A pleasant surprise: CNN is just reporting on pork in Washington in a "Broken Government" segment. I was impressed that the report criticized Pelosi and Murtha as well as going after Republicans. (See article from CNN.com)

Reporter Drew Griffen noted some of Murtha's pet projects as well as other earmarks Democrats and Republicans are pushing. The open criticism of Democrats' failure to follow through on promises to bring accountability to Washington is refreshing.

The report continued with Griffen talking with Boehner, who is pushing legislation that would force a vote on every earmark. He wants names on every expenditure so members of congress will be accountable when they push these projects. (Boehner's web page on spending)

Kudos to CNN on the report...

Kudos to the Californians who continue to behave themselves in the middle of an unbelievable tragedy. It has been refreshing to see people helping each other and staying positive, in spite of the tremendous losses that mount daily.

While the people who have been the most affected by these fires continue to stay upbeat and to help each other, others who aren't experiencing personal loss seem to be rabble-rousing. Shame on Barbara Boxer, who not only shows her ignorance about the needs of Californians during this tragedy but also for her blatant attempt to politicize this disaster.

In response to Boxer's claims that the deployment of the National Guard has limited the ability of the state to fight the fires, Stars and Stripes set the record straight. (Click here for article.)

According to the Stars and Stripes, while there are approximately 3000 guardsmen deployed to the Middle East, there remain 17,000 available for activation. Only 1500 Guardsmen have been called up to help with the fires.

We should all say a prayer for the firemen, policemen, rescue workers and volunteers who are risking their health and lives for the many Californians trying to cope with their losses.

Lets hope that all Americans have learned from our collective past experiences and we will never again see the collapse of civilized and self reliant behavior in the face of a natural disaster.

The liberals in Maine think they have their fingers on the pulse of what's right for pre-adolescents: Offer them birth control in middle school and all of their worries will go away. (see article)

We conservatives need to develop a better understanding of what kids need. Apparently loving parents, after school sports activities, lessons, chores and wholesome get-togethers are just not enough for the average Portland, Maine 11 year old. They have been missing out on sex!

As for a conservative assertion that parents have a responsibility to supervise their children the liberals counter: How can any parent be expected to know where an 11 year old is all the time? Sometimes, they turn their cell phones off!

There is no logical path to the end sought by those in Maine. The fact that some children have parents who don't pay attention, who don't protect their children or who frankly just don't care should not lead to the undermining of those parents who are making the effort to protect their kids.

If the liberals are correct, ,why don't we just have lock downs at the junior highs on the weekend and have the school nurse personally place the condom on the male students to ensure they are doing it right? While we are at it we could offer them a beer before and after. Kids are going to drink anyway so wouldn't it be safer to ensure they have access? Apply their thinking pattern to other high-risk behavior in which some kids engage.

The idea they are going to do it anyway should not be the reason for making such a dangerous policy reality.

Why can't parents retain the right to say no to their kids when they enter middle school? Allowing children to circumvent the only people who have a life-long interest in protecting the child is another example of "Schools Gone Wild" in America. We should spend as much of our energy going after liberals who push this ideology on our kids as we are spending going after the video king of the "Girls Gone Wild" tapes. Actually, as long as he pays his taxes we should leave the GGW guy alone: he films stupid girls over the age of 18 or possibly girls who lie about their age to get in his videos. His work is destructive and gross, to say the least, but that does not mean that he doesn't have the right to create his works of trash.

Personally, if forced to choose the least risky behavior, I would rather have my daughter bare her body to a camera than to a hormonal boy in a private room. While she would hopefully feel embarrassed when her picture turned up the internet, she would not have acquired HPV, HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes and the list could go on and on. And the boy could easily sneak a picture of her with his cell phone and put it on my space anyway...

Adults need to start acting like adults and begin demanding kids behave like kids. This race to grow up is destroying kids lives. Most adults aren't mature enough to enter into and maintain a committed relationship- how can anyone think a middle schooler can handle the responsibility.

This incessant need to develop social policy to meet the needs of the lowest common denominator creates a vacuum for kids in general.

Kids have no business having sexual relationships in middle school. How can people argue about this.

