Monthly Archives: September 2011

Brian Birdwell:9/11 survivor tells his story

September 11, 2011 – 8:06 am

Brian at Air Force Academy NCLS

I heard the amazing testimony of Brian Birdwell on Friday this week and I thought  I would share it with you.

I am Second – Brian Birdwell

Strength Forged from Fire and Faith
Face the Fire, the ministry started by severely burned 9/11 Pentagon survivor Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell and wife Mel, gives hope and encouragement to burn survivors and their families.Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell was standing about 20 yards away from the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 was deliberately crashed through the outer wall of the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Though horribly burned, Brian survived; but the weeks and months that followed were filled with excruciating pain,operations and endless therapy sessions. Brian and Mel Birdwell lived with the fear and overwhelming stress and sadness burn patient families must endure. Yet, amid the agony and heart-wrenching circumstances surrounding them, the Birdwells discovered life-sustaining hope and meaning in events that were out of their control. They learned about the ultimate miracle of grace.It was this discovery and the knowledge that God wanted them to use their experience to help others that led them to start Face the Fire Ministries. Through their work with Face the Fire, the Birdwells visit burn units and military hospitals across the country, offering comfort to others who are dealing with burns and severe injuries from combat.It is such an honor to go in and visit survivors and their families. They have exactly the same questions we had, and we know what a difference it can make to hear the truth from someone who has experienced what they are going through.They also want to know the answers to tougher questions like, “Will we ever have a normal life again?” We know what it is like to desperately need someone to talk to who has been through what you are going through. It can be such a lifeline,” the Birdwell’s say.

Brian and Mel Birdwell have visited numerous burn centers across the country including the Timothy Harner Burn Center in Lubbock, Texas; the Jaycee Burn Unit at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the Orange County Burn Center in Orlando; the Strong Burn Center in Rochester, New York; Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, the Grossman Burn Center in California, the West Penn Burn Center in Pennsylvania and many others. During the visits, the Birdwells present survivors and their families with a copy of their book, Refined by Fire, and a coin the Birdwells designed and had minted. They also have the privilege  visit with the staff members at each unit, which the Birdwell’s describe as “some of the most dedicated professionals you will find anywhere, with one of the toughest jobs in medicine.”

All donations and proceeds received from the book, Refined by Fire, and from speaking engagements go directly to the ministry. The Birdwell’s receive no compensation from the ministry.  All  funds received are used to help others who are in the midst of a difficult journey.

Face the Fire Ministries has donated to Fisher Houses – facilities similar to Ronald McDonald Houses – on military installations,. These facilities house families who are caring for injured soldiers  As well as establshing a fund through the Child Development Center at Fort Sam Houston, which houses Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), to provide child care for the families of our servicemen and women recovering from their wounds and critical burns.

Face the Fire provides financial assistance to help defray the cost of being displaced from home.
“There aren’t burn units in every hospital, and sometimes it is necessary for families to be hundreds of miles away from home, with no income to support their needs,” Mel says. “Face the Fire helps take care of them while they are caring for their loved one.”

Since its establishment in 2003, Face the Fire has provided over $200,000.00 in assistance to families in need as well.  Each year the ministry makes donations to different burn centers for use as they choose to further improve the recovery of their patients.

Face the Fire Ministries already has helped to make life easier for many burn survivors, wounded servicemen and women and their families. Brian and Mel Birdwell continue to provide comfort and support, both mental and financial, “as Christ has comforted us.”
By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

President Obama’s job speech reacted to by Heritage Foundation scholars (Part 1)

September 11, 2011 – 7:33 am

Everyone wants to know more about the budget and here is some key information with a chart from the Heritage Foundation and a video from the Cato Institute.

I love going to the Heritage Foundation website because of articles like this:

Heritage’s experts watched President Barack Obama’s jobs speech delivered to a joint session of Congress. Here are some of their immediate reactions:

Jobs for Teachers?

In his remarks tonight, President Obama argued that his jobs proposal would create more jobs for teachers. He went as far as to say laying off teachers…”has to stop”.

