The Gregoirinch That Stole Christmas

Within the past week, we here at the Rouge Revival Blog have posted two articles pertaining to: 1. An attempt by Atheist to undermine Christmas, as well as yesterday’s piece on; 2. The sad state of our nation's state governors.

It appears that one huge story, coming out of the State of Washington, unfortunately covers both topics and provides us with today’s update.

Governor Christine Gregoire (D), has insulted Christians all over the world by allowing Atheists to invade the state’s traditional holiday display, which features a Christmas tree and the Nativity scene (perfectly appropriate since the Christmas Federal and State holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem).

“But what to my wandering eyes did appear?” Standing alongside the baby Jesus is a giant placard designed by atheists that reads, "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Those words are not sugar plums dancing in your ears, no-no, you’ve read the sign correctly. The governor of Washington State has permitted an attack on religion to be displayed in her State Capital Office Building as part of a ‘Christmas’ presentation.

Would somebody please get Andy Williams back in the studio. He needs to record a new secular middle eight to his holiday classic: “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.”

“There'll be gay pride for hosting

Terr-o-rists for toasting

And Atheists out in the snow

There'll be Supreme Court stories
That’ll kill all the glories of
Christmases long, long ago”

Democrat Christine Gregoire’s election to the ofice in 2004 over Republican Dino Rossi was the closest gubernatorial race in American history. Rossi led after two machine counts by 261 votes and 47 votes, respectively, before losing a final manual count by 129 votes. One can only imagine how many homeless, illegal aliens and dead people provided Gregoire the authority to mock and marginalize the United States Christmas tradition.

Fox News TV personality Bill O'Reilly called the display "political correctness gone mad" and urged viewers to call Gov. Christine Gregoire's office to complain. If you are interested in doing so, I have included her contact information, at the end of this article.

Gregoire spokesman Pearse Edwards says the office has been getting about 200 calls an hour, as well as e-mails. The Capitol has had a holiday tree, provided by the Association of Washington Business, for 19 years. In 2006, it was joined by a menorah sponsored by a Seattle Jewish group. That prompted a lawmaker from Spokane to stage a protest at the Capitol, demanding the holiday tree be called a "Christmas tree." It also led a local real estate agent to sue the state to allow the nativity display depicting the birth of Jesus.

Governor Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna put out a joint statement Wednesday noting that the federal lawsuit led the state to create a policy allowing groups to sponsor a display "regardless of that individual's or group's views." And added: "The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays.”

Hmmm, “one religious display" … lets take a look at Webster’s definition of the word ‘religion’ … shall we?!

Re⋅li⋅gion - Pronunciation [ri-lij-uh n] –noun
1. set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific spiritually fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Jewish religion.
3. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

Atheism is the antithesis of religion. A religion requires a strong faith in a belief system, and atheism repudiates both faith and belief. In religion, faith is a virtue. To an atheist, skepticism is the virtue.

“ … it’s the most con-fu-sing timmmmme, of the year!”

Write Governor Gregoire a Letter:

Governor Chris Gregoire, Office of the Governor, PO Box 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Give Governor Gregoire's Office a Call:

Governor's Office 360 902-4111 (for the deaf or hard of hearing, please dial 711)

Fax Governor Gregoire a Letter:

Governor's Fax Number 360 753-4110

Give The Governor A 'Hurrumph'

On Wednesday they held the National Governor’s Conference in the City of Brotherly Love, however, Governor Ed Rendell (D) of Pennsylvania inadvertently chose not to spread that love to one of his fellow Governors.

Unaware of an open microphone (how many times have we heard that one), Governor Rendell made, in what he felt was off the record, the following gaffe in speaking about Barack Obama's Homeland Security Secretary pick, Arizona Governor. Janet Napolitano: "Janet's perfect for that job … because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family, perfect. She can devote, literally, 19 to 20 hours a day to it."

Now I’d love to take this opportunity, as a red blooded conservative, to jump all over the liberal Governor, however, while some are insinuating the remarks to be “sexist”, I believe the Governor did not mean for his remarks to sound the way it came off. Although his point was a good one, he just chose a poor way of making it.

There are plenty of Governors to rake over the coals these days, nothing mind you in comparison to the likes of former Governors Eliot Spitzer (D-New York) and Bob Wise (D-West Virginia), but some legitimate questions and concerns.

Speaking of Janet Napolitano … aside from her stance (or lack thereof) on Illegal Immigration, (and correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t she help pave the way for an Illegal alien passing lane on highways that runs from the Mexico/Arizona border through her home state?) … seems I recall a number of questionable moral and ethics violations. But none more memorable then her advising and corroborating on the Anita Hill farce.

