Kudos to Senator David Johnson (D, Little Rock) who received  ZERO dollars in per diem, mileage and expense money for 2010, according to an admirable enterprise story by Michael Wickline in Sunday’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Going back to 2009, during a regular session as is 2011’s session, Mr. Johnson received only $1081.

I recognize Mr. Johnson is at an advantage over the majority of Arkansas legislators because he lives in Little Rock.  Yet so does Senator Joyce Elliott who in 2010 received $25,979 in expenses along with Representatives Greenberg ($31,826), Allen ($31,332), Webb ($29,754), Adcock($28,2 00), D. Williams ($27,976), J. Edwards ($26,500) and A. Kerr($24,600). These 8 legislators alone were reimbursed tens of thousands of dollars, all in addition to their regular salaries of $15,869.

The closest example to Mr. Johnson’s fiscal restraint in 2009 was Representative James Word, (D-Pine Bluff) who received $24,600. And the totals soar from there, reaching a maximum collected of $60,092 by Senator Jimmy Jeffress (D,Crossett, appoximately 150 miles from the Capitol)…YES~I just wrote 60 thousand dollars in expenses reimbursements.  This year, Sen. Jeffress cut back a bit after receiving some backlash over his steep expenses during 2009, and only collected $52,427.

We should give Rep. Nate Steel recognition, too, because in 2010 he only received $3,833, and he lives in Nashville, which is some 150 miles from the Capitol. Third runner-up for most fiscally responsible legislator is Rep. Steve Cole (D-Lockesburg) who rang in at $13,647 for 2010 (much less than his figure in 2009 of $35,468).  Lockesburg is also right around 150 miles from the capitol.

Wonder why there is such a HUGE discrepancy in the amount of money reimbursed for basically the same travel? I understand that different legislators are on different committees and have different responsibilities but a $60,000.00 annual difference is a pretty big difference…

Wickline’s article points out that the first time an Arkansas legislator collected more than $50,000 in a single year was in 2007. Since then: In 2008 four lawmakers collected in excess of $50 thousand and in 2009 a whopping TWENTY legislators joined the crowd. The word obviously got around.

Those in the Top 20 during 2009 and what they collected from taxpayers for expenses (again, not including their salaries)

Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett          $60,092
Rep. Bill Abernathy, D-Mena               $56,592
Rep. Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro                $56,366
Rep. Mark Martin, R-Prairie Grove    $56,290
Rep. Eddie Cooper, D-Melbourne       $54,892
Rep. Buddy Lovell, D-Marked Tree    $53,998
Sen. Gene Jeffress, D-Louann                $53,949
Rep. Billy Gaskill, D-Paragould             $53,524
Rep. Mike Patterson, D-Piggott            $52,588
Rep. Monty Davenport, D-Yellville     $52,047
Rep. Jon Woods, R-Springdale              $51,949
Rep. Gregg Reep, D-Warren                    $51,898
Rep. Tommy Baker, D-Osceola              $51,641
Rep. Curren Everett, D-Salem                $51,492
Rep. George Overbey, D-Lamar             $51,452
Rep. Nathan George, D-Dardanelle        $50,860
Rep. Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City   $50,603
Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette                $50,522
Sen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville              $50,442
Rep. Allen Maxwell, D-Monticello         $50,087

And then there were 8 lawmakers collecting over 50 thousand dollars in 2010:

Sen Laverty, D-Jasper                         $59,745
Rep. Kidd, D-Jonesboro                       $54,064
Sen. J Jeffress, D-Crossett                   $52,427
Rep. T. Baker, D-Osceola                      $52,199
Rep. Gaskill, D- Paragould                  $52,100
Rep. Patterson, D-Piggott                   $51,814
Rep. Woods, R- Springdale                 $51,467
Rep. Davenport, D-Yellville               $51,186

Senator Laverty was the only one of the 2010 big expense collectors not to also reach the $50K mark in 2009, although he was just shy at $43,966.
These numbers are stunning to me, especially since I spent 2010 continuously traveling Arkansas from corner to corner and back again. Kerry Baldwin and I held 41 trainings, over a dozen events and a handful of speaking engagements from Texarkana to Mt. Home to Jonesboro and over to Fort Smith.
I traveled over 100 days and sometimes hit four cities encompassing 400 miles over a two-day period and never submitted a travel reimbursement voucher for more than $1000 in any single month.
It’s my understanding that legislators who live within 50 miles of the Capitol receive a  flat fee” per diem of somewhere between $2,000 to $2,200, never having to even fill out an expense report. Those living more than 50 miles away receive $.51 per mile, round trip, and $149 a day per diem, with no expense report required.