But since 1970, student enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools has increased just 7 percent, while public elementary and secondary staff hires have increased 83 percent. Moreover, in the 1950′s, there were approximately 2.36 teachers for every non-teacher in a school district. Today, in our nation’s school systems, that ratio is closer to 1 to 1. So every teacher in the classroom has an administrative counterpart in your local public school district. That is a tremendous strain on state budgets. But it is also a huge boon the education unions.

President Obama’s call to spend more precious taxpayer dollars to “prevent teacher layoffs” may do more to inflate schools’ non-teaching rosters than to retain teachers.

On a per-pupil basis, federal spending on education has nearly tripled since the 1970′s. And those who have benefited the most from this profligacy aren’t the children sitting in the nation’s classrooms. No, the increase in federal education spending (and commensurate increase in Washington’s involvement in local schools) hasn’t led to improvements in academic achievement, to increased graduation rates, or even to a narrowing of the achievement gap. It hasn’t served to improve outcomes for children, but it has propped-up the public education jobs program that too often aims to meet the needs of the adults in the system, not the children it was designed to educate.

– Lindsey Burke

A Puzzling Plan to Allow Refinancing of Mortgages

One of the more puzzling parts of the President’s plan promises to allow more Americans to refinance their mortgages, but provides no details about how.  The President promises that with refinancing, families could save about $2,000 a year, but like similar past promises few homeowners are likely to see those savings.

Briefing papers released by the White House say that the economic team will “work with” Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the regulator that runs them since both effectively failed three years ago, and “industry leaders” to make the 2009 Housing Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) more effective.

This means that the White House still has no idea how to do this. HARP, which was supposed to help between 4 and 5 million homeowners who owe more than their property is worth, and several other attempts to help under water homeowners have all been resounding failures.

In theory, refinancing at today’s record low mortgage rates is a good idea that would reduce monthly mortgage payments for those whose mortgages are refinanced. This would especially benefit homeowners who have paid their mortgage on time, but still owe more than the house is worth. These homeowners would be more likely to stay in the house.

However, even a well planned refinancing program would still be slow and complex. And sadly, there is no sign that the Administration has figured out how to successfully structure such a program.

Mortgages are both made and refinanced one at a time. The several past efforts to do mass refinancings have foundered in a mass of overwhelmed phone lines, complex paperwork requirements, and confusion. Some housing advocates talk about redoing hundreds of mortgages at a time, but have no idea how to legally implement such a goal.

Another question that must be answered if the mortgage refinancing proposal would cost money. Briefing papers are silent on this, but a refinanced mortgage will produce lower earnings for the lender. If the mortgage value is written down to the actual value of the house (which is unknown at the moment), there would be additional costs. And most importantly, how would this proposal create jobs?

Until there are details, the President’s proposed mortgage refinancing program, like its predecessors will be little more than another unkept promise.

– David John

In 2010, the U.S. spent more on interest on the national debt than it spent on many federal departments, including Education and Veterans Affairs.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS (2010)

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In One Year, Spending on Interest on the National Debt Is Greater Than Funding for Most Programs

Source: White House Office of Management and Budget.

Chart 29 of 42

In Depth

  • Policy Papers for Researchers

  • Technical Notes

    The charts in this book are based primarily on data available as of March 2011 from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The charts using OMB data display the historical growth of the federal government to 2010 while the charts using CBO data display both historical and projected growth from as early as 1940 to 2084. Projections based on OMB data are taken from the White House Fiscal Year 2012 budget. The charts provide data on an annual basis except… Read More

  • Authors

    Emily GoffResearch Assistant
    Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy StudiesKathryn NixPolicy Analyst
    Center for Health Policy StudiesJohn FlemingSenior Data Graphics Editor

     

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Cato Institute, President Obama, spending out of control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

A Christian Manifesto by Francis Schaeffer (Part 2) (Schaeffer Sundays)

September 11, 2011 – 12:31 am

Below is a summary of “A Christian Manifesto” which is a very important book written by Francis Schaeffer just a couple of years before his death in 1984.

