O Say Can You See

In church, yesterday, we sang The Star Spangled Banner. Born of parents who love this country fiercely, demanding honesty and integrity from their politicians, they taught us to love America with equal fervor.

My father, as many of you know, was born in Amsterdam. Near the end of his life he traveled across the West speaking at schools and churches about what it was like to live with a complete loss of freedom under the martial law of Hitler's armies when he was a child. He often spoke of the greatness of America along with the privileges and responsibilities of being a citizen of this great nation. He also talked of the horrors and atrocities he suffered as a child and how he longed to emigrate to America.

His life here was not easy, but the song which always choked him up, as he sang the words of his heart, was the Star Spangled Banner.

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key

Every time I sing these words, even after decades of singing this song, a feeling rushes through my body which is indescribable. As these words are are sung, words I've read from the journals of ancestors float through my mind. The sacrifices they've made scroll by, one after the other. And every time I am so grateful I was born in this great nation.

So I pulled up Wikipedia and searched for The Star Spangled Banner:

On September 3, 1814, Francis Scott Key and John S. Skinner, an American prisoner-exchange agent, set sail from Baltimore aboard the ship HMS Minden flying a flag of truce on a mission approved by President James Madison. Their objective was to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, the elderly and popular town physician of Upper Marlboro, and a friend of Key’s who had been captured in his home. Beanes was accused of aiding the arrest of British soldiers. Key and Skinner boarded the British flagship HMS Tonnant on September 7 and spoke with Major General Robert Ross and Admiral Alexander Cochrane over dinner, while they discussed war plans. At first, Ross and Cochrane refused to release Beanes, but relented after Key and Skinner showed them letters written by wounded British prisoners praising Beanes and other Americans for their kind treatment.

Because Key and Skinner had heard details of the plans for the attack on Baltimore, they were held captive until after the battle, first aboard HMS Surprise, and later back on the HMS Minden. After the bombardment, certain British gunboats attempted to slip past the fort and effect a landing in a cove to the west of it, but they were turned away by fire from nearby Fort Covington, the city's last line of defense.

During the rainy night, Key had witnessed the bombardment and observed that the fort’s smaller "storm flag" continued to fly, but once the shell and rocket [2] barrage had stopped, he would not know how the battle had turned out until dawn. By then, the storm flag had been lowered, and the larger flag had been raised.

Key was inspired by the American victory and the sight of the large American flag flying triumphantly above the fort. This flag, with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, came to be known as the Star Spangled Banner Flag and is today on display in the National Museum of American History, a treasure of the Smithsonian Institution. It was restored in 1914 by Amelia Fowler, and again in 1998 as part of an ongoing conservation program.

Aboard the ship the next day, Key wrote a poem on the back of a letter he had kept in his pocket. At twilight on 16 September, he and Skinner were released in Baltimore. He finished the poem at the Indian Queen Hotel, where he was staying, and he entitled it "Defence of Fort McHenry."

Key gave the poem to his brother-in-law, Judge Joseph H. Nicholson. Nicholson saw that the words fit the popular melody "To Anacreon in Heaven", an old British drinking song from the mid-1760s, composed in London by John Stafford Smith. Nicholson took the poem to a printer in Baltimore, who anonymously printed broadside copies of it — the song’s first known printing — on September 17; of these, two known copies survive.

On September 20, both the Baltimore Patriot and The American printed the song, with the note "Tune: Anacreon in Heaven". The song quickly became popular, with seventeen newspapers from Georgia to New Hampshire printing it. Soon after, Thomas Carr of the Carr Music Store in Baltimore published the words and music together under the title "The Star-Spangled Banner", although it was originally called "Defence of Fort McHenry." The song’s popularity increased, and its first public performance took place in October, when Baltimore actor Ferdinand Durang sang it at Captain McCauley’s tavern.

The song gained popularity throughout the nineteenth century and bands played it during public events, such as July 4 celebrations. On July 27, 1889, Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy signed General Order #374, making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official tune to be played at the raising of the flag.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that "The Star-Spangled Banner" be played at military and other appropriate occasions. Although the playing of the song two years later during the seventh-inning stretch of the 1918 World Series is often noted as the first instance that the anthem was played at a baseball game, evidence shows that the "Star-Spangled Banner" was performed as early as 1897 at opening day ceremonies in Philadelphia and then more regularly at the Polo Grounds in New York City beginning in 1898. However, the tradition of performing the national anthem before every baseball game began in World War II.[3]Today, the anthem is performed before the beginning of all NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games (with at least one American team playing), as well as in a pre-race ceremonies portion of every NASCAR race.

On November 3, 1929, Robert Ripley drew a panel in his syndicated cartoon, Ripley's Believe it or Not!, saying "Believe It or Not, America has no national anthem." [4] In 1931, John Philip Sousa published his opinion in favor, stating that "it is the spirit of the music that inspires" as much as it is Key’s "soul-stirring" words. By a law signed on March 3, 1931 by President Herbert Hoover, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was adopted as the national anthem of the United States.

This may not be as interesting to you as it is to me. But I love this song and every sentiment, every ounce of pride and strength in each stanza speaks to me with great power. While Francis Scott Key watched, held captive, from the enemy ship, he painfully witnessed the bombardment of his beloved city. I cannot imagine what that was like, but can only minutely understand the pain and strangling fear which encompassed his chest.

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner!

And then in the last verse when these words are sung:

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'

This is the cause of our great military. They rely on us at home to care for and keep the Constitution safe, America safe . . . insuring that she is not destroyed from within. In the meantime, they fight this battle for us that we won't be destroyed from without.

We are coming up on our nation's celebrated birthday. This year, for some reason, I feel it more strongly than at any other time. Perhaps I've heard too many times, "The longest any democracy has survived is 220 years." It is my hope the fact that we are a Republic may forestall that downfall, all the world waits all to breathlessly for that moment. Perhaps these words have been spoken too often, "The world hates America and if you would change the world would be so much better off." Perhaps my heart has bled a little more that this cause for justice and freedom has eroded so greatly. That the lives and sacrifices of American soldiers given and taken in the cause of freedom for so many nations have been for forsaken for . . . I don't even know what for. My parents raised me to remember, never to forget. But too many have forgotten now.

For this week, and on this day, July 4th, I will once again remember the sacrifices of my ancestors that I might be born and raised in the greatest nation on earth. A nation where freedom of religion provided for the full restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A nation where our Constitution bears the words that "all men are created equal." For in my sight, they are. A nation where we are free to choose how we may support ourselves, to study whatever we wish to study, to become whatever we wish to become . . . at some level, in some way.

Thank you, America. Thank you for standing as a "shining city on a hill" declaring to the world that mankind, regardless of your nation, were intended by God to be born free of subjugation and domination. Thank you being that symbol of freedom.

More information can be found at the Encyclopedia Smithsonian.

Thoughts on Barack Obama

Barack Obama changed the Presidential Seal. Seems he didn't like E Pluribus Unum -- Out of Many, One. He decided to unilaterally change it to Vero Possumus -- Yes, we can.

Is there anything about America that Obama likes?

• He doesn't like our health care system, one of the best in the world.
• He doesn't think the United States is, or should be, based on a Judeo-Christian value system.
• He doesn't think we should drive SUV's and keep our homes 72 degrees and he thinks he should get to enforce that.
• He doesn't think the oil industry should be private and has every intention of trying to snatch them if he is ever elected president.
• He doesn't think high gas prices are a problem, just that they went high too fast.
• He doesn't think America has enemies as he's willing to climb in bed with every one of them.
• He doesn't think the Constitution of the United States is a divinely inspired document which holds the truest form of government ever known to earth. He wants to shuck that old document and replace it with the Communist Manifesto. Yeah, that worked so well for the Russians.
  

Somebody tell me that all I hold dear about America isn't about to be flushed down the toilet. Please, I beg of you. Why, why is Barack Obama getting so many people to support him when he clearly has no desire to be president of America, he wants to be president of the new America he hopes to create . . . one completely opposite of what the Founding Fathers fought so hard to create that we might enjoy the freedoms we do enjoy. And yet, we are happily voting someone in who will reverse those freedoms without a second thought.

