Longing in the heartland…

July 31, 2007
Filed under: Campaign, We Believe — Jacob @ 10:59 am

Three completely different types of reading have me longing for new leadership in our nation’s capital.

First, as I continue my walk as a candidate and growth as a leader, I am reading ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie. Even though it was written in the 1930’s, it is still relevant today, which is not surprising because human nature doesn’t change. The gist of the book is treating people well and letting them know they matter, they are important. This theme resonates with me. Since I was a young boy, I have been fascinated by other folks, their stories, their experiences, their lives. You can learn so much by understanding someone’s background, how they got to the place in life where they are. The book itself is an easy read and I highly recommend it.

The second reading I did this morning was an article about the FBI and IRS searching Republican Senator from Alaska Ted Stevens’ home that he is renovating. I had the same sinking feeling I do whenever a story like this hits the wire, whether the politician is Republican or Democrat, and thought here we go again. All I want from our leaders in DC is to be honest and to have our best interests at heart. I want them to be successful in promoting their beliefs in the court of public opinion and let we the people decide whose ideas we support. When we do, I expect our elected representatives to at least listen to our concerns and advice before proceeding rather than be irritated at us for expressing ourselves as the folks did overwhelmingly in rejecting the Immigration Bill recently.

The third set of readings comes from Jason Rosenbaum’s Columbia Political Blog and has to do with transparency in how our candidates are funded in Missouri. With the Missouri Supreme Court striking down the law which required public disclosure of the source of our state politician’s money, we go back to the system of district committees which is essentially a shell game hiding the original source of the money. While the law was imperfect, it at least allowed the folks to know who was contributing to who and in what quantities. We need more transparency from our elected officials not less.

The combination of these three separate readings further reinforces to me we must change who we elect to represent us. It is time to carefully evaluate our candidates, go beyond partisan labels, and search for those who truly wish to serve and be accountable to the folks. We are a good and great people, we deserve good and great leaders.

We must win

July 24, 2007
Filed under: War on Terror, We Believe — Jacob @ 8:26 am

As I have watched the debate rage over the War in Iraq, I wonder that many of our politicians, the main stream media, and the Bush haters don’t get it. This is not about the President, it is about our country in a time of war and crisis. By narrowing the focus to WMD’s, failed tactics, the daily toll of blood, and the incessant cry that it is worse today than yesterday war/President Bush opponents miss or purposefully ignore the big picture.

We are in a war with a totalitarian ideology that answers to no government, no citizen, that is willing to use ANY tactic to win, and that will not seek a diplomatic solution. Their choices are: we surrender and convert or we die. That is it. This is not a feel good movement fueled by a motivation to improve the lives of the downtrodden and poor. This is a religious movement that seeks to establish the Caliphate throughout the world using whatever means are necessary. In this age of nuclear, biological, and poisonous weapons those means can be catastrophic.

We are the target because we are the biggest kids on the world block – any other reason given is just a rationalization. If our enemy can get us to back down what chance does the rest of the world stand?

We must stand as we always have against the winds of totalitarianism no matter their underlying philosophy. We must remember these ideologies do not go away on their own, they must be defeated on the field of battle before they can be defeated in the hearts of the people drawn to them. It is time for those who want nothing more than the failure of our President to realize his failure would be a bigger failure for us, for America.

We could not be safer, only more comfortable in our minds for a short while, having wasted the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters over these long 4 years. We do not honor sacrifice by ceasing sacrifice without securing victory. For the killed, the wounded, the maimed, the lonely, the scarred, their loved ones, their survivors, we must persevere. We must win the hearts and minds of America as we call our fellow citizens to stand in the breach.

In our time, around the world, we have nothing less than the forces of freedom versus the forces of oppression. We must win.

Tired Politics

July 18, 2007
Filed under: War on Terror, We Believe — Jacob @ 12:16 pm

I tire of the stunts our career politicians keep pulling in DC. Last night, it was the Democrats making an all night plea to ensure our defeat in Iraq. It was a made for the media event trying to convince us, the folks, that they are doing something with conviction and for the good of our men and women in the armed forces. It was all drivel. If the Democrats in both Houses of Congress really want to show conviction and fulfill their promise made during last year’s elections, they need to propose and vote on a bill to end funding for the War in Iraq. Any resolution or bill short of that is politics as usual.

