TAMPA, Florida- In a speech before the Chamber of Commerce, Tom Voiland touted his plan to create jobs and vilified President Obama and Democrats for making a bad situation worse. “When President Obama took office, the country was in the midst of an employment crisis.  Mr. Obama had the chance to stop the bleeding and return the United States labor force to health.  He did neither and we continue to battle very high unemployment.”  Mr. Voiland is an accomplished businessman and believes the key issue  holding companies back from hiring is uncertainty.  “Businesses are not comfortable expanding and investing in their labor pools with a liberal President and Administration who believe, incredibly, that government spending will create the jobs we need to get American workers back on their feet.  Government doesn’t create jobs – unless bureaucracy is being expanded, lower taxes, less regulation and D.C. getting the hell out of the way helps companies gain confidence and thus creates jobs.”

On Jobs.  America needs not only to create work opportunities for the unemployed, but must do it quickly.  Too many Americans have been out of work for too long.  The Obama Administration is an abject failure regarding pulling our country out of the Great Recession.  President Obama has only exacerbated the national debt crisis with the so-called “Stimulus” package that did nothing to positively affect the economy, and is directly responsible for business’ caution to hire with Obamacare.  The fact is that the Federal government does create jobs.  It does so by getting the hell out of the way.  An excess of regulations and high business’ taxes are job killers.  Under my administration, these drags on the American economy will be dealt with quickly, relieving the private sector of the incredible uncertainty that is crippling hiring and investment.

The American economy does not need government handouts to stimulate growth.  It needs tax relief and government support accomplished through getting out of the business of business.  We will cut payroll taxes in half until such time that the economy is well within a period of strong economic growth.  Cutting taxes across the board immediately will put more of American’s money back in their pockets which they will gladly spend once economic uncertainly is removed from consumer’s psyche.  American companies are holding onto a historic amount of cash that they refuse to invest until they feel the business risk associated with liberal executive leadership.  We will remove all this uncertainty and get the American economy back on its feet again.

As President, I will assemble the best and brightest minds in the business community, providing these entrepreneurial men and women to serve their country.  Together we will lead the of placing America back in its rightful position in the world; the preeminent economic leader.  Unfortunately, the current administration is fraught with government bureaucrats and inexperienced businesspeople that don’t have a clue, beginning and ending with the President himself.

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TAMPA, Florida – GOP hopeful Tom Voiland laid out his plan to deal with what he calls “the greatest encumbrance to the healthy growth of the American economy – too many damn taxes”.  Voiland, a noted Reagan Conservative, believes that Americans are significantly overtaxed and if they simply looked at the facts and turned away from Democratic rhetoric, they would see this unfortunate truth.  “The lowering of the overall tax base in this country will do two things; put a lot more money back in the pockets of those who ‘earned’ it, and force us to significantly cut the size and spending of government.  The affect of this is to begin to take the surpluses produced and pay down the insane amount of debt the Democratic party has saddled us with”.

Here is the official announcement from the Voiland campaign.

On Taxes.  As many young people do, I was forming various belief systems throughout college and in my early 20s.  Coming out of college, a lot of us believe we’re now “know it alls”, an attitude that slowly fades away with age and wisdom.  One of my omniscient attitudes coming out of school with a business degree was that almost all taxes were completely unnecessary.  Then I had my ah hah moment.  It was in of all places Washington, D.C.  I was strolling along the National Mall and happened by the Internal Revenue Service Building.  Right before I threw a rock at the place, I looked up at the frieze where it says; “Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society” (Oliver Wendell Holmes).

Yes, taxes are what we pay for a civilized society such that a central authority, in our case “government”, can have the resources to ensure we are protected as citizens (military, police, firefighters, CIA, etc.), have representative government, a thriving  judiciary and social safety nets.  Christ once said; “render unto Cesar……”.  This was an endorsement that not only should we love our neighbors through directly assisting the poor financially as an example, but that God’s laws should be integrated into civil law.  Further, that we should be respectful and subordinate to civil laws.  Part of that is paying taxes which Christ’s comment directly referenced.  However, Christ did not imply how much we should render.  He did not imply that people should be bilked by the government to promote a socialist agenda and to cover massive spending inefficiencies.

When is enough?  Well you can start by simply asking yourself; “Do I feel like government is taking too much of MY money?”  Then ask, “After I pay all these various and sundry taxes, is there enough left over for me to live the American dream or do I feel like my work efforts are not being adequately rewarded because of all these taxes I pay?”  Next, inquire of yourself; “When I look at D.C, my state, my county and my city, do I feel and see positive results of MY money being spent and/or being spent wisely?”