As a business owner, I can’t turn those kinds of records into the IRS. Could you? I mean, can we talk some common sense here?   And as a person who works for an organization that reimburses my proven travel expenses, I have to turn in a detailed expense report every two weeks with receipts attached. That’s if I expect to receive reimbursement. So someone tell me why should our public servants be any different?

Today, and not a moment too soon, Arkansas legislators introduced SB194. A bipartisan “Ethics Bill”. Please read this bill (it’s only 2 pages) and let me know if you think this will alleviate the obvious problem of paid officials continually soaking the taxpayers?
In 2010 $4.7 million was paid to 135 part-time legislators, most of whom have other vocations outside of their public service.   I don’t think there’s a constituent in our state that would expect or want our law makers to absorb personal costs for officially tending to the affairs of our State. Yet I believe – and am convinced- that the sizes of these “expense” numbers as reported by Mr. Wickline are questionable.
I’d also encourage each of you to contact legislators in your area and make a habit of regularly submitting FOIA requests for their expense records. Show them you care and are watching our business as closely as any newspaper reporter.  Itemized accountability has a way of curbing anyone’s desire to “inflate” numbers in the private or public sector.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary
citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority is pleased to announce that an Activist Training will be conducted on Thursday, January 27th to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Ryan’s Restaurant, 2809 E. Highland Dr. in Jonesboro, beginning at 6:00pm.  Registration opens at 5:30pm.  The cost is $5 if you pre-register online by January 25th. Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

*Topics to be covered during the training include:
•       The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
•       Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers, using the Freedom of Information Act)
•       Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Kerry Baldwin atatKerry@AmericanMajority.org or Laurie Masterson at Laurie@AmericanMajority.org or call 501-801-1030

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Last week I had a story ping into my inbox that immediately set my fiscally conservative tail feathers into a spin.

As way of background: My money-wise sensors had been over-stimulated by stories of Arkansas legislators taking tax-paid helicopter rides, chauffeured trips for hundreds of miles to the Capitol and the expenditure of nearly half a million dollars of our tax dollars on Live
Streaming equipment that was unused.
So when the “You’ve got mail” voice chimed and I opened this tidbit of Intel, I felt a little like that cartoon character with smoke streaming from both ears:

The Arkansas House of Representatives has hired former Democrat State Representative Gregg Reep for the right handsome sum of $85k annually to be a liaison between the incoming freshmen and the Governor.

Yep, you read it right: $85 K.

I’d like to be able to tell you that I immediately did the right thing, the same thing I continually encourage folks around the state to do when they hear something that set their own alarms to buzzing – GET THE FACTS.
But NOOOO I commenced instead to venting on my poor husband, Mike. Please keep him in your prayers because that is usually my first sounding board. After several minutes of decompressing in this hyperbolic chamber of matrimony, I dashed to my trusty computer and googled (don’t you love how we have turned a proper noun into a verb) the name – Gregg Reep – and found very little concerning the newfound hearsay about his position.

Then I turned to my closest friend list, calling people I know that are most likeminded to justify my rant of this latest apparent irresponsibility and lack of transparency by government.

A few placated me, but thankfully, most encouraged me to dig a little deeper. Wait, wasn’t that my advice? So that’s exactly what I did.

I called my state representative and asked him about this latest hire. He encouraged me to go to the source of the decision which would be the Arkansas House Chief of Staff, Bill Stovall.
I called Mr. Stovall, who was gracious and helpful, and these are the actual facts he shared with me about Mr. Reep’s hiring:

The position Mr. Reep is in has actually been around for several years and in fact was at one time two positions.
That Mr. Reep’s salary of $85K (which will be prorated for his time serving) is precisely what the other two positions had made, so in
essence $85K has been “saved.”

In the process, I also learned the Arkansas House has gone from 24 full time jobs in 2001 to currently 19 and has even trimmed its budget by $115K for the 2011 session. Hmmm. But what happened to my initial overreaction?
How can I still remain in a state of outrage when facts don’t justify it?

In short, I’ve learned some valuable and hopefully enduring lessons. First of all, knee-jerk reactions to information are not productive and may not even by justified. We live in a world of instant (and often anonymous) communication today where credibility is at a premium. Secondly, I’ve learned to practice what one preaches by performing one’s due diligence of actually gathering hard facts before engaging mouth.

