|
LAATi88
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Paul
Gender: Male
Interests: Many and varied!
Biology, history and government/politics are my ultimate favorite subjects. I enjoy arguing Creationism and conservatism, and will gladly discuss both with anyone if I feel like starting a fight. Tennis and swimming are among my few favorite sports, although Ultimate is growing on me. Star Trek and Star Wars are, of course, an attraction, as well as my precious LEGO. C.S. Lewis, Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens comprise my favorite authors. I dislike liberals, irrationality, and Microsoft to high degrees. I speak French, read Descartes, and listen to classical music. And above all, I strive to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, and mind. But enough about me...
Occupation: Student
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
5/26/2005
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Wow: not a week into Christmas break and I'm already posting political junk.  School's great; I may get to telling y'all about it some time.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! | | |
| My friends,
I have no doubt that the 2008 Presidential Election will be a turning point for our country. Our nation is under attack on many different fronts, and we need strong, principled leaders to lead America through these trying times. As the field of candidates begins to narrow, we must decide which of these leaders is worthy of our support. There are many fine individuals running for the office of president, and the choice between them is a difficult one to make. But after much thought and prayer, I have decided to support Governor Mitt Romney in his bid for the Presidency of the United States.
1. POLICIES
Simply put, I feel that Mitt Romney has the best ideas of the candidates for president. Not only does he hold to the basic conservative values of “strong families, a strong military, and a strong economy,” Romney has proposed many new and innovative policy initiatives that I believe will be beneficial for America. Make the Bush tax cuts permanent. Use the money currently being wasted on unneeded ER visits to provide the uninsured with private health care vouchers. Implement tax credits for the parents of the nearly 1.1 million home schooled students in the U.S. Increase mandatory jail time and institute lifetime tracking for internet child offenders. These are all innovative ideas that I feel will be truly beneficial for our country. In addition, I believe the man when he says his views on life have changed. During his time as governor, he never once took an action that could be considered pro-abortion. It is clear that Mitt Romney is standing firmly on the side of life.
2. PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
What’s more, Governor Romney has an impeccable set of credentials, both personal and professional. Despite governing of one of the most liberal states in the Union, Romney vetoed Massachusetts’ tremendously destructive abortion pill legislation, took an incredibly strong stance on traditional marriage, and managed to balance the state budget each of the four years he was in office. Outside of government, he led his investment firm to financial success and moved the 2002 Winter Olympic Games from deficit to surplus. In 1996, he actually closed his firm for a week and dedicated hundreds of his employees to finding the missing daughter of one of his staff members. Finally, he and his wife successfully raised a family of five boys-- a feat that outdoes all the others.
3. ELECTABILITY
Although I hardly think electability should play a major role in the choosing of a presidential candidate, the way a candidate is publicly perceived is something to be considered. In a nation governed by the media, we need an individual both physically poised and mentally intelligent to represent our government. Mitt Romney has demonstrated that he has the oratorical skills, the organizational abilities, and the raw drive needed to get things done in Washington. I know that if Governor Romney is elected, he will put his talents to use for the American people.
Now: I know that many conservative voters are considering Mike Huckabee this election cycle. I know that many people appreciate his Christian values and his congenial campaign style. But there are many reasons why I believe we conservatives ought to support Governor Romney instead. First, I believe that having a solid theology -- as Mike Huckabee certainly does -- cannot not guarantee wise leadership in office. Similarly, I don’t believe that having a cultic religion makes an individual incapable of enacting wise, Biblically-based policy.
While Governor Romney has consistently upheld conservative policies, Mike Huckabee has repeatedly leaned to the left. During his time in office, Huckabee nearly doubled Arkansas’ government spending. He supported the raising of sales taxes and oversaw the implementation of additional taxes on gasoline, cigarettes, and even nursing home beds. He signed a bill that reduced the required prison time for methamphetamine manufacturers. He supported various government measures that coddled illegal immigrants. And the Home School Legal Defense Association noted that in 1999, Huckabee signed the bill that created the first new limitation of home schooling freedom in the United States.
As I said, I am grateful that Mike Huckabee has stood up for Christian values in the public sphere. But when it comes time to vote, remember that Governor Romney has demonstrated that he has both the personal integrity AND the political principles necessary to lead this nation forward. These are the reasons that I join Robert Bork, Tom Tancredo, the National Review and many other conservatives in their support of Mitt Romney. And as we move into this crucial election period, I urge you to join us: we need your help.
