"Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born." - Ronald Reagan Recently, I became curious about how former president Ronald Reagan viewed abortion. I was delighted to find an article former President Reagan himself authored that was published in the National Review.

Even Acts of God Turn Political Before Katrina made landfall in the Gulf, I predicted that somehow President Bush would not only be blamed for the government's response to the disaster, but for the storm itself. My predictions were closer than I believed. The collision of nerdy meteorologists and paranoid government conspiracy theorists has made big news recently in the media with sroucrs such as The O'Reilly Factor and the USA Today. One Idaho television weatherman has recently quit his job to pursue his study of these theories. Scott Stevens believes that the contrails found in the sky that are associated with these storms are evidence that these storms are induced by man. He goes on to predict that another major disaster will strike the U.S. by the end of 2005.

Visit to Lakeview Christian

Center in New Orleans Lakeview Christian Church, near the 17th Street Levee in New Orleans, has sustained serious damage from Katrina. Click here is view a short video that introduces the LCC staff and takes a brief tour of the area and the church. Click here To donate to Sovereign Grace Ministries' disaster fund.

Noonan on the Outlook for the Bush Pundit Peggy Nonan has an honest, poignant article in the Wall Street Journal analyzing the impact of the Katrina on the Bush Administration. It is worth taking the time to read.

SWANN Looking More Like a Candidate for PA Governor

Swann Looking More Like a Candidate for PA Governor ESPN ran an article about Swann’s potential as a gubernatorial candidate for next year PA race. When I first read the article, I was impressed with Swann’s resume and his vision. I still have some reservations, however. First, I was confident that I would find Swann a fiscal conservative, but not sure if I would find him a social conservative. Although I cannot say that he is categorically conservative on social issues, I did learn that he is without hesitation pro-life. I am hopeful as I wait to learn more about Swann and excited to see what his platform will look like.

Pet Rescue in New Orleans

With the willing gone, rescue efforts have now turned towards saving the four legged friend of New Orleans. The Rottwieler puppy shown in this picture is one of the fortunate pets not to become a victim of Hurrican Katrina.

But what about owners who refused to evacuate without their pets? And, what about the critics who believe that pets should be held in equal with esteem with humans? Of what value is a mandatory evacuation without the teeth to enforce the evacuation. How selfish to put human life at risk in hurricane search and rescue efforts for the sake of of a cat or dog. Don't misunderstand me, I enjoy my pets as much as most people. However, it is completely ridiculous to put others at risk for the sake of a pet.

Katrina Not the First or the Worst U.S. Natural Diaster The media is again demonstrating its lack of awareness of American history. Nearly everyday the media claims that Katrina was the worse natural disaster that has ever visited American shores, but on Memorial Day weekend in 1889 an emerging iron city in western Pennsylvania found itself submerged with floods that will likely prove to be still more devastating than Katrina. The Johnstown flood claimed the lives 2,209 people and an estimated 1,600 homes. Like Katrina, the Johnstown disaster raised issues of the gap between the wealthy and the poor. Arguably, the Johnstown flood revealed an even larger gap between the classes, for it was the wealthy that were responsible for the calamity. It was the summer home lake resort owned by many of Pittsburgh's steel, iron, and financial tycoons that sent torrents through the Conemaugh Valley. David McCullough's Johnstown Flood , widely considered the best written book about the Johnstown disaster, addresses the social history, the cause, responsibility, and effects of the Johnstown flood. This book would make an excellent resource for government leaders at all levels, especially those who find themselves responsible for disaster prevention and relief efforts. Like New Orleans, there was a great cry of public sentiment to support the rebuilding efforts of Johnstown. Sadly, history would repeat itself with two subsequent floods in 1936 and 1977 where loss of life also occurred. Although the destruction from the first flood was increased by man’s carelessness, it is unfair to contend that Johnstown would have escaped flooding in 1889. Why do we rebuild in cities that are prone to such devastation? How can we with clear conscience rebuild without carefully weighing the value of human life and the financial burden that we all bear when such loss occurs. Perhaps we rebuild at these places because ultimately, we think that we are smarter and more powerful than God. After all, surely we know enough about technology and weather and nature itself to outfox storms. And why would we admit that there are things beyond our control? In the end, the problems surrounding Katrina and the folly of casting blame and convincing ourselves that we can build the city safe enough to protect it from destruction next time are age old issues, not new or unique to Katrina and New Orleans. Let us learn our lessons from Johnstown and rebuild with great caution and prudence.

Arlen Specter Strikes Again As the Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings today for President Bush's nominee Judge John Roberts, Pennsylvania Republican Senator and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter flaunted his true colors as he wasted no time in directing questions geared at smoking out Judge Roberts' views on privacy and abortion. To aid his efforts for re-election, Specter seemed willing to soften his view on these issues when it came to judiciary nominations. It now appears as though this was simply a ploy to obtain the votes of loyal Republican voters who had grown weary of Specter's liberal ways. Let this be a lesson to us; regardless of who throws his hat in Arlen Specter's ring, Specter cannot be trusted to represent the values that most conservatives so dearly espouse. Both President Bush and Senator Santorum have disappointed us by casting their support Specter's way.

Dignity for the Deceased Imagine the media filming the recovery of your loved one's body. That is exactly what the media has accomplished in court. CNN won in court recently the right to film search and rescue teams recovering corpses from the region devastated by Katrina.

As if this disregard for human dignity was not upsetting enough, conservative news reporters like Cal Thomas have enthusiastically supported the media's right to film the recovery efforts. This assumed role of the media as the "Fourth Branch of Government" has gone too far. Americans have come to rely on the media to serve and protect them, rather than our goveernment. Perhaps this is because Americans have a consumer-based view of government rather than a participative.

How far is too far? If Americans continue to be desensitized to the horrific images of death that the media wishes to bring into our living rooms, what will we allow next?

Welcome! Welcome! This blog will contain a variety of information ranging from links to articles and websites that I find interesting to pictures of those who are near and dear to me. It seems completely reasonable to start by introducing my nephew, William Byron Grover. Little William, or Willie, was born on August 2, 2005. To see more pictures of William, you may visit Chuck's (Eric) website.