No "Jesus" at Obama's Inauguration Prayer? Lawsuit Filed!

Following the outcry by Gay Activists over President-Elect Obama's decision to invite Pastor Rick Warren author of the best-selling book "Purpose Driven Life" to perform the Inauguration Prayer, a lawsuit has now been filed to keep the word "Jesus" from being mentioned during the event.

Apparently use of the name of "Jesus" could cause more ire as some people don't want a religious type of prayer invoked during the Inauguration Ceremony.

The suit was filed by Dan Barker, leader of the Atheist group "Freedom from Religion" claiming that the use of the word "Jesus" or any type of Religion would be a violation of his Constitutional Rights.

In fact Barker has enjoined with Michael Newdow who previously fought to have the phrase "Under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, in a Federal lawsuit seeking "to stop prayer and religious rituals at all governmental functions, especially at the Inauguration," Barker told FOX News Radio.

Warren when asked his opinion on such measures being taken to possibly disrupt the Prayer his spokesperson released this statement to the Associated Press, "I'm a Christian Pastor so I will pray the only kind of Prayer I know how to pray."

In addition he added, "Prayers are not to be sermons, speeches, position statements nor political posturing. They are humble, personal appeals to God."

Similar controversy occurred regarding the prayer at President George W. Bush's 2001 Inauguration ceremony, when the Rev. Franklin Graham and Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell were both criticized for mentioning the name of Jesus Christ. A lawsuit was also filed.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a Methodist Civil Rights leader invited by Obama to give the Benediction states, "Pastor Warren should be allowed to remain true to his Faith".

It appears as by filing this lawsuit both Barker and Newdow are trying to force everyone else in America to believe as they do, which is in itself a violation of OUR RIGHTS.

Dudes if mentioning the name of Jesus bothers you that much then I have a simple solution to resolve this entire issue: JUST DON'T ATTEND THE CEREMONY and don't watch it on T.V.!

Man, I wonder what some people use for brains.

Sources: ABC News, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Fox News

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is Now a Grandmother!

That's right! Alaska Governor and former Republican V.P. Candidate Sarah Palin is now a grandmother.

People magazine reports that Palin's daughter Bristol (18), gave birth to a 7 lb. 4 oz. baby boy Sunday at a hospital in Palmer, Alaska.

The child was named Tripp Easton Mitchell Jones.

Bristol is studying for her High School Diploma via correspondence courses and the child's father Levi Johnston, is studying to become an Electrician.

Congrats!

Sources: Huffington Post, People Magazine, Anchorage Daily News, Scotthedot

Obama's Bi-Partisan Plea to Stop Racism & Division

"United We Stand; Divided We Fall".



Here's an Excerpt of his Speech. The Full Transcript can be read here.

“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.”

Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America’s improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.

The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished. It was stained by this nation’s original sin of slavery, a question that divided the colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate until the founders chose to allow the slave trade to continue for at least twenty more years, and to leave any final resolution to future generations.

Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution – a Constitution that had at its very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.

And yet words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States. What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who were willing to do their part – through protests and struggle, on the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil disobedience and always at great risk - to narrow that gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time.

This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this campaign – to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America. I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together – unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren.

This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own American story.

I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world’s poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners – an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.

It’s a story that hasn’t made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts – that out of many, we are truly one.

Throughout the first year of this campaign, against all predictions to the contrary, we saw how hungry the American people were for this message of unity. Despite the temptation to view my candidacy through a purely racial lens, we won commanding victories in states with some of the whitest populations in the country. In South Carolina, where the Confederate Flag still flies, we built a powerful coalition of African Americans and white Americans".



Sources: Youtube, CNN, NY Times, CBS News

Blagojevich's Lawyer Subpoenas Obama's Staff! (Jackson Jr. Too!) More G.O.P. Tricks!

More G.O.P. Dirty Tricks! Seems as if doomed Illinois Gov. Rob Blagojevich wants to pull everyone down with him on his way out the door.

Is Blagojevich's Political Career over? More disturbing is he on his way to jail?

Perhaps yes or no, however this latest turn of events in which his Lawyers are attempting to Subpoena Obama's staff is certainly telling.

Ed Genson one of Blagojevich's Attorneys, has approached the Illinois Legislative Panel overseeing the Governor's Impeachment, for permission to Subpoena more than a dozen witnesses.

The Witness List is comprised of some of Obama's closest Confidantes including Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel.

U.S. House of Representative member Jesse Jackson Jr. is also named.

Although no response has yet to be offered regarding the request, the Panel is expected to meet again on Monday, Dec. 29Th.

This dude knows he is headed straight for the Penitentiary!

What's worse is due to Jealousy, Greed and Fear he is now trying to take everyone else with him.

Everyone knows this nothing more than another dirty G.O.P. Trick to discredit Obama before he even begins to govern.

