Caffeinated Thoughts

Obama-Romney Debate Preview
Iowa House Education Bill Debated, Still No Vote
Santorum’s Wins in Alabama & Mississippi Show Social Issues are Winners
South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Born Alive Infant Protection Act
Rick Santorum Sweeps Deep South; Wins Alabama and Mississippi Primaries
Scott Edwards Announces Iowa Senate District 16 Bid
Rick Santorum: Leadership vs. Lip Service for the Culture of Life
Introduction & Family Discipleship Thoughts

Obama-Romney Debate Preview

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 03:30 AM PDT

In 58 seconds watch why Mitt Romney will lose to Barack Obama. Oh beautiful!

HT: Steve Deace

Iowa House Education Bill Debated, Still No Vote

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 03:30 AM PDT

The Iowa House is debating their version of Governor Terry Branstad's education reform bill – HF 2380. They went to around midnight. Some highlights:

An amendment was passed that allows private schools the option to excuse themselves from some of the Iowa Core.
They took power away from the Director of the Iowa Department of Education to dole out grants.
The expansion of the Iowa Core was taken down for study, so that's not happening this year.
Competency-based education was approved, this is allow students to earn academic credit by demonstrating mastery of a subject rather than completing the course.
The House also approved alternative credentialing of teachers.
The GPA requirement for teacher preparation programs was nixed.

Today they'll debate online education. Attorney General Tom Miller offered an opinion that it was legal so that should help give it some traction as they debate it.

The House starts back up at 8:00a. I'll update later on with what the final product coming out of the House will look like.

Santorum’s Wins in Alabama & Mississippi Show Social Issues are Winners

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:15 PM PDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) congratulated Rick Santorum on winning the Alabama and Mississippi primaries tonight, hailing the results as a victory which emphasizes the importance of social issues in the 2012 race. Today, the SBA List wrapped up a $500,000 independent expenditure campaign including a bus tour mobilization effort which rallied supporters across six states, including Alabama and Mississippi, in support of Santorum's presidential candidacy.

"Despite attempts by some opinion makers to cast Rick Santorum's strong support for women, the unborn and the family in a negative light, his wins in Alabama and Mississippi, as well as in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota last week show social issues are winning issues," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of SBA List. "Voters in Alabama and Mississippi reflected upon who represents and has already fought for their values. They chose Santorum. That’s why he is winning.

"Rick Santorum's leadership on life, marriage, and religious liberty are clearly a key part of what is sustaining him as a national leader," said Maggie Gallagher of the Culture War Victory Fund. "He is not a regional candidate. He is competitor in the Midwest, the west mountain states and the South. That’s because voters trust that his core values are their core values."

Leading up to Tuesday's primary, Dannenfelser led the SBA List's "Rick Bus" across Mississippi and Alabama holding press conferences for local media with Culture War Victory Fund's Maggie Gallagher and local pro-life women including Julie Collier of Allied Women of Alabama. On the ground, Eagle Forum helped the group turn out local women speakers and grassroots activists to each stop.

Previously the "Rick Bus" team travelled across Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Georgia, rallying women and mobilizing social conservatives to support and vote for Rick Santorum in those key primaries. The entire SBA List campaign included a $350,000 radio ad campaign in Ohio and Michigan with the message that Santorum is the only principled leader to take on President Obama.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of more than 365,000 Americans dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Born Alive Infant Protection Act

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:00 PM PDT

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (S 1149) without opposition Tuesday afternoon. It now goes to the full Senate.

The Senators in Judiciary Committee that voted "yes" to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act were:

John L. Scott, Jr.* (D-Richland)

Floyd Nicholson (D-Greenwood)

Tom Davis (R-Beaufort)

Lee Bright* (R-Spartansburg)

A. Shane Massey (R-Edgefield)

Michael T. Rose* (R-Dorchester)

Philip Shoopman (R-Greenville)

Chauncey K. Gregory (R-Lancaster)

Kent M. Williams (D-Marion)

Vincent A. Sheheen (D-Kershaw)

C. Bradley Hutto (D-Orangeburg)

Larry A. Martin (R-Pickens)

John M. Knotts (R-Lexington)

Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington)

George E. Campsen* (R-Charleston)

Joel Lourie* (D-Richland)

*Scott, Bright, Rose, Campsen & Lourie cast their votes via proxy

Rick Santorum Sweeps Deep South; Wins Alabama and Mississippi Primaries

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:21 PM PDT

After a victory on Saturday in Kansas Rick Santorum sweeps both the Alabama and Mississippi GOP primaries. In Alabama, Santorum had a good turnout from evangelicals in that state to help give him the boost. In Mississippi, it was a close three-way race with Santorum edging out Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. Ron Paul finished last in both states.

