Portugal's Abortion Vote

The most important items in this whole affair are these:

1) Who cares about the law? Who cares about morality? The Socialist government of Portugal plans to push the expansion of abortion no matter what.

2) Over half of the voters (nearly all of which are baptized Catholics) didn't even bother to go to the polls to stop this horrendous assault on their faith.

And 3) There will soon be only 3 countries left in Europe with laws protecting preborn children: Poland, Ireland and Malta. Pray for the leaders of these countries to stand firm against the encroaching culture of death.

2nd John Edwards Bigot Leaves -- Blames Not Herself But "Right Wing Noise Machine"

The second of two staff members of the John Edwards presidential campaign has resigned because of personal posts on blogs attacking Catholic and pro-life advocates over abortion. Melissa McEwan has also resigned, joining Amanda Marcotte, who also left after pro-life groups criticized her posts.

McEwan referred on her blog to President Bush's pro-life supporters as his "wingnut Christofascist base."

On her blog, Marcotte publicly blamed her most vocal critic, Bill Donohoe, president of the Catholic League..."Bill Donohue doesn't speak for Catholics, he speaks for the right wing noise machine," she groused.

Donohoe said he wouldn't give up on publicizing the pair's problematic remarks until something was done about their employment with the campaign. He said if the comments had attacked Jews, African-Americans or homosexuals they would have been immediately fired.

"It's too bad that Edwards didn't make the decision himself to get rid of them," Donohue said.

"Why he had to wait for these women to bail on their own doesn't speak well for him. But I'm delighted, and as far as I'm concerned, this closes the issue," he added.

Last week, saying they wrote personal comments on their own web sites that don't reflect his views, Edwards released a statement saying he would not fire either activist. The former North Carolina senator said he was offended by the content of the posts -- which included inflammatory and profane attacks on the church -- but said he wouldn't fire them. "I've talked to Amanda and Melissa; they have both assured me that it was never their intention to malign anyone's faith, and I take them at their word," Edwards said

In addition to criticizing the church on abortion, the posts derisively referred to Pope Benedict XVI as a “dictator" and Marcotte wrote that the Catholic Church’s teaching against the use of contraception forced women to “bear more tithing Catholics.”

"The Catholic church is not about to let something like compassion for girls get in the way of using the state as an instrument to force women to bear more tithing Catholics," she wrote.

Marcotte also used explicit language to discuss what would have happened has the Virgin Mary used the Plan B morning after pill instead of giving birth to Jesus Christ.

She also posted a letter from the pro-abortion Catholics for Free Choice blasting pro-life advocates and Catholics who oppose abortion.

Steven Ertelt gives a good summary of this weird story over at LifeNews.com. Read it in its entirety here.

Equating Global Warming Skeptics with Holocaust Disbelievers?

In her last column, Boston Globe columnist Ellen Goodman wrote: "Let's just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers..."

This is worthy of some analysis...

And in this insightful Dennis Prager column, he goes on to do just that -- and the thoughtful analysis of Mr. Prager trumps the vindictive rant of Ms. Goodman any day of the week. But that's not all for this post! Here's a link to another excellent article dealing with the same subject. And this one also comes from a mind that's keen, conservative and cogent: Suzanne Fields.

The Breakdown of the Black Family

Though progressive intellectuals branded Daniel Patrick Moynihan a racist when he issued his famous 1965 report on The Negro Family, the evidence continues to mount that he was absolutely right to have sounded the alarm about the baleful consequences of the breakdown of black family life. The latest evidence vindicating Moynihan's prescient report appears in a study recently published in the Journal of Marriage and Family by researchers at the Universities of Washington and Michigan. Based on national probability data collected for African Americans ages 15 to 54 between 1990 and 1992, this new study clearly indicates that blacks who lack the protection of wedlock are particularly exposed to financial and psychological distress.

In their overall analysis of the data, the Washington and Michigan scholars reach an unsurprising conclusion: "As predicted by the process of social stress theory, financial strain and traumatic events had adverse effects on mental health status." But more careful parsing of the data reveals that not all African Americans are equally vulnerable to stress, trauma, and psychological malaise. "Compared to married [African American] individuals," the researchers conclude, "unmarried persons report both more financial strain and traumatic events, more negative interactions with relatives, and more depressive symptoms."