We survived the Clintons, can we survive another administration who will betray America? I don't know, my friends. I simply don't know.

Will the American people take the responsibility of their freedom on their own shoulders or will they do as Germany did and elect a leader, such as Hitler was elected, to destroy us completely?

The Face of a Monster - Rep. James Fagan (D)

From FoxNews.com:

A Massachusetts politician and defense attorney has touched off a firestorm with his shocking public vow to torment and "rip apart" child rape victims who take the witness stand if the state legislature passed stiff mandatory sentences for child sex offenders.

Rep. James Fagan, a Democrat, made the comments during debate last month on the state House floor.

"I'm gonna rip them apart," Fagan said of young victims during his testimony on the bill. "I'm going to make sure that the rest of their life is ruined, that when they’re 8 years old, they throw up; when they’re 12 years old, they won’t sleep; when they’re 19 years old, they’ll have nightmares and they’ll never have a relationship with anybody.”

Fagan said as a defense attorney it would be his duty to do that in order to keep his clients free from a "mandatory sentence of those draconian proportions." Those comments drew the ire of local activists as well as colleagues.

“I thought his comments were over the top and unnecessary,” Massachusetts House Minority Leader Bradley Jones told FOXNews.com on Wednesday.

“I appreciate that he’s a defense attorney, and felt he had a point to make, but I think it was unnecessary,” said Jones, who supported an original version of the bill. “It was excessive.”

The father of the Florida girl for whom Jessica's Law is named also blasted Fagan after hearing the comments.

Mark Lunsford, whose 9-year-old daughter was abducted and buried alive in a trash bag by a sex offender in 2005, told the Boston Herald on Tuesday that Fagan should take the rights of victimized children seriously.

“Why doesn’t he figure out a way to defend that child and put these kind of people away instead of trying to figure ways for defense attorneys to get around Jessica’s Law?” Lunsford told the paper. “These are very serious crimes that nobody wants to take serious. What about the rights of these children?”

The bill that he opposed eventually passed the House and set mandatory minimum sentences of between 10 and 15 years for a set of different offenses against children ranging from assault to sexual crimes. A version is still pending in the state Senate.

From a legal perspective, law professor Phyllis Goldfarb said Fagan was probably expressing a basic courtroom truth – that it is a defense attorney’s job to test the prosecution’s case, especially when mandatory penalties are on the line.

“It is fundamentally true … if the proof is coming almost exclusively through a child witness you may have to find a way to test it. That’s the attorney-client obligation there,” Goldfarb told FOXNews.com.

Goldfarb, who used to direct the Criminal Justice Clinic at Boston College Law School, said Fagan used some over-the-top language, but that he probably didn't relish the idea of cross-examining a child. She said it's just his job.

“You do have to challenge a witness,” she said. “Some people find ways of doing that that are loyal to their role as defense attorneys -- testing the proof (in ways) that aren’t abusive to a witness, but it's very hard.

“And I think being put in that hard position is what he seems to be railing against here, using language that’s probably a little bit hyperbolic.”

Lunsford will be in Massachusetts on Wednesday to push the state Senate to include mandatory prison time in the state's final version of Jessica's Law, according to the Herald.

Reader Information: State Rep. James Fagan is a Democrat representing the Third Bristol District, which includes the city of Taunton. Fagan, a 1973 graduate of Suffolk Law School, has been representing the district since 1993, and serves as chair of the House ethics committee. He can be reached by e-mailing or calling:

State House: 617-722-2040
District office: 508-824-7000
E-mail: Rep.JamesFagan@hou.state.ma.us

I am stunned there is not an outcry so large it reaches the heavens. Can the moral fiber of America be so low that no one is outraged by this man's determination to rape the emotions and utterly destroy the futures of children who have already been raped by predators? Can we have fallen so far from what America once was? Is this truly the America I am faced with in the future? How can this be?

Some Mormons

Absolutely love what this man put together.



In an increasingly chaotic world we find ourselves faced with wickedness at every turn when someone comes along, like this gentleman, and reminds of who and what we are. Thank you, kind sir.

Jason Chaffetz Will Betray Us

Chris Cannon lost to Jason Chaffetz in the Republican Primary on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. I had to take a day or so to come to terms with that loss. Oh, many of you might think that I'm just a sore loser but that night a deep fear took hold of me and I cannot shake it.

I see one of two scenarios going down:

First Scenario: The story the Salt Lake Tribune has been sitting on, the one that reveals Jason Chaffetz --rest of sentence removed due to numerous threats to my reputation -- will be released sometime between now and the general election. The reason for the delay, many believe, will be to guarantee a Democrat wins in November. I say it doesn't particularly matter. Chaffetz lied from the beginning of his candidacy and continued to do so right up until his win. Here's the question: Will he continue to lie? And will the constituents of the 3rd Congressional District even care? Apparently they had no problem listening to lie after life fall from Chaffetz lips . . . -- also removed.

I think Chaffetz holds on to many of the Democrat values he says he has eschewed. So we will have a Democrat/Republican representing us in Washington, D.C. -- that's assuming he manages to win after this story is released. Either way, the most Republican county in the Utah chose a liberal in conservative clothing to represent them and now we have to pay the price with them.

New to this Post: Jason Chaffetz people keep contacting me and telling me this is a lie, specifically the course of action which occurred while he worked at a large Utah County company. They've threatened to spread word across the internet that I am a liar and rumor monger . . . I simply state this: I confirmed this action through reputable sources. Chaffetz's people are threatening to destroy my reputation if I do not remove the one sentence. Consider that portion of the sentence removed.

Second Scenario: Chaffetz wins in November and goes to Washington, D.C. with two of the greatest weaknesses that bring politicians down. Within months, faced with the corruption and temptation of Washington, D.C. he will succumb and immediately be rendered ineffective. The 3rd Congressional District of Utah will no longer have any representation and all that Chris Cannon has worked for will fall by the way side.

Who will continue to push Homeland Security to complete the border fence?
Who will continue to push through legislation to insure we end dependence on foreign oil?
Who will continue to protect us from the internet pornographers?
Who will stop the internet tax from moving forward?
Who will watch out for the needs and future of America and Utah?

You see, I don't think Chaffetz can do it. Oh, he talks a pretty game but drill down past the slick words and smile and look to what is beneath. Nothing, my friends, nothing. But this is who was chosen and now we all will pay the price.

So come November, if you're looking for me at the polls, I'll be the one hyperventilating as I vote.

I have never truly feared for America or Utah before, but now, now I fear greatly. It is a physical presence in me. And my friends, I cannot tell you how much I want to be wrong.

I challenge Jason Chaffetz to prove me wrong. Please.

Review: Room for Two by Abel Keogh

I first learned about Room for Two by Abel Keogh at the CFI Writers Conference at the beginning of June. Abel spoke on internet marketing, which I have a special fondness for, so I paid attention. When he told his story I was inexplicably touched by his positive attitude after such a monstrous tragedy in his life.

When a break came around I went and picked up his book and read the back. It was something I was interested in reading so I opened the first page to see if I liked his writing style.

I bought the book right away. Clearly, I liked his style of writing.

From his book we read:

Sweetie, I'm home." I tried to put as much kindness into my voice as possible. I didn't want to have another argument - at least not right away.

Silence.

"Sweetheart?"

A gunshot echoed from our bedroom, followed by the sound of a bullet casing skipping along a wall.

Everything slowed down.

And so begins the story of a man whose pregnant wife shoots herself upon his return home from work. It is a tragic and yet uplifting book.

I grabbed the following from Abel's website:

When a life is destroyed, when guilt says you played a role in its destruction, how do you face the days ahead?

Twenty-six-year-old Abel Keogh chooses to ignore the promptings he receives concerning his wife's mental illness, and now he feels he is to blame for her choices. If only he had listened . . .

