College Republicans

This is brilliant.

Adventures in ostrich suits....

I never thought that I would spend my fifteen minutes of fame dressed as as ostrich.

Together with two friends from my summer internship at Students for Saving Social Security, today I was featured on the front page of Time.com. Hoping to get some attention for Social Security reform for next Monday's CNN-YouTube Democratic Debate in Charleston, South Carolina, we went ahead and submitted our own video question!

Out of more than 1300 video questions that have currently been submitted, Time.com is featuring ours as one of "Ten Weirdest YouTube Debate Questions." Go see our brief spotlight here.

Time's snarky comment was, "If standing in front of the White House wearing ostrich costumes spreads awareness about social security reform, then you can bet the AARP is going to buy up all the ostrich costumes."

If my looking like a fool for a national audience will convince a few more people to support personal retirement accounts, I will gladly abandon all dignity.

A Graduated Republican

As of today, I am no longer a "college" Republican in the most literal sense. I graduated with the class of 2007, a class that has been known this weekend as "the class of change." We ushered in a new era at Seton Hill as the first class to attend the newly christened "University," bringing with us sports teams, guys, and enthusiasm. I loved my time here at Seton Hill, and a big portion of that time was spent with the Seton Hill University College Republicans.

I created the CR's during the summer following my freshman year. At the time, I never dreamed that the club would be as successful, or be as involved, as we have been these past three years. The amount of support we received from students, staff, and some faculty on campus was incredible. I had been worried about how successful a Republican club on campus would be; however, I soon found out that Seton Hill had conservatives all over, they just needed a reason to speak out.

Over the past three years, the club has participated in local political events, dinners, meetings, and campaigns; the club set up debates, invited guest speakers, and promoted alternative ideas on campus; and the club made itself known on the state and national levels by attending conferences in Lancaster and Washington as well as publish one of the most active club blogs in the state. We accomplished a lot these first few years, and I look forward to seeing what the CR's do in the future.

I would like to thank every member of our College Republican club for making this organization possible. Thank you for coming to the meetings, volunteering at our events, and making a difference on campus. I wish you the best of luck, both with the club and after you graduate. I also would like to thank my original board members, Bryan, GIRL, and Karissa, who always gave their all for the club. The CR's have placed the club in the trustworthy hands of Megan Ritter and Shawn Conway, our new chairwoman and vice chairman. I know that you will always "keep up the fight." And finally, I thank Dr. Joshua Sasmor, the club advisor. He agreed to advise the club before he had ever even met me, and he has been a source of wisdom and guidance ever since.

Being a part of this club has given me so many memories and opportunities. I can only hope that it yields the same results for every one of our members in the future.

Thank you, and God bless,
Mike Rubino
Former Chairman of the Seton Hill University College Republicans

Conspiracy Revealed!

I am happy to say that the Seton Hill College Republicans are certainly card-carrying members of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.

"Airplane," "Scary Movie 4," GOP Ad

Film director David Zucker produced the following commercial for use in the upcoming mid-term elections. The ad, while viciously effective, was deemed a little too biting for use by Republicans going up for re-election. That isn't going to stop us from posting it here! Enjoy!

Facebook Shows Truth About Casey Aid

Facebook.com, the popular community website, tells you alot about your friends and co-workers. You can learn, for example, the kinds of music someone likes, their favorite books, their summer plans, or even what they hope to get out of their romantic relationships. It can also tell you who is partaking in illegal activities, like drinking under age. But it's not very often that I see photographic evidence of someone with drug paraphernalia... until I saw this Casey staffer's page.

Truth Caucus posted a screenshot of the Casey for PA Intern Director celebrating his 19th birthday with a 22 oz. beer in his hand and a bong on the table! Talking about a "smoking" gun!

Not only is it a terrible idea to post yourself doing anything illegal on such a public space as Facebook or MySpace, but doing so while working on such a high-profile campaign is political suicide. It makes you wonder about all the staffers Bobby has working for him. Do they condone underage drinking and socializing near bongs (we don't have any proof that he actually used it... but then again, that's what Clinton said.)

My congrats to the Truth Caucus for getting the word out there!

Campaign Blogging

I've had my share of experiences this summer. One which has spawned many other experiences is my internship with Santorum 2006. I worked as a New Media intern in the local office, and I have never been more excited or involved in politics.

It's also been fun to post the occasional blog to the Santorum 2006 blog, which was recently named the best political campaign blog.

In all the craziness of the last few weeks of summer and my last weeks of my internship, I haven't had the opportunity to post the blogs here, but how could I leave the CR blog in want? Find below links to the blogs on RickSantorum.com and, in the extended entry section, the whole posts.

