Rima Faikh, hot Arab-American Muslim babe, Congratulations!

Rima Faikh, a 24 year old raven-haired beauty of Lebnese Muslim descent and who says her family celebrates both the Muslim and Christian faiths, was crowned Miss USA last Sunday. Rima lives in Dearborn, Michigan which is home of a large Arab-American community. She is the first ever Arab-American to win the title and the first Muslim American Miss USA.

This should be cause for celebration. At a time when many Americans see most Muslims as terrorist and many think of a women in a black burka when they think of Arab Muslim women, it is nice to see that an American Arab Muslim women can be a hot babe.

I know many on the right would argue that the Muslim faith is the enemy and Muslim cannot moderate. I have never believed that. The Muslim faith will change just as Christianity has changed. Modern Christianity bears little resemblance to the Christianity of the crusades or the inquisition. Just as the embarrassing parts of the scriptures of the Jewish and Christian faiths are simply ignored, over time the embarrassing scriptures of the Muslim faith will be ignored. Just as many people who identify themselves as Christian are essentially secular people who have reconciled their faith with their culture and lifestyle, so will Muslims.

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Who won when Blanche Davis lost?

I belong to MoveOn.org so you don't have to.

It is interesting how we on the right see the defeat of Blanche Davis compared to how those on the left see it. We think she was defeated because she was not conservative enough. We think she was repudiated because conservatives abandoned her when she abandoned her principles. We think she was defeated because she was too far left. We see her defeat as our victory.

The left thinks she was defeated because she was not left enough. To the left, this elections shows "that Democrats who side with corporate interests to block President Obama's agenda will suffer for it at the ballot box." The left sees her defeat as their victory.

One thing is for certain; there is no middle anymore. I am not sure this is a positive development. Sometimes pragmatic centrist can play an important roll. Not every issue is black and white; there are many shades of gray. Also, incremental change is less frightening than radical change. Nevertheless, the battle lines or more clearly drawn than ever before. There is no room for moderate Republicans or moderate Democrats anymore. We are more polarized than ever. We are no longer playing within the 45 yard lines. There is no longer room to "reach across the aisle." We are in a struggle for total victory and winner-take-all.

With the battle lines so clearly drawn the stakes are higher than ever and if we fail to win, defeat will be more devastating than ever. The November elections really may be decisive as to whether or not our nation remains free and capitalistic or becomes a socialist authoritarian nation. Unless we win enough seats to restrain the Obama juggernaut, by 2012 we may no longer recognize our county and the left's gains may be irreversible. I do not think the political choices have ever been more clear. We on the right must open our purse and put boots on ground like never before. We must match the energy and money of the MoveOn crowd. I know at times we all grow weary of the battle but now is not the time to take a break. Too much is at stake to let the radical left gain more power.

I am reposting this email so you can see how the left interprets this election and see their commitment to victory. Here is the email I received from MoveOn.org:

Michael Sherrard, MoveOn.org Political Action"

To:"Rod "

Hi—

Late last night, I wrote you from Bill Halter's victory celebration in Arkansas, after his amazing finish in the Democratic primary. He held Senator Blanche Lincoln, one of the worst corporate Democrats in Congress, under 45% among Democratic voters, and forced a runoff election in three weeks.

Halter's campaign team has gathered in Little Rock today to decide on their plan for the runoff. After being outspent more than two-to-one by Sen. Lincoln, their funds are nearly exhausted. They're trying to figure out what they can afford and whether the MoveOn members who helped him do so well last night will come through again.

His campaign urgently needs more support. We've already received 6 donations from Nashville, and it'll only take 9 more to reach our goal of $200,000 in emergency funds today—can you chip in $5?

For more, see my email from last night below.

–Michael and the rest of the team

---

Hi—

I'm in Little Rock at Bill Halter's election-night celebration, and the energy here is truly incredible. Bill just told the crowd: "Today we put the special interests and political insiders on the ropes, and in three weeks we're going to knock them out."

Halter's supporters are ecstatic because he just handed a huge defeat to Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln. Despite being outspent by more than two-to-one, Halter kept Lincoln below 45% of the vote—and now both candidates are headed into a runoff election.

Make no mistake, this is big news. For the first time, voters have shown that Democrats who side with corporate interests to block President Obama's agenda will suffer for it at the ballot box.

But even as we're celebrating, it's time to double down. Because Sen. Lincoln is a favorite of big corporations, she still has millions in the bank—and she'll spend all of it smearing Bill Halter.

The runoff is in just three weeks, and Halter's staff just told me that they urgently need more funds to continue the campaign.

Can you help us raise $200,000 in emergency funds for Bill Halter? That'll take 15 donations from Nashville. Chip in $5 here:

And on behalf of everyone here in Arkansas, thanks for all you do.

–Michael and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

---

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION,

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Keep Tennessee green; stop diverting funds from conservation

Kathleen Williams is president and executive director of the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation. You can contact her at http://www.tenngreen.org/; or by e-mail: tenngreen@earthlink.net.

By Kathleen Williams • The Tennessean, May 7, 2010

If you care about the beauty of our homeland, Tennessee, read this message and call the governor and your legislator TODAY.

Tell them to ensure that all land conservation funding is returned in 2010 for Tennessee. Protecting special and fragile lands and waters is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, our children and future Tennesseans.

