LIGHTHOUSE BLOG

Save the Phoenix Coyotes!!!

On the heals of a great Stanley Cup playoff, it has become apparent that Phoenix is indeed a hockey town.  More and more people are interested in hockey in Phoenix each year.

I have lived in a couple of great hockey towns - Detroit and Denver - and though Phoenix isn't quite yet in their caliber in terms of fan base, that will come with both time, and an owner who knows what he's doing.

The Coyotes have had difficulty in Phoenix due mostly to poor ownership decisions.  One major mistake was putting the arena in Glendale, far from the sports center of the metro area. 

Having the arena in Glendale cut our attendance in half, not so much because of the distance but because of the fact my kids are young and we couldn't watch a complete game AND drive home in any kind of reasonable time on a school night.  Though the arena will stay in Glendale, my kids will not stay young.  They watched the Red Wings lose last night, unfortunately, but were glued to the TV with interest in the game.  Up until the bankruptcy issue came about, we were already planning to attend more games next year.

Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the US, and can easily sustain a profitable hockey team given smart decisions from the owners.  We have lacked that heretofore.

I really hope the bankruptcy judge, and the NHL, will give Phoenix fans another chance to prove themselves, in Phoenix, under new ownership.  (Perhaps we need to do a white-out at the courthouse!?!?!)   In any case, we deserve a second chance, and so do the Coyotes!!!!!!

Jacobs fired from KFYI

In my 8 years in Phoenix, nothing has brought me greater radio joy than the firing of Bruce Jacobs from KFYI radio.

Jacobs, a poorly informed host on his best day, was a vehement anti-Catholic bigot who expressed his desire for the Church to cease to exist.

With the exception of Rush, I refused to listen to KFYI, and said so in many letters, until Jacobs was put to pasture. He's gone, and the world is a better place. Good riddance!!!

Party of Purity vs. Party of Anything Goes

Republicans have taken flak lately for being willing to lose Colin Powell as a Republican.  Good riddance, many say, since Powell supported Obama and has questionable Republican values.

Republicans are usually willing to kick fallen members from their ranks in an effort to retain a purified ideological core.  In essence, if you're not acting like a Republican, Republicans say, why should you be allowed to call yourself one and confuse the public?

Such was the case with the recent Republican Congress, who was booted from office for ignoring the principled values that got them elected in the first place.   They gave Republicans and fiscal responsibility a bad name.

On the flip side you have the Democrats, who are truly a party of anything is acceptable as long as your check clears.  There are few real lasting principles associated with the Democrat Party, save for the negative ones of high taxes, abortion on demand, weak on defense, and fiscally irresponsible government.  Sure, Democrats favor some good things, but in the end they support whatever keeps them in power.

A good example is how they took control of Congress in 2006, promising to have the troops home in mere weeks.  Three years later, liberal President Obama is putting MORE troops in harms way, and the liberal-controlled Congress lifts nary an eyebrow in opposition.

So too does it go with President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotomayor, who has questionable qualifications for such an important position.  Her own recorded statements about her nationality making her more qualified, and that judges make policy, should make her questionable to anyone.  Add to that her statements that the 2nd Amendment does not allow for individual gun ownership, and we should all be up in arms - Democrats and Republicans alike.

However, she is expected to win confirmation in the Senate easily - not because people thinks she's anywhere near the best candidate - but because politicians are too afraid to oppose a Hispanic woman.  That's frightening to me.  Regardless if she is the first one-armed, red-headed, albino Eskimo, she should be evaluated on her qualifications, not ethnicity.

So what we have are Republicans who strive perhaps to deep into the ideological purity pool, and perhaps lose some good men like Powell, and Democrats, who are willing to put up with anything as long as there is political gain. 

Republicans would do well to remember Reagan's line that someone who agrees with you 80% of the time is your friend.  Democrats would benefit from actually standing for something by opposing poor choices once in a while.  Sotomayor is hardly the best choice for the Supreme Court, and Democrats should, for a change, put substance above symbolism. 

Wife of Arizona Treasurer Dies After Childbirth

Please pray for the Martins. They are simply wonderful people and are very deserving of all the thoughts and prayers we can send their way during this terribly sad time. 

Click.

