Why Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have my vote.

I'll be the first to admit that when it was evident that Romney was going to win the Republican presidential nominee, I felt a bit hopeless for our country.  I had read many reports, watched the videos of his changing position on life issues, and just felt a general lack of trust for Romney.  That has changed and here's why. 

Romney's pick of Ryan started to soften my general unease about Romney, as it did with many pro-life people.  Although there have been bumps since that decision, and there will probably be more, I am no longer a Romney skeptic but a Romney supporter.  Perhaps I read too much Hotair or Drudge Report and not enough Shea, but I'd like to think my intellect and heart are more capable than that.  My instinct now is that Mitt Romney is a good man, and God has taught me to trust my instincts.  I don't think my instinct changed, I just think I was ignorant about the man Mitt Romney before this.  You know, I was against him before I was for him ;)  I guess time will tell, but regardless, my hope is in the Lord, not the man.

I got to know Mitt a little bit by listening to some of those who know him closest, particularly his wife.  Nothing like a wife to soften the hearts of people about her guy.  What became evident to me is that Mitt Romney, for all his failures on life issues in the past, is a man who celebrates family, and celebrates life.  To Mitt Romney, a baby is a cause for celebration, a cause to praise God, a beautiful testament to the love of our Creator, of God, our Father.  A baby is not viewed as a threat or a punishment, a baby is viewed as a dignified creation of God.  And he obviously has a talent for bringing prosperity out of adversity, and this is a grace from God that we need desperately in our country right now.

It is evident that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan both care and have a deep respect for women, from the way that they speak of the women in their lives, their moms, their wives, and the women who have worked with them.  Romney has shown his respect for women by action, from the women he has mentored to his deep respect for both working women and women who choose to stay home to care for their children at home.  I believe, perhaps wrongly, that his desire to help women may have been what prompted his grave error on life issues in the past.  Many of us were indoctrinated/lied to/tricked into believing that abortion is a women's rights issue.  The truth is that not only does abortion kill a human being, but it devastates a woman's heart, body, and mind as well.  Because this truth is being realized more and more around the world, people's hearts are changing about abortion, and I believe Mitt Romney is one of those people.

Mitt Romney never supported abortion because he believed that a baby was a punishment or because he believed a baby is a threat.  That is what our current President believes.  More children stand in the way of progress in Obama's mindset, a baby or a child is only to be celebrated if it is wanted and fits into a nice little agenda of making sure it does not stifle a woman's career or exhale too much carbon dioxide.  Yes, he does purport to care about the poor, and the life of a child born into poverty, but honestly, the solution is not to eliminate the child, the solution is to provide opportunity and love for that child.  Every child, EVERY child is a gift, no matter what circumstances into which they were born, and I believe with all my heart that Romney knows that too and will enact policies to strengthen families and protect the dignity of life.

So that is why I fully suppport the Romney/Ryan ticket.  I no longer feel hopeless about our country. I have never lost hope in God and His care for us, but after seeing all those children from the Romney and Ryan families run after the balloons at the end of the convention, I feel a little bit more spring in my step regarding the direction of our country.  Whatever happens, with or without Obama, with or without Romney, God has given each one of us special talents and my heart is full of gratitude for those gifts God gives us.  I believe Romney and Ryan are also both deeply thankful to God for His Grace.  And that is our true hope.

Scroll to about 43:10 in the video below to see the beautiful scene of all the children in the Ryan and Romney families coming out and playing with the balloons. It's priceless! Thank You God for these families! 




Our hope is in You Lord, we accept Your Divine Will. May we cooperate with Your Divine Will, by supporting and encouraging each other to celebrate the beautiful gift of life and families.  Amen.

Must Read: A Heart on Fire: Catholic Witness and the Next America

Archbishop Charles Chaput's newly released Heart on Fire:  Catholic Witness and the Next America is a must read!  I highly recommend reading this, regardless of your beliefs.  It is a fantastic perspective on what is happening in our American public square right now.

The best part is that it is available electronically for just 99 cents!  Find it here or here.  Download it and read it!  It is only 19 pages long.

Exactly what needed to be said

For the first time in a long time, I am engaged in politics again, mainly because of Rick Santorum's surge in the polls.  I am not necessarily a Newt supporter, but I do like him better than I used to many years ago.  I like Santorum better.  But what Newt said at the debate Saturday night was exactly right, especially with regards to "secular bigotry":

“I just want to raise a point about the news media bias,” Gingrich said after a rhetorical skirmish about gay marriage. “You don’t hear the opposite question asked.