So here’s to the Arkansas  House- Kudos for reducing your budget (and thereby our expenditures) while finding well-qualified people to reduce the size of government and for taking steps on different levels to help our beloved state of Arkansas to become a more fiscally responsibly place.

We must all remember to seek out and get our hands firmly around the truth before needlessly and mistakenly throwing legislators, administrators and public service staff under the bus.

Ever heard of the TEA Party? If you have been alive in the past two years you have.  TEA Parties across the nation are making a huge difference in American politics and for certain politics in Arkansas.

There are approximately 30 TEA Parties in our state. They range in size from hundreds of people to just a handful but regardless of size they are a force to be reckoned with because they are bursting with folks who have made conscious decisions to become informed and engaged.

The November elections in Arkansas were a clear demonstration of that force. Conservatives won 7 contested Senate and 16 House seats in the election. The Arkansas Republican Party now holds 45 State House seats, 15 Senate Seats, and 3 State Constitutional Offices. The largest freshman class since 1999 was sworn in on Monday fully demonstrating Arkansans want change.

The events of the first week of the Arkansas legislature were already riff with anticipation and enthusiasm. Unlike any other time in Arkansas politics this session is swarming with not just lobbyist, reporters and visitors but with citizens that are determined to make a change in politics as usual. I am sure the  whirly bird and chauffeured rides, huge spun yarns, and phone foolery would have made it beyond the doors of the capitol but something significant happened, and hopefully will continue to.

Here is a facebook note from David Crow, Chairman of the Faulkner Co TEA Party:

We won!

by David Crow on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 10:28pm

We want fewer taxes, less spending and smaller government….that is our Tea Party position and we did not back down! AR state senate Joint Budget Com. passed HB 1063 giving raises to Judges and Prosecuting Attor….we said no and in less than 24 hours the House reversed itself and is now removing the raises from the original bill! How did it happen? One person attended the committee mtg and witnessed the vote…challenged the Faulkner Co Tea Party and others across the state to make calls to their reps, and the COL increases are history! The power rest with the people if we use it! This is proof that together we will and are making a difference! There are many other bills our spend, spend and spend progressives liberals want to push through we must have a Tea Party rep in every committee meeting. Keep it up folks….together we can restore fiscal sanity and reduce the size of government!

As a result of the actions of attentive engaged voters, Arkansans were saved half-a-million dollars in just the first week; and legislators are once again reminded that times are a changin and they are accountable to the people.

Once again I strongly encourage you to get plugged in, help broaden the network of responsive individuals by informing your sphere of influence and making sure you have your elected officials contact information.

There will be plenty more comin down the pike, as of today there have been over 160 bills filed that our legislators will deal with over the next several months.

Together we are making a difference, you are needed~

If you have ambitions of being a playwright I hope you are taking notes on the political happenings here in Arkansas. You could have a best-selling drama.

Remember the story of Tom Fite and Leslee Post from district 83? Mr. Fite was found ineligible to be an Arkansas Representative by Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Collins Kilgore because he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor bribery charge more than 26 years ago. (Read more here)

Yesterday afternoon members of the 2011 Arkansas House of Representatives voted to seat Leslee Milam Post (D-Ozark) who received only 41% of the vote.

Rep. John Burris (R-Harrison), the Minority Leader, made a motion to delay the seating of District 83 (Post’s seat) asking that the Claims Commission be able to review the case just as they had for Rep. Elect Fred Smith just days prior.  Burris explained that the wished of the people in district 83 need to be taken into account and their votes counted.”

His motion failed, 60-28.

Then there was a motion to seat Ms. Post to which Rep. Nate Bell (R-Mena) made a statement pointing out that the ruling to disqualify Tom Fite clearly usurped the Arkansas State Constitution and a ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court case in 2002, Magnus v Carr.

Here is a note from Rep. Bell explaining~

Today I spoke against the seating of Leslee Post in District 83.  My opposition was based on the need to preserve the constitutional separation of powers outlined in the Arkansas Constitution Article 4 sections 1 and 2  and Article 5 section 11 and was not intended to address the merits of the Post/Fite case which is pending before the Arkansas Supreme Court.  The Pulaski Circuit Court ruled in October that the ballots cast for Tom Fite were not be counted.  My argument today was based on the Arkansas Constitution as interpreted by the Arkansas Supreme Court in Magnus v Carr and numerous precedent cases.  The court held that the judicial branch does not have jurisdiction in election cases involving the legislative branch of government due to the separation of powers.  The court has repeatedly held that allowing the judicial branch to intervene in matters related to legislative elections would allow the judges to essentially choose members of another branch of government.  My viewpoint was defeated today 61-29.  I will always stand for constitutional principles even when it is politically unpopular.  6 Republicans voted with the Democrats to allow the judge to usurp the constitutional authority of the legislature.