Andrew Thomas Takes on Planned Parenthood - Planned Parenthood Admits It Doesn't Understand Statutory Rape

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

May 20, 2009

 

For more information contact:

Mike Anthony Scerbo, Public Information Officer

(602) 506-3170 (office) or (602) 489-6913 (cell)

 

County

Attorney

Calls on Abortion Clinics to Report Sexual Abuse of Minors                       

Videotapes of Activities at Planned Parenthood Facilities at Issue

 

In response to recent events at local Planned Parenthood clinics, County Attorney Andrew Thomas is publicly calling on Planned Parenthood to report sexual abuse of minors to law enforcement and to train and instruct all staff members to do so.  Thomas has taken this action after an adult, posing as a 15-year-old impregnated by a much-older adult, visited two Planned Parenthood clinics and was offered an abortion for a fee at both facilities.  The encounters with Planned Parenthood were videotaped at two Phoenix Planned Parenthood Offices.

 

Under state law, A.R.S. § 13-3620, medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, as well as people who are responsible for the care or treatment of a minor are required to report instances of sex crimes or abuse in which the victim is a minor.  Thomas is recommending that new legislation be passed to make clear the statute applies to nonprofessional employees and workers at medical or abortion clinics, such as clerical and triage staff, not just licensed medical professionals.

 

Thomas stated, “Medical professionals are required to notify law enforcement when they learn a child has been the victim of sexual abuse.  That obligation applies to those working at Planned Parenthood.  Planned Parenthood should honor the letter as well as the spirit of the law by plainly instructing their employees to report alleged sexual abuse of minors to the proper authorities, and by making sure these instructions are followed.”

 

Just prior to the release of these videos to the local news media, Planned Parenthood contacted the Phoenix Police Department and inquired about whether they could receive training on these matters.  The

County

Attorney

’s Office has notified Phoenix Police that prosecutors from its Sex Crime Bureau would be available and willing to fulfill this request in coordination with Phoenix Police.  However, Planned Parenthood has not responded to follow-up calls from Phoenix Police regarding this request for training.

 

 

 

AZ Republican Bloggers Killing The Party

I can't help but comment on the unnecessary destruction of the party, and people within it, as a result of petty, gotcha style politics at the hands of some perhaps well meaning, but woefully misdirected Republican bloggers.

My fellow bloggers would be wise to learn from past media mistakes that have proven that the first to post is usually the most wrong.  Just look at any major news story in the last few years.  The first news agency to jump on the air was usually wrong.  Sure, in mediums that require ratings, they have little choice.  Bloggers, on the other hand, have the ability to take the time to get stories right.

All of the bloggers I'm referring to presumably have respect for Conservative commentators such as George Will, William Buckley Sr. (RIP), Fred Barnes, and the list goes on and on.  The bloggers also have respect from radio talk show hosts such as Limbaugh, Medved and Hewitt.  Yet none of the aforementioned have websites and blogs which present breaking news.  Instead, they investigate and get the stories correct before writing stories and taking to the airwaves.

I tell my 8 and 6 year that in class, it's not the kid who raises his/her hand first who gets the highest grade, it's the kid who gets each answer right.  Thus, it's far more important to be right than it is first.

Republicans, but especially Conservatives, are supposed to be the party of ideas.  Of late, we've employed the liberal methods of personal destruction to elevate ourselves as individuals.  We need to go back to working together to elevate the party.  As Ronald Reagan said, a person who agrees with me 80% of the time is my friend.  We need to attack the liberal socialist ideas being put forth in America. For as the Republican infighting moves us backwards, socialism roles on.

Obama Nominees: Ethnics Over Ethics?

Obama has yet another nonimation scandal on his hands.  One has to wonder whether, when he proclaimed ethics would lead his administration, he didn't mean ethnics.  By ethnics, I am not referring to race, but instead the liberal culture which is so often corrupted by power, influence, and a lack of values. So many of his appointees have had problems with the law, that one can't help but wonder about the derth of scandal free liberals.   Read story...

Journalistic Fellacio

The questions asked of President Obama at last night's press conference were nothing short of journalistic fellacio.

For example, a New York Times reporter asked Mr. Obama to describe his most "enchanting moment" at the White House. That's a question befitting a sycophant trying to live vicariously more than it is a news journalist.

And today's stories about the media event were no less, well, stimulating to the President, as he was compared to Jack Kennedy and given a score of 100 by another media outlet.

Was there any substance last night? Those who didn't watch may never know for sure unless they turn to fair and balanced news sources for details.

In any event, the press fawning over President Obama continues. No doubt former President Clinton feels envious of the exercise, and Monica Lewinski like a trend setter.