Allow me to list the taxes we all pay:

• Income taxes; Federal - let’s say the average “effective rate” (what you actually pay after you do your tax return divided by your W2 earnings) is 10%.  Note that only 53% of Americans pay income taxes, the rest pay nothing – roughly about 50 to 60 million people.  For the sake of argument, let’s say the average family makes $75,000 annually.  Their income tax then is $7,500.
• Income taxes; State – Most of us pay state income taxes, unless you live in Florida, like I do, or a few others.  Say the average here is 5%.  This would equal $3,750.
• Social Security taxes – Roughly 8% of W2 earnings.  That’s $6,000.
• Sales tax – Let’s say the average is 5%.  If the average family is bringing home $51,750 ($75,000-$7,500 -$3,750-$6,000-another $6,000 for health care) and say pays sales taxes on 40% of that number (consumer goods purchased), that’s $1,100.
• Property taxes - Let’s just say the average is $1,500.
• All others – Estimated at 5% of take home pay (gas, alcohol, cigarettes, estate, special assessments, etc.).  This equals $2,588.

So, for a family that earns $75,000 annually – clearly what’s defined as middle class – their disposable income is $47,662.  Note my assumptions are very conservative so as to not inflate my position.  Thus, the average middle class family has an “effective” tax rate of approximately 37%.  On top of all the necessities we have to pay for, make up your owns minds as to whether your comfortable giving the government 37% of “your” money or not.

My position on taxes is simple.  At the federal level they are too high and not enough Americans pay taxes so that they can exist in a civil society.  No one above the poverty line should be exempt from supporting government’s basic need to facilitate the American Dream.  My administration will review the current tax code, currently 71,000 pages and ascertain not only the over complexity of this monstrosity, but also close loopholes that are unfairly advantageous to the very wealth and C corporations (no “all” corporations).  These two classes of tax payers should never be exempt from paying taxes ($0) unless either or both have zero cash basis net income (after net operating loss carryforwards).  All individual marginal rates would be cut. 

After this review, the code will be made materially simpler to understand and implement.  These adjustments will include “all” Americans above the poverty line paying federal income tax of at least $500.  This fair adjustment to the IRS code would generate $25 billion in additional tax revenue.  Money moved offshore would be subject to taxes when reentering the American economy.  Lastly, C corporation tax rates would be cut from 35% to 25%, the capital gains rate cut from 15% to 10%, and the so-called death tax abolished.

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TAMPA, Florida – Tom Voiland, speaking in front of a Tea Party rally here, had some direct and strong words regarding what he calls “America’s over reliance on government domestic funding” and “the crisis we have moving away from the foundation of American Exceptionalism; self reliance”.  Mr. Voiland received several standing ovations from the crowd during and after his “red meat” speech.  However, after following his campaign for several weeks now, one can’t help but believe that Mr. Voiland is genuinely sincere in his beliefs and his intention to be the anti-politician. 

On Government Spending.  Americans have known for many, many years that federal spending has not been adequately controlled.  Since 1981, our national debt has increased year over year 30 times (out of 31 years).  This means that we have stood by while Washington has spent money our nation does not have.  These accumulated budget deficits have added $13 trillion ($13,000,000,000,000) to our national debt.  The United States has lived on a credit card for 30 years.  Whose fault is this; OURS, the American voter.  For a short period of time, we allowed a fiscally conservative Republican Party to control Congress and in that time (mid 1990s to 2001) deficits were decreased and the federal budget was balanced.

As President, I will make balancing the federal budget a top priority as a precursor to a Balanced Budget Amendment.  However, the Executive branch of government cannot mandate such legislation.  So I’m asking for your help.  Let’s continue the work we started in 2010 and produce another wave election for the GOP.  With a super-majority in the House and a comfortable majority in the Senate, we as Americans can begin to reverse a cycle that has led this great republic down a road of financial crisis and impending mediocrity amongst leading nations.  The main point here regarding the 2012 election cycle is that we elect “conservative” Republicans, not RINOs.

