Musings from Maytown Readers Divided on Sarah Palin's Future

Will Sarah Palin run for President in 2012? Readers of Musings from Maytown are divided on this issue. Forty-one (54%) say that Gov. Palin will run for President in 2012 while thirty-four (46%) do not believe that Palin will run for President.
Frankly, Musings from Maytown has observed constant attacks from the mainstream media on Governor Palin. In my lifetime, I have seen the mainstream media unleash unmerciful attacks on three national candidates-- Gov. George C. Wallace ('64, '68,'72, & '76), Pat Buchanan ('92, '96, and '00) and then Gov. Sarah Palin in the 2008 election and the time since that election. Gov. Palin told the truth that her administration in Alaska has been paralyzed by lawsuits and media attacks.
Frankly, this writer does not expect to see Gov. Palin run for national office. The next few years will find Sarah Palin campaigning for conservative candidates, speaking on network news, and raising her children back home in Alaska.
Sarah Palin connected with the common voter, was a true believing conservative, and was a threat to the establishment. This country and our political scene are worse off for losing Gov. Palin as a national figure.

Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin!

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in Noyan, France. At the age of twelve, Calvin started training for the priesthood. Eventually, Calvin finished his theological training and eventually earned a law degree as well. Calvin's legal training served him well in his application of the principles of logic to theology.
In 1533, Calvin befriended Nicholas Cop, Rector of the College Royal in Paris. Later, Cop was branded as a heretic by the Roman Church for calling for reform within the Church. Cop fled France for Basel and, after anonymous attacks appeared on the Mass, Calvin joined Cop in Basel. The result of the brewing controversy led toward Calvin writing the Institutes of Christian Religion.
Calvin's influence still stands like a tall redwood in the forest, a tower of biblical fidelity, a solid rock on the doctrine of justification by faith. Calvin's legacy remains with us in several areas:
1) Calvin's theological legacy remains with us in his emphasis on the sovereignty of God, salvation by grace alone, and reliance only upon on Scripture for our teaching. One must realize that evangelical Christians today lean much on the emphases that came from the Reformation. Even those who resist any tie to Calvin's legacy must realize that without men like Calvin, we would not be familiar with the carefully formulated theology of salvation by faith. The Reformation was a mighty move of God.
2) Calvin's legacy in government was a break from the tyrannical governments that dominated the middle ages. Men like John Knox, the Puritans, the Pilgrims, all had strong influence from Calvin's Institutes. While Calvin did not move on to a Constitutional Republic, one must see that Calvin's influence did move toward allowing a stronger voice of the people and the importance of law as the foundation of liberty.Calvin wrote on economics, politics, the relation of government to Church, and made positive contributions in the gradual adoption of the principles of constitutional government in the Western world.
3) Calvin's emphasis on missions and evangelism served to spread the message of the Reformation. Calvin had a key role in training the Moravians, one of the greatest missionary movements in history. Hundreds of men were sent forth from Calvin's Geneva as bearers of the Gospel. Literally thousands of churches were founded from the mission work and evangelism that came forth from Calvin's influence. For a survey of Calvin's missionary influence, you can read more in this article by Ray Van Neste.
Granted, as a Baptist, this writer would not agree with every detail of Calvin's theology. But only a fool would scoff at the positive influence that has come to the Church of the Lord Jesus through the influence and ministry of John Calvin. Further information may be found at: 1. Calvin 2009
2. Calvin 500 Blog
3. Calvin 500 Resources
So, Happy Birthday, John Calvin!

Report on July 4 Tea Party in Birmingham

Musings from Maytown editor John Killian had the privilege of speaking to 3,000 at the Verizon Wireless Center at Oak Mountain for the July 4 Tea Party. The Birmingham Rally was emceed by radio talk show hosts Matt Murphy and Lee Davis. While named after the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where American patriots protested an unjust tea tax, the 2009 Tea Party movement uses TEA for the acronym Taxed Enough Already.
Millions gathered in Tea Party rallies across these United States on Tax Day April 15. This writer had the grand opportunity to speak to the April 15 rally in Montgomery to a grand audience of 2,500.
The Tea Party movement has given hope to this writer that the grassroots citizens are waking up and rising against the wave of socialism .
The founders of this country began with the intent of the states governing themselves on most matters. The federal government was not established with the intention of being the dominant force in our economy. Thomas Jefferson stated that a government large enough to provide what you want is also large enough to take away what you have. Working Americans are now paying an inordinate amount of paychecks to fund an oversized and out-of-control government.
Join with the Tea Party movement and demand that government cut back to the size as prescribed and limited by the US Constitution.

Musings from Maytown Readers Say NO to Cap and Trade

By a margin of 61-6 (91%), the well-informed readers of Musings from Maytown are now on record opposing President Obama's Cap and Trade legislation which could add tremendously to energy costs here in these United States. The Tax Foundation report claims that Cap and Trade legislation will add $1,145 in costs per family per year or 6.2% of the average income of the typical working family. Consider Phyllis Schaffly's article on Cap and Trade. Also, check out the Alabama Eagle Forum information on Cap and Trade.Cap and Trade legislation deals with carbon emissions as a cause of global warming. Musings from Maytown has opined that the entire theory on global warming is the greatest fraud foisted upon this generation.
Also, check out this five minute video by Congressman Ron Paul on the issue of the current Cap and Trade legislation. This bill passed the US House. Readers of Musings from Maytown should contact their respective US Senators to urge opposition to this great leap toward socialism.

