Arkansas Blog

Replace the surname Huckabee with any combination of the surnames Rodham or Clinton, and I agree with the Kossacks.

Here's an LTE that local Morning News won't publish:

"The weather outside is frightful. Reality TV is anything but "real" and the rest of TV fare is in reruns. What's a family to do? My suggestion is turn off everything electric or battery powered except for a reading lamp. Remember books, the original internet? Armed with mugs of hot, marshmallow-laden cocoa, the whole family can settle in for the night and enjoy some quiet time together. I don't know what the kids are reading these days but I can make a few suggestions for the adults.First, I'd suggest: The Bible, specifically the New Testament - what I refer to as "the Jesus part." You'll notice that He says absolutely nothing - nada, zilch - about gay marriage or adoption or women with crisis pregnancies. Those were not his priorities and he obviously thought they shouldn't be yours either. He does have a lot to say, however, about the hungry, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the lonely and outcast and about loving your fellow man rather than judging him. And just wait until you see how fondly he refers to the peacemakers. But if you think you've read it all before and you're still considering not following his example, like signing some inane petition denying someone else his or her rights, read His story again because you missed the whole point. (And if, at this point, you still simply can't resist logging on and surfing the net, search for the name "Martin Niemoller" and find out what can happen to us when we start picking on others, the last thing He wanted.)

Second, Select a world history book, paying particular attention to stuff on Germany, Italy, Russia and Chile, mainly in the 40s -70s. But if something that wordy intimidates you select the short but exceptionally well-researched The End of America by Naomi Wolf. Be strong. Don't let it scare you. The mistakes we're making now have all been made before so we're not the first society heck-bent on its own destruction.

Third: I can highly recommend an exercise book - for your mind - that organ we often allow to atrophy. The book is called Models, Myths and Muddles: Thinking Toward Survival by Coralie Koontz. It's primarily about how we must learn to engage in critical thinking - a pastime that's liberating, quite a lot of fun, not for the weak, lazy or faint-hearted, and absolutely essential for the survival of societies, planets and species. Critical thinking means that we seriously consider all sides of every issue, use logic and truth to make sound, fact-based decisions and not allow anyone - politician, clergyperson, talk show host or celebrity - tell us how to think, or worse yet, how to vote. Sheep make lousy patriots so the time to engage the gray matter is now.

Finally, whatever your politics, world view or religious affiliation may be, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, good health, prosperity, and a convenient parking space at the mall.
Linda

The road is lonely.

Well, it's not really lonely -- the road, I suppose, is used to the constant companionship of passing cars and loafing construction workers. But life on the road is lonely.

Arkansas' highways stretch out languidly in the east, and curl up like so much twisted Christmas ribbon in the west. Along these curls and frayed edges are the stories of fellow Arkansawyers, sown into the soil of our understanding. We are from the Earth which we are planted... and that is where our tales sprout.

On roadsides in tree-filled counties, family businesses have taken root, flourishing with good economies and struggling with the bad. They are out there -- home-grown retail shops, unusual offered services, restaurants that reflect the taste of the area. There are homes of musicians and craftsmen and quilters and general people, much like you and me.

Sadly, along these same roads you will often find hunger pains, sighs of worry, and empty pockets. We are not all flourishing in these times. Some of our fellows struggle to survive. They must choose to spend what small sum they may gather from their toils -- will it be on food, or shelter, or needed medication? Choices that seem too hard to make are commonplace among the financially tight.

Most of us are blessed to have good food, a warm home, and the company of others over these holidays. Mayhaps these pour souls need attention. As you dine amidst family and friends this holiday, please remember those who are less fortunate... and consider what you can do to ease their path in this winding world of ours.

And if you meet them along lonely roads, may you both be blessed with kindness.

For the male audience.

Fair warning is hereby given.

