The Bailout--Just Plain Wrong

This week, one can hardly open a discussion without hearing fearful comments on the economy and the recent attempt by Congress to bailout investors in the housing market. No question, failure to pass a bailout package will create short-term problems in the stock market, hence, retirement plans and pensions will suffer.
But the bottom line is that dropping a safety net under investors is an antithesis to the free market system. Free enterprise finds a way to make investment and initiative work, while socialism uses the force of government to bring about a contrived result.
A dear friend who blogs from left of center, made a statement a few months ago that with a Republican President and Republican Congress, we have seen as conservatism did not work. I responded that conservatism had not been tried. The Republican Congress failed to get a grip on the super growth of government and our Republican President did little to challenge the growth of the size of government.
Now, critics are saying that the free market has not worked. I maintain that the free market has not been tried. Government has manipulated the market and now we see the failure caused by big government competing with private enterprise and propping up those entities which were failing on the free market. Taking tax dollars from taxpayers to supplement failure is just plain wrong! While the failure to pass a bill may bring some negative consequences, the very nature of our free Republic is at stake. I am proud of the Congressmen who voted NO on the bailout and pray that these Members of Congress will maintain their positions on the issue. Appreciation is due to Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt, the one Alabama Congressman to vote NO on the bailout.
Please take three minutes to listen to Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana. Speaking on the floor of the House, Pence gave a pro-free market argument for sinking the bailout plan. Pence's reasons for opposition included:
1) Economic freedom means the freedom to succeed but also the freedom to fail
2) This bill gives the government the right to interrupt free markets
3)The bill forever changes the relationship between the government and the markets
4)The American people will have to foot the bill for Wall St.'s mismanagement

With Support of Sarah Palin, Tide Rolls over Georgia 41-30!

This past Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over the Georgia Bulldogs 41-30. The score is not indicitive of the game, as the Tide held a 31-0 lead at halftime with Georgia scoring twice late against Alabama's second and third team defense. The latest AP poll now ranks Alabama as the #2 College team in the nation.
Where will Alabama go from here? Obviously, Alabama has talent, albeit much of that talent is young. A few key injuries could shuffle Alabama's winning combination around. Also, the Tide must not take any opponent lightly. This week's opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats, are undefeated. Ole Miss, coming to Tuscaloosa on October 18, upset Conference leading Florida.
Please notice the role played by Musings from Maytown in the Tide victory: first, this writer predicted a 30-28 victory by the Tide. This writer also noted that coaching would make the difference. Evidently, the masterful play-calling and intense preparation by Coach Nick Saban was key to this victory.
Secondly, readers of Musings from Maytown voted 30-13 that Alabama would defeat Georgia. This poll result indicates that readers of this web newsletter are far more perceptive than the average sports fan. On a political note, the photograph in this article of Gov. Palin is evidence that Gov. Palin is far more discerning than her political opposition. Musings from Maytown is not surprised to find that Gov. Palin is a Tide fan, a real reason to elect Sarah Palin as Vice President. When I consider Sarah Palin and the Alabama Crimson Tide, I remember Coach Bryant's advertisement for Coca-Cola and Golden Flake potato chips, when billboards advertised Great Pair Says the Bear.

The Bailout--Both Stupid and Evil!

The late Samuel Francis stated that the United States has a two-party system, the Stupid Party and the Evil Party. Occasionally, you find a bi-partisan effort and when you do so, you can count on that proposal being both stupid and evil.Musings from Maytown is incensed that Washington power-brokers have come together to bail out the greed of both big business and big government. Noted economist Jim Rogers has said that this bailout would make our economy more communistic than that of Red China. Do we really want that much more infusion of government into our economy? Years ago, I heard Congressman Phil Crane state that Government does nothing well. While observers should have noted the failure of statist systems and the growth of free market economies, our nation promises more from government. How blind do our leaders need to be before they realize that government spending is breaking the taxpayer and damaging the economy. Musings from Maytown has never posted a guest editorial, but I could not improve on the writings of Matt Chancey. Please give careful attention to the wise warnings of Matt Chancey