The citizens of District 83 deserve to have their votes counted.  The votes would have been counted and Fite would have been declared the winner had the judge not intervened. The House would then have determined Fite’s eligibility as outlined in Arkansas law.  If he was deemed ineligible then a vacancy in election would have been declared and a special election held.  Instead, the house today voted to seat the person who lost the election garnering less than 42% of the votes cast.  We allowed a circuit judge to elect a person to the legislature who received less than a majority of the votes cast.  I believe we set a very dangerous precedent today.

Here’s a link to the case I cited:

http://courts.state.ar.us/opinions/2002b/20021024/02-604.html

The legislature voted 61-29 for Ms. Post to be sworn in and seated on Monday.

Anyone else see a problem here? The way I understand it ( and if I am wrong please let me know) according to the Arkansas Constitution and a case that was decided just 9yrs ago by the Arkansas Supreme Court, Judge Kilgore circumvented the Constitution of our state, ignored precedence, and did a huge disservice to the voters of Dist. 83.

The voters clearly voted for the more conservative candidate, as did the majority of voters in the state, and nation for that matter, and were smacked down. Was this a case of  over-reaching judge. Isn’t that the story?

P.S

THANK YOU!! to our 29 Arkansas State Representatives that held the line. Thank you to Representatives John Burris and Nate Bell for attempting to stop the circumvention of our Constitution. I look forward to working with these men and women to bring to Arkansas fiscal responsibility, limited government, and Constitutional soundness.

“Arkansas House Chief of Staff Bill Stovall says top officials in the chamber won’t commute any more in state vehicles.”How exciting! The decision was evidently made because of the latest brouhahas with the AGFC and AHD.There are only four vehicles in the mix here but this is a wonderful step in the RIGHT direction. Voters should be flooding the office of Mr. Stovall with affirming phone calls, emails and even perhaps a fruit basket!Thank You Bill for making one of the first steps of the new session in Arkansas politics to help Arkansas government become more fiscally responsible!

http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13753392

Bill H. Stovall, III
Chief of Staff
bill.stovall@arkansashouse.org

In Session Phone:
501-682-6211

Out of Session 
Phone:
501-682-7771

.As with many things across our culture today the heritage and story behind the Twelve Days of Christmas has been mangled.

This particular Christian observance may have been hijacked by eggnog swillers and little elves who choose to rewrite those things that would bring glory and honor to celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world.

For months now I have committed to take nothing for granted, to start from scratch and research my values and traditions, to make sure what I believe is not based on lies or half-truths.

This journey, while time consuming and sometimes tedious, has helped solidify my foundational beliefs.

As with many of our Western “traditions” The Twelve Days of Christmas is actually an historical Church tradition that begins on Christmas day and ends on the beginning of Epiphany (the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season).
This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King’s Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany (a King’s Cake also is part of the observance of Mardi Gras in French Catholic culture of the Southern USA)).

The familiar “Twelve Days of Christmas” song is not just a nonsense version for children with secular origins; it is a song with hidden meanings steeped in traditional Christian instruction. It’s believed, but not proved, that it was used during the 16th century by the Catholic faith as a secret means of preserving Christian tenets.

There are those who have questioned the historical accuracy saying this version actually is a myth.
(http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp)

Although there is not “hard” evidence to prove it true there really is none to refute the Catholic story either. So, since there’s no “proof” either way and it certainly is not worthy of a “crusade” to prove one way or the other, I vote that those reading this make the choice for themselves how to perceive the classic song, realizing that many of the symbols we use for Christmas, even including the date, are not inherently religious.

What I believe is important for Christians to remember at Christmas is the reason for the season, Christ; that we encourage our friends, neighbors and families to rejoice the birth of the Light of the world.

Hopefully this writing will inspire you to search, pray and reflect on your beliefs this Christmas season and to share your findings with others as we step into the beginning of a new year, a chance to change our world for the better becoming informed, engaged and empowered.

