New York-23: Conservative Doug Hoffman in straight fight with Democrat Bill Owens as Scozzafava withdraws from race

Victory for New York Republican Party grassroots and the GOP base over the leadership

Today Republican Dede Scozzafava suspended her campaign in a special election for the U.S Senate. Campaign spokesman Matt Burns said Scozzafava was withdrawing from the race, although her name will remain on Tuesday's ballot. As the campaign developed it became increasingly obvious that Scozzafava lacked the support of the overwhelmingly conservative Republican Party grassroots. Her support in public opinion polls had plummeted to 20%. This support had shifted to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Hoffman has won the backing of key GOP conservatives such as Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Steve Forbes, Dick Armey, Fred Thompson, Jeri Thompson, Michelle Bachmann, Mark Levin, Susan B Anthony List (Pro Life Group), Club For Growth, Bill Kristol (Weekly Standard), Red State Blog, 9/12 Project and Gov George Pataki. Scozzafava voted for 190 taxes increases and has a strong record of voting for increased spending. She is a pro-abortion extremist. She had the support of Acorn and the Daily Kos. In short she has little in common with most Republican Party supporters and is even to the left of the Democratic Party candidate Bill Owens.

The Republican Party establishment, which foisted Scozzafava on the grassroots has been taught a salutary lesson. It must listen to the base or face a plethora of conservative third party candidates in the 2010 mid term elections.

Doug Hoffman is now odds on favourite to take the seat in this conservative bastion.

New York-23 Video: Gov George Pataki Endorses Doug Hoffman For Congress

Statement from Governor George E. Pataki supporting Doug Hoffman

As someone personally engaged in the way of life in the Adirondacks and Northern New York, I’m deeply concerned about the course of our nation and the outcome of the election in the 23rd Congressional District.

Simply put, we cannot afford to give another vote to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid we cannot afford another vote for higher taxes, we cannot afford another vote for government run health care and we absolutely cannot afford another vote to take away from hard working men and women the right to secret ballot.

That is why tonight, I’m proud to endorse Doug Hoffman, a Republican, running on the Conservative line for Congress in the 23rd Congressional District.

Doug Hoffman will stand up to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. He will fight for all the residents of northern New York. He will fight for our proud servicemen and women at Fort Drum, our dairy farmers in Lowville and our manufacturers in Plattsburgh.

As a businessman, and as a life-long resident of the North Country Doug Hoffman understands the need to lower taxes on working families, the need to stand tall against terror and he won’t back phony stimulus programs that fail to create the jobs we need and leaves a mountain of debt to our children.

When elected to Congress Doug will work to reduce our taxes, he will stand tall against those who despise our freedoms and he will be a vigilant stalwart against those who would substitute government programs for individual initiative.

And Doug Hoffman can win.

I urge all the voters of the 23rd Congressional District – Republican Democrat, Independent and Conservative to come out and vote for Doug Hoffman for Congress.

Video: No Government Funded Abortions! Period-Put it in the US Senate Bill

Stop Obama/Pelosi Senate Bill which supports taxpayer- funded abortion

Most Americans are strongly opposed to taxpayer- funded abortion. This Bill would undo the Hyde Amendment which prohibits taxpayer-funded abortion. The current Senate Bill would ensure that federal dollars would fund abortions through the use of loopholes and fuzzy language. In this video SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser outlines the reality. Stop the Obama/Pelosi plan to introduce taxpayer-funded abortions. Call your senators today and tell them to put a Clear Abortion Exclusion in the Bill.

New York-23 Newt Gingrich Supports Taxaholic Spendaholic candidate Scozzafava

Gingrich Support for Dede Scozzafava a massive own goal

A taxaholic is a politician who consistently resorts to tax increases to fund services with scant regard for efficiencies. A spendaholic is a politician addicted to massive and unsustainable increases in public expenditure.

Newt Gingrich hero of the Republican Revolution in 1994 has severely damaged his conservative credentials in recent days. He has come out strongly in favour of an extreme liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava. He is very much in a minority. No other conservative Republican of note supports Scozzafava. Key Republican Party conservatives such as Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Fred Thompson, Jeri Thompson, Michelle Bachmann, Bill Kristol, Pro-Life groups, Michelle Malkin, Steve Forbes, Marilyn Musgrave (amongst others) all strongly support Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

How can Newt Gingrich justify his support for Dede Scozzafava a pro-abortion extremist? As a Catholic he is now going against the Catholic Church position on abortion. It is a grave sin for Catholics to vote for or urge support for a pro-abortion candidate. How can Newt justify his support for a candidate who has voted 190 times for tax increases? How can he justify his support for an extreme liberal supported by Acorn and the Daily Kos? Doug Hoffman is the only conservative candidate in the field. What is the point in having a Republican Party if its candidates are" taxaholics" and "spendaholics"? Vote for Doug Hoffman

US Pilot Scott O'Grady's Marian Apparition when shotdown over Bosnia in 1995

I am indebted to author Steve Brady for permission to use an excerpt from an article titled The Medjugorje Marian Apparitions
This is copyright and may not be used without his permission. The full article is compulsive reading.

