TulipGirl

The Ronald Reagan classic, with a chuckling Gorby:

Another reason I’m infatuated with Google is Google Labs newest search engine toy, In Quotes.

Try it. . . Find out what McCain, Obama, or any one of many major politicians have said on any issue recently. I can see so many bloggers and pundits having fun with this one!

(via LifeHacker)

Molodyetz, Senator McCain, on the “Trust, but verify” nod to Ronald Reagan. That made me smile, along with McCain’s understanding of the nuances of Georgia, Ukraine, and NATO. (And the nuance of accurately saying Ukraine, rather than Obama’s the Ukraine.)

Yes, the focus of the debate was much broader than Eastern Europe, but I appreciated McCain’s strong statement of support for Ukraine.

What McCain said:

MCCAIN: Well, I was interested in Senator Obama’s reaction to the Russian aggression against Georgia. His first statement was, “Both sides ought to show restraint.”

Again, a little bit of naivete there. He doesn’t understand that Russia committed serious aggression against Georgia. And Russia has now become a nation fueled by petro-dollars that is basically a KGB apparatchik-run government.

I looked into Mr. Putin’s eyes, and I saw three letters, a “K,” a “G,” and a “B.” And their aggression in Georgia is not acceptable behavior.

I don’t believe we’re going to go back to the Cold War. I am sure that that will not happen. But I do believe that we need to bolster our friends and allies. And that wasn’t just about a problem between Georgia and Russia. It had everything to do with energy.

There’s a pipeline that runs from the Caspian through Georgia through Turkey. And, of course, we know that the Russians control other sources of energy into Europe, which they have used from time to time.

It’s not accidental that the presidents of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine flew to Georgia, flew to Tbilisi, where I have spent significant amount of time with a great young president, Misha Saakashvili.

And they showed solidarity with them, but, also, they are very concerned about the Russian threats to regain their status of the old Russian to regain their status of the old Russian empire.

Now, I think the Russians ought to understand that we will support — we, the United States — will support the inclusion of Georgia and Ukraine in the natural process, inclusion into NATO.

We also ought to make it very clear that the Russians are in violation of their cease-fire agreement. They have stationed additional troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

By the way, I went there once, and we went inside and drove in, and there was a huge poster. And this is — this is Georgian territory. And there was a huge poster of Vladimir Putin, and it said, “Vladimir Putin, our president.”

It was very clear, the Russian intentions towards Georgia. They were just waiting to seize the opportunity.

So, this is a very difficult situation. We want to work with the Russians. But we also have every right to expect the Russians to behave in a fashion and keeping with a — with a — with a country who respects international boundaries and the norms of international behavior.

And watch Ukraine. This whole thing has got a lot to do with Ukraine, Crimea, the base of the Russian fleet in Sevastopol. And the breakdown of the political process in Ukraine between Tymoshenko and Yushchenko is a very serious problem.

So watch Ukraine, and let’s make sure that we — that the Ukrainians understand that we are their friend and ally.

We’re having our own little McCain/Obama debate watching party at home tonight with the kids, watching online at CNN.com. I think we’ll make popcorn, too. . .

More resources for watching the presidential debate online:
• Watch live at CNN
• Watch live at CSpan, unavailable
• Reading Body Language in Presidential Debates
• Find a Debate Watching Party near you.
• Read the debate transcript.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

One of the first hymns the boys and I learned together when they were preschoolers was “O Worship The King.” It’s #2 in the Trinity Hymnal, and like the hymns we sing most often, easy to find with the smudges on the pages from little hands. We sung it in church this morning, and I found myself starting to tear up again. It’s been a rough week. My praises to God are lisping, humble and frail. I needed the reminders of His firm faithfulness.

Freedom Works Congressional Rankings (2006)

McCain: 83%
Obama: 25%
Biden: 17%

Another government watchdog and grassroots activist group that has been active since the early ’80s is Freedom Works. “FreedomWorks fights for lower taxes, less government and more economic freedom for all Americans.”

In the past few weeks, I’ve heard many discussions about “pork” spending in Washington. Citizens Against Government Waste has been active since the early ’80s, long being the watchdog for how our tax dollars are spent and misspent. Each year they issue a report that takes key votes and tabulates ratings for members of congress based on whether they supported or opposed wasteful spending.

From the 2007 CAGW Report

STATE – SENATOR – 2007 – LIFETIME
Arizona – McCain (R) – 100% – 88%
Delaware – Biden (D) – 0% – 22%
Illinois – Obama (D) – 10% – 18%

Today’s planned field trip.

Update. . .