Specifically, I will focus on eliminating any and all government bureaucracies that are unnecessary, e.g., Department of Education, Department of Agriculture (do you know that there are more employees in this Department than there are farmers in the U.S.!), Czars, etc., etc., etc.  We will hire – not “appoint” – the best and brightest professionals from the private sector who specialize in process improvement and cost control to review and audit all government spending to uncover all wasteful spending.  We will then put into effect best practices and enact laws tied to the Balanced Budget Amendment that will prohibit the bloating of any government agency or program unless these head of these entities justify such growth to a bi-partisan committee on government spending and process efficiencies.

Federal government spending (non military and entitlements) will remain at a level that supports our nation where necessary and will be adequate enough to ensure that support is “effective”.  Most importantly, that spending will not be indiscriminately slashed so as to place our national security at risk.

On Entitlement Spending.  America’s compassionate legislation borne in the 1930s aimed at assisting the elderly, impoverished and unemployed.  In the middle of the Great Depression, this law was absolutely necessary.  It also gave Franklin Roosevelt, who was very liberal, the opportunity to imbed social programs into the American lexicon.  Although a noble gesture on the part of the United States’ dedication to becoming a more a civil and caring nation, the Social Security Act – along with Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society – has exploded into a federal spending nightmare.  In addition, and the most devastating outcome of these programs, America has slowly and growingly become a nation that “feels entitled” to the government taking care of them should they fall upon hard times of any sort.  This attitude is in complete opposition to what made America the greatest nation on earth – self reliance.  Entitlement spending is out of control, there exists massive inefficiencies within its implementation and management, and yet undetermined material fraud on the part of certain American citizenry.

The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.  The poor, infirmed and elderly have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of our nation. We are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect these three segments of society.  Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.  The options for the poor, infirmed and elderly are an essential part of society’s effort to achieve the common good.  A healthy community can be achieved only if its members give special attention to those with special needs, to those who are poor and on the margins of society.  

As President, my Administration and I will review every element of entitlement spending; from Medicare to unemployment compensation to welfare programs, Medicaid, foodstamps, etc.  The focus will be on ensuring those programs that are the most vital are made more efficient in their administration, free of material fraud and support their intended constituency adequately and as originally intended.  Government safety nets for the poor, elderly and infirmed will be the top priority.  In addition, we will concentrate on any areas of “overlap” whereby the government is supporting individuals twice or more when the intention was for a single subsidy.

Federal government entitlement programs above and beyond Social Security will be modified to ensure the focus is on moving Americans away from an entitlement attitude to one of self reliance, the spirit of the original American experience.

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TAMPA, Florida – A week after announcing his intentions to seek the highest office in the land, Tom Voiland issued press releases on some very controversial and sensitive proposed policy stances.  Voiland, a staunch conservative, used strong clear language when discussing how he would approach abortion and homosexual marriage.  This is sure to fire up the left and may alienate independent voters.  “I am not seeking the Presidency for power or political gain.  I am running to reinstate American Exceptionalism and to not only return the United States to its rightful place as the de facto leader of the world economically, but to return the country to its Judeo-Christian roots and to eradicate the poisonous influence liberalism has had on our great nation.

Abortion – The single greatest issue that faces our nation culturally is the morally reprehensible act of abortion, sanctioned by the Federal government and supported by the left with the canard of “a woman’s right to choose”.  Liberalism is so intrinsically morally and intellectually bankrupt that it must disguise the real truth behind this abomination.  Liberals refuse to address the medical procedure which kills a completely defensive human being, sometimes painfully.  The reason being is that if the country was presented with the truths about abortion on a consistent basis, ardent support would not exist.

American support of abortion – proven through the fact that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land, along with the acceptance of contraception, promiscuity, homosexuality and divorce, I believe to be the primary reason for the decline of America socially.  And has proven in great civilizations such as Rome, the moral decline of the state eventually leads to the collapse of that nation.  When faced with the reality of the procedure of abortion, the vast majority of Americans are appalled and will support abolishing this hienous act.  Such elimination will be enacted with careful thought, sensitivity and compassion for those women who truly believe they possess the right to choose.  Our nation must learn to adopt the belief that a women’s right to choose life or death for their child does not exist in a civilized and Christian society.

The Catholic Church has always condemned abortion as a grave evil. Christian writers from the first-century author of the Didache to Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”) have maintained that the Bible forbids abortion, just as it forbids murder.  In 1995 Pope John Paul II declared that the Church’s teaching on abortion “is unchanged and unchangeable. Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his successors . . . I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. This doctrine is based upon the natural law and upon the written word of God, is transmitted by the Church’s tradition and taught by the ordinary and universal magisterium. No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act which is intrinsically illicit, since it is contrary to the law of God which is written in every human heart, knowable by reason itself, and proclaimed by the Church”.