On June 2, 1995 American pilot, Scott O'Grady was patrolling a no-fly zone in his F-16. He was shot down by a Bosnian Serb Army SA-6 surface-to-air missile near Mrkonjic Grad, Bosnia and Herzegovina. O'Grady ejected safely and survived for a full six days, eating leaves, grass and ants, and avoiding Serb patrols all while trying to contact NATO's airborne command center. He managed to evade capture and the U.S. Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit rescued him on June 8, 1995.

This story, compelling as it is, has a spiritual dimension. According to Scott O'Grady himself, he experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary while praying for rescue.
"On the third day of my hiding out, thinking about how survival is first of all a spiritual test, I experienced something amazing and unrepeatable. All of a sudden, in the stillness of my hiding place, I remembered the accounts of my mother's friend who, before the war broke out in Bosnia, had visited Medjugorje," O'Grady explained.

He continued, "That afternoon I turned to Our Lady in prayer. Immediately I felt her presence. It became more and more clear and palpable right up to the moment that I saw her. It is hard to describe in words. The vision came through the strength of my feelings, and that feeling was indescribably warm, full of bliss and peace. Someone existed that prayed and kept watch over my return home. That vision was the most important thing that happened to me in Bosnia. It gave me the courage to hold out in the most difficult moments.....

Video: New York-23 Election Mark Levin discusses Sarah Palin's Hoffman Endorsement (22/10/2009)

Doug Hoffman is the only conservative candidate in the New York-23 race

Doug Hoffman is pro life and favours low spending and low taxes.

Doug Hoffman is supported by:

• Sarah Palin
• Sean Hannity
• Steve Forbes
• Dick Armey
• Fred Thompson
• Jeri Thompson
• Michelle Bachmann
• Mark Levin
• Susan B Anthony List (Pro Life Group)
• Club For Growth
• Bill Kristol (Weekly Standard)
• Red State Blog
• 9/12 Project

Dede Scozzafava is an extreme liberal who has voted to increase taxes 190 times.

Dede Scozzafava voted for ten years in a row for higher spending, higher taxes, for higher fees and penalties and is a pro abortion extremist.

Democrat Bill Owens is a liberal who favours abortion, high spending and high taxes. Mike Huckabee has not endorsed Doug Hoffman or Dede Scozzafava. However importantly he has endorsed Hoffmans views.

Visit Doug Hoffman

Video: Italy on Two TV Interviews Mirjana and Jakov Medjugorje Visionaries (22/09/2009)

English Translation of Mirjana's Interview with Italian TV Channel Italy on Two on 22/09/2009 (10 seconds-59 seconds)

Mirjana: "As a girl of fifteen, who has grown up under communism in the former Yugoslavia I did not know it was "possible" that the Virgin could came to earth. For my Our Lady was in heaven and we prayed. The Christian life was in our homes. Once a week we could go to Mass, but everything else was in our homes. Our parents did not talk much because of fear so when I saw the Our Lady .... I felt all along fear and happiness and did not know if I were alive or dead. But when you see her once you do not mind anything else.There is only the Virgin Mary, her face and love in her eyes. Only this is what you want to see and the reason you want to live."

Video:Run Away - Del Shannon (Original Sound)

Video Madrid: 1.5 Million Spaniards in Anti-Abortion Protest on 17/10/09

1.5 Million Spaniards turned out for an anti-abortion protest in Madrid, Spain yesterday.

The proposed new law, approved by the Socialist government last month, would allow the abortion on demand for women of 16 and over up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and up to 22 weeks if there was a risk to the mother's health or if the foetus was deformed.
"The presence of each of you here today in this demonstration is a commitment to fight for life," Benigno Blanco, head of a group called Forum on the Family," told the crowd. "Those of you who govern us must listen to the voice from the streets."
The pro life protesters held signs reading "For Life, Women and Motherhood," "Women Against Abortion" and "Madrid 2009, Capital of Life."
Another anti-abortion protest in the Spanish capital last March attracted 500,000 people, according to the organisers.
The current Spanish Socialist government has no respect for the Law of God and has pursued a strong anti Catholic agenda.

Video and Lyrics:Hillsong United - Tear Down The Walls

VERSE 1:
Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

PRE CHORUS:
And I dont need to see it to believe it
I dont need to see it to believe it
Cause I cant shake this
Fire deep inside my heart

VERSE 2:
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

PRE CHORUS 2:
Cause I dont need to see it to believe it
I dont need to see it to believe it
Cause I cant shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

CHORUS:
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
Its all for You

CHORUS 2:
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

BRIDGE:
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Ireland:HSE Must Reverse Drumm Bonus Decision Immediately

The CEO of the Health Service Executive Prof Brendan Drumm earns an annual salary of €370,000. In addition he is now to receive a performance related bonus of €70,000 for 2007. Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.

