There is no compromise when your work is to eliminate the most common medical procedure for women in the US.

When abortion is the most common medical procedure for women in the US, doesn’t that illustrate for Ms. Neumann that we have a problem?  I’ll be clear that I want the health care reform bill scrubbed for a variety of reasons.  While I know the Stupak-Pitts amendment does make it more palatable for some who are pro-life, and it does prohibit the use of federal funds to provide for abortions in the public option.  I was pointing out the simple fact that it doesn’t make the bill pro-life.  She brings up the Hyde Amendment, but it has been noted that this bill’s language is not consistent with the Hyde Amendment.

Lastly, Ms. Neumann proclaims that “Stupak-Pitts hurts women.”  How is that exactly?  The Stupak-Pitts amendment specifically addresses the issue if the life of the mother is in danger (which with neonatal advances really is a complete ruse, and the percentage of cases like this miniscule).  It also address rape and incest (again miniscule).  No apparently Ms. Neumann thinks it hurts women because they can’t have abortion on demand on the taxpayer dime.

News flash – that doesn’t hurt women, other choices are available, but rarely embraced by the pro-abortion crowd.  What really hurts women is abortion itself.  It hurts physically.  It hurts women psychologically.  But let’s not talk about that, and abortion clinics often don’t.

Not to mention, first and foremost, the child that is hurt and then killed.

General Douglas MacArthur in his farewell speech to the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY in May, 1962.  He gave tribute to the ideals that inspire the American soldier.

Duty – Honor – Country.

The code which those words perpetuate embraces the highest moral laws and will stand the test of any ethics or philosophies ever promulgated for the uplift of mankind.  Its requirements are for things that are right, and its restraints are for the things that are wrong.  The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training – sacrifice.  In battle and in the face of danger and death, he discloses those divine attributes which his Maker gave when He created man in His own image.  No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of the Divine help which alone can sustain him.  However horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country is the noblest development of mankind.

Thank you to all of the soldiers, sailors and Marines who have served honorably and courageously in defense of our nation. Thank you for the sacrifice of time spent away from families and friends.  And we are thankful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  It is a debt that we can never repay.

Take time to remember our veterans who have sacrificed much, and thank those men and women in uniform who currently serve.  Also, let’s remember to continue to pray for them and their families while they are abroad and at home.

Governor Sarah Palin is coming to Iowa for a book signing for her soon to be released book, Going Rogue: An American Life.

Pertinent Info:

Barnes & Noble
Southern Hills Mall
4400 Sergeant Road
Sioux City, IA 51106
1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2009

I’m thinking road trip unless she comes closer.  It had to be about as far away as you can get from Des Moines while still being in the state.  Car pool anyone?

HT: Josh Painter

11/10/09 Update: From the Barnes & Noble website event calendar:

Sarah Palin is signing Going Rogue at this event. No other books or memorabilia. A limited number of wristbands for entry into this booksigning will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the store beginning at 7 AM on 12/6/09.

Sunday December 06, 2009 1:00 PM
Southern Hills Mall
4400 Sergeant Rd Unit 550, Sioux City, IA 51106, 712-276-5515

Special Instructions
An original Barnes & Noble or bn.com sales receipt for Going Rogue by Sarah Palin must be presented in order to receive a wristband. Must be present in person to receive wristband. Maximum 2 copies of Going Rogue per person will be signed at event. Please call store for additional event details.

I also called the store and they didn’t have any additional details beyond what is online.  Though it probably wouldn’t hurt to call ahead as it gets closer.

Also if I learn of any other Iowa locations (or Omaha – since that is actually closer to me than Sioux City),  I’ll post.  For any other locations, Texas for Sarah Palin along with several other blogs are maintaining a clearing house of Going Rogue tour events here.  Also you can follow the tour as Governor Palin launches her new Twitter account – @SarahPalinUSA as the tour begins.

2nd Update: Bret Hayworth has some background info on Palin’s trip to Sioux City.  Apparently she specifically requested Sioux City if it was the only Iowa stop she could make:

I’ve just wrapped a second-day piece on the announcement that 2008 Republican Party vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will bring her “Going Rogue” booksigning tour to Sioux City. It will be her only Iowa appearance, so many Siouxlanders are pumped to see Palin. I spoke with Barnes & Noble community relations manager Elisha Karr, who said she heard from up the chain that Palin specifically asked to come to Sioux City. Seems she’d been buoyed by a crowd of 4,500 people at West High School here in the last few days before the 2008 election. I was there, Palin was definitely embraced by the crowd that day.

