There are many reasons why I will vote for John McCain in November. Those reasons are why - for the first time in my life - I have donated money to a political candidate - that candidate being John McCain. Those many reasons are why I will put a McCain sticker on my car - the first time in my life I have put a political sticker of any kind of my car. The qualities that John McCain brings to the table far overshadows those of his opponent. John McCain is ethical and loyal. He is proud of his country - and has been his entire life. He has a record of working tirelessly for equal rights for all Americans.

John McCain brings to the presidency an enormous amount of experience, a respect for the challenges that face our country. He won’t bow to popular opinion and political pressure when it comes time to make tough decisions. Without question, he is the man who should be our next President.

So Obama is a liar. To say the least. Now he admits that he had indeed heard some of Wright’s “provocative” sermons. Don’t you love using “provocative” to mean “hate-filled racist spewings”?

Here’s the story:

Obama Discusses the ‘Provocative’ Rev. Wright Sermons He’s Attended

ABC News’ Tahman Bradley reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has admitted, in the past, attending church when Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, has made controversial comments, but he has never explained what he heard.

Until now.

Obama, in an interview broadcast on “Fox News Sunday,” said he’s been on hand for worship services that included “provocative” messages delivered by Wright that have touched on race and issues plaguing the black community.

“He will talk about the failure of fathers to look after their children in ways that, sometimes, people might be taken aback by. He can use street vernacular in his sermons in ways that people wouldn’t expect to hear,” Obama said.

Obama continued, “He has certainly preached in the past, when I was there, about the history of race in this country in very blunt terms, talking about slavery and talking about Jim Crow. The problem - and I’ve pointed this out in my speech in Philadelphia - was, where often times he would error, I think, is in only cataloging the bad of America and not doing enough to lift up the good. And that’s probably where he and I have the biggest difference.”

Careful to point out that he does not endorse all of Wright’s sermons or the way in which they were delivered, Obama said, “I go to church not to worship a pastor but to worship God.” Obama also said his vision for the country is much more hopeful than some of the black elders who grew up in a more racially charged America.

Remember when Obama said this:

“The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation.”

A blatant lie.

Oh, and did you catch the line that his biggest difference with Jeremiah Wright is that Wright tends to emphasize the negative instead of the postiive? THAT is the biggest difference? Lord help us if BHO is elected president.

Jodie Sweetin and her husband of less than a year now have their very own Full House: The actress has given birth to a baby daughter, PEOPLE has confirmed.

Baby Zoie was delivered via C-section Saturday afternoon, and arrived weighing 8 lbs. 7 oz. and is 21 in. long.

“Jodie says that she and her husband and family are absolutely thrilled and in love with baby Zoie,” says a rep for the actress.

Sweetin announced her pregnancy in September after reportedly giving her sonograms to TMZ.com. In January, she announced to the Celebrity Baby Blog that her due date was April 6 and the baby would be a girl.

The former Full House star, 26, married set designer Cody Herpin, her second husband, in a small Las Vegas ceremony on July 14, 2007. The pair tied the knot at the Little Church of the West in front of a few friends.

At the time, Sweetin told PEOPLE, “Cody is my best friend. I married my best friend, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. He’s an unbelievable person.”

This evening around 6:30, UPS finally delivered my Nutrisystem order.  The tracking website still lists the package as “Billing Information Received.”  Let’s see. . . it has only been NINETEEN days since I placed the order and paid an extra $19.95 to get the order quickly. 

So nineteen days, three emails and one phone call later - I got my Nutrisystem order.  No response from Nutrisystem to any of the three emails.  The phone call was only good for canceling my auto-delivery. 

Tomorrow will start my one-month Nutrisystem trial.  I’ve already checked into Jenny Craig for the second and future months.  However, I’m not making any decisions until I see how it goes with NS this month.  Wish me luck.

Tom Blumer at BizzyBlog has a very eye-opening look at the many public statements and writings of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright
—including reprinting on his “Pastor’s Page” an infamous op-ed by Hamas kingpin Mousa Abu Marzook: TUCC’s Church Bulletins from July…

read more | digg story

RT went walking on our land this morning and was inspired to write more poetry.  He also took some photos.  Here is his poem about his walk and some photos taken during his walk.  The land is gorgeous, isn’t it? 

 Again and Again

On evening past so cold and gray
     I saw a snowflake cross my way
On I walked past brook and stream
     As flakes flew by
     from winter’s skies.

Next morning I woke and saw His hands
     had painted all night
     with shades of white.

I now go back no tracks to find
     of yesterday’s walk
     for peace of mind.

But as I look beside the stream
     I see where deer have walked
     while I did dream.
Some trails now gone beneath the white
     New ones made all thru the night.

The sun now glows and I see again
     The footprints below where it all began.

~RTJ, March 2008~

It is rare in my professional life that I travel - especially a trip lasting a week.  However, extremely early tomorrow morning, twelve other reading specialists and teachers from my school system and I will travel to New York City for the week.  During the days, from 8:00 to 4:00, we will attend a class at Teachers College of Columbia University.  It’s an incredible opportunity.  On Monday afternoon (our travel day - no classes) and on the late afternoons and evenings of the other days, we will be the ultimate tourists - seeing as many sights as we possibly can.  Here are seven touristy things I intend to enjoy this coming week in NYC.

(1) Being in the audience of the Late Show with David Letterman.  Bethany, the person in charge of getting audience members for each show, has been so nice.  I had to go online to request group tickets.  She wasn’t able to give us enough seats for all 13 of us, but she was able to give us eight seats.  So eight of us will be in the audience tomorrow night (for the show that will air on Friday).  So watch Letterman Friday night and see if they show the audience at all.  I’ve already got my DVR set to record the show.

(2) Wednesday evening some of us are going to see “Wicked” which is a Broadway show about the childhood of the witches from Wizard of Oz.   It’s one of the top shows right now, and I’m really loking forward to seeing it.

(3) Thursday night some of us will see “Jersey Boys” which is another Broadway show.  This one is about the singing group The Four Seasons.

(4)  Since the Empire State Building is open until very late each evening, I hope to visit it after one of the Broadway Shows.  I want to go to the observation deck and think fondly about movies such as “An Affair to Remember” and “Sleepless in Seattle” in which the Empire State Building was featured prominently.

(5) The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  When I taught fifth grade, we spent a lot of time talking about Ellis Island and the experiences of immigrants coming to America.  I’ve visited The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island once before but I’d like to see them again.

(6) Central Park - I just want to take a walk in part of Central Park.  That’s it - just stroll around for a little bit.

(7) I would LOVE to spend a few days going through museums.  However, they all close too early for us to see them after our classes are over each day.  So I will save them for another trip in the future.

I love to plan trips to wonderful and exotic places - even if I know I can’t actually travel there anytime soon.  However, hope springs eternal, and I intend to do a lot of traveling someday.  I’d especially love to find out about flights to Australia and then travel there to escape the winter weather here, to see Sydney and Perth and The Great Barrier Reef and kangaroos. 

You can use DialAFlight to plan your vacation to spots all around the world.  Visit their website at www.dialaflight.com to find and plan the holiday of your dreams.  That’s the starting point for finding flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel needs - whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, a beach trip, or a family vacation.  Call and talk to one of their UK travel consultants, and you’ll be on your way.

There is so much to know about mortgages.  Just the word itself can strike fear in people’s hearts simply because mortgages can be so confusing with all the different types of mortgages and all the options that are available.  Fortunately there are sources of information to help you make the best decision for your situation.  One such source is Money Magic.  Money Magic is a UK firm specializing in all types of loans and in providing their clients with not only the lowest loan rates but also the best mortgage advice. Best of all, the mortgage advice, quotes and information are free.  You can simply surf their website, or you can follow three steps to get a free quote:  (1) fill out an online form, (2) receive a phone call during which you will talk to one of their advisors, and (3) then receive a free quote based on your specific circumstances.

The ladies of the Cotillion will be live blogging the season 7 premier of “American Idol” this Tuesday evening. The good news is that YOU can participate. Just be here at 7:00 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday evening and join in the fun. You can also join in the fun at the other blogs that will be participating in the live blog: Beth of Blue Star Chronicles, and Greta of Kiss My Gumbo.

If you need a reminder, fill in your email in the form below, and we’ll remind you in time so you won’t miss a thing.