President Obama, John McCain, and Just a pebble

As a person who has never judged based on skin color, I am not overly impressed by the accomplishment of Barack Obama.  I can, however, acknowledge that Black Americans should feel significant pride that they can be elected to the single most important position in the world.  I can only hope that he becomes the most successful president in history, one that protects innocent life.

I watched John McCain’s concession speech.  I feel he was incredibly gracious.  I feel that, of the two candidates, he is significantly more accomplished and prepared to be President.

I started this blog to help Mike Huckabee become the 44th president.  That, obviously, didn’t work out.  I’m ok with that.  We should understand the past, but, don’t dwell on it.  The purpose of this site was to sustain life through politics.  In 4 years, Mike Huckabee will probably run again.  And so will some other qualified candidates.  That list probably includes Sarah Palin and possibly Bobby Jindal.  When the time comes, I’ll select my candidate and throw full support behind him or her.

I’m of an age that I find myself in a position to mentor some of my younger coworkers.  I tell them that they can throw themselves in, bulldoze people and projects, get things done, and leave a lot of people really ticked off.  Lots of successful leaders do that.  But, there’s another way to be just as successful.

Clearly identify the goal, treat people with respect by recognizing their viewpoints and their diversity, and have an explanation when you select a different path.

Pascal said, “The least movement is important to all nature.  The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.”

I learned a lot from getting so involved in this Presidential election.  And, I influenced it.  Not to the extent I wanted, but, I convinced many people to support Mike Huckabee.  AND, I got even more to at least consider him.  Me, just a pebble.

Since FortyFour no longer has the significance it once had, I’ll be starting over at

Just a Pebble.

Visit me there soon!

Your Friend,

Vince

Nic Vujicic – It’s how you finish

My dad is an e-mail forwarding junkie.  Most goes into the trash bin.  But, sometimes there is a jewel.

I’m sorry Mrs. Palin. . .

your baby has downs syndrome.  We won’t pay for your delivery and his lifelong care.  But, we will pay for the abortion.

Read this article (I found it at Opinionated Catholic).  In my feeble mind, it’s not a far leap to imagine the government telling us we cannot have children when they already tell us to consider suicide.

Don’t you Obama supporters see that the culture of death is a slippery slope?  Do you really want the government dictating your treatment, even when it means your death?

Watch ABC with me on Wednesday Night

I’ll be watching Pushing Daisies – whatever that is.

Election Polls

Update: Someone reminded me I had not referenced where the poll came from – IBD/TIPP.  If you want to see updated numbers, check Drudge.  He also claims they were the most accurate poll in 2004.

It’s amazing to me how all the polls are showing different results.  Yet, the Mainstream Media only discusses the polls that has Obama pulling away.

	Obama	McCain	Undecided
Protestant	38	51	11
Catholic	39	48	13
Other Christian	40	49	11
None	77	13	10

So, maybe, Obama has a Christian voter problem.

Additionally, he may have a patriotic voter problem.

Displays Flag	Obama	McCain	Undecided
Yes	36	51	13
No	63	28	9

The Housing Crisis

Alright, this post is not about the real housing crisis, just ours.

Nope, no problems with the mortgage.  Amply qualified, not over-buying either.  The problem is with the market.  When we moved back south from Michigan, we planned to buy a small ranch 5-10 acres with a modest house, up to 35 minutes from work.

There’s the rub.  What is available was overpriced, run down, or the land not useful.  BUT, we finally found something promising in Vidor.  It was built by George Jones for his mother.  And would have been lovely.  But, the owners were not completely forthcoming with their disclosure.  At the last minute they remembered a major problem, but, none of the details.  Scratch that.

I canceled the deal just before we evacuated for Hurricane Ike.  The following Tuesday, my boss called me back to work.  I got up at 3AM to drive into Beaumont so I could pass through my rent house on the way to Orange.  Open the door and electricity is on.  No problems in the foyer.  Great!  Until I get to the living room.  The ceiling and insulation are on the floor.  The chimney top is in the back yard.  I’m still walking around a rain pail in the living room.

Then we decided to look exclusively in Louisiana.  Found one – 12 acres, smallish house, but 4 stocked ponds.  Sign us up.  All was going well until the title search started dragging out.  The owner had a list of problems as long as my arm that prevented the sale.

But, we are finally onto a great house.  Just under 5 acres, a nice sized home, a barn, and an air conditioned shop just minutes from my dad in Sulphur.  The sellers are going to build next door.  And as we got to know each other better, the husband has been friends with my wife’s family for decades.  Should close in a few weeks – oh please oh please oh please.

Another Perspective

I watched Huckabee tonight on Fox.  Joe the Plumber was on.  You know, I think he gets it.  He understands what taxes do to small business.  He understands what Federal programs do to small business.  He understands that government doesn’t create private sector jobs.