I will make it a priority to have Roe v. Wade overturned and mandate abortion illegal under all circumstances, even in cases of rape and incest.  The co creation of human life with God is paramount in all situations.  Thus, that human life, a baby, should not have to surrender its life because of the sin of the rapist and/or incestor.  Individual states will decide how to implement the new law based on their individual circumstances.  However, the Federal government and judicial system will remain completely removed from the support of this issue going forward.

Homosexual Marriage – Homosexuality is an incredibly sensitive subject for most people, especially given the fact that if you are not in favor of the behavior, you are labeled as hateful and bigoted.  It’s tantamount to the race card; liberals use these tactics to squelch open, honest and Truthful discussion about certain subjects so as to mandate their ideological dogma and shove it down the throats of American society. 

American Exceptionalism is in question as we speak, never having been before.  An exceptional society does not endorse, much less promote homosexual marriage as normal and morally equivalent to heterosexual marriage.  An exceptional society does not endorse, much less promote homosexuals, engaged in homosexual behavior, adopting children.  The ordained, by God, family unit is a man – the father, and a woman – the mother.  An exceptional society does not endorse, much less promote homosexuality as normal and morally equivalent to heterosexuality.  Homosexuality is an abomination before God.  However, homosexuals are not.

If elected, I will spearhead legislation that defines – in absolutely clear terms – that marriage is a union between ”one man and one woman” – period.  Marriage and the family unit, the foundation of all civil societies since the dawn of recorded history and created by God himself.  Thus, the historical and biblical definition of marriage must be reinstituted and defended by the government of the United States in order to move America back towards our rightful position as leaders of the free world and the most exceptional nation that has ever existed.

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Official Announcement

TAMPA, Florida – Standing in front of his church, Christ the King, Tom Voiland announced his intention to seek the highest office in the land.  Mr. Voiland was flanked by his wife Leanne, his three children, his parents and the Pastor of Christ the King; Fr. David Toups.  Mr. Voiland’s statement was relatively short and focused on his aim to bring Truth and clarity to an otherwise convoluted and as he said, “purely politically motivated” process; the primaries.  An excerpt of his announcement cut right to the core of his beliefs.  “America was founded and grounded on the Judeo-Christian ethic.  The poison of liberalism has slowly eroded that foundation.  As it is impossible for Democrats to discuss religion, especially Christianity, within their platform, the Republican Party should not be afraid to openly express our belief that Christianity is the basis for our nation’s great success and the absence of it the root of our great decline”.

Mr. Voiland went on to express his disappointment that the GOP is working from a chapter of the Democratic book that deals with “say anything to placate voters so that you can win and then reveal your true intentions”.  Mr. Voiland went on to say, “The Republican candidate for the Presidency should unapologetically speak the Truth to their American sisters and brothers and let the chips fall where they may.  The United States is a center-right country who is screaming for a candidate who ‘tells them like it is’, speaks the truth, means it, and does not reverse engineer his or her political policy stances just to win votes.  I am that candidate”.

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Move to the Right Unimaginable in 2008

When you think about it, it’s nothing short of surreal that the Republican Party has been in control of the issues at the local, state and Federal levels of politics since 2009.  Why?  Because beginning in 2006 and culminating in a volcano of momentum in 2008, all indicators pointed toward the beginning of a generational shift in power to the Democrats.  Oh what can happen in a year under Obama and when raw liberalism is exposed to this nation.

By the fall of 2009 Chris Christie became Governor of one of the most liberal of liberal states – New Jersey.  Bob McDonnell took the gubernatorial race in Virginia, a state that went blue just a “year” earlier.  Then a Republican wins Ted Kennedy’s seat in the Senate!  The latter is most shocking, not only because Scott Brown was the GOP candidate, not because the state is dark blue, but because history shows that the candidate running in the seat of the deceased wins from the ”sympathy vote”.  Not any or all three of these realities could save Obama and the Democrats from their complete incompetence and liberal overreach.  In addition, the country had moved passed Bush hatred, war fatigue, and the lie that the deep recession was all the GOP’s fault. 

