“Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States .”
The “Stars and Stripes”, the official National symbol of the United States of America was authorized by congress on that Saturday of June 14, 1777 in the fifth item of the days agenda. The entry in the journal of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Vol. Vlll 1777 reads “Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be Thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
It is the right of every American to proudly display the Flag of the United States at their home, their business, and elsewhere. When you “SHOW YOUR COLORS” you tell the world that you are proud to live in the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”
“The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.
US Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, § 176. ( j )
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
(Verse 4 of the Star Spangled Banner written by Francis Scott Key in 1814)
”The Iowa Vote Tally is a list of our elected Iowa officials and their votes on spending throughout the past year. These bills amounted to over $4.5 billion. Dave Vaudt, Iowa State Auditor, pointed out in an April 16, 2010, press release, “The Legislature’s Fiscal year 2011 budget relies on over $700 million of one-time resources which will not be available for Fiscal Year 2012. In addition, nearly $90 million of General Fund costs are shifted to other funds. This creates a huge spending gap in the General Fund for Fiscal year 2010 when the one-time monies go away.”
Iowa Transparency Newsletter, Volume 3, Number 3 Public Interest Institute, May 2010
Take the time to check out your State Senator and State Representative
and see if their voting habits are ones you want in Des Moines.
For further information go to: www.IowaTransparency.org Click on the Iowa Vote Tally link and you can see the link for Senators and
Representatives spending.
“Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…
If the next centennial does not find us a great nation, it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States
Reporting only contested local races.
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate is Terry Branstad
GOP Candidate Secretary of State is Matt Schultz
GOP Candidate Treasurer of State is David Jamision
Democrat running against Senator Chuck Grassley is Roxanne Conlin
Democrat running against US Representative Steve King is Matthew Campbell
O’Brien County
-County Attorney is Micah Schreurs
-County Treasurer is Phyllis Green
-District 5 County Supervisor is James De Boom
Osceola County
-Treasurer is Doris Hoffman
-District 1 is Roger Sixta
-District 5 is Bill Imhoff
Answer: It is our contention that it is the duty and responsibility of every Christian to vote and to vote for leaders who promote Christian principles. God is most certainly in control, but that does not mean we should do nothing to further His will. We are commanded to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4). In terms of politics and leadership, there is evidence in Scripture that God has been displeased with our choices of leadership at times (Hosea 8:4). The evidence of sin’s grip on this world is everywhere. Much of the suffering on earth is because of godless leadership (Proverbs 28:12). Scripture gives Christians instructions to obey legitimate authority unless it contradicts the Lord’s commands (Acts 5:27-29; Romans 13:1-7). As born-again believers, we ought to strive to choose leaders who will be themselves led by our Creator (1 Samuel 12:13-25). Candidates or proposals that violate the Bible’s commands for life, family, marriage, or faith should never be supported (Proverbs 14:34). Christians should vote as led through prayer and study of both God’s Word and the realities of the choices on the ballot.
Christians in many countries in this world are oppressed and persecuted. They suffer under governments they are powerless to change and governments that hate their faith and silence their voices. These believers preach the gospel of Jesus Christ at risk of their own lives. In the U.S.A., Christians have been blessed with the right to speak about and choose their leaders without fearing for themselves or their families. In the U.S.A., in recent elections, about 2 of every 5 of self-professed Christians took that right for granted and did not vote. About 1 in 5 self-professed, eligible Christians are not even registered to vote.
In our day and age, there are many who want to drive the name and message of Christ completely out of the public arena. Voting is an opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve godly government. Passing up that opportunity means letting those who would denigrate the name of Christ have their way in our lives. The leaders we elect—or do nothing to remove—have great influence on our freedoms. They can choose to protect our right to worship and spread the gospel, or they can restrict those rights. They can lead our nation toward righteousness or toward moral disaster. As Christians, we should stand up and follow our command to fulfill our civic duties (Matthew 22:21).
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Polls are open 7:00 am to 9:00 pm across the state of Iowa for voting in the Primary June 8.
Find your polling location http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx
June 4th, 2010
Op-Ed: Why I’m Supporting Bob Vander Plaats
Why I’m Supporting Bob Vander Plaats for Iowa Governor
I wholeheartedly support Bob Vander Plaats for Iowa Governor because I believe Bob has the passion and drive to stand up for his principles and not compromise his values.