At some point in our lives, each of us face devastating afflictions and must eventually cope with loss. Regardless of how it happens, the outcome is still the same - we are left isolated, alone, wondering what we could have done differently, and where we can turn for peace.

This is Abel's story in his own words. His search for peace and the miracle that follows is proof that love and hope can endure, despite the struggles and tragedies that shape each of our lives.

Radio talk show host, Abel Keogh takes us through the mental, emotional and spiritual anguish of being the one left behind, struggling to live, date and love again. He has great skill for the written word and drawing the reader into the anguish that was his life eight years ago.

I couldn't put it down. And in the end, it was a very uplifting story, although I had to have a box of Kleenexes by my side. This is, without question, a must buy. You may purchase the book by clicking Room for Two.

Chris Cannons Responds to Email I Sent to Cannon, Hatch & Bennett

I, along with several hundred thousands of people contacted our Senators and Congressman about the ever rising gas prices and my intense desire that American free herself from dependence on foreign oil. I emailed the same letter to all three: Congressman Chris Cannon, Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Bob Bennett.

I always get a response from Chris. I occasionally get a response from Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, never, ever responds. Chris sent the following response to me yesterday afternoon:

June 23, 2008

Candace Salima
Address Removed by Me!

Dear Candace:

Thank you for contacting me. As your Congressman, I take my responsibility seriously. I am committed to working on the issues that are important to you.

The reality of our energy situation is that gas prices have dramatically increased, and we can no longer afford to be dependent on foreign oil supplies. With oil prices reaching $139 dollars per barrel in the last few weeks before a small price retreat, it is indisputable that something must be done. Last week, I led a discussion on the House floor concerning energy independence and the availability of energy within the United States.

A viable option towards energy independence is oil made from shale. Shale oil contains 3 to 5 times the amount of oil as Saudi Arabia and if allowed to be developed we can bring gas prices down as we increase our supply. It is estimated that we have 2.6 trillion barrels of accessible oil within the nation and 800 billion barrels of oil within Utah alone, and the technology used allows us to more efficiently produce oil shale with minimal environmental impact.

I recently introduced legislation, H.R. 6211, that provides the President the authority to cut through the bureaucratic process and immediately allow for the permitting of oil from shale on federal lands. We must secure our energy future and free ourselves from our foreign oil dependency by developing an American resource with American jobs.

We need a energy policy that promotes production, innovation and conservation. I am privileged to be your Congressman on the forefront of this issue at this critical juncture facing our nation. I invite you to visit my website at www.chriscannon.house.gov for more information on this and other issues facing Congress.

Sincerely,

Chris Cannon
Member of Congress
Washington, DC office at: (202) 225-7751.

Confirmation# 1159100

To get Email updates please sign up for my E-Newsletter at: E-Newsletter

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Therein endeth the letter I received from Chris. He addressed my concerns. Explained what he's doing and let me know how to contact him if I had further questions.

Now, I'm aware that I can call his office and go deeper into this. I'm not going to because Chris and I have had many conversations over the years about this very topic.

I heard Jason Chaffetz say the other day that Chris had hurried up and introduced this legislation because the primary was coming up. This shows the sheer ignorance of Jason Chaffetz on the bill writing process.

Does Chaffetz really believe a bill can be written so quickly?

Does Chaffetz really believe that his shifty attitudes can sway me from the knowledge that Chris has fought long and hard on this topic?

Today is the day Republicans in the 3rd Congressional District of Utah cast their vote for the candidate they want to represent them in November. It's an exciting process and one that I absolutely adore participating in. My father instilled in me the knowledge of how precious and rare this gift of voting is . . . not sham voting, but voting where I am able to go cast my vote for whomever I please.

Jason Chaffetz has deceived a lot of people about his intentions, his integrity or lack thereof, his slight, if any, understanding of the issues and the Constitution of the United States, and the real reason he's running against Chris Cannon.

Chaffetz is another Democrat turned Republican. For some that is a sincere change and U applaud that decision. For others, like I believe Chaffetz to be, its a change of convenience.

Chaffetz decided he couldn't, or wouldn't, go up against his own congressman, Democrat Jim Matheson, and chose to go up against the Republican incumbent, Chris Cannon, in a neighboring district, ours. Yours and mine, the 3rd Congressional District. If Chaffetz is so concerned with conservative values, why didn't go up against the liberal in his own district. Why go after the conservative in the neighborning district?

I have come to believe Chaffetz is a liberal in sheep's clothing. There's no other reason the stories, which are coming to me and fast and furious now, would be told to me by people greatly fearing the possibility that he could be elected, even those amongst his neighbors. Even his former employers and partners are stepping forward.

I am stunned by the lies which have fallen from his lips. I'm stunned at the attacks on Chris Cannon's character. I am stunned by the sheer audacity of this man that he believes he could deceive the voters of Utah's 3rd Congressional District.

Today I cast my vote and it is for Chris Cannon who has never let me down. Chris Cannon who has never lied to me, even when it would have behooved him to do so. Chris Cannon who has stood for me as his constituent. Chris Cannon who immerses himself in the writings and teachings of the Founding Fathers of this nation. Chris Cannon who is determined to free America from the chains of foreign energy dependence. Chris Cannon who is determined to seal our borders and stop the flow of illegal immigrants into our nation. Chris Cannon who is determined to protect America from her enemies. Chris Cannon who is my congressman.

Counting the Hours Down to Primary Day

Tuesday will be the Republican Primary Day for a number of races within the Republican Party. The one, in particular, I am interested in is Chris Cannon vs. Jason Chaffetz. An interesting phenomena has occurred as I have continued to express heartfelt sentiments and views about Chris Cannon, what I understand about Jason Chaffetz and his stances, and the political temperature of our congressional district, our state and our nation.

I am, I think no one can question, a fierce defender of America and the freedoms guaranteed to us by God and the Constitution of the United States of America. I fear greatly for the direction our nation is headed in and despair of a generation eager to cast away all that has made this nation great for 232 years. As I watch our constitutional rights eroding; as I see the continual and constant attacks on the Constitution; as I watch the family unit disintegrating before our very eyes; as I see homes and families destroyed by infidelity, pornography, alcohol, drugs, gambling, even gaming . . . I wonder how our nation can survive such an insidious and destructive disease as apathy.

Abraham Lincoln said, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

Those who have never had to fight for their freedom are the quickest to give it up. Those who do not know the history of their own nation and their ancestors are the quickest to dismiss their great sacrifices. And those who have never known fear are the quickest to give up their freedom at the first strike of terror.

Benjamin Franklin said, "They that give up essential liberty deserve neither liberty or safety."

I believe with my whole heart that as Americans it is our responsibility to know and understand the Constitution of the United States. I believe it is our responsibility to fight dearly to defend her borders and protect her people from an ever encroaching federal government. And I believe, with every breath inside my body, it is our responsibility to vote for righteous men and women who will hold their dear their oath of office, to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America.

When I say I support Chris Cannon in the 3rd Congressional Race I do not give that support lightly. I am not anyone's definition of an uninformed voter. I have written on this blog numerous posts about Chris' integrity, his record and my personal experiences with him. You can read those here:

Chris Cannon on Glenn Beck: Shale Oil
Chris Cannon in the News
Chris Cannon on Immigration
Independence from Foreign Oil
Oil Shale Development in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado
Salt Lake Tribune Fact Check on Jason Chaffetz
2008 Utah Republican Convention Thoughts and Reflections
Daily Herald Interview with Chris Cannon
Chris Cannon's Stance on Illegal Immigration
My Conversation with Chris Cannon
Become a Partner with Congressman Chris Cannon

Going back over older blogs I ran across the thought, or rather, apparently the fact, that there is a faction in this nation casting their votes based on looks, charm and likability. Tell me that is not going on here in Utah. Tell me we're smarter than that. Tell me, I beg of you, that we have examined the candidates, their records, who and what they are and what they stand for and THEN made a decision.

