Bailout Bombshell: An Opportunity to Get it Right

Today, in a rare moment of representative democracy, the U.S. House of Representatives listened to voters and failed to pass the $700 billion bailout bill. While it may have been a bombshell to many, the fact is, it was American Democracy at work.

Legislators across the nation were bombarded with emails and calls from constituents saying, “Do not pass this bill.” According to the Rasmussen Consumer Index, fifty percent of Americans oppose the plan, and 63% of Americans worry that the government will do too much.

Today, legislators listened, and they responded. But this is in no way the end.

The way I see it, the decision to stall the vote until Thursday is an opportunity to get it right.Ever been in a crisis? If so, you’ve heard those you trust—whether a clergy member, financial planner or therapist—tell you, “Never make major decisions in the midst of a crisis.” And we’re all familiar with the term, “haste makes waste.”

Three days away (back home closer to their constituents) just may do our congressional leaders some good. It will allow each of them a chance to step away, clear their head.The bottom line is, everyone in congress is admitting that the current bailout bill is a “bad” bill they don’t want to pass but feel they must. But, what’s so wrong with having the courage to say, “This bill is bad, but I believe we can do better…and we must.”

This congress has an opportunity to not settle for the lesser of two evil bills (Paulson’s and now the enhanced version). Congress has an unprecedented opportunity to say, “We are committed to the American people. We are elected to be the best possible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We will not sell the taxpayer short. We can do better and we will.”

Come back on Thursday— huddle, compromise, study, research, ask tough questions, demand answers, write, re-write, and compromise some more— and then come back with a plan that you can vote for with dignity. Popular legislative sentiment is that to “do nothing” is unacceptable. No. To do “just anything” lacking any real confidence in its merits or assurances of its success, is unacceptable.

Congress, please, for the sake of the American people, go back to the drawing board

Let it Burn! An Emotional Rant by An American Mom

Estimates reveal that the proposed $700 billion bailout plan will cost $2,333 for each person in America. For my family that means $13,998. Hec, I’ve got my own debt to pay down.

As it turns out, I’m not alone. Many Americans (about 1/3) are not inclined to support this bailout. Another third will consider voting for the bill only if it’s done right—and I fully understand.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and President Bush assert that if we don’t approve the bailout, and I paraphrase, “all hell will break loose.” And if it does? …

What I and most Americans want to know is whether this plan will serve as a temporary bandaid that just postpones the inevitable, or will it incorporate systemic policy changes that will help prevent a similar crisis in the future?

No New Crisis
Truthfully, many of us in America are pretty fed up and are willing to just let the whole thing burn. Most of us have already been burned. Middle and working class American families have been in a crisis for a while. Between rising gas, food and energy prices, depreciating housing values, layoffs and few raises to offset the cost of living increases, ordinary Americans have been looking for our own bailout plan, and it just doesn’t seem to exist.

Now, the treasury and the President wants each American to dig a little deeper into our own bleak pockets and cough up $2,333 per person to rescue Wall Street—effectively increasing our record high national debt by almost an additional trillion dollars.

Treasury Secretary, I’m sorry to inform you, but we cannot afford a bailout of this magnitude. We simply don’t have it. There has to be another way. Keep thinking...

Debtor Nation
Increasing our current $10 trillion debt by another $700 billion just cannot be sound financial policy. Is it fair that a few folks on Wall Street could so detrimentally impact the masses? No. Should someone be held accountable? Sure, but the bottom line is, if we Americans are willing to take our chances and decide we aren’t willing to bailout Wall Street, then let it be our decision—you know, “we the people?...”

But what if Wall Street crumbles? Well, we’ll just have to take it and make some good ol' American apple crumble. Americans know how to bounce back. We always do. If our paper house burns down. Little-by-little, we’ll just build it back up again. That’s old-school. That’s the American way. There simply are no short fixes and get-right-quick schemes when it comes to finances.

Sorry, King Paulson.

The MAC is Back For Big Surprise—Round Two!

Just four weeks after McCain’s first big surprise—Governor Sarah Palin—the Mac is back with his second big surprise. John McCain will “suspend” his presidential campaign and return to Washington, D.C. to work on the bailout plan for Wall street.