Quite frankly a salary of €370,000 is more than sufficient for the position occupied by Mr Drumm. Under no circumstances should any bonus be paid to Mr Drumm or other executives of the HSE. According to FG health spokesman Dr James Reilly 300 patients were lying on trolleys around the country yesterday. 9,000 operations have been cancelled in the first six months of the year. The same HSE has sought to attack the pay of nurses, midwives and other frontline staff. The HSE is at present making plans to reduce spending by up to €1.2bn next year. Yet there is no difficulty finding an extra €70,000 for Mr Drumm.

This bonus payment is indicative of a serious divide in Irish society between the well off and the lower paid. There is a culture of greed and entitlement amongst many in the upper echelons of Irish society. Apparently self-sacrifices are only for the plebs. There is a strong perception that the higher paid wish to place the burden for the economic readjustment on the shoulders of those who benefited least from the economic boom. Spokespersons for the well off have not been slow to articulate the case for further pay and social welfare cuts. With 430,000 unemployed and negative equity an ever increasing prospect for up to 100,000 home owners civil unrest cannot be ruled out if decisions such as this are not reversed.

Health Minister Ms Harney hired Brendan Drumm to run the HSE. It is incumbent upon her to call in Mr Drumm immediately and to seek a reversal of this decision.There is a waiting list of 350 in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin with people left queueing for a first appointment. The number of heart rending stories would draw a tear from a stone. The hospital authorities are strapped for cash and must resort to major fund raising activities annually. The award of a bonus to Mr Drumm is a slap in the face for sick children and their parents. Mr Drumm should immediately donate the €70,000 bonus to the hospital

Ireland: Green Party Special Convention October 10, 2009-Turkeys did not vote for Christmas

The Green Party Special Convention has overwhelmingly backed the Revised Programme for Government and has also rejected by a large majority a motion opposing the setting up of the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA).
523 delegates (84%) who attended today's special meeting supported the Programme, agreed between Fianna Fail and the Greens on Friday night. 99 voted against. A failure of the leadership to secure a two-thirds majority would have plunged the country into an immediate general election.

Surprisingly there was strong backing for NAMA. Delegates voted down a motion opposing NAMA by 69 per cent to 31 per cent. The motion opposing NAMA needed the support of 66% of the delegates. 415 delegates voted against the motion (and, therefore, in favour of Nama) with 189 supporting the motion.

The Green Party has made a virtue out of necessity and is now inextricably tied to FF until the 2012 general election barring accidents. A decision to plunge the country into an immediate general election would have resulted in a wipeout for the Greens at parliamentary party level. The party has already been decimated in the local elections. The loss of its TDs in an early general election would be the coup de grace. The Greens would go the way of the PDs. FF would also have suffered heavy seat losses. By remaining in government the parties buy some time. They can hope for a modest economic recovery in 2011 and 2012. However such a recovery is unlikely to impact on the electorate sufficiently to ensure a sufficient feel good factor.

Most of the provisions of the revised programme for government are aspirational in character and are unlikely to be of major benefit to the government parties. The reality is that government finances are in a horrific mess. Proposals are just proposals. The government lacks the financial wherewithal to implement them. The party has secured a promise to hire five hundred extra teachers over the next three years. Unfortunately this means very little as 800 teachers have lost their jobs this year. The revised programme promises no reintroduction of third level fees. This is welcome. However registration charges alone rose by €6oo this year. The policy of pushing up registration charges will undoubtedly continue in future years. This is the reintroduction of third level fees by stealth.

The December Budget will be the next test for the coalition. The government must cut expenditure by €4bn. Undoubtedly Social Welfare and Education as huge spending departments will face swinging cuts. Public sector pay will undoubtedly face the axe. Any miscalculation could potentially blow up the government. Massive street protests could destabilise the government. However on balance it is likely that the coalition will stagger on buttressed by the desire for self-preservation. The story does not end here. Savings amounting to €4bn must also be found in the December budgets of 2010 and 2011. The next three budgets promise nothing but pain if the government is to rein in the public finances. The harsh medicine may further depress economic activity and exacerbate the chronic unemployment situation.

The decision to accept the revised programme ensures a stay of execution for the Greens. Naturally political turkeys do not vote for Christmas. John Gormley and Eamon Ryan can breath a sigh of relief for now.

October 2, 2009-Extended Video of Apparition to Mirjana at Medjugorje

October 2, 2009-Extended Video of Apparition to Mirjana at Medjugorje

Click as normal to start video. Right click on video, click Toggle Fullscreen to see fullscreen view.
This video is over 23 minutes long and includes extended filming of the very large crowd before and after the apparition, including Mirjana's dictation of the message and her return from the mountain.