What "Keep Up the Fight" Means to Me

A is for Armstrong

What "Keep Up the Fight" Means to Me

"Keep Up the Fight!" we've been saying. It's not just a slogan, but an inspiration. Yesterday's kick-off picnic for Senator Santorum's tour of Pennsylvania was a rally for the fight we're all in as members of the Commonwealth.

At North Park in McCandless near Pittsburgh, families and friends enjoyed food, music, and fun. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! The Senator and his family arrived in the tour RV, and the Santorum children sported t-shirts that said "I love my Senator!" There was something in the air -- not the humidity. It was a strong energy from the supporters, and it was remarkably evident once the Senator took the microphone.

Rick's family joined him on stage as he delivered an impassioned message to the crowd. He spoke of volunteering for the campaign, fighting for the issues, and keeping on top of our future by keeping tabs on the present. Rick even noted that while Governor Rendell campaigns with Bobby Casey, Jr., he does not campaign for Casey. Even people who don't care for Rendell's politics can appreciate that!

I was grateful to have the opportunity to have a picture taken with the Senator and his lovely wife, Karen. When I mentioned that I am an intern, she thanked me. I responded that it is easy to work for someone whom I find so inspiring and whom I can really support.

And I mean that. What I see is an individual whose values are so defined, whose family means so much to him, whose occupation aligns so well with his passions that he cannot be steered wrong when led by the people who elect him.

"Keep up the fight" means more than working for election success. Our responsibility as voters doesn't end there. When the "system" works the way it is supposed to, we get what we need -- someone who represents us and who is willing to listen to us. All that means is that we need to be willing to tell that person whom we elect what our needs and concerns are, where our hearts lie, and how to help us live better.

Keep up the fight, Pennsylvania. Today we kicked-off another vein of energy for this campaign. Take our fight and make it your fight -- use this inspiration to keep Pennsylvania alive by keeping Santorum on our side.

Karissa Kilgore is a New Media intern with Santorum 2006, one of Rick's Running Mates, and Secretary of the Seton Hill University College Republicans.

Where was the first stop on the "Keep Up the Fight" tour? Armstrong County. Dave Battaglia, who started off the event, thanked the Senator for choosing Armstrong as the first stop. The Senator promptly responded, "Well, Armstrong... 'A...'" The crowd laughed, but indeed this is a great place to start.

This morning's breakfast garnered a crowd of people at the West Kittanning Fire Hall in Armstrong County. There were more children at this event than I've seen at any other. The Senator even commented on the number of children and said that it was his goal to keep Pennsylvania a good place to live and raise kids.

I was excited to hear what the Senator would say about our County, and I wasn't disappointed. All of Rick's words were lifted in applause. He mentioned the work he's done for our County. He also said how even though the industry shift has hurt Armstrong, he sees that we're rebounding and working in the right direction.

When he moved to national and global topics, he made sure to distinguish the differences between where he stands on these issues and where his opponent stands. The Senator said that Bob Casey tells people he'll ask the tough questions. What leaders do, Rick continued, is find answers to those tough questions.

He proceeded to share his views on illegal immigration, border security, and concerns about Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The War on Terror, as it is called, the Senator said, is actually the war against Islamic fascism. "War on Terror" is the politically correct way to say that, though, without offending people, he said. Maybe we need to clarify things and take that chance of offending people in order to know what it is we're fighting against. Mr. Senator, thank you for saying so.

After the event, it was fun to watch all the kids running around while their parents met with Rick, Karen, and the Santorum children. I've been at a couple events before, but I know I like it best when Rick's family comes along. I think it makes him seem more real, down-to-earth, and approachable. No political pedestal, just another Pennsylvanian who just so happens to be in a position to help all the rest of us. But we've got to help him first...

It's great to know that we're not forgotten here in Armstrong. I wish the Senator and his family the best for this tour. Rally around, Pennsylvania: Keep Up The Fight!

Karissa Kilgore is a native of Armstrong County, and is also a New Media intern with Santorum 2006, one of Rick's Running Mates, and Secretary of the Seton Hill University College Republicans.

Rendell Sort-Of Endorses Santorum

Does Governor Ed Rendell really support Senator Rick Santorum's re-election effort? Well, according to a recent editorial in the Tribune-Review, Rendell spoke his mind about the senator in a recent interview with the Weekly Standard.