Dear friends,
The reason I am writing you today is to ask you to join me in contacting your congressman and senators to urge them to reject the $700 billion bailout being rammed through Congress this week.
The propaganda being pushed by the Federal Reserve, the Bush Administration, and candidates for president in both major parties is that this move is a "necessary evil" due to corporate greed on Wall Street.
The reality is that this $700 billion bailout (about $10,000 per taxpayer), is the government making you pay for the disastrous political correctness they have forced on our financial institutions for years.
The free market is not at fault here. Government regulations that gave home mortgages to people based on their race or economic condition (not on their credit risk) are now coming home to roost—and this same government wants you to pay for the domino effect this has caused throughout the markets.
If we don't, we're told we face another Great Depression.
I don't know about you, but my "default setting" is that whenever government tells us to do something or else horrible things will happen, I tend to do the opposite. I think this view holds true now more than ever.
The success of this outrageous scheme is not even guaranteed. No one can guarantee that adding $700 billion to our national deficit and sponsoring a government takeover of some of our largest financial institutions will fix our current problems. In fact, history shows that it's guaranteed to fail. Remember, the people promoting this were telling us everything was fine just a few weeks ago. They are either colossal liars or incredibly incompetent. But, in all seriousness, they suffer from the problem we all suffer from: not being omniscient!
Will things get worse economically if the government does not "fix" this problem? Of course. We've sowed the wind, and we're reaping the whirlwind. But spending $700 billion of taxpayer money to "fix" this problem would be sowing the whirlwind and reaping a hurricane.
Here, in essence, is how this bailout would work: Our government has no money but does have an endless credit line with the Federal Reserve Bank. The FED prints $700 billion and gives it to Uncle Sam, who gives it to the lending institutions that are going belly up. This effectively pays off the bad mortgage losses and gives these lending institutions instant cash they can then loan back to us…at interest. In the meantime, we're paying interest on the $700 billion in new government debt that's added to our $9.8 TRILLION national debt.
This does not even address the inflation caused by the FED printing $700 billion more and dumping it into the present money supply. Lowering the value of our dollar is a hidden tax in itself, hurting the poor and those on fixed incomes.
If we have to "pick our poison," so to speak, I'd much rather take the risk of a temporary market hit and a few giants in Wall Street collapsing than the US taxpayer taking a $700 hit plus interest for the next several generations—not to mention the mass socialization of our financial markets. It's bad enough when government over-regulates our markets—it's far worse then they OWN the markets.
If our government wants to do anything, it should end the insane regulations that give home loans and other financial perks to people who can't afford them. It is unfair to the millions of Americans who pay their bills on time to make them pay for politically-correct stupidity from Washington.
For conservatives to support this measure is like saying, "The free market is only workable under ideal conditions, but when the going gets tough, we need the government to step in and take over." But when has this ever been the case? It's the government that caused this problem in the first place.
If you live in Alabama, please contact Senators Sessions and Shelby. Sessions has shown himself to be the true maverick (John McCain, eat your heart out) at times, even taking on the Bush Administration when necessary to defend conservative principles. Give him the ammo he needs to stand firm against this mass Socialism scheme.
Senator Shelby has been intimately involved in negotiations for this bailout. Please contact his office and let him know your feelings as well.
Session's phone number is: (202) 224-4124
Shelby's number is: (202) 224-5744
You can also contact your congressman by visiting:
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
Let's stand together and defend our future from being mortgaged by liberal Democrat opportunists and complicit Republicans.
Best regards,
Matt

Mary Buckelew Agrees to Plead Guilty-- What Next?