Also a couple of additional rules… in order to keep the line going:

• No posed photos with Palin.
• No personalization of signings of the books, Palin will be providing only an autograph.

So it looks like she isn’t coming to Des Moines.  Drat, again… anyone in my neck of the woods up for a road trip?  It’ll be a brutal one.

And one senior Democrat thinks even the Stupak amendment language will be stripped out of the bill.  From The Hill:

A House Democratic leader said Monday she’s “confident” controversial language on abortion will be stripped from a final healthcare bill.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the Democrats’ chief deputy whip in the House, said that she and other pro-abortion rights lawmakers would work to strip the amendment included in the House health bill that bars federal funding from subsidizing abortions.

“I am confident that when it comes back from the conference committee that that language won’t be there,” Wasserman Schultz said during an appearance on MSNBC. “And I think we’re all going to be working very hard, particularly the pro-choice members, to make sure that’s the case.”

Yes the Stupak amendment does limit funding for abortion in a public option.  However do not consider the health care legislation, pro-life.  It expands funding for contraceptives, some of which are abortifacient.  It increases funding for Planned Parenthood and that is completely unacceptable.  There is no conscience clause for pro-life health care providers, and it does force pro-life firms to provide coverage for abortionists.  It also makes provision for euthanasia.

For instance look at section 240 of the HR 3962 in particular subsection (d):

(d) PROHIBITION ON THE PROMOTION OF ASSISTED SUICIDE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), information provided to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(2) shall not include advanced directives or other planning tools that list or describe as an option suicide, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing, regardless of legality.

(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to apply to or affect any option to—

(A) withhold or withdraw of medical treatment or medical care;

(B) withhold or withdraw of nutrition or hydration; and

(C) provide palliative or hospice care or use an item, good, benefit, or service furnished for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort, even if such use may increase the risk of death, so long as such item, good, benefit, or service is not also furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, death, for any reason.

So starvation and dehydration are not considered "mercy killing” or “assisted suicide.”  Really?  Changing the definition doesn’t make it right.  This is not pro-life.  How can any pro-life advocates give this a pass?  Then getting to the Senate version we see it still doesn’t contain any language barring funding of abortion.

This ultimately is a bad bill (both versions) for those who believe in the sanctity of life, even with the Stupak amendment  Not to mention the plethora of other problems it contains.  How to be sure we have a pro-life bill?  Kill this one in the Senate, and start over and maybe actually consider the House Republican plan.

Senator Jerry Behn (R-Boone)

He had the unfortunate distinction of immediate following Governor Pawlenty.  He stressed that we need to stick to our principles and we can win.  He said that it is time to “clean house after 12 years of Democratic appointments.”  He brought up the poignant example of Marshalltown losing a potential business which would have brought $1.8 billion in revenue and an unelected board pulled the plug.

He said, “we need appointments of people who care about Iowans, not an agenda.”  He stressed that we need to incorporate competition for education.

Money quote from speech for me – “The reigns of the judiciary is the removal of those judges (referring to the Iowa Supreme Court) when they are up for retention.”  That we need to “free them up to be legislators if they want.”

Former Governor Terry Branstad

He said that “I’m here because I care about Iowa.  I love the Republican Party and my fervor has not waned.”  He touted fiscal responsibility, good education, and job creation.  He said that people asking him to run were saying, “Iowa is broke and they trust me to fix it.”

Money quote of his speech would be “too much debt is bad and those who create it should be thrown out of office.”

He highlighted his 16-years of office as having a record that was pro-family, pro-life, pro-business, pro-growth and pro-Iowa.  He then said a couple of things that were a complete 180 from what he told those of us who met with him almost a couple of weeks ago:

“I support giving Iowans the right to vote on marriage and I will work to get rid of the roadblocks that prevent it.” and “I am a proud conservative.”  He said those things privately in the meeting I was in, but explicitly stated it wasn’t “going to wear his conservatism on his sleeve” or campaign publically on the marriage issue.