"Rick Santorum has proven that he gets the job done. Time and time again he has come through," Rendell said. "I will eventually campaign with Casey. But, no, you won't see me attack Santorum. I work well with him ... . When it comes to Pennsylvania, Santorum delivers."

This is more surprising proof that the Democratic party in Pennsylvania is split on their candidate for Senate. While some on the radical left, like Jack Murtha, Hillary Clinton, and Howard Dean support Bobby Casey Jr., many other pro-choice, anti-gun liberals refuse to support him. At the same time, you have Governor Rendell, a Democrat in a race of his own, simply saying that he will be campaigning "with" Bobby (but certainly not "for"). And in the statements he gave to the Weekly Standard, he is practically endorsing the Senator.

With the latest polls showing Senator Santorum catching up to Bobby Casey Jr., great quotes like this can only help!

Star-Spangled Ice Cream

A friend recently pointed me in the direction of this great new ice cream company starting up in the Washington D.C./Virginia area. Along the lines of "W" Ketchup (which I proudly used during the 2004 election) comes the Star-Spangled Ice Cream Company. Using such great slogans as "Sweet Taste of Freedom" and "Ice Cream with a Conservative Flavor", the company donates 10% of what they make to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund--which was founded by Col. Ollie North.

Just selling regular ice cream and donating the profits to charity wouldn't be all that special. The coolest thing about the ice cream (excuse the pun) are the names of the flavors: "Iraqi Road"; "Smaller GovernMint"; "Gun Nut" (which was endorsed by Ted Nugent); and my personal favorite, "I hate the French Vanilla." The website also lists a number of other flavors currently in development, such as "RushMallow"; "Cherry Falwell"; "Orange Alert Sherbert"; and "Choc & Awe."

Of course, I am totally trying to get my hands on a pint... but right now the only way to get them in Western PA is to order 6 pints at a time. The company is expanding their products into retail stores in the eastern United States, so keep a look-out.

Vernon Robinson's Twilight Zone

Vernon Robinson may be running for Congress in North Carolina, but his fantastic campaign commercial applies to the entire country. It's humorous, blunt, politically incorrect, and is frighteningly true.

I have taken a new interest in campaign commercials for TV and radio since I've been interning with a conservative advertising firm. Santorum's newest line of TV and radio commercials are not only extremely effective, but are getting people talking. Election season is really starting to heat up.

Bob Casey Spies!

News is just starting to break about Bob Casey Jr's campaign crossing the line between fair play and family endangerment! According to the Rick Santorum blog, members of Casey's campaign were found snooping around the Santorum house in Penn Hills. Santorum said on KDKA Radio, �This guy won't debate. He won't talk about issues. He won't do anything, but he'll support people who will look in my windows and find out what's going on in my house. This is ridiculous.�

Police have been called on to perform extra patrols of the neighborhood to assure the safety of Santorum's family and their own. Rick and Karen Santorum also issued an open letter to Bob Casey:

Dear Bob,
We are writing to express our outrage regarding the actions of your campaign, which have put our six young children at a serious safety risk. Last night, we learned with deep dismay that a Casey operative admitted on KDKA-TV to trespassing on our property and viewing the inside of our home. Further, your campaign issued a press release yesterday that falsely says that we do not stay in our Penn Hills home. This reckless statement is not only a lie, but alerts those who may want to enter the home illegally. Your despicable actions have greatly endangered our children's safety.
Let us remind you that while Rick is a U.S. Senator, Karen and our six young children are not. You are welcome to criticize Rick's positions, but putting our children's privacy and safety at risk has certainly crossed a line we never expected. If anyone associated with our campaign ever put your wife or children in any type of risk, he or she would be fired immediately.
We call on you to immediately dismiss your campaign spokesperson and anyone else on your staff involved with this malicious effort. Anything short of the dismissal of these individuals is your endorsement of this repugnant act.
Your immediate attention to this unfortunate matter would be much appreciated by every member of our family.
Sincerely,
Rick and Karen Santorum

Casey's statement? He, along with the DNC of Penn Hills, claim that Rick lives in Virginia. Is Bob Casey that out of ideas? Can they find nothing else to attack Rick about? Or is every Senator who serves in Washington expected to report every day from his home state? The idea that Santorum staying in Virginia while Congress is in session isn't outlandish or unheard of. Surely you don't hear people in Hawaii asking if Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka really lives there. It's another cheap political attack that has clearly gone too far.

I would say that they could resolve this in a debate... but we all know Bob Casey Jr. would never go for that.