A Christian Manifesto
by Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer

This address was delivered by the late Dr. Schaeffer in 1982 at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is based on one of his books, which bears the same title.

Part 2

But, nevertheless, they founded the country on the base that there is a God who is the Creator (now I come to the next central phrase) who gave the inalienable rights.

We must understand something very thoroughly. If society — if the state gives the rights, it can take them away — they’re not inalienable. If the states give the rights, they can change them and manipulate them. But this was not the view of the founding fathers of this country. They believed, although not all of them were individual Christians, that there was a Creator and that this Creator gave the inalienable rights — this upon which our country was founded and which has given us the freedoms which we still have — even the freedoms which are being used now to destroy the freedoms.

The reason that these freedoms were there is because they believed there was somebody who gave the inalienable rights. But if we have the view that the final reality is material or energy which has existed forever in some form, we must understand that this view never, never, never would have given the rights which we now know and which, unhappily, I say to you (those of you who are Christians) that too often you take all too much for granted. You forget that the freedoms which we have in northern Europe after the Reformation (and the United States is an extension of that, as would be Australia or Canada, New Zealand, etc.) are absolutely unique in the world.

Occasionally, some of you who have gone to universities have been taught that these freedoms are rooted in the Greek city-states. That is not the truth. All you have to do is read Plato’s Republic and you understand that the Greek city-states never had any concept of the freedoms that we have. Go back into history. The freedoms which we have (the form / freedom balance of government) are unique in history and they are also unique in the world at this day.

A fairly recent poll of the 150 some countries that now constitute the world shows that only 25 of these countries have any freedoms at all. What we have, and take so poorly for granted, is unique. It was brought forth by a specific world view and that specific world view was the Judeo-Christian world view especially as it was refined in the Reformation, putting the authority indeed at a central point — not in the Church and the state and the Word of God, but rather the Word of God alone. All the benefits which we know — I would repeat — which we have taken so easily and so much for granted, are unique. They have been grounded on the certain world view that there was a Creator there to give inalienable rights. And this other view over here, which has become increasingly dominant, of the material-energy final world view (shaped by pure chance) never would have, could not, has, no basis of values, in order to give such a balance of freedom that we have known so easily and which we unhappily, if we are not careful, take so for granted.

We are now losing those freedoms and we can expect to continue to lose them if this other world view continues to take increased force and power in our county. We can be sure of this. I would say it again — inevitably, mathematically, all of these things will come forth. There is no possible way to heal the relativistic thinking of our own day, if indeed all there is is a universe out there that is silent about any values. None, whatsoever! It is not possible. It is a loss of values and it is a loss of freedom which we may be sure will continually grow.

A good illustration is in the public schools. This view is taught in our public schools exclusively — by law. There is no other view that can be taught. I’ll mention it a bit later, but by law there is no other view that can be taught. By law, in the public schools, the United States of America in 1982, legally there is only one view of reality that can be taught. I’ll mention it a bit later, but there is only one view of reality that can be taught, and that is that the final reality is only material or energy shaped by pure chance.

It is the same with the television programs. Public television gives us many things that many of us like culturally, but is also completely committed to a propaganda position that the last reality is only material / energy shaped by pure chance. Clark’s Civilization, Brunowski, The Ascent of Man, Carl Sagan’s Cosmos — they all say it. There is only one final view of reality that’s possible and that is that the final reality is material or energy shaped by pure chance.

It is about us on every side, and especially the government and the courts have become the vehicle to force this anti-God view on the total population. It’s exactly where we are.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Francis Schaeffer | Comments (0)

Deena Burnett Bailey of Little Rock tells her husband’s story about 9/11

September 11, 2011 – 12:18 am

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on Sept 10:

When Deena Burnett Bailey spoke of the last time she heard her late husband’s voice, the rattle of silverware against china, the whispers and the general noise of a luncheon ceased.

Bailey is the widow of Tom E. Burnett, who led resistance efforts on United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001.