The finding that unmarried blacks are subject to more financial strain, more traumatic events, and more depression than married peers would hardly have surprised Moynihan. And the finding that unmarried blacks experience distinctively more negative relationships with their relatives than do married blacks casts serious doubt on an argument often advanced by progressives who discounted Moynihan's report. For that finding undercuts the argument that black extended families have compensated for the disappearance of intact black nuclear families. It would appear that even in their relationships with their extended families, divorced and never-married blacks are significantly worse off than their married black peers...

(Source: Karen D. Lincoln, Linda M. Chatters, and Robert Joseph Taylor, "Social Support, Traumatic Events, and Depressive Symptoms Among African Americans," Journal of Marriage and Family 67 [2005]: 754-766.) Thanks to World Congress of Families for this information.

Did You Miss National Consumer Protection Week?

Okay, okay...I know that National Consumer Protection Week was last week but the information contained in this e-mail from Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry isn't like the milk in your refrigerator; that is, there's no expiration date on its usefulness. So scan through the resources Lee has itemized here and find the ones that are the most relevant for you and your family. Then bookmark them and use them at your leisure.

Writes Congressman Terry -- With the advantages of the Internet also come the hazards, as web use for recreation, communication, and commercial trade continues to rise as an important component of our economy and daily lives. Congress has a responsibility to ensure laws evolve with the times and technologies, to ensure adequate safeguards for the privacy and personal information of Americans.

Whether a Federal agency or private company, protections need to be in place to prevent hackers and identity thieves from accessing personal information such as Social Security numbers. Resources are also needed to investigate and punish these crimes. You may be interested to know that I have recently cosponsored four bipartisan data privacy bills relating to deceptive internet practices, like spyware; Social Security numbers; and ensuring businesses have security for protecting any personal information they retain.

As a member of the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection panel in the U.S. House of Representatives, I anticipate hearings and legislation this year on privacy issues including spyware, Social Security number protection, data security, credit report abuses, and false advertising. I will continue to work on striking the right balance between protecting personal information without creating unnecessary regulations or added costs to consumers.

During the last session of Congress, we passed several pieces of legislation on data protection, including a bill to require that data companies use encryption mechanisms and notify those affected in the event that security is breached. Unfortunately, it did not pass the Senate or become law, so that work needs to be completed as soon as possible in this new session.

Fortunately, the "Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006" approved last year has been signed into law. It provides stiff penalties for individuals who use deception and fraud to get and sell confidential phone records, also known as "pretexting." I was pleased to vote for these data protection measures.

In addition, as it is National Consumer Protection Week, I am pleased to pass along the following resources for your future reference:

Consumer Action Handbook Online
www.consumeraction.gov
The Consumer Action Website features general advice and information on how to solve consumer problems, as well as addresses, telephone numbers, and websites where you can file consumer complaints.

Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)
www.usa.gov
The U.S. government's official web portal,USA.gov pulls together more than 180 million federal, state, and local government web pages and makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. Visitors also can use an e-mail form to send questions and comments for a response within two business days.

Federal Trade Commission
www.onguardonline.gov
Onguardonline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

www.ftc.gov/idtheft
This site is a one-stop national resource with detailed information to help you Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft.

www.ftc.gov
Education is a key tool to prevent consumer injury. At the FTC's website, you can get publications with advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs, as well as tips on other consumer topics.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
The FDIC is a major sponsor of National Consumer Protection Week and provides several consumer-based web products. Check them out here.

I trust this information will be of interest to you or someone you know.
Sincerely,

LEE TERRY
Member of Congress
11717 Burt Street, Suite 106
Omaha, NE 68154
Phone: 402-397-9944
http://leeterry.house.gov

Attention Nebraska!

The annual Pro-Life Legislative Day will be held the morning of Wednesday, March 7th at the State Capitol in Lincoln. It's an important opportunity to witness to the sanctity of life to our legislators, but it is also a great time to learn, to network and to sharpen our grassroots advocacy skills. More info will be forthcoming but please mark March 7th on your calendars and spread the word to your churches, home school groups, and business associates.