Banks Ignoring Short Sale Offers, or Exhibiting Extreme Incompetence

In the last several months, I have submitted four short sale offers to Citibank and Countrywide.  Despite having fax receipts, the banks claim they never received the documents, several times.  And on another occasion, Countrywide, having waited several months to review the documents, decided the documents were too old and needed to be re-created, including the offer itself.  Huh?

Citibank, for its part, completely ignored a short sale offer for nearly five months, at which time the buyers walked.   Two more short sale offers submitted to Citibank have not been responded to by the bank.  One of those buyers is about to walk away.

Countrywide has been sitting on an offer for nearly six months.  When I called the buyer's agent the other day to check in, the agent told me that the buyer was walking becuase the buyer beleived that the home's value had dropped below his offer price. 

On one of the many calls I placed to Citibank, where the documents, though sent three times, "had not been received," I asked if the documents could be emailed in.  The response was that documents could only be faxed.  When asked if I could communicate directly with the person in charge of that particular property, I was told no.  And on that same call, when asked what was the current status of the short sale, the phone representative said she "could not interpret the notes."  I asked the same representative just how I was supposed to get information if I couldn't speak to the person in charge of the account, and the representative couldn't interpret the notes.  She didn't know.

Early last year I had an opportunity to sell a few dozen builder properties for $.85 on the dollar.  The banks, not Citi or Countrywide in this case, would not go for the deal.  They later sold the same properties for much less. 

Working with Citibank and Countrywide has been a nightmare.  Neither bank appears interested in working with their mortgagees to keep their homes, and neither is willing to sell the properties to a buyer.  Yet the federal government has dumped billions into these banks.

It seems to me that if the economic downturn started in the housing market, then that's where the government should focus its attention.  President Bush was right when he said last fall that the feds have the patience to buy up properties, as it did with the Resolution Trust Corporation back in the '80s, and wait for the market to improve.  To date, I haven't seen the government doing that, despite the enormous success of the RTC program in terms of profit for taxpayes.

It don't know the exact solution, but it seems apparent that banks are working neither in thier own best interests, nor that of the taxpayers or homeowners.  The feds, for their part, seem to be focusing on sysmptooms of the housing mess, and not on the problem itself. 

In the meantime, lives are being destroyed.

Queen Of Consumption Admonishes Brewer For Not Knowing How To Make Cuts

Jana Bommersbach, in the recent issue of Phoenix Magazine, lambastes Jan Brewer for not knowing what cuts to make to balance the budget.  It's hilarious that the personification of not knowing when to stop thinks she can give our Governor advice.  Like calories consumed and calories burned, tax revenue must balance with spending.  Being out of balance creates bloat. 

Phoenix Bishop Admonishes Notre Dame President in Letter

Dear Fr. Jenkins,

I am saddened and heavy of heart about your decision to invite President Obama to speak at Notre Dame University and even to receive an honorary degree.

It is a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the United States.  Our USCCB June 2004 Statement "Catholics in Political Life" states: "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles.  They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."  No one could not know of the public stands and actions of the president on key issues opposed to the most vulnderable human beings.

John Paul II said, "Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with the maximum determination."

I pray that you come to see the grave mistake of your decision, and the way that it undercuts the Church's proclamation of the Gospel of Life in our day.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
Diocese of Phoenix

Notre Dame Petition Getting Huge Response

The petition to stop the scandal of having abortion advocate and embryo testing advocate Barack Obama from speaking at the Notre Dame graduation is averaging 1130 signatures per hour.  If you haven't signed it yet, please do so here.

It is critically important that Notre Dame, one of the nation's premier Catholic university, stay true to its faith and reject those who seek to undermine it.

University of Notre Dame Asks Pro-Abortion, Pro Embryo Killing President Obama To Give Commencement

I sit here stunned.  I am a life long Catholic, and a practicing one at that. I am also a life long Notre Dame fan, particularly football. 

Right now, I can barely put my disappointment to words that ND has invited the most pro-choice, anti child, anti embryo president in modern history to give its commencement speech.  And, right on the heals of Obama's outrageous remark about the developmentally disabled and the Special Olympics.

If it were some kind of debate, I would understand the invitation.  As it stands, having a heartless president address a crowd of Catholics at a commencement is nothing short of completely disgraceful. 

My dad, an ND '43 graduate who went straight to the Big One upon graduation, is lucky to be suffering from dementia today.