Deena Burnett Bailey, widow of Tom Burnett who orchestrated the resistance against the terrorists aboard Flight 93, talks during the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary's God Bless America Luncheon on Wednesday at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn.PHOTO BY JIM WEBER
BUY THIS PHOTO »Deena Burnett Bailey, widow of Tom Burnett who orchestrated the resistance against the terrorists aboard Flight 93, talks during the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary’s God Bless America Luncheon on Wednesday at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn.

The story of Burnett’s heroism is still a difficult one to tell, Bailey said, especially so close to the anniversary. But she wants to share it to inspire others, she said.

Bailey is the co-author of “Fighting Back: Living Life Beyond Ourselves,” a book about her husband and the others who took action against the terrorists who held the passengers hostage on Flight 93.

Bailey and former New York City police officer Jim Shepherd spoke Wednesday at a Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary luncheon.

Bailey, now remarried and living in Little Rock, was living in California on Sept. 11. She was waiting with their three daughters for her husband to return from a business trip.

As Bailey watched the two terrorist-controlled planes collide with the World Trade Center in New York, Burnett called and told her he was on a third plane that had been hijacked, and that the hijackers had “already knifed a guy.” He told her to call the authorities.

Bailey called 911 and was eventually connected with the FBI.

Her husband called again, asking questions about the World Trade Center, and then a third time to tell her passengers were hatching a plan to overtake the plane.

He called one last time to say the passengers were waiting until the plane was over a rural area before moving in on the hijackers. While everyone on the airplane was ultimately killed, no one on the ground was injured when Flight 93 went down.

Now, Burnett is honored as an American hero. Bailey says it’s a word her husband felt was overused. She says he believed in making good choices and making a difference in the lives of others.

“Tom’s last words to me were ‘Do something.’ They ring true for each of us to stand up, fight back, do something,” she said.

For Shepherd, who now lives in Memphis, the fateful day began as he drank coffee at the gym. He saw the first airplane circle but assumed it was out of its flight pattern and looking for an airport.

“At the last moment I thought, ‘Oh my God I hope he misses the buildings,'” Shepherd said.

By the time he reached his precinct, the second plane had hit the South Tower.

Later, rescuers found three stories of the building compacted into a pile only 12 feet high, with easily distinguishable layers of concrete floor, carpet and debris, he said.

Shepherd thanked the Salvation Army, which marched quietly into New York and got to work.

“You really felt like you weren’t alone,” he said. “You had another army behind you to help.”

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Little Rock story about Brett Cummins reported by CNN and Fox nationally

September 11, 2011 – 12:05 am

What started out on Sunday night September 4 as a local story now has grabbed national attention through both CNN and Fox News.

Brett_Cummins

Brett Cummins, 33, is seen in a photo on the website of Little Rock station KARK-TV. Cummins works as a meteorologist for the station.

Police Probe Death of Arkansas Man Found in Bathtub With Local TV Weatherman

Published September 07, 2011

| FoxNews.com

Investigators have not ruled out foul play in the death of a young Arkansas man whose body was discovered in an empty bathtub next to a sleeping TV meteorologist, a police spokesman tells FoxNews.com.

Dexter Williams, 24, of Mountain Pine, Ark., was found dead early Monday inside the bathtub — naked and wearing a silver dog collar-style chain around his neck. The man’s friend, 33-year-old Little Rock weatherman Brett Cummins, was asleep and lying next to him at the home in Maumelle, Ark., according to police. The homeowner, 36-year-old Christopher Barbour, reportedly made the discovery after hearing loud snoring coming from the master bathroom. Dr. Baden on Arkansas Man Found in Bathtub

Investigators have not ruled out foul play Maumelle Police spokesman Lt. Jim Hansard told FoxNews.com that traces of blood were found in the bathtub and that authorities are considering foul play in their investigation. He said police are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests conducted Tuesday on Williams. No charges have been filed, though police suspect drugs and alcohol were involved, Hansard said.

“We have not ruled out foul play,” he said. “This is an open investigation.”

At around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Cummins brought Williams over to Barbour’s house, where the three drank and snorted illegal drugs, Barbour reportedly told investigators. He said Cummins and Williams got into the bathtub in his bathroom at around 10 p.m. and continued to drink, according to local press accounts.

