Carrie Wigal

Barack Obama and John McCain plan to be on the same stage this Saturday night, August 16, 2008 in a Lake Forest, California church. Rev. Rick Warren, notable author of The Purpose Driven Life and Pastor of Saddleback Church has invited both men to a leadership and compassion forum where he will be asking the questions. Both men have agreed to attend.

The format consists of the Pastor asking each man a series of questions one at a time. They will not be together on stage during the Q & A. This is so that each person can speak without interruption. Also, Pastor Warren has a rapport with each of these men prior to this presidential year, and believes that he can provide an environment where both men can give a true representation of who they are and what they stand for.

The Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency will be nationally televised from 5:00 to 7:00 PM PST (8:00 to 10:00 PM EST) on August 16th, 2008 on FoxNews and CNN. You can also view it live online.

For more information, visit: http://www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html

On Friday last week, the US House of Representatives held their last session before Speaker Nancy Pelosi broke for a 5-week summer break without allowing an up or down vote on our Energy Crisis. At that time several Republican House Members revolted. They led a “call” to the Speaker to have the House return to session so that a vote may be taken by House members on The American Energy Act (H.R. 6566): Reducing the Price at the Pump through an “All of the Above” Energy Strategy.

Monday I received an email indicating the GOP Revolt was still “in session”. I called my Congressman, Virgil Goode to see if he was in attendance of the revolt. I was told he was not in DC that day but he voted against adjourning on Friday without an up or down vote on the energy bill.

Even though I heard House Republicans intended on staying the course and continuing to hold these unofficial sessions until Speaker Pelosi or the President calls the House back to vote on this issue, I wondered if it would continue in earnest.

I just checked this evening and this is what I’ve found:

1. Past-Speaker Newt Gingrich came to Washington DC to show his support of the House Republicans stance. Watch this video.
2. Minority House Leader John Boehner issued a memo about an hour ago, August 6th to all House Republicans entitled “The Energy Call to Arms Continues” requesting GOP members to contact the Whip’s office and indicate a time that they may be able to return to Washington DC sometime over the course of the next two weeks (August 11-22).
3. The GOP House Leader is liveblogging about this “House Republican Uprising” on a daily basis giving an attendance record for those in attendance and speaking each day along with several quotes from the various members.
4. The GOP Leader is also providing daily updates on Twitter for those who wish to follow what’s happening.

So, here, here to the Republicans in Congress for stepping up to the plate and sticking with it!

What can you do to join this protest?

1. Sign this petition joining the 1.4+ million Americans who have already signed (including myself). It states, “We, therefore, the undersigned citizens of the United States, petition the U.S. Congress to act immediately to lower gasoline prices (and diesel and other fuel prices)* by authorizing the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries.”
2. Contact your Congressman and Nancy Pelosi and say: “Bring Congress Back for a real vote on lifting the oil drilling ban and breaking our foreign energy dependence.” Speaker Pelosi: 202-225-0100; 202-225-4965; Switchboard: 202-224-3121
3. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and anyone else who will listen about this and have them do these three things as well.

While this House Revolt is being led by the Republicans, this is not a “Republican” fight…it is a fight for Americans. The majority of Americans (71%) favor increasing the energy supplies of the United States and lowering the costs of gasoline and electricity.

Still unsure about all this hoopla? Read the bill yourself, and let your Congressman know where you stand on the issue. I can tell you, I know where my Congressman stands on it.

US Congressman of the Fifth District in Virginia, Virgil Goode states on his website,

“I believe that reasonable energy costs are crucial to a viable economy. We must be allowed to drill for oil in Alaska and develop sources of energy in this country. We must continue efforts to promote alternatives such as switchgrass, canola, and hybrid poplars. We must preserve jobs in America for Americans. We need even more job training and additional job opportunities, and we must continue our fight against trade legislation and agreements that shift manufacturing jobs to third world countries.” SOURCE: http://www.VirgilGoode.com/

Let yours know where you stand.

This fall I’m excited to be homeschooling my two preschoolers. A few months ago I met with some homeschooling parents from my church and decided to dive in myself.

Several years ago I had considered homeschooling our oldest when we moved from Oklahoma, but shortly after we closed on our new house I discovered I was pregnant. With the move, and some of the stress we experienced with the purchase of the house and a 9-month already in tow, the added pregnancy was the straw that broke this camel’s back. So we sent him to public school.

When the time came for him to go to middle school, we preferred to send him to a private school (particularly a Christian school). After some poking around we settled on a small Christian school not too far from here. This past year my daughter demonstrated a strong desire to go to school herself and my heart sank at the thought of her “leaving” me and the additional cost for another private tuition. Sorry folks, but I can’t bring myself to send her to Central Elementary.

So, I started toying with the idea of homeschooling again. Our oldest claimed he wanted to be home-schooled as well, since many of his friends at church were, but I wasn’t too sure about that. While I did consider it, I realized there was a better alternative for him at this point in his life, so we sought that opportunity. Thank God, the door opened and he’ll be attending an excellent Christian Academy starting next month.