Jason Chaffetz has stated, on the record, that he'd like to see federal programs on the chopping block. Programs, according to Salt Lake Tribune Blogger Robert Gerkhe, such as:

• Forest Service watershed restoration
• National Forest improvement and maintenance
• Air Force Base operations and support
• Defense Department weapons test and evaluation programs
• Even Start (which integrates childhood education and adult literacy programs)
• Federal Perkins Loans (need-based college loan programs)
• Rural education program
• Energy Department's national nuclear infrastructure
• Natural gas and oil technology (which draws on the national laboratories to try to develop technologies for things like oil shale)
• Bioterrorism: Biosurveillance programs
• Child abuse prevention and treatment grants
• Office of women's health
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Automation Modernization Program
• Bureau of Reclamation -- Rural Water Supply Projects
• Department of the Interior -- Wildland Fire Management
• State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (which reimburses states for a fraction of the cost of detaining illegal immigrants)
• Essential Air Service (which supports airports in remote areas like Vernal, Moab and Cedar City)
• Internal Revenue Service Tax Collection
• Montgomery GI Bill -- Veterans Education Benefits
• Veterans Disability Compensation
• Veterans Home Loans
• AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps
• Universal Service Fund for Rural Health Care Providers (assists rural communities with tele-health programs)
• Securities and Exchange Commission -- Enforcement
• Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
  

Those are the programs Chaffetz wants to get rid of? Really? Because I would have chosen other departments such as the EPA and a few other choice government organizations who have put this nation in the condition we're in today. But no, not Chaffetz, he wants to nix Natural Gas/Oil Technology and the Montgomery GI Bill.

Alright, I'll give him this, I'd like to get rid of the IRS too and get some honest people in there with a program fair to the American people rather than the corrupt, cutthroat, operating by hidden, behind closed doors organization that exists right now. But all of this information about Chaffetz was collected as I studied a particular story sent to me about him.

What is all this leading up to? I'll tell you. I have been given information about Jason Chaffetz that startled me. The Salt Lake Tribune also has this information, the reporter has thoroughly researched and proven it to be true, but the source who delivered the information to me is unwilling to be named. I don't know why the Trib is sitting on this article, but this is information I would want to know before going to the polls on Tuesday and casting my vote.

Chaffetz was released or fired from a job because of unseemly behavior and mismanagement of funds. I cannot, nor will I tell you, how I confirmed this fact, just be assured that I have confirmed it. I wondered how he faced his wife when this knowledge was revealed and it cost him his job. I've received numerous emails from people detailing the events and I have vacillated over whether to release it or not. The questions in my mind were:

1) Is this information prevalent to the race?
2) Does the responsibility lay on my shoulders to release this information and inform the voting public?
3) Will this information matter at all to the voting public?

Answers:

1) Yes, it is. It goes to the definition of Chaffetz' character.
2) After having this weigh on my mind heavily for several days it came down to the fact: Could I live with Chaffetz winning this election and be the one the fate of the 3rd Congressional District rests with? The answer was no, I couldn't live with it.
3) I have to believe that since we don't have a record to judge Chaffetz on we are left with his shallow stance and half-formed plans on the issues . . . and his character. His stance and plans are sorely lacking, barely touching the surfaces of the problems -- looking only as far as the end of the nose on his face -- and that leaves us with his character.

So I began the research. I was given a list of individuals to speak to about this. I learned that large numbers of delegates already knew these facts were true but didn't feel the need to share. I learned that the source was impeccable but did not want adverse publicity for the company. I learned that there was indeed a blogger working on this for the Trib, and yes, I know which one.

The biggest problems I had with all the informants was simply these: I don't want my name to become public. I don't want to be the one to tell the truth. I don't want to be the one identified with this story. I don't want to be the one standing for truth and the 3rd Congressional District in this. I'm annoyed by that. Truth should stand at all times and personal fears should never come into play. It's hard. It can be very scary. But if we cannot stand for truth and righteousness at all times then of what value are we to our fellow Americans and to our God?

I waited for the Salt Lake Tribune to publish the story. For two weeks I've waited, but nothing. Nothing has been printed. Now we go to the polls in less than 24 hours and still, the story has not been published. My husband has suggested that I not go into the details of Chaffetz's behavior at this particular company, who also does not want to be named, and I have honored this request. But--

If all we have to judge Chaffetz on his character then this is important. I personally would rather not have a congressman who has weaknesses leaning in that direction. Sheesh! Washington D.C. is a hardball town rife with corruption, bribes and extortion. Show weakness and you're toast! And guess who pays the price? We do. Those of us in the 3rd Congressional District. No one can say Chris Cannon isn't tough. No one can say Chris Cannon hasn't fought for the rights of his constituents. Chris is an honest and good husband and father.

Portions of the 3rd Congressional District have been infected with what I like to call the Obama Virus. Chaffetz seems to be able to flash a smile and people don't look any deeper. So using Chaffetz's analogy of football, let me put a different slant on it. The players who do all the work on the field is the offense. The quarterback drives that ball toward the goal and when all those men have worked to get that ball into kicking distance, then the kicker walks onto the field and kicks the ball. Sometimes he makes it, sometimes he doesn't.

Let's pull that into politics. Chris Cannon has worked his heart out over the last eleven years to write and pass legislation which he believes is in the best interest of his constituents and America. In addition he's received the highest conservative ratings and favorable reports from all aspects of concern for conservatives. So now that Chris has done all the hard work and has many things finally falling into place Chaffetz wants to waltz in and take the credit for Chris' hard work.

And so I ask each of you reading this blog to stop, think and contemplate a future with a congressman with such measurable weaknesses.

In completing that very process it leads me to one inescapable conclusion: My support of Chris Cannon stands. He is the man to be our Congressman. And on Tuesday, June 24th of 2008, I will cast my ballot for Chris Cannon.

Who is Best for the 3rd Congressional District

There was a great opinion piece on the hotly contested congressional race in the 3rd Congressional District in the Daily Herald. It was nice to hear so many of my own opinions and stands on Chris Cannon and Jason Chaffetz confirmed. I included the entire thing for you to take a look at:

IN OUR VIEW: Who has skill for Capitol Hill?
Daily Herald Editorial

Rep. Chris Cannon has been defending himself all year against various accusations from the challenger within his own party, Jason Chaffetz, but the real issue is who can get the best results in Washington.

Chaffetz says he will be dramatically different from Cannon, but it's hard to see how any conservative can do that. Check the ratings of congressmen by conservative groups, and Cannon scores 90, 95, 100 percent. It's virtually impossible to out-conservative Chris Cannon.

Chaffetz at times seems to be trying a little too hard to be different. Take one example: In an interview with the Daily Herald (online at heraldextra.com) Chaffetz said that Cannon and the Republican Party have failed on national defense. Asked how they had failed, he slid into a discussion about post-combat health care and education benefits for returning troops.

But then he frankly admitted that he knew nothing about the recent hot debate over the new G.I. Bill in Congress, which was pressed heavily to passage last week, 416-12, by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The bill would fully fund the cost of a public college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to the tune of $63 billion. Sen. John McCain opposes the bill because of the heavy price tag and because he believes it will erode the ranks of non-commissioned officers.

What's surprising here is that a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives would be completely uninformed about the details of a hugely significant bill -- and one that contains provisions he claims to support. You'd think Chaffetz would be following the news, at least, with respect to the institution he wants to join.

Or take immigration, the hottest of hot-button issues. Cannon has taken a lot of heat for backing President Bush's plan to reform immigration, but he can point to numerous votes for tighter border security.

Chaffetz decries illegal immigration and flays Cannon for alleged failures, but we haven't heard Chaffetz or anyone else lay out a realistic plan for moving at least 12 million people back to their home countries. It's a tough issue on which reasonable people can disagree.

Another bete noir is No Child Left Behind. Cannon and most Republicans once thought it was a pretty good idea. But it failed in many respects, and Cannon admitted it years ago. For Chaffetz to hammer Cannon for his initial support of No Child Left Behind is unfair. After all, Cannon isn't hammering Chaffetz for campaigning for Micheal Dukakis not so many years ago.