Videos: Medjugorje Visionary Marija (Maria) speaking to Italian and English pilgrims in August 2009

New York Video:Doug Hoffman Only Conservative and Pro Life Candidate for Congress (NY-23)

Doug Hoffman Only Conservative in the race

Doug Hoffman today received the official designation and authorization to be the nominee of the New York State Conservative Party in the November 3rd special election to fill the seat vacated by the new Secretary of the Army, John McHugh.
The Club for Growth PAC, Fred Thompson's PAC, Concerned Women for America PAC, and now the Susan B. Anthony List PAC have all endorsed him as their candidate in this race. He was endorsed today by the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, Inc. The organization represents over 6,000, active and retired, members of the New York State Police, with ranks ranging from Trooper to Major. He is opposed to higher taxes, trillion dollar deficits and more bailouts.
In his acceptance speech Doug Hoffman said:

“I want to thank the Conservative Party and its Chairman, Mike Long for formally designating me as their candidate for Congress. I won’t let you down.
“As a veteran, a CPA and a small businessman I know and understand the challenges we face in the 23rd Congressional District. In Congress I will fight for fiscal sanity. We have had enough of the liberal spending, the ever growing deficit and the high taxes that are breaking the backs of taxpayers in this district, this state and this nation. We are fed up with the bureaucracy, the red tape and the government regulations that kill jobs and shackle the economy. And, we are tired of the indecision and lack of resolve we see in fighting the War on Terror.

Doug Hoffman is a real conservative and on November 3rd is seeking the support of like-minded Republicans, Democrats and Independents to elect him to Congress.

Dede Scozzafava-Liberal Pro Abortion Big Spender

Dede Scozzafava, the GOP Candidate has accepted the Margaret Sanger Award for championing the pro-abortion cause from abortion industry giant Planned Parenthood. Even the Daily Kos endorses her. She has been supported by Acorn. Dede Scozzafava is a career Albany politician who has voted for increased spending and higher taxes. She is a liberal at odds with mainstream thinking. Dede Scozzafava’s liberal record that includes support for card check legislation, Gov. Paterson’s budget and President Obama’s stimulus bill makes her a lame duck.

Bill Owens -Liberal Pro Abortion Big Spender

Bill Owens the Democratic candidate is on the far left of the political spectrum and supports the liberal extremist agenda of Nancy Pelosi and the Obama administration. If he is elected to Congress, he will vote for increased spending, higher taxes and a bigger deficit. It’s clear, Bill Owens is a Socialist.

Medjugorje Video: Mirjana's Apparition October 2, 2009

See Extended Video of this apparition HERE

Our Lady's Message to Mirjana-October 2, 2009

Dear Children, As I look at you, my heart seizes with pain. Where are you going my children? Have you sunk so deeply into sin that you do not know how to stop yourselves? You justify yourselves with sin and live according to it. Kneel down beneath the Cross and look at my Son. He conquered sin and died so that you, my children may live. Permit me to help you not to die but to live with my son forever. Thank you!

UK: David Cameron must face down Tory Neanderthals such as Johnson on Lisbon Treaty

The Irish decision to accept the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum by a two to one margin has once more thrown the spotlight on the likely stance of a future British Conservative Party government on the issue. Whilst the Poles and Czechs have yet to ratify Lisbon, it is anticipated that all EU member countries will have completed the process by Christmas. As a British general election approaches the faultlines in the Conservative Party -on Europe- have once more begun to reopen.The Conservatives-if elected to government- have promised to hold a referendum if the Treaty has not been brought into force. If as seems likely at this juncture, the treaty is in force before a British general election is held David Cameron faces a dilemma in any debate with Gordon Brown. The Tories have promised “not let the matter rest there” if presented with a fait accompli. This is a fudge designed to mollify the Euro sceptic wing of the party. Cameron has not promised to hold a referendum if the treaty is in place.

Unfortunately for him a formula of words may not paper over the cracks in his own party on the issue. This problem is best exemplified by the reaction of Boris Johnson-mayor of London- who is demanding a British referedum on the issue even if the Treaty is in force. Such a proposal is nonsensical. Cameron undoubtedly realises this. However he is walking on thin ice. Cameron must put flesh on the bones of his proposals if mavericks such as Johnston are to be sidelined. He will probably promise a tougher line with Europe on employment and social legislation. Of course this will damage British relations with Europe but it may keep most Tory eurosceptics quiet in the run in to a general election.

Flat earthers in the Conservative party would do well to swallow their pride. Britain is no longer a great power. The era of empire is long dead and gone. Britains future rests with Europe. Eurosceptics tore the Conservative party asunder in the 1990s. Surely they have learned the lessons of history .