Let’s be honest, we Americans love our coffee jolt and our mega-caffeinated energy drinks. We even love extreme home makeovers and over-the-top realty shows. We’re so over stimulated that it takes a big, sudden move to jolt us away from our Blackberries (not the edible kind) and get our attention. Somehow, I think John McCain is fully aware of our weakness—and he’s using it to his full advantage.

The last time the Mac jolted America out of its political humdrum—and serious lack of excitement within his own party—it worked. McCain has been enjoying unprecedented enthusiasm, participation and crowds since adding Palin to the ticket. “Yeah…that’s the ticket!”

Now that Governor Sarah Palin’s novelty has begun to wear off (and some would say wear thin), and McCain’s poll numbers are slipping, I suspect that the Mac began to ponder just what he needed to do “shake things up” again.

Yes, we’re in an economic crisis—but it just so happens to coincide with McCain’s political crisis. He’s in what might be the tightest and toughest presidential race in history—and he’s committed to winning.

The setup could not be more perfect. McCain gets to take the bold political/leadership position and say, “I’m suspending my campaign…” knowing full well that even if he postpones the debate, halts his ads and returns to Washington, the campaign—virtually carried out by swooning media attention—will run on. McCain may say he wants to step away from partisan politics—but being just 45 days away from the presidential election—even that statement is a political one.

The reality is, neither of the Senators sits on the Senate Banking Committee that has been holding hearings on the bailout. The most either could do is help corral votes. And honestly, Obama isn’t needed nearly as much as McCain is needed on the Republican side, to help sure up votes for some sort of bailout plan.Furthermore, if McCain is going to get involved in the bailout negotiations, he wants his “friend” Obama to join him so that Obama can share responsibility for the outcome of the bailout too. Thus, he challenged Obama to “suspend” his campaign as well.

But when McCain couldn’t get Obama to stop his campaign, he threw the ball to THE Big Mac—President George W. Bush, who then requested to see both campaigners on the Hill—kind of like the boss who summons two bickering employees to his office to put an end to petty squabbles.

Certainly, McCain could have easily traveled to Washington to rally his leaders and have an impact on the bailout negotiations without officially and publicly “suspending” his campaign. He could have just done what he needed to do. But McCain wanted to do more than make a move; he wanted to make a point.

The fact is, his point will likely pay off in the form of brownie points for good political strategy— a move that some are describing as a stunt, or political one-upmanship.

Whatever you call it, he’s done it again. McCain proves he’s not afraid to make bold moves that surprise everyone, cause some to cry “politics,” and causes others to applaud him for “doing the right thing.” The truth is Americans may be more interested in solving this immediate crisis than watching a presidential debate on television. At the same time, who’s to say the candidates cannot do both?

Senator Obama proposed that the two put out a joint statement (which they did put forth). But Senator McCain upped that move with an all-out political cease-fire in an attempt to take back the “Leadership” mantel that he threw off when he selected Governor Sarah Palina as his running mate.

Not a bad idea. Maybe Obama should have thought of it first. If he had, he would certainly be accused of not being a capable leader who can juggle more than one ball at a time. He’d be accused of trying to claim the spotlight as the junior “celebrity” Senator coming unnecessarily to the rescue. He’d most definitely be accused of trying to avoid having to go one-on-one with John McCain at a debate on foreign policy. Oh yes, if this had been Obama’s idea, he surely would be getting beat up for pulling such a self-aggrandizing stunt.

But this wasn’t Obama’s idea. It was McCain’s—the senior politician. And McCain on the other hand, is being cast as the true patriot who puts “country first”—the veteran super hero who flies into Washington D.C. to rescue America, and ALL the world, from sudden peril.

Whether on the big screen or network cable news, this is good stuff—and if you’re a political junky—you’ve gotta love it. Some have likened McCain’s move to a “Hail Mary.” But in Washington, D.C. it’s called “politics.” And McCain is one masterful politician.