More and more youth in this country have unfettered access to clinics run by or in cooperation with the public schools. Kids increasingly hear they can get reproductive counseling and products without their parents knowledge. If you think kids are encourage by the clinics to tell their parents I have a bridge I'll sell you.

Young boys know the girls can go and get on the pill or better yet get a depo shot to avoid pregnancy. These boys assure the girls they are "clean" and pose no STD risk. These boys pressure the girls to get birth control. These boys pressure the girls to have sex. And this can go the other way as well. Girls can pressure the hesitant boy with the same information.

Those kids who are vulnerable, who used to get support from the adults at school to avoid the temptation of premature sexual relationships now have fewer resources and less support.

Rather than lowering the standards for everyone, lets begin holding irresponsible parents accountable. While we are at it, let us also begin to hold members of school boards accountable.

I hope the residents of Portland Maine show their school board that parents are not going to go away without a fight.

I am sorry that Queen Lili'uokalani was ousted in a coup in 1893.

Actually I am not sorry- I had nothing to do with it. I acknowledge that people with too much time on their hands are looking for ways to bilk the United States taxpayer out of some hard-earned money by seeking to establish a new set of self-proclaimed disenfranchised people. There is a group of people seeking to further divide citizens of the United States.

The House passed a bill that would create a new class of people (see H.R. 505), with what seems to be minimal concern with the implications of the bill if it were to become a law. If George Bush vetoes this bill and it is over-ridden, there will be Constitutional challenges raised about race-based classifications. Why would legislators open this can of worms? What benefit would this classification offer to the United States?

Rather than seeking to expand the class of "Native fill-in-the-blank"- perhaps Hawaiians and congressional members thinking about supporting this insanity should begin to move towards accepting the notion that moving forward as a united country will prove more beneficial than looking back. Hawaii has been a state since 1959. My guess is that the Native Hawaiians haven't fared that poorly as U.S. citizens.

If Hawaiians want to pursue secession, let them. Otherwise, enough already!

What do we do when the rights of parents and children collide? Do parents have the right to be parents? Do children have the right to be parented?

I think children have the right to be parented. Parents who ignore their children's security and safety while engaging in public behavior that includes excessive drug use should not be surprised when a custody hearing doesn't go their way.

Tonight Greta Van Susteren seemed surprised that Britney Spears would lose her kids. Has she not seen the photos of the Diva drunk, in her underwear (or without her underwear), fighting with her family... This young woman knows the world's eyes are upon her yet she can not control herself. She is a classic addict.

Addicts who are not in recovery can't put anything before their next fix- including their children. Spears did not comply with the orders outlining her responsibilities because she can't get her priorities in line. She is an addict.

Her kids deserve better.

At some point do black helicopters begin circling when people discuss China's use of lead in toys destined for the U.S.? (see article on lead paint)

Enough already with talk of building the Chinese economy through trade. Manufacturers have known of the risk of lead in paint for decades. Is it at least remotely possible there is, at a minimum, a total disregard for the safety and health of American children?

Perhaps our congress should institute a ban on all toy imports from China until this issue is resolved.

If a company within the United States used lead paint there would be boycotts, congressional action and possible criminal charges.

China is one of the most dangerous, least tolerant countries in the world. We send billions upon billions of dollars to China every year while the Chinese government impedes the sale of American goods. See Statistics on China - U.S. trade deficit and 2005 Govt Study and Economist Article on China Trade Barriers.

Every dollar we send to China aids in the support of a dictatorial regime that would jump at the chance to harm the United States. The corporate trade with China is short-sighted and not in our country's long term interests. Until China shows some sign of accepting democratic reform our government should develop trade policy to discourage the importation of Chinese goods.

And speaking of China- let's hear it for a free Taiwan! (See article from Taipei Times) Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian should receive a Nobel Peace prize for not agreeing to accept Beijing's "One China" offer.

As a mom of 9 kids, I decided to take the summer off. While it flew by, my family experienced many challenges- the greatest of them relating to one of my children's horrific experiences in Guatemala.

To make a long story short (although we hope to share the entire story eventually) my daughter was forced to stay in Guatemala with her children because her husband, who promised her they could return to the U.S. in March, refused to allow the children to leave the country.

While I won't get started on illegal immigrants this post...

As my children are now all safe, I am happily beginning to blog again.