We've looked at Cannon's voting record and avowed stands, and we don't see much difference between him and Chaffetz in 95 percent of cases -- and no deal-breakers in the other 5 percent.

So again we urge readers to listen as the candidates speak for themselves online at heraldextra.com to get a more in-depth feel for their philosophies and abilities.

To make a good decision, voters need to think about who is better suited for life in the House of Representatives -- the day-to-day job of working with 434 other people of all viewpoints to move legislation through, or block it.

Cannon is sometimes faintly praised as being detail-oriented, as if he is not a big-picture person. We don't find that to be the case. Daily Herald staffers have grilled him on several occasions recently, and he showed not only that he knows the minutiae of legislation, he also has an impressive, wide-ranging vision of how government can change in a technological society.

Anybody who sits with Cannon, as we have done, cannot miss his grasp of issues, his affability and his inner drive. Such qualities suit him well for the job of congressman.

Unfortunately for him, his accomplishments are hard to convey in sparkly language. On the campaign trail, his detailed analyses can be a political liability.

Chaffetz, on the other hand, excels in the sound bite. Like a great propagandist, he doesn't swerve into details about how things are done. Rather, he sums up with generalities and, in Barack Obama fashion, stays maddeningly on message, using key words that are high on objective but low on logistics.

That's a skill not to be dismissed. But voters must assess its value. The question is whether he can translate his sound bites into action in an institution that tends to move at a deliberate, slow pace, where getting something done requires more carrot than stick. When Chaffetz told us that Congress needs Republicans to pound on podiums, the question immediately follows: Is that the way to be an effective legislator?

Overall, Chaffetz appears to be a strong political organizer with great potential and energy. The Republican Party is sorely lacking in young, personable, articulate candidates who will stand for conservative values.

But is Chaffetz right for this job right now? Being in Congress is much more about haggling over minute details of legislation than making big, sweeping speeches. Can he thrive in the real Congress if he were to be elected? His only stint in government, as Gov. Jon Huntsman's chief of staff, was both brief and rocky. Sources in Huntsman's administration and in the state Legislature indicated that "it was time for him to go."

Nor has Huntsman endorsed Chaffetz -- an interesting omission if Chaffetz was truly a stellar performer; but then the governor seldom goes out on a limb. We note that Sen. Bob Bennett, an undisputed solid citizen, has endorsed Cannon, as has Sen. Orrin Hatch, while Rep. Rob Bishop of the First District strongly praises his performance.

So the question lingers: Can Chaffetz succeed in Washington? The founding fathers designed the government to change slowly, and the growth of bureaucracy has made Washington even more frustrating for the idealistic or impatient. Many come to the city on the Potomac to make big changes but quickly learn to their dismay how hard that is.

And it takes time to learn the ropes. Chaffetz disdains earmarks as the epitome of pork-barrel spending, saying that until the system is reformed, he won't even ask for one. But that's not realistic. Federal money is often allocated for specific needs, and it should be -- an earmark for radar at the Provo airport comes to mind. Chaffetz is right that earmarks have gone wild, but that doesn't mean they can, or should, be abolished.

Chaffetz correctly says that overall fiscal discipline is needed in Congress, and to do that, you've "got to elect different people." But that doesn't mean that all the nation's problems can be plopped in Cannon's lap. There are, after all, various grades of Republican in Congress -- some on the right, like Cannon, and others in the center or even left of center, like Sen. John McCain.

We think it's fair to say that Cannon has held his own very well in representing Utah's Third District. It thus stands out as strikingly odd that Chaffetz chose to challenge Cannon instead of the Democratic representative from his own district, Jim Matheson. Given Cannon's pre-existing conservative record, unseating Matheson would have done more for the cause of conservatism.

The next Congress is likely to be Democratic, perhaps even more so than today. Will it be best for Utah to have a congressman who storms the barricades and possibly alienates himself? Or is it better to have a representative who can fight a kind of political guerrilla war, harassing and delaying the liberal wave through the use of House rules and procedures that take years to master?

Colleagues have testified that Cannon exhibits great skill at such backstage maneuvering. Sometimes a congressman's best work is not in the bills he passes but on those he quietly scuttles in the hallways and back offices.

Utahns will have to decide on Tuesday -- and again in November when the winner will face Democrat Bennion Spencer -- who will be best suited to dealing with the realities of the 2009 Congress.

To hear interviews with Rep. Chris Cannon and challenger Jason Chaffetz, go to heraldextra.com

June 8, 1978 - A Glorious Revelation

Hear from the hearts of the Latter-day Saints who were effected the most by this glorious revelation.

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ needs no defense, it stands on its own." Sister Cathy Stokes

Many will never understand how deeply the leaders and membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints longed for that day in 1978. I have a distinct memory of sitting in the back of a car with two other girls on our way back from a youth conference in Gallup, New Mexico. The radio was fuzzy, as it often was in the 70's, but suddenly it came in clear as a bell and we heard the news. The day had finally arrived, "all worthy male members of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints were now eligible to receive the full blessings of the priesthood." Oh, the celebration which ensued.

Yes, there were some mean-hearted saints who left the Church over this revelation, but then there those who left the change when other things occurred to. Those who truly kept their eyes single to the glory of God rejoiced as we hadn't in a very long time.

This video reminds of that day. The memory is good.

Robert Kirby of the Salt Lake Tribune

Two years ago Robert Kirby was the keynote speaker at the LDS Storymakers Writers Conference. Alvin was fresh out of the hospital, after a six-week stint, and we spent the night holding our stomachs rolling with laughter. I love this man's sense of humor. It's biting. It's irreverent but never inappropriate, sorry, Robert.

Anyway, somebody sent me one of his latest columns and I have to share it. Head on out to the Salt Lake Tribune, liberal monsters that they are, and check Kirby's latest columns. Just scroll down until you find him. It's worth it, believe me. The man is funny! In the meantime, I had to share this one! I was laughing out loud.

Most Sunday mornings, you'll find me on a pew in the Rosecrest 1st Ward chapel. It's where I'm supposed to go to church. Lucky for me, it's also where I want to go.

Technically, Mormons don't have a choice. For church, we're bound by the geography of the ward. We worship where we live. The only time Mormons can switch wards without also contacting a Realtor is when we attend specialty wards. For example, I went to a Spanish-speaking ward in West Jordan for a while.

Specialty wards allow members with specific common needs to worship together and support each other in their exclusive part of the Lord's vineyard. There are (or have been) lots of LDS specialty wards, including singles wards, college wards, deaf wards, ethnic wards and nudist wards. OK, I made up that last one. There are even seasonal "snowbird wards" in places where Mormon RV owners congregate.

I talked it over with my friend (despite a restraining order) Ken Wallentine. We think the specialty-ward idea needs to be improved on in our ever-changing and increasingly divided culture.

For example, there needs to be a late ward, a ward Mormons who are perpetually late for church could attend and not feel bad about dragging their herd in 15 minutes late. The only problem with a late ward would be showing up late for a meeting that was supposed to start late in the first place. Eventually, you would end up with a ward that ran out of time before it started. "Welcome to the Tardy 3rd Ward, brothers and sisters. We will close now by singing hymn No. 145."

Given the high birthrate among Mormons, I thought about the need for maternity wards. Except that we already have those. They're called student wards.

A Star Trek ward might do well. The bishop would preside from "the bridge" instead of the stand. High-council Sunday would be referred to as a "Klingon Sunday."

Harley riders congregate to the exclusion of just about everyone else. Why not an LDS biker ward? White shirts and neckties go well with black leather.

Ken really wants to attend a concealed-weapons ward. He says church would be a lot more interesting if real personal risk were involved in disagreeing with a lesson.

There could be a texting ward for teenagers. Bear your testimony with your thumb. In 25 years, they'll all belong to carpal-tunnel wards.

At the less-active ward, maybe there'll be a meeting and maybe there won't.

Testimony meeting in an anger-management ward might be interesting. Nobody's going to sleep through, "Hey! I know the church is true, you stupid #*&@s!"

