Forensic on the First Year

With customary elegance and insight, Victor Davis Hanson nails down the analysis of President Obama's first year in office. Hopefully, the country is durable enough to withstand another three years of this tiresome ineffectiveness.

If you need a chuckle to maintain your perspective and/or sanity, Mark Steyn is always willing to provide an avenue to the humor in our current national quandary. And Jonah Goldberg has even more to ponder at NRO. Not very encouraging, but quite entertaining.

If only we voters weren't so stupid and could appreciate the unparalleled brilliance of our "leader." There's quite a blunt and simple message here. But I'm sure the president, who is too busy talking, won't hear it.

World Communications Day

Thanks to the new communications media, the Lord can walk the streets of our cities and, stopping before the threshold of our homes and our hearts, say once more: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).

~ Pope Benedict XVI, 1/24/2010, Feast of St. Francis de Sales - Vatican message for the 44th World Communications Day

I know I tend to go on about this, but I just love the fact that my birthday falls on the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers, authors, and journalists. Pope Benedict is advising priests to use blogging and the internet to teach with the Gospel message.

Amen to that.

The Scott Heard 'Round the Nation

Those pesky voters. Whatever is wrong with "the People?" They just continue to interrupt Congress from telling them what it is they really want.

In yesterday's special election, the people of Massachusetts put their foot down hard on Washington D.C.'s agenda. You might even say that they floored it--in a pickup truck, no less.

How annoying for the ruling oligarchy. What do "these people" expect? Democracy? In the U.S.A.? Really!

Congratulations, Scott Brown and the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And thank you. Once again, just as you did in the 1770s, you've given Americans the opportunity to save our nation. I'll drink a cup of tea on that.

Photo by Brian Snyder, Reuters

A Time to Reach Out

Regardless of how many problems our nation is experiencing through hard financial times, national security threats, and political discord, we are on top of the world compared to just about any other place on earth.

The terrible earthquake in impoverished Haiti should serve as a stark reminder of the countless blessings we Americans enjoy. It should also give us pause to consider an appropriate avenue to extend a helping hand to our neighbors in such desperate need.

Even a mere five dollars would be considered a windfall by one of Haiti's hungry, injured, homeless earthquake victims--and it would truly make a difference. Americans are generous and caring people; we are not banks, corporations, or political parties. I hope each reader will choose a reputable, trusted charity and donate as generously as possible to the relief efforts for the Haitian people.

Photo from the Financial Times/Getty Images

Following Instructions

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...

~ Matthew 28:19

Brit Hume was simply doing what Christians are supposed to do when he entreated Tiger Woods to find his redemption in Christianity. There's nothing malicious or bigoted about it; we're just supposed to spread the Good News to as many people as possible. By doing so, we are living our faith.

It drives the lefties absolutely around the bend of sanity, but Christians are supposed to do this. In fact, doing so is following a direct instruction from Jesus Christ.

I'm not as outspoken as Brit Hume is about being a Christian--which is a more neutral way of saying I'm not as good a Christian as he is--but I certainly do admire him for having the courage to follow the Great Commission in the anti-Judeo-Christian, global goldfish bowl of television media.

I wonder how long it will be before MSM peels itself off the ceiling?

Foreign Words

In recent days, I've learned that the best way to find a straight-talking account of the deep trouble America is in with Islamic radicals is to read the British press.

The UK Telegraph has been particularly blunt about our president's dangerous reluctance to face facts. As Toby Harnden declares in his Jan. 2 article, "It's the Jihad, stupid." If only our domestic "journalists" would be as outspoken about the unrelenting reality of our enemies, Obama might be forced to take a stand in trying to avoid the next 9/11.

It may be a new year, but some things don't change. The "free press" that our Founders believed would protect us, isn't--for largely political reasons. Instead, Great Britain, the country we fought to be freed from, is warning us of our peril. Read all about the Islamic threat to America--in the UK Telegraph.

There's a noteworthy exception by one of our own reporters, Jack Kelly's article, linked from Real Clear Politics. Mark Steyn will even be able to make you laugh about the whole mess, in a grim sort of way. But I'll continue reading the British press online; they truly "get it."