“Should the Catholic Church be forced to close its adoption services in Massachusetts because it won’t accept gay couples, which is exactly what the state has done? Should the Catholic Church be driven out of providing charitable services in the District of Columbia because it won’t give in to secular bigotry? Should the Catholic Church find itself discriminated against by the Obama administration on key delivery of services because of the bias and the bigotry of the administration?”

“The bigotry question goes both ways,” Gingrich added. “And there’s a lot more anti-Christian bigotry today than there is concerning the other side. And none of it gets covered by the news media."

H/T Vincenzo for text and video

He Knows What He is About

I have not posted on politics in awhile, mainly because I haven't been following it much, but I read something Ed Morissey said this morning that makes a lot of sense regarding the fiscal mess our country is in:

There is a lot of anger at the moment in the US over the embarrassment of the downgrade, as well as shock. I’m most amused by the shock, to tell the truth. S&P didn’t say anything yesterday that was not common knowledge and common sense. If you had to rate a potential investment that had an income of, say, $22,000 a year but had costs of $37,000 per year, a standing debt of $143,000, and contracted future debt that exceeded $1 million, would you give that investment a gold-plated AAA rating and buy their bonds at the lowest interest rate possible, or at all? Of course not, but that’s exactly the fiscal situation of the US, at a 100,000,000:1 scale.

The anger is mainly misdirected. The media wants to blame the Tea Party, but the Tea Party wants to solve the actual problem — overspending and overcommitment to entitlement programs. The Tea Party wants to blame the Obama administration, and it deserves some blame for refusing to address the real structural problems of the US fiscal condition. But that fiscal structure far predates Barack Obama, both as President and as human being, and Congresses and White Houses of both parties have done little to address the real problems in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Why? Because as soon as people try to do so, demagogues accuse them of wanting to push Grandma over a cliff. Voters respond by punishing the reformers and rewarding the demagogues. If we collectively want to blame someone, we collectively should be looking in a mirror.

So where do we go from here? I do not know, I'm just a woman trying to be a loving wife, mother, and friend, knowing that I am a daughter of God. We try as a family to be responsible with our finances and to give our first fruits to God. While I do not know the solution (besides more responsibility in our own lives as well as that of our government), I do know that the only true answer is to trust God and follow His ways, He knows what He is about.

I'm a Firing Line Geek

Here's an interesting interview (or maybe boring to most sane people) of Julian Simon by William F. Buckley:



Here's one where Buckley interviews Saul Alinski. Love Buckley's totally relaxed demeanor as he schools Alinski. Especially about a pastor's profession or belief or "racket" as Alinski calls it. The cigarettes are interesting:



I know, I know, I really should go do something more productive. Nursing a baby and watching Firing Line on YouTube.... and then blogging about it. Wow. I am a geek.

Gotten Alinskied Lately?

Badger Catholic wrote about being Alinskied recently, and I had to laugh....

So I can relate to being discombobulated by the kids when trying to make valid political points with someone who is obviously uninformed... of course, who knows what the poor uninformed person is thinking.... "can't they even control their kids?"

It's time for Schoolhouse Rock again

It's time for Congress to watch Schoolhouse Rock again, I'm Just a Bill:



I do not believe that making a mockery of the Constitution is the answer....

HT Ed Morrissey at Hot Air

Need a Hideaway?

Too funny not to post, plus Cheap Trick!! We're only a few states away! :)



HT Allahpundit at Hotair

Wow. Just. Wow.

Here is the power Reid does not want taken from him:

FY11OmnibusEarmarkDatabase


On the upside: possibly a more spiritual post coming up because I can't stand to leave this blog on a negative political note.

If you abhor politics, move along, nothing to see here :)

Time for Executive Branch to Watch Schoolhouse Rock

Well, I've already posted about how Congress needs to watch Schoolhouse Rock or maybe read the Constitution. It looks as though the Executive Branch maybe needs to do the same (not that this is any newsflash):


White House wants Transfer Authority on Appropriations



H/T Ed Morissey at Hot Air

The Great Brainwashed

Katie Couric is having a great time touring "this great unwashed middle of the country" according to an interview with Howard Kurtz. I think when my husband and I are done raising our children, we will take a tour of the "great brainwashed" urban coastal areas of our country. ;)

H/T Allahpundit at HotAir


P.S. - Not that there's anything wrong with these urban coastal areas, just making a point :)

It's Not Me, It's You

Okay, I've admitted before that I am a bit of a political junkie. I try not to get too political on this blog, but sometimes I just can't help myself. I just read a really good take on what's going on in the political field right now. David Paul Kuhn hit the nail on the head about the desperate tone of politicians who are blaming voters rather than taking some responsibility for the mess we are in. Here's the money quote from the article in my opinion:

Democrats are failing to say the "buck stops here." They're passing the buck. And not often, but still too often, Democrats are now asking voters to take some of the blame. Presidents are expected to lead people out of the wilderness, not blame the public for being lost in the woods. Americans don't want to be lectured on how they got lost. They want a way out.