Today, we heard the sad news that Mary Miller Buckelew agreed to plead guilty to obstruction of justice. Apparently, bond attorneys, who were making millions off county sewer bond deals, were furnishing personal gifts to former Commissioner Buckelew.
Frankly, this news hurt me. I remember Mary Buckelew as a PTA mom at McAdory High School who won appointment to the Jefferson County Board of Education and fought as a reformer on that Board. Buckelew was one who led the charge to fight the Birmingham money interests in their efforts to reach their tentacles out to choke the suburbs. Buckelew won a full term on the School Board in 1986.
In 1990, Buckelew ran against incumbent Commissioner David Orange. Orange was well respected, but Buckelew took him to task for implementing an occupational tax. Buckelew defeated the incumbent by 2,000 votes. Immediately, upon election, Buckelew brokered between two factions on the Commission to become Chairman of the County Commission. In her first term, Mary joined with Chris McNair and Gary White to form a triumvirate to vote conservatively on issues of taxes and spending. Recent history on those three proves the irony of that team, since all three are publicly charged with felonies involving taking personal money from county vendors. McNair was convicted of a felony; White was convicted of a felony but currently the case is on appeal; Buckelew has agreed to plead guilty to a felony.
For the next three terms, Buckelew was popular and known for her interest in her district. On a personal level, I found Commissioner Buckelew a charming individual, and a pleasant soul. Mary was always kind to this editor, always recognized me, was friendly, and seemed to genuinely care about people. When a member of our church who was a long time friend of Mrs. Buckelew was in poor health, this public official seemed to sincerely care about the health of our mutual friend.
But in Mary's fourth term, the situation began to change. The County Commission elected Larry Langford as Chairman of the Commission. While the Commission's make-up was 3-2 Commissioner Gary White joined with the two Democrats to elect Langford as Chairman. During that term, Langford and team spent much time swapping and refinancing bonds on the County sewer system. Initially, the Langford team, which included Langford, White and newly-elected Sheila Smoot, increased county spending and continued the bond-trading, over the objections of the two Republicans who opposed Langford's election--Bettye Fine Collins and Mary Buckelew. For a time, the votes on the County Commission were routinely 3-2. However, the votes began to go 4-1 with Buckelew joining the Langford team and Bettye Fine Collins becoming the lone opposition. Then, when Langford proposed a one-cent sales tax increase, even White saw the error of that folly. But Buckelew became the third vote, along with Langford and Smoot, to pass this tax hike.
Buckelew, facing defeat at the polls, chose not to seek re-election in the 2006 primary and promptly retired, moving to Shelby County. Today's news of Commissioner Buckelew's guilt is a sad end to a public career. Please consider the bleak situation. Jefferson County now operates with an unbearable debt on the sewer bonds. Yet, these same bond attorneys were funneling personal gifts and financial assistance to those who served on the County Commission. What lessons can we learn?
1) No government should be powerful and large enough that any official can make someone rich and then demand personal help from those made rich. The root problem is that government is too big and too powerful.
2) No individual should be able to accumulate this much power in office. For this reason, Musings from Maytown is absolutely in support of term limits. At present, a Commissioner can draw a pension for serving four terms in office. Commissioners should be limited to two terms in that office.
3) Any person should recognize that they are susceptible to temptation. Paul wrote the Corinthians take heed, when you think you stand, lest you fall. Lest anyone be tempted to gloat, all of us are capable of falling prey to the temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.
4) The sewer debt is owed to financial institutions who have abused the taxpayer. Those institutions should be accountable. Hence, I agree with Commissioners Bobby Humphryes and Jim Carns that bankruptcy is the only reasonable option. Let those who violated Scripture by practicing usury (the financial institutions) bear much of the burden. Remember, God gave Israel the Year of Jubilee to rid themselves of unpayable debts.
5) Corruption is bi-partisan. Neither of the major parties has any room to gloat. White and Buckelew were Republicans. McNair and Germany (other convicted felons who are former Jefferson County Commissioners) were Democrats.
6) Will former Commissioner, now Birmingham Mayor, Larry Langford be charged? I predict that if Barack Obama is elected, charges against Langford will never see the light of day. This is one more reason to defeat Obama. By the way, Langford has offered his support for Buckelew Langford offers support to Buckelew Somehow, I would guess that Langford's support doesn't bring much comfort to Mary Buckelew.

Opening Friday, September 26 in Theaters Nationwide

This Friday, in theaters across America, you can watch Fireproof, a dynamic film with great potential to save marriages. Produced by Sherwood Films, previous producers of the acclaimed Facing the Giants, this movie details the life of a couple with a marriage on the rocks. Kirk Cameron, former star of the Growing Pains television series, plays the lead male role. For more information, you can watch the trailer here:
Any effort to urge people to attend this movie would be effort well-spent. Let me know what you think, once you attend Fireproof.