Obama's Special Olympics Comment Indication Of The Lack Of Value He Places On Life

 In the turbulent wake of increasing abortion funding using taxpayer dollars, his reversal of a ban on killing babies for stem cell research, and his past comments about how God's greatest gift is a "punishment," is it any wonder that Obama places such little value on the lives of developmentally challenged Special Olympics participants?   Read story...

Mary Rose Wilcox: Embarassment to Arizona

This time in front of Congress and the national media. She favors open borders, and is accusing Sheriff Joe of criminal behavior for rounding up her illegal supporters

I don't care much for Joe Arpaio as a person, but he does one hell of a good job as Sheriff.

American Made Auto Dealers Still Feel Entitled To American Buyers

Listening to KKNT this morning, I couldn't help but hear the ad from Tempe Lincoln Mercury, essentially claiming an entitlement to American buyers since they sell "American" cars.

Auto dealers, along with the automakers, apparently still don't get it.  Americans buy cars for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the most important are price, design, quality, and resale value.  Less important is the ethnicity of the automaker, as most buyers know that many "foreign" automakers build cars in America, and many "American" cars and parts are made oversees or in Mexico and Canada.

I grew up in Detroit, and in a Ford family, so when I went to go buy a pick up in 2005, I axiomatically went to a Ford dealer to look at the Ranger.  I had owned a Ranger STX years before, and was quite pleased with it.  Upon reviewing the Ranger line at the dealership, I discovered that Ford no longer made the high-end STX, but only made a less comfortable (seats) XLT.  And, that XLT was built on a ten year old chassis and design.  I left the dealership unexcited about buying a Ford Ranger, and having made the decision to look at other brands.

Among other vehicles I looked at, including the yawn-inspiring "American" brands, I decided to check out the all new, completely redesigned Toyota Tacoma.  The Tacoma, built in California, had a strong engine, great looks, awesome ergonomics, incredible features such as AC power in the pickup bed, comfortable seats, many compartments, 4 doors, built-in bed liner, great stereo, and came with many features included.  I was sold, and bought the vehicle.  Having owned two Ford Rangers in the past, and an F-150 pickup, I can honestly say the Tacoma was a much better vehicle, and, when it came time to get another vehicle, it held its value very well.

I now own a Toyota 4 Runner, and except for the pedals being a little too close together for my size 12 feet, I love the vehicle.  In fairness to Ford, I have owed two Explorers and a Mountaineer in the past that were also excellent vehicles.  However they did retain much value at trade-in time.

As a Detroit native, and fan of the auto industry, I'm a believer in the idea that Detroit needs a major shake-up.   Bankruptcy may in fact be the best thing that ever happens to the automakers, and will allow them to break the union stranglehold on innovation, production, and profitability. 

Whatever happens though, until the automakers compete on a wider range of buyers desires, beside brand ethnicity, many Americans will continue to buy cars from "foreign" automakers, myself included.

Why hasn't Tom Horne for AG caught on with Republicans?

Tom Horne is telling everyone who will listen that he is running for Attorney General (http://tomhorneexploratory.com/) but his campaign can't seem to get any steam. Could it be because he's too liberal for most Republicans?

He's tangled with the Goldwater Institute over school vouchers for disabled children, and he used to be a Democrat until he decided the only way to get elected to the state legislature was to switch his party registration to Republican.

His record in the legislator was almost as liberal as some of the Democrats, he voted AGAINST a bill in 2000 (HB 2708) that would have completely banned taxpayer money for abortions (it would have closed a loophole). This bill didn't even ban abortion, it was just banning taxpayer funding for abortion, yet Horne is so liberal he wouldn't support it.

I think Republicans are already sending Horne a message that he's not their guy.

Brewer All Wrong On Tax Increases

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has expressed that Arizona may need to raise taxes to cover budget shortfalls. 

Imagine walking into your boss' office and saying, "Boss, I realize I only make $40k per year, and I knew that in advance, but I went ahead and bought a Porsche anyway, and need a raise to cover my screw up.  Fork it over."

Anyone want to guess how that conversation will turn out?

Yet that's what our new Governor is doing.  And while I agree she inherited this problem from our previous nightmare governor, and sometimes politically impotent legislature, she nonetheless should find ways to cut, re-cut, then re-cut one more time prior to holding out a tin cup.

We are in a recession, and never in the history of the world has a government taxed its people into prosperity.  Governor Brewer should remember that, and stick to her allegedly conservative principles.

Arizona Right to Life PAC Endorses Gilbert Candidates

The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee just released its endorsements for the upcoming Gilbert primary. 