"Our Economy is Fundamentally Strong"--John McCain

September 15, 2008 is already being dubbed “Nightmare on Wall Street.” On this day, the 158 year old Lehman Brothers went bankrupt—the biggest bankruptcy in our nation’s history. Bank of America bailed out 94 year old stalwart, Merrill Lynch by purchasing it.

AIG, the nation’s largest insurance company lost over half its stock value in just one day. And to top it off, Washington Mutual, the nation’s largest Savings-and-Loan, witnessed its stock drop 27%, and its credit rating down-grade to “junk” status.

In spite of such troubling news, Republican presidential nominee John McCain—on the very morning of September 15, 2008—reiterated a statement he’s been saying throughout the campaign, and that is, the “fundamentals of our economy are strong.” This time, however, he admitted that we are in difficult times, and he attempted to clarify what he meant by “fundamentals.”

McCain defined “fundamentals” as the “American worker and their innovation, their entrepreneurship, [and] small business.” But then he went on to say, "the fundamentals of our economy are at risk.” Well, he may have upped the antee in his language from “strong” to “at risk,” but most of us did that a long, long time ago.

News flash! We’re not just “at-risk” anymore, McCain. And that’s not doom and gloom talking. I’m one hopelessly optimistic woman (who’s also studied economics). We’re teetering on the brink of economic collapse.

Don’t believe we’re that close to the edge? Let’s review a few fundamental factors:

• The United States is 10 trillion dollars in debt—the largest in U.S. history.
• The U.S. is experiencing the biggest foreclosure crisis in 30 years—maybe even since the Great Depression.
• Household (consumer) debt is at a record high.
• The U.S. has record high trade deficits.
• Just one week ago on September 8, 2008, the U.S. government bailed out the nation’s largest mortgage lenders—Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
• In spite of soaring oil prices, members of OPEC say they won’t cut oil prices because they lack confidence in America’s ability to deal with it’s current economic crisis.
• The plummeting U.S. dollar has decreased the value of U.S. assets.
• American companies and foreign governments lack confidence in American markets. Thus, companies lay off, lenders loan less, and foreign governments buy up our Assets.

Trouble on the Horizon
Former Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan stated in an interview on Sunday that the current crisis is the worst of his career. He stated that "There's no question that this is in the process of outstripping anything I've seen, and it still is not resolved and it still has a way to go."
If we still have “a way to go,” do we really want to expand the George Bush tax cuts?

Even Alan Greenspan—a friend of John McCain—doesn’t think that expanding the tax cuts are such a good idea. In an interview with Bloomberg television, Greenspan stated that the United States cannot afford the 3.3 trillion dollars in tax cuts that McCain is proposing, unless the tax cuts are matched by cuts in government spending. And we ALL know our biggest spending culprit is the Iraq war…

Now, just because we’re teetering on the brink of collapse doesn’t mean we will. And if we do, we’ll certainly rebound—in some form or another—but I think it’s imperative that we recognize our current situation for what it truly is.

It may be that all this talk about economics is just getting to be a bit much for John McCain—the self proclaimed novice on such matters. Personally, I think John McCain is conflicted on the issue of the economy. But he cannot have his cake and eat it too.

McCain’s record shows that he’s anti-regulation and would prefer for the market to correct itself. John McCain himself has stated that, “fundamentally, I’m a deregulator.” And while McCain has begun to address the economy more often in his campaign speeches, it really just sounds as though he’s reciting the talking points of his speech writers. Somehow I’m just not sure if he really gets it.

John McCain must resolve—once and for all—whether he believes our economy is fundamentally strong or fundamentally “at risk.” Right now, he just comes across as fundamentally clueless.

Passing Up on Down Syndrome: In Search of Perfect People

*News Flash*
The latest research shows that the number of babies born with Down Syndrome is declining. What could possibly be the reason for this decline? Is it scientific advancement? Is it something different in parents or the environment? To what should we attribute this phenomenon?

We can attribute this phenomenon to the words, “No thanks, I’ll pass.” Or put more bluntly, abortion…and our society’s Perfect People Patrol mentality. Don’t stop here because I mentioned the “A” word. The rest is worth reading…

According to hospital studies, about 90% of women in the U.S. whose babies are diagnosed with Down Syndrome, terminate their pregnancies. (PubMed.gov) And while only pregnant women 35 and older have traditionally been tested to determine if their unborn child has Down syndrome, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, now recommends that all pregnant women, regardless of age, be routinely tested.