A big hit would be the MLM ward, also known as a "Gadianton robber ward." With all the financial scamming that goes on in this culture, it would be nice to have them in one place for a three-hour block.

I think a Democrat ward is a good idea, although in Utah the best we could probably hope for is a Democrat branch.

Oh come on, that was funny! I'm still laughing.

Chris Cannon on Glenn Beck About Shale Oil

I snagged this interview off Glenn Beck's website. I was delighted that he had Chris Cannon on and gave him the opportunity to give the straight and informed answer on shale oil.

Glenn Beck: Oil shale the answer?

June 16, 2008 - 13:04 ET
Chris Cannon (R-Utah)

RELATED STORY
U.S. can become world's energy giant

VOICE: The economy is weak, taxes are high, illegal immigration isn't being resolved. Come November it's up to you the voters to make a difference. Before you cast your ballot, know the facts. Read Fusion magazine's voters guide for a look at the candidates' platforms and only their platforms. Subscribe today by calling 888-Glenn-Beck or by visiting GlennBeck.com. But hurry, time is running out. Fusion magazine, more perspective, more comedy, more heart, more Glenn.

GLENN: The thing about Fusion magazine this time around is it compares their platforms and their words to those of Karl Marx and Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and Lenin, Mao. It's amazing when you see and you compare and contrast. There is no political opinion in this issue of Fusion magazine. My picture is on the cover. I want you to be able to hand this to your friends and say, really? Which is closer?

Now, this isn't necessarily going to help you make a case for John McCain or Barack Obama. It's going to make a case of, wow, are we on the wrong track. So check it out. Fusion magazine. You can subscribe right now at GlennBeck.com, or 888-Glenn-Beck. I think you have to order, is it this week to be able to get it for July?

I saw a story in the paper over the weekend and it is about an oil shale proposal in congress. The headline says representative Cannon's bid to boost oil shale seen as a pre-primary PR stunt and then the very last, the second to the last line is the person who said it was a PR stunt is his opponent. So I thought I would get down to the bottom of the oil shale thing. Chris Cannon is a representative. Which district?

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Third congressional district, Glenn.

GLENN: Chris, tell me your idea on the oil shale.

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: You know, if we're going to bring down the price of gas, you have to have three things. You have to have a big reserve, you have to have the ability to develop oil out of that reserve quickly, and you have to be able to produce oil at a relatively low cost. And that's oil shale. In Utah and Colorado and to some degree in Wyoming we have an amazing amount of oil. If you compare the size of our reserves of Saudi Arabia and the whole Middle East, it's like three times as much as all of that combined and that's just the easily, readily available 1800 billion barrels and there are probably 3 billion barrels that are commercially just under that, available. And long term if we change the technology, perhaps as many as 4 trillion, with a T, 4 trillion barrels of oil. There's enough, marginally if we just supplied all of our use in America instead of importing oil, it would be enough for 100 years or so. There's just no energy crisis in the world. There's a regulatory crisis. So what I've done is I've introduced a bill that would give the President the authority to draw people together that can understand these issues in government and to sit down with people that want to develop that shale and say, okay, let's figure out what you need to do to do it in an appropriate, careful, environmental manner and then let's go forward with it. And that would mean fairly quick production of oil and that would have a big impact on the price of gas at the pump.

GLENN: Okay. Now, I know the environmentalists are against this, and I'm trying to find the name of this, the wilderness society says that the oil companies already own some land with shale on it and they can't come up with a technology to get a drop of oil out of it. Is that true?

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: No, that's actually ridiculous. The regulatory burdens are great. We do have the first commercial test of shale, extraction of oil from shale going on right now. It should be done by the 15th of this month. They could be -- and I don't want to speak for them, the company, but my understanding of their technology is that they could be in full production in relatively short order, within six or eight months of their test if they didn't have to spend two years waiting for air quality permits. Now, they are operating on school trust lands. That's essentially private land. So they don't have the big DOM problems that people with government leases have. I think that when society talks about owning it, they are talking about leases. But a lease is no good unless you have the ability to produce off that lease, and the problem is not technology. There are at least five, six technologies that are really good out there for producing oil out of shale and it's a seven year process to do that. I think the leading company on this has been Shell. They spent hundreds of millions of dollars on their technology, and the head of that operation came into my office a couple of weeks ago and dropped a couple of pieces of paper on my desk. It was a list of 46 agencies with multiple permits each. They have eight-year leases to do experiments on 160 acres, two parcels 160 acres. Those leases are for eight years. It's going to take them seven years to get the permits. O'Connor said to me, how do I tell my board of directors they should invest in that? Seven years of permits for one year production when it's a multiple year process to produce off that land? The technology is there. The regulatory hurdles are just plain too high.

GLENN: All right. So what is the -- your bill takes all of the burden out of congress and puts it on the President's desk?

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Well, yeah. He is the executive and what it does is it gives him the ability to cut through seven years and make that seven weeks and so you sit down and you say, what do we need to do to protect the environment and what's the process we're going to use. And there are various processes that are very different and they are going to have different constraints. But then you give the President the authority to come to a conclusion and give a permit in a short time and then you monitor, see what's going on. You may have to adjust that permit over time but at least you get people producing oil.

GLENN: The will in the country with the American people is extraordinarily high.

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Yes.

GLENN: Yet the will in congress is not. I've got a guy here who's been waiting for a while to talk on the air and I'm going to put him on the air. His question is don't you think that congress is intentionally trying to sabotage our economy for the election. Give me a reason here, Chris, why congress is doing the things that they're doing. Why are they doing this? This is not in our economic long-term health by any stretch of the imagination to keep us shackled to terror states.

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Yes, Saudi Arabia funding Al-Qaeda, Iran funding Hezbollah, Hamas. Human events had an article two weeks ago about an Iranian funded terrorist camp in the Venezuela. You know, we're paying these people to undermine our interests and we're propping up a --

GLENN: So what is stopping the congress? What is the motivation of congress to not free our hands?

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Well, if you look at the numbers, they're fascinating. The bulk of Republicans will vote to drill in ANWR, to drill in the continent she will, to drill in the Midwest to drill for shale. About 90%, in some cases a little more, a little less of Democrats vote against that and with the republicans who vote against this and the Democrats who vote against this, we've not been able to get those things passed. We passed the right -- there's a prohibition against drilling in the Alaskan national wildlife preserve but we have to overcome what's positive law. We passed that in the House a couple of times and the Senate actually passed it as well but the times we passed it in the House and the Senate didn't pass it, then we had problems with a potential candidate being the critical vote there. So we have to get -- the American people have got to express themselves on this issue and we're about to put up a website called dollargas.us. I don't think it's up yet but we want the American people to be saying we want a dollar, a dollar and a quarter gas. That's where it ought to be. And if we were producing our own gas, our own oil out of our own resource here in America, one, we would have cheaper gas. And two, we wouldn't be funding our enemies.

GLENN: Chris Cannon from the great state of Utah. Thank you very much. We'll look at the bill. What is the bill number?

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Oh, it's -- I think it's 6811, but I apologize.

GLENN: That's all right. No, that's in that left field question. We'll look it up. Thanks, Chris, I appreciate it.

CONGRESSMAN CANNON: Thank you.

GLENN: You bet. Bye-bye. You know, I've got to tell you. I told you a little while ago I wouldn't mind if congress got trapped on a golf course some place for the rest of eternity. This guy might be an exception. I mean, I don't want them doing anything unless they are doing something to get out of our way.

####

I'm with you there, Glenn.

So there you have it, my friends. The straight scoop from the man himself, Chris Cannon, not Glenn Beck. Here we have one the last bastions of reasonable and conservative thought saying he likes Chris Cannon. I do too. I don't support Chris because he's my friend. I support Chris Cannon but he has stood for Utah and the United States of America every step of the way. He has been the answer, and continues to be the answer, for Utah's Congressional 3rd District.