Friday's Foreign Policy Debate between McCain and Obama

This Friday evening, on the campus of the University of Mississippi, the two major contenders for the US Presidency will square off in a debate on foreign policy. While one might expect differences over the Iraqi War, Musings from Maytown declares that few substantive differences separate the two candidates on foreign policy.
While Senator McCain has done a lot of saber-rattling, Senator Obama is no less of an internationalist than McCain. In fact, McCain's discussion of foreign policy seems to at least, advocate a policy of advancing America's interests around the world. Neither candidate wants to move away from the current American vision of settling the world's disputes and building an American Empire. Neither candidate is willing to withdraw our national position of intervening in world situations. Neither candidate wants to focus on solving our problems in this country as opposed to considering the world's position. Frankly, both men are globalists and internationalists. Neither man would pass the George Washington test of avoiding entangling alliances.
The difference? At least in foreign disputes, McCain wants to speak from a position of strength. McCain, while he will continue the Bush policy of interventionism, will side with those who are friendly to the United States. One can find no such assurances from Senator Obama. Obama's background and purported friendliness with third world interests should cause concern in the realm of foreign policy. The idea that Obama is a peace candidate is ludicrous. The philosophy of Obama is internationalist and interventionist, as is McCain's. However, McCain is at least more knowledgeable and more American-centered in his dealings with foreign nations.
But one fact is certain about the debate: regardless of what is said, the news media will declare that Senator Obama won the debate.

Alabama vs. Georgia: The Tide Will Roll!

Musings from Maytown openly favors the Alabama Crimson Tide, yet tries to report from a balanced perspective. Frankly, this website has a record of caution when making predictions concerning the Alabama Crimson Tide. Our season-opening predictions were cautious and our post-opening game comments were still cautious.
Today, Musings from Maytown is throwing caution to the wind and brazenly predicting that the Alabama Crimson Tide will defeat the #3-ranked Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday night between the hedges at Sanford Stadium on the campus of the University of Georgia.
This past Saturday, the Tide crushed the Arkansas Razorbacks 49-14 on the home field of the Razorbacks. Alabama exhibted a powerful and agressive defensive line, a sharp and quick defensive secondary, a "blow-em-away" offensive line, quick and tough running backs, perhaps the best stable of receivers in college football, and a capable quarterback who led a well-balanced offense.
The Tide was well-conditioned and exhibited as much talent as an Alabama team has contained since the 1992 National Championship team. Obviously, the team was highly motivated and well-prepared.
While we are making bold assertions, let's go ahead and make the ultimate claim. Coach Nick Lou Saban is the most effective and most capable coach in college football today. This cautious writer still thinks that the Tide is still two years away from Alabama's thirteenth national championship. My great fear is that the inexperience and lack of depth may show in a close fourth quarter. Furthermore, Alabama's defense needs improved contact tackling. But this week, Coach Saban will return to Tuscaloosa with the scalp of UGA-- the ugly Georgia bulldog. Coach Saban will have his team prepared for the game, will understand the strategy to win the game, and will exploit any weaknesses in the Georgia team. Musings from Maytown predicts: Alabama 30 Georgia 28.

Dumping MSNBC for a Return to Fox News

Back in February, Musings from Maytown editorialized of a change in preferred television news coverage. At that time, Musings from Maytown expressed a preference change from Fox News to MSNBC. Well, to quote the old invitation hymn I now repent with bitter tears.
Even CNN seems to be less biased in a leftward direction than MSNBC. Consider my frustrations with MSNBC:
1) The brilliant and eloquent libertarian-leaning conservative Tucker Carlson has been relegated to guest appearances. This demotion for Carlson is a great loss. Carlson is an open-minded man who keeps his independence. Carlson's perspective had a great balancing effect.
2) Previously, Musings from Maytown extolled the value of Chris Matthews as a tough and balanced interview. Recent months have seen Matthews almost giddy over Barack Obama, hardly keeping his balance.
3) Keith Olbermann is a mean-spirited commentator. The Democratic Party could not hire a more pronounced advocate.
4) In my years of observing network news, this writer has yet to find a more obnoxious and shrill commentator than Rachel Maddow.
Frankly, MSNBC should be embarrassed by her hateful and biased attitude. If a conservative commentator was as aggressively hateful as Maddow, you would see boycotts of the network. Maddow gives lesbians a bad name Maddow a Lesbian MSNBC still has Pat Buchanan on occasion to balance out the plethora of left-leaning commentators. But the current agenda of the left-wing appears to be the smearing of Gov. Sarah Palin. At least, on Fox News, Gov. Palin seems to get a fair hearing.