March 7th is, not coincidently, the day that LB 700, the cloning ban, is tentatively scheduled to be heard in Judiciary Committee. So again, it will be an important chance to turn out the pro-life voices of our state.

For updated info, keep an eye here on Vital Signs Blog and the web page of Nebraska Right to Life.

New Hope for Repair of Spinal Injuries Comes Through "Adult" Stem Cells

Yes, it's only one set of experiments but this story from Science Daily shows that there is some fresh hope for the future treatment of nerve disorders and illnesses. And the medical treatment utilized? "Adult" stem cells.

Flips, Flops and Fibs: Mitt Romney and Abortion

With Mitt Romney's official entrance to the campaign making headlines, the following press release just issued from the Brownback for President office makes for interesting reading:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...February 12, 2007

Mitt Romney’s Campaign Misleads Voters about Senator Brownback’s Position on Abortion

Alexandria, VA – Documentation surfaced over the weekend that the Romney for President Exploratory Committee is misleading voters.

In an e-mail circulated to right-to-life leaders on February 8, 2007, a key Romney staffer wrote: "Just like Sam Brownback, Mitt was once pro-choice but changed his views upon being elected to office… When Brownback was elected to office, that is when he also had a conversion and voted with the pro-life movement."

Brownback for President National Campaign Committee Member Dr. Jack Willke, who was President of National Right to Life for ten years, responded: "Senator Brownback has always been pro-life, and has never made a statement or cast any vote to the contrary."

This false allegation by the Romney campaign comes in light of recent evidence that Romney has switched positions on abortion at least three times. Below are direct quotes from Mitt Romney on the issue of abortion:

CHRONOLOGY OF MITT ROMNEY’S ABORTION POSITIONS (IN HIS OWN WORDS):

1994: Mitt Romney was pro-choice. --- "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it." (Joan Vennochi, "Romney’s Revolving World," The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)

2001: Mitt Romney was not pro-choice. --- "I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice." (Mitt Romney, Letter to the Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/12/01)

2002: Mitt Romney was again pro-choice. --- "I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one … Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government's." (Stephanie Ebbert, "Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance," The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)

2007: Mitt Romney acknowledges he was "effectively pro-choice," but says he "was always for life."

January 2007: "Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice." (Bruce Smith, "Romney Campaigns in SC with Sen. DeMint," The Associated Press, 1/29/07)

February 2007: "I am firmly pro-life… I was always for life." (Jim Davenport, "Romney Affirms Opposition to Abortion," The Associated Press, 2/9/2007)

"Mitt Romney’s flip flops are enough to make John Kerry blush," Brownback for President Campaign Manager Rob Wasinger said. "It is absurd of Mitt Romney to compare himself to Senator Brownback on the right to life issue."

Are the Days of the Global Warming Bandwagon Numbered?

When politicians and journalists declare that the science of global warming is settled, they show a regrettable ignorance about how science works.

Here's a very interesting article published a couple of days ago in the Times (U.K.). It is written by author, former editor of New Scientist magazine, and winner of the Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science, Nigel Calder, and he has some serious warnings for all those who have prematurely hopped on the global warming bandwagon.

Chicago Pro-Lifers Have the Straight Skinny on Obama

In this LifeNews report, two Chicago pro-life advocates who know very well both the rhetoric and the record of Barack Obama explain why he is a very bad choice for President.

Is it Just Me, or Is it Warm in Here? Pat Sajak Comments on the Global Warming Craze

(From Human Events, February 5) --

Well, it's official. The Earth is warming up, and we're to blame. A United Nations panel of scientists has said it's more that 90% probable that human activities have caused most of the warming in the last 50 years. That's up from a 66% probability in a 2001 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. And way up from a 30-year-old warning of a coming Ice Age in Time Magazine. (Oops! That was right in the middle of our 50 years of man-made global warming.)