Barbour reportedly told police he discovered the pair in the bathroom at around 8 a.m. the next day. He said he shook Cummins, who was snoring, and the two of them then tried to wake up Williams.

Cummins reportedly screamed when he saw William’s discolored face and bolted from the bathroom and vomited on the living room carpet.

KARK-TV in Little Rock, where Cummins works as a weatherman, posted a report of the death on its website on Tuesday. The report said, “Our meteorologist Brett Cummins was at the home at the time of the death and we felt we should share this with our viewers. Brett will not be on the air as he is mourning the loss of his friend. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Dexter Williams.”

FoxNews.com’s Cristina Corbin and Newscore contributed to this report.

CNN ran a similar story on September 9th.

Related Posts:

Why won’t KARK cover Brett Cummins story better?

I have mentioned before that I thought it was sad that KARK ignored the fact that Brett Cummins was snorting coke with the young man, Dexter Williams, on Sunday night and that Williams died as a result. Now at least the other stations in the Little Rock Market have been covering the story. Rival Stations […]

Brett Cummins should turn over the name of his drug dealer!!!!

KARK’s website includes these words: Thursday afternoon, Brett Cummins released the following statement to CNN through his attorney: Brett Cummins is devastated by the tragic death of his friend Dexter Williams and extends his sincere condolences to Dexter’s family. They remain foremost in his thoughts and prayers. Mr. Cummins deeply regrets the grief this incident […]

Attorney: Ark. weatherman innocent in Maumelle death of Dexter Williams

Today’s THV channel 11 in Little Rock reported: MAUMELLE, Ark. (AP) – An attorney for a local meteorologist says no foul play was involved in the death of a 24-year-old Mountain Pine man. Little Rock-based lawyer Mark Hampton said Thursday that KARK meteorologist Brett Cummins is innocent. Authorities say Cummins and the body of 24-year-old […]

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan of the Grateful Dead didn’t survive but Barry McGuire did

Drugs and alcohol have always been a pitfall that many of the wealthy fall into. We see rock bands that become famous have lots of temptations thrown their way and many fall into these traps. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Barry McGuire fell into these traps. One joined the “27 Club” and the other left the […]

Dave Hope and Kerry Livgren of Kansas: Their story of deliverance from drugs

The recent events in Little Rock concerning KARK TV’s top weatherman Brett Cummins and his experience of drinking alcohol and snorting coke has left a lot of people asking questions. Since the evening ended in the tragic death of one of Brett’s friends, Dexter Williams, many questions have centered on the use of illegal drugs. […]

Pictures of Dexter Williams

These are some pictures of Dexter Williams. Unfortunately his life was cut short  while drinking and snorting coke with KARK weatherman Brett Cummins. Dexter Williams (Photo from family) Dexter Paul Williams (facebook photo) Related posts: Pictures of Dexter Williams September 7, 2011 – 10:22 pm These are some pictures of Dexter Williams. Unfortunately his life was […]

You tube video “Cocaine is a hell of a drug” about Brett Cummins

Youtube video about Brett Cummins story posted. TV weatherman awakens in hot tub next to naked dead man with ‘dog collar’ around his neck after drug and alcohol-fueled party   By Thomas Durante Last updated at 7:24 PM on 7th September 2011 It may be part of his job to predict when a storm is […]

Brett Cummins turns to drugs instead of God

Brett Cummins has risen to be the top tv weatherman in the evening at KARK News 4. However, something is missing in his life. (I wish Brett would just take the time to read the story by Marvin A. McMickle | Senior Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio at the end of this post). I […]

The sad case of Brett Cummins: Alcohol takes another victim jh14c

Brett Cummins and his friends were drinking heavily and taking drugs on Sunday night and all three of them went to sleep under the influence of alcohol and drugs and only 2 of them woke  up.  This reminds me of a few verses from the Old Testament. (There is hope. Check out the video interviews of Kerry Livgren […]

Picture of Dexter Williams with link to full police report

This is a link to the full police report. (There is hope. Check out the video interviews of Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope of the rock band Kansas.  Also check out an excellent paper by Marvin McMickle on the meaning of the song “I can’t get no satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones and where to find the satisfaction.) Dexter […]

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

9/11 Memories:From the Vault: Beauty Beyond the Ashes: Overcoming Circumstances

September 11, 2011 – 12:01 am

From the Vault: Beauty Beyond the Ashes: Overcoming Circumstances

Cheryl’s Story

When I was 16 I met a young man and fell in love.  As I have said on many occasions, Tom was my high school sweetheart. Our relationship blossomed through high school and college.