In the UK, British women are increasingly “eliminating their unborn children because of non life-threatening deformities such as deformed feet or cleft lips and palates” and “more Down's Syndrome babies are now killed than are allowed to be born.” (LifeSiteNews.com)

When I first learned of these statistics I didn’t believe them. The numbers were staggering. “It couldn’t be true. It must be a misprint,” I thought. But I was very wrong.

Where Have All the Down syndrome Babies Gone?
According to George Neumayr, the executive editor of the American Spectator, “Doctors and their patients use prenatal technology to screen unborn children for disabilities, then they use that information to abort a high percentage of them. Without much scrutiny or debate, a eugenics designed to weed out the disabled has become commonplace.” (The American Spectator).

Medical researchers estimate that since 1989, 70% of Down-syndrome fetuses have been aborted—along with a high percentage of fetuses with cystic fibrosis, spina bifida and Tay-Sachs. It appears as though the “New Eugenics” is in effect and many are concerned as to where it will lead. Some experts are paving the way. Princeton professor Peter Singer, has stated that, "It does not seem quite wise to increase any further draining of limited resources by increasing the number of children with impairments."

Bob Edwards, the embryologist who created the first test-tube baby through in vitro fertilization, has stated that, "soon it will be a sin of parents to have a child that carries the heavy burden of genetic disease. We are entering a world where we have to consider the quality of our children."

According to Neumayr, “In essence, the “right to abort a disabled child, in other words, is approaching the status of a duty to abort a disabled child. Parents who abort their disabled children won't be asked to justify their decision. Rather, it is the parents with disabled children who must justify themselves to a society that tacitly asks: Why did you bring into the world a child you knew was disabled or might become disabled?” (http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8418)

My Story
My youngest child Joshua (shown above) was born with Down Syndrome, a condition that replicates a critical portion of the 21st chromosome in other cells in the body. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. In Joshua’s case, it was unofficially diagnosed before he was born and confirmed through genetic testing after his birth.

Joshua is an energetic three year-old who exudes love to everyone he meets. He really is thoughtfulness personified. He brings immeasurable joy and laughter to our family—as well as some pretty big messes and spills. Joshua gets a big kick out of making others laugh and finds joy in comforting others when they are sad. He loves swimming and “reading” books (i.e., holding books while uttering various syllables). We like to joke that he’ll grow up to be a comedian.

The Most Common Genetic Disorder
Today, Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition with one in every 800-1,000 children born with it. Down syndrome is the most studied and well-understood genetic condition. Government sponsored programs and services abound, as well as support groups for families. Individuals with Down syndrome are also living longer than they used to. It’s safe to assume that if 90% of Down syndrome babies weren’t being aborted, the number of children born with Down syndrome would be much greater.

While many doctors discourage the birth of Down Syndrome babies—whether knowingly or unknowingly—the truth is, individuals with Down syndrome possess varying degrees of mental retardation, from very mild to severe, and most people with Down syndrome have IQs in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation. If more expecting moms and dads understood Down syndrome—and knew the possibilities that existed for their unborn child—I really believe that far fewer parents would choose to abort.

Opportunities Abound
Inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in typical classroom settings, community organizations, work forces and social and recreational activities now occurs regularly.Often, doctors feel obligated to present pregnant women with the worst case scenario and stress the difficulties of life with a “disabled” child. But before we assume the worst, let’s examine the facts and explore the possibilities:
· The majority of Down syndrome babies are well functioning members of society. They attend school, hold jobs, and now, are beginning to be assimilated into college.
· Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. Today, Down syndrome affects more than 350,000 people in the United States.
· Eighty percent of children born with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35-years-old. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
· Today people with Down syndrome are active participants in the educational, vocational, social and recreational activities of the community and live in group homes and other independent housing arrangements.
· Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions in banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants, music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
· People with Down syndrome date, socialize and form ongoing relationships. Some are beginning to marry. Women with Down syndrome can and do have children.