Anyway, the Time piece (June 24, 1974) reported, "The University of Wisconsin's Reid A. Bryson and other climatologists suggest that dust and other particles released into the atmosphere as a result of farming and fuel burning may be blocking more and more sunlight from reaching and heating the surface of the earth." So, you see, we were also responsible for the global cooling even though, as it turned out, we were in the middle of global warming, although those wacky climatologists of the 1970s didn't notice.

I'm sure this U.N. panel is made up of highly scientific men and women with no political or social agendas, but I find it amazing there can be such unanimity of opinion among them about the cause of this latest warming of the Earth. I use the word "latest" because, of course, the Earth has been alternately heating up and cooling down throughout its history and well before SUVs threatened to destroy the planet.

Of course, there are members of the scientific community who -- while agreeing we're in a warming cycle -- seem unconvinced that man is responsible, but I have a hunch they weren't a part of the U.N. panel.

The scientists of 30 years ago were not as certain about the causes of the impending Ice Age as their modern-day counterparts seem to be about global warming, but, in that same article in Time, they did warn, "Whatever the cause of the cooling trend, its effects could be extremely serious, if not catastrophic." I'm puzzled by how quickly we moved from one potential catastrophe to another; after all, in geological time, 30 years is less than the snap of a finger. And I'm also puzzled by how quickly our decades-long efforts to clean up the environment, reduce air pollution and fluorocarbon emissions, mandate greater efficiency in businesses and spend untold billions to be kinder to Mother Earth have been rewarded by this dramatic shift.

So I guess it's the logic (or lack of it) that gives me the greatest pause. On some level, I suppose, its comforting to think man has the power to turn the Earth's thermostat up and down at will. There's also the argument that we should take all steps deemed necessary by this panel "just in case". I say, let's wait a bit before dramatically adjusting our lives. After all, if we can switch from an impending Ice Age to catastrophic global warming in just 30 years, we should be able, with some effort, to drop the temperature a degree or two in pretty short order.

The "I Want Abortion" Generation

A new survey of over 1,000 Welsh women in their peak childbearing years suggests that more than 20% have had surgical abortions. The results of the survey also revealed that half of these aborted women were either not using contraception at all or had forgot to use their "oral contraceptives" when they became pregnant.

The survey was conducted by Schering Health Care, a U.K. subsidiary of Bayer Schering Pharma AG, which is a manufacturer of abortifacient drugs -- drugs marketed, of course, as "birth control." And, not surprisingly, the company and other pro-abortion groups believe that the study emphasizes the need for yet more of its products. For instance, Dr. Tony Calland, chairman of the British Medical Association's Welsh Council, argued that there was simply no excuse for not using appropriate contraception. "All we can do is continue to emphasise that contraception is the way forward in a relationship, even if that means the morning after pill."

With the scientific evidence more than clear that the drugs in the "morning after pill" kill unborn boys and girls, Dr. Calland's claim that this is "the way forward in a relationship" is ironic (and tragic) in the extreme. But the promotion of abortifacients always is. The slogan of Bayer Schering Pharma AG (formerly Schering AG) itself is "We take pride in our long tradition of turning new ideas into life-enhancing drugs."

However, this news story at icWales (U.K.) does reflect a lot more than Schering's desire to sell more pills. Indeed, it is a remarkably fair piece of reporting. From the headline "'I Want Abortion' Generation Criticised" to responses from Rev. Aled Edwards (chief executive of Churches Together), the Most Rev. Peter Smith (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff) and Janet Thomas (the South Wales spokesperson for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children), the Western Mail-originated story is an unusually balanced and important one.

Except, of course, for the "the elephant in the corner" which is so often is overlooked in news stories dealing with this topic; namely, the remarkably relevant question -- "If half of the women who underwent abortion became pregnant because they were either not using 'contraception' or using it incorrectly, then doesn't that mean that half of the women were faithfully using the pills and still became pregnant?"

Let's face it. So-called birth control gets a pass from the press, the doctors, the educators, and so many others. The facts about it's inefficiency, its long term dangers to a woman's health, it's damage (Dr. Calland's remark notwithstanding) to relationships, and it's lethal effects upon preborn human life are all routinely and irresponsibly ignored.

Selling Our Nation's History to the Highest Bidder?