Tom McGuinnessTom and I married soon after I graduated from college, just knowing that we would live happily ever after. Tom progressed in the Navy as a Top Gun fighter pilot flying F14’s and I advanced in my own career. We were blessed with two wonderful children and it just got better and better.

Tom and I were Bible study leaders. Our family had much joy, peace and contentment and it flowed into all parts of our lives. Everything was fine. I was a normal woman living a very happy life. I never pictured that our dream would suddenly become a nightmare. I never imagined that our peaceful life would be completely shattered.

On September 11th, Tom gave me a kiss goodbye and left for work.  Little did I know that I would never see him again. He was to pilot American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles that day.

As the horror of that day unfolded, I quickly realized that I needed God more than ever before. I was devastated – searching for answers that didn’t exist – terrified at the prospect that Tom would not be coming home.

As I have spoken with people around the country I have come to realize that while my tragedy was in many ways unique to me, many of the feelings – the hurt, the loss, the anger, concern for my family – are shared by so many others. In fact, I dare say that all of us will, unfortunately, at some time in our lives experience what I call time in the pit – that time when you feel absolutely lost, alone, afraid and devastated. It may result from the loss of a loved one, divorce, issues with children, career problems or any of the hundreds of other life issues that we all deal with.

Cheryl and Tom McGuinnessWhat do we do with the pain that results from tragedies in our lives? How do we move beyond them? I have learned how to hope again. Drawing daily from the foundation of faith that Tom and I held together, I have found my footing; He has rebuilt my life.

We have all been impacted by September 11th. Security, peace, safety – things we all took for granted – become casualties of that infamous day. Every life endures saddness and loss. But my story is that no matter what you have experienced or what pain you have suffered, God can bring you through the ashes of destruction to the beauty of life.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Soccer Saturday: Highlights of USA v Brazil 2011 World Cup

September 10, 2011 – 12:52 am

Soccer Saturday: Highlights of USA v Brazil 2011 World Cup

Womens World Cup 2011 + USA vs Brazil – Megan Rapinoe to Abby Wambach 2:2 goal in the 122′

USA VS Brazil 2011 Womens World Cup Highlights

Hope Solo & Abby Wambach – U.S. Soccer Team (FIFA) *Interview (July19/11)

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Comments (0)

President Obama and Jimmy Hoffa together again

September 10, 2011 – 12:49 am

This is an interesting story:

Union Label: “Let’s Take These Son Of Bitches Out”

September 6, 2011

By 

The Red Arkansas Blog enjoyed our brief respite culminating with the Labor Day holiday where we fondly remembered the days when our elementary school teachers devoted class time to a picture-drawing and letter-writing campaign to members of the local school board and administration as our teachers prepared to go on strike.

After all, using kids to further a political agenda instead of, you know, actually teaching them is a hallmark of teacher’s unions everywhere, and it is among the pantheon of things we celebrate every three-day weekend we get in September.

So it was no surprise to read about elected officials and would-be politicians of the Democratic Party of Arkansasmade sure to pander to the union label at events across Arkansas so that they may one day receive the largesse of organizations like the AFL-CIO, which spent millions of dollars of workers’ dues in Arkansas in 2010 supporting liberal politicians like Bill Halter and Joyce Elliott who, by the way, were unsuccessful.

In fact, in an article appearing in this morning’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ms. Elliott did not equivocate as she declared before a pro-union picnic at the Governor’s Mansion that she was “labor to the core.”

One further wonders is the lefty blogosphere will call out these Democrats in much the same way they called out Secretary of State Mark Martin for letting his staff attend Tea Party functions.

