Hey Michigander Home Schools

A note from Home School Legal Defense Association

October 15, 2008

Michigan–Your Vote Crucial in Preserving Homeschool Freedom

Dear Michigan HSLDA Members and Friends,

Election time is fast approaching. This November 4, many state and
federal officials are up for re-election.

The election outcome will determine what freedoms you will keep and
what freedoms you will lose.

Exercising your right to vote is crucial. The voter guide below will
help you make informed decisions as you cast your vote.

Remember, statistics show that approximately only 50% of eligible
adults actually register to vote. In any given election only about 50%
of registered voters vote (that is 25% of adults)!

That means it only takes about 13% of adults to elect any given
candidate. Your vote counts!

ACTION:

To download Michigan Family Forum’s nonpartisan 2008 General
Election Voter Guide, visit http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=5653 .

If you have not yet used a voter’s guidebook, you’ll be pleased with
how easy it is to decide who to vote for by answering the same
questions submitted to the candidates and comparing your answers to
theirs.

Michigan Family Forum’s 2008 General Election Voter Guide is
nonpartisan and legal for distribution at your church, civic club,
etc.

You may also call the Michigan Family Forum at (517) 374-1171 to
request a guide.

Please help spread the word about this resource for responsible
citizenship! Forward this message to your family and friends in
Michigan so they can also use this valuable resource.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

> For a legal perspective on what activities churches and pastors are
allowed to take part in, check out these resources prepared by
attorney James Bopp: “Do’s and Don’ts for Political Activities of
Pastors”: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=5634 and “Guidelines for
Political Activities by Churches and Pastors”:
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3380

> To request an absentee ballot, contact your local election authority
by visiting http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=5654 .

Don’t forget to exercise your right to vote on November 4!

Sincerely,

Chris Klicka
HSLDA Senior Counsel

Levin vs Hoogendyk

A letter from Jack Hoogendyk.  Call your Michiganders and tell them to watch.

Is Carl Levin Ready for Prime Time?

Below, is the press release that went out last week about the debates that will take place between me and Senator Carl Levin. I want to thank all of you who pressured his campaign and the media to make this happen. It has been a long time since Senator Levin has debated his opponent on live television before a statewide audience.

Please help us spread the word! Tell all your friends to be watching their local PBS affiliate at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 19th. In fact, you may want to call the PBS affiliate to make usre they carry the debate.

I would not want to pass up this opportunity to ask you to consider a contribution to the campaign. If everyone reading this sent in as little as $10, we could do so much more; purchase more yard signs, buy more media. We have a real uphill battle, but things are looking better everyday. If you can make a contribution, $10, $25, $50, please do so here.

Thanks, again for your help in getting these important debates. And, thank you for your support and prayers. God bless.

Hoogendyk for US Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Danae Brack Campaign Manager 517-444-1181

Hoogendyk and Levin to Face Off in Two Debates US Senate Candidates Will Meet in Detroit and Grand Rapids Michigan - October 2, 2008 - US Senate candidates Jack Hoogendyk and Carl Levin have agreed to participate in at least two debates this election season. The first, scheduled for October 19th, will be hosted by WGVU and Grand Valley State University. All seven of Michigan’s public television stations have agreed to broadcast the debate live at 7 pm. The second debate will be the following day, October 20th, at the Detroit Economic Club. “The unusual thing about these debates is that no negotiations were involved whatsoever — at least, not that our campaign knew about,” said Hoogendyk. “Senator Levin’s office sent a letter on September 2nd offering to open up negotiations regarding potential debates, but since that time no one from my campaign has been able to begin to negotiate or even to make contact with the Levin campaign. Phone calls, letters, and e-mails received little or no response. Finally we were contacted by the debate hosts to inform us that Senator Levin had agreed to the debates. “However, I am glad that Senator Levin recognizes the value of making himself available to answer the voters’ questions and make known his positions on the issues. I look forward to the opportunity to tell the voters why reform is needed in the US Senate, and how I plan to bring that about.”