Perfect People Only—Where Will It End?
The problem I have with the deep, dark, downward spiral of aborting “imperfect babies” is that tests are fallible. I happen to have five female friends who were told their child had Down syndrome, but the baby was born completely normal.In today’s society, where more and more couples are having difficulty conceiving a child or waiting later in life to conceive, it would be very unfortunate for these parents to forego what might be their one and only shot at having a child. Modern technology is never one hundred percent accurate.

Furthermore, will the deep, dark, downward spiral of aborting “imperfect babies” eventually span to include children who are later discovered to have autism or some other rare debilitating disease? What happens then?

Imperfection—an Inconvenient Truth
While the aforementioned line of questioning may seem extreme, it probably seems extreme to our creator that we would go through such efforts to eliminate a child whom we feel poses an inconvenience upon our lives.One day we may wake up to find the Perfect People Patrol strolling the halls of prenatal clinics and birthing wards to encourage proper disposal of society’s “undesirables.”

Insurance companies will have a “pre-existing condition” clause prohibiting health coverage of children with disabilities detectable in the womb.Individuals living with recognizable disabilities and their parents will be mocked and looked upon with scorn for having the audacity to give birth to an imperfect child.

The law will allow pre-selection of gender and other desirable traits and parents will finally have the opportunity to create the “perfect” family—literally. That is, until we open our eyes and realize that none of us is perfect.Everyday PeopleThe simple, yet profound truth is that there is no perfect human being—even if you have all of your faculties and you’re not cognitively impaired—and the more we try to create one, the more we will become as a dog chasing its tail. Each person on the face of the earth has value—and it’s not determined by his or her fellow citizen. It is innate and God-given.

Living with a disability, or having a special needs child is not easy. At times it may seem flat-out unbearable. Yet living with and among people we consider “disabled” has the potential to make us more loving, patient and compassionate individuals.

As a society, let us be careful not to morph into a Perfect People Patrol, who want to reduce the number of individuals they consider an “unproductive” drain on precious resources. May we learn to live amicably with all people—even with all our faults, challenges, disabilities and imperfections.

Let us allow everyone in our society to live up to his or her full potential and leave his or her mark on the world. In the process of embracing our “imperfections,” I believe each of us will evolve into a more “perfect” person.

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Learn more about Down syndrome. Visit the National Down Syndrome Society http://www.ndss.org/

Also check out this great article in the New York Times. There are video clips as well. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/us/09down.html?fta=y

Kwame Kilpatrick: He still doesn’t get it

Today is a very sad day for the city of Detroit. It’s a historic day for all the wrong reasons.

Today, our sitting mayor pleaded guilty to two felony counts of “obstruction of justice” (lying under oath). As a result, he will be automatically removed from the Office of Mayor (per the city charter) and lose his law license. He will also serve four months in prison, pay a one million dollar restitution and forfeit his state pension.

This evening, Mayor Kilpatrick stood before the city. I was looking for brief, contrite remarks that would put this saga behind us once and for all. However, all I heard was more of the same.

Kilpatrick began by stating that he accepts “full responsibility” for his mistakes and poor judgment. But then he quickly took aim at Governor Jennifer Granholm—chiding her for neglecting other state duties to make his removal hearings a priority.

Next, Kilpatrick turned his attention to the next-in-line for the Mayor’s job—City Council President Kenneth Crockrel, Jr.—with what came across as a back-handed request for “prayer” for Mr. Cockrel because —as Kwame Kilpatrick puts it—there is a “big difference between the office of Mayor and city council.”

In all, Kilpatrick spent about ten minutes of his thirteen-minute announcement touting his accomplishments—in what sounded more like a campaign speech than a heartfelt apology.

Tonight, I was really hoping that for once, we’d see a truly humble Mayor who wanted more than anything—to relinquish the reigns so that Detroit can move forward. Instead, we saw Kwame Kilpatrick in his usual form—not backing down, but already positioning himself to come back.