You remember, the theatrical storyline, that is, that Ms. Hill had been sexually harassed by her boss, Clarence Thomas. When Susan Hoerchner originally testified that she heard Hill's account of being harassed during a time period that turned out to be before she ever worked for Thomas. Hoerchner’s testimony not only didn't corroborate Hill, it undermined her. But in the middle of this testimony, Napolitano (who was advising Hill) took Hoerchner off the record, and a few minutes later, return to the hearings and testified that she couldn't remember the timing. As David Brock put it in ‘The Real Anita Hill’, “Hill’s attorney Janet Napolitano asked to go off the record, and Hoerchner came back suddenly struck with amnesia.”

I’m afraid that now Barack Obama, and those on the left, have the case of amnesia.

Then there is the case of Governor Ted Strickland (D) Ohio (beginning to notice a trend here?) Seems Governor Strickland has a plumber problem. Specifically, ''Joe the Plumber,'' aka Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher. And if Strickland is not careful, his plumber problem could undermine everything he wants to do in the remaining two years of his term.

In late November, Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles opened his own inquiry into the matter. In addition State Republicans are seizing on the issue, and why not? Strickland set the ethical bar high for his administration when he ran for governor in 2006, and Democrats have justifiably criticized President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for not respecting privacy rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

The pressure applied led Strickland to place Helen E. Jones-Kelley, director of Ohio's Department of Job and Family, on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The governor also issued an executive order to all state agencies to review and report back within 30 days on their policies regarding access to private data.

"In the absence of credible evidence of fraud or a reliable accusation of delinquency, no Ohioan should be subject to a 'witch hunt' on the whim of a public official,'' State Rep. Bill Batchelder (R) says in his open letter to Strickland. Governor Strickland has tried, unsuccessfully, to convince Ohioans that he had nothing to do with the background checks on Wurzelbacher. And now he faces legal challenges from Joe the Attorney.

Sure hope the governor realizes that it was the cover-up, not the crime that forced Richard Nixon to resign from the highest office in the land.

And from the department of ‘Last But Not Least’, one of my favorite Governors for taking to task, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) Michigan. It seems that the Cato Institute, a Washington D.C. based and well respected organization nationally, recently took a crack at analyzing the fiscal situation in all 50 states.

The Cato study found that Governor Granholm has presided over one of the slowest-growing states in the nation, “and her tax increases have not helped matters.” The biggest tax change in recent years was to the Michigan Single Business Tax. The tax was generally hated by businesses, and there was wide agreement that it should be repealed.

Michigan’s economy, next to Massachusetts, continues to be the worst in the country. Even so, Granholm continues to drive small business away, as well as, many of its citizens.

In the words of Governor William J. LePetomane (Mel Brooks character from the movie ‘Blazing Saddles’):

'The affairs of state take precedent over the affairs of state.'

A Father To His Son - Happy Birthday Luke

Twenty Six years ago today I inherited, what I consider to be, the most responsible and greatest title a man could ever have bestowed upon him. On December 3, 1982, I forever became known as “Dad.”

And so today I pause, not only to wish my son, Luke James Lewis, a Happy 26th Birthday (Hey! That means you’re now embarking on your second quarter century my son … and you call me “Old Man!”), but I also reflect and give honor to Our Father in Heaven, the founding Father’s of the United States of America and my greatest hero, Herbert H. Lewis … my Dad!

We all know the lessons of the Founding Fathers. The hardship, the battles, the great vision, fortitude, and the incredible qualities, character, perseverance, and brilliance it took to create this great country.

Those are the lessons that my grandfather learned and passed on to my father. Those two generations paved the way, and brought us, some of the greatest inventions known to man. They fought World Wars to protect and secure our freedoms. It was a day when a 40 hour work week was considered part time.

My father and mother raised us in a close-knit Catholic community, where doors were left unlocked at night; backyard were flooded for makeshift hockey rinks in winter; front yards became baseball diamonds in the summer, and the streets were commandeered as touch football fields in the fall.

I never heard my father complain nor utter one single curse word. I’m afraid that’s something my son Luke can never claim about his father. He taught his children to appreciate the values of self-discipline, of respect, and of loyalty to friends and family.

The lessons my Father passed down to me, and I in turn instilled upon my son, were based upon those core principles. They were based upon the same values, preparation, discipline and accountability.

Unfortunately the Baby Boom Generation, which I am a part of, began to take our freedoms and these principles for granted. I saw how hard my father worked and sacrificed for the sake of his family. I began to look at all the things that I could of, and should of, had. I knew how much I missed my father while he was off working, even though he provided me, as well as, my five siblings so much of his very limited and precious time and hard earned dollars.

So even though I passed these lessons on to my son Luke, as well as, my daughter April, and my step daughters Jessica and Amanda, I sometimes ended up being (at times) more a friend than a father. I was way too lenient and bought them far too much. But I did also hug them a lot and, always, told them that I loved them. I realize that I was much more emotional with my son (and daughter), because I knew how much I missed that when my Dad was off working.