Now, since Barack “Spread the wealth” Obama is hurt by his own statement, the liberal media has attacked Joe.

Isn’t it a shame that that is where we are.  You are not allowed to have a different perspective.

What we need is Another Perspective.

Jack Hoogendyk debates Carl Levin

For those Michiganders looking for Hope and Change . . .

watch Jack Hoogendyk crush Carl Levin in the debate 7PM Eastern on Sunday night.

Streaming video here . . .  www.wgvu.org

Who is Joe the Plumber?

I’ve got a feeling I know this guy – or someone like him.

Here’s a link to NYP.  They have the video for now.

Some memorable lines from the debate:

1. After the 43rd time of Obama saying he’s going to defeat George Bush, John McCain said, “I know George Bush.  And Senator, I’m no George Bush.”

2.  After the 43rd time of eloquent speech, John McCain said, “He talks purty, don’t he?”

3.  When the subject of Ayers came up, John McCain said, “I don’t care if he hangs around terrorists, but, Joe Plumber does.”

All right, already.  You caught me.  McCain didn’t say those things.

He did say, “If you wanted to run against George Bush, you should have run 4 years ago.”

McCain did talk about Obama’s Eloquence and what a load of dung it is.  Read between the lines.

McCain did try to draw lines to Obama’s associations with Ayers and Acorn.  I don’t know why he didn’t say that character matters.  He could have opened with, “20 years ago, I made a mistake.  Since then, I’ve worked hard to combat corruption in government, I’ve earned the scars that go with being a maverick.  And character matters to Joe Plumber.  Senator Obama launched his career in the living room of a known terrorist, he sat on a board and collaborated with him.  He benefited from a $300M Home Purchase deal with Tony Rezko in the background.  And now, we are finding out about his associations with ACORN which has done more to earn the distrust of Joe Plumber than any organization regarding the validity of elections.”

He didn’t drive the wedge as forcefully as he should have regarding Abortion and the Supreme Court.  This could have been the knock out punch and McCain didn’t deliver it.  He approached with Obama voted present 130 times in the Illinois senate.  A passionate description of Nurse Stanek’s experience holding a born alive aborted baby while he died could have sealed the deal.

This election may be about the missed opportunities to send this ultra liberal candidate back to the senate to while away the years like Ted Kennedy has, continuing to stuff the pork away.

You Catholics out there should be ashamed of supporting Barack Obama.  There are other qualified candidates that don’t support On Demand destruction of human life.  If you need some recommendations, ask.

Hey Louisiana Homeschoolers

My wife has joined STACH, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Homeschooling, in anticipation of our pending move to Sulphur, LA.  We received this e-mail about a politician, Peter Vidrine, that wants to talk to you.  If you are in Lake Charles next week, have dinner at the Piccadilly.  I haven’t researched his opponent, Boustany, so, I’ll stop short of an endorsement of Vidrine.  But, I will recommend a visit to his website.

Homeschooling families are invited to hear Peter Vidrine, candidate for US House of
Representatives, speak next week in Lake Charles on Thursday October 23, 2008. He will
be speaking at the Piccadilly on Ryan Street at 6:30. Piccadilly was gracious enough to
host this event, but requested that the people who attend order food. He will begin
speaking at 6:30, but people should show up early to get in line and order food. Please
spread the word to your like-minded friends. Peter is a charismatic speaker and it will be
an exciting event.

Here is his statement on home schooling:

On homeschooling, we certainly have a better situation in Louisiana than the rest of the
nation, but it’s still not enough.

1) I will wholeheartedly support Ron Paul‘s H.R. 1056, the Family Education Freedom Act. (
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h1056/show )

2) I will also support Ron Paul’s H.R. 1059, Teacher Tax Cut Act of 2007. Concerning this
bill, however, I will seek to include home schooling parents as full time teachers, which
they are. ( http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h1059/show )

3) We need to protect home schoolers who live in states with less academic freedom. It’s a
civil rights issue. Throughout America, parents need to be protected from unnecessary
encumbrances from the states that either block or restrict parents from teaching their own
children. That is something I believe strongly in and will work to protect all home
schoolers. Regardless of which state a family resides in, it is their right to teach their
children in whatever manner they choose. Period.

Peter would love to speak to a homeschool group and will make time in his Lake Charles
visit to do so, perhaps at a park so everyone can bring picnic dinner or lunch, if there is
enough interest. Interested families may contact me for more information at
eccemater@yahoo.com
Vidrine is the only 100% pro-life candidate in this race and is running an amazing
campaign in spite of receiving little media attention; he needs homeschoolers’ support
and will support us if we send him to Washington.

Here is his website: http://www.peternow.com

Please spread the word