Sarah Palin and Supposed Lack of Experience

This week, a close friend of mine mocked the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as Vice President by commenting She is a pretty woman, but she certainly doesn't have the experience to serve as Vice President. On the first point, I agree that Sarah Palin is certainly a pretty woman. But moving on, let me challenge the issue of experience.
Without Sarah Palin in the race, you have two men running for the Presidency who have built their careers in Washington. Senator Obama has spent his entire political career advocating greater governmental intervention in the economy. Prior to serving in the US Senate, Senator Obama served in the Illinois State Senate, where Obama consistently advocated more government spending in virtually every area. As a US Senator, Senator Obama has voted ninety-four times either to raise taxes or against cutting taxes. Even Senator McCain has been in Washington for over thirty years.
Consider the Democratic candidate for Vice President Joe Izuzu Biden. Do you realize that Gov. Palin was eight years old when Senator Biden came to Washington?
For those of us who don't trust Washington, we have one individual among the nominees of the two major parties who are not seriously infected with Potomac Fever and that is Governor Sarah Palin. What is the Palin experience? Palin came to office with a conviction that basically government doesn't work. As Governor, Palin has worked to cut the size of government.
I challenge you to listen to her rhetoric of Gov. Palin. This lady doesn't trust government and knows that the free market and the good will of American people will solve our problems. I have laughed at the attempts to link Gov. Palin to the Alaskan Independence Party, which actually elected a Governor in 1994. While Gov. Palin did speak to the group, she never participated as a member. Regardless, this friendship demonstrates that this lady doesn't trust Washington--and rightly so!
Washington DC is broken. Voting for Obama-Biden is a vote for a worse version of our current situation. A vote for McCain would be a hollow vote without Palin.
True lovers and defenders of liberty have been invigorated by the Palin selection. No, Saran Palin does not have the experience of a bloated federal government and a corrupt Capitol City. This is EXACTLY why true conservatives are excited about Sarah Palin. Musings from Maytown has a readership in Wasilla, AK. If by some faint chance, Gov. Palin reads this, I pray that she knows that many of us see hope in the way common people are receiving her. Maybe we do have hope to break the shackles of big government and to restore pride in a free America. The liberal elitists and the biased media are trying to break Gov. Palin, but millions of Christians are praying for her. God bless you, fighting Sarah! Go to Washington and shake up the place!

Gas Prices, Market Crash, and the Future

Recently, I was in a discussion about a good friend of mine who serves in the Alabama legislature. In the conversation, I mentioned this individual and said you can count on that person to do what is right. They are the kind of people we need in the legislature. The other person with whom I was conversing would call themselves a conservative Republican, but immediately they began to discuss legislators and members of Congress. That individuals sole criterion for quality of an elected representative is the amount of money that elected representative brings back to their home area.
For generations, politicians have held onto office by boasting of money brought back into the district. Particularly distressing is that so-called conservative Republicans go to Congress with a vengeance to fight the leviathan of big government, but are soon lured into voting for unconstitutional spending because some of that money comes back to the district. Hence, we vote our way into the treasury and buy votes to re-elect us.
Our representatives have spent our huge federal revenues, have spent deeply into the Social Security Trust Fund, and then have borrowed to the gills to finance spending. The vast majority of funds spent are not authorized by the US Constitution. The vast borrowing sprees by our Federal Government have now reached foreign banks as a great portion of our national debt is held by international investors. Shockingly, lenders in Red China hold billions and billions of loans to the US Government. Congressman Ron Paul warned that Red China could wage economic warfare simply by dumping their vast holdings in US dollars.
In light of our huge spending debts and our international obligations, are we surprised that our dollar has less value on the international market? As the Federal Reserve inflates the money supply to "boost" the economy, our dollars buy less on the international market. Demagogues blame oil companies and even Arab oil sheiks, but few point their fingers at a Congress that spent money without Constitutional spending. By the way, we are watching as Congress foolishly bails out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, but I dare ask where our Constitution authorizes Federal intervention into the housing market?
Let's face it! We are broke! Foreign countries have us by the neck and are holding us hostage. Our dollar buys less, due to the inflating of our currency and the worthlessness of paper money. Our debts have us obligated to the gills. Our American dollars will buy less Arab oil, due to the worthlessness of our US currency.
We are borrowing money to provide for the world. Yet, we are not looking realistically at repaying those debts. My great fear is that we are killing incentive for investment and spending our way out of prosperity and into poverty. The problem is bi-partisan,with blame for both Republicans and Democrats. While the remnants of the free market have kept our economy growing, one can only wonder how much debt and worthless money can we bear before a market crash is too severe for any rebound. For years, conservatives have begged for a return to real money, cutting of federal spending, and a return to Constitutional limits on the size of government. Forgive my pessimism, but I fear that we may be too late-- but we must try!

