Politically Active Momma

From Missouri's governor

2008-09-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

Things are heating up in the Show-Me state, one of the swing states in this election.

The Missouri Truth Squad, an Obama campaign press release stated last week, would “respond quickly, forcefully, and aggressively when John McCain or his allies launch inaccurate claims or character attacks about Barack Obama, or when they distort Barack Obama’s record or plans.”

Many of the Obama Missouri Truth Squad members have law enforcement powers, such as St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, and Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer.

"Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading television ad during the presidential campaign,"

Today, Missouri's governor responded:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

_____

Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaign's Abusive Use of Missouri Law
Enforcement

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on
news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use
Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.

"St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit
Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and
Obama and
the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached
the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.

"What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words,
the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the
justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism
with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.

"This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles
and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to
Jefferson's thinking than using the power of the state to deprive
Americans
of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch,
Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing
themselves,
to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to
conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle
criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes,
and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs,
e-mail
and daily conversation about the election.

"Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press
constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore
false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no
credibility.
When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to
intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition
Acts -
not a free society."

http://governor.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EkkkVFulkpOzXqGMaj
<http://governor.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EkkkVFulkpOzXqGMaj&s
tyle=Default+News+Style&tmpl=newsitem>

Jason Chaffetz and Sarah Palin on ANWR

2008-09-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Check out the video of Jason Chaffetz and Governor Palin in July (before most people knew of Governor Palin!) No one is saying it's the ONLY solution, but it surely is a part of an overall solution.

Chaffetz said it first

2008-09-06T14:01:00.001-07:00

OK, maybe not first, but before we had the chance to cheer for Sarah Palin, we had the chance to cheer for Jason Chaffetz. He was a maverick before maverick was cool. He was calling for reform for his own party. So did Palin. He has been strongly stating that we (the Republican party) need to return to our conservative roots. So is Palin. He's against government earmarks. So is Palin. He's willing to call a spade a spade. So is Palin. He's willing to take on the good old boys who tell him it can't be done (unknown, not enough money, not moderate enough in his views, blah, blah, blah). So is Palin. Can I just tell you how excited I am about the coming reform revolution led by Jason Chaffetz and Sarah Palin?! Jason rocked the Republican party in Utah. Sarah is rocking the Republican party nationwide and I for one am delighted to be part of the process by voting in November. Woohoo!

Letter from Mark Shurtleff

2008-09-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

I just want to say, I am so impressed by this man. Imagine having groups of people pray for your death, right here in Utah. I'm praying that he can save his leg and continue to do such a good job for Utah. Anyway, here's an open letter I got:

An email has been circulating around the web about A.G. Mark Shurtleff's attendance when President Bush was in town. Many have asked if A.G. Shurtleff actually wrote that email. WE WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. HE DID WRITE THIS EMAIL (which is the same one that has been circulating) and we wanted to share it with you. We appreciate your support as always and as the election nears, expect to see the Shurtleff sign that you have requested and our phone calls asking for your help and support.

Jessica Fawson
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff 2008

P.S. Our Website is www.shurtleff2008.com

May 2008

From Attorney General Mark Shurtleff:

I had an extraordinary experience this week with President Bush's visit and wanted to share it with you. I was on the host committee and, because I was able to raise a couple hundred thousand from friends, I was able to be at all the meetings and with a small group that welcomed him. He spent over two hours in two appearances speaking and answering questions and the most common remarks people had of the experience was that (1) he seemed so relaxed, happy, and "at peace," and (2) he is nothing like what the media portrays him to be; in fact, he was articulate, personable, and very spiritual.

I believe he was in such high spirits because he knows that Utah is one of the few places where he still has a favorability rating above 50 percent. He joked that he was surprised by the friendly welcome. "In fact, while I was driving up here in my motorcade, most of the people were waving at me with all five fingers!"

Cynics say that we here in Utah still look favorably on him only because we are "sheeple" not "people" and used to "blind obedience," or that we must not be educated enough. I believe that, in fact, we here hold the office of the president in high regard because we are led by the example of our prophet to pray for President Bush and to support him in a very difficult task. I know he felt that special spirit while he was here. In over two hours of comments about such pressing national issues such as the economy, war on terror, energy crisis, immigration, etc. he spent a lot of time talking about faith, religious freedom and prayer!

When I greeted him at the Stewart mansion for his luncheon appearance, I had a moment to speak to him and told him that we here in Utah love him and are praying for him. i told him my brother had served recently in Afghanistan and that he had informed me that the troops support him. He seemed very touched by that and, as I said, he spent a lot of time while here speaking about spiritual matters. Members of his entourage said that was unique--that he didn't often speak so much about religious things.