Click on Cato

The Huckster is in Texas this weekend on a money raising effort from a certain corner of his supporters, one of which is Dr. Steven Hotze, a name not familiar to most of us. Here is a little on the doctor.
++++++++++
Hotze was one of dozens of ministers, professionals and laypersons who signed the Coalition on Revival's Manifesto for the Christian Church. The coalition claims on its Web site to be a national network of religious leaders aligned in a mission "to help the Church rebuild civilization on the principles of the Bible so God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven." They want all aspects of life -- government, science and education -- to adhere to fundamental biblical beliefs. These beliefs include the following:

. A wife may work outside the home only with her husband's consent

. "Biblical spanking" that results in "temporary or superficial bruises or welts" should not be considered a crime

. No doctor shall provide medical service on the Sabbath

. All disease and disability is caused by the sin of Adam and Eve

. Medical problems are frequently caused by personal sin

. "Increased longevity generally results from obedience to specific Biblical commands"

. Treatment of the "physical body" is not a doctor's highest priority

. Doctors have a priestly calling

. People receiving medical treatment are not immune from divine intervention or demonic forces

. Physicians should preach to their patients because salvation is the key to their health

. "Christians need better health to have more energy, tolerate more stress, get depressed less often, and be more creative than our non-Christian counterparts for the advancement of God's Kingdom."

zelda, here is a time worthy photograph to hang on your wall. Click on Cato.

Cato, how right you are about the good doctor. I just googled Hotze and there is an amazing amount of information. He is a quack and a money-hungry crook to boot. Huck must not check anybody's credentials before he publicly accepts their support.
On the other hand, maybe he doesn't care.

By this time next month we will probably see the new headline:
"Satan accepts Jesus as his Personal Savior, endorses Huckabee as US President."

I'll give credit where credit is due. Huck pissed Condi off royally.

Anyway, I am all set to enjoy a long weekend with kids, grandkids, lots of food, a good music program at church, and most of all a loving family.
Peace and love to all.

>>The Huckster is in Texas this weekend on a money raising effort from a certain corner of his supporters, one of which is Dr. Steven Hotze...Hotze was one of dozens of ministers, professionals and laypersons who signed the Coalition on Revival's Manifesto for the Christian Church.<<

Just in case there is any doubt, this is one of several Christocrats groups who fueled Bushit into office.

This begs the question was once enough?
.

i agree about nolan. not sure about the court namin or whatever but he needs some honors. it is time. the man is the only bb national championship winner we have and we need to start recognizin that. we need a statue or something. he didn't leave on any worse terms than sutton and he gets standing ovations and nolan had a better record.

From the Saturday NY Times :
Persuasive Huckabee Changed a State, His Way

http://tinyurl.com/2f6bwr

or

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/us/politics/22huckabee.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1198300258-rKrdHT/m2SxoCK465cxAbw&pagewanted=print

Yes sir! Let's start naming something for Nolan, the stink of his departure has faded and it's time to give credit where credit is due. And before you Nolan bashers start, there are no saints in college sports....not a damn one. The coaches are thuggish, hell, starting in junior high coaches are thuggish and it just gets worse the higher up you go.

It's time to start facing reality and not Huck-up the things we love. College sports is big business and every school in the nation does what a bunch of old white guys think needs to be done to win, legal or illegal.

While I'm speaking plainly, Huckabee isn't cavorting with snakes, he's seeking his own kind. He likes John Hagee, they believe as one. Huckabee likes Dr. Steven Hotze....they're washed in the blood brothers. Huckabee's right in there with Kenneth Copeland, spawn of Oral Roberts....FK'ing money grubbers, lying sacks, predators of the poor and ignorant. The Huckabee Band of Brothers!

Here we are questioning the wisdom of honoring a black coach with a record unequaled in U of A history...when we should be swatting ourselves with sharpened chains like Easter Filipinos for electing and reelecting Mike Huckabee for 13 years! I know we're 48th, but are we really that stupid? The only way we can make amens is to not let the rest of the country buy into the Huckabee Lie. Wake up America while we have the chance. Keep digging until we dig Huckster's political grave!