Go McNeese!

Thought I would be a Louisiana resident in time for this game.  But, we were delayed by a week.  Oh well.

Tonight, I’m pulling together my recipe for Crawfish Etoufee.  My turn to cook at the tail gate.  Ice Chest full of age appropriate beverages, lawn chairs, family and friends!

Go Cowboys!

Mother Teresa

I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child. . .

The Current Election Polls and Hope

The current polls show Obama leading and probably pulling away.  It has me terribly concerned, not because I’m an ardent McCain supporter, but because I am an ardent Obama opponent. One major reason is that he is the most Pro-Abortion presidential candidate ever.  I’ve been mulling a new post on abortion.

I was over at Cathlete and sorting through the links.  I settled on Unborn Word of the Day.  And perhaps it was providence that I found an article about a very important election and Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Unborn.

After reading it, remember that prayers for the unborn may lead to the defeat of Barack Obama.

Acorn, Barack Obama, and the Catholic Church

We give generously.  It is usually through Catholic charities.  I only give a token donation each year to United Way through my company because of it’s relationships with abortion organizations.

Here’s a reason why we need to cautiously investigate charities that we would expect to be safe.

In case you are wondering, Obama was a community organizer for ACORN.

Debate 2

Tom Brokaw should go back into retirement.  He did an incredibly poor job of moderating. Not just time management, but also question selection.  We’ve heard those questions time and time again – nothing very interesting.

Three points:

1. McCain has a legitimate approach to an energy policy.  Drill for Oil.  Build Nuclear power plants.  Pursue alternatives.

2. Obama is the most liberal member of the senate.  The country is mad that the government is broke.  Obama is a supporter of pork.

3. I understand McCain’s health proposal (not sure I agree with it).  I don’t understand Obama’s proposal.  First, Obama says if you are happy with your insurance, great.  But then he went on to say that letting us buy across state lines will only encourage insurance companies to not offer services he thinks are important.  He’s going to tell us what our policies will include.  Also, he did not deny that there would be a penalty if you don’t buy insurance, if employers wouldn’t offer it.

That said, Michael Savage may have called it.  Obama will win and McCain will eventually lose his seat in the senate.

I hope that is not the case.  Obama is the most liberal senator.  He has not been the leader in his own party.  He will be pulled around by Nancy “the Catholic Church is unclear on Abortion” Pelosi and Harry “we don’t know what to do” Reid.

The Constitution and the Role of Vice President

Don’t take my word for it . . . read it here.

Joe Biden referenced Article 1, stating that the office of the Vice-President is just a member of the Executive Branch.  He went on to contradict himself when he said that the Vice-President votes in Congress when the Senate is deadlocked.

Here’s the fact.  From the Constitution:

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Biden was right.  The Vice-President does vote in the Senate.  This means that when the Vice-President votes to break ties in the Senate, He (or hopefully She) is part of Congress (the Legislative branch).

Here’s further support for that statement – straight from the Constitution.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

Does it need to be more clear?  The Vice-President is part of the Senate – part of the Legislature.

Finally Article 3:

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Note that the word VICE is missing.  The executive power shall be vested not in the Vice-President but the PRESIDENT.  As much as it might pain Senator Biden, it seems that Governor Palin and Vice-President Cheney know a little more about the constitution than him.

Palin wins

I think we all saw a little more of why Sarah Palin has lit a fire under the Republican base.  I’m a little biased – I’ve been watching Palin for a long while.  But, Palin won the debate.  The proof is HNN has already cut over to Nancy Grace.

Global Warming puts you on a diet

Sometimes I eat 4 modest portions of meat per day!  If you Global Warming nuts come for my steak, you’ll meet the business end of my steak knife.

Take a look here!

Now, don’t do like me and go off half-cocked.  They make some good points, buy local produce, buy grass fed beef, live in moderation.  But, a recommendation and a mandate are two very different things.  And, the global alarmists are just the type to carry this to far.