Sarah Palin-- the Teflon Candidate?

Already, liberal critics are calling Gov. Sarah Palin the Teflon Candidate in her quest as running mate with Senator McCain, claiming that no criticism of Palin seems to stick. No question, the Palin candidacy has energized the GOP ticket. A few weeks ago, daily polls reported at Real Clear Politics and at Electoral-Vote.com reported a clear advantage for Senator Obama. However, the very latest polls actually give the McCain-Palin ticket the lead, albeit a small one. The news media has continued to bash Gov. Palin, seeking to unearth some issues from her administration in Alaska, and even raising issues concerning her daughter's pregnancy. In spite of these criticisms, Gov. Palin remains immensely popular. Please consider several reasons for her popularity:
1) Sarah Palin expresses a defined philosophy of limited government, free enterprise, and a strong military. The ring of truth in her speaking is encouraging to the average American.
2) Sarah Palin has a strong aura, a powerful Christian testimony, and a wholesome appearance. Outside the doctored photos circulating the internet, every appearance of Gov. Palin is clean, modest, and a picture of the girl next door.
3) Gov. Palin speaks with sincerity. Americans listen and know that Sarah Palin is not speaking with deceit.
4) Gov. Palin's approach is not that of an Ivy League elitist, but that of a common citizen with working class roots. Even when the story broke about her daughter's pregnancy, most Americans felt her pain. Every family identifies with broken hearts and disappointments. Frankly, this situation underscored her pro-life convictions.

Governor Palin is just what the doctor ordered for the GOP in the 2008 elections. Senator McCain rivals Bob Dole as the dullest, most unexciting candidate in a generation. As a side note, Joe Biden is definitely the dullest choice on a Democratic ticket since-- heck, I don't know when!
President Ronald Reagan was derided on the exact same issues that the media is now using on Governor Palin. In fact, Reagan was considered the original Teflon Candidate President Reagan bypassed the media and spoke clearly to the American people. Like Reagan, Palin speaks with a smile and a confidence that inspires the American people. I look forward to four years of a Vice President Sarah Palin and then eight years of a President Sarah Palin. Palin's leadership will restore faith in the American dream and re-ignite an emphasis on the free market and patriotism.

Rangers Take Lead in Scottish Premier League with 2-1 Victory over Kilmarnock

Today, the mighty Glasgow Rangers took sole first place in the Scottish Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock. Played at the Rangers' home of Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, the Rangers fell behind in the first half 1-0. But the Rangers returned in the second half with two goals by the Destroyer, Kirk Boyd. Boyd scored these two goals in four minutes. The stern Rangers defense held on for a 2-1 victory.
This year is significant for the host of American Rangers fans due to the addition of another American player, Maurice Edu. Quite a sought-after player, Edu joins American Demarcus Beasley to add to the American contingent on the Rangers squad. One need only search the internet to find Rangers Fan Clubs all across the US and in various parts of the globe. No team consistently fights for League championships and represents their community as do the Glasgow Rangers. Whether one appreciates the Scottish heritage of the Rangers, supports the Unionist disposition of most of their fans, identifies with the Protestant heritage of the Rangers' founding, or just plain likes the sport, few teams inspire the interest and the fervency of the Glasgow Rangers.