With all this in mind, here’s what the research I’ve done says are the intended religious symbolism of the “Twelve Days of Christmas:”

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

P.S.  At American Majority we work a lot with Social Media, I was sent this video by a friend on facebook and it is truly AMAZING~ Enjoy~ http://www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/1905/A-Social-Network-Christmas

Coming off a 5 day holiday sabbatical, it is hard to get back in the groove, but I need to stay focused. There is so much that has happened in the past week there is not sufficient room on this site to list it all. Legislation is being written faster than a speeding bullet; segue into super heroes, I am still experiencing my “Bullet-deflecting bracelets Wonder Woman” syndrome, even more now.

American Majority believes that change is best made at the local level so we want to give you some helpful hints  that will make this process easier for those who wish to help hold elected officials accountable and to build a farm team of future leaders.

Recently American Majority launched its New Leaders Project that will work with local TEA Party leaders from across the nation to identify 10,000 new, credible candidates in advance of the 2011 and 2012 elections. Already the major TEA Party groups in Arkansas have stepped to the plate and said “YES WE WILL”.

I encourage you to gather some folks in your area take advantage of our progams and commit to making sure those elected in the Arkansas School Board elections of 2011 are willing to respect the will of their communities. American Majority Arkansas is ready, willing and able to come alongside and help.

Another way to get engaged is to visit the Arkansas House of Representatives web page and review the bills that have been pre-filed for the 2011 session. If you are a person who likes research and blogging this may be your way of aiding the cause.

Additionally you can step-up by committing to attend public meetings in your area i.e school board, city council, quorum court and if you are really zealous, committee meetings in Little Rock.  Meetings are listed on the Arkansas State Legislature web page.

I know here in NWA Cox Communications has just made that easier for citizens to stay abreast of government happenings.  A story published in the NWA Times “Cox Communications To Adjust Lineup PUBLIC, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT CHANNELS TO CHANGE” stated that all cable customers in the area will be able to view school board and city council meetings starting December 9^th.

If you want more details on how-to’s read “~ WANT TO BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE? HERE’S HOW~”

Many believe the “First American Thanksgiving” occurred in December, 1621. But as with many American traditions, it’s difficult to pin down the precise origin. American truly is a melting pot of worlds. In doing a little research I found many celebrations claiming to be the first American Thanksgiving. The earliest one I found was in May 1541 when “Spanish explorer, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, led 1,500 men in a thanksgiving celebration at the Palo Duro Canyon. Coronado’s expedition traveled north from Mexico City in 1540 in search of gold. The group camped alongside the canyon, in the modern-day Texas Panhandle, for two weeks in the spring of 1541. The Texas Society Daughters of the American Colonists commemorated the event as the “first Thanksgiving” in 1959.”

Then, from that same source on June 30th 1564 “French Huguenot colonists celebrated in solemn praise and thanksgiving in a settlement near what is now Jacksonville, Florida. The colony was destroyed by a Spanish raiding party in 1565. This “first Thanksgiving,” however, was later commemorated at the Fort Carolina Memorial on the St. Johns River.”
Other Thanksgivings that notably occurred, 1607 when English settlers led by Captain George Popham joined Abnaki Indians along Maine’s Kennebec River for a harvest feast and prayer meeting. And another in 1610 in Jamestown, Virginia where colonist held a thanksgiving prayer service after English supply ships arrived with food.

Settlers held their first Thanksgiving at Berkeley Plantation on December 4, 1619, a year before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth. The settlers of James River at Berkeley actually made a proclamation that the first Sunday in November be a Thanksgiving Festival.

This is the first time an annual celebration was arranged that I could locate. Here’s their proclamation: “Wee ordaine that the day of our ship’s arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

One hundred and two brave passengers set sail leaving Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620, arriving over two months later in Massachusetts during late November. Upon landing, the new settlers wrote and signed Mayflower Compact which says:

“In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.”

Not being prepared for the harsh winter meant nearly half lost their lives before spring, leaving only 53people, twenty-two of the survivors being men. The settlers were prayerful people; and as God so often does, he brought people alongside them to help: Samoset and soon after, Squanto. These men of Divine intervention were among the participants of that “First Thanksgiving” feast.

You might be interested to know the foods of the dinner as were chronicled by William Bradford and Edward Winslow. You might also want to view their full diaries William Bradford~ Of Plymouth Plantation and Edward Winslow~ Mourt’s Relation.

You might think that the tradition of Thanksgiving by this point had been set. But you’d also be wrong by a long shot. The next recorded Thanksgiving Day came in 1623 when the pilgrims gratefully received rain after Governor William Bradford called for a day of solemn prayer seeking God’s mercy to end a drought. When the rain came he proclaimed a day of thanksgiving.