This is Not Your Father’s GOP

Since I’ve been following politics, Republican political candidates and Republican office holders were old, white and male.  Incredible what happens when Conservatism embeds in the American psyche and the canard of liberalism runs out of steam.  First, the GOP had Sarah Palin who set us on fire, although the unprecedented onslaught of media scrutiny denigrated and soiled this incredibly refreshing politician’s character.  The attacks of course came from women on the left; those who sung “I am woman, watch me roar”, complained about a glass ceiling in corporate America, screamed sexual discrimination at every turn, et al.  What a bunch of hypocrites!  Oh yeah, they’re liberals.  You know what really got under their (short) finger nails?  These women hated the fact that this “woman” was Conservative, long-haired, an unapologetic mom, and hot, over and above being aggressive and not toeing the liberal line.

Now we have another woman, Michelle Bachman, who is waging a serious run at the Chief Executive position.  She’s also super Conservative, outspoken, long-haired, etc.  Then there is a “black American” candidate who is Conservative, a  businessman and unafraid to challenge his community’s self-imposed ills, victimhood attitude and attachment to the Democratic party who has completely failed them.  Rather than go on, here is some information on the serious GOP candidates for the Office of the President of the United States.  An incredibly strong and “diverse” group.  Wait, didn’t the left invent the word diversity?

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann, the three terms Minnesota Congresswoman, is the current chair of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus. The attractive Iowan has seen her fortune plummet in recent weeks following the entry of Texas Governor, Rick Perry, into the race. The resignation of deputy campaign manager, David Polyansky, and the redeployment of campaign manager Ed Rollins into a consulting role tell us that all is not well in the Bachmann camp. Her September poll numbers, hovering between 6-8%, is just a third of her post-Ames Straw Poll victory figures barely a month ago. Pundits have long cited the risks of Bachmann’s increasing tendency to move to the right, and it now appears that she may be holding her two top strategists responsible for the shift in her campaign’s fortunes.

Bachmann’s profile and positions on the issues.

 Herman Cain

Cancer survivor, YouTube sensation and former mathematician with the US Navy, Herman Cain has a résumé that demands your attention. His experience on all three major fronts of American politics – corporate, legislative and media – through his stellar career at Pillsbury, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (as chairman) and as the host of WSB’s “The Herman Cain Show” in Atlanta, guarantees that the articulate Republican will never face a question of credibility.

Cain’s profile and positions on the issues

Newt Gingrich

After a 13-year absence from mainstream politics, Newton Leroy Gingrich has announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. His campaign, which kicks off with 17-city swing, has unfortunately begun under a torrent of criticisms following his controversial statements on Medicare and a perceived attack of fellow Republican Paul Ryan. Nevertheless, Gingrich, a fighter and above all, a consummate politician, is expected to make a swift recovery and stamp his mark on the race

Gingrich’s profile and positions on the issues

 Ron Paul

The former medical doctor officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination on May 13, 2011. The 75-year old Texas Congressman will once again center his campaign on the theme of liberty, human rights and financial market reforms. With his small but vocal pockets of supporters spread all over the country, the Libertarian leaning Republican is set to be one of the most controversial characters on the campaign trail.

Paul’s profile and positions on the issues 

Rick Perry

After almost two years of uncertainty, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s wall of resistance has crumbled. Perry took advantage of the publicity generated by the Ames Straw Poll and announced his entry into the Republican nomination race in Charleston, South Carolina, with a confident declaration, “I full well believe I’m going to win”. His candidacy is expected to reinvigorate the hitherto subdued Republican evangelical grassroots, and inject some excitement into the contest.

Perry’s profile and positions on the issues

Mitt Romney

The Harvard man has been comfortably leading almost every poll since then. He was knocked off his perch for about two months by Texas Governor, Rick Perry, during the summer of 2011. However, he has since recovered and has once again returned to his seat at the top of the leader board. And unless Perry, Cain, Huntsman, Bachmann and company can pull something out of their collective hats, the liberal turned conservative turned moderate former venture capitalist may just walk through the primaries. While his ideology and personal beliefs may be subject to debate, his knack for business is beyond question – and his across the board appeal makes him a dangerous opponent for President Obama.

Romney’s profile and positions on the issues
 

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Christ is the Ultimate Example of Love

When I sit back and think about how I’ve acted or treated people in certain situations, I often ask myself WWCD (what would Christ do?) or more accurately WWCHD (what would Christ have done?).  Most of the time the answer is “not what you did Tom!”.  The reason is simple; I don’t know how to approach everyone and everything with love and with patience.  After all, I am only human and patience is not my virtue.  There is one person, who just happens to be God – Christ Jesus – who never once was unloving, impatient or judgemental with anyone he came in contact with.  Not once.  Imagine that.  Even the Pharisees, who were hellbent on convicting him of blasphemy so they could have him put to death, were not subject to His scorn or intolerance.  And they were Jews, His chosen people and His children!  You’d think He would have been so hurt, so disappointed and so angry that he would have lashed out, lost his cool, hated them.  Never.

