Latest Romney ad fits religious freedom and foreign policy in 30 seconds

The latest Romney ad, "Be Not Afraid," featuring footage from Mitt and Ann Romney's recent trip to Poland, has a short but powerful message about religious freedom:

Awesome advice from a church

Heh. Found this at Buzzfeed...definitely not the kind of advice you normally see on a church sign:

Meatloaf and Mulligans

Yesterday, the Leon County Circuit Court issued a ruling that removed Amendment 7, also known as the "Religious Freedom Act," from the 2012 ballot:

The GOP debate you probably didn't watch, but should have

Last night, CitizenLink, a Focus on the Family affiliate, sponsored a debate in Iowa last night between the Republican presidential candidates, focusing on social issues. But you probably didn't see it, because it was online only, in a livestream that was scheduled up against a lot of college football games. That's really a shame, because it was definitely worth watching.

(At the end of this post, I've included a link to the video of the entire debate, so you can watch it, and I strongly encourage you to do so.)

Marco Rubio: America Should Stand Up For Religious Freedom in Iran

My Senator, Marco Rubio, is currently in Libya as part of the first Congressional delegation to visit since the Qadafi regime was deposed. Senator Rubio has been speaking out more in foreign policy topics recently and yesterday, National Review posted his op-ed on the subject of religious and political oppression in Iran. 

Rubio highlights the plight of a Christian pastor named Yousef Nardarkhani, who is facing execution for abandoning Islam and refusing to recant his Christian faith:

Morning Coffee Reading for September 9, 2011

Here's your morning coffee reading for today:

• Yesterday was a sad day for Florida Republicans, as RPOF Chairman David Bitner died after a valiant battle with ALS. Saint Petersblog has done an excellent job collecting messages from leaders around the state in reaction to Bitner's passing:

Saint Petersblog | Rest in peace, Mr. Chairman: RPOF's Dave Bitner has died after battle with ALS

• Texas Senate candidate Ted Cruz released his twelve step "Jobs and Growth Agenda" earlier this week, and posted some of the reactions to it on his campaign website's blog. I'm thrilled that my blog post was quoted right after conservative stalwart Senator Jim DeMint:

Ted Cruz | Blog | Sen. DeMint, Others Weigh in on Jobs and Growth Agenda

• The myth that moderates are more "electable" is debunked in this American Thinker article, with a discussion of the 1964 Goldwater-Johnson race, the 1980 Reagan-Carter race, and several recent Senate races:

The Road to Hell is Paved with 'Electable' Candidates

The Meaning of Christmas

The Charlie Brown Christmas TV special is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  I adore how adorably, unapologetically cheesy the show is...but most of all I love how perfectly and simply Charles M. Schulz expresses the "Meaning of Christmas."

Here is the famous scene where Linus helps Charlie remember "what Christmas is all about."

YouTube | Charlie Brown Christmas

"Glory to God in the Highest, and Earth, Peace, and Good Will toward Men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Merry Christmas to all of you.  May you and your families have a wonderful and blessed holiday season, and a very Happy New Year.

The First Amendment means we have a right to say when you're being an idiot

So you've probably seen the news about Terry Jones, the nutcase pastor in Gainesville who has organized a Koran-burning at his church on September 11th.  

The church is called "Dove World Outreach Center" in an apparent misunderstanding of the word "irony," because I see nothing dove-like/peaceful or resembling outreach to anyone in the activities of this church.  These are the same morons who put up signs saying "Islam is of the Devil," and an anti-gay slur during the Gainesville mayor's race last March.  

The First Amendment means that Terry Jones has every right to be as ugly and hateful as he wants to be, to say what he likes and burn a Koran if he wants to.  It also means that I can say that this so-called "pastor" is being a total jacka**.

Glenn Beck posted the following thoughts on TheBlaze.com earlier today:

Thoughts from Glenn Beck on Church Plan to Burn Koran

I’m on vacation and trying to unplug but the news can make that hard. I just read the story about the Florida church planning to burn copies of the Koran.

What is wrong with us?  It’s just like the Ground Zero mosque plan.   Does this church have the right?  Yes.  Should they?  No.  And not because of the potential backlash or violence. Simply because it is wrong.  The more I reflect on what happened on 8/28 the more I realize the amazing power of GOOD.

We must be the better person.  We must be bigger than our problems.  Bigger than the times in which we live.  Burning the Koran is like burning the flag or the Bible.  You can do it, but whose heart will you change by doing it?   You will only harden the hearts of those who could be moved.   None of those who are thinking about killing us will be affected, but our good Muslim friends and neighbors will be saddened. It makes the battle that they face inside their own communities even harder.

Let us rise above the current levels and elevate ourselves and our country.   The only thing this act would prove is that you CAN burn a Koran.   I didn’t know America was in doubt on that fact.   Let’s prove to each other that while there are many things we can do, there are maybe many more things that we choose not to do.

Well said, Mr. Beck.