It was difficult choosing between Bob and Rod Roberts. My wife and I sat with Rod at the fall 2009 Dubuque County Republican Party dinner. We had a great conversation.
I literally could have gone either way. Both Bob and Rod know and speak intelligently about the U.S. Constitution, enumerated powers, states’ rights, etc. Could a Vander Plaats/Roberts ticket be in our future?
What finally sealed the deal was visiting with Bob at a small event in Dubuque and watching the gubernatorial debates. Bob has visible passion, energy and enthusiasm for life. I could tell by watching and listening to him that his freedom movement principles and values are authentic; not contrived or phony.
Bob talks about not only cutting taxes but cutting spending as well. Shrinking government in our lives is important to me and everyone in the freedom movement.
His experience as president and CEO in the private sector, as an educator and school administrator, and his turnaround of a non-profit organization leads me to believe he can use the same free market principles to lead Iowa.
I believe he understands government’s limited powers and how private, non-profit organizations including local churches can play a leading role in providing a hand up rather than government hand outs. I trust he will cut state programs that make it too easy to remain on the public dole.
I had the privilege to work for a man much like Bob – a coach, a businessman, a leader. People with the ability to truly lead others are few and far between in this world. When you meet them and are inspired by them you become a better person.
I believe Bob is this kind of person. He will not compromise with liberals in the legislature but rather he will educate them, inspire them, motivate them, and lead them to his ideas.
The fact that Bob has not held public office is a good thing in my book. He doesn’t have people in the legislature to whom he owes favors. He hasn’t made alliances with anyone. He is a fresh slate ready to take action in Des Moines and across Iowa.
Win, lose or draw next Tuesday Bob has run a positive, upbeat campaign. He has inspired many to look to the private sector for solutions. He is a strong Christian who believes in the rule of law and knows (unlike our liberal senator Tom Harkin) that our rights come from God; not the government.
I hope if you are still undecided my words here may inspire you to support Bob Vander Plaats for Iowa governor.
Jeff Luecke
Co-organizer of the Dubuque Tea Party
What is former Governor Terry Branstad’s definition of conservativism?
Terry Branstad says he a conservative, if this was really the case
would he have helped Senator Ben Nelson get elected? In his 2000
Senate race, Democrat Ben Nelson won with the support of Terry
Branstad.
Terry Branstad says he wants to cut taxes, I wonder if he’s talking
about the taxes he raised. Branstad raised the gas tax. He also
raised sales tax by 67% and former Speaker of the House Chris Rants
claims he raised taxes thirty times.
Terry Branstad says he is pro-life, NOT if his Lieutenant Governor
reflects his position. Recognized as a supporter of abortion rights,
Joy Corning served on the Board of Directors for Iowa’s chapter of
Planned Parenthood and led their fundraising drive in 2002. Also a
proponent of gay rights, Corning received the “Interfaith Award” in
2009, along with the woman who followed her as Lt. Governor, Sally
Pederson. This award came after a joint letter to the editor of the
Des Moines Register was written by the former Lieutenant Governors
promoting gay marriage.
Terry Branstad says he is pro-family, if that is true it sure didn’t
show up in the two judges he appointed that gave us same-sex marriage.
Terry Branstad says he wants to improve education. If he really cared
about the children would he have sold out to the teachers union?
Branstad was endorsed the teachers union in 1994.
Terry Branstad says he wants to cut the size of government. While
Terry Branstad was governor the number of employees in the executive
branch went from 8,897 to 19,964!!
Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) state executive branch employees
in 1985: 8,897. [“Restructuring and Downsizing of Iowa State
Government,” Peat, Marwick (1985)]
Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) state executive branch employees
in 2001: 19,964 [Iowa Department of Administrative Services “Just the
Facts” Report (2002)]
I, Brian Rosener am proud to join Dr. James Dobson, Gov. Mike
Huckabee, Chuck Norris, the Iowa Family PAC, David Barton, Michael
Farris and the president of the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter of the NAACP and
many others in urging the citizens of Iowa to vote for Bob Vander
Plaats for governor on Tuesday.