Why is USA a warrior-rightwing nation? Perhaps this helps us understand:

War hawks remain popular, even when wrong

BY MYRIAM MIEDZIAN AND GARY FERDMAN Minuteman Media

"..Rumsfeld was hired by one of our nation's most prestigious universities for his alleged expertise on terrorism and ideology "

"..neocon Bill Kristol, a founder of the Project on the New American Century, purveyors of today's disastrous Bush foreign policy, and early advocate of attacking Iraq. His reward for being wrong ? He teaches a class in public policy at Harvard, writes as a part-time " star" columnist for Time magazine,..."

"Victor Davis Hanson is a classics professor and military historian much admired - and listened to - by Dick Cheney. Hanson, who was a major advocate of attacking Iraq, is now at Stanford's Hoover Institute. In 2004, Tribune Media Services gave him a syndicated column.

Henry Kissinger, who was Richard Nixon's Secretary of State and played a key role in the secret bombing of Cambodia, has probably appeared as a foreign policy " expert " on more TV talk shows than any other former statesman.

Vehement anti-communist Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Ronald Reagan's foreign policy advisor and United Nations ambassador, favored supporting friendly right-wing dictatorships because, as she put it, " traditional authoritarian governments are less repressive than revolutionary autocracies. "

"The establishment media fired Phil Donahue and Bill Maher, ...Donahue was dismissed by MSNBC in 2003 because of his opposition to the Iraq war. Maher was banished from his popular nightly ABC gig for uttering the obvious truth ...

Why doesn't Richard Clarke, former counter-terrorism czar,...have a " star" column in Time magazine ?

Rev. Bob Edgar, an early religious voice of opposition to the Iraq invasion and general secretary of the National Council of Churches, representing more Protestants than any other U. S. organization, was virtually ignored by the major national media. But major TV networks saturated the airwaves with prowar religious leaders like the late Jerry Falwell."

Now tell me one more time about our "liberal media" bias.
.

"I will on no account vote for a smirking hick like Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who is an unusually stupid primate but who does not have the elementary intelligene to recognize the fact that this is what he is."

Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine

I borrowed this from Iconoclast:

"It would be interesting to know how much in political donations to campaigns are being received, and by whom, from those contractors who are receiving these no-bid contracts. It also would be interesting to note how much is being donated to funds such as the Razorback Foundation by these same contractors. It seems as if there is an inexhaustible supply of money to pay off coaches who have fallen from grace. This money must come from somewhere and I would suspect that it may be refundable to the donors in various good-ole-boy ways. This may be an interesting project for one of your competent investigative reporters. The fragrance coming from the University of Arkansas and the state legislators is becoming hard for us ordinary citizens to tolerate."

--Richard H. Eggert, "Follow Trail of Money," Letter to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

"Smirking hick ... " Hehe, I like that. When he grins, does he remind anyone else besides me of Gomer Pyle?

Yep, widj, he's the spitting image of Gomer when he grins. Shazayum!

I was looking for the photo of Bush I saw in the USA Today on Dec. 22, I believe. It was the day after his last press conference. I can't find the exact photo, and it was great, but I found these from the press conference instead. Click on blue name . . . gander through pages 1-4.

bla bla bla elwood and cato get smart or else you will mislead some who do not know the truth.
elwood the Jesus thing is imcomplete... He said to His deciples, "Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven and whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven."
Now go read the first chapter of Romans, also read the whole new testament.
The twelve deciples shall be judges over the things that man has done. Yes Jesus is the judge but He will judge according to those things the deciples bind or loose on earth, see. The most important thing we'll be judged for is, have we been born again?........ that means, do you confess Jesus Christ as Lord of Lord and King of Kings? To repent of our sins and accept Him into your heart is being born again. I believe he calls everyone and offers everyone salvation.
The main thing that we will be face with is about the seeds we sow while we are here on earth. The Bible says what we sow we shall reap. We will reap it here on earth that said we can now know that we are saved once and for eternity. That covers everything.
As the word of God says, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.