Did you know the Smithsonian Institution has literally sold itself to the Showtime television network (owned by Viacom)? Oliver North has this amazing, infuriating story in his column today. Really incredible stuff -- and certainly enough to engender some letters of protest, I hope.

Therefore, I post the closing paragraphs from North's column below but then I also post information about a few contacts you should make to protest this remarkably unfair corruption.

...What little transparency exists in how the Smithsonian operates is revealed in hearings and reports prepared for the House Committee on Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the two Congressional entities that theoretically exercise oversight over the institution. That's how we know that Lawrence M. Small, the Smithsonian's top executive, was paid $884,733 last year -- more than twice the compensation of the president of the United States.

We also know that last year American taxpayers forked over $615 million to the Smithsonian, and that the institution's management wants more this year because it is losing money.

Since the new leaders in Congress claim that they intend to "root out waste, fraud and abuse," they ought to inquire just why the Smithsonian is in the hole. While they are at it, here are a few other questions:

How much did Viacom pay for their exclusive rights to America's treasures? Was this contract put out to bid so that others could compete for the privilege of broadcasting our nation's heritage? Were brokers involved? If so, what were they paid? How long will this arrangement remain in effect?

Every American ought to know the answers to these questions. After all, it's our history. But if America's heritage is going on the block, it would be nice to know where to start the bidding for the Library of Congress or the National Archives.

Contact Information:
The web site of the House Administration Committee doesn't yet show its' current membership. So much for keeping up to speed. However, I have them for you and contact information for all of them can be found at this Congress web site page. The current members are...
Democrat Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (California, 37th District) and Democrat members: Kevin Brady (Texas, 8th District); Zoe Lofgren (California, 16th District); Susan Davis (California, 53rd District); Charlie Gonzalez (Texas, 20th District); and Michael Capuano (Massachusetts, 8th District).

And Republican members: Vernon Ehlers (Michigan, 3rd District); Dan Lungren (California, 3rd District); and Kevin McCarthy (California, 22nd District).

The web site is current with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and on this page you'll find the full membership. Simply hit on the member's name and you'll zip over to their web site where contact information is available. The Committee members are: Democrat Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein and Democrat members Robert C. Byrd, Daniel K. Inouye, Christopher J. Dodd, Charles E. Schumer, Richard Durbin, Ben Nelson, Harry Reid, Patty Murray, and Mark L. Pryor.

Republican members are Robert Bennett, Ted Stevens, Mitch McConnell, Thad Cochran, Trent Lott, Kay Bailey Hutchison, C. Saxby Chambliss, Chuck Hagel, and Lamar Alexander.

Now it can be a bit time-consuming to contact all of these folks but certainly you can take that second cup of coffee with you to the console and at least zip a line to a few. All of the information you need to write a quick letter or e-mail (or make a quick phone call) can be found in that Oliver North column. For instance, here's the note I sent:

Dear ____________,

I just learned this morning about the exclusive contract between the Smithsonian Institution and Viacom's Showtime TV network -- an arrangement that dramatically undercuts the public use and enjoyment of this historic (and heretofore respected) treasure. I also learned that the salary paid to the Smithsonian Director last year was nearly $900,000! Yikes! With such outlandish generosity, it's no wonder that the taxpayer bill for the Smithsonian is over $600,000,ooo a year!

Please tell me that the new Senate and Congress with all of the high-sounding promises about eliminating waste, fraud, corruption and silly spending, is going to take action on these particular travesties. And very, very soon, I hope.

Since you now sit on a committee whose specific responsibilities include oversight of the Smithsonian, can I expect your enthusiastic actions to reduce the spending and eliminate the exclusive connections?

Sincerely,
Denny Hartford

Oh, Deer!

Patricia Heaton, Kelsey Grammer & Christopher Lloyd Involved in New SitCom for Fox

Fresh on the heels of positive reviews of her new play, The Scene, the news is out that the outspoken Christian conservative, Patricia Heaton, will co-star with Kelsey Grammar in a new situation comedy series airing next year on Fox. Here are some of the details from Variety.

The Campaign for Nebraska's Human Cloning Ban: What Can You Do Now?

