By Rose Pedenko

The plan was to leave the hotel by 8 AM to beat the crowd ahead of the 10 AM start of the Glenn Beck rally on 8/28.  Even the best laid plans did not prepare me for the magnitude of underlying anger that would drive hundreds of thousands of Americans to descend on the Lincoln Memorial at the crack of dawn.  Earlier that morning, my husband clicked on Fox News to a stunning aerial shot of the event--the perimeter already packed with Beck fans--three hours before the scheduled start of the rally.

I bolted downstairs to catch a cab.  It was the cab driver’s 7^th trip that morning.  He managed to get me within a block of the event and I quickly melted into a throng of humanity.

Suffering from claustrophobia and intolerance to heat, attending this rally became a testament to just how hungry I was for the reinforcement that comes from knowing one is not alone.  Standing shoulder to shoulder, sandwiched into barely enough room to turn around, it was hot, humid, and the perfect conditions for me to pass out.  But I fought the feeling hard because we were about to participate in what everyone was certain would be a historic event—to start the heart of America again.

What made me fly across the country to attend this three hour event?  The answer may be somewhat different than the majority of attendees (at least the majority surrounding me).  We were not necessarily like-minded, but clearly like-hearted.

I am not a religious person, but knew that my faith in America needed to be restored.  While I know that no man is an island, drowning in the sea of liberalism that is Los Angeles has a way of making one believe he or she is quite isolated and certainly godless.  It created a void that could only be filled by experiencing the kind of energy I had hoped to find here.

In the age of Twitter, Facebook and Crackberries, reportage of the event was instantaneous, particularly because those attending knew the MSM would not be covering the event fairly and Fox News had already decided only to “report” on the event (in an effort to remain fair and balanced).

This country and the values it was founded upon were slipping away and being replaced with apathy and the ever-increasing belief by many that government should take care of us.  This kind of oblique thinking has been fostered by the inculcation of progressive ideas in our schools; and the reshaping of the malleable minds that are America’s future.  Only reasonable, thoughtful human beings care about what happens to the generations that follow after we cease to exist.

Even though the rally was presented as a non-political event, it was clear that anger at our politicians was the driving force that rallied the masses to Washington, D.C.  But once there, Beck masterfully redirected that anger in a way that made sense, even if you are agnostic.

Beck was very clear about the content and meaning of the Restoring Honor event, and while it goes against my grain to participate in any large gathering, particularly one with religious overtones, it was important that I hear the message and find a way to synthesize it with my own conflicting ideas about religion.

There I stood, enveloped in shouts of “hallelujah” and “praise the Lord.”  Was I in the wrong place at the right time?

There are millions of non-church going conservatives, libertarians and moderate Republicans that might otherwise have attended this gathering.  It was not just about Beck’s religious fervor (a turn-off to many), but a way to redirect our political anger in this call for faith, hope and charity.  Faith is also about trusting others, and right now we all need to trust in one another to help restore this country to greatness.

Faith, hope and charity are not solely Christian values but they are also virtues learned through common sense and respect for others.  It occurred to me that mistakes are being made by excluding those that do not wholly share an acceptance of God through blind faith.  Many of us are good people that struggle with our beliefs.  We need to be a part of this movement, to stand side by side in our fight for freedom with people whose faith may be stronger than our own.

There is no other answer in this struggle to restore America because, as Beck stated, America is at a crossroads.  Who are we and what is it we believe?  He asked us to tell the truth in our own life and the truth in mine is that I am honorable and my honor is not defined by someone else’s arbitrary definition of spirituality.

Beck quoted his favorite verse from the Declaration of Independence: “…with a firm Reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”  Beck also often quotes Thomas Jefferson’s admonition that “if you haven’t questioned with boldness even the very existence of God, for if there be a God, He must surely rather honest questioning over blindfolded fear.”  And there, go I.

by Lance Thompson

President Obama must be frustrated. No matter what position he takes on the
13-story mega-mosque to be built next to the hallowed ground of the 9/11
terrorist attack (and he's taken as many positions as possible), none of
them seems to satisfy everyone.

Obama first came out four-square behind the mosque and the rights of the
radical imam who wishes to build a monument to radical islam at the site of
its greatest desecration. Later, Obama clarified that he was only defending
the constitutional right to freedom of religion, not the wisdom of building
the mosque. Then White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton, in a
Saturday evening statement, said that this backpedaling should not be seen
as backpedaling. Now even Harry Reid, a man desperately in need of
political allies, has broken with the president's position (whatever it
currently is) to say that no mosque should be built at Ground Zero.

It prompts one to wonder what might have happened if all our presidents
possessed Obama's unwavering commitment to a principle.

Ronald Reagan hastened the end of Soviet domination of Europe with his
challenge, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Obama's version might have
added, "And we'll use American taxpayer money to help you build a better
wall."

John F. Kennedy challenged a generation with, "We shall pay any price, bear
any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order
to assure the survival and success of liberty." Obama's version might have
added, "unless that means irritating state sponsors of terrorism or radical
islamists, in which case we will roll over and abandon our long time
allies."

Franklin Roosevelt, to help Great Britain during the harrowing, early days
of World War II, established the Lend-Lease program to supply aid to the
Brits in their struggle against Nazi Germany. FDR said America must become
"the great arsenal of democracy." Obama might have added, "unless the Nazis
win another battle, in which case we'll plan a summit with Hitler and
discuss plans for redecorating Buckingham Palace."