My Day at the Spa

So my husband gave me the most beautiful present. Last Saturday he dropped me off at Remedez, in the University Mall, and told me he'd be back to pick me up in a few hours. Pure bliss, I kid you not. Any guilt I felt on spending money on something like this was melted away by afternoon.

I embarked on what Remedez likes to call the Soothing Escape.

First they gave me an organic foot bath, heaven. Then I off I went for a massage from a wonderful massage therapist named, Autumn. She was incredible. My back hasn't felt this good in a really long time. So the massage, according to their brochure is a personalized massage experience based upon the Elemental Nature philosophy and your favorite Aveda aromas. I chose tangerine. Connect mind and body. Feel tension slip away. Ease sore and fatigued muscles. Reblance and revitalize with massage therapy. I don't know if my mind and body were reconnected, but everything else was delivered as billed for one entire hour. Oh my gosh, when she said she was done I almost cried.

Next was my facial, the Signature Facial, which apparently, restored healthy balance to my skin with a customized facial based on the Elemental Nature questionnaire, personalizing products that cleanse, hydrate and balance my skin through nurturing aromas and rituals. Whatever. All I know is that it too was completely amazing. By this point all the knots were gone from my back, my neck and my shoulders. My brain was no longer racing and I was feeling relaxed, to the point of almost falling sleep. Problem was . . . I'd drunk some water between the massage and the facial. Yeah, you're catching on. I was squirming on the table the last twenty minutes of my one hour facial. Other than that, it rocked!

Oh, but I wasn't done. I was then treated to a manicure and a pedicure. My husband gave me five hours of pampering I won't forget anytime soon. No wonder they won Best of State. Everything was clean and beautifully set up. They were efficient, friendly and good, really good. Autumn, Trista and Amelia literally pampered me until I was more relaxed than I had been in six years.

I waited 44 years for a day like Saturday . . . it was good. Really, really good.

When I went home I did what I always do, a little research . . . about Remedez. I have to say, I'm impressed.

At REMEDEZ, our mission is to create the ultimate beauty and wellness experience. The balance you desire and the tranquility you deserve awaits you at REMEDEZ HairSpa. Imagine your perfect day, today! (They accomplished that!)

REMEDEZ HairSpa is the only AVEDA Lifestyle Spa, Salon and AVEDA Store located in Utah Valley! REMEDEZ has the full compliment of AVEDA products.

So yeah, I'm going to save my money for the Day of Beauty package. A day of nothing to do but breathe and relax. And it includes body polish, one hour massage, signature facial, hand-relieving manicure, pedicure, shampoo and hairstyle, makeup application and lunch. Pampered for six hours and however long it will take me to eat the lunch they provide. Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to that day! It might be awhile, but I'll squirrel the money away somehow.

Alvin - thank you! I know life's been rough for us lately, but the fact that you would sacrifice to make this day possible for me is huge! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bloggers, haven't I told you that I'm married to the most amazing man?

Chris Cannon in the News

The Daily Herald had several articles on Chris Cannon Monday. I thought I'd give you snippets and then you could read the rest of the articles. Below these snippets you will find my analysis. That being said: Talk about burying the lead! Mid-column I found what I was looking for:

Cannon first learned in college that getting what you want sometimes means getting dirty: While pursuing a law degree at BYU he scrubbed toilets as a janitor. He also worked as a teamster in a grocery warehouse earning "more money in an hour than most guys made in a week" in Guatemala, where he served an LDS Church mission.

While at BYU he interned for the U.S. Supreme Court in the Office of the Administrative Assistant under his uncle Mark Cannon. He also spent time in the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a researcher. It was there that he started finding contradictions between consensus and reality. In 1974, on the heels of best-sellers such as "The Population Bomb," he was asked by the Secretary of Agriculture to research the claim from the World Health Organization that the world would face a food crisis by 1986. Cannon contended that food reserves wouldn't dwindle but rather grow substantially.

"I was right," he says simply. Monday, 16 June 2008, Chris Cannon: Incumbent faces yet another challenge, Joe Pyrah - DAILY HERALD) -- Read More

The article goes on to talk about many aspects of Chris' character and career, beginning with the current race for Republican nomination on June 24th.

Here's some more:

Little known facts about Chris Cannon

One of his daughters is dating a Democrat who hates President Bush. Cannon came home to find a vehicle parked in his driveway with a bumper sticker that was less than complimentary to a president who has endorsed Cannon numerous times. (Monday, 16 June 2008 - Daily Herald)

Chris Cannon on the Issues

A flood of press releases and news stories have come out in the past several weeks with the congressman touting oil shale. The process involves digging into the earth and extracting liquid from the shale via heat at a cost of about $30 a barrel. Utah could be home to billions (yes, with a "B") of barrels of such fuel. The problem, he says, is that current regulations require a seven-year wade through a sea of red tape. That regulation time needs to be cut down substantially to ensure a source of cheap energy in the country.

"The idea that we're short of resources is ridiculous," he said. "It's absolutely ridiculous." (Monday, 16 June 2008 - Daily Herald)

Chaffetz, his opponent, has truly misrepresented Chris' record and stance on the issues multiple times. The one most telling was during the televised debate held on June 14th. Chaffetz said, "Cannon's introduction of an oil-shale production bill "just 15 days from the primary" is just like the games that incumbents are playing in Congress these days."

Chris has been working on energy independence and the drilling for oil shale in Utah for 11 years. I have been involved in politics, heavily, for 13 years and I remember Chris saying, 11 years ago, paraphrasing here, "If we can just hang in there the technology will be in place in about ten years. Then we can start drilling for shale oil." He said that in a park in Lindon, I believe. I didn't even know what shale oil was, but Chris has educated me in this matter. Why have I become educated in this particular topic? Because I cared. Because I asked. And Chris has been willing to explain it in detail . . . because I asked. Chris is right. Chaffetz is wrong. And for Chaffetz to say this is "typical incumbent politics" is downright deceitful and mean.

Chaffetz likes to harangue Chris about "No Child Left Behind." Chris has made it clear if it can't work for Utah it needs to be removed. He is behind http://www.endfeded.org -- does that sound like someone who supports federal interference in local education? No, he does not. He has realized what went wrong with "No Child Left Behind" and has been rectifying it ever since.

Chaffetz attacked Chris for:

. . . increased federal spending, the Medicare prescription drug benefit and allowing EnergySolutions to import radioactive waste from Italy - all issues Chaffetz said he opposes.

Cannon said the decision of whether to allow EnergySolutions to import about 20,000 tons of radioactive waste from Italy should be up to the state. About 1,600 tons of waste would ultimately be buried in Utah.

“The state has the right, the authority, the responsibility to govern that, and all I said is we should stay out of that and let the state control its own destiny in that regard,” Cannon said.

Actually, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering whether to grant EnergySolutionsa license to import the radioactive waste.

“I'm totally opposed to importing waste,” Chaffetz said. “I would vote to keep the waste out of Utah, absolutely.”

Cannon said that the No Child Left Behind bill was a good bill that was poorly implemented and that he voted for the Medicare prescription drug benefit because he supported the expansion of health savings accounts, which was packaged with the drug benefit. (Monday, 16 June 2008 - Salt Lake Tribune)

Chaffetz attacks with twisted and prostituted truth and Cannon responds with fact. Chris' record on fiscal responsibility is as follows:

1. According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy calculations, in 2006 Congressman Cannon voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 96 percent of the House

2. Citizens Against Government Waste, an organization that tracks votes on efforts to cut pork in spending bills gave Congressman Cannon the highest score in the entire Utah delegation, scoring a 77 percent fiscally conservative record.

3. National Journal, a non-partisan publication, ranked Congressman Cannon as the 17th (out of 435) most fiscally conservative member of the House.

4. The National Taxpayers Union gave Congressman Cannon an “A” Rating and he was the 2006 Winner of the “Friend of the Taxpayer” award.

5. Americans for Tax Reform made Congressman Cannon the only “Hero of the Taxpayer” award winner in the entire Utah delegation for his consistent votes against raising taxes.