SHU Absent from All-American Colleges

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has released a new line of books detailing the best colleges in the country in terms of academic achievement, conservative values, and religious faith. The annual book, Choosing the Right College has been critically acclaimed as one of the best college guides on the market. The book is "independently researched and written by journalists and scholars, and covers the things that truly matter most: the presence or absence of a core curriculum, the strength of distribution requirements, the prevalence of politics in the classroom, the state of free speech on campus, student living arrangements, the quality of teaching and student advising, crime, and freshman orientation."

And while other Christian and Catholic schools in the area are listed, including Seton Hall in New Jersey. In ISI's companion book, All American Colleges, St. Vincent's College is even profiled! Now, I ask, where is SHU in all of this?

So you think you're not political? Take a quiz.

Find out how you stand on "the issues." Take this 10 question quiz to determine your political standing.

It's more than just liberal or conservative, too. Interesting. And when you're done and have your score, there are links you can follow about learning more about what you are, according to how you answered the questions.

This quiz has been popularized by a number of national news sources, and has been taken by over 3 million people. (While it's created and supported by The Advocates for self-government, I think the quiz is okay.)

P.S. I scored as a conservative, of course. Like, off the map conservative.

The Future of Roe v. Wade

USA Today is best known for one thing--it's not good reporting, nor is it a valuable opinion page. It's graphs. No one does a pie chart like the USA Today! And an article, accompanied by an infographic, shows exactly how states would react if Roe v. Wade was lifted. The results show you just how badly the Supreme Court is supressing the desires of the states:

Twenty-two state legislatures are likely to impose significant new restrictions on abortion. They include nearly every state in the South and a swath of big states across the industrial Rust Belt, from Pennsylvania to Ohio and Michigan. These states have enacted most of the abortion restrictions now allowed.

The article continues, saying "The 22 states likely to enact new restrictions include 50% of the U.S. population and accounted for 37% of the abortions performed in 2000..." As this issue is being pushed, yet again, to the front pages of today's papers, we have to take a step back and think about the rights of states. That said, both Republicans and Democrats don't expect this history abortion case to be overturned by the court (although our current court has the best chance of doing that). A ban on all abortions may not be in the future, but the return of more state rights might be.

Rick Supports the Pens

Senator Santorum made a public statement yesterday fully supporting a new, privately funded arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Santorum challenged all of the gaming applicants to pay for the arena privately, instead of relying on gaming revenues.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins are a tremendous asset to our community. Building a new arena is not only critical to keeping our NHL franchise here - but is also important for the community as a whole," the
Senator said. Mellon Arena doesn't just house the Penguins; it is also used for children's events, concerts, the circus, truck rallies and various sporting events. Santorum stressed that all applicants
match the commitment to 100% private funding, as well as openness in the proceedings:

"I am calling on all the applicants competing for the single Pittsburgh slots license to come up with a plan that requires no new local tax dollars to fund a new arena. One gaming company has already made that commitment and I am hopeful that all the applicants will do the same. It is important that the local community understand what type of financial commitment the companies who are bidding for the gaming license will make towards helping fund the arena."

The main plan, which is proposed by Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., would involve a $290 million dollars in private funding for a new arena. Along with the arena plan, talks also include revitalizing the Hill District portion of the city, which has lost 70% of its population since the construction of the Civic Arena in the 1950s.

Senator Santorum continues to fight for lower taxes by supporting private investors rather than tax-payer-funded sports stadiums like PNC Park and Heinz Field.

[Written for RickSantorum.com Blog]

Cheney Blasts the Dems

Dick Cheney is really taking a public beating lately, but you don't see him backing down. He's stronger than ever, if you ask me, and taking on the Democrats for our President's sake.

"The leaders of the Democratic Party have stepped into the debate � not with a positive message, but with a slogan proclaiming that our administration is 'dangerously incompetent,'" Cheney said at a Florida campaign event.

"The president and I welcome the debate, because every voter in America needs to know how the leaders of the Democratic Party view the War on Terror."

Nothing new: the Senate Minority Leader, Harry Reid (NV), called President Bush "dangerously incompetent." How nice of him to demonize the leader of the free world... Thank goodness there's a VP with backbone to stand up to this.

Cheney, speaking Friday at a campaign event for Rep. Ric Keller in Orlando, said Democrats have a "sorry record" on national security.

"With that sorry record, the leaders of the Democratic Party have decided to run on the theme of competence. If they're competent to fight this war, then I ought to be singing on American Idol," Cheney said.

I'm assuming he's no Josh Groban... Mr. Vice President: ouch! The sarcastic humor is salty; I certainly wouldn't have expected it. I don't think we'll ever hear him singing the Star-Spangled Banner.