The grand and noble band working in the Nebraska Right to Life office down in Lincoln invite you; your friends and families; your church; your civic organization; your fantasy football league, your scrapbook pals, your model train enthusiasts, poker buddies, book club, law study group...you get the idea...to join them in generating a lot of enthusiasm, prayers, letters and phone calls in behalf of LB 700, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act.

There is, as has been mentioned in a previous post here on Vital Signs Blog, a postcard campaign coming your way. But, you certainly shouldn't wait for that to get started. So, here, from the NRL office, are a few details about the bill and a few simple suggestions as to how to start generating that enthusiasm for LB 700 right now!

LB 700 is the ban on cloning for research or reproductive purposes which was introduced by Sen, Mark Christensen, Dist. 44 of imperial. Now that we know the bill number we can focus on getting grassroots pro-lifers to call and e-mail their state senators in support of LB 700. Read the 1/13/07 summary printed for the Walk for Life which details the make-up of the Judiciary Committee and the fact that we are not sitting in as good a position there as we usually do. This being a 90-day session, there is more time to hear the bill and hopefully get it advanced from committee and to the floor.

That's where you come in.

All of the pro-life/pro-family groups in the State [including Vital Signs Ministries] are in support of LB 700 passing and are working hard to get the word out to their lists. Expect to hear soon about a massive educational/postcard campaign which we are ail working on. Each group will be trying to mail as many of their large mailing lists as possible with this postcard campaign...

[LB 700] is basically the same bill as introduced in the past by former Sen. Adrian Smith and was modeled after federal legislation. At this time Sen. Christensen has 26 co-sponsors on the bill. The list of those who signed on is below. In the meantime, here is what you can do:

1. THANK Sen. Christensen, a freshman senator, for stepping up to the plate in introducing LB 700. He has shown enormous courage in the face of one of the biggest lobbies around, the University of Nebraska. You can e- mail him at mchristensen@leg.ne.gov If you prefer phone and/or US mail; that contact info for Sen. Christensen and all of the senators is on the info sheet enclosed.

2. THANK your senator if he/she is one of the 26 co-sponsors of LB 700; tell them you back them up 100% and want to see a ban on cloning happen. (To look at the co-sponsor list, go here.)

3. IF YOUR SENATOR IS NOT ON THE CO-SPONSOR LIST; it may be that they have not had a chance yet to add their name. Contact him/her and ask them to please co-sponsor LB 700 and tell them why it is important.

4. IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR SENATOR IS OPPOSED TO THE PRO=LIFE POSITION ON THIS ISSUE: again, make a pleasant contact with him/her and ask that they consider voting for LB 700.

Multiculturalism vs Democracy

"Simply as a matter of fact, every year more and more of the dd lives under Islamic law: Pakistan adopted Islamic law in 1977, Iran in 1979, Sudan in 1984. In the sixties, Nigeria lived under English Common Law; now, half of it's in the grip of sharia, and the other half's feeling the squeeze. Today, there are more Muslim nations, more radicalized Muslims within those nations, more and more Muslims within non-Muslim nations, and more and more Muslims represented in more and more influential transnational institutions. Will these Muslims live by the laws of Singapore or Denmark or New Zealand or by the laws of Islam? Or is their primary identity a new worldwide Islamic identity?

'To ask the question is, in large part, to answer it. Even if a Muslim wanted to, how would he assimilate with, say, Canadian national identity? You can't assimilate with a nullity, which is what the modern multicultural state boils down to. It's much easier to dismantle a society than to put anything new and lasting in its place. And across much of the developed world that's what's going on right now. Multiculturalism makes a nation no more than a holding pen. In the absence of cultural confidence, demography will decide the future. Or in the unimprovable summation of James C. Bennett: 'Democracy, immigration, multiculturalism. Pick any two.'"

Mark Steyn (The above excerpt is from his first major book, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, page 202.) Of course, you can get a copy of this bestseller through Amazon, of course, or you can get an autographed copy from Mr. Steyn himself right here.