Often, when I sit at Mass and stare at the Crucifix, I am overwhelmed with emotion.  Here is this man, my Lord and my God, who not only subjected Himself to being human, but willfully endured the most painful and humiliating execution known at the time; death on a cross.  And He did this out of love for me, because He wanted to spend eternity in Heaven with me!  He didn’t even know me?  But then I remember; “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”  Luke 12 7.  After the Jews had succeeded in convicting Him (falsely) and convinced the Romans to crucify Him, he was nailed to a tree.  As He hung there in excruciating pain, tired, thirsty, separated from His Father, all alone, the first words He uttered were these; “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”  Until the bitter end, he would not hate, he would not hold a grudge, His fidelity to us remained.  WWCHD?????  He would have Loved!

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”  Jesus Christ.

We are Born from Love and Must Live to Love

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father” John 14:9.  This references to God the Father from his Son, the human Jesus Christ, tells us everything about the Father.  First, that God the Father is not a big, muscle-bound, white-bearded man sitting on a marble throne ready to crush us when we sin.  But second, and most importantly, is that God the Father is “revealed” in and by the Son.  By saying revealed by the Son means that Christ and the Father are in total union with each other (the mystery of the Trinity along with the Holy Spirit).  So Christ’s message, the way He treated people, the way He acted, His lack of anger, His humility, His patience, His mercy, and ultimately His love, demonstrates what the Father is like.

God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.1 John 4 8 

God is love.  It’s is never referenced in Scripture or Sacred Tradition that God the Father is a “person in the flesh”.  Only religious paintings depict that.  I believe that God the Father is the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe.  As hard as it is to fathom, God is just love, a Being of perfect love; nothing more, nothing less – Love.  When it is written, “let us make man in our image”, it can’t mean human likeness, because only Christ (God) was human which happened through His biological conception via the Holy Spirit.  I believe “our image” means a physical being with the capacity to love, love deeply, love fully.  Unfortunately, that damn apple took that away.  Although our capacity to love remains, it is in no way the same as before we were cast out of paradise.  Why?  Sin.

God the Father is an entity of some sort, not the personification of love, but the essence of love.  Here are some synonyms of essence for clarification purposes; heart, spirit, alpha and omega, center, core, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation.  Since God ordains our life and creates our soul and God is love, then we are born from love, then we must live to love.  To love completely, to love openly, to love deeply, to love patiently, to love without the fear that it may be unrequited.  This is what it means to love, just as Christ loves us, just as the Father loves us.  And given God will endure forever, so will love.

“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17 17

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves………has fulfilled the law.” Paul to the Romans.

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4 8

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is [a]born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4 16

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colassions 3 14

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More of the Same and More to Come

It began just one year after King Obama assumed his throne with the notion that there would be a generational shift to the left in America’s political power.  Last night’s crushing defeats in New York and Nevada are further proof that the whole thing in 2008 was an anomaly and a charade based on war fatigue, Bush hatred and that Obama was a Black American.  In NY 9, a Republican has not held that seat in over ninety years!  However its a heavily Jewish electorate who obviously are unhappy with Obama’s cold shouldering Israel.

In November of 2009, two Republicans; Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell trounced Democrats in gubernatorial races.  Christie beat a liberal in one of the most liberal states – New Jersey, and McDonnell beat Tim Kaine in Virginia which had gone to Obama in 2008.  Then the shocker of all.  Scott Brown, a Republican, took over Ted Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts – of all places.  Just incredible and a foreshadowing of things to come and dismissing the insane notion that the country was shifting to the left.

We all know what happened in November 2010.  The Democrats were destroyed in a wave election, something no one could believe after the 2008 results.  All thanks to President Obama, his progressive policies that America did not want, and a hallmark of liberal politicians - overreaching.  In addition, over six hundred seats at the state and local levels switched to the GOP nationally.  America had spoken.  Amazingly enough even to those of us who know how lacking in common sense liberals are, Democrats are forging ahead with their agenda, undeterred.  This includes President Obama.  Do they want to lose another sixty seats in the House, lose the Senate and the Executive branch, over and above Governor’s Mansions and more state/local seats – we can only dream!!  But it’s going to happen.