He then made a pledge to follow Reagan’s 11th commandment while campaigning (not to criticize fellow Republicans), and said “I will wholeheartedly support whoever is the nominee.”  That seemed a bit strange.

Bob Vander Plaats

He officially welcomed Governor Branstad to the race.  He asked (not exact quote) will we go with the road of moderation or will we travel the road of conservative values?  He spent time lauding Ronald Reagan.

He promised on Day 1 to issue an executive order that places a stay on the April 3rd Iowa Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage.  He said he’d open the state up for business, and would limit government growth.

His money quote (for me being a parent who home educates): “It is the parent’s right and parent’s responsibility to raise and educate their children, not the government.”

Amen to that.  He also mentions that he wants to go after Culver’s voters – labor, teachers, African-Americans and then mentioned the endorsement he received by the Iowa head of the NAACP.

Representative Rod Roberts (R-Carroll)

He said alluding to the other five candidates that “any of us would be a far better governor than Governor Chet Culver.  Very true, I’ve said before that Gumby would be more competent than Debt Culver.

He highlighted a desire to bring fiscal discipline and lower taxes.  He would like to get rid of the business income tax in order to grow jobs.  He also highlights the retention ballot for three of the Supreme Court justices in November 2010.

Money quote referring to marriage: “It is the place of the people to tell the Government, not the government to tell the people.”

He claims to be the eternal optimist and so we have a Roberts prediction that Terrace Hill, the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate will go back into GOP hands.  I hope he’s right, but I’m not holding my breath – especially with the Senate.

He also brought up infrastructure, that focusing on our infrastructure will help with job creation.  Why aren’t Hwy. 20 and Hwy. 30 completed (becoming four lane).  Good question, why aren’t they?  Perhaps that could have been a project for I-Jobs if the money wasn’t distributed in such a stupid manner.

Christian Fong

He started talking about his background with being the son of a Chinese immigrant, and his educational background.  He is incredibly bright having graduated from Creighton University at 19, and then going to get an MBA from Dartmouth.  He points out that his father was an immigrant, but that he was a legal immigrant.  Says Iowa can’t be a a sanctuary state for illegal immigration.  The only candidate to mention that issue.

Money quote: “China didn’t come in talking about nationalization of the economy or talking about forced abortions; they came in talking about ‘hope and change’.”

He brings up that he is the only candidate who was born after Roe v. Wade, so the abortion issue is a very personal one for him.  He noted that “one-third of my generation is missing.”  He said that he would “defend life from natural conception to death.”

He also supports traditional marriage and would support a constitutional amendment.  He pledges to cut spending 5% in his first year and veto any spending not in compliance of the 99% spending limitation.  He also wants to eliminate personal income tax.  He says he represents our future, and we should “make our future now.”

Chris Rants

“Patti giveth, but Chet taketh away.”  He provided some anecdotal evidence of Lt. Governor Patti Judge traveling to Sergeant Bluff for a grant award ceremony, but then through Governor Culver’s budget mismanagement having to cut money that directly affected the school district.  In all being a net loss.

He pointed out every candidate has their niche, and he wants to stress lowering property taxes as that impacts jobs.  He also noted that there were more people at the Tea Party than were at the “Leadership for Iowa” event.  He said that those were people that the GOP has lost.

Money quote (referring to Tea Party people): “They are looking for leadership.  We haven’t been walking the walk.”

He said we haven’t been walking the walk with the marriage issue when the process leading toward that started much earlier.  We hadn’t been walking the walk with education.  He also when it comes to spending, no one has been provided specific ideas.  He wanted his campaign to provide tangible specific ideas whether he becomes governor or whomever takes up residence at Terrace Hill as the “Governor can’t do it by himself.”

Some of those spending ideas – eliminate pre-school, “the state shouldn’t be taking it away from churches and non-profits.”  Don’t spend money on new state vehicles.  Cut the Department of Human Rights “so we can keep troopers on the road.”  He also asked everybody to pray for the candidates as they travel and to handle the day-to-day stress of the campaign trail.