Republicans Belittle Service

This week the Republican party heralded the themes of “Country First” and “Service” at their national convention. Throughout the week they highlighted numerous examples of bravery and courage among service persons and civilians alike. Service is a core value of this party and its 2008 convention.

Then came a series of speeches on Wednesday night—particularly the speeches given by Rudy Giuliani and Governor Sarah Palin. What I heard astounded me. Both speakers blatantly belittled and mocked the little-known (now more well-known due to Barack Obama) role of community organizer.

I was utterly appalled when I listened as Giuliani eagerly waited the audience’s response after making the remark, “He worked as a community organizer. What? … OK, maybe this is the first problem on the resume.” I couldn’t believe it.

It didn’t stop there. In her acceptance speech, Governor Sarah Palin stated, “I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer… except that you have actual responsibilities.”

One can argue that Governor Palin was simply comparing the responsibilities of the office of President with that of the responsibility of a community organizer. Definitely there is little comparison. However, to diminish the role or value of community organizers is despicable.

Certainly the responsibility of a neighborhood community organizer doesn’t equate to the responsibility of the President of the United States—nothing can— but Giuliani and Palin didn’t make that distinction. Rudy Giuilani called Obama’s service as a community organizer the first “problem” on Obama’s resume, but nothing could be further from the truth.

A community organizer is a grassroots warrior. A community organizer is someone who sacrifices his or her time, energy, resources—and very often higher earnings— to rally and empower families and communities to fight for the causes in which they believe—whether it’s working to improve educational opportunities for neighborhood children, ridding the neighborhood of abandoned homes and drug havens, organizing to bring job training and jobs after plants have closed, fighting to get fresh produce at neighborhood grocery stores, or rallying for affordable housing and reliable public transportation.

Community organizers bring the various sectors of the community together to solve problems—real problems that are affecting real people in real neighborhoods across America. Community organizers help communities recognize their own power by mobilizing them to stand up to “the powers that be.”

In essence, community organizers organize individuals into a stronger, more effective unit for change—similar to how a union organizes its members to provide a collective voice to demand better pay and working conditions.

Community organizers come alongside individuals to help them define what success is for them and help them acquire the resources needed to accomplish the task at hand.

Most importantly, community organizers inspire hope. Whether they’re your next door neighbor or neighbors from across town, by investing their time, energy and enthusiasm, community organizers inspire other community members—many of whom have been down trodden and disenfranchised—to believe again.

Community organizers inspire individuals to believe in themselves and to come together to create the change they want to see. It’s called self-determination. It’s the foundation of a democratic society. It's also the embodiment of the self-help, individual-responsibility doctrine so often associated with the Republican Party.

So when it comes to creating change at the grassroots level that positively impacts people’s everyday lives—that’s the kind of change community organizers help create. Good, old-fashioned, hard work and bottom-up change that’s actually worthwhile.

It’s this kind of real-life, impactful change upon which Barack Obama has built his career in public service—a deep-seated belief that individuals have within them the power to make their communities a better place if they can come together.

The irony of the Republican’s community organizer-bashing is that Senator Barack Obama’s incredible success emanates from his community organizing skills and his ability to listen to, understand, relate to, encourage and help empower others. In his amazing, historic, campaign—which is made possible by the contributions of everyday people volunteering and making multiple small donations— Barack Obama is employing community organizing 101—only multiplied by 1,000.

The community organizing experience that Giuliani and Palin belittled in Barack Obama cuts to the very core of Obama's philosophy of service, and it is the preeminent value that has produced the kind of following and enthusiasm Senator Barack Obama is experiencing.

Community organizing is service. And it is very unfortunate that a party whose theme for their convention is "Country First" and "Service" would be so blind as to not recognize service in its myriad of forms.

Twenty years ago Barack Obama helped empower a community to bring change on Chicago's Southside. In 2008, Barack Obama has brought that same courageous spirit of community to the national scene. This time, however, he’ll not only change the Southside of Chicago. This time, Obama is mobilizing individuals in communities across America, and inspiring all of America to believe that together we can change this nation, and together we can change the world.

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Anita S. Lane is a public policy advocate and former full-time community organizer in Detroit, Michigan.