6. Congressman Cannon was the lead Republican on the Internet Tax Moratorium and was invited to the White House for the signing of his moratorium bill.

7. Congressman Cannon voted against SCHIP expansion.

8. Congressman Cannon votes against socialized or government-run health care every time it comes before Congress.

9. Congressman Cannon voted for giving the President a line-item veto.

10. Congressman Cannon voted for eliminating the death tax.

11. Congressman Cannon voted for eliminating the Marriage Penalty.

12. Congressman Cannon voted for increasing the Child Tax Credit.

13. Congressman Cannon voted for the Bush Tax Cuts and to make them permanent.

14. Congressman Cannon sponsored the Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

15. Congressman Cannon voted for Welfare Reform.

As I have said before, if you have questions about something Chris has written or voted for . . . ask him. He'll explain what brought him to that conclusion.

Another Chaffetz discrepancy, reported in the Salt Lake Tribune:

Chaffetz, as he has in the past, slammed Cannon for his 2006 vote for what Chaffetz said was the largest budget and largest deficit in history.

In fact, Congress passed the largest budget last week, a $3.1 trillion package setting funding targets for the 2009 budget year. Cannon voted against that budget, and the 2008 budget. Deficits peaked in 2004 and have been smaller since, according to the Office of Management and Budget, although Cannon also voted for that 2004 budget.

Jason Chaffetz is not the man to represent those of us in Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Chris is not a "slick Willie" but he is a man who has dug in and got the job done. He has written more bills than any other congressman.

He has spent the time to find a workable solution for our illegal immigration problem, his solution will work, and work well, with the illegal immigration disaster we now have in America. I support Chris' plan because it will work. It will increase border security. It will force accountability. Our health care will be free of the "drop in to Emergency, they're required by law to take care of you" mentality of the illegal immigrant and force them, if they remain in the country, to create Health Savings Accounts.

His record on Illegal Immigration is as follows:

Chris is an original co-sponsor of the Congressional Act to Free Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean

Chris is an original signatory of a letter to the President demanding a pardon for Border Agents Ramos and Compean

Chris actively opposed the President/Senate Immigration "Deal" this year. Congressman Cannon said, "Legislation, conceived in secrecy, and dedicated to the proposition that only Senators can solve this issue, cannot long endure. An issue of such import demands the participation and support of the American people. Deciding what it means to be an American is the right of every citizen of this nation and no one, not even the US Senate, can change that. There is broad support for reform. However, that reform must re-establish trust in the ability of the government to keep its word, promote border security to the top of the agenda, and involve the American people in deciding what is to be done with those here illegally."

Chris demanded from the Department of Homeland Security the ability for all Americans to see the progress, in real time, of the border fence:



Chris sponsored AgJobs - allowing a limited number of agricultural workers who have been in the United States demonstrably for years, to remain temporarily, to do jobs employers demonstrate they cannot find American workers to do.

Chris voted:

• For the Border Fence (HR 6061)
• For the REAL ID Act (HR 418) REAL ID: And consequently,
  
• Established national standards for state-issued driver's licenses and non-driver's identification cards;
• Waived laws that interfere with construction of physical barriers at the borders; and
• Updated and tightened the laws on application for asylum and deportation of aliens for terrorist activity.
• For hiring more Border Agents (HR 4437)
• For making repeated attempts to enter the US illegally an aggravated felony (HR 4437)
• For establishing an employment eligibility verification system that requires employers to verify the legal status of each employee or face a penalty for withholding employee information (HR 4437)
• For requiring the detention of any undocumented immigrant attempting to enter the country after October 1, 2006, until deportation or final decision granting admissions to the U.S (HR 4437)
• For providing the funds needed to ensure that illegal aliens in local prisons would remain in custody until deportation (HR 4437)
• For penalizing US employers for replacing American workers with immigrant labor (HR 4437)
• For authorizing up to 10,000 military members to secure the border. Congressman Cannon supported and voted for this in 1997 and continues to support it
• For denying Federal Housing Assistance to Illegals
• For allowing the decision on in-state tuition to be left to the States and not the whims of whatever party controls Congress
• For allowing illegal immigrants to be detained indefinitely pending deportation. Ending "Catch and Release" (HR 6094)
  

Faith and family are two thing that are critical to me as well. - Chris has voted accordingly on the following issues related to faith and family:

• He supported the issues highlighted by the Family Research Council nearly 100% of the time since entering Congress.
• He voted to prohibit Partial Birth Abortion 6 times in his career and every time it has come before the House.
• He voted for parental notification requirements for an abortion.
• He voted for traditional marriage and for the Defense of Marriage Act.
• He voted against human cloning.
  
• He voted against using embryos for Stem Cell Research.
• He voted to support the public display of the 10 Commandments.
  

On National Security his stellar voting record continues:

• He voted for allowing the government to listen to terrorist telephone communications overseas.
• He voted for allowing the FBI, with court approval, to tap terrorist communications by individual, as opposed to tapping a certain phone.
• He voted for the Patriot Act.
• He voted for the authorization of the use of force in Iraq and has consistently supported strategy and force adjustments.
• He has consistently voted against withdrawal timelines and all other Democrat attempts to undermine America’s service members in the war on terror.

Is there an wonder why I support Chris? Every single attack on Chris' record and his character I refute with fact. I want a free, strong and financially solvent America. I want the same for each individual state. Chris Cannon has delivered on his promises and has voted accordingly.

Join Mitt Romney in a Free and Strong America

So what does a former governor and candidate for the presidency of the United States of America do until the next election? Well some just go home and get back to business. Others take a long, and richly deserved, vacation which lasts for months. Others dabble in politics. But what does Mitt Romney do? He forms a foundation called the Free and Strong America PAC and sets about saving America and making a difference:

"You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we called yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will live our children, and theirs." (Mitt Romney, Faith in America, 6 December 2007)

America is at an inflection point. We can either remain the strongest nation in the world, or we can become something much less. Free and Strong America PAC, through its Honorary Chairman, Mitt Romney, supports officeholders and candidates who are dedicated to promoting public policies that will strengthen America at this critical time in our history. Working together with the American people, we will advance conservative social, fiscal, and foreign policies that are essential to our nation’s strength and freedom.

If America is to remain a leader in the world, we must be prepared to face the numerous challenges of the 21st century. Whether it’s ensuring all Americans can obtain quality health care, remaining competitive in a global economy, and providing our children with a world-class education, or confronting radical jihad and the threat of nuclear terrorism, we cannot wait to find solutions.

These problems can be tackled with innovation, determination, and a commitment to our nation’s founding principles. Free and Strong America PAC will work tirelessly to help elect candidates who share these principles and are prepared to take on the challenge of keeping America free and strong.

Together with the candidates we support, and with the help of the American people, we will ensure that this great nation remains – as it always has been – the beacon of freedom and hope of the world.

Our way forward must be rooted in the core principles that have made America strong.

• Our military superiority cannot be compromised.
• Our government must remain federalist and governing should be conducted as close to the people as possible.
• Money and resources are best used when they remain in the hands of the people. A competitive America is one where taxes are low and government is small.
• Unleashing the power of free markets is key to a vibrant economic future.
• Culture makes all the difference in determining the strength of a nation. Our American values must be protected and nurtured.
• Government should be accountable and transparent.

Our greatness as a nation depends on our willingness to hold to the principles that have guided and built our nation. It depends on the character and sacrifices of the American people. Together, we will meet our challenges and leave our children and grandchildren an America that is as strong and prosperous as the one we inherited from our parents.

Is there any wonder why I wanted this man to be the next president of the United States of America? So yes, this is a foundation I completely support. I am pleased with their efforts and will continue and promote their cause, for it is my cause too. Go Mitt!


I'm still on my Virtual Book Tour for "Forged in the Refiner's Fire". Jeffrey S. Savage, one of my favorite authors, posted his review late last night, but wow, even I was impressed! Check it out.

Also, I'll be dropping by Sandra's Dance today, as she will be posting a review and interview as well. Please drop by both blogs and post a comment.

I hope you enjoy them both.