Final Thoughts:

Helped the most:

• I think Bob Vander Plaats did what was expected, and said the things his base expects.
• Christian Fong gave a very compelling speech that will certainly endear him to those who are pro-life.
• Chris Rants gives specific ideas which I think people can buy into.  Some of them may drive the left batty, but I think he should wear that as a badge of honor.
• Rod Roberts connects well when he speaks.  He is extremely likeable.  While he probably didn’t give the best speech of the evening, this was definitely a positive for him.

Who was hurt:

• Terry Branstad stumbled.  He didn’t seem well-prepared.  You can tell he hasn’t campaigned since the 1990s.  It showed.  If “he hadn’t lost his fervor” you couldn’t tell by his speech.  His campaign is off to a very rocky start.

I also encourage you to check out commentary from fellow blogger’s row neighbors – Al Bregar, Art Smith, Grant Young and Craig Robinson.  Don’t take our word for it though, be sure to watch the speeches yourself.

We discussed a variety of different topics including state spending, property taxes, the Iowa Supreme Court ruling, abortion, what his priorities would be as Governor, our growing prison population, and why he decided to run.

One thing I certainly learned is that if you want to know what Chris thinks, just ask.  Also of all of the candidates running I would classify  him as the policy wonk of the bunch.  Especially when it comes to the budget.  He has also been talking up providing specific ideas for state government, and has many of those ideas listed at 99 Ideas.org.

I’m including the slightly edited audio of our meeting today, and will transcribe our conversation and post that periodically as I am able.  No promises for a time frame.

Update: By the way, my Dad called me.  Yes, my father reads my blog, so I have one fan.  He mentioned the ending was abrupt.  One of these days I’ll actually do this audio thing right.  Right after the last question I asked, Representative Rants asked me a question about blogging and we went off on a tangent.  Perhaps you would have been interested in that conversation, but I gather most of you wouldn’t.  So no formal ending.

That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended – civilizations are built up – excellent institutions are devised; but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flow always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin. Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis

The question has been posed, “Is conservatism moving farther to the right?” Many believe it is and argue that this is what is wrong with the Republican Party and detrimental to America’s progress. Yet historically, history repeats itself and what begins as right, true and moral generally moves away from its foundational beginning and disintegrates into ruin.

America’s founding documents were based on what many through out history have relied upon as a solid foundation for Truth and Goodness. The Constitution is what American law and structure is resting on, but deeper still is the bedrock on which this document is built upon.

Oral tradition and written law, all have what in the Bible is called the Ten Commandments. Every civilization dating back to pre-history has been influenced by a set of foundational moral standards and upon these, civilizations have flourished. It is only when a society begins to move away from these foundational truths and justify this movement in the name of progress, does that society turn the corner of progress and begin to decompose from the inside out.

America’s foundational document was Biblical law and morality and the movement away from this is what has sparked the notion that the Right is moving more right. Yet Truth – Bedrock, does not move and those foundational truths still ring true for most. Conservatism has always been embedded on this Rock.

The argument can be better made that the bedrock of morality and ethics and our Constitution remains firm, weathering all tides of ideology and political philosophy, but it is the people who choose to move away from this moral standard, redefining terms to fit their agenda, lifestyle or political persuasion.

Great societies rise and fall on their ability to remain true to its origin. Most however fall because its citizens become complacent in protecting the very foundation on which their lives are built. Human nature falls into complacent slumber when all appears to be well, allowing the enemy of apathy and ignorance to take hold and draw away in the name of progress. When this happens, the decline of that once great society becomes apparent as those who rule no longer appeal to the bedrock of Truth but appeal to the swaying emotions of a people. The leaders argue not from a position of unchanging morality but of the ever changing needs as reflected by a society grasping for security from its government and not from a position of solid foundational Truth.

As C. S. Lewis stated above, history is the key. The fatal flaw begins when humans move away from Goodness and Truth as found in the Bible, and create a society that relies on changing winds and financial tides. If Truth is indeed unchanging, then why do we elect those who change with every wind of ideology, whose lives stand for everything but Truth and whose lips whisper only those things that tickle the ears of the ignorant and the apathetic.

President Ronald Reagan on June 12, 1987 gave an address in front of the Brandenberg Gate in West Berlin:

There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate.

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.

Mr. Gorbachev — Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Video excerpt of that famous speech:

And two years later the wall did fall.