Come to the Tea Party!!

In April of this year, millions of Americans gathered in Tea Party rallies to address the issue of a growing government with increased burdens on American taxpayers. This writer was privileged to speak to 2,500 Alabamians at the Montgomery Tea Party at the State Capitol. Frankly, these rallies have encouraged me to believe that the citizens of this country, with a heritage of defending liberty, will rise up and defeat the horrendous move toward socialism.
Tomorrow, July 4, Musings from Maytown will be represented as this writer speaks to the Birmingham Tea Party rally at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Oak Mountain in Pelham. Please come to this rally and, as Governor Wallace used to say, let's shake the eyeteeth of the liberals. Here is the schedule for the Alabama Tea Parties:
Florence . Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m., Veteran's Park, Shelter #2
Huntsville . Saturday, July 4, 7 p.m., Jaycee Fairgrounds on Airport Rd.
Priceville/Decatur . Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Celebration Arena, Highway 67
Boaz . The Marshall county Tea Party will be held on July 4th between 2-4 at the Boaz fairgrounds located on Hwy 431. Stan Stinson 256 572 9868
Birmingham . Saturday, July 4, The Verizon Music Center, Pelham, Al 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Speakers begin at 7:30 PM
DeKalb Ft. Payne City Park July 4 Noon
Speakers: James, Jay Holland and Ken Busby
Patriotic Music: Payto n Sells, Jill Burt and Hunter Wright
Montgomery . Saturday, July 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.at Overlook Park on Bell Street
Priceville/Decatur . Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Celebration Arena, Highway 67
Wetumpka . Saturday, September 5, time to be announced, Gold Star Park, Shelby Street, downtown

Report on Alabama GOP Dinner

Last Friday, the Alabama Republican Party held it's semi-annual State dinner at the Sheraton Civic Center in Birmingham. My daughter and I were the guests of Jefferson County's outstanding female legislator, Pat Moore of District 15. Musings from Maytown certainly hopes to see this consistent conservative re-elected. An enthusiastic crowd greeted syndicated columnist Cal Thomas who held Republicans responsible for reneging on the Reagan agenda that made the GOP the majority party. Cal Thomas challenged the Alabama Republicans to hold to a limited-government agenda, to continue espousing pro-family values, and to be true to a strong national defense. This writer appreciated Thomas' holding of Reagan as the model for Republican success, a theme often advocated at Musings from Maytown. Several tidbits of information to report are:
* Tim James worked the crowd to a positive response. Among other gubernatorial candidates, Dr. Robert Bentley was pressing the flesh, Bradley Byrne was welcoming guests, Judge Roy Moore was absent, and Kay Ivey appeared to be ignored by the guests of the evening. However, this biased writer believes that Tim James received the warmest welcome among the party activists.
* Other statewide candidates present were: US Senator Richard Shelby, pictured here with conservative student Sarah Killian; Senator Hank Erwin, candidate for Lt. Govenor; millionaire lobbyist Luther Strange, candidate for Attorney General; Supreme Court Justices Tom Parker and Mike Bolin, both up for re-election; Judge Tommy Bryan, the outstanding member of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals; well-respected Appeals Court Judge Kelli Wise, also a candidate for Alabama Supreme Court:newly-appointed Criminal Appeals Court Judge Jim Main; John McMillian and Dorman Grace, both candidates for Commissioner of Agriculture. While others may have been present, these were observed personally by Musings from Maytown.
* The enthusiasm is high, on part of Republican activists. Party leadership has been successful in raising funds, in anticipation of taking the Alabama legislature in 2010,
* The consensus seems to be that Republicans will win as the explicitly conservative party. By trying to out-promise the Democrats, Republicans will look stupid and continue their downward slide.
This writer has been calling himself a former Republican, but a few more speeches like we heard from Cal Thomas, and I might be willing to wear the tag again.

Gov. Sarah Palin Steps Down as Alaska Governor

Today, Governor Sarah Palin stepped down as Governor of Alaska. Already, pundits are speculating on her motives for the resignation. On FOX News, Bill Kristol has described this move as a politically savvy move. However, NBC's Andrea Mitchell cites sources, close to the Palin family, that Sarah Palin and her family are weary of politics and will not run for any office, ever again!
Frankly, after listening to Gov. Palin's resignation speech, I agree with Andrea Mitchell. This fine lady has lived with her family in the spotlight, with her family ridiculed, with her honesty questioned. I would not blame Sarah Palin if she told the entire mainstream media to immediately depart to the realm of the damned. Watch this interview and vote in the accompanying poll.
The news media operates like a pack of bloodhounds, just waiting to pounce on every small move that might attract controversy. We see individuals tried and convicted in the media. We find personal matters turned over and brought out for public ridicule.
America is the worse if Sarah Palin is off the scene.
This writer believes that the McCain campaign saw Sarah Palin as a winner, then panicked when they found that she was a true Reagan Conservative. While I believe we have seen the last of this grand lady, I would seriously consider supporting Sarah Palin if she ever does run for President.