Week Ending December 21, 2007 - Washington, DC

Bush wins big over Pelosi / Bush 2007 accomplishments / Huckabee rising? / Pelosi and company leave town / Wittman and Latta are sworn in / Conservative victories in the Senate / No snow in Bethlehem? / Justice Department and religious freedom / See the Iraqi video now

As 2007 comes to a close the Religious Freedom Coalition needs your support. Please consider an online contribution.

THE PRESIDENT

BUSH WINS (DEMS LOSE) - There is a huge argument inside the Beltway as to whether President Bush won a victory on war funding or whether radical Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi lost. Bush did receive $70 billion in additional funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with no strings attached. After one full year of trying to tie strings to war funding given to the President the Democrat controlled Congress handed him a virtual blank check as they left town.

BUSH'S 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS - The White House has issued a summary of Bush Administration accomplishments for 2007. Under the title "Year in Review" the public document covers the economy, home land security, health care and even "climate change." Those interested may view the document here.

HUCKABEE RISING - Despite attacks from the left and the right Mike Huckabee continues to rise in the polls in key states and nationally. Virtually the entire media establishment bashed him for mentioning Jesus in a Christmas TV ad but still his numbers rise. Perhaps people are learning that many of the attacks from the far left and the economic conservatives are just not true. I recently read a summary detailing the attacks on him that is very interesting. View it here.

THE HOUSE

THEY ARE GONE- The House adjourned for Christmas (Democrats call it "the holiday") right after Democrat leaders gave President Bush virtually everything he requested including no strings attached war funding. They were unable to pass bills giving special privileges to homosexuals as their "hate crimes" legislation died. The expansion of SCHIP into full blown socialized medicine failed and was extended to the President's specifications until March of 2009. Radical Speaker Pelosi was also unable to fund the destruction of human life with federal funds to abortionists. Democratic activists including the Geroge Soros' MoveOn.org have called the Democrat Congress a failure.

WITTMAN AND LATTA SWORN IN - Two new conservative members of the House were sworn in last week. Immediately after he was sworn in I spoke to Congressman Rob Wittman who now represents Virginia's first district. He is a true conservative who promised me he would work for pro-life and pro-family legislation.

THE SENATE

MANY SENATE VICTORIES- It appears that the Republicans can do more to promote the conservative cause in the minority than in the majority. Conservative Senators defended human life from attacks by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by defeating most of her outrageous legislation when it reached the Senate. In all the conservatives in the Senate preserved virtually all pro-life, pro-family legislation and actually managed to promote other conservative agendas. The actions in the Senate in 2007 were to numerous to recount in this short update. The VAT (Values Action Team) accomplishments in the Senate can be viewed here.

Just before releasing this update I received this pre- release of a story in the Washington Times titled "Even in minority, GOP managed to get its way." The article confirms that Republicans skillfully using Senate rules and threatened Presidential vetoes blocked most of racial leftist Nancy Pelosi's agenda. View Washington Times story here.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

NO SNOW IN BETHLEHEM? - The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the leader of the Anglican Church, said that Jesus was probably not born in a manger, that there were no animals present and there was "probably" no snow as most Nativity Scenes depict. HMMM ... The photograph at left is of my daughter Katie standing in front of the entrance to the Old City in Jerusalem. As you can see the ground is covered with snow. The day the photo was taken we were to have been in Bethlehem but could not get there because of the snow. If the good Bishop doesn't know that it snows in Bethlehem what does he know about the Nativity Scene? His comments can be found here.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The December 12, 2007 issue of the Chairman's Report is now available online. This issue contains the latest information on hearings before the 9th Circuit Court on Michael Newdow's "under God" lawsuit. This issue also contains more information on House and Senate legislation and the Iraqi Christian situation. Click here to view the PDF of the new Chairman's Report.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NEWSLETTER - The December issue of the Justice Departments newsletter on religious freedom is available. I suggest you look over the current issue and determine if you would like to subscribe.

INTERNATIONAL

NEW VIDEO AVAILABLE- Thousands of people have viewed the new video on the persecution of Iraqi Christians that is streaming from the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet site. Click here to view the 20 minute video prepared by the Chaldean Church. For information is available at www.christianrefugees.blogspot.com

VISIT OUR CHRISTMAS STORE

THE PLEDGE - My most recent book, The Pledge: One Nation Under God, has been released and is now available online and at bookstores. The book has a forward by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) who is the primary sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Please order The Pledge from the RFC bookstore, as the funds will be used to help fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Click here or on Image to learn more. OUR CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - We have lots of great stuff for Christmas at our Internet store. Not only are there books and CD's, but everything from candy to jewelry and all of it has a Christian theme. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. Ours is a real Christian store with tens of thousands of items. Please take a look. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com. Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.