Lisa Nowak's Weird Violence Overshadows Important NASA Stories

There is a whole lot of web action circulating around America's strangest spacewoman, Lisa Nowak, with even the straightest-faced reporters finding Mrs. Nowak's crazy, violent behavior almost too weird to take in.

But in looking for explanations, various MSM stories have put the blame on...let's see now... Mrs. Nowak's employer (NASA's screening process), Mrs. Nowak's unrequited love (William Oefelein), primal pain (that one comes from Newsweek), Mrs. Nowak's professional mileu (the "astronaut culture which stresses achievement," apparantly a bad thing to the A.P.), Mrs. Nowak's supposed love competition (Colleen Shipman), Mrs. Nowak's three children (one is a...gasp...teenager), Mrs. Nowak's estranged husband (Richard Nowak), Mrs. Nowak's caring too much for other people, Mrs. Nowak's career uncertainties (What tops space flight?), Mrs. Nowak's status as a hero (creating an "unsustainable ego drive"), and even the possibilities of unknown space-induced pressures on the brain.

Everything seems to be considered at fault except...the selfish obsession and vengeful wrath of Mrs. Nowak herself.

At any rate, I'm afraid that Lisa Nowak's eerie abduction attempt (which perhaps was planned to be something much worse still) has crowded out of the news headlines a couple of stories much more important. One of them is also negative. It seems that a never-before-seen video tape of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the surface of the moon, a video much sharper than the one we did see, has disappeared from NASA files and is believed permanently lost.

But the second news story is about one of those space achievements that should still create a "Wow Factor" in American hearts but, alas, does not because we're too jaded, too hooked on artificial thrills and computer-generated movie images, too lacking in media attention to NASA's current activity to correctly appreciate the post-Apollo heroism, genius, and vision that astronauts and their ground teams have been performing.

But hey; let's try to shake off our apathy at least long enough to give a resounding cheer for Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria who, just two days after Lisa Nowak stole the headlines with her bizarre attack, broke the U.S. spacewalk record. Lopez-Alegria (shown at left) surpassed the previous U.S. record of 58 hours and 32 minutes. Good for him! Good for the space program! And good for the U.S.A!

Democratic Senator Ben Nelson: "I Am Proud to Support Your Efforts to End Abortion"

As promised in an earlier post, here are the remarks from Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson at today's National Black Pro-Life Union lunch at the nation's Capitol Building. My thanks to Aaron Eske, the Senator's Press Secretary, who so promptly provided me with them. And, of course, my sincere thanks (and, I'm sure, those of all Nebraska pro-life advocates) go to Senator Nelson for attending the event and for his relevant comments to that audience.

Here then are Senator Nelson's remarks:

Thank you for inviting me here today, I am glad to be here and I am proud to support your efforts to end abortion.

My belief in life, the sanctity of life, is rooted in my faith. I know faith plays a big role in your organization by the work you do with ministers and other religious leaders and your partnerships with the sponsors of today’s event: The National Clergy Council, the Methodist Episcopal Church, USA and others.

I understand the value that church plays in the lives of most Americans as well as its impact on our communities. Church is a pillar of every great American community. This is why I wanted to take a moment to share with you the role faith has played in my life.

During my first years at the University of Nebraska, I served as the youth pastor at a church in Lincoln. Later I traveled on weekends to preach or serve as interim pastor at churches in Lincoln, Stamford, Giltner, Harvard, Blue Springs, and Odell.

It was during those experiences that I learned how people of faith and our churches help change lives and make our communities a better place to live. I learned that when it comes to helping those in need to get back on their feet, our churches are better than government programs.

I took that experience and my beliefs and put them into practice. I’m a pro-life person. I am an adoptive parent. I committed myself to loving my children unconditionally because I know that every child is created in God’s image, we must protect our children and help families create a loving home in which to live and grow.

So first, it instilled my beliefs in my personal life. Then I took those same beliefs and put them into practice in my public service life.

As Governor of Nebraska I signed Nebraska’s Partial Birth Abortion Ban into law. I was the first Governor in the country to sign into law Mandatory Waiting Periods and Parental Consent Laws for minors.