[Excerpt] In recent years, the approximately $16.5 million in annual revenue produced by the transfer fees has been diverted to the general fund to help balance the state budget. That is NOT why the legislature established these dedicated fees; it is wrong to take them for other purposes. (link)

Comment

I support the funding for conservation in Tennessee. I think it is important to preserve the quality of our water and fragile habitats and preserve the natural beauty of our state for future generations. The state needs funds to save beautiful vistas, expand parks and purchase beautiful waterfalls.

On the other hand, I know that this is probably the most difficult budget year the state has ever faced. I understand the temptation of the State Legislature to take money wherever they could find it in order to craft a budget that avoided the job-destroying $85 million tax increases of the Bredesen budget. $16.5 million of that $85 million was found by raiding the conservation fund.

Despite understanding the temptation to raid this fund, I think it was wrong. I think it is an important principle that taxes should not be imposed for one purpose and then diverted to another purpose.

Years ago, we saw a portion of the water bill that each Nashvillian pays diverted to pay for construction of the Titans football stadium. That water rate increase, when passed, was supposed to be dedicated to addressing non-point source pollution, but the then-Mayor Bredesen wanted to fund the Titans stadium. He devised a scheme that required the water department to pay an "in-lieu of tax" payment to the city using that payment to pay the bonds on the stadium. Water rates are supposed to fund water related functions, not fund the construction of a sports arena. To take money for one purpose and spend it for another purpose is wrong. It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

If the money is not needed for the original purpose for which the tax was imposed; repeal the tax. Bait and switch is immoral. The state legislature should restore the conservation fund and go back to the drawing board and continue working to create an honest budget.

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The Arizona Law has been fixed.

"Fixed," as in when you have your dog fixed. It has been neutered and that is a good thing.

I have been a critic of the Arizona law lining up with other conservative critics like Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Fred Barns, Charles Krauthhammer and Mario Rubio. I know our own local Rush imitator and the big showmen of talk radio thought the Arizona law was just dandy as it was and they denounce all critics of the law as not real conservatives. Critics of the law are "RINO's," "inside-the-beltway types," and "the chattering class."

I don't take my marching orders from Steve Gill and Sean Hannity. I am disappointed so many conservatives seem to. When they are right, I am with them but I don't like those who would shred the constitution be they conservative or liberal. And to Steve and Sean, please stop yelling at me to read the bill. I have read it and it is not that difficult to understand. I would suggest you read it. It is only ten pages long. I will send you a link to it if you like.

Anyway, I am not now as critical of the law as I was on April 23rd when it was passed. On April 30, Governor Jan Brewer signed an amendment to the law that makes it "crystal clear and undeniable that racial profiling is illegal and will not be tolerated in Arizona." Also, the law changes the standard for demanding someones papers from "reasonable suspicion" following a "lawful contact" to a standard like that in the other states of the union. As amended, police can stop suspected illegal immigrants only while enforcing some other law or ordinance.

It still may be an ugly law, but now it is not much more than meaningless empty symbolism. It is probably no longer unconstitutional.

The Arizona law is now like an offensive dog that is less offensive once it has been fixed. The worse part of the Arizona law has been fixed.

And, Steve and Sean and their followers, if the law was so wonderful as it was, why do you think they had to fix it?

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David Ingram Joins Hartline Campaign Finance Team

Jeff Hartline gets endorsement from former rival for 5th District nomination

NASHVILLE – Well-known Nashville business executive David Ingram, chairman and president of Ingram Entertainment, has joined the effort to elect Jeff Hartline as the next congressman from Tennessee's 5th congressional district.

Also today, a former rival for the Republican nomination has endorsed Hartline's campaign to defeat entrenched incumbent Jim Cooper and put an end to Cooper's cooperation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda of taxpayer-financed corporate bailouts, massive deficits and expanded government control of large sectors of the economy.

Ingram is a very valuable addition to the team, said Andy Miller, finance committee chairman for Hartline for Congress. “David Ingram has worked tirelessly for many years to get the right people elected. He has a record of working for the election of candidates who will serve this state well and will represent well the core values of the people of this district. He brings to this group even more expertise that will be necessary to winning this November, and I personally welcome his guidance and help.”

Former Rival Backs Hartline

Brendan E. Finucane Jr., an early candidate for the Republican nomination for the 5th district congressional seat in Tennessee, endorsed Jeff Hartline today.

Finucane, a Nashville financial adviser touted last year by the Tennessee Republican Party as a possible challenger to long-time incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, said today that after meeting all of the candidates for the Republican nomination, he believes Jeff Hartline is the right candidate and can win the seat.

“After campaigning as a candidate for the 5th district Congressional seat, where I got to meet all the candidates, I can say there are many good people that stepped up to run against Jim Cooper - however, it is clear to me that Jeff Hartline is the candidate I will be supporting,” Finucane said. “Jeff is knowledgeable, articulate, and passionate about many of the issues that are important to the majority of the people in this district. I also believe he can win."

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Glenn Beck on Civil Liberties

Unfortunately there are few on the left or the right that consistently support civil liberties. Conservatives are willing to shred the constitution in the name of national security and liberals will shred the constitution in the name of equality, fairness and social justice. It is wrong to have access to my bank account without a warrant and it is wrong to arrest and hold an American citizen accused of terrorism without due process. We should not respect the constitution only when it is convenient.

Please watch this clip of Glen Beck. He is the voice of reason and has distinguished himself in my eyes from the rest of the conservative talk show showmen.

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