He spoke of the importance of religious freedom and emphasized that "it didn't matter whether we were Mormon or Catholic or Jew or Vegetarian..." He paused while people chuckled, and then he said with a wink, "See, this is why I didn't let cameras in here." I know that Vegetarian isn't a religion, but if someone had been filming that, the only news out of my entire visit to Utah would be how stupid Bush is for thinking Vegetarian is a religion" He laughed and then got serious again.

"My point is, it...doesn't...MATTER! What matters is that we are FREE. You see, that's what makes us so different from our enemies in radical Islam. They want to kill those who have different religious views. And that is why we must persist in our war against them. THEY MUST NOT PREVAIL!"

He spoke about the relationships he had developed with world leaders and that he often bore his testimony to them. (That's right, our president!) For example, he spoke of his relationship with the communist leader of China, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

He said, "I wanted to impress upon him how positive religion can be." He said, "I told him that God had changed my life. I was a drunk, Mr. Prime Minister! I had a serious problem and, if it hadn't been for God, I would not be here today. He saved my life! He had a little help from Billy Graham who was his messenger, but it was God who helped me with my addiction and turned my life around. Religion can make your people better, Mr. Prime Minister! Won't you please consider giving them their religious freedom?"

Isn't that extraordinary? Let me share another special story. He talked about King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. He invited him out to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, because he felt it was important to get to know him and develop a relationship of trust and a spiritual bond. He said that King Abdullah, of course, is a strict practicing Muslim with many wives, just like his father and grandfather before him, but noted that the King's son and heir has decided to have only one wife. He said he wanted to impress upon the King that, as a Christian nation, we are not enemies of Islam and that we have much in common. He told King Abdullah, "I am a believer. I believe in God. I believe he is the same God as Allah. Now, we differ a little in that I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and my Savior and Redeemer, while I know you consider him to just be a prophet, but we are 'People of the Book,' like you." King Abdullah wasn't really responding so he felt impressed that they needed some time alone so he invited him to go for a ride in his pickup truck around the ranch. The two got in alone and started down a dirt road (can you picture all the staff and security scurrying after them?)

President Bush was pointing out different trees and his cows when they came around a corner, and there stood the biggest tom turkey he had ever seen in the middle of the road just looking at them. He said that he was surprised because he didn't raise turkeys and had never seen a wild turkey on his ranch. King Abdullah sat upright and was suddenly very interested. They stopped and King Abdullah asked, "What is that?" "That my friend, is a turkey!" answered Bush, "and I've never seen one on my ranch before." "What is it's significance?" asked the King. President Bush said all he could think of was to tell him that Benjamin Franklin once wanted to make it the symbol of our nation, but we chose the eagle instead.

"I will tell you what it means," replied Abdullah as he touched President Bush on the arm. "The turkey is sacred in my religion, and Allah has sent it as a sign to me that you are a believer and a good man!"

Pretty cool huh? President Bush talked a lot about his difficult decisions and became very emotional when he admitted he has made mistakes and bears the terrible burden of knowing that his decisions have led to the deaths of thousands, and then he got very quiet and said that he doesn't think he could go on without the prayers of the people. He said that, when he was a young man and heard people say, "I pray for you," he didn't give it much thought. But, at age 61 and the President of the United States, he said it means the world to him to know that millions are praying for him. He said, "Like it says in Second Corinthians, 'I am filled with Comfort'!" And he thanked us for that and said he would try to listen to the promptings and make the right and best choices for our nation and our people.

I want to bear you my testimony that whatever your politics or criticisms of President Bush and his decisions and the way he has prosecuted this war, he really is a good and decent man who believes in our Heavenly Father, who recognizes the terrible costs of his mistakes, and who seeks to do the right thing, and is buoyed up and supported, comforted, and guided by our prayers. He loves this country and is dedicated to service and has tried to do the right thing to keep us safe and to help others enjoy the blessings of freedom and liberty.

He spoke of his strong relationship with the Prime Minister of Japan and how important they are as friends and allies--notwithstanding that, when his father was 19, he was fighting them as mortal enemies and nearly lost his life in that war when he was shot down in the South Pacific. And now, just 65 years later, Japan has a vibrant democracy and is our friend. He told the graduating class at the Air Force Academy just prior to flying to Salt Lake that he believed that sixty years from now, their children would be friends and allies with Arab and Muslims around the world because we stood up to oppression and evil today in the quest for freedom and peace for all.

I am very blessed to have had this experience. Please remember President Bush in your prayers tonight.