The count is still going on in both states, but Santorum is widening his lead in both states. I will update when the vote tally is complete.

Some thoughts…

Rick Santorum is now poised to sweep the remaining Southern states and Midwest building further momentum. He looks good for the Missouri Caucus on Saturday after having won the nonbinding Missouri Primary. Illinois will probably be the toughest state for him to win, but it isn't impossible. Tonight he just made a very convincing case that he is the alternative to Romney.
Which brings me to Newt Gingrich, what case could he possibly make to stay in? He's irrelevant at this point.
Ron Paul who? He's left to playing games in Iowa which could end up hurting not only the Iowa Caucuses, but I would say his son's political future as well if he keeps it up. When your candidate can't do any better than 2nd in just a couple of states that isn't a mandate to have a voice at the convention – sorry, not happening.

Update: They aren't quite finished counting yet, but enough where I don't think the percentages will change much.

Alabama Primary Results (98.3% Reporting)

Rick Santorum – 34.5% (211,422) – 16 delegates
Newt Gingrich – 29.3% (179,252) – 12 delegates
Mitt Romney – 29.0% (177,485) – 10 delegates
Ron Paul – 5.0% (30,372) – 0 delegates

Mississippi Primary Results (99.3% Reporting)

Santorum – 32.9% (93,182) – 13 delegates
Gingrich – 31.3% (88,676) – 12 delegates
Romney – 30.3% (85,922) – 12 delegates
Paul – 4.4% (12,498) – 0 delegates

And for the Hawaii Caucus which ended at 1:00am (CST) right now…

With 33.3% reporting we have with 20 delegates up for grabs.

Romney – 32.6%
Santorum – 28.3%
Paul – 23.4%
Gingrich – 15.7%

Romney won the American Samoa contest which is awards 9 delegates. Really?

Update 2: Speeches, we have speeches…

Rick Santorum's:

And Newt Gingrich’s:

I’d share Mitt Romney’s with you, but he didn’t speak. I guess I wouldn’t be too excited about third place finishes either.

HT: Unedited Politics for both videos.

Scott Edwards Announces Iowa Senate District 16 Bid

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:15 PM PDT

Des Moines Republican David "Scott" Edwards today announced his run for the Senate.

Edwards, a laborer at Des Moines Public Schools, is running for Senate District 16, which includes the east side of Des Moines and most of Pleasant Hill. He has never run for public office before but said he is doing so out of concern with the direction of the state.

Edwards, 48, grew up on Des Moines' south side and graduated from Des Moines Tech High School in 1981. He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard the next year, serving a 6-year term. Since then, he has worked mainly in the construction industry and owned his own construction business until he was hired as a laborer for the Des Moines Public Schools in 2002.

"As a laborer, I have had opportunity to work with Republicans and Democrats alike. I have grown to understand that the issues we face, we face as Iowans, and not as Democrats or Republicans," said Edwards. "I am committed to working for everyone in my district."

Edwards is a former officer on the Mitchell Elementary PTA, the Des Moines Housing Appeals Board and a board member for the Valley High Manor Neighborhood Association. Currently, he is a member of the Carlisle VFW Post 2099, and serves in the Color Guard there, helping to provide flag and rifle ceremony presence at funerals for those who have served in the military.

Edwards and his wife Teressa have seven children; and one granddaughter.

Sen. Dick Dearden, a D-Des Moines, currently lives in the district and is seeking releection.

Rick Santorum: Leadership vs. Lip Service for the Culture of Life

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 02:59 PM PDT

By Rick Santorum

Four dimensional ultrasound technologies show unborn children smiling and yawning in the womb. Fetal surgeries demonstrate that, just like us, unborn children need medical treatment and care. Over and over again we hear news like this that reminds us the unborn child is a life.

I am running for president because I have a vision for creating opportunity for all in America – and that includes the unborn. And at the heart of that vision is one of my guiding principles and core convictions: the dignity of life for all human beings.

I believe that all life is precious. I know life begins at conception and science does as well. I know that every person, every child conceived in the womb, has a right to life. I know that life is a right endowed by our Creator, that it is inalienable, as laid down in the Declaration of Independence, and should be guaranteed under the Constitution. The right to life is the first right. Without its protection, no other rights matter.

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, destroys roughly 900 unborn lives a day. It's not news to me or to those who support my candidacy that Planned Parenthood does not share my vision of the dignity of all human life.

My record over the years fighting for life and against Planned Parenthood's culture of death is quite clear. Planned Parenthood knows this and Governor Romney should know this as well. This is not a political game- this is about our core values and the soul of our nation.

