Jesse Helms, Great Statesman From North Carolina, Passes Away

Former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms passed away this morning from natural causes at the age of 86.

He was a well-known battler of Communists, liberals, and even an occasional Republican. When it comes to political parties, he had sat on both sides of the fence. He started off as a Democrat, but switched parties before his run for the U.S. Senate in 1972. Regardless of what party he was in, he remained a steadfast conservative on most issues, and was well-known for his strong opposition to homosexuality. Also, he was very supportive of America's Christian heritage.

Helms was born on October 18, 1921 in Monroe, North Carolina. He attended Wingate University and Wake Forest University, but did not graduate from either institution. Afterward, his first full-time job was sports reporter with the Raleigh, North Carolina News & Observer. During World War II, he was a recruiter in the U.S. Navy. After the war, he continued with journalism, but also took up politics with the Democratic Party. He helped several conservative Democrats over the years in various campaigns for office. He also worked in television and radio broadcasting at a later time.

In 1972, Helms ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate from North Carolina. He won 60.1 percent of the vote, and went on to defeat Democratic U.S. Congressman Nick Galifianakis of Durham in the general election by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin, becoming the first Republican senator elected in North Carolina in the 20th century. He won every successive election until he chose not to run again in 2002.

Helms is also believed to have been a crucial factor in keeping Ronald Reagan from falling out of the political spectrum. His backing of Reagan in the Presidential campaign of 1976 was crucial in his North Carolina primary. This victory set off a chain reaction of primary victories for Reagan in following crucial states. Until the North Carolina primary, Reagan had not won a single primary, and was $2 million in debt. It is believed that, had Reagan not won North Carolina or the following states, he would have retired to his ranch, and not given it another shot in 1980. The results of that would have been far-reaching, and a serious blow to the conservative movement. Even more importantly, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the economic rise during the late 1980s, and boom of the '90s, would likely not have happened.

"It's just incredible that he would die on July 4, the same day of the Declaration of Independence and the same day that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, and he certainly is a patriot in the mold of those great men," said former GOP Congressman Bill Cobey today.

Helms was a great statesman for North Carolina, and was a great contributor to the conservative movement. God rest his soul. We need to keep his family in prayer.

Story from the AP

"Compromise, hell! ... If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?" - Helms, in a 1959 editorial.

"I reject that criticism because this is indeed another kind of holocaust, by another name. At last count, more than 40 million unborn children have been deliberately, intentionally destroyed. What word adequately defines the scope of such slaughter? [After 9/11] the American people responded with shock, sadness and a deep and righteous anger — and rightly so. Yet let us not forget that every passing day in our country, more than three thousand innocent Americans are killed [through abortion]." - Helms on abortion in his 2005 book, Here's Where I Stand.

"Homosexuals are weak, morally sick wretches." - Helms

"He's a nice guy. He's very pleasant. But ... (as) Ronald Reagan used to say about another politician, `Deep down, he's shallow.'" - Helms on President Bill Clinton

TIM RUSSERT, 1950-2008: A Great Journalist And Man Of Character Passes Away

This last Friday, a great journalist and public example for love of family passed away. Tim Russert, chief of NBC News' Washington Bureau and host of that network's popular Meet The Press television show, was stricken by a heart attack and passed at the young age of 58.

Russert was an intelligent and fair journalist, regardless of his own political leanings. He had a love for what he did, and he did it well. Just a look into his face proves that he had a zeal for life. Outside of his career, his strong faith and love for family was a centerpiece for his life, and shown in a level uncommon in TV journalism today.

Personally, I will miss his excellent coverage of elections. NBC News has been the regular network I watch on election nights, and Russert has been a huge factor in the reason for that. I really liked his white erase board and how plain and simple he kept coverage. On his roots, I really like how he stayed humble through all his experiences. Even though he met many leaders and news shakers, he never forgot that his Irish, blue-collar roots in South Buffalo. That, also, is uncommon in TV journalism today.

God rest your soul, Tim Russert. Your family and friends are in our prayers and thoughts.

My Take On Minnesota Senate Candidate Al Franken.

The current leading Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Minnesota, Al Franken, has been trying to avoid at least $70,000 in income taxes in 17 states back to 2003. Not surprisingly, this is not sitting well with the people of Minnesota. Franken appeared close in his race with Incumbent Republican Norm Coleman just a few months ago, but is now trailing by double-digits in the head-to-head matchups.

The mainstream media has not been talking about this issue all that much.

My take on this is, if this was a Republican doing these very same things, say Coleman, even the mainstream press in Washington state would be abuzz about it, let alone the alphabet soup networks. It would kill his political career and scar his family. However, Franken does it and not much is reported on it.

And it is said that there is no liberal bias in the mainstream press.

William F. Buckley, Jr. - A Pioneer Of Modern American Conservatism

1925-2008

This obituary is coming a little late, but I couldn't leave my blog without a remembrance of the life of a great pioneer of modern conservative thought.

William Frank Buckley, Jr. was born in New York City on November 24, 1925. His father was an oil baron from Irish descent, and his mom was from the American South, and from Swiss-German descent. From a young age, he became interested in music, horses, sailing, hunting, skiing, and story-telling. From 1945-50, he was enrolled at Yale University, where he graduated with honors.