President Bush himself, stumping for congressional candidates in Indiana and Pennsylvania on Friday, said "the difference is clear" between Republicans and Democrats.

"If you want the government in your pocket, vote Democrat," Bush said. "If you want to keep more of your hard-earned money, vote Republican."

Bush spoke at a fundraiser in Indianapolis for Rep. Mike Sodrel, who faces a close congressional race this year.

My favorite of all the quotes in this article, though, comes from the following:

Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who supports his fellow Democrats� comments, told FOX News earlier this week that it doesn�t serve a useful purpose to characterize Bush as "incompetent," but it is important to raise concerns about the war.

�There is a problem with the president of the United States going out and continuing to tell the public that everything is all right in Iraq,� Kucinich said.

Instead of personally attacking the president, Kucinich said, Democrats should focus on the issues and on getting troops out of Iraq.

Oh really, Mr. Kucinich? Then why do the rest of your Democrat friends, whom you support, keep pushing around things like your opinions of the President's competence to spike news reports like this one where you're obviously keeping the President (and the witty Vice President) away from said "issues" with your childish banter? Keeping superficial arguments like this alive prevents anyone from doing anything. It reminds me a great deal of high school...

I admit that the title of this article caught my attention first, considering the word "blasts" led to a stream-of-consciousness connection to the last time Cheney blasted someone...

There are just too many good quotes in this article to not blog it. Amazing.
(All blockquotes were taken from the original article at FOXNews.com.)

Intern with the State Committee!

The Republican State Committee is looking for college interns this summer! There are a variety of opportunities available, and something like this would look great on a resume. It's a great way to meet new people, and make valuable contacts.

Listed below is the internship description. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Yorio, head of the PAGOP Victory 2006 Headquarters in Greensburg-- or contact any member of the SHU CR board.

The Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania�s purpose is two-fold. The first priority is to promote Republican ideals. The Party�s platform focuses on winning the war on terror, ushering in an ownership era, building an innovative economy to compete in the world, strengthening our communities, and protecting our families. The second responsibility of the State Committee is to support Republican candidates and grow the Republican Party. With 2006 being a mid-term election year, as an intern for the Republican State Committee, you will focus your efforts on party building activities (e.g. voter registration) and also campaign specific efforts such as phone banking, canvassing, researching and analyzing voting trends, data entry, general administrative duties, and voter outreach.

One of the most important races that will be taking place in 2006 features the re-election campaign of Senator Rick Santorum. Republican State Committee interns will work closely with Santorum 2006 and various other campaigns. Senator Santorum has been a passionate advocate for Pennsylvania and a respected leader in the halls of Congress. However, because he is the third ranking Republican in the United States Senate and is dedicated to lowering taxes, creating responsible government and defending a culture of life Senator Santorum has been made the primary target of liberal, Democratic fringe groups and outside interests for 2006.

We need YOUR HELP to ensure that the right Republicans are elected in 2006. As a Republican State Committee intern, you will work in an energetic, fast-paced environment and gain valuable on-the-job experience to supplement their academic background. To maximize the experience, you will work one-on-one with a specific Republican State Committee employee. Internships can easily be set up to meet course requirements, in order that you may earn academic credit for your work.

The Onion: "Democrats Vow Not To Give Up Hopelessness"

The online satire site The Onion has posted a great article about the Democratic strategy for the upcoming 2006 campaign. While The Onion normally doesn't skew in the favor of Republicans, this time they took a shot at the other side.

"We are entirely capable of bungling this opportunity to regain control of the House and Senate and the trust of the American people," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said to scattered applause. "It will take some doing, but we're in this for the long and pointless haul."
"We can lose this," Reid added. "All it takes is a little lack of backbone."

With polls showing that the American public is tired of the bickering on Capitol Hill and the President taking shots at the Democrats' negative politics in the new book Strategery, The Onion is catching on to the new trend: Republicans may not please everyone while in power, but at least they are producing positive ideas and messages-- as opposed to the Democrats' insistence on negativity and hopelessness.

Exposing Liberal Profs

The LA Times reported yesterday about a group of UCLA alumni who are keeping tabs on the University's most liberal professors. The group, the Bruin Alumni Association, created a website called UCLA Profs.com, where students can go and report the actions of their radical teachers.

Personally, I think this is a great idea. Not only because kids are paid $100 to rat out their professors, but it lets all professors know that students aren't going to sit there and listen to off-topic rants. Students aren't paying thousands of dollars in tuition to hear the slanted beliefs a specific teacher may hold, and yet sadly, this is happening all over the country. Groups like BAA are encouraging students to stand up for their beliefs and to remind professors that they are to teach from a non-biased, objective perspective.

