Giving Time in DC

To view this email as a web page, go here.

Giving Time In Washington DC
If decades of government handouts, runaway spending and reckless abandon haven’t soured you to the idea that Washington doesn’t always have your best interest at heart, it was interesting to see some of this year’s campaign disclosures. Keeping in mind that Congressional rules set limits on gift giving from “any single source” at $100. Of course, like nearly everything else in Washington, there are 23 categories (loopholes) that are considered “acceptable gifts.” These are things like commemorative items, free attendance to certain events, etc. In addition, the ethics committees can waive gift rules, typically for weddings or if family members are involved in the gift. For example, WatchDog.com reported that Vice President Joe Biden owns a Vulcain Cricket watch valued around $2000. Of course, Vice President Biden’s disclosure statement has it valued at $800. It continues. You can take a look at this database that WatchDog.com put together and you’ll see all sorts of donations. $130 to Senator Olympia Snowe from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for a glass plague. Another $230 for a piece of petrified wood from the American Geophysical Union. The point is not to call out single legislators but rather to highlight that Washington seems to be the place where money goes to die. So, while many Americans struggle to line up health insurance for next year, hopefully those in Washington aren’t suffering too badly.

Bah! Humbug!
Todd Starnes has an article today on FoxNews.com that caught my attention. He tells the story of a group of high school students who were told they could not sing any religious songs at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Frosty the Snowman was okay but Joy To The World was not. It seems so contradictory that a group of young students would be told they can't exercise some semblance of free speech to a group of veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect that right. The VA said their policy was meant to protect the views of all faiths but it seems to me that, by protecting against all faiths, we're similarly discriminating against Christianity. For me, these stories are a constant reminder that our government was founded on the freedom of religion, not the freedom from it.

Today's "Hot Topic" From the Hannity Forums Merry Christmas - Posted by Thegsmom
Just wanted to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I have learned a lot from all of you here. Of course, there are some of you that I don't agree with. However, I appreciate reading different points of view.

>>TV Tonight (10PM on Fox News)
Sean is off tonight but the West Point band will bring some wonderful sounds of the season right to your home.