Most Sincerely,
Paul A. Nelson | | |
| It's been great.
I'm a college student. It's a bit hard to fathom; it sort of feels like I'm just at a really long TeenPact week, or something. I've only been here for a week and a half, but the amount of stuff I've done in that amount of time has been incredible (or so people tell me. It's been moving too fast for me.).
Now to put some meat on this story's bones: Dad and I got here Thursday afternoon. We'd gotten our registration materials, and we were eating pizza at Giordano's (an unbelievably good restaurant, if you ever get the chance to go to one of them). Just as we were licking the sauce off our fingers, we notice a wall of black clouds steamrolling in from the east. I think I said something like "uh oh."
We got to the dorm just in time to hide from the tornado that touched down 5 miles away.
So we huddled in the basement for a few minutes. After the warning had expired, Dad and I moved upstairs and met my roommate, Josh (Simply an awesome guy. Enough said.).
Ever since, I've been run ragged by the amount of STUFF that I've done. I've attended orientation sessions, livened up parties, made friends, eaten food (lots of food), played games, studied, met students/professors/staff, figured out the combination lock on my CPO box (harder than it sounds), picked up and returned textbooks, done laundry (after about a week of procrastinating), etc. etc. etc. (About the only thing I've not done is exercise. I'm sure I'll rectify this eventually.)
My classes are fantastic. A few of my instructors seem a bit more liberal than I'd have expected, but they're all amazing people. We've not really started "learning" a ton of stuff yet... the first week was, surprisingly enough, spent introducing us to what we'll be learning throughout the semester...
For my Bible, Church and Culture class, I had to choose one of four areas of Christian/world interaction to study. I ended up with Christianity and Physics: my group and I are going to visit the Fermi Particle Accelerator and interview one of the physicists there. I also get to read a book on the subject of God and Physics. It should be fascinating.
Also, for my Argument and Debate class, I have to write a "brief:" a paper that supports a particular statement. I chose to write my brief on the subject "Nuclear power is the future." I've got to find evidence to support this statement and structure that evidence in a convincing manner. The trick, though, is that I'll eventually have to write a brief that OPPOSES the same statement... intriguing, no?
Well, my friends, that's pretty much it. I'm trying to get involved with the Debate team, I'm still looking for churches, I'm trying to stay on top of my homework, and I'm attempting to strengthen existing friendships (and continue making new ones). I miss you all terribly; I'd love to hear from you.
In the name that is above all others,
Paul
P.S. I have a new friend. About a week after I got here, I received a mysterious package in the mail. I opened it, and found... THIS!!
I have yet to name him. Suggestions are welcome. | | |
| I leave for Wheaton tomorrow.
It's true what people say about college; it is a totally new chapter of your life. And tomorrow I turn the last page of my childhood and begin that next chapter.
I have mixed feelings about this entire business.
I'm excited, naturally, about many things. I'm off to live in a new place, filled with young people who are excited by the prospect of serving Him. I'll be going to learn new things, to soak up the sum of the knowledge that the human race has accumulated up to this point.
I'm thankful to be leaving with the support of my family and with the best wishes of countless friends. I'm thankful that my financial matters are in order, and that this year will not be one in which money is a concern. I'm thankful that my college choice was as clear as it was, and that I'm not floundering in a sea of uncertainty.
At the same time, I'm frightened of the unknowns: and there are many. I'll be living in a new city, surrounded by people that I've never met before, separated from virtually everything that I've known. No longer can I rely on the privacy of my home, or the presence of my friends. I will be, at least for a time, totally alone.
I will miss my home of thirteen years; my own room will be left behind. I will miss my town, with all of its character and lovable idiosyncrasies. I'll miss my church, with its solid teaching and joyful fellowship. I'll miss my family: Dad, Mom, and Laura will be hundreds of miles away.
But I'm not worried. These negatives will pass. I'm glad that I've been given this chance, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord does with me in Illinois. I'd appreciate prayer, as always.
Onwards and Upwards: press on for Him.
See you all on the other side. | | |
| Did I tell you about my new MacBook Pro?
It is one year old and used, and it's got a slightly slower processor and a slightly smaller hard drive than I was looking for. BUT... it's got as much RAM, a better graphics card, and all the same features of the latest MBPs.
And I paid one thousand dollars for it-- almost $1400 less than I expected to pay for a new model.
Pick yourself up off the floor, and stop laughing: I'm serious.
| | |
|