From there our history is rife with days of fasting, prayer and thanksgiving. I found one woman’s desire to find answers about the history of American Thanksgiving most interesting Karen Nelte. Her account from 1621 forward is well sourced http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/thanksgiving_nelte.html, and I enjoyed reading it.

Connecticut is believed to be the first place in America to set up an annual Thanksgiving Day although although the mid-1600s, Thanksgiving as we know it today began to take shape. Records show proclamations of Thanksgiving for September 18, 1639, as well as 1644, and after 1649.

From 1775-1784 Congress issued eight separate national Thanksgiving Proclamations and seven separate proclamations for times of fasting and prayer, for a total of 15 official prayer proclamations during the American Revolution.
America’s first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789. President George Washington on October 3, 1789 signed the “General Thanksgiving,” decree and appointed that day “to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.” This was to commemorate the completion of the draft of Bill of Rights, which had been completed on September 25th of that same year.

Well the Thanksgiving tradition STILL wasn’t an annual event following President Washington’s initial proclamation, national Thanksgiving Proclamations occurred only periodically: President Washington again in 1795, John Adams in 1799, James Madison in 1814 and again in 1815. There was lots of proclaiming going on.

In 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln gave his Proclamation of Thanksgiving on October 3rd. the following is taken from David Barton of Wall Builders and his “Celebrating Thanksgiving in America.”

“The Thanksgiving proclamation issued by Lincoln was remarkable not only for its strong religious content but also for its timing, for it was delivered in the midst of the darkest days of the Civil War, with the Union having lost battle after battle throughout the first three years of that conflict. Yet, despite those dark circumstances, Lincoln nevertheless called Americans to prayer with an air of positive optimism and genuine thankfulness, noting that:”
“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. . . . No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, Who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”
“That remarkable Thanksgiving Proclamation came at a pivotal point in Lincoln’s spiritual life. Three months earlier, the Battle of Gettysburg had resulted in the loss of some 60,000 American lives. It had been while Lincoln was walking among the thousands of graves there at Gettysburg that he first committed his life to Christ. As he later explained to a clergyman:”
“When I left Springfield [Illinois, to assume the Presidency], I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.
The dramatic spiritual impact resulting from that experience was not only visible in Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation (and also his 1864 call for a day of prayer and fasting) but especially in his 1865 Second Inaugural Address.
Over the seventy-five years following Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, presidents faithfully followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day (but the date of the celebrations varied widely from proclamation to proclamation). In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, and in 1941, Congress permanently established that day as the national Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving is the oldest American holiday and one with the richest spiritual thread. It is hallowed time where American’s know and publicly recognize their reliance on God, and the need to fast, pray and give thanks to the Creator of the Universe.

My hope and prayer this Thanksgiving is for Americans to be truly Thankful. President Lincoln so wonderfully wrote: “They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.”

I have no idea the political ideology of this group, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families but this study is sure bothersome Arkansas Schools Stockpiling Millions Intended for Poor Students considering other studies in recent days. Particularly that Arkansas children rank third in the nation with 26.9 percent living in poverty in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The percentage of Arkansas children living in poverty has risen steadily since 2006, when it was 23.8 percent.

Also just yesterday it was reported that “between 2007 and 2009, Arkansas had a higher percentage of households without consistent, dependable access to food than any other state in the nation, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”

Looks like we might need to get some grassroots researcher going on what just the heck is happening here.

As I stated on Friday in the post “Change or Argument” Senator Elect John Boozman did exactly what Arkansans hired him to do~ Read the bill and stand with his constituents.
Today Tolbert Report reported Boozman said :
“I want to be part of the solution to put our fiscal house back in order and that requires controlling government spending. After reviewing the Senate earmark proposals, the first step to deliver what Americans have asked for is to abstain from this spending. While not all earmarks are bad, it is clear that the system is broken and in need of reform. Therefore, I believe a moratorium on all earmarks is the best way to show that Washington is ready to make difficult spending decisions,” Boozman said.

Kudos to Mr. Boozman taking this first step in bringing about limited government. One small step for Boozman one giant leap for fiscal responsibility.

Conservatives picked up all 7 contested state Senate races and 16 new House seats in last week’s election.

The Arkansas Republican Party now holds 45 State House seats, 15 Senate Seats, 3 State Constitutional Offices, 1 U.S. Senate seat and 3 U.S. Congressional seats; an historic high for the chronically entrenched Democratic state of Arkansas.