Of course, we all share some responsibility for the mess we are in, whether from our own irresponsibility, lack of engagement, apathy, or whatever the case may be. But when politicians start blaming the voter, you know they are in deep trouble. The way out is going to be tough, and we will not be out at the end of this next election, nor in the next. And one political party or another is not going to lead us out either. As Catholics, we must stand by Truth and live our faith unreservedly and with courage. The only way out is through God and Godly leadership.

Do go read Kuhn's post at RealClearPolitics

H/T HotAir

Contrasting Archbishop Chaput with Archbishop Dolan

Scroll to end for updates.

Okay, I know, I'm supposed to be not blogging for a couple of weeks. Right after this, I am going to get back to work on homeschooling. Why are we homeschooling? Because, right now in our world, the most important thing we can do for our children is to teach them how to live in the strength and beauty of their Catholic faith. They need to be battle-ready to defend their faith and to stand up for their beliefs in the face of increasing persecution. Yes, we need to be always be living the Truth in love; however, we need not be naive about the forces which are trying to destroy the freedom to practice and live our faith completely.

Thought this was an interesting contrast between two leaders in our Church today. What do you think?

Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, source Lifesite News:

"Systematic Discrimination Against Church Now Seems Inevitable"

…we cannot dispense with our history out of some superficial concern over offending our non-Christian neighbors. Notwithstanding the chatter of the "new atheists," there is no risk that Christianity will ever be forced upon people anywhere in the West. The only "confessional states" in the world today are those ruled by Islamist or atheist dictatorships -- regimes that have rejected the Christian West's belief in individual rights and the balance of powers.

I would argue that the defense of Western ideals is the only protection that we and our neighbors have against a descent into new forms of repression -- whether it might be at the hands of extremist Islam or secularist technocrats.

But indifference to our Christian past contributes to indifference about defending our values and institutions in the present. And this brings me to the second big lie by which we live today -- the lie that there is no unchanging truth.

Relativism is now the civil religion and public philosophy of the West. Again, the arguments made for this viewpoint can seem persuasive. Given the pluralism of the modern world, it might seem to make sense that society should want to affirm that no one individual or group has a monopoly on truth; that what one person considers to be good and desirable another may not; and that all cultures and religions should be respected as equally valid.

In practice, however, we see that without a belief in fixed moral principles and transcendent truths, our political institutions and language become instruments in the service of a new barbarism. In the name of tolerance we come to tolerate the cruelest intolerance; respect for other cultures comes to dictate disparagement of our own; the teaching of "live and let live" justifies the strong living at the expense of the weak.

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, source To Whom Shall We Go blog:

Sometimes, how we do things is as important as what we do.

Never has this been truer than in our present discussion, where civility and regard for the dignity of others must be our priority.

Presuming the worst in others always puts dialogue at risk; mutual respect is basis of all good listening.

This is a good time for all of New York, in its varied cultural, ethnic, and religious communities, to come together in thoughtful and respectful exchange so our real healing can begin. Although I have no strong sentiment about what should be decided about the eventual where of the Islamic Center, I do have strong convictions about how such a discussion should be reached: civilly and charitably. The hot-heads on either side must not dominate. While I’m hardly an expert in this area, and there are certainly far more competent voices than mine, the Archdiocese of New York would be honored to be part of any such conversations.

Pope John Paul II’s life was an example of how this kind of good will can resolve centuries-old hatreds, building new bridges between Christians, Jews and Muslims. In this same spirit, the Archdiocese of New York hopes to cooperate with other religious leaders in laying the groundwork for a long-term relationship with the City’s diverse Islamic groups, extending the hand of friendship long overdue between both of our communities. Similarly, now is the time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to binding up the unhealed wounds of 9/11, and to consoling the ongoing suffering of its survivors.

As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, our challenge as New Yorkers is clear: to keep our proud heritage of religious freedom and a warm hospitality to newcomers alive, so that the twin goods of both welcoming and healing are never left unbalanced.