"The endorsed candidates have exemplified excellent pro-life credentials, and we are pleased to support their candidacies," said David Roney, Chairman of Arizona Right to Life PAC.  "We must support pro-life candidates at all levels of government, even if the pro-life issue may not come before them, because candidates who win often seek higher office.  We want to make sure solidly pro-life candidates climb the political ladder," Roney continued.

The endorsed candidates are:

Erin Scroggins - Gilbert Town Council
Jenn Daniels - Gilbert Town Council
Lonnie Stradling - Gilbert Town Council
William Jefferson - Gilbert Town Council
John Lewis - Gilbert Mayor

Dow Jones Change: Bush Versus Obama

Bush: DJIA 12/12/2000 - 10,768.............1/16/2009 - 8281

Over 8 years, including 2 major wars and 911, the market dropped only 2487 points from final election results to the end of the Bush presidency.

Obama: DJIA 11/05/08 - 9069............3/6/2009 - 6488

In only 120 days since Obama was elected, the DJIA has dropped 2581 points! 

Is there any question what type of economic policies are better liked by the markets, and thus grow taxpayer wealth?

We Support Rush; Obama's Policies Should Fail

On Rush Limbaugh's radio show yesterday, he discussed how some so-called conservative bloggers are biting the poisoned liberal fruit and coming out against him and in favor of Obama's policies.  Not this blogger, and not any blogger with true Conservative credentials.  I would bet that those blogs are straw man blogs, set up by the opposition.

I, like Rush, hope that Obama's policies of funding and thus increasing abortions, expanding government, creating new entitlements, soaking businesses, transferring earned wealth, socialized medicine, increased taxes, weakening the borders, increasing the power of unions, and appeasing our enemies - the list goes on and on - FAIL!!!!!  I simply do not think any of those things are in the best interest of our country.  And, I think the country will succeed if Obama's policies fail.

Rush doesn't agree with me on everything, but that's the way of the world and just part of the intellectual debate that makes up the Conservative movement.  Nonetheless, Rush has this blogger's full support.  Keep up the good work Rush!

San Diego Firefighters Tortured Far Worse Than Abu Ghraib Inmates

  We all remember the barking dogs scaring the alleged terrorist inmates at Abu Ghraib, the infamous Iraqi prison where the US Military kept enemy combatants.  American liberals were in an uproar about the inmates having to endure the barking dogs and loud music. 
 
Abu Ghraib was a walk in the park compared to what 4 firefighters, who had been accused of no wrong doing of any sort, were forced to endure by their lesbian firechief in San Diego.  The four firefighters, who were not homosexuals, were forced to march in San Diego's infamously boorish gay pride parade and endure hundreds of unwanted taunts and sexual advances.

The firefighters sued, and won, but their boss, unlike the military person in charge at Abu Ghraib, is still in charge.  Where is the uproar from liberal gourps?  Read the story.

AG Goddard To File Suit Against Planned Parenthood?

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said this week, " "I am committed to protecting Arizonans' right to make informed decisions about their medical care. I will aggressively pursue any company that deceives consumers and puts profit ahead of patient well-being."  See story.

Though this comment was in reference to a confusing birth control advertisement, I can't help but wonder if the AG will apply the same standard and pursue a case against Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest and most profitable abortion provider. Planned Parenthood has long been known for misleading women and withholding critical information regarding the status of their babies as well as the abortion affects on the women themselves.

Somehow I doubt that AG Goddard has the moral courage and political will to fight members of his own political party and make sure women make informed decisions regarding abortion.

Obama Criticizes Bush For Not Sending Enough Troops

After spending over two years criticizing President Bush on going to war, President Obama put 17,000 more American troops in harms way today, while chastising Bush for not doing it earlier.

It seems Obama can't implement policy without slamming Bush, and appearing hugely hypocritical.

FOX Sports Helps Fund Abortions

 "Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has been voted by the employees of FOX Sports as the official Fox Sports Supports charity during the 2009 NASCAR season."  Read website.

It's too bad that FOX Sports chooses to support The Komen Foundation, an organization that covertly funnels large amounts of funds raised to cure cancer to the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.  While many studies have shown a link between abortion and breast cancer, no study has shown a link between Planned Parenthood and cancer cures. 

There are some wonderful organizations out there that really do seek cures for breast cancer, without covertly funding abortion clinics.  I encourage all to let FOX Sports know your opinion about their choice of charities.