In any case I do not support the cut and run posture of our elected representatives, mostly Dems but a few Republicans thrown in on the House side. It occurs to me they are running for the exit as quickly as possible to attempt to thwart the surge strategy which is showing signs of progress. They lose if we succeed – that is an awful way to represent us. I tire of them all.

It is time to change Congress by sending regular folks who are in touch with us. Only then will it change.

Our celebration of the 4th of July

July 7, 2007
Filed under: We Believe — Jacob @ 8:24 am

Donna and I had a great 4th. I started the day at TGIW for a sunrise service at their fireworks tent. The trumpeters playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ while all of us sang along was awesome. Les had an inspiring word for us and reminded us how important it is to pray for all our soldiers in harm’s way.

We were invited to attend the VFW Post 1000 picnic the afternoon of the 4th and had a great time. We even took Stan along! The burgers and hot dogs hit the spot and it was good to meet so many patriotic Americans from all walks of life. Jim was a great host and I enjoyed meeting Chris, Gwen, Sally, Sean, Darren, and Jeff. It was good to talk with my friend from the last campaign, Brent Lasater again.

I am a Marine Veteran from the mid-70’s. I never saw combat so, though all of us in the armed forces served our country well, I have a special place of gratitude in my heart for the veterans who endured hostile fire or gave the ultimate sacrifice.

At the VFW picnic it was good to rub shoulders and share conversation with veterans of all the services. I am always keen to get the soldier’s viewpoint on current and past conflicts. To be able to make good decisions on how best to protect our loved ones, I need as much unfiltered information from the front lines as possible. From these conversations over the last year and a half, I have discerned the War in Iraq is seldom going as well as we would like but is never as bad as portrayed in the general media. We continue to win that conflict in fits and starts and are at a crucial crossroads as the surge has recently been fully implemented. Though there has been success, it will take months to measure the staying power of the surge in restoring calm to Iraq and allowing the political process there to move forward in keeping the peace.

I also hear about the current gains in Afghanistan in continuing to marginalize and eliminate the Taliban and about older conflicts where we still keep the peace in places like Kosovo.

On the way home from the VFW picnic, Donna and I stopped in at the Character That Counts, People Matter Ministry, and TGIW fireworks tent, helping sell fireworks and fellowshipping for a couple of hours. At the end of the busy day, we lay our heads on our pillows to the cacaphony of sound as the entire country celebrated the founding of this great nation.

May God always bless America.

NRTL Conference 2007: Thoughts on how abortion affects women for years afterward and the need for more longitudinal post-abortive studies

July 5, 2007
Filed under: Life, We Believe — Jacob @ 3:25 pm

Attending the National Right to Life conference held in Kansas City June 14th – 16th, I was struck by the compassion and love these folks have for babies, their mothers, AND women who are suffering from the effects of an abortion. Pro-lifers are driven to envelope these hurting women in their loving arms to provide support and tangible help to heal post-abortive women physically, mentally and spiritually. They are in the vanguard of demanding scientific studies of abortion’s effects on women and on promoting the few well-designed studies that have in recent years begun to be published in the medical journals over the objections of those whose abortion agenda overrides any concern they purport to have for women.

As with other contentious issues, it is troubling how science is being co-opted by an agenda. It appears the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychiatric Association have adopted the pro-abortion agenda among other secular-progressive causes. To have good public healthcare policy, we must have unbiased information based on where the data leads. Now that the scientific studies are beginning to show that abortion and its after-effects are more dangerous to women than carrying a baby to term, the pro-abortion movement is working tirelessly to suppress and belittle these studies.

Abortion has now been shown to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, major depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol and drug abuse. After-effects also include adjustment disorders, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, parenting difficulties and an increase in death from violent and natural causes. Clearly, abortion is not a benign medical procedure and it must stop being promoted as such.