As president, I would use every power granted to me, including the veto, to push for elimination of federal funding for Planned Parenthood. In fact, this is one of the items in my plan to cut $5 trillion of federal spending over five years. I will put half of the money from defunding Planned Parenthood and its extreme agenda toward deficit reduction and the other half for promoting adoption. I was thrilled to support legislation to respect the rights of pro-life doctors and nurses through a pro-life and pro-religious freedom conscience clause. These types of protections are now being gutted and under attack by President Obama and his Administration.

While I was successfully fighting to end the gruesome practice of Partial Birth Abortion, Mitt Romney was allowing abortions for $50 through RomneyCare, free abortions for some and attending Planned Parenthood fundraisers.

Through RomneyCare, Massachusetts has the highest healthcare premiums in the nation and all citizens must subsidize abortion through their tax dollars.

The same Governor Romney who said it wasn’t until he was in his fifties and running for president the first time, that he discovered he was pro-life. I'm glad he's moving in the right direction now that a majority of Americans are embracing the culture of life and momentum is on the side of life.

Defense of the unborn is not just about issuing a statement or casting a vote. It is about making a commitment — and upholding a promise — to never waiver or give up the fight for life. I have fought in the trenches of the pro-life movement for both unborn children and their mothers. Don’t just take my word for it. Look at my record. Ask those who advocate for abortion which of the Republican candidates for President will actually work tirelessly to stop it and affirm life.

I authored the landmark Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that put an end to the barbaric practice partially delivering an unborn child and brutally decapitating him or her. This legislation was opposed by Planned Parenthood and then Senator Obama. In fact, Planned Parenthood challenged the law in Court. I sat in the Supreme Court during oral arguments and heard Planned Parenthood's lawyer argue against a common-sense ban on partial birth abortion. When liberal justices sided with Planned Parenthood, I did not give up. We sent the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act back to the Supreme Court to get it right which they did thanks to the new Justices; a significant step forward for the culture of life.

While I was working to confirm conservative Justices Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, Governor Romney was appointing moderate, liberal, and gay activist judges in Massachusetts.

I actively worked to defend President Reagan’s policy of not funding organizations overseas that promote or perform abortions. I pushed to expand the adoption tax credit and encourage more American families to consider adopting or becoming foster care parents. I cosponsored and helped move legislation to make it a crime to transport a minor over state lines for an abortion in order to avoid state parental consent laws. I was one of the top defenders and promoters of pro-life legislation. This was not offering a mere talking point in a debate, instead I worked on over 25 different pieces of legislation defending life, limiting abortion, promoting adoption, and protecting religious freedom of those opposed to abortion measures.

President Obama is a fierce proponent of abortion and more than willing to undermine religious freedom in the process. We need someone who stands tall for the dignity of all human life to be successful in November and to be successful for defending those who cannot defend themselves.

I believe just saying you are pro-life isn’t enough. America needs a demonstrated fighter and protector of human life from beginning to end. Someone who has a long established record of not just supporting life but for fighting the battles to protect this basic right. To stand for life is one of my passions and privileges. It's not just an issue I support, its part of the very core of who I am.

We need a passionate defender of the dignity of all life, not mere lip service. By God's grace, I have done so and will continue to do so for all of God's children.

Rick Santorum, a former representative and senator from Pennsylvania, is a candidate for the Republican nomination for president.

Introduction & Family Discipleship Thoughts

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:30 AM PDT

How important is family discipleship?

I’m excited to be blogging for Caffeinated Thoughts. I’ve been a blogger for several years – most recently with Cory Center for Children’s Ministry – and am excited to have an outlet for my thoughts. Here's a little bit of my story: I grew up a pretty normal kid, went to church every week, went to public school from K through 12^th grade, went away to a private Christian college, got a job in the field of social work, got married, had a couple of kids (well, 5 soon to be 6 actually), answered the call to ministry, started attending Seminary, had a few more kids and continued to expand from there. I recently left (sort of) a vocational ministry position as a Children’s Pastor and am pursuing social media management and a financial career with Primerica.

So, why do I mention all that? Well, to show that I'm just an average guy who is trying to figure out how this whole family ministry idea works. I’m trying to figure out how it fits within the framework we are to follow as Bible-believing Christians. As a Christian, my main concern is “What does the Bible have to say about this?” After that, I wonder how I can encourage and help others as they struggle with the concepts of family ministry and discipleship.

Therefore, as a leader, I take what God is teaching me and attempt to share that with other families. I pray together we can improve the current state of the church and it's discipleship process. And make no mistake, parenting is about discipleship! Everything I do (or don't do) with my kids should be aimed at teaching them to Love God and Love Others. And because that responsibility falls on parents, everything we do as Christ-followers and church leaders should be aimed at equipping THEM to fulfill that responsibility.

Some of what I hope to blog about is: