Real-Life CEOs Speak - Breaking News Wed Jan 16, 08

This is truly a landmark election! Real business leaders from Arkansas have spoken - and their message to the American People is that the slander & spin campaigns against Huckabee & questioning his conservative economic economic policies is just well, "shallow rhetoric" (a.k.a. hogwash)!


News Release: Arkansas Businessmen Release Statement Supporting Former Governor and Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee

January 16, 2008

Columbia, SC - Today, the following businessmen from Arkansas released a statement in support of former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee: Scott T. Ford, President and CEO, Alltel Corporation; Warren A. Stephens, President and CEO, Stephens Inc.; Madison Murphy, Former Chairman, Murphy Oil Corporation; John Tyson, Chairman of the Board, Tyson Foods, Inc; and French Hill, Chairman and CEO, Delta Trust and Banking Corporation:

"We are a traditionally bi-partisan group of executives of several of the largest corporations headquartered in the State of Arkansas, each with considerable exposure to the Administration of Governor Mike Huckabee. Of late, Governor Huckabee has attracted what we believe to be unwarranted criticism regarding his business record."

"Our experience with Governor Huckabee indicates that he not only values greatly the freedoms of religion and liberty, but of the free market as well. He is an atypical leader who garnered the respect of not only the professional business community but of the working men and women across our State as well."

"When he became our Governor, he inherited our long sub-standard education system, infrastructure, and regulatory climate. Under his leadership, we were able to grow our businesses, increase our employment, reduce our litigation exposure and enjoy, along with all of our fellow Arkansans, a healthier economy, improved schools, updated highways, and new healthcare delivery facilities."

"In our support of Governor Huckabee's truly conservative, small government business outlook and his pragmatic, yet compassionate style of governing, we invite you to look past the shallow rhetoric of yet another campaign season to see what we have experienced first hand - that with the right political leadership in place, businesses and citizens can jointly prosper and as they do, they contribute so much more to the economic and societal fabric of a community than simply tax revenues."

[Someone get Fred, Mitt, Rush, & Hannity some oxygen . . . ]

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

When is YOUR State Primary?

Find out here at: Vote-smart.org

Never voted in a Primary before? Neither have I - until this coming February 5, 2008when I will be registering with a party - the Republican Party - for the first time in my life - and I will be voting for Mike Huckabee (see why by reading posts below).

In NJ, as long as you're already registered to vote, and you're not already registered with a party, you can just show up on February 5th & register as a Republican (or with that other party) - and then VOTE in the Primary too!
More NJ FAQ Election Questions Answered Here @ NJ's Official Election Site.

Find out about your state HERE at Vote-Smart.

Why is this February 5th "Super Tuesday" Primary sooooo important - and "different than all other nights" I mean Primary in past Presidential election years - because the Republican field is soooo wide open this year.

Soooooo, if you would like to vote for someone in the Republican list of Candidates in November 2008, you ABSOLUTELY NEED TO VOTE for them on Super Tuesday, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2008 - or else, you'll be pulling the lever in November for your next-best-choice - and, who wants to do that???

Of course, I'm hoping you'll:

1. Watchthe Detroit Economic Club speech given by Mike Huckabee(see posts never the end of this page - 5 YouTube.com screens)

2. Read about the END OF TAX ON OUR PRODUCTIVITY AND INGENUITY - a.k.a. FairTax (see more about what I think about the FairTax below) - get details at Mike Huckabee's site HERE

3. Read about the rest of the issues @ Mike Huckabee's site HERE

4. Decide that Mike is the best candidate - even if he's not a clone of you & all of your beliefs/opinions - at least that he's the best of the pool - to lead our Great Country for the next 4 years

5. Decide to Vote on Super Tuesday February 5th in the Republican Primary (and, if you're not already a registered Republican, that you'll decide to Register, and then vote for Mike)

6. VOTE on Feb 5th

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Civil Rights by a Baptist Minister

In case you're "afraid" of Mike's background as a pastor and what that means for America - let's remember another Baptist Minister . . . this Country's Civil Rights Leader . . . Reverend Martin Luther King, whom every Democrat applauds and honors, and rightly so. Why then is it that, when a Republican has the faith of one of our Country's heros (in fact, has a National Holiday in his honor), and the faith of one of the Democrat's poster children, he should be continually challenged in the media about his faith and politics, when his adversaries - Democrat or Republican - are not?