President Obama decided that since he isn’t running for President anymore that he doesn’t need to go to the Berlin Wall, nor would it fit with an apology tour.  Governor Sarah Palin does understand, however, the importance of this anniversary noting on Facebook early this morning:

Twenty years ago, the ultimate symbol of the division between freedom and tyranny was torn down. The Berlin Wall was constructed for one purpose: to prevent the escape of East Germans to the freedom of the West. The Wall’s cold, gray façade was a stark reminder of the economic and political way of life across the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence in Eastern Europe.

Ronald Reagan never stopped regarding the Berlin Wall as an affront to human freedom. When so many other American leaders and opinion makers had come to accept its presence as inevitable and permanent, Reagan still hammered away at the Wall’s very premise in human tyranny, until finally the Wall itself was hammered down. Its downfall wasn’t the work of Reagan alone. Our president’s actions were joined with the brave acts of many individuals who stood firm and united in facing the Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall came down because millions of people behind the Iron Curtain refused to accept the fate of enslavement and their supporters in the West refused to accept that the “captive nations” would remain captive forever.

Though that long, tragic episode in human history had come to a close finally with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it wasn’t the “end of history” or the end of conflict as some had hoped. New conflicts confront us today throughout the world which call for courage and resolve and dedication to freedom. The new democracies and market economies that have emerged in Central and Eastern Europe still require our friendship and alliances as they continue to seek security, prosperity, and self-determination. But as we reflect on present and future challenges, let’s take time to celebrate the anniversary of this awesome victory for freedom. The downfall of that cold, gray concrete Wall should be a lesson to us in hope. Nothing is inevitable. Tyranny is no match for the hope and resolve of those who work and fight for freedom.

- Sarah Palin

Now if only our current President would understand what President Reagan knew and Governor Palin recognizes that we need “courage and resolve and dedication to freedom.”  We need it in Afghanistan, and we need it with the threats we now face with Iran and North Korea.

Related, see this article at the UK’s Daily Mail Online by Melanie Phillips: “We were fools to think the fall of the Berlin Wall had killed off the far Left.  They’re back – and attacking us from within.”

I was very impressed by Governor Pawlenty’s ability to connect with his audience.  I appreciated his sense of humor, and he promoted conservative values in a straight forward way.  He reminded us that we have 37 gubernatorial races next year.  That America sees the need for a comeback and asked, “are we fired up and ready to fight back?”  Some quotes that I particularly liked:

• “Aren’t you embarrassed when the Secretary of State goes to China on bended knee to ask them to buy our debt?”
• “Aren’t you embarrassed that the President of France lectures us about appeasement?”
• “The United States of America is not a beggar nation.”
• My personal favorite of the night – “The only thing growing faster than the national debt is Chris Matthews’ man crush on Barack Obama.”

He then talked about his record in Minnesota which one year he set the record for the most vetoes in a year as he was trying to cut spending.  It is pretty evident he is positioning himself for a 2012 run, and I think he would make an interesting candidate.

Some other Pawlenty coverage:

• Over at The Iowa Independent – Jason Hancock mentions that Pawlenty took heat for endorsing Doug Hoffman in NY 23.  He didn’t receive heat from anyone who matters Jason.
• Dave Price has a good summary and a behind the scenes video.  He also highlights him botching Bill Northey’s (Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture) and Dave Vaudt’s (Iowa State Auditor) names.  He also has some other links.
• Craig Robinson over at The Iowa Republican liveblogged his speech.

• Pajamas Media: Sarah Palin and the Dysfunctional Political Class by James DeLong (HT: Josh Painter)
• Hawkeye Review: A travesty of leadership…
• Chicago Tribune: Dem: White House warned him about Fox appearance
• Times Online (UK): Blair’s last throw of the dice for presidency
• Oliver North: Obama’s unlearned lesson
• Wall St. Journal: The Lords of Entitlement
• George Will: Bad climate for global worriers
• World Magazine: Going somewhere by Joel Belz
• CNSNews.com: Waxman Says ‘No Guarantee’ Amendment Prohibiting Abortion Funding Will Be Retained in Final Version of Health-Care Bill
• Chuck Colson: Not Optional: Human Rights

Consider this an open thread, so comment on whatever you like.  Also if you have Facebook and haven’t done this already consider following Caffeinated Thoughts via NetworkedBlogs.