Mark

Sarah's speech on YouTube

2008-09-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, from the wonders of YouTube:

(Oh, and didn't you just love her hockey mom joke? What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick. I love it!)

Part one:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Part 4:

Enjoy it - I sure did.

Sarah's convention speech

2008-09-03T22:35:00.001-07:00

Was that right on or what? She really had some zingers in there - wow! As a mom to special-needs children, she really got me when she said that we will have a friend in the White House. One who walks the walk and KNOWS what it is to raise a disabled child. Cool. Here's a cute video clip of the "spit shine". Enjoy!

Reactions to the VP pick

2008-08-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

I'm a conservative Republican LDS woman who is also a wife, mother, small business owner (very small) and - as the blog title suggests - politically active. I consider myself a strong woman, with strong opinions, but also that I have an open mind and certainly try to be compassionate as well. As I said in my last post, I am delighted that Sarah Palin is McCain's VP pick. I was not jazzed about voting for him, but preferred him to Obama. Now, though, I'm quite excited! I think she is a strong conservative, family values, blah blah blah - all the things I said a couple days ago.

Which is why I'm so surprised at some of the reactions I've heard/read from other LDS women and that is that she should NOT be considered because she is a mother with children still at home!

Wow - really? Her husband is able to be a full-time Dad. She juggles a breast-pump and her Blackberry. She wears her baby in a sling to sign bills into law. How cool is that?! She - like most US moms, LDS or not, works. I also have people pointing fingers at me and saying that I can't really do all that I do, I can't really love many children, I can't really find time to volunteer at my kids school, I can't really find time to be involved in politics, yada yada yada. Really? Well watch me as I do it - and don't get in my way.

I have no trouble pointing to her as a good example to my daughters - and having young adult daughters, I know full well that all mama's training doesn't always translate into the best of choices. I feel for all of them. Poor Bristol - how tough this must be for her!

The attacks have been brutal and not just from one side. I expected those kind of comments from the liberal crowd, but not from conservative LDS moms. Oh - and a friend's neighbor says no way will he ever vote for her - after all, she's a woman. Good thing most LDS folks I know aren't as narrow-minded. McCain/Palin will easily win in Utah - I'll be praying they take the whole country by storm.

Sarah Palin as VP pick!

2008-08-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

So this blog has been slightly dormant, but I could not resist revitalizing it with John McCain's announcement that he has chosen Sarah Palin to be his running mate. I like Mitt Romney, but I have to say, I think Sarah is a better choice!
She is conservative. She is real. She walks the walk and talks the talk of core conservative values - personal rights, family values, right-to-life (in a very personal way), less government involvement, ethics reform and a willingness to take on the good old boys!

I am delighted to see her on the ticket - and I can't help but be tickled that she espouses the same values as my soon-to-be congressman, Jason Chaffetz. There is real change in the air and it is energizing! Woohoo!

Jason Chaffetz on the radio

2008-05-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

Mark Maxon, from K-TALK AM 630, will be interviewing Jason Chaffetz live in studio Wednesday May 21 at 9:30 a.m. We encourage you to listen to the show. Supportive callers would also be appreciated!

254-5855 Salt Lake County
470-5855 Utah County

My kids

2008-05-20T20:41:00.001-07:00

Some of my kids were involved in "Hope of America" this year. They are listening to the CD and even the 4-yo is belting out "Give me a V, give me an O, give me a T, give me an E - VOTE"!

And, at dinner tonight we had a political discussion that was just slightly heated. Our kids have been "voting" for presidential candidates at school. My daughter chose Hilary, my Ethiopian son chose Barack. I had to tell them you don't vote on race, gender or religion - you vote based on your values and which candidate most closely supports those values. :)

Of course you know who I'm voting for in the 3rd district. Go Jason!

Go, Jason!

2008-05-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hi friends out in the blogosphere - I am here to give my support to Jason Chaffetz as a candidate for Utah's third congressional district. I and my son, Michael, when to his volunteer meeting last night. Over 100 people were there, with many, many more wanting to attend but having conflicts.
It is exciting to be involved in his campaign, in my own, one-person way. I am only one, but I am one. Jason represents our family's values and beliefs more closely than the other candidate, or than any other candidate prior to last Saturday's state Republican convention. He is the first candidate to get me fired up enough to actually help with a campaign - woohoo!

I'll write more the next time I get 5 minutes, but in the meantime, here are some links for you:
Jason's homepage
Jason's fundraising page (come on - do it!! Even just $20 makes a BIG difference!)
And yes, I did donate - come on, I wouldn't ask my friends to do something I wouldn't do!!

Check back often - I'll be busy.