It’s the Tea Party, Those Blood Hungry Racists!

The Tea Party, not really a party but purely an American movement, is greatly responsible for telling Obama to “speak to the hand”.  These are mostly blue collar Americans who just would not take anymore, and especially from a bunch of liberals.  I am not a member, but a fan.  And the fact is that they will all vote Republican.  The Democrats have been and are foaming at the mouth, trying everything to denigrate the movement.  It’s only made it stronger and made Democrats look like the intellectually dishonest adolescents that they are.  Even the Democrat in last night’s New York City District 9 race was trying to win on stamping his opponent as a Tea Partier – it’s just hysterical.  There is going to be an earthquake in 14 months that will move this country, politically, farther to the right.  Something completely unimaginable in the fall of 2008.  But like Jimmy Carter who lives vicariously through President Obama, a progressive Chief Executive that disdains our military and is a Muslim sympathizer at a time when that is off limits, has handed the mantle back to the GOP.  The question is, what will Republicans do with the baton?

G.O.P. Gains House Seat Vacated by Weiner

GOP maintains stranglehold on 2nd Congressional District

GOP Wins in NY Race, Seen as Obama Rebuke

For Democrats, It’s 2010 All Over Again

Obama’s Quiver Is Empty

New York-9 and the Democratic Coalition

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Huberis Continues for Obama

In his political game of Risk, President Obama uses the Office of the Presidency not to lead, but to attempt to further his political ideology.  We’ve seen it time and time and time again, yet he continues undeterred.  Has anybody out there experienced anything like this?  Any (successful) leader adjusts his or her strategic and tactical plans according to the facts on the ground, as it were, and most of all does what he or she has to do to get “buy in” from the team.  This President has done neither.  He doesn’t care; he and his progressive entourage are omniscient as far as they’re concerned.

Not one of his 57 speeches touting his unabashed political liberalism has done anything to move the American people, that is other than to placate his liberal base for election purposes – shameful.  But then again it’s a cult of personality for those folks.  They are as out-of-touch as he is.  In addition, zero of his policies have been supported by a majority of this country’s electorate; not Obamacare, not the Stimulus, not rescinding the Bush Tax Cuts, not the Debt Battle and not his latest attempt to bilk the country of more taxes.  And why is it always “we gotta do it now!!!!”  Why, Mr. President?  Why can’t our elected representatives and the American people digest your proposals before stuffing them down our throats?  Because you know we would repudiate them.

Keep it coming Mr. President, you’re paving the way for another wave election for the GOP.  A supermajority willl cement a hard move to the right, which is what this country desperately needs.

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Obama, the Veg-O-Matic President. Act Now!

Obama’s Pathetic, Pedestrian Speech

Obama’s Jobs Plan: He Should Have Stayed On Vacation

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From the Beginning there was Love

One of the best things about being an author, in this case a blogger, is having artistic or poetic license.  That is, the ability to alter text or grammar, to reword something to fit a situation or improve on it to meet your particular purpose.  Poetic license really shouldn’t alter the facts, though sometimes it does.  I’ll use some artistic license here to show how central love is to our lives, our sheer existence from beginning to end.  As Christians we know that God is love and love is God.  We also believe that the Father and Son are one.  So from John 1:

“In the beginning was Love, and  Love was with God, and Love was God.  Love was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Love, and apart from Love nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Love was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

You know, all of us Catholics were taught that God the Father was this big man sitting on a throne above us with a white beard and nary a smile on his face.  We were told how much He loves us, that His love is so all encompassing that its depth is incomprehensible.  The problem is that the Old Testament God was depicted so negatively.  A big part of the blame goes to the High Priests who illustrated the image of God in such a manner to serve their own purposes (the same ultra-dogmatic hypocrites that Jesus dealt with in His public life).  Also, it was humans interpreting God’s words and actions in the context of their time, their ability to discern and their true understanding of his intentions.  Fact is “God’s ways are not our ways, they are as far above us as Heaven”, so we will never truly understand His motives.

In any event, God the Father was, and still is, very misunderstood.  One of Christ’s many challenges was to clear up misinterpretations of His Father and present Him differently.  If we build our vision of God the Father on His Son’s portrayal, we’ll realize who the Father really is.  Remember what Christ said, “He who has seen me, has seen the Father”.  The reality is that God the Father is not an old mean man sitting on a marble throne.  God is perfected love encompassed in a being, and His Son is perfected love incarnate in human flesh.