Well, today, on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that double standard was discussed, and personally, I think Mike Huckabee's answer was perfect. Here's what happened:

Joe:

". . . For years, if I went into a Northwest Florida to a church and I talked about politics, the Bible, anything, I'd be called a right-wing religious nut. I'd be called a hypocrite. And yet, my Democratic candidate every time would be going into churches, not conservative churches, more progressive churches or African American churches, and they'd be patted on the back and say, 'Oh, in the tradition of Martin Luther King.' Talk about that double standard - it happens all the time."

Mike Huckabee:

"And there shouldn't be a double standard. The truth is that the reason we have Civil Rights today is not because of government, it's because of the church. Martin Luther King did not speak - and never liked the term "Civil Rights Leader" - he wanted to be known as a preacher. And the reason why is because the authority, the moral authority, from which he presented the idea of social justice was Biblical authority.

So, it's not at all out of the way to remind ourselves that Civil Rights is the result of the conscience of the church speaking to this Country and speaking truth to Power, when quite frankly, Power didn't want to hear the message of Civil Rights. But they needed to hear it, because this Nation had to make some serious changes about how they treated African Americans."

See the entire Mike Huckabee on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" here:





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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

President Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

This is an historic, inspiring message for Americans - and incredibly TIMELY given Our Country's current international events.

Try to read it without choking up - I dare you!
How would Lincoln be vilified today in our current culture for referencing God in relation to a war?
Lincoln's speech eloquently describes the "just war" and the importance of staying committed - despite hardship - to freedom for all.

[In my opinion, he describes concepts that the Democrats and others of the "pull out now" ilk, have forgotten. They've also forgotten that these are the concepts that created America, that won the Revolutionay War, and that created and gave them the freedoms that they enjoy today.]

Lest we forget . . . we enjoy our current freedoms because of their leadership, their inspiration, their commitment and courage . . . and their sacrifice.

According to Bartleby.com's Reference section (also the source of the speech transcript):

"Weeks of wet weather preceding Lincoln's second inauguration had caused Pennsylvania Avenue to become a sea of mud and standing water. Thousands of spectators stood in thick mud at the Capitol grounds to hear the President. As he stood on the East Portico to take the executive oath, the completed Capitol dome over the President's head was a physical reminder of the resolve of his Administration throughout the years of civil war. Chief Justice Salmon Chase administered the oath of office. In little more than a month, the President would be assassinated."

[Note: The bold emphasis in the speech is mine - how appropriate these statements are to our Country - and the World - today.]

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1865

Fellow-Countrymen:

AT this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.

One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Mike Huckabee's Detroit Economic Club Speech - Jan. 11, 2008

This is one of the great speeches of our time.

[Watch it here - without even having to leave this blog - see the 5 part YouTube below.]

You MUST watch this regardless of who you're voting for or even whether you're voting.

I love writing speeches and public speaking, and some even say that I'm good at it.

But, this is the kind of speech I dream of giving (or writing). Every idea, every value, every theory, every comment, every inspirational moment rings true for me as a person and as a United States citizen.

People like me dream of writing or giving speeches like this. It brought tears to my eyes - which last happened when I was reading Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address at his Monument.

So, whether you like Mike or not, whether you've decided that you're voting for a different Republican or a Democrat, or even if you're not even sure what a primary is and wasn't even planning on voting this year . . . listen to this speech.

Take a moment to be inspired. Take a moment to be reminded of America's greatness - and of the inherent Greatness in each of us.

Obviously, there's a lot to comment about in this speech about the political issues (& why I think Mike's not only right - but that he's right on point!), and I'll do it in later posts.

Oh, and if you want to compare, or remember, or read for the first time, the awe-inspiring words of Lincoln, see above.




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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Detroit Economic Club Speech - Part 1 of 5 - Jan. 11, 2008

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Detroit Economic Club Speech - Part 2 of 5 - Jan. 11, 2008

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Detroit Economic Club Speech - Part 3 of 5 - Jan. 11, 2008

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Detroit Economic Club Speech - Part 4 of 5 - Jan. 11, 2008

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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book

Detroit Economic Club Speech - Part 5 of 5 - Jan. 11, 2008

This is the Q&A section - with questions about:

1. What sets you apart from other Republican candidates?
2. How did you accomplish stellar success with Arkansas' education system and what would you do to improve "No Child Left Behind?"
3. Beatles or Rolling Stones? (Includes Keith Richards story)
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Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book