This is not only a moral and political issue it is also a medical one, and those of us who truly hold the health and well being of our wives, mothers, sisters and daughters in our hearts have to press for more studies. We must demand laws which protect the women in our lives by requiring full disclosure of the latest medical information to those considering abortion as well as having this information taught to our young women and men in their health classes.

It is time for the vast majority of Americans, pro-life and pro-choice, to work together in defense of women by cutting through the agendas to provide women the information they desperately need in their time of crisis and decision. The exploitation of those we love must stop.

Resources: The recent study conducted by a pro-choice researcher that has generated a lot of doublespeak from the pro-abortion factions is of interest. A good pro-life prospective is on the pro-life nrlc.org website, the pro-abortion position is at the Guttmauer Institue website. The study itself can be read at this page. Please read the study and comments and determine for yourself who is worried about women’s health and who is protecting their agenda.


Celebrating the 4th of July

July 4, 2007
Filed under: Campaign, We Believe — Jacob @ 10:26 am

The 4th of July is such a wonderful time to gather with friends and family, shoot off fireworks, and reflect on our good and great nation. What an inspiring story of our nation’s founders taking on the daunting challenge of creating an independent nation from the colonies of the then world superpower, England. It is hard to imagine what a step of faith it was to sign the dotted line of the Declaration of Independence.

‘…all men are created equal…’

These are still the watch words of our country today. No matter our struggles, it is this ideal we strive for. No matter the enemy, we have persevered in this pursuit over the last two centuries and continue the struggle for freedom today. We volunteer and sacrifice to help the helpless, to defend the defenseless. I am proud of my country, my countrymen, my fellow Americans.

Enjoy the day and every day thank those who defend us at home and abroad. They and their families give us so much – every moment they know ‘Freedom is never free’.

May God bless our men and women in the armed forces.

A busy June!

July 2, 2007
Filed under: We Believe — Jacob @ 2:57 pm

Donna and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary at the Lake of the Ozarks this past weekend to finish a busy June. We were able to visit with good friends who live on the Lake and recharge our batteries.

Also on the personal side in June, we visited Donna’s family in Georgia and had a wonderful time enjoying their Southern hospitality. We made a trek to Texas to attend her Grandma’s 90th birthday. Wow! 90 years and she is still going strong. My birthday was also in June as I rejoiced in 51 years on this Earth – now be kind with the old jokes:) I like to think of myself as growing in wisdom as much as years. I was even able to fit in a couple of tennis workouts to go along with my running.

I am now training to qualify for the Boston Marathon next spring so my oldest daughter and I can run together before she graduates from college. Wish me luck, qualifying is not easy.

I was able to get even more exercise helping set up the Fireworks Tent for the men’s ministries I support, Greg Griffin’s TGIW, Rod Handley’s Character That Counts, and Dan Erickson’s People Matter Ministries. If you haven’t bought your fireworks yet, I recommend their tent near the Price Chopper off Woods Chapel Road in northern Lee’s Summit.

On the political side of life, Donna and I attended the Missouri Optometrist Legislative picnic at Longview Lake. It was a fun evening and I was able to get a first hand account of this year’s state legislative session from the state reps and senators in attendance.

We also attended the National Right to Life conference held in Kansas City. What an informative event! I will post more on the Life section of the blog. At the end of the month I was able to attend the Kansas City Young Republicans meeting and thank their membership especially Greg and Theresa for their support and help during the ‘06 campaign.

Lastly to support the cause of Life, I attended the Mike and Shara Sweeney Family Foundation Lunch for Life with the Sweeney’s. It was wonderful to see all the support for the Rachel House Pregnancy Resource Centers which help young women through such a difficult time in their lives to chose life. Ryan Lefebvre shared how his participation in an abortion has affected his life and it was a powerful testimony that abortion is an operation with lifelong consequence for all involved. Albert and Deidre Pujols were surprise guests and Deidre’s words were powerful.

I admire Mike and Shara Sweeney for their willingness to stand up for a cause they believe in when it would be so much easier as public figures to stand on the sidelines. Our thanks to Mike & Shara, Ryan, and Albert & Deidre for their words and deeds in saving lives. Please visit the Sweeney Family Foundation website at www.mikesweeney.org .

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