A Cross To Bear

  America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. It is what makes us exceptional. Regardless of how you worship, that is a fact. One of those founding principles is the freedom to worship how you wish. It is a sacred law to most Americans. As a member of a non-mainstream religion, that law is perhaps even more sacred to me. Maybe it makes me a bit more sensitive to religious discrimination.
  The popular target of that discrimination seems to be Christians. All one has to do is turn on the television, or surf the web, and you will see someone telling a story of being asked to remove a cross necklace, or read something vile that has been written about Tim Tebow, or another prominent Christian.
  A few weeks ago, a loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan, Michael Vines, noticed that on the back of the pitcher's mound, there was a Christian cross etched in the dirt. Next to it was what could either be an Ichthys, commonly known as a "Jesus fish", or a number 6, perhaps a tribute to the late Stan Musial. Jesus fish or six, now there's a dilemma!
  So Mr. Vines took it upon himself to write letters. One to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and one to the Riverfront Times. His basic beef, religious symbols do not belong in a baseball stadium. Especially one that is supported with taxpayer money. Taxpayers of all religious stripes, or no stripes at all. Mr. Vines did not identify himself as an atheist. So why does he care so much about whatever might be scrawled on the pitcher's mound?
  A lot of Americans seem to be easily offended by any suggestion these days of religion. Even a mention by someone of having attended church, listening to a Christian radio station, or even wearing a cross sends people into a frenzy of "don't shove your religion down my throat" palpitations. Are they afraid that any mention of faith will cause them to stop and think about their own human failings for a nano second? How can that be, in a society that is constantly being told they are not responsible for their actions?
  But back to baseball. Does a cross or a Jesus fish belong in a stadium that is frequented by all? The Cardinal players who are Christians are very open about their faith. This is a teamPujols would send one into the seats, and point upwards as he came around to step on home plate? Does anyone contemplate firing off e-mails or letters when Yadier Molina, or any one of a dozen or more Latin players make the sign of the cross when they come up to bat? Mr. Vines, if he is in fact an atheist, and just atheists in general, seem to expend quite a bit of effort on something they claim to have no belief in.

who has a promotional day called "Christian Family Day at the Ballpark". But by all accounts, no other Cardinal players, or players from visiting teams have complained. If it presents a problem for a particular player, can't he just scrub it out with his foot? It is dirt after all. Did it bother Michael Vines, or anyone else, when Albert
  As a Wiccan, I do not expect anyone else to agree with my choice of religion. I don't even expect everyone else to tolerate it. What I do expect is that you respect it. That is really all Christians expect as well. If nothing else, it is respect for a basic foundational block that the founding fathers made sure to include. They knew that it was imperative to the lifeblood of our nation.
  So far, they have not been wrong about much.

Update: Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak has since spoke with the Busch Stadium Grounds Crew, and asked them that the symbols be removed.       
    

America - A Love Story

  Today we celebrate Independence Day. It is a day to reflect. A day to give thanks. A day to look around ourselves and be amazed at the fact that we have been blessed to have been born in, or become a citizen of, the greatest country the world has ever known. It has been said so many times before, but today it is worth repeating. America is not just a place. It is an idea, a vision, a concept. At the time of the founding of our nation, such an experiment had never been tried. The world had never seen a nation of free men. Free to create their own idea of government. They determined what that government was permitted to do. They also determined what that government was not permitted to do. Most early Americans came the oppression of a monarchy. A King who made up the rules as he saw fit. The King decided who prospered and who did not. He did not permit dissent.
  America's founding fathers did not agree on how this new idea of liberty should be implemented. They debated, they argued, they may have even wanted to throw a punch from time to time. It was those first meetings that vigorous debate, agreement, and disagreement became part of American DNA.
  America has endured trying ugly times. We fought a war for our independence and many lives were lost. We fought and killed each other to prevent the perpetuation of Americans of African descent remaining in chains and continuing to be second class citizens. We went to Europe and made sure that the evil of Nazism was forever squashed. But we have also been that shining city on a hill that President Ronald Reagan spoke so eloquently of. A beacon of light and freedom for so many who came to our shores in search of a better life. Not only for themselves, but for their children. Many of those first immigrants came with nothing but the clothes on their backs, whatever they could carry in a bag or trunk, and the willingness to work as hard as they had to, so that their American dream would become a reality.
  For Conservatives, this is a very troubling time for a nation we love so much. We see a national debt that no one seems to understand, much less care about, climbing higher and higher. The American economy continues to languish, with more of our citizens simply giving up looking for work. Overseas, our influence is nothing like it used to be, and rogue nations rattle their swords, and have no fear or respect for us. Right now, in Egypt, people carry signs in the streets mocking our nation and our President.
  Even on a day of celebration, we feel like just throwing in the towel, giving up. It seems like every day, more and more, the other side seems to be winning the fight. That the people we elected to send to Washington to represent us have no more fight left in them. They just want to be liked and get along with the opposition. But on this day more than any other, is when we must renew our commitment to fight on.
  Maybe we ask ourselves and each other, "What can I do? I am only one person. Who will listen to me?" What you can do is show up, speak up, and speak out. Go to the City Council meeting. Go to the School Board meeting. Write a blog or write for a website. Better yet, run for that School Board seat, run for that City Council seat. Be seen supporting the issues and causes that you care about. We all think we are just one person. What if a million plus of "just one person" get together to fight for what is right? What amazing things can we accomplish for the sake of our country?
  Independence Day would not be complete without thanking the brave men and women of our Military. They and their families sacrifice so much to keep our nation safe and free. They embody everything that is great and wondrous about America.
  Conservatives, Patriots, fellow Americans. Don't give in. Don't give up the fight. We have so much to fight for. Our country needs us now more than ever.
  Don't be afraid to rise up and take her back.
  Happy Independence Day from The Conservative Cauldron!