As Nebraska’s United States Senator, I was a leader in passing the Partial Birth Abortion Ban. I was a cosponsor of the Child Custody Protection Act to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions. WE STILL NEED TO PASS THIS LAW.

In 2003, I voted against reaffirming the correctness of the Roe v. Wade decision.

Obviously, that isn’t enough. The Congress must do more to promote a culture of life that honors life at every stage. Protecting the unborn should be a priority of the Congress. But Congress won’t act unless groups like yours are active, outspoken and diligent.

So I thank you for your work and I ask you not to rest until we have done all we can to end abortion in every community by building on our faith, building within our communities and building a strong culture of life.

I appreciate all you have done to keep these issues from slipping away. I thank you for inviting me here and I hope we can continue to work together. Thank you

Dr. Tom Hilgers Given "Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award"

I'm pleased to pass on information I received this afternoon about a good friend of ours (and, for nearly 40 years, of the pro-life movement). The information came in a press release from the National Center for Women's Health, a division of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction:

February 8, 2007 --- For Immediate Release

Omaha Doctor Recognized by Prestigious CEO Organization

(Omaha, NEBRASKA) – An Omaha obstetrician-gynecologist was recognized for his “extraordinary witness and heroic actions” and for his “courageous Christian witness in defending the sanctity of all human life.”

Legatus International awarded Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, with the “Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award” on February 2, 2007 during their Summit in Naples, Florida. The award, first bestowed upon Honorable Henry Hyde in 2001, recognizes clergy or individuals in elected office, academia, media or ministry/politics for pro-life activism. This year, six people received the award.

Legatus, a prestigious lay organization of Catholic CEOs and their spouses, is “committed to studying, living, and spreading the Faith.” Since its 1987 inception by the former owner of Domino’s Pizza and Detroit Tigers’ baseball franchise, Tom Monaghan, Legatus now consists of over 3,200 members, who must meet strict criteria, in its numerous chapters throughout the United States, in Canada, and elsewhere.

When he learned about his upcoming reception of the Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award, Hilgers was moved. Cardinal O’Connor himself had been a long-time friend and supporter of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, which Hilgers founded and currently directs. The Institute is the home of research for the new science of NaProTechnology and for the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. It also houses Hilgers full-time medical practicce.

Hilgers, an obstetrician-gynecologist, specializes in difficult reproductive medical cases, infertility, and high-risk obstetrics. He is the only member of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons in Nebraska and is a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. Hilgers is a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine.

Since his years in medical school, Hilgers has been a strongly committed pro-life activist. He took the Church’s challenges in Humanae Vitae to heart and pursued his dream of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in a manner that respects the dignity of women and children and in a way that helps couples to regulate their fertility naturally while upholding Catholic Church teachings. Hilgers once wrote, “[T]he words from [Elvis Presley’s] If I Can Dream have echoed in my mind over and over again… ‘[There must be] strong winds of promise that will blow away all doubt and fear…If I can dream of a warmer sun where hope keeps shining on everyone…Still I am sure that the answer is going to come somehow.’”

In 2004, he was able to say with Elvis, “Let [my dream] come true right now”, when he presented his new science of NaProTechnology to the world. He also released the definitive 1300-page medical textbook, The Medical & Surgical Practice of NaProTechnology. This medical and surgical science resulted from the research conducted at the Pope Paul VI Institute. Its highly effective applications include infertility, abnormal bleeding, ovarian cysts, premenstrual syndrome, postpartum depression, miscarriage and premature birth.

NaProTechnology is unique because it treats women’s health problems cooperatively with the procreative and gynecologic systems while respecting the dignity of women, couples and children (born and unborn). Women are actively involved in their own health care by monitoring and helping to identify gynecologic problems. NaProTechnology, which is consistent with Catholic Church teaching, networks a natural means of regulating fertility (the Creighton Model FertilityCare System) with gynecologic health science.

Hilgers is excited about the young physicians who are learning NaProTechnology through a fellowship program co-sponsored by the Institute and Creighton University School of Medicine. He sees their eagerness to practice NaProTechnology and to continue NaProTechnology research as a hopeful sign that the culture of life will ultimately defeat abortion and contraception.