Values Voters Usher Bush to Second Term! (Family Research Council-Tony Perkins) It is clear that values voters have ushered President George W. Bush down the aisle for a second term. What does this mean? It means that if the president stays true to his word, the next four years will be defining ones for family issues, including marriage, life, and taxes.
A politician thinks of the next election, a statesman of the next generation. Now, with his last campaign behind him, President Bush can fulfill the goals he set for himself these past four years, which will set the tone for generations. Exit polls show the most important issues to voters this year are moral issues and terrorism.
President Bush's record-breaking number of popular votes shows that the majority of people agree with the president when it comes to those issues. With an increase of pro-family politicians (including Senators-elect Tom Coburn (R-OK) (an FRC Board member), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Mel Martinez (R-FL), David Vitter (R-LA), Congress will be able to reform the tax code, revisit a constitutional marriage amendment, and protect a culture of life. With John Thune's defeat of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD)--the first defeat of a Senate party leader in more than 50 years--a clear message is sent to those in the Senate who will obstruct pro-family issues and President Bush's judicial nominees.
Nothing will be more important to President Bush's legacy than the possible imprint he could leave on the United States Supreme Court. He could potentially nominate up to three justices during his last term. These judges will have the final say on issues important to our country's moral structure, such as the definition of marriage, the protection of the unborn, and the role of God in our public lives. President Bush has promised to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will actually follow the rule of law instead of legislating from the bench.
In the 11 states with marriage amendments on the ballot, the victory was overwhelmingly decisive, sending a clear message of the obvious: marriage is the union of one man and one woman. In the state of Ohio, where marriage was on the ballot, there can be drawn a direct line between voter turnout in support of the amendment and President Bush's small margin of victory there. Without Ohio, and the president's public support of marriage, President Bush could not have won.
Congratulations to President Bush and the candidates in all of the races and to each of you who have made the difference in this election.
Living in a democracy, we can all proclaim ourselves winners, regardless if your candidate won or not. The people voted, a winner was announced; there are no tanks in the streets or legions of lawyers storming the courts.
God bless you for exercising your right to vote and God bless the United States of America as we continue our work in being salt and light.
A Message From President Bush
America has spoken. And I am humbled by the trust and confidence of my fellow citizens. With that trust comes a duty: I will serve all Americans, so help me God. I am proud to lead such an amazing country -- and I am proud to lead it forward. Reaching our goals will require the broad support of Americans.And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America. A campaign has ended, and our cause is renewed. The United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I can see a new day coming, and I am eager for the work ahead. God bless you all, and God bless America.
"Christians the "newest Dutch Minority group"
(Prophecy Watch)Christians have become a minority group in the Netherlands as the once-pious public continues to desert its churches in droves. The drift away from the Christian denominations in the Netherlands continues to increase; as the society denigrates.
Now only 33 percent of the 16 million-strong population consider themselves part of a Christian Church, according to the latest survey highlighted in the Liberal Protestant newspaper Trouw. Eight years ago, more than 50 percent of the Dutch public felt they were part of a Christian Church.
Pro-Homosexual United Methodists Urged to Exit Denomination Graciously
The United Methodist Action Committee (UMC) of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) is calling for the "peaceful departure" of Methodist clergy who cannot abide by the church's standards on marriage and sex.
Same-sex unions and the ordination of clergy sexually active outside of traditional marriage are officially barred by the denomination. In a statement approved earlier this month, the Committee observes that the 11-million-member UMC "has made its decision on the issues of marriage and homosexuality.
We recommend allowing a gracious exit for those who cannot or will not accept the essential beliefs on which the UMC is founded. The UMC should adopt a fair plan to permit their voluntary, peaceful departure, taking with them their local church property (if the congregation votes to leave) and pension rights." The statement continues: "Let us cease dead-end dialogue on whether to change the United Methodist Church stand on homosexuality.
Instead, we must increase United Methodist ministries for persons struggling with all kinds of sexual sin, including homosexual behavior -- offering healing and transformation through Jesus Christ."
Presbyterians accuse Israel Of Apartheid, Comparable to South Africa
(By Richard Baehr-FrontPageMagazine.com) The liberal Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) declared war on Israel at is annual General Assembly meeting in July, approving a divestment campaign from Israel with 87 percent of the vote, casting the Holy Land as the new South Africa.
The shock was doubly painful since liberal Jews believe that liberal churches are supposed to be their allies in all kinds of common fights.... The leftist Presbyterians apparently think; that now is the time to pile on Israel and force it to "behave better" with the Palestinians. Needless to say, the Presbyterians’ resolution against Israel is entirely silent on the subject of Palestinian terrorism.
Like other liberal Christian churches (the Lutherans, the Episcopalians, the Unitarians, the United Church of Christ, the Quakers) the hatred and condemnation of Israel has grown so strong that advocates for Israel are not permitted to make presentations to these congregations anymore. For years, the Israel-haters have tried to link Israel to South Africa, and even more outrageously, to the Nazis.
School Keeps Halloween Ban Despite Outcry. Puyallup, Washington
(Associated Press)The school board in this Pierce County city stood firm despite pleas from an angry crowd: No Halloween in the schools.
Board president Greg Heath told about 400 people at the board's meeting. "The school board supports the decision of our administration."Puyallup School District officials announced last week that Halloween festivities would be canceled in order to stop losing instructional time and to avoid offending believers in the Wiccan religion, sometimes known as witches.
Israel mulls options on Iran
(Fox News)Increasingly concerned about Iran's nuclear program, Israel is weighing its options and has not ruled out a military strike to prevent the Islamic republic from gaining the capability to build atomic weapons, according to policymakers, military officials, analysts and diplomats.
Israel said it would much prefer a diplomatic agreement to shut down Iran's uranium-enrichment program, but if it concluded that Tehran was approaching a "point of no return," it would not be deterred by the difficulty of a military operation.
Howard Wilson hwilson@texasmoralaction.org