             

Tea Party - Time To Call The GOP's Bluff

  The rise of the Tea Party in 2010 was a movement like never before. Political protests were the domain of aging hippies, wearing tie-dye shirts, who may or may not be aware that the 60's are over. Suddenly, grandmothers, stay at home moms, and just ordinary Americans who had never before been politically active or protested the government, were now gathered by the thousands, waving Gadsden flags, and demanding that their elected officials hear what they had to say.
  The Tea Party carried quite a bit of political clout. Enough to win the largest number of seats by Republicans ever in the House. They were instrumental in the election of a few Senators as well. It is those Senators who seem to forget who brought them to the dance.
  The "test vote" on the Senate's version of the immigration reform bill passed on Monday by a vote of 67-27, with 15 Republican Senators voting to advance the 1100 page bill that almost no one has read.
  This vote by these Senators, we will call them the "gang of 15", has now very clearly illustrated the problem the GOP must tackle if we are to win even the 2014 mid-terms, much less the 2016 presidential election. The Republican Party is slowly splitting.

 There is the Party of John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Dinosaurs whose usefulness has long since dried up. They really were not interested in principles, or winning elections. They just wanted Democrats and the media (interchangeable) to like them. There is the Party of Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. Staunch Constitutionalists who are not so much interested in Party as they are in upholding and maintaining the principles and values on which our nation was founded. But they also know what is expected of them by the people who sent them to Washington. There is the Party of Marco Rubio and Kelly Ayotte. Tea Party favorites in 2010, who seemed to know what those Gadsden flag wavers wanted out of their representatives. They promised to deliver.
  But something has happened on the way to 2014. Republicans who claim to be Conservatives, are voting for a massive big government monstrosity that rewards illegals with a path to citizenship, promises to build a fence that was supposed to be built 7 years ago, and leaves the building of that fence, along with a whole lot of other things, up to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet  Napolitano. The Gang of 15, in their frantic quest to make new Hispanic friends before 2014, believe the way to do that is to vote for what amounts to amnesty for 11 million people, and creating a whole new generation of Democratic voters, while putting securing the border on the to do list.
  When the Tea Party Favorites were elected, they were told that they would indeed be held accountable, and if they did not adhere to basic Conservative principles, they would suffer the same fate as their RINO predecessors. So what now? If these so called Conservatives are not called out, does the Tea Party lose credibility? They were certainly quiet in 2012. Whether or not that was the fault of the IRS, who knows. Will the Tea Party faithful throw their hands up and throw the bums out? We all know there is no such thing as the "perfect" candidate, but many feel they were at least misled, at most lied to by the likes of Rubio, and his gang.
  The bill is expected to have trouble in the Republican led House, but if the bill passes the Senate as  is expected, is it time for the Tea Party to put on it's poker face, and call the GOP's bluff?
  Game on.
               
 

No Income Tax Paid? No Problem!

