Pattie Hughes's comments

Does Your Child Have a Cellphone? - Blog Entry

06 Nov 2008 07:06 PM

No phones here. The kids know we are waiting to see the results of the longitudal study due out in a few years to confirm or disprove the link between cell phones and brain tumors. If no link, we'll consider it at 13. Otherwise, no phones.

What's This about the Obamas Getting a Puppy? - Blog Entry

06 Nov 2008 04:54 PM

I heard him say at the beginning of the campaign that the girls get a puppy, win or lose. Ellen Degeneres gave them a dog house that is a replica of the White House when Michelle was on her show. Obama has said they will be adopting a shelter dog. I love that! Friends of ours went through a dog finder website when they adopted two purebreed dogs, so they can probably find something good for allergies, like a poodle or bichon frise.

Is the Republican Party the Only Choice for Christians? - Blog Entry

03 Nov 2008 07:46 PM

Pam, I think you misunderstood. I wasn't calling Republican Christians hypocrites, but politicians who use Jesus as a bumper sticker slogan to get votes and then make decisions in office which seem in direct contrast to the teachings of Jesus, whom they used to get into office. (war, huge handouts to wealthy corporations, cutting social programs for poor/working poor) That is hypocrisy, but the voters aren't responsible for that! If they are going to run on a platform of being a follower of Christ, they should act like it when they attain the office they seek.

The Confessions of a Pro-Life, Right Wing Conservative, Part 1 - Blog Entry

03 Nov 2008 10:05 AM

McCain has said he thinks its a state issue. Do you consider him pro life, since he is in favor of stem cell research? How is he on capital punishment? I completely agree that they should all go hand in hand. I noticed that he didn't tout his pro lifeness as much as Bush did in the past elections. It really wasn't talked about much until Palin started bringing it up. I haven't heard much of that from McCain this time around, other than one question in one debate.

I agree that a pro life Republican would have a hard time getting elected, or probably even past the primaries. He'd have about as much luck as a pro life democrat! These issues are tied to each party, but not exclusively. There are many pro life democrat voters, but they just can't head the ticket. I think the same is true of Republicans. To get past the primaries, they each have to get past the base of the party.

The Confessions of a Pro-Life, Right Wing Conservative, Part 1 - Blog Entry

02 Nov 2008 07:45 PM

That was the warning the Republicans used when Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy and it just didn't happen. There was greater job growth during the Clinton years than at any time since the end of WWII. Trickle down economics does not work. It has now been tried twice and both times has led to recession. Economists tend to favor Obama's plan. A strong middle class makes America strong, not the top five percent.

We were never at risk from Iraq. It is a lie. There was not one Iraqi involved in 911 and there was no threat to this country from Iraq. Walking away from hunting down bin Laden to go into Iraq was a giant mistake and there is no end in sight, particularly if Mr. We'll stay in Iraq for 100 years is elected. The hawkish foreign policy of this administration has made us less safe and McCain is even more hawkish. Saying that we are only safe with a Republican is nothing less than fearmongering and is simply not true.

Good blog Val!

Is the Republican Party the Only Choice for Christians? - Blog Entry

02 Nov 2008 07:37 PM

I can see the Christian values shining forth in the previous comment. Thanks for proving my point!

Is the Republican Party the Only Choice for Christians? - Blog Entry

02 Nov 2008 01:07 PM

That is sickening, but it really does illustrate my point. I highly doubt a 7 year old made it up on his own. Although kids do come to their own conclusions. My 10 year old told me John McCain is mean. I asked why, hoping it wasn't our discussions that made her think that and mentally preparing some responses to indicate he isn't mean, just wrong! She said, "Because when he talks on tv, he is always yelling and I can tell he hates Barack Obama." Really sad.

Is the Republican Party the Only Choice for Christians? - Blog Entry

01 Nov 2008 08:13 PM

I do understand that, Ruthann. I just don't see it as a bad compromise between those who want full choice and those who want to completely outlaw it. Maybe they should do something like a clear majority, such as 2/3 of voters in a particular state. I don't really know the solution and don't pretend to, but I do see your point as well as the other side of the coin. I am very much in favor of putting our money where our collective mouth is in terms of creating a culture where women may actually see it as a "choice" and not the only way out of a bad situation. Things like health care, maternity leave, decent daycare and a stronger economy do work together to help reduce the abortion rates, as well as making life a little better for those babies once they are born, when the politicians and protestors are gone.

Is the Republican Party the Only Choice for Christians? - Blog Entry

01 Nov 2008 05:33 PM

I'm amazed. I've never had this many comments on a blog! I don't think either candidate or political party is evil. With this blog, I was merely rejecting the idea that the Republican party is necessarily the best, or only , choice for Christians. I don't think God would endorse either man, but I do think He'd have some opinions on certain issues. I think He would agree with McCain on the prolife issue, in theory, but be disappointed that nothing has been done by the Republican party. One issue voting makes no sense, particularly when they do nothing more than say they are pro life. Nothing changes, so I won't base my vote on that issue.

One of the reasons I feel Obama aligns more with my beliefs is exactly as Val states, Obama has a history of, and plans to fix situations that lead to abortion and does have a record of helping the "least" in our society, which is something I value highly and don't consider a gift or socialism, merely doing what is right and just. As can be seen in the lowered abortion rates during Clinton's years, this is an effective strategy for reducing the number of abortions, something both sides agree on. :) For the record, I actually do agree with McCain and think each state should vote on the issue.

PS NO ONE is going to Hell, at least not for this election. ;)

Is the Republican Party the Only Choice for Christians? - Blog Entry

31 Oct 2008 07:57 PM

Wow, this wasn't personal and actually I've had these thoughts based on conversations for years. The Republican Party has been playing the God Card for the last several election cycles. It's more than disappointing; it's offensive to those of us who believe in God, yet hear frequently from politicians, family members, friends, pastors and strangers that they are wrong and it's immoral to vote for the Democrat. It is a political ploy used by some politicians to get votes. Ruthann has obviously been hearing it too.

I don't imply that voting for McCain makes anyone stupid. The idea that if someone is Christian they have to vote in any way, either right or left is stupid. We each take our personal values and how we interpret our beliefs into consideration when voting. Personally, I firmly agree with the separation of church and state, as intended by our founders. I think God should be kept out of politics, but sadly, he is not. God is reduced to a slogan when politicians go on television and say "God is on our side" or "God will do the right thing on Election Day." That implies that God will make sure people vote for them, because they somehow have the patent on God in politics. It is offensive and I certainly didn't start that conversation. Rove really kicked it into high gear, but it was rearing its ugly head even before him.

I never said, or thought, that you had implied anything at all about me and this blog was in no way directed at you. Two things that made me actually publish the thoughts were actually politicians. The first was Sarah Palin's comments to Dobson and the other was Elizabeth Dole's disgusting campaign smear of calling her opponent "godless" in a campaign ad. This really has to stop, but again, it has nothing to do with you at all. I apologize if you took it as any kind of attack. It isn't. It's just an opposing point of view.