McCain's Extreme Republican Makeover

As news hit the airwaves that Governor Sarah Palin’s 17 year-old daughter is pregnant, my first thought was that Senator John McCain decided to push the “maverick envelope” a little far—for his own good, that is.

It’s one thing to be a celebrity— as McCain portrays Obama—but it’s another thing to own the celebrity drama. Immediately my mind conjures up images of Brittany Spears and her little sister Jamie Lynn. Momma Spears can now share a copy of her new book, “Through the Storm,” with Momma Palin. No doubt there is a storm that lies ahead.

Certainly Republicans cannot be happy with this news. However, they will likely use it as an opportunity to promote the pro-life message. Bristol intends to keep the baby and marry the father.

Does this news blemish the can-do-everything-woman image of Governor Sarah Palin? Maybe. Maybe not. Was Sarah Palin too busy being Governor to meet more of the emotional and spiritual needs of her daughter? Did they spend time together talking about dating, God’s purpose for sex, marriage and contraceptives? Was Bristol being kept busy with more productive extracurricular activities and were her whereabouts being monitored?

Perhaps all of the above occurred. After all, seventeen year-olds have minds of their own and will do what they choose. No parent is immune.

News reports claim that McCain knew of Bristol’s pregnancy before offering Palin the VP slot. If so, then McCain new exactly what he was doing—and jumped at the opportunity. He could have chosen a “safe” pick in Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty, but if the reports are true, McCain chose to go with Palin anyway.

McCain’s VP pick is McCain’s way of presenting the Republican party in a whole new light—a makeover. In effect, McCain is saying, “We’re not the party of the elite. We work for a living, we hunt, we fish we struggle with addiction and our teens have babies out of wedlock. We’re your average American.”

So it is. But maverick McCain may want to slow his roll. His new Republican makeover may not go over too well with party diehards. They just got excited about McCain’s campaign two days ago because of Palin. Now, they might be scratching their heads. Not about Palin, but about McCain.

Rain on the Republican Parade?

No, no, no…This is not happening. The Democrats get ideal weather in an open air stadium of 84,000 people—along with fireworks and the orchestral equivalent of an Oscar-winning Hans Zimmer movie score—and the Republicans get Gustav? This can’t be happening.

McCain and Palin were supposed to be able to ride the wave of their big surprise announcement into the convention and captivate the American TV viewer next week much like the Democrats. Instead, they must take a back seat to the torrential waves and potential devastation that hurricane Gustav is bringing to the Gulf Coast.

We all know that life’s not fair, but can the Republicans get a break? Surely it’s not their “year”—with all that George W. Bush has done to weaken the Republican brand—but could it get any worse?

Already the President, the Vice President and one of the rising stars of the party—Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana—have already bailed out of the convention to tend to more urgent matters. Now, the first day of the convention has been all but canceled, only convening to take care of pertinent business matters.

According to party rules, the convention must take place in order to officially nominate McCain and Palin. The question is, just what form will the convention now take?

McCain has stated that it would be wrong to have a festive “party” atmosphere while Americans are facing a natural disaster. Certainly it would be political suicide for Republicans to look despondent (once again) while families in the Gulf Coast suffer.

Please God, Stop the Rain!
The irony of this entire scenario is that Stuart Shepard, director of digital media at Focus Action, the political arm of Focus on the Family, created a short video which actually asked individuals to pray for rain on the night of Barack Obama’s outdoor acceptance speech at Invesco Field. Meant to be "mildly humorous," in the video Shepard asks viewers to pray for rain of “Biblical proportions.”

Focus on the Family later pulled the video, stating that "We are not about confusing people about prayer." So, there you have it. Some conservatives wished rain upon Obama’s parade and now they’ll have rain on McCain’s. You know, that’s scriptural too. It’s called the law of sowing and reaping. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Personally, I love the wisdom, information and encouragement that Focus on the Family provides as it relates to marriage and family. But this particular action was inappropriate.

Now, on the eve of the Republican national convention, Republicans can only pray that the torrential rains of Biblical proportions that Shepard prayed for in jest, don’t ruin on their parade.