  The seemingly never ending saga of the IRS and it's bad behavior continues. Although it may take a back seat this week to the pending immigration bill. But what do ya' know, the IRS is well connected to the "plight" of the illegal immigrant.
  In a 2011 story from The Blaze, those here in the United States illegally and working have collected roughly $4.2 billion dollars a year in tax credits per year from the IRS. An amount that has quadrupled in the last 5-7 years.
  The IRS and

Congress have known about this for years, however the IRS claims it has no authority to stop what amounts to outright theft from American taxpayers by those who have entered the country illegally.
  Here's how it works. Individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States, and therefore cannot obtain a Social Security card are issued an ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. This number enables them to file a tax return. Even though illegals are prohibited from receiving most federal benefits, there is a growing number who are filing returns claiming the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).
  According to Townhall.com, one whistleblower who help expose the scheme said, "It's so easy it's ridiculous. Names are listed on the IRS form. The more you put on there, the more you get back. No questions asked." The IRS claims that for any real change to take place, there must be legislative change. So does sweeping immigration reform do anything to close this loophole?
  Senator Jeff Sessions R-AL offered an amendment requiring a valid Social Security number for each qualifying child, as well as for the filing parent. The amendment failed in committee on a party line vote, but Sessions was expected to offer it up again on the Senate floor when debate on the bill began on Tuesday.
  Illegal immigration costs hard working Americans billions of dollars every year. Public schools and hospitals are forced to shut their doors because they cannot handle the influx of people. And in the case of hospitals, writing off the costs of health care for the uninsured. Many of which will remain uninsured even after the full implementation of Obama care. Debate on immigration reform promises to be contentious. Democrats are likely to see failure to pass the bill as a potential political weapon they can use to portray Republicans as anti-immigration in the oh-so-crucial 2014 mid-term elections. Staunch Conservatives cannot seem to make their less than staunch colleagues see the importance of securing the border before any sort of legalization process is thought of.
  Part of the debate must be how to close these tax loopholes. Perhaps another part is deciding what to do about the always tightening noose around the American taxpayer that is the IRS. 

Hell to Pay

  It looks as though it is going to be a long hot summer, and then some for the Obama administration. We are at the point where we need to start numbering the scandals in order just to keep track and keep up. While all of these situations are disturbing and must be gotten to the bottom of, the ones that seem to resonate the most with ordinary Americans are the IRS targeting of Conservative groups, and the NSA monitoring of the personal phone calls and emails of average citizens. At the least, it is a violation of the first magnitude of the right to privacy that every American should expect, and at its most serious and egregious, it is a clear violation of the fourth amendment of the Constitution.
  While lawyers and political pundits have been all over the cable airwaves and the internet, many people have said a lot of things, and brought up very salient points. But there has been one thing that has been missing. It may be nothing, but with this bunch, you should probably make a note of everything.
  Right before the 2012 presidential election, and for a while immediately following, there was a quote floated about by White House Super-Advisor Valerie Jarrett. It went something like this, "After we win this election, it's our turn. Payback time. Everyone not with us is against us and they better be ready because we don't forget. The ones who helped us will be rewarded, the ones who opposed us will get what they deserve. There is going to be hell to pay. Congress won't be a problem for us this time. No election to worry about after this is over and we have two judges ready to go."
  Quite a bit of "testicular fortitude", even for someone who has been nicknamed by some administration insiders, "Obama's brain". But what about this brazen declaration? Is it the trash talk of elections, or is it more?
  We know that Valerie Jarrett has been a trusted friend and confidante to both Barack and Michelle Obama since their days in Chicago. All are seasoned warriors of the battle known as Chicago politics. We also know that "the Chicago way" does not mean that all parties involved join hands and sing "I'd like to teach the world to sing."
  Jarrett is front and center of most if not all decisions made by the President. Her words have won out over those of former White House Chiefs of Staff Rahm Emmanuel and Bill Daley. Is it possible that her fingerprints could be found at the NSA?
  And what about those talking heads on TV? Why has nobody remembered these words? I once heard Glenn Beck describe a conversation he had with a Nazi concentration camp survivor. As they spoke about the situation in the Middle East, the subject of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and his promise to "wipe Israel off the map" came up. The camp survivor, now an old man stated, "when someone threatens to annihilate you, believe them."
  While the two scenarios could not be more different, the principle is basically the same. Valerie Jarrett may very well be the biggest kook in the room, but the biggest kook in the room has the resources, the means, definitely the power, and maybe most importantly, the wherewithal and the desire to make it happen.
  The Obama administration is on record stating that there are "friends" and "enemies". It is how they operate. It remains to be seen where this latest governmental abuse of power will lead. Is it indeed at long last, payback time?     