I’ve spent a bunch of time over the last year trying to become closer to the Father, through prayer, asking God to help me reconcile His Old Testament wrath with the reality of His love within Christ.  Here’s the passage that I keep coming back to; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3-16.  In giving His only Son, He was giving Him up to suffer a horrendous death so those He created could be with Him, for those He loved; his children – us.

God Is Love and Allows Us to Make Love

As I’ve become more mature emotionally and in my faith journey, so many incredible thoughts have manifested themselves in my mind and heart.  This is completely due to my beloved Catholic Church and what she has taught me over the years.  One of the most astounding realizations when at Mass one Sunday with my wife and kids was this Gospel reading from Mark, 10:6; “At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,  and the two will become one flesh.’  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

As only he can, based on Apostolic Succession, our Priest interpreted the Gospel reading.  He said something that just blew my mind.  He mentioned that the “two becoming one flesh” was a direct reference to intercourse between a husband and wife wh0, at that time, are participating with God in the co-creation of life.  Why do you think they call it “making love”?  It was this epiphany that took me down a path towards orthodox Catholicism regarding the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.  It also solidified in my mind what I knew all along about premarital sex – it’s always wrong.  Not because I believe a man and woman cannot be in love outside of marriage.  But because the physical union between them is not blessed by God.  The Father did not say “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to a woman“, He said to his wife.  The two can only become one flesh in marriage – period.

Another realization about the dangers of premarital and extramarital sex came to me through a very close Evangelical buddy of mine.  Although we are not of the same denomination, we are brothers in Christ.  I was preparing with him for a presentation I was to give students at St. Leo University in San Antonio, Florida.  I was talking to them about my journey through life and wanted the emphasis of my talk to be the toll premarital and extramarital sex has on one’s emotional health.  My buddy Ed said to me, “when you make love outside of marriage, not only is the union illicit in the eyes of God, but if that person should exit your life, a part of your soul goes with them.  Because the two become one flesh.  It’s impossible to separate that.  Wow!  As St. Paul corroborates and clarifies; “Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”

A Heart and Soul Scared and Never to be the Same

That discussion with my friend was a final piece of the puzzle for me in a journey that began long ago.  From a young child I was close to Christ and he wrote right and wrong on my heart.  I always knew that I should not be intimate with a woman until I was married.  Unfortunately, I gave into the sin of lust as a willing, but adolescent decision, treating sex as many, many people do; as a recreational activity – as fun.  As I think of it now, I shutter.  Who was I to participate in the co-creation of life with women outside of marriage – for fun, because it felt good?  How could I spit on God like that?  Because “life” is what he gave me through two married people.  What transpired in my life after that first fateful decision has been only confusion and hurt with regard to relationships and intimacy, a just punishment from our Lord who blessed me with knowing the true meaning of love between a man and woman.

When I was in graduate school and after the break-up of a long standing relationship, I began to dedicate myself to the Church and Mass again after an off and on period.  I would go to a small university church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  It was there that I met a young lady who I would eventually fall madly in love with.  This time it was different for me, I can’t explain it, but I had never felt like that before, it was so genuine, so intense, so pure that I was washed away by the whole experience.  Here I was, 25 years old, living a dream I had always wanted; I had accepted my first professional position with Arthur Andersen, I knew the best years were in front of me, so much promise and now I meet this incredible girl “at Mass”.  For me, a story right out of a romance novel.

Unfortunately, and in direct disobedience to Christ, I seduced this girl and early on.  Little did I know that I had already destroyed any possibility of continuing to live this dream, because God brought me an amazing gift in this girl and I proceeded to kick Him right in the teeth.  Needless to say, it ended and I was hurt in the process.  The experience was so devastating that I have never truly recovered, but the encounter was the seminal event of my life; it led to the beginning of my love affair with Christ and His bride – the Catholic Church.  Shortly after being left at the altar ( figuratively, not literally) I began to lay in bed each night and speak to Christ out loud, something I had never done before, but I knew he was the only friend I had who understood what I was going through.  I was begging him to bring this girl back to me.  Then it happened, I can’t explain it.  Christ spoke to my mind and said, “Tom, I took my gift away from you because you disrespected that gift by having sex out of wedlock – My precious Sacrement; disobeying me and causing her to sin”.  I wept bitterly at the Truth of it.  I was never to be the same again.  The happy ending is that the girl and I eventually crossed paths and reconciled, and I found my wife.

Love Defined

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails………. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians.

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