Even still, I always set the example of ‘work hard and play hard’. My 30 years, of mostly 50 plus hour work weeks, in corporate America, mixed with playing music on weekends as a second income, all while continuing to be involved with the children’s schooling and activities, were my lessons in action. Which leads me to one of my favorite sayings, as well as, a very important lesson ...

Talk is cheap and action speaks louder than words.

When my son was preparing to join the U.S. Air Force in 2002, I asked him to name for me three main principles, he had learned, that will carry him forward into a successful future. His response brought a tear to my eye, because he nailed it:

“Work and Study Hard, Laugh Often, Keep Your Honor!”

Today, I am also reminded of Tim Russert, who passed away this past June. Russert wrote “Big Russ and Me”, an important book about his father, that opened up a flood of feelings for sons who have fathers who have played an important role in their lives.

His follow up book “Wisdom of Our Fathers” was evidence of the nationwide connection between his experience with his father and so many sons who cherish their relationship with their father. His third book was written about himself as a father and his son Luke.

All three books are worth the read and I recommend them wholeheartedly to everyone.

Now my son Luke has his own son and a long road ahead to pave. Dylan Jacob Lewis, although just over two years old, is already beginning to learn these lessons.

Today, however, they’re calling em “Time Outs!”

If my father were alive today, he’d have a good belly laugh over that one … and then ... in one motion, while whipping off his belt, he’d surely say: “I’ve got a timeout for you!”

Happy Birthday Son!

It has been an eventful and deeply satisfying journey!

Jack Morris - Belongs In Cooperstown

I have been a life long fan of the Game of Baseball; from the moment my Father first took me and my brother to see the Detroit Tigers in 1962. That very first moment we walked into Tiger Stadium and I took in the sights, the sound, the smell, the feel … and oh that bright green grass, the golden brown dirt infield, the clean white bases and chalk line … my senses became more alive then they had even been during my previous eight years on earth. I was hooked!

So it goes without saying, while watching ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" this morning, that my ears perked up when they announced the official 2009 ballot for the Hall of Fame.

It’s been 20 years since the Baseball Writers' Association of America has elected a left fielder into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The 2009 ballot that was released Monday features some prominent left fielders who may very well end that drought. For Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice, there is a case of the first and the last. Henderson is among 10 newcomers to the Hall of Fame ballot. Rice, one of the 13 holdovers from the 2008 ballot, is getting his final opportunity for election by the writers.

There is no question that Henderson, not only deserves but, will be inducted into Cooperstown in 2009. But for one Hall of Fame hopeful, the annual debates begin again.

Jack Morris spent fourteen of his eighteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers. However, he was still able to pick up three World Championship rings on three different teams: the Tigers in 1984, the Twins in 1991, and the Blue Jays in 1992. And despite an illustrious career, that included Morris becoming the winningest pitcher in the Major Leagues during the decade of the 1980’s, plus throwing a no-hitter, 5 All Star appearances, and being named a World Series MVP, he has been unsuccessful in gaining enough votes to win Baseball’s highest honor.

To this life long fan of the game ... it’s a no brainer! The numbers speak for themselves:

The Numbers:
254 Wins (40th All-time); 3.90 ERA; 2478 Strikeouts (31st All-time); 3824 Innings (49th All-time); 527 starts (35th All-time); 175 Complete Games; 28 Shutouts; 1 No Hitter.

The Awards:

World Series MVP; 5 All-Star Appearances; Received MVP votes in 5 seasons; Received Cy Young votes in 7 seasons.

Top Ten Finishes:

Wins - 12 Times (Led league in ‘81 & ‘92); ERA - Five Times; Strikeouts - 8 Times (Led league ‘83); Innings - 9 Times (Led league in ‘83); Starts - 11 Times (Led league in ‘90 & ‘91); Complete Games - 10 Times (Led league in ‘90); Shutouts - 8 Times (Led league in ‘86); Winning Percentage - 5 Times.

All these great statistics aside … for me, it comes down to one memorable night in 1991 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minnesota … in what many consider to be, the greatest post season performance of the modern era. It was Sunday, October 27, 1991, Game 7 of the World Series. Jack Morris of the Minnesota Twins vs. John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves.

The pitching duel lived up to the hype, with neither team scoring through the first seven innings. But in the top of the eighth inning, the Braves mounted a challenge. With veteran speedster Lonnie Smith on first base and 1991 National League Batting MVP Terry Pendleton at the plate, Braves skipper Bobby Cox called for the hit-and-run. Pendleton drove the ball into the gap for a double. Smith hesitated while rounding second base, however, and ended up on third instead of scoring.