Abraham Lincoln identified the purpose of the Civil War as ensuring that
"this government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not
perish from this earth." Obama's version would have added, "But we'd settle
for a socialist utopia that will plunge us into unsustainable debt and
worldwide ridicule."

These amendments to famous presidential pronouncements are unthinkable to
Americans who treasure their heritage and take pride in what this country
stands for. President Obama will never understand such feelings, for he
does not share them. He will never understand such people, for he is not
one of them. And he will not be re-elected by such people, because,
increasingly, they understand him all too well. 

by Lance Thompson  

by Lance Thompson

By Rose Pedenko and Tanya Simon 

Between President Nixon’s pressured resignation and Bill Clinton’s Pants on the Ground deliberate misstatements under oath, the word “impeach” was seldom used with legitimacy.  However, by mid-summer 2009 (six months after the inauguration of the man whose middle name rhymes with “pain”) “impeachment” has been Twittered, Googled, Facebooked, texted, and even “whispered” (surprisingly) by those with buyer’s remorse.  Twelve months later it is being shouted from America’s rooftops. 

Recently, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-PA), unwittingly provided a ray of hope in that someone in the Obama administration who has committed a crime – and if the president knew about it, analysts say it could be grounds for impeachment.  Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) is even saying this could be President Barack Obama’s Watergate.  This also means Joe Sestak is not the brightest Crayola in the box, but we digress. 

The very name Barack Hussein Obama is sending chills up and down the collective spine of Americans.  There are still those that scoff at the seemingly xenophobic vocalization of his middle name as being racist.  But Americans have quickly learned that being labeled a racist is part and parcel of this administration’s progressive as well as regressive tactics. 

The course this President has set is due to surrounding himself with ideological quacks and cons inside the administration and supported by dutiful drones like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid--all intent on steering the United States into a Marxist-lite firestorm.  It began with the GM takeover, under the guise of saving it from bankruptcy, and now, the BP oil spill may have provided the catastrophic event they were waiting for.  As Senator Bill Nelson suggests, "If this thing is not fixed today, I think the president doesn't have any choice, and he better go in, completely take over…."  And the latest push for Financial Reform may end up plugging up all the loose ends. 

They (Obama & Company) are masters of deflecting attention from one crisis to another to distract Americans long enough to cement their progressive agenda.  Perennial campaigning and near record-setting rounds of golf for a sitting President are their way of saying, “Keep your eye on the ball and you’ll forget all that other stuff.” 

Starting with the top dog and working downward, there are more fools and fruitcakes in charge than Nixon had plumbers, except this time they are (laughingly) referred to as czars, appointed by and answering only to the President.  Congress has, in effect, rendered itself inutile as it cedes and/or is robbed of its one-third checks and balances power.  Even a new Republican majority will be hard-pressed to reverse the current damage and what lies ahead when much of this administration’s agenda bears its rotten fruit. 

The current list of czars is only the tip of the iceberg.  Now comes Arif Alikhan and Kareem Shora, appointed to posts at the Department of Homeland Security by Janet Napolitano .  The announcements emphasized the words “devout Muslims.”  We cannot recall when any other U.S. government official was sworn in and the words “devout Catholic,” “devout Protestant,” “devout Jew” or “devout atheist” were added as a tagline.  The fact that Muslims – devout or otherwise – are included as integral parts in the security of this country is frightening.  What next, Tony Villaraigosa as Border Czar? 

Coincidentally, another member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council is Lee Hamilton, former Congressman and President of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.  From Socialist President Woodrow Wilson to Socialist President Woodrobama, Americans have never had more cause for grave concern. 

American culture is based in the ideology of freedom.  To say this administration, in concert with senators and congresspersons intoxicated with the idea of omnipotent power, has betrayed every trust sacred would be a gross understatement.  Our free enterprise system, and thus our liberty, are victims of a new Night and Fog-like Decree: where one by one, ownership of our intellectual property, business profits, and homes, are being abducted and shot down by a progressive agenda the masses do not even comprehend.  Day by day the murky pictures coming out of the White House become clearer as they continue to herd us over a financial cliff. 

And now, even the American media are taking a jaundiced view of the person upon whom they heaped unadulterated – and undeserved – praise, having hawked, peddled and schemed on his behalf, all of which brought him to the ultimate seat of power.  The liberal press has been slow to catch on that “transparency,” once a clever campaign gimmick, is now biting them where it hurts: access to their Chosen One.  Even the Huffington Post, sanctioned source of information that it has become, was surprised that Obama breached years of protocol by leaving White House without the press with him. Timely press conferences have been replaced with the Elmer Fudd-like blips and bloopers of White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs. 

Quoting CBS’s Chip Reid (regarding the drastic BP Oil spill): “…critics on Capitol Hill just weren’t buying what the White House was saying about the government’s role in all of this and whether they could do more.”  That’s a harsh statement from the network that cheapened their once powerhouse status. 

This President was swept into office by being the first campaign to effectively harness the power of the internet: to organize and rally the uneducated, and cajole the elites (the easiest to dupe) that real transformative change could take place.  Had the majority not been so awed by the oratorical smoke and mirrors, they might have realized the true intent.  The same internet, laden with first person proof of his radical agenda, will also, unfortunately for Barack Obama, be the powerful broom that sweeps him out of that office in 2012. 

by Lance Thompson 

by Lance Thompson 

by Lance Thompson