Probably not.

One wonders how Gov. Mike Beebe got on with the labor bosses (if he was even there) since he has expressed concern that the current National Labor Relations Board lawsuit against Boeing Corp. for building a plant (that Arkansas tried to land) in the right-to-work state of South Carolinacould be “detrimental to Arkansas’ economic development efforts.”

Of course, this is the same NLRB action that Attorney General Dustin McDaniel refused to stand against, choosing not to join 16 other states in a legal challenge to the lawsuit and earning admirationfrom the Arkansas head of the AFL-CIO. (Mr. McDaniel was not in Little Rock. He was, instead, at a steel worker event in Texarkana in Rep. Mike Ross’ Fourth Congressional District. Coincidence?)

This is the same AFL-CIO that envisions a day when the NLRB suit against Boeing Corp. “ought to apply across the board to businesses.”

One must wonder which side Mr. McDaniel would take if the NLRB were to sue in a case involving Arkansas? The Republican Party of Arkansas wonders the same thing:

“If our own Attorney General does not fight this blatant assault on private industry, then what will he do if the NLRB comes down on an industry looking to locate in Arkansas because of our right-to-work law?”

Which leads us to the Mother of all Union Rallies attended by President Barack Obama and his opening act, Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa:

That deafening silence is the looney left and their press corps enablers NOT criticizing these remarks.

So much for that “new tone.”

PARTING SHOT:

We noted in the ADG article that:

“Phynaus Wilson of North Little Rock, a Democrat who worked as an aide to former U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder, used the event as a forum to announce his candidacy for Senate District 34.”

I guess the DPA doesn’t think highly of state Rep. Barry Hyde’s chances against state Rep. Jane English.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events, President Obama | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Brett Cummins resigns

September 10, 2011 – 12:28 am

KATV reported:

Ark. weatherman quits after found with body in tub

Posted: Sep 09, 2011 5:45 PM CDTUpdated: Sep 09, 2011 6:00 PM CDT

By JEANNIE NUSS
Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – An attorney for an Arkansas meteorologist who was found in a hot tub with a dead body earlier this week says his client has resigned.

Little Rock-based lawyer Mark Hampton says TV weatherman Brett Cummins resigned from his job with KARK on Friday.

The TV station’s general manager, Mike Vaughn, confirmed that Cummins no longer worked at the station, but he would not say whether he resigned.

Both Hampton and Vaughn declined to comment further. The TV station has removed Cummins’ biography and photo from its website.

Authorities say Cummins and the body of 24-year-old Dexter Williams were found in a hot tub at a Maumelle home on Monday.

Cummins has not been charged in the incident and his attorney says he is innocent.

 

Attorney: Ark. weatherman innocent in Maumelle death of Dexter Williams

Today’s THV channel 11 in Little Rock reported: MAUMELLE, Ark. (AP) – An attorney for a local meteorologist says no foul play was involved in the death of a 24-year-old Mountain Pine man. Little Rock-based lawyer Mark Hampton said Thursday that KARK meteorologist Brett Cummins is innocent. Authorities say Cummins and the body of 24-year-old […]

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan of the Grateful Dead didn’t survive but Barry McGuire did

Drugs and alcohol have always been a pitfall that many of the wealthy fall into. We see rock bands that become famous have lots of temptations thrown their way and many fall into these traps. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Barry McGuire fell into these traps. One joined the “27 Club” and the other left the […]

Dave Hope and Kerry Livgren of Kansas: Their story of deliverance from drugs

The recent events in Little Rock concerning KARK TV’s top weatherman Brett Cummins and his experience of drinking alcohol and snorting coke has left a lot of people asking questions. Since the evening ended in the tragic death of one of Brett’s friends, Dexter Williams, many questions have centered on the use of illegal drugs. […]

Pictures of Dexter Williams

These are some pictures of Dexter Williams. Unfortunately his life was cut short  while drinking and snorting coke with KARK weatherman Brett Cummins. Dexter Williams (Photo from family) Dexter Paul Williams (facebook photo) Related posts: Pictures of Dexter Williams September 7, 2011 – 10:22 pm These are some pictures of Dexter Williams. Unfortunately his life was […]