Hubby and the boys went up to the Tampa Convention Center, and got to stand between the press bleachers as part of an overflow crowd. They enjoyed both seeing McCain and hearing him speak in person. His message focused on the economy, rather than the usual stump speech. They also thought it was fun seeing the anti-McCain protesters.

The day ended up with an unusual twist — the van breaking down in the middle of downtown Tampa. A call to USAA, a towtruck that broke down on the way to the shop, and a seven-hour wait later. . . I picked them up late last night and we’re still waiting to here from the shop. No doubt, this will be expensive — and we’re trying to figure out how to juggle the next few days’ schedules when each of us needs to be in different parts of town at the same time, and our primary vehicle is in a different city.

Another update: Hubby finally has pics up!

McCain in Tampa

All things praise Thee, Lord most high,
Heav’n and earth and sea and sky,
All were for Thy glory made,
That Thy greatness thus displayed
Should all worship bring to Thee;
All things praise Thee—Lord, may we!

All things praise Thee—night to night
Sings in silent hymns of light;
All things praise Thee—day to day
Chants Thy power in burning ray;
Time and space are praising Thee,
All things praise Thee—Lord, may we!

All things praise Thee—high and low,
Rain and dew and sparkling snow,
Crimson sunset, fleecy cloud,
Rippling stream, and tempest loud;
Summer, winter, all to Thee
Glory render—Lord, may we!

All things praise Thee—Heav’n’s high shrine
Rings with melody divine;
Lowly bending at Thy feet,
Seraph and archangel meet;
This their highest bliss, to be
Ever praising—Lord, may we!

All things praise Thee—gracious Lord,
Great Creator, powerful Word,
Omnipresent Spirit, now
At Thy feet we humbly bow;
Lift our hearts in praise to Thee;
All things praise Thee—Lord, may we!

Listen here for young brothers in the Lord, praising God through shape-note singing.

(Via Kathy/Amy)

GIBSON: Would you favor putting Georgia and Ukraine in NATO?

PALIN: Ukraine, definitely, yes. Yes, and Georgia.

GIBSON: Because Putin has said he would not tolerate NATO incursion into the Caucasus.

PALIN: Well, you know, the Rose Revolution, the Orange Revolution, those actions have showed us that those democratic nations, I believe, deserve to be in NATO.

Putin thinks otherwise. Obviously, he thinks otherwise, but…

GIBSON: And under the NATO treaty, wouldn’t we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?

PALIN: Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help.

But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to — especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on, on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members.

We have got to make sure that that is the group that can be counted upon to defend one another in a very dangerous world today.

–Sept 11, 2008

Who wants to be my kitchen helper?

That’s a common question around here — at least, when I cook, which isn’t quite as often as it used to be.  Over time, having a Kitchen Helper has become a special time to work together, talk together, be together.  Tonight, R9 was my kitchen helper.  We made hummus, with chickpeas that we thawed from the freezer.  Hummus and fresh veggies.  Yummm!  That’s been enough for a summer dinner at times.

But tonight it’s overcast and windy, even though we are feeling just the very edges of Ike.  So we made comfort food, too.  A big wok full of potatoes, onions, and sausage.  I cut the veggies and my kitchen helper stirred them, keeping them from burning and telling me when they were ready.  Much of my cooking these days is impromptu, so I’m hoping that the boys are learning not just basic culinary skills, but also the abilty to look into the fridge and figure out what could be prepared that is somewhat nutritious.  Hummus and sausage?  Not exactly traditional combinations, but it worked tonight.

I’ve been reading “Hold On To Your Kids:  Why parents Need To Matter More Than Peers,” which my friend Carol gave to me.  I’m still in the first few chapters, and so far it is very insightful.  And it has made me thankful for the rituals we have in our family — rituals like Who wants to be my kitchen helper?

Doesn’t that look like fun? Sailing on Lake Michigan. I’m trying to see whether I can pick out my parents’ building in the background.

Andrew and Rebecca have each promised threatened a visit to Florida this fall. Andrew wants to go sailing on the Gulf, Rebecca wants us to meet Jon. And now that I’ve announced it online, you’re pretty much obligated to visit! *wink*

Ahhh. . . one of the perks of living in Florida! Visits from northern friends!

(Though, to be honest, Andrew came to Ukraine, too — and Becca almost made it that far, but met us in Paris instead.)

If you missed it. . . wow. . . It was fabulous.

The text is here – but you miss out on the strength and grace of the delivery.

The boys were applauding as much as the delegates at the convention.

“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.” –Obama

“We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. . . .Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family.” –Palin