greater energy independence, and protect our Nation, we must put aside politics and focus on what is best for the future of our country. America's governors are good allies in this effort, and I look forward to working with them in the year ahead."

Podcast of the Week

There are several ways to find new podcasts, but the most common has always been word of mouth. I listen to several podcasts over the course of a week, and I'll be highlighting a different one here each week.

This week, I'd like to introduce you to Corey Costello and the StockCarZone.com weekly podcast. Corey, a professional radio personality who covers NASCAR as well as other sports, delivers the best news and views I've heard in a racing podcast. He describes his show as "no holds barred" and he definitely doesn't pull any punches. He'll freely share his opinion, as well as those of his listeners -- whether they agree with him or not.

Check out the StockCarZone.com podcast today. This week's episode can be found here.

Enjoy!

Joe

"President's Day"

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY

In some circles, today is observed as "President's Day," but it is still officially recognized as the anniversary of "Washington's Birthday."

Matthew Spaulding, a Heritage Foundation scholar, reminds: "Although it was celebrated as early as 1778, and by the early 19th Century was second only to the Fourth of July as a patriotic holiday, Congress did not officially recognize Washington's Birthday as a national holiday until 1870. The Monday Holiday Law in 1968---applied to executive branch departments and agencies by Richard Nixon's Executive Order 11582 in 1971---moved the holiday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Section 6103 of Title 5, United States Code, currently designates that legal federal holiday as 'Washington's Birthday.' Contrary to popular opinion, no action by Congress or order by any President has changed 'Washington's Birthday' to 'President's Day'."

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

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In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Transforming our energy supply will demand creativity and determination, and America has these qualities in abundance. Our Nation will continue to lead the world in innovation and technology. And by building a global partnership to spread the benefits of nuclear power, we'll create a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous world for future generations."

Momma Said Cheaters Never Win

I'm nothing of the NASCAR fan that my brother is, but I do enjoy a race now and then. Today's 48th running of the Daytona 500 was more than a disappointment. It was downright upsetting.

After being caught with an unapproved back window, Jimmie Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus was suspended for the first four races of the season for cheating. What kind of punishment is that when Johnson goes on to win the race in an extended green/white/checkered finish?

Didn't Brian France's momma ever teach him that cheaters never win? I know this world isn't fair, but come on! Are we really to believe that Jimmie Johnson was unaware of his crew's efforts to cheat?

It's appalling that Jimmie Johnson, a driver who has been caught more than a few times with "unapproved" equipment, can go on to win this most important race of the NASCAR season after being caught cheating again! Almost makes me not want to watch next week!

Joe

Book Review: The Ezekiel Option by Joel C. Rosenberg

Politico-turned-Author Joel C. Rosenberg hits the mark solid with his end times series in The Last Jihad, The Last Days, and The Ezekiel Option. Based on the Bibilical prophesy of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, The Ezekiel Option tells a tale that you could find in the headlines of your morning newspaper tomorrow!

"I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD. ... 'Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up, the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign LORD. ... I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God." -from Ezekiel 38,39 (NIV)

Imagine, if you will, a new revolution in Russia. A revolution that topples the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaving a known terrorist thug at the helm of one of the greatest former super-powers in the world. A terrorist thug who assumes the title of Czar and, while touting peace and using U.S. intervention in Iraq as a precedent, demands that Israel abandon her nuclear program under threat of attack.

The Ezekiel Option follows along those lines, truning Bible prophecy into modern fiction that is so realistic and so possible in today's global climate that you may find yourself wondering whether you're reading a newspaper or a novel. Joel C. Rosenberg crafts a timely tale of international suspense and terror that you won't be able to put down.

If you're like me, you'll finish this book in record time, then pick up the Bible and pour through the prophecy in Ezekiel from which this tale is inspired. The entire series is a must read, from The Last Jihad through The Ezekiel Option. This is truly one of the best books I have read recently. I highly recommend it!

Joe

Valentine Labor of Love

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

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In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "When I came into office, I found a Medicare system that was antiquated and not meeting the needs of America's seniors. The system would pay tens of thousands of dollars for a surgery, but not a few hundred dollars for the prescription drugs that could have prevented the surgery in the first place. So working with Congress, we passed critical legislation that modernizes Medicare, provides seniors with more choices, and gives seniors better access to the prescription drugs they need.."

Fw: From the Office of Senator Evan Bayh

After the Senate's full vote on the confirmation of Judge Alito to the Supreme Court, I sent a letter to Indiana Senator Evan Bayh expressing my disappointment with him for voting against then-Judge Alito's confirmation. Today I received the following email reply:

----- Original Message -----

From: noreply@bayh.senate.gov

Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 4:07 PM

Subject: From the Office of Senator Evan Bayh

Thank you for contacting me regarding President Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito , Jr. as Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns on this issue.

