Poll of Christians: Eternal Security?
Loading ...Do you believe in the concept of eternal security? The idea that once you have accepted Christ as your Lord and savior that your salvation can not be lost? Or do you believe that your salvation can be lost based on your own actions?
Impractical? Maybe. Sound Awesome? Yes.
What did Newt Gingrich promise today? A permanent moon colony by the end of his second term in office, if elected. Impractical? Unrealistic? Both may be true. But, it does sound pretty awesome. Here's the quote:
"When they have 13,000 Americans living on the moon, they can petition to become a state...By the end of my second term, we will have the first permanent base on the moon and it will be American.”
Again - over the top and may be pandering to Floridians, but it's a fairly fascinating concept.
Ambrose Supports Open Primaries
Since I criticized Scott yesterday, I'll bring up this regarding her opponent in the bid for Republican National Committeewoman from Maryland. Nicolee Ambrose supports open primaries in Maryland. Here's the quote:
The foremost thing to understand about my run for National Committee Woman is that I don’t feel that I should be one of three votes that decides everything for the MD GOP. For an issue such as voting in primaries, I believe whether or not they are open to Independents should only be decided by the vote of an entire MD GOP Convention = all of the Central Committee members from all of Maryland’s counties.
If you are asking for my personal opinion, I think we would have a net gain by allowing I’s to vote in the GOP primaries. Given the disparity in voter registration favoring Dems, I think any measure that engages "out-party" voters and generates excitement in the GOP is beneficial. (Please note, I would feel quite differently if we lived in a state like NH or SC, where we were blessed with an engaged electorate that had significant weight in determining the nation’s GOP Presidential Candidate.) Minimally in Maryland, I think a party-wide discussion of this issue - its pros & cons - and other possible strategies to attract newly affiliated GOP voters is all desirable.
Generating excitement for the GOP is one thing; allowing people who are not members of the party to vote in our primary is another entirely. I disagree with this on a fundamental level. First, what's the incentive for joining the Republican Party if you can vote in the primary as an Independent? One of the draws of affiliating is the fact that you can vote in a primary. Take that incentive away and we may actually see a drop in membership.
Secondly, what benefit have open primaries wrought in other states? We've seen the rise of candidates who are outside the norm of the party faithful. We see candidates who would not support the general party platform succeeding in the primary. We see the potential for a standard bearer who does not represent the mindset of the average party member. It becomes worse if we allow Democrats to vote in the Republican primary as well.
I support closed primaries, everywhere, but starting here at home we should keep them that way. Both this and the gas tax support from Audrey Scott are problematic to me. But, there is a difference. The first is a difference in policy - party positions rarely have an impact on policy. The second is a function of how the party operates. That one has a direct bearing on an internal party position, therefore will have a greater bearing on whom I'd be ready to support for this position.
Bongino Endorsed by Rutledge
Dan Bongino just received the endorsement from 2010 US Senate candidate Jim Rutledge. Rutledge, who never held public office before, ran a fiery primary campaign in 2010 against Eric Wargotz coming in a close second place in the statewide primary that year. I supported Rutledge in the primary (see my interview here), so it's great to see him come out for the candidate that I also support in 2012. Here's the transcript from the presser:
Jim Rutledge, former U.S. Senate candidate, has officially endorsed Dan Bongino, candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland.
"Dan Bongino will bring to the U.S. Senate what has been seriously lacking for some time in Maryland; a person that can truly relate to and speak for the average Maryland family," said Jim Rutledge. "Dan has an impressive life story and an accomplished record on the front line of law enforcement rising from the ranks of the NYPD to the Secret Service. Washington is awash with a culture of corruption. Dan Bongino is a man of courage and integrity. Dan Bongino knows that jobs, opportunity, and prosperity can only thrive in a free-market economy. We need a new beginning here in Maryland and that will start when we elect Dan Bongino. "
A former U.S. Senate candidate, Jim Rutledge is a partner with the Baltimore County law firm of Rutledge & Aitken, with over 25 years of legal experience representing Maryland's small businesses, average citizens, and farmers. Jim Rutledge is an advocate for constitutionally limited government and for the protection of American sovereignty, private property, free market capitalism, the rule of law, and the defense of our unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A respected member of his community, Jim Rutledge currently resides in Harford County with his wife, Kim, where they raised their two children.