There were 44 new faces that reported to Little Rock on Friday, the largest freshman class since 1999. From the looks of the social media updates all of them were raring to go, looking forward to working their new jobs.

Republicans in Arkansas have control of the Tax & Revenue Committee and the Transportation Committee. On Tax and Revenue there are 12 of 20 in the House and 4 of 8 in the Senate giving the GOP all-important veto power. Transportation Committee Republicans picked up 11 members of the 20 and 5 of 8 members in the Senate.

The question that should prevail in the minds of all those that consider this a huge victory: So What NOW?  From where I sit there’s but one answer. And that is simple: We stay as engaged in the process as we were during the election. If all we were about is just getting “our guy” in the seat, then we haven’t accomplished what we came to do, and that is keep our elected officials accountable to limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets.

We need an effective strategy to come alongside those men and women we’ve said we trust to go to Little Rock, make the necessary changes to ensure honor, integrity and reason prevail — and then be vigilant gatekeepers.

First and foremost, citizens must actually connect with those we just charged with properly governing us. Edmond Burke said, “Those who have been once intoxicated with power and have derived any kind of emolument from it can never willingly abandon it.”  It’s the responsibility of the governed to keep those governing in check. To that end we have an obligation to meet with, and hold accountable, those who’ve been elected.

I encourage each of you to begin to make contact with your officials on every level starting with School Boards all the way to our U.S. Senators. Let them know that you are a constituent and that you will be watching and engaging in the political trenches. You will not fall asleep again, nor be uninformed any longer, and that if there is anything you can do to help them be better a legislator they should contact you.

Even the elected with whom we disagree on policy need us to come alongside them when we can agree and help them in every way possible to govern well. Those we elected to our political fancy need to know that they are on notice, as well, and that just because they got our vote this time doesn’t necessarily  mean they have carte blanche. We WILL be there, making sure they stay true to their words and promises.

One way to do this is for concerned citizens to take a look at these committees formed last week choose a point of interest and find others with the same interest.  Make a calendar of committee meetings and take turns attending, then research the topics and become the experts in that area.

Secondly we need to engage on the local levels, making sure we have representation at each public meeting i.e. School Board, City Council and Quorum Court Meetings. If we can, get an accounting of these via a blog, web site or letters to the editors informing the general public of what is happening then, when 2012 rolls around, we will have no trouble getting our conservative message together and across to each other. We will have vital facts and information already cumulated.

Thirdly we must begin to search for new potential representatives, focusing first on the 2011 School Board elections across Arkansas. We have 239 school districts, most of which are severely in debt. We need to start building an infrastructure of conservative leaders from the local level up. Grooming candidates to run for higher offices as they build their resumes — giving Arkansans a record they can clearly distinguish.

As you can see the words of Wendell Phillips never have rung more true. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” The mindset of every TEA Partier and Freedom Warrior should be, “I have not yet begun to fight!”

Stay informed, engaged and empowered!

Just FYI~ Seventy five percent of the candidates that American Majority Arkansas established relationships with  across our state were elected Nov 2^nd and are now in a position to affectively  govern their constituents.

Where do the candidates you are voting for stand on the issues? Think it’s not important? You might want to think again?

Only 64 days until the Bush Tax Cuts expire, what will it cost you? Calculate here.

Cap-N-Trade is waiting in the wings for the newly elected to decide on when the settle into Washington, what will that cost you? Calculate here.

There’s a lot of talk going on about tax cuts. I think Barbara Wallis of Bald Knob, AR summed the rhetoric up pretty good in her letter to the editor of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette yesterday (Oct 27^th)~

“I am a little confused about the tax cuts set to expire on Dec. 31. I know they were implemented by President George W. Bush 10 years ago during a Republican administration.

The Democrats have always said that the tax cuts were for the wealthy friends of the Republicans. Of course, the Republicans denied this, saying all citizens received them.

Now the Democrats are saying they might be willing to continue the tax cuts beyond Dec. 31 for middle- and low-income families. How is it possible to continue tax cuts to these folks when the Democrats have claimed all along that they didn’t get them? Just wondering.”

In just 5 days Americans will decide the complexion of law makers in our states and nation.

In the 2010 Primary election in Arkansas only 16% of registered voters bothered to take part in the process.  The county with the largest turnout was Stone County with a whopping 44% (tongue firmly planted in cheek) and numbers tumbled from there, no other county had more than 35% and some in the single digits, Benton County being the smallest turnout with just 5% of her citizens

I hope and pray the adage “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.” Is not our reflective thought on November 3^rd.