This semester, the College Republicans at Seton Hill won't be sitting idly by as this happens on our campus. We're not against freedom of speech, and I would argue that we are in fact more tolerant of various ideas than our leftist colleagues, but rather we are students who just want to learn. We don't need some prof starting a class by telling us that "He's liberal, he disagrees with the war, and there's a math test next Tuesday."

Our first major goal of the semester is to hold a presentation this February on Liberalism and a Liberal Arts education. There will be a planning meeting for this presentation on Tuesday, January 24th for all who are interested.

Party Make-Up

"The Democratic Party is essentially a demographic grouping, while the GOP is an aggregation of like-minded people. Where Republicans rally around their standard-bearer because of what he and they believe, Democrats are inclined to belong to their party largely because of who they are." - Dick Morris, Condi vs Hillary

Alito's on Defense: The "last minute Hail Marys"

If you ask me, a news consumer, a title can make or break a news article. Online or in print, if there are two articles on the same topic and one has a better title than the other, I will gravitate towards that article. I'm sure I'm not the only person that does this. I just know that I'm conscious of it (maybe that has to do with the journalism class I took freshman year? That's a thought...).

Anyway, browsing the 141 RSS feeds I had upon returning home after a l-o-n-g day out, I saw the title "Last Minute Hail Marys" from the Chicago Tribune. The blurb about the article concerned Judge Samuel Alito and the hearings from the Senate's Judiciary Committee. (This was found via Google's News RSS feed.)

Instantly I wondered whether the title was talking about the prayer or the football play. In true tension-building, reader-annoying fashion, the article did not reveal the quote in which this phrase was mentioned until the very last paragraph--the last two words of the entire article.

Maybe this provocation was the intent, maybe it's just jerking the chains of readers like me [that might be too invested in headlines][or specifically Catholics that might wonder about the reference]. Either way, even the quote itself does not truly distinguish what the senator is talking about, since the words about Alito playing quarterback are not verbatim:

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said the situation in the hearing room is �kind of like the fourth quarter of a football game,� with Alito as the quarterback. �The opponents are desperate,� he said, and attempting �last-minute Hail Marys.�

Now, with the knowledge about the football pass, does this statement really make sense when Alito is supposed as the quarterback since he would be the one throwing the Hail Mary pass? Grassley is quoted to have said that the "opponents are desperate...[attempting] last minute Hail Marys"--in context, the Tribune's paraphrasing of Alito as the QB is incorrect. If anyone is throwing a Hail Mary, it's the Dems and, in that case, Alito is on defense (just like in the hearings).

Senator Grassley was talking about the Democrats being the ones throwing the "Hail Marys" and not Alito. The Tribune is making an assumption that Grassley meant Alito as the quarterback in the play.

Mentioning the football quarter helps with the identity of this phrase, but it's obvious that this wasn't obvious to everyone that read and left comments on the article. One woman--defining herself as Catholic merely by identification with the quote's religious implications--commented defensively, saying that the Republican senator's "comments about Hail Marys are ridiculous."

Perhaps this is not a criticism of Grassley but rather a direct stab at the Democratic pro-abortion antics (who seem to take considerably effort in ignoring Christianity [see the argument over the Attack on Christmas].) The commenter continued by saying that "their prayers to [the Mother of Christ] would be a waste of time."

The commenter was set straight by another commenter who reinterpreted the football allusion:

The reference to 'Hail Mary's' was not to praying, it was to a last-ditch, desparate pass in football. The phrase originated with Roger Staubach who lofted a 40+ yard pass to Drew Pearson as time was running out in a playoff game (or was it a game vs. the Redskins? Same difference). Staubach (a devout Catholic) said he threw it as far as he could and said a Hail Mary. Pearson caught it in the end zone, winning the game.

Helpful information, I think. Had Grassley said the Dems were saying or praying a Hail Mary instead of attempting "last minute" Hail Marys, the quote definitely could have been misinterpreted (instead of just misunderstood).

Not all references can be assumed as understood; however, in writing for a broad audience one can never be certain if all references will be taken as the writer intends. So wouldn't it be best to come out and say that the Dems are just trying really hard to keep Alito out? What happened to straightforward news?

And why did the Tribune call Alito the QB when he is obviously on the defensive? I can see how the mislead commenter could be confused--with little knowledge of football, I'm surprised that I can even explain this one.