What do I think? Well, while I have a great deal of respect for both Archbishop Dolan and Archbishop Chaput, I believe that now is not the time to remain neutral and try to build bridges. Dialogue may be well and good, but let us not be naive in thinking that there are not forces out there that are trying to destroy us. May God have mercy on us and guide our shepherds in Truth.


Update: Archbishop Chaput's entire address he gave in Slovakia entitled "Living Within the Truth: Religious Liberty and Catholic Mission in the New Order of the World." is posted at Zenit.com

Prayer for Government

A Blessed Independence Day to you!

Here's a prayer that I found over at Fr. Z's blog What Does the Prayer Really Say? composed by
Archbishop John Carroll, relative of Charles Carroll, a Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Prayer for Government

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope N., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Here is an excellent post U.S. Catholics reflect on the Declaration of Independence: Do We Still Hold these Truths? by Deacon Keith Fournier at Catholic Online. An excerpt:

The Declaration of Independence was the birth certificate of the United States of America. The principles it communicates have informed our history as a free people and inspired our neighbors in other parts of the world to stand up against all forms of tyranny. Catholics who are Americans know all too well the ravages of the "dictatorship of relativism" in our Nation. It is time to take up the task of the New Evangelization in this Nation which we love. It has become mission territory. We are the missionaries. May God Bless America.

Read the rest here.

And finally, my husband read 1776 by David McCullough and loved it. Here is a review of 1776 by Catholic Media Review. Some time, after I finish reading the 10 or so books on my list :), I would like to read it too!

Tyrannosaurus Debt

And now for a break from all things spiritual, although God is a part of every aspect of our lives. Another post on faith and politics may be coming....

For those of you who don't know, I am somewhat of a political junkie. Ugh. I know. Anyway, back in March, I wrote that Congress needs to watch Schoolhouse Rock or read the Constitution of the United States or something. Well, I am reiterating that point again with another Schoolhouse Rock reference to Tyrannosaurus Debt:

There's something huge
Red, white, and blue
That's grazing in D.C.
It's gobbling up the taxes
That are paid by you and me
It doesn't seem to notice
We really can't afford
The billions that it's costing us
To pay its room and board

It doesn't roam
But seems content
To dwell on Capitol Hill
As long as trucks keep pulling up
With tons of green-back bills
We've got to feed the big guy
We really can't forget
It has an awesome appetite
Tyrannosaurus Debt

TOUR GUIDE: The debt was born in 1790 when our new government took over 75 million the colonies spent in the Revolutionary War.

We've got to feed the monster
So it doesn't get upset
It's got an awesome appetite
Tyrannosaurus Debt

TOUR GUIDE: Alexander Hamilton, our first Secretary of the Treasury (he's on the 10, you know), wanted a federal debt to provide a reason to establish taxes to support our new nation.

The debt was young, they kept it small
They didn't know back then
In 1812 another war would make it grow again
By '66 the Civil War had cost the nation millions
The government in Washington now had a debt of billions

TOUR GUIDE: The Civil War ran up a debt of almost three billion dollars that still wasn't paid off by World War One.

We're spending money we don't have
Or so it would appear
The deficit is that amount we overspend each year
Though congressmen and senators
Make vows to cut its size
Despite their honest efforts
The debt just seems to rise

TOUR GUIDE: Now the debt's over 4 trillion dollars and still growing...

A balanced budget would be great
To spend within our means
To stop the monster in its tracks
Before we bust our seams
It feeds on just the interest
Its appetite is whet
It never, ever stops to rest
Tyrannosaurus Debt

TOUR GUIDE: And this is the U.S. Treasury. It sells Treasury Bonds, bills, and notes, and savings bonds to finance the debt. The U.S. government promises to pay the owner interest plus the value of each bond at a future date.

We've got to try to tame the debt
And bring it down to size
To let it grow unchecked like this
Is certainly unwise
The debt's a monster problem
That we really can't ignore
I guess we should be grateful
That it's not a carnivore
We've got to keep on servicing
Our trillion dollar pet
It's got a monster appetite
Tyrannosaurus Debt

A fiscal misadventure
With trillion dollar dentures
Tyrannosaurus Debt

TOUR GUIDE: Feeding time is ALL the time.

And here's one I haven't seen on many blogs yet, so I thought I would write about it here. Now the House has "hereby adopted" H.R. 1493 a "not-really-a-budget" in another house resolution, Section 4 of HR 1500 by a vote of 215-210. What does this mean? It means that they can "pursue this alternative to a real budget that will allow them to keep up their record levels of spending without having to be fiscally accountable."

ht Michele Bachman blogging at Townhall.com