Meanwhile, my daughter has been chomping at the bit to start school herself. So, we’ve been actively planning the start of our homeschooling year in just a few more weeks. I have a school room set aside for this purpose, and we’re having fun getting it ready. Also, I’ve found a Biblical Preschool Curriculum that I’ll be teaching them. I’m so excited about these opportunities and I look forward to the journey we are all embarking upon.

To read more about my homeschooling escapades, visit Homeschooler Mom. If you’re a homeschooling parent as well, I encourage you to sign up for my email updates over there and let’s stay in touch. It will be fun to bounce ideas back and forth and share our experiences with one another.

Someone complained to the ACLU when a man, Hashmel Turner (not shown), a City Council member, led the opening prayers of their the City Council meetings in Fredericksburg, VA and invoked the name of Jesus Christ. ACLU threatened to sue the city if this didn’t stop. So, the city said they would adopt a non-denominational prayer policy.

Okay, hold the presses here.

POINT ONE: Purpose of Prayer

The man was offering up a prayer. To whom was he praying? To God. Which God is that? The same God our Founding Fathers prayed to. That would be the God of the Bible. Why pray? To speak to God.

The Bible teaches us to pray “in the name of Jesus”…that is how we have access to God. All Christians who believe what the Bible teaches agree that Jesus is “the only way”. While non-Christians might not agree, that’s fine, but Christians believe that to be true. When Christians pray to their God, they invoke the name of Jesus. If they didn’t, then they would not be able to gain access to their God.

This city council member believed he had the right to invoke the name of Jesus when he prayed in a governmental setting because he believed

“that prayers in open council meetings are not government speech. Therefore, he has argued, the Constitution’s protections of free speech prohibit the government from dictating their content.”

Unfortunately the former Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O’Connor (filling in for someone else) issued an opinion yesterday at the US Court of Appeals in the 4th Circuit upholding a previous court ruling.

“Turner was not forced to offer a prayer that violated his deeply held religious beliefs,” O’Connor wrote. “Instead, he was given the chance to pray on behalf of government. Turner was unwilling to do so in the manner that the government had proscribed, but remains free to pray on his own behalf, in nongovernmental endeavors, in the manner dictated by his conscience.’

“His First Amendment Free Exercise rights have not been violated.”

I think this is crazy. How can a Christian be expected to “pray on behalf of the government” and be forbidden to invoke the name of Jesus? Who is the government praying to?

This is a blatant attempt to remove prayer from the public square. If Christians can’t pray “in the name of Jesus”, whether it’s in a governmental setting or not, their prayers are in vain. They might as well not pray at all!

POINT TWO: Government-Proscribed Prayer

“…the manner that the government had proscribed…”

The fact that the government proscribed a manner of prayer violates our 1st Amendment rights, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”

I think I’m going to give the law firm representing this man a call and suggest they switch their argument around. The city council should never have proscribed a manner of prayer in the first place. If there is going to be a prayer offered in their meetings then they must allow men and women to pray according to their faith.

Should they decide to remove all prayer instead,… Well, let’s just say they’ll have another fight on their hands.

After all this is America, isn’t it?

Needless to say, Turner is appealing this decision to the US Supreme Court.

SOURCES:
http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/Web/2008/072008/0723fr1
http://www.rutherford.org/articles_db/press_release.asp?article_id=721

I specifically wanted to check out the National Archives building on Constitution Avenue in DC this past weekend, more specifically the original Charters of Freedom documents.

We were one of the last visitors on Saturday to view the U.S. Constitution housed in the Rotunda, and it was a remarkable experience.

Unlike the scene depicted in the Disney movie, National Treasure, the rotunda was smaller, darker and much more crowded. And of course, I was sure to pick up my copy of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights in the gift shop before leaving…my only real tourist-trap souvenir purchased during the whole weekend-long trip.

My husband and I had the distinct pleasure of traveling to our nation’s capitol for the first time as a couple this weekend. We left our children for a few days with friends and family and caught a bus ride to Union Station in Washington DC.

After finding our way through the city’s Metro system, we checked into our hotel and quickly ventured out to see the various sites along the Mall.

Our first visit was to the Capitol Building.

It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed the intimate setting as the sun dipped behind the majestic home of the United States Congress.

We knew the scene would be quite different the following day when thousands of modern day American revolutionaries would swarm this site demonstrating a call for liberty and a return to the Constitution.

Local Republicans’ July 4th Float Produces Fresh Fodder for Democrats’ John Deere.

In this year’s Annual 4th of July Parade through downtown Scottsville, VA, local Democrats showcased a wagon full of Tom Perriello supporters hitched to the back of a John Deere tractor. Not too far behind were Republicans Congressman Virgil Goode and Delegate Rob Bell ushering in the Local Fluvanna Republican Committee’s float…a hay wagon full of Republican supporters hitched to a Hummer.