After reading the article, I know that the comment about Hail Marys was about the Democrats' last attempts in the offensive at the Republican Judge Alito (or the opposite, as the Tribune called Alito the quarterback...) and not an abuse of the prayer, but is that a conclusion that Joe Anybody can reach without Googling "Hail Mary"? I'm not so sure, with our secular society in full-force. Then again, maybe more people recognize the phrase as a football term in disparity without even associating it with the Catholic prayer.

My thoughts? Be careful how you title/headline. And don't paraphrase unless you're absolutely certain...

Reagan is the Greatest American

Last night, Ronald Reagan was voted the GREATEST AMERICAN on the Discovery Channel's infamous top 100 countdown. We all know the list was pretty bogus during the first 95, but the top five were all great men. The debate on TV was pretty beneficial, and in the end the American people voted for the Gipper!

The complete Greatest American List

Ken Mehlman visits Pittsburgh

"Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman on Thursday night urged Pittsburgh-area Republicans to expand the party's base to help re-elect U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and other GOP candidates in 2006."

GOP leader criticizes Democrat remarks - PittsburghLIVE.com

Hillary Makes the Moves

It's no secret that Hillary Clinton plans on making a move for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency in 2008. People were saying that from the second she moved to NY, claimed to be Jewish, and became a Senator. But, moreso than Bill, she is viewed as being radically left. Out of the mainstream more than Kerry was. But we all learned after the 2004 election, that America isn't with the far left... it's in the center, and leaning to the right.

Hillary moved to NY to be Senator. She claimed to be Jewish because it made her look better with one of the libs' most loyal groups. She claims to love her husband although they are rarely seen together. And now she is working on claiming to be a centrist. Because if Arnold S., Guiliani and McCain have taught us anything, it's that you can be quite successful and be pretty close to the center of political views. But if you notice, all three of those moderates are also Republicans.

Rasmussen, one of the great pollsters of the last election, has started a new bi-monthly poll meter. This time he is tracking Hillary's ongoing struggle to shift to the center. So far, she is still 43% liberal, and, according to the polls, only 32% definitely voting for her (with another 37% definitely voting against her and 26% waiting to hear about a GOP candidate).

If you want to follow her on the journey to the center of the Earth (or at least politics) check out the poll.

Jib Jab Cartoon: "Second Term"

Since this week has been so depressing, I thought all you fellow Repubs would get a kick out of Jib Jab's cartoon "Second Term," featuring Pres. Bush.

Something to brighten the week.

JibJab.com: "Second Term"

The OFFICIAL Republican Party Platform Stance on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

With so much talk about the Terri Schiavo case, I thought it would be appropriate to call attention to a the first half of a paragraph in our 2004 Republican Party Platform, stating our official position on this matter:

�In signing the partial birth abortion ban, President Bush reminded us that �the most basic duty of government is to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world.� We affirm the inherent dignity and worth of all people. We oppose the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment because of disability, age, or infirmity, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which especially endanger the poor and those on the margins of society.�

As our party opposes abortion, so must we too oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, to protect the weak and defenseless of our society. These are matters that should be high on ALL Republicans� priority lists.

(This selection can be found on page 84 under the section �Promoting a Culture of Life,� of the downloaded version of this document, which can be obtained from the Republican National Committee website.)

Terri Schiavo Case Coverage

I would like to let everyone who has been following this case know that my posts will be moved from this blog and will solely be featured on my personal blog:

Emily's blog link

Please check out my blog for the final updates of this case, as well as conservative viewpoints on a variety of other issues. Thanks.

Raising Up the GOP in the BC

Yesterday morning I attended a "Build the Party" meeting for the Beaver County Republican Party. The purpose of the meeting: to discuss party activism and support for the upcoming local candidates as well as the 2006 Senatorial elections. I went with my dad and James (from the Cellar Dwellers). I had suspected that there would be maybe 5 or 6 people there, including the 4 person panel. But much to my surprise there was a huge turnout, people from all over the county showed up to support the cause and brainstorm ways to turn Beaver County into the red county that we all know it can become.

The problem with Beaver County, and alot of the counties in Western PA, is that people are afraid to break their molds. They come from long lines of Union Democrats who vote straight ticket because they feel they have to. But what people don't realize, as Pat Geho, executive director for the RCBC, said, is that they have many of the strong conservative values that Republicans have. The majority of people in this side of the state support the right to own a gun and the right to life. What we need to accomplish within the county, is to spread the knowledge of what candidates stand for so that when people go to the polls, they don't vote straight ticket but rather vote for the candidates that support their values.