I believe the President deserves great deference in his choices for the federal bench. The Senate has confirmed 216 of President Bush = s judicial nominees since he took office. I have supported more than 95% of the President = s nominees. On many of those occasions, I have been one of a handful of Senators to cross party lines and support the President. I have supported all of Senator Lugar = s choices for federal judges, magistrates, and U.S. Attorneys in Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.

As you know, President Bush nominated Samuel Alito as Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court on October 31, 2005. Upon the conclusion of his hearings before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and after carefully examining his record, I decided he was not the right choice for this position.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope the information I have provided is helpful. My website, http://bayh.senate.gov, can provide additional details about legislation and state projects, and you can also sign up to receive my monthly e-newsletter, The Bayh Bulletin , by clicking on the link at the top of my homepage. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues important to you.

Office of Senator Evan Bayh
(202) 224-5623
Russell 463
Washington, D.C. 20510

I won't bother to editorialize about it. If you've been visiting my site for long, you already know how I feel.

Joe

Book Review: Babylon Rising - The Europa Conspiracy

From Tim Lahaye, creator of the best-selling Left Behind series, and author Bob Phillips, comes the latest in the Babylon Rising series, The Europa Conspiracy.

Tim Lahaye proves he can do more than Left Behind in his latest end times thriller as Professor Michael Murphy, a Biblical Archaeologist, encounters great danger and great discovery at the hands of arch-nemesis Talon and the mysterious Methuselah.

In book one, Babylon Rising, Murphy loses his wife to the cruel claws of Talon. In book two, Secret On Ararat, Murphy and his crew uncover the hidden resting place of Noah's Ark. In this most recent volume, Murphy and his gang find the handwriting on the wall that signaled God's punishment on ancient Babylon.

While I've found each volume in the series to be riveting, I did find something in book three that has been driving me nuts. As Murphy makes his quest to Babylon in search of the handwriting of God, one of his partners is a professor named Bingham. On Page 311, when Murphy worries that Bingham might be dead and he dreads having to give the news to Bingham's wife and kids, Bingham shows up behind him with a camera in hand and asks, "Were you looking for this?" On Page 320, as Murphy and company are discussing leaving Israel, they mention that Bingham needs to get back to his wife and kids. On Page 327, while sitting in a restaurant with Levi Abrams, Murphy says, "I still haven't gotten over the loss of BINGMAN -- he was a really nice man. His death brought to mind Laura's death... ." There is no BINGMAN in the story, and it clearly is meant to refer to Bingham. I suspect that it got past the editor because of the discrepancy in names. Not only is the name incorrect, but Murphy also talks of Bingham's death, which never occurs in the story, either.

It's just one of those minor details that bugs me. Obviously we're to believe that Bingham was somehow killed, though we never learn how and are lead to believe the opposite. It's not a difficult thing to follow and didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book at all.

If you enjoy end times fiction such as Left Behind, pick up this series today. You won't be disappointed.

Joe

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

The White House has taken their time posting the President's January 28 radio address in MP3 format, but it's finally available. Therefore, I am posting both this week's radio address and last week's together, to get things back up to date. Sorry for the delay.

Joe

January 28, 2006:

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to hold an up-or-down vote on Judge Alito's nomination. Throughout its 216-year history, the Senate has held an up-or-down vote on every Supreme Court nominee with majority Senate support. Judge Alito has demonstrated that he is eminently qualified to serve on our nation's highest court, and America is fortunate to have a man of his integrity and intellect willing to serve."

February 4, 2006:

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "The American Competitiveness Initiative will help our nation remain the world's economic leader. By investing in research and development, unleashing the innovative spirit of America's entrepreneurs, and making sure that our economy has workers highly skilled in math and science, we will lay the foundation for lasting economic prosperity.

Alito Vote Roll Call

Want to know how your Senators voted in the confirmation of Judge Sam Alito?

Find out here.

Joe

Alito, the Union, & More

I've been on the road to Chicago today for a meeting for work, so the update's a little late.

- Judge Alito was confirmed today to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in a very close partisan vote.

- Ben Bernanke was confirmed today to replace Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan.

- Coretta Scott King passed away during the night last night.

- President Bush delivered the State of the Union Address tonight, while protester Cindy Sheehan -- an invited guest -- was arrested inside the Capitol Building for disorderly conduct.

I love America!

Joe

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