Academics and Christian Faith

This past weekend, the Editor of Musings from Maytown enjoyed two days in the port city of Mobile, Alabama for a Board of Regents meeting at the University of Mobile. The highlight of the two days was time spent with John Killian, Jr., second semester Junior at the University of Mobile and Randi Brasfield, senior at the University of Mobile. Randi is from our church and an excellent student and fine person.
But the highlight of the Board of Regents meeting was the President's Report from University President Mark Foley.
The President's Report began with the expression of a desire for the University to be academically sound as well as founded on Christian faith. President Foley went on to exclaim that the two are not imcompatible. The immediate question should arise that one would wonder why anyone would think that Christian faith is incompatible with high academics. The reasoning comes from two directions. First, a majority of secular educators desire to divorce the two, advocating that Christian faith is to be sequestered to one side of thinking, and that real academic investigation is apart from faith. Sadly, some of the thinking behind the divorce of faith and academics comes from Christians who look suspiciously at any learning. Yes, I have dealt with believers who almost glory in ignorance.
As a Bible-believing Christian, I am not fearful of any honest investigation in learning. The Word of God will stand the test of that honest investigation. I am thankful for schools like the University of Mobile who desire to teach every discipline of the academy from a Christian world view. The University of Mobile is regularly listed in US News and World Report as one of the South's Best Colleges. Yet, this University maintains fidelity to the historic Christian faith. Graduates of the University of Mobile should be able to go into all realms of life and perform competently and confidently with a background of an excellent education. At the same time, these graduates will be able to confidently live as Christians, with no compromise of that faith. This vision for a quality education with a Christian foundation is a vision that I can wholeheartedly support.
As a side note, Musings from Maytown is pleased that all three of our Alabama Baptist College Presidents are men of faith and who believe that high academics are compatible with Christian faith. Along with President Foley at the University of Mobile, we can gladly report that President David Potts at Judson College and President Andrew Westmoreland of Samford University are godly men who understand the Christian undergirding of true academia. These men deserve our prayers and our support as they seek to lead their respective schools in a positive direction.

Sarah Palin: McCain's Key to Victory

Today's Gallup Poll actually has the McCain-Palin ticket ahead by three points nationally. Prior to the GOP Convention and the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential nominee, Senator McCain trailed Senator Obama by eight points. What a difference a week makes! More importantly, what a difference Gov. Palin has made on the entire 2008 election.
Michael Reagan wrote an article Welcome Back Dad, in which he writes that he has long urged conservatives to quit waiting for another Ronald Reagan. In this article, Michael Reagan admits that he was wrong and believes that the political scene now has another Reagan in the person of Gov. Sarah Palin. Michael Reagan went as far as to say that Gov. Palin's speech at the Convention was Reagan at his best.
Musings from Maytown would say that the verdict is out on Gov. Palin's long-term effect. However, we certainly see Reaganesque qualities in her charm and disarming manner. But the real power in the Palin candidacy is in her connection with common voters.
Ronald Reagan openly conceded the Wall Street vote, prefering to zero in on the voters on Main Street. President Reagan spoke powerfully of his convictions on the goodness of the American system, the opportunities of a free market, and the principles of life and liberty. No national figure ever faced the torrential opposition of the news media, at least not until now with Gov. Palin. But President Reagan ignored the media elites, choosing rather to speak directly to the American public. For the entire eight years of his administration, the media mercilessly attacked Reagan policies. Yet, President Ronald Reagan won two landslide elections and remains today an icon in American life.

Gov. Palin is already facing attacks for not appearing on the staged news interviews. But the public is receptive to this godly woman who speaks in a straightforward manner on her convictions. The media elites may never figure it out, but when Sarah Palin makes the difference in electing John McCain as President, they will continue to bash a Vice President Palin.
Keep it up, jokers. You might just make her President in a few years.

Gov. Sarah Palin Gives Testimony to Salvation in Christ

In the listed video, GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin spoke to her home church and rejoiced that she was saved at this church. In her brief words, Gov. Palin spoke of evangelism, seeing souls saved, and in her desire that Alaska see real revival.

Musings from Maytown Readers Thrilled with Gov. Palin

Over the past week, Musings from Maytown surveyed readers on the nomination of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for Vice President. Musings from Maytown readers voted overwhelmingly to say they were thrilled with Gov. Palin.
The results were:
Thrilled 81 72%
She is OK 8 7%
Unmoved 9 8%
Negative 14 12%