"It is an honor to receive Mr. Rutledge's endorsement. He has spent his career striving to bring about better government and providing a voice for those fighting against the powerful establishment," said Bongino. "As U.S. Senator, I will bring that fight. I will work to ensure that our federal government becomes more responsive to the needs of the people of Maryland."
Dan Bongino, a devoted husband and father, served in the United States Secret Service for more than a decade, in which he was assigned to the elite Presidential Protection Division. He represented the U.S. as a lead government security official in over 25 countries. Holding graduate degrees in Business Administration and Psychology, Dan has gone on to start several successful businesses in Maryland. As an entrepreneur, he understands that it will be small businesses and consumer confidence that will reinvigorate the economy; not a tax and spend mentality from big government.
HT to Anthropocon
Baltimore County 3-12
A number of Baltimore County Democrats (excluding my representative, John Olzewski, Sr), have proposed a very simple bill entitled, "An Act Concerning Human Relations" AKA Bill 3-12. What does this bill do? It's an attempt to prevent discrimination against homosexuals and transgendered people, adding them to the existing list of protected groups under anti-discrimination laws.
Now, let me begin by saying this - discrimination is horrible. Attempts to attack or hurt someone based on their sexual orientation or other lifestyle choice is reprehensible. It's just as awful as attacking someone for any other characteristic of their personality. It's terrible and already illegal. Also, we all realize that it's not right to fire someone from their job or to raise the price of a good merely because you discover that someone is different from yourself.
Now I've gotten that out of the way, let's go back to the legislation at hand. The legislation will prevent discrimination regarding the following items:
- Housing
- Employment
- Education
- Public Accommodation
- Financing
Herein lies a few problems, specifically because of the vagueness of the legislation. Will this require religious organizations to hire those who's lifestyle contradicts their beliefs (homosexuals, transgendered persons)? Will this require public accommodations to be made special for transgendered persons? Or are transgendered persons able to use whichever restroom they feel like that day? Are traditional dress codes in professional business establishments required to change to accommodate?
Regarding education - what exactly does that mean? Ann Miller of Red Maryland believes there may be an additional agenda regarding transgendered persons and the education system, which you can read about in the aforementioned link. Will public schools be required to teach about transgendered studies? Will schools be required to accommodate for those students who believe they are a different gender than they are physically in school sports?
Also, what if one does not identify with a gender? Will engendered roles be offensive to them? It's difficult to say the full ramification of this legislation, especially with how vaguely it is worded. The bottom line is this legislation is so vague that it would protect under the law a man who decides he feels like hanging out in women's restrooms all day, so he dresses like a woman. It's written in such a way that the original intent has become lost and there's too many holes.
If we want to protect minority groups from discrimination - go ahead, but find a better way.
Maryland Blogs / Sites
- Augie "Citizen Watchdog"
- Inside Charm City
- Maryland Public Policy Institute
- Maryland Society of Patriots
- MD Conservative Action Network
- monoblogue
- Potomac Tea Party Report
- PVRC Blog
- Red Maryland
- Right Coast Conservative
National Blogs / Sites
- 2012 Candidates on Twitter
- Anthropocon
- Bearing Drift
- Moe Lane
- Musings – It's Zarf-tastic!
- Oddly Said
- Other McCain
- Pithy Title Goes Here
- Pundit League
- Race42012
- Ramblings…
- RedState
- RightKlik
- Ruby Slippers
- Secular ProLife
- Sundries Shack
- The Quinton Report
- TORARADICALcom
Religious Blogs / Sites
- Ed Stetzer
- Edgemere Baptist Church
- Just1Word
- Tally Wilgis
- The 140 Bible
- The Girl On The Road To Self Discovery
- Thom Rainer
- TroyStouffer.com