In this YouTube video, you’ll see Virgil Goode greeting parade attendees, with my husband in the background driving a Hummer, showcasing Goode and Bell campaign signs, and waving an American flag as I’m handing out invitations to a FREE “Meet the GOP” Barbecue. I’d like to say that we own that vehicle but we don’t, some other Fluvanna County resident does (not Virgil and not the Republican Party). But isn’t it wonderful that in America we are still allowed to purchase vehicles of our own choosing and drive them down the main streets of our communities? If we buy it, and we fuel it, then what’s the problem?

“Nothing like a Hummer for fuel economy…,” one bystander shouted. To that my husband replied, “Drill now!” But of course his response didn’t make it on the clip. I find it amusing that some folks seek to blame consumers for the current fuel prices. Uh, hello! It’s still a free country isn’t it? If we had the opportunity to buy gas that’s made in America, we would. But it seems there are many in Washington who are still playing partisan politics concerning any bills that would allow drilling in our own country despite the fact that over 70% of our population favor it.

See for yourself => HR 6107 American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act

Even though Virgil Goode had nothing to do with the Hummer’s presence in the parade, I’m glad this clip made it onto the net.

“I believe that reasonable energy costs are crucial to a viable economy. We must be allowed to drill for oil in Alaska and develop sources of energy in this country. We must continue efforts to promote alternatives such as switchgrass, canola, and hybrid poplars.” - Congressman Virgil Goode, 5th District VA [SOURCE]

Drill Now!

I am outraged over the California Supreme Court recent decisions to not only override the will of the people concerning the traditional meaning of marriage, but also despite the fact that an amendment to the state’s constitution will be on the November ballot to be voted upon by the whole state, they refuse to stay (hold) the ruling until this vote!

If this doesn’t enrage you, it should!

Never mind the fact that a few judges are trying to ram homosexual “marriages” down the throats of God-fearing Americans, but they are abusing their power as justices by doing whatever they want.

1. They are taking an institution that has been understood for several thousands of years to be between opposite-sex individuals and redefining the institution, making it into law, despite the fact the vast majority of the people in it’s jurisdiction has already emphatically stated the traditional definition should remain.
2. Knowing that this ruling stands a really good chance of being overturned in November when the people of California hit the polls and vote on amending its state’s constitution indicating the same thing they already voted on less than a decade ago, these judges refuse to stay the ruling.

Why is this so outrageous?

A decision was made against the will of the people in May. The people petitioned to vote on amending their constitution, and they won…the vote will be on November’s general election ballot. BUT, the decision is going into effect next week in June, and the people of California can do nothing about it. So for four and a half months the people in California will have to live under tyranny…in AMERICA!

Wake up, folks…this is SO wrong.

If these judges can wield their power in this fashion, what is preventing other state leaders or even federal leaders in our government from doing much worse to you and I?

Maybe you’re not one to get into political affairs, but I’m telling you point blank, if you don’t rise up and get involved right now, then the freedoms we have are going to be snatched away from us before you can say “boo”.

This is not a movie, guys…this is not some two-dimensional, fictitious Hollywood picture that’s being filmed…this is what real men gave their very lives for. Real people died so that we can live in a free society. Not just actors on a silver screen portraying a distant tale, but scores of ordinary people with an extraordinary passion to fight for religious freedom and liberty from tyrannical governments sacrificed not only their own lives but the lives of their wives and children so that we can have this very precious right to self-govern.

And here we now have a handful of justices dictating to not only Californians, but to the rest of the country how we should operate as a society. Do not take this lying down, people!

Contact your key leaders and demand they put pressure on these justices to stay this ruling until the people have a chance to vote on it.

We must not allow this kind of dictatorship, this form of tyranny to take place unchecked in our country! Contact the following California leaders: Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein as well as your own state’s U.S. Senators and tell them this ruling must be halted until the people of California are given their opportunity to be heard.

My personal blog here has gotten a bit heavy on the political side lately, and I’m afraid folks who seek me out on the internet might think that’s all I’m about. While public policy has certainly peaked my interest, it’s certainly not my sole defining issue. So in an attempt to balance things out, I have decided to move all my political blogging to a brand new site, Grassroot Americans.

The goal of this new blog is to educate and empower the American people in order to restore our government to be of, by and for the people as America’s founding fathers intended it to be. This is a joint project between my husband and I, and we invite you to join us over there for continued conversation in the matters of our society.

I personally am thrilled with this new development because it not only gives me an avenue to continue my passion for discussing politics, but it frees me up to touch on the other categories of my life that I’ve neglected here recently…like my faith, family, work and play.

Please take a quick peek at Grassroot Americans and let me know what you think. Thanks!

I just watched some video footage of the Mayor of San Francisco, CA claiming homosexual marriage is inevitable…that the door is wide open now. Oh, it sickens me that this door was opened at all. Last week I signed a petition requesting a stay on the California Court decision until the Voters of California have their say in the November election concerning a marriage amendment. Whether you agree with homosexual marriages or not, I encourage you to sign this petition because the way the ruling was carried out was just wrong.

Unelected officials made the decision to knowingly over-ride the will of the people. If Californians want to allow this decision then they will not amend their state’s constitution come November and this decision will likely stand. But if Californians turn out like they did before and amend their constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, then this decision will be struck down.

Watch this video and see how this decision is going to affect you.