Socially Acceptable Discrimination

  Last week, St. Louis broadcast icon Larry Connors filed a lawsuit with the Missouri Human Rights Commission accusing CBS affiliate KMOV-TV of age and race discrimination. The lawsuit claims that management gave younger reporters the more choice assignments. It also states that Connors former co-anchor was paid more because she was an African-American female.
  We are, right now, at the tip of the iceberg of a major scandal involving the IRS, and it's targeting of Conservative and religious groups for extra scrutiny when they filed for tax-exempt status.
  Are Americans headed down a chilling path? A path that actually condones discrimination of certain groups of people and speech?
  As far as groups of people that have been deemed acceptable for discriminatory action, white males and Christians seem to be at the top of the list. God(dess) help you if you are both. Want some back-up for that? Try hunting down discrimination statistics for white males. There aren't any. Recently, a casting call for a male host for a Canadian children's show went out. Just one hitch, no white men need apply.
  Christians are expected to keep their beliefs to themselves. Catholic hospitals are in the fight of their lives to keep from being forced to provide birth control, or perform any other service that may go against their beliefs that falls under the crushing umbrella of Obama care. And whatever you do, don't say, "Merry Christmas"!
  Back in 2003, Hillary Clinton, in front of a crowd, screeched about how dissent was patriotic, and we had a right to disagree with any administration! Really? Ask any one of roughly 500 Tea Party groups just how patriotic they were feeling when the IRS demanded to know the contents of their prayers.
  Noam Chomsky, Godfather of Uber-Lefties, once said, "If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all." Can Liberals really say they live by that creed today, when their answer to those with whom they disagree, is to shut them up? If minority Americans are comfortable with racism, yes that what it is, towards white males because somehow in their mind they feel like "they have it coming", then they have learned nothing from great courageous Americans like Frederick Douglass, Dr. W.E.B Du Bois, and Dr. Martin Luther King. Who decides what groups and what speech is acceptable, and which ones don't really deserve the equality that is guaranteed all Americans?
  Discrimination is discrimination. There is no "reverse" about it. If you don't condemn it when it happens to someone else, who will condemn it when it happens to you?         

Day of Rememberance

  On this Memorial Day 2014, We pay tribute to those rarest of heroes, our nation's fallen soldiers. The men and women who were quite willing to give the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, in defense of our values, our way of life, our nation. Words don't seem to be enough. We all like to think that when push came to shove, we would be willing to die for our country. I am quite sure it is the biggest "easier said than done" of them all.
  We have heard the stories of Revolutionary War soldiers. A ragged-tagged bunch of farmers really. They were out manned and out gunned. But they had what no Red-Coat from Britain possessed. A vision for a new nation, and a dream of independence and liberty that no British Regulars could put down. They were willing to die for their new country. We have heard stories of Civil War battles. Skirmishes that pitted brother against brother. For the first time, the new process of photography brought the gruesome reality of war home in a way never before seen. Soldiers went to battle for the basic idea that all men are created equal. The Union came ever so close to being split. But America was blessed with a man named Abraham Lincoln, who would do what he must to prevent that terrible possibility.
  World War I and II. The war to end all wars. The war against Nazism and Fascism. My late Father-in-law, told a story of being a young communications officer in Germany when a German soldier crept into the tent where he was working. He stabbed the German soldier, and came home with his diary. That generation, the greatest generation, kids, some as young as 19, defeating one the most evil regimes in history. They willingly went to defend their nation, knowing that so many of them would not come home.
  Those who served in Vietnam. A war made so unpopular. We know now, in large part by an even in that era, liberal media. No group of returning warriors has ever been treated so shabbily by their fellow countrymen. We can only hope that a new generation of Americans is giving these veterans that were able to make it out of the jungles of Southeast Asia the welcome home they never got and so richly deserve.
  The war on terror. It began long before that horrible day in September, 2001. It goes on today. So many brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines were inspired by the events of 9/11 to fight for their nation. They saw very clearly the threat to America that radical Islam presented. And so they went. So many not coming home.
  I do think that it is quite fitting on this day, to also

honor those who did come home. Those who did serve. I am quite sure they won't like it but I think that it is only proper to mention the Veterans who I am so honored to call friends, They are the cream of the crop. America's best.
 Martin Baker, Stan Kaliski, Ginny Kruta, Tony Laszacs, Ken Roe, Rob Huskey. Thank you. A grateful nation thanks you for your service, and defending America and what she stands for.
Happy Memorial Day.