Morris then settled down and worked out of the jam, getting the final two outs as Atlanta first baseman Sid Bream grounded into a double play, stranding Smith on third in what turned out to be a huge missed opportunity by Atlanta.

Smoltz was removed from the game in the bottom of the eighth inning after scattering just six hits and striking out four, and more importantly, keeping the score knotted at 0-0.

Morris soldiered on as the game remained scoreless through the ninth. As the game entered the top of the tenth inning (which was the third game of the Series to reach extra innings), Jack Morris returned to the mound and set the Braves down in order. The 18-game winner had now thrown, unbelievably, 10 innings without giving up a run. But he'd thrown 126 pitches on just three days rest. The odds of him continuing for an 11th frame were mighty slim.

He wouldn't need to. In the bottom half of the tenth inning, Twins' left fielder Dan Gladden doubled off Atlanta reliever Alejandro Pena to lead off the inning. American League Rookie of the Year Chuck Knoblauch then bunted Gladden over to third. Bobby Cox then moved the outfielders in, hoping that they could field a short fly ball and throw out Gladden if he tried to tag up. But pinch-hitter Gene Larkin launched a shot over the drawn-in outfield. Gladden jogged home and jumped on the plate as he was stormed by his teammates.

The game and the Series were over. The Twins had won the World Championship and Jack Morris had completed his second win of the series, with a 10 Inning shutout. A masterpiece of Herculean proportions.

That’s the stuff that legends are made of. Although it is merely one reason that Morris belongs in the Hall of Fame, as documented above, the career speaks for itself.

Gone are the days of 300 win careers. With five-man rotations, pitchers just won’t start enough games to reach that plateau anymore. If the voters can’t look past Morris not reaching that mark, maybe they need to realize that starting pitching, in the future, will go the way of the dinosaur in terms of the Hall of Fame. There has to be more to it than just a magic (300) number. If someone is a top five pitcher for over a ten year period, with a history of big games in the postseason, and the winningest pitcher in the 1980s, with unmatched durability ... if he just happened to be from an east coast team (i.e.: Yankees or Red Sox), the Chicago White Sox, Cubs, or the L.A. Dodger, he would most certainly had already been enshrined.

Jack Morris is a Hall of Famer in my book.

The official box score for Game 7 of the 1991 World Series:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199110270MIN

References:

Baseball-reference.com and The Baseball Page

2009 Hall of Fame Candidates:

Harold Baines• Jay Bell• Bert Blyleven• David Cone• Andre Dawson• Ron Gant• Mark Grace• Rickey Henderson• Tommy John• Don Mattingly• Mark McGwire• Jack Morris• Dale Murphy• Jesse Orosco• Dave Parker• Dan Plesac• Tim Raines• Jim Rice• Lee Smith• Alan Trammell• Greg Vaughn• Mo Vaughn• Matt Williams

Boys Will Be Boys

If you think that picture is a bit scary ... and in the spirit of humor as we make the turn into the home stretch at Christmas Time ... then you should find it truly amazing regarding all of the interesting things you’ll learn, when you have your own son(s) ,,, like the following:

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq ft house 4 in. deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words 'uh oh', it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke. Lots of it.

9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36- year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject 'PB&J' sandwiches even tho TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Detroit, Michigan has a 5 minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Women will link this to all of their friends, with or without kids.

25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

* Author Unknown, Submitted via Email: 12/01/08

Mumbai - A Reminder To All of Us

The death and devastation brought about in the Mumbai, India terror attacks, should serve as a reminder, to us all, of this global threat that continues to be knocking on our nation's door.

While we mourn those lost and pray for their families, as well as those injured, it is time we (as a nation) step back and realize that there is one major reason it was not us. That there is absolutely one major reason we have not been hit since September 11, 2001.

George W. Bush.

Let us stop the bashing and give this man his due!!!

Black & Blue Friday

Suddenly, although it had been a most anticipated moment for the past hour, the doors to your local retailer opens to signify the start of Black Friday. Although just moments before, a passerby may have confused those gathered outside the store to be human beings, instead view a pack of wild animals running over each other in search of that precious one of a kind bargain.

I believe these very people to be those, whose speed on the road slows by some 10 to 20 MPH, as well as, drift in and out of your lane, whenever they use their cell phone while driving.

I'm sure by now you are all aware of the resulting deaths caused by Black Friday shoppers. One employee trampled to death at a Walmart, while two others were gunned down in a ToysRUs. But unknown to most are the hundreds, if not thousands, of shoppers injured this past Friday.

Mix with that the several deaths and many hundreds more injured on our nation's roads, over the long Thanksgiving weekend, due to cell phone use while driving.

A sign of the times? We're definitely a nation, as a government, with the wrong list of priorities, as well a people, that have totally lost control of our senses.