Why else would the FBI and Illinois U.S. Attorney General Patrick Fitzgerald suddenly now decide to expose Blagojevich's corruption after investigating him for three years?

It's NOT going to work Blagojevich! The TRUTH is going to come out. You are Guilty dude!

After he's locked up I say Good Riddance to Trash the State of Illinois doesn't need.

Don't drop the soap!

Check out Blagojevich on the clip below proclaiming his "Innocence"! Doesn't he sound convincing? Its obvious he's a nut!



Sources: Huffington Post, CBS2Chicago, Chicago Tribune, Youtube, MSNBC, TPM

Christmas is a Global Celebration!

I found a great Slide Show of Christmas Trees from around the world over at MSN.

Which proves that despite our differences the celebration of this unforgettable holiday is a Global event.

You can check out the entire Photo Gallery at this link.

Enjoy!

Peace to you and your loved ones:)

Sources: MSN

Obama's Completed, Diverse Cabinet Includes a Southerner

Here's a look at President-Elect Obama's completed, extremely Diverse Cabinet.

It includes five women, four blacks, three Hispanics and two Asians as Cabinet-level appointments.

President Bush's first cabinet in 2001 included four women, two blacks, one Hispanic and two Asians.

He's even added a Southerner Ya'll!

Ron Kirk from Dallas, TX. I mean this guy isn't your typical "Good 'Ole Boy" (Kirk is African-American), but he is still a Southerner.

Secretary Of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton

Defense: Robert Gates

Treasury: Timothy Geithner

U.S. Attorney General: Eric Holder

Interior: Ken Salazar

Agriculture: Tom Vilsack

Housing & Urban Development: Shaun Donovan

Transportation: Ray LaHood

Energy: Dr. Steven Chu

Commerce: Bill Richardson

Labor: Hilda Solis

Health & Human Services: Tom Daschle

Education: Arne Duncan

Veteran Affairs: Eric Shinseki

Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano

United Nations Ambassador: Susan Rice

EPA Administrator: Lisa Jackson

Trade Representative: Ron Kirk


Sources: USA Today, Flickr, Blogger

Obama....TIME Magazine's 2008 Person of the Year

That's right its Official!

Not only is he the new incoming U.S. Commander-in-Chief, but President-Elect Barack Obama was also recently chosen to become TIME magazine's 2008 Person of the Year.

No doubt this dude's smooth way of dealing with major issues contributed to the publication's decision.

To learn more about why TIME selected him check out the interview contents at this link.


Source: TIME

Bush's Famous Last Words: "I've Abandoned Free Market Principles"

Earlier today during an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley, sitting President George W. Bush admitted that he has recently "abandoned Free Market Principles to save the Free Market System".

I wonder if he came to this conclusion before or after the Market crashed several times this year?

Catch the segment on the clip below.



Sources: CNN, Huffington Post, Think Progress, Youtube

Arne Duncan: Obama's U.S. Education Secretary Pick!

On December 15th Obama officially became the 44th President of the United States by a unaminous show of hands from the Electoral College.

President-Elect has finally decided to select Arne Duncan Chicago Schools Chief, to be his Education Secretary Pick.

(He is expected to announce his decision via a Press Conference today @11:00 Eastern time.)

Obama's alternative choice was Joel Klein, Chancellor of NYC Schools but there appeared to be too much controversy about him considering his rocky relationship with Teachers Unions.

The President-Elect wanted a National School Leader who was Bi-Partisan and would be well-received by Teachers. Thus he decided on placing Duncan in that position.

I say Excellent choice!

I'm sure Duncan is going to do a much better than Bush's Education Secretary Margaret Spelling, who gave her stamp of approval to states with Segregated, Failing Public Schools Systems like North Carolina.

Looking at the mess left by sitting President Bush's terribly underfunded No Child Left Behind Act program, Arne certainly has his work cut out for him.

You can take a peek at his resume here.

Sources: Huffington Post, MSNBC, Illinois Family Institute, Wikipedia, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Tribune

Iraqi Journalist Goes Beserk and Hurls his shoes at President Bush!

Wait a minute! I thought the Iraqi people loved sitting President George W. Bush for liberating their country. Was I wrong?

Take a look at this Iraqi Journalist hurling his shoes at him during Bush's recent visit to the troubled country.



Sources: Huffington Post, MSNBC

Obama's Cabinet....Thus Far

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED:

TREASURY SECRETARY: Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general.

DEFENSE SECRETARY: Robert Gates, a holdover from Bush administration.

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Gov. Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Retired Marine Gen. James Jones.

COMMERCE SECRETARY: Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.

NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL DIRECTOR: Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR: Peter Orszag, director of Congressional Budget Office.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Next Posts to be announced: Energy Secretary, Environmental Chief

Sources: Huffington Post, San Jose Mercury News, US Magazine, PJ Voice