You tube video “Cocaine is a hell of a drug” about Brett Cummins

Youtube video about Brett Cummins story posted. TV weatherman awakens in hot tub next to naked dead man with ‘dog collar’ around his neck after drug and alcohol-fueled party   By Thomas Durante Last updated at 7:24 PM on 7th September 2011 It may be part of his job to predict when a storm is […]

Brett Cummins turns to drugs instead of God

Brett Cummins has risen to be the top tv weatherman in the evening at KARK News 4. However, something is missing in his life. (I wish Brett would just take the time to read the story by Marvin A. McMickle | Senior Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio at the end of this post). I […]

The sad case of Brett Cummins: Alcohol takes another victim jh14c

Brett Cummins and his friends were drinking heavily and taking drugs on Sunday night and all three of them went to sleep under the influence of alcohol and drugs and only 2 of them woke  up.  This reminds me of a few verses from the Old Testament. (There is hope. Check out the video interviews of Kerry Livgren […]

Picture of Dexter Williams with link to full police report

This is a link to the full police report. (There is hope. Check out the video interviews of Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope of the rock band Kansas.  Also check out an excellent paper by Marvin McMickle on the meaning of the song “I can’t get no satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones and where to find the satisfaction.) Dexter […]

KARK Brett Cummins was “snorting…illegal narcotics…” according to friend jh13c

Details concerning what happened are coming out now. It seems that KARK can no longer ignore the fact that Cummins was snorting coke. (There is hope, check out testimony of one who has been delivered from drugs and alcohol and his name is Marvin.)Here is a Democrat-Gazette article on the incident: Man, 24, found dead in […]

Statement from KARK does not mention drug use of Brett Cummins

Brett Cummins was snorting coke but you could never tell it from this statement from KARK: KARK-TV anchor Bob Clausen said on the air today, “Our meteorologist Brett Cummins was at the home at the time of the death and we felt we should share this with you our viewers. Brett will not be on […]

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By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Sixty Six who resisted “Sugar-coated Satan Sandwich” Debt Deal (Part 38)

September 10, 2011 – 12:00 am

Sixty Six who resisted “Sugar-coated Satan Sandwich” Debt Deal (Part 38)

This post today is a part of a series I am doing on the 66 Republican Tea Party favorites that resisted eating the “Sugar-coated Satan Sandwich” Debt Deal. Actually that name did not originate from a representative who agrees with the Tea Party, but from a liberal.

Rep. Emanuel Clever (D-Mo.) called the newly agreed-upon bipartisan compromise deal to raise the  debt limit “a sugar-coated satan sandwich.”

“This deal is a sugar-coated satan sandwich. If you lift the bun, you will not like what you see,” Clever tweeted on August 1, 2011.

Amash Issues Statement After Debt Ceiling Vote

Representative Votes Against Budget Control Act
Aug 1, 2011 Issues: Spending and Debt
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      
August 1, 2011     
 
CONTACT
Will Adams
202.731.2294
will.adams@mail.house.gov                                                                         
 
 

Amash Issues Statement After Debt Ceiling Vote

Representative Votes Against Budget Control Act

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) issued the following statement after the vote on the Budget Control Act of 2011:

“The Budget Control Act trades $21 billion in cuts next year for a debt ceiling increase of $2.1 trillion. That’s one penny in cuts for each dollar of new debt. The bill does not seriously address the drivers of the federal government’s fiscal crisis. It does not improve entitlement programs. It does not include a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I cannot in good conscience vote for so little reform when so much is at stake.

“I had hoped that Democrats and Republicans would work together to develop a reasonable compromise that is fiscally responsible. I would favor a package that combines eliminating special tax breaks and subsidies with a well-structured balanced budget amendment. I believe that type of package would have broad-based support from the American people. Instead, Congress continues to kick the can down the road.

“We can do better. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle over the next several months to adopt structural reforms that will put the government back on a sustainable path.”

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in spending out of control | Comments (0)