In the early 1950s is when Buckley would begin probably his best-known career, writing. He co-wrote McCarthy and His Enemies with L. Brent Bozell Jr., in which the two men mostly supported Former Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy in his fight against communism. Buckley worked as an editor for The American Mercury magazine from 1951-52.

In 1955, he founded National Review, which became the standard-bearer of the conservative movement. The magazine still is a crucial leader in American conservative thought today. Buckley became a strong opponent of communism at a time when conservatism as we know it was just getting off its feet.

He founded Young Americans For Freedom in 1960. This is an organization of youth rallying for the conservative cause. The organization was founded on Buckley's estate in Sharon, Connecticut in the September of that year. YAF's guiding document is called the Sharon Statement, which are said to be Buckley's principles. The document is named after the town in Connecticut where it was drafted. At this time, the Republican Party was split into two factions, the liberal wing led by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and the conservative wing led which was being led by Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. The GOP was mostly led by the liberal wing in those days. Buckley strongly supported the Presidential candidacy of Goldwater in 1964, and used National Review as a forum for gathering support for the Arizona Senator.

In 1965, Buckley ran for Mayor of New York as the candidate of the Conservative Party because of his disapproval of the incumbent candidate, liberal Republican John V. Lindsay. Buckley lost the race and carried only 13.4 percent of the vote.

Over the last decades of the 20th Century, he became a strong influence on conservatives holding office, especially Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, as well as Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Buckley passed away on February 27th, but his influence and his legacy will not be forgotten. His influence in helping to pioneer American conservatism and fighting communism is a great contribution that will last generations. We still need to keep his family in prayer. May God rest the soul of William Buckley, Jr.

A Busy Weekend Is Approaching For Tennessee Tech University

Derryberry Hall, administrative building for Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee. http://www.tntech.edu/univadv/support/images/Derryberry.jpg

Tennessee Tech University, a well-accredited university settled in Cookeville, Tennessee, will be a busy place this coming weekend as it hosts four different events.

The action starts Thursday as the campus will be the host to the 2008 SAE Baja East race, which is a competition featuring small off-road cars built by engineering students by participating universities. I understand that there will be nearly 100 teams from eight countries participating in the TTU race. With that, 1,000 people are expected to participate, excluding countless spectators. The competition will last through Saturday.

On Friday, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, Tennessee Congressmen Bart Gordon of Murfreesboro and Lincoln Davis of Pall Mall, as well as other dignitaries, students, faculty and local residents are all expected to be a part of the groundbreaking of Ray Morris Hall, home to Tennessee Tech's new proposed Millard Oakley STEM Center. This will be the hub of the university's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics departments for the future. The groundbreaking is scheduled for 3 PM at Seventh Street and Stadium Drive.

Saturday is scheduled to be the largest commencement in university history. Nearly 1,200 students are to receive their degrees in a ceremony scheduled for 10 AM. Tech is to host another dignitary at this time, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee, who is the third-highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. He is to address the spring graduates of the university. This is to take place at the Eblen Center.

Also on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles baseball team is scheduled to host the Murray State Racers for a doubleheader. The action on the diamond has a planned starting time of 2 PM.

On Saturday alone, three events will be taking place. As such, parking is expected to be a major concern to tackle. A shuttle bus will run from needed areas to help calm the parking issues.

You can expect this writer to be a part of the action, as he is an active part of the university as a student, an extra-curricular organization leader, and a worker with the school's sports information department.

Article on this weekend's action from the Tennessee Tech Public Affairs Department.

BREAKING NEWS: Actor and Former NRA President Charlton Heston Has Passed Away

11:33 PM CST

Popular actor and former NRA President Charlton Heston has reportedly passed away, according to family members. He was 84. The news broke about a half-hour ago.

He was well-known for his roles in the popular movies Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, Earthquake, and Planet of the Apes, among others.

He also served as the President of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.

In August 2002, he reported that he had similar symptoms to Alzheimer's Disease.

On political matters, he started off as a liberal Democrat, but took more conservative positions on issues, including affirmative action, abortion matters and gun rights, by the 1980s. He changed his political affiliation to Republican, and campaigned for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

His soul, his family, and his friends need to be in our prayers at this time.



BREAKING NEWS ALERT FROM AP
WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ON MR. HESTON'S LIFE

Vodka Maker Harkens Back To A "More Ideal" Time For Our Neighbor To The South, Not So Ideal For Americans

Absolut, a well-known vodka maker, created a stir in the United States when one of their recent ads drew up an 1830s-era map of North America, showing United States territory under Mexico jurisdiction.

The ad comes at a time when the United States is facing a serious debate over illegal immigration, and whose people are wanting to see the borders secured. Meanwhile, a majority of Mexicans believe the Southwest U.S. still is rightfully theirs.

Absolut has since apologized for the ad, which ran only in Mexico, and have since ended them. The company said the ad wasn't reflective of any immigration or foreign policy issues.

The ad created a bit of an outcry by angry Americans who saw the ad as encouraging a radical mindset that many Mexicans hold that the border states are still rightful territory of Mexico. Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin received a number of e-mails and blog postings reflecting anger over the ad.

I do not support consumption of any alcohol, but if I did, I would still be supporting a full boycott of Absolut. I am in opposition to all groups who support the return of our Southwestern states to Mexico, and this ad only fuels their fire.