Michael Yost, Executive Director of American Majority Minnesota posted: MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS AND KNOCK ON THOSE DOORS! Which if applied correctly will prove to push some wonderful conservative candidates over the top in the next 4 days. There is STILL time for you to make a difference for ARKANSAS~ there are GREAT conservative candidates that need YOU!! Some of these races are so close that just a few votes will matter! Call the candidates offices and see what you can do to help TODAY! CHANGE BEGINS WITH YOU!

Watch this Video~BALLOT BOX OR BATTLE FIELD~ YOU DECIDE~

While Arkansas bureaucrats like to proclaim our state has a “balanced budget,” our check book seems to tell a different story.  According to US Government Spending.com our state has an estimated $15.8 Billion in state and local debt. (see website for details)

The most exasperating part of this debt is that it has been accrued with the consent of the people, and most don’t even realize it. I have, over the last several months, conducted a survey of Arkansans, young and old. Blue collar, white collar and no collar; rich and poor; seemingly informed and completely disengaged; people who have run for state and national offices, folks who own multi-million dollars companies in our state and not one realizes the true “state of our state.”

I have been trying to wrap my head around this issue for months and I think I finally have a way to explain it ~ Let’s say you have “fixed” costs i.e. house payment, utilities, insurance, taxes which you can easily meet with your income. But then you decide you need a new car so you get a loan and you make the minimum payment. Then you decide you need some new furniture; another new loan, new minimum payment; and then a new flat screen, new loan, new minimum payment. Some months later you buy a boat, a motorcycle and a hunting lodge all with new loans and more minimum payments. Well now your income barely covers your outgo so you open a Visa account and start making payments with that and pay the minimum payment to visa, well things get tighter so you open a MasterCard, then Discover, then you take out a second on your house and now all of the-sudden (not really) you are 100’s of thousands of dollars in debt but still barely able to make your minimum payment. That’s pretty much what Arkansas has done except our state KEEPS doing it. And now we are $15.8 billion in debt and the voters keep giving them more and more ability to open up even more lines of credit, stop the madness.

Please make sure you are doing your due diligence BEFORE you vote.

In devotion to the unreal insanity that plagues our world each day I am starting a new “alert” called the “Perpetuation of Idiocy Alert”

Each day I awake to a new level of unbelievable lunacy, wondering if maybe “Alice in Wonderland” was really non-fiction.

Today I read this headline~ “Game & Fish agency looks to bypass law Proposal aims to create own freedom of information rules” WHAT???!

I called Kerry to let her know she could find me at Weimar Joint Sanatorium after I read Max Brantley’s post on this very issue and agreed with every word, here’s his rundown.

This issue underscores, rather than obscures, the larger issue. Game and Fish is out of control. It views public input and control as a hindrance. With a dedicated stream of sales tax money and a windfall from gas revenue, it has continued on its expansive ways, with an exploding payroll and lavish perks (the famous one-vehicle-per-employee ratio a good example) even as hunting and fishing licenses have declined in the face of an increasing state population. Something is wrong with this picture. It’s time to end Game and Fish’s stature as an independent agency. By this latest proposal, it demonstrates that it views itself as unanswerable to any authority but the kingmakers of the controlling three-member Commission committee.

If you will remember this is the same entity that several weeks ago were found to have 658 automobiles and only employee 613 people. We have since learned they are “slashing” 165 of those vehicles, leaving nearly 500. While I do understand that some of those vehicles are fish hatchery trucks, ATV’s and other operational vehicles 500 still seems to be a bit excessive with only 613 employees, indicating that a large majority have “personal” automobiles.

The average GFC salary, according to their 2010-2011 budget is $45K a year. The Census Bureau reports the median household income in Arkansas is $38,820.00 and that is without a personal vehicle to drive back and forth to work.

The Game and Fish Commission is claiming special privileges as a constitutionally independent state agency (the Highway Commission is another such entity) and is crafting its own version of the Freedom of Information Act. Evidently they don’t like answering to the people who sign the checks.

The sad part is the onus falls on the voters for this and a plethora of other governmental calamities since it was our vote that enabled this to occur. Gads of time, energy and taxpayer money will be spent sorting through this brouhaha. Reminds me of an ole adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, a perfect example of why voters have to be informed.

There is an upside, we can change it. GET INFORMED AND ENGAGED~