This feat has been accomplished in many counties this side of the state. And with each election, we are getting closer and closer to opening people's eyes. Look at Westmoreland County: it is a largely Democratic county, but in the past election the Republicans won by over 22,000 votes! All it takes is an enhanced grassroots effort.

At the meeting there were representatives from Melissa Hart, Tim Murphy, Rick Santorum and Bush/Cheney's offices. All of which I made it a point to talk to in my efforts to get some politicians on campus for SHU College Republican events. I was also lucky enough to have my brochure with me ("Where's My Nest Egg?"). It's a brochure I designed for Typography II, but have been using to promote the club and our focus this semester. It would be nice to have one of the politicians pay for its production so the club doesn't have to.

During the meeting we separated into "Break Out Sessions" in which people could go to different parts of the room to speak with different representatives about certain subjects. I was assigned to helping out the Activism table, which talked about getting people out there talking about the issues and waking up our tired liberal county. Everyone was very friendly and happy to talk, even this one crazy guy in sweatpants up to his pectorals (I'm pretty sure he was just a crazy guy who wandered in).

At the end of the morning, I walked away with a handful of business cards and a list of emails to send my PDF brochure to. I'm happy to be more involved with my hometown's GOP, because they are definitely needing some help. Not to be mean, but they need some help with graphic design as well... something I'd be more than happy to aid them in.

Going down to D.C.

Well right now, believe it or not, I'm sitting in my Best Western motel room... I had made a post earlier this evening stating that I wouldn't be making a post until my return. That is until I got to my hotel room and saw the table tent that mentioned wi-fi (wireless internet). I'm never one to pass up a good hotspot, and my hotel room is no exception! And so to prove how dorky me and my friend Christoph (fellow Cellar Dweller and a Beaver County Republican) really are, the first thing we set off to do, once getting all our stuff in the room, is hop online and start sending out messages. Awesome? Yes! Pathetic? Probably.

Tomorrow, we wake up at 5AM, nab some free continental breakfast... stop at Starbucks to get a REAL breakfast, and then head off to D.C. for the big Inauguration! I must say that I'm pretty excited about the whole thing... this being the biggest road trip I've gone on without my parents. But I'm also kind of dreading getting to D.C. and spending the entire day outside freezing. Expect a ton of pictures, and a good amount of stories...

For now, I sleep.

Who Pays for the Inauguration?

With the Presidential Inauguration just around the corner next week (and with my tickets en route to my house) I thought it would be beneficial for me to touch upon the misinformed ideas regarding who pays for this costly event. I've read on various blogs and political websites complaints that $40 Million dollars in tax payer money is going to waste on the Inauguration set to take place next Thursday.

This is a common complaint made by the public, especially from members of the losing party, to make our re-elected President seem like a selfish fool (something he is most certainly not). In actuality, the entire inauguration, including all of the fireworks, parades, parties, and events are paid for by donors. Not one cent of tax payer money goes to paying for the events, and in this inauguration the only tax payer money even being used is D.C.'s homeland security money to cover the increased security measures (something the city would be responsible for anyways). So efforts like Alternet's "Not One Damn Dime" are fruitless, mislead attempts to make a point that is already moot.

In fact, it's no secret as to which corporations, businesses, groups, and private citizens donate to the cause. The inauguration planning committee plans on raising $40-$50 million dollars for the event, and so far they are right on track. For a list of all the major donors (who can't donate more than $250,000), visit the Official Inauguration Donor Page on the Inauguration website.

I am quite interested to see how all of these events are going to play out next Thursday, when I drive down to D.C. with a friend of mine. The events should be televised on all the major media stations, unless CNN finds footage of a cat in a tree. But for you liberals out there freaking out about paying for an inauguration you don't want... rest easy, this one's on me.

A Helping Blog

Have you wanted to find a way to help the tsunami victims, but can't empty your wallet (because it's already empty...)?

Paste the links below (in hopes that you, or someone that reads your blog will use them to help those desperately in need) on to your blog in an entry, your blogroll... Just get them up there!

Why?

On Dr. Jerz's blog I read that a blogger by the name of Anders Jacobsen will donate do the Red Cross for each link he finds stemming from his site. The original amount was $1, but since another blogger, match Jacobsen's donation!

What's the total? Go here to see.

UK/Europe:
Disasters Emergency Comittee (DEC) - comprises a raft of aid agencies, including the below and others
British Red Cross
Oxfam
Save the Children UK

North America:
American Red Cross
Canadian Red Cross
Save The Children
Oxfam America

Anders Jacobsen: Webloggers: Give to tsunami victims and I'll give too!