General Assembly to Place Defense of Marriage Constitutional Amendment on November 2012 Ballot

Today, some North Carolina State Senators will be carrying through on their campaign promise to bring forth an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution that identifies marriage as being between one man and one woman. 


The short title of the bill is 'Defense of Marriage' and the ridiculously long title is 'AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION THAT SHALL BE VALID OR RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE'


The full text of the bill follows:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE DRS55043-LBx-120  (01/04)

Short Title:        Defense of Marriage.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Forrester, Tillman, and Soucek (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION THAT SHALL BE VALID OR RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding the following new section:

"Sec. 6.  Marriage.

Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."

SECTION 2.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election on November 6, 2012, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

"[ ] FOR           [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."

SECTION 3.  If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office.

SECTION 4.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act becomes effective January 1, 2013.

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

Commentary


The Book of Romans, chapter 1 makes it very clear that whenever any person lives in a homosexual or lesbian lifestyle, it is a choice they made, not a genetic predisposition that cause them to be that way:

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (Romans 1:20-28, New King James Version)

The Word of God is the final authority on the sexual orientation of all human beings. God made us male and female and it was the purpose of His creation that males have relation ship with females. If a person is in a same sex relationship, that is a sin choice that they have made, just as any other sin choice. There is forgiveness and eternal life available for anyone who repents of this lifestyle and surrenders their life to Jesus Christ.


I have many friends who once claimed that they were “born gay” and today have turned from their sin and have been living happy and fulfilling lives by being married in heterosexual relationships . All of them admit that they used the excuse that they were born gay to justify their sin, but in reality they knew in their hearts that what they were doing was wrong. I personally believe that all people know when the way that they are living is wrong by the witness of God’s Spirit with out spirit.


All those precious people who suffered through the loss of one or both parents in their families as they were growing up can find the love and the acceptance they were longing for in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. He longs to meet the needs of the broken hearted and hopeless. Remember to pray for those who are still suffering the pain of missing the loving family atmosphere of having two parents who loved and nurtured them.

Read More

NC General Assembly 02-23-2010 Legislative Calendar

Here is the legislative calendar for the North Carolina General Assembly for today. 


Links to listen live may be found on the General Assembly Watch page on Conservative Thunder. 


Download links for PDFs of todays calendars: 


The NC House Calendar 
The NC Senate Calendar

8:30 AM	Finance -- CORRECTED (House) Increase Property Tax Appeals Efficiency. (S55) Business Entity Changes. (H123)	544 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (House) The Chairs are requesting public comments on the Governor's budget for Health and Human Services. There are a limited number of speaker slots and comments will be subject to a three minute time limit. Please visit the following link to sign up:	643 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation (Joint)	1228/1327
8:30 AM	Appropriations on Department of Transportation (Senate) Issue Discussion: Highway Trust Fund	1228/1327 LB
8:30 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government (Joint)	1425 LB
8:30 AM	Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology (Senate) Agency Presentations	1425 LB
8:30 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety (Joint) Governor's JPS Budget (Sen. Brown Chairs)	415 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety (Senate) Governor's JPS Budget	415 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (Joint)	421 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations on Education/Higher Education (Senate)	421 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources (Senate)	423 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources (Joint)	424 LOB
8:30 AM	Appropriations on Health and Human Services (Senate) COMMENTS: The Chairs are requesting public comments on the Governor's budget for Health and Human Services. There are a limited number of speaker slots and comments will be subject to a three munute time limit. Please visit the following link to sign up: http://www.ncleg.net/Applications/RTS/JASHHS.aspx.	643 LOB
10:00 AM	Judiciary Subcommittee B (House) Laura's Law. (H49) Habitual Misdemeanor Larceny. (H54) Relief from Incorrect Paternity Determination. (H55)	421 LOB
10:00 AM	Education/Higher Education -- CORRECTED (Senate) Added SJR 88 Student Refunds by Proprietary Schools. (S20) Comm. Colleges/Opt Out of Fed'l Loan Program. (S74) Elect State Community College Bd Members. (S88)	544 LOB
10:00 AM	Commerce and Job Development (Joint) The meeting will be presentations from: Jerry Fralick -- State Chief Info Officer Secretary Keith Crisco -- Department of Commerce	643 LOB
10:00 AM	Commerce (Senate) Presentations by: Jerry Fralick, State Chief Information Officer and Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco	643 LOB
12:00 NOON	Public Utilities (House) Ed Finley, Chairman of the Utilities Commission will be making a presentation.	643 LOB
1:00 PM	Elections (House) Informational ONLY	643 LOB
1:00 PM	Appropriations/Base Budget -- CORRECTED (Senate) Modify FMAP Cuts/Auth. Use of Credit Balance. (S58) Hospital Medicaid Assessment/Payment Program. (S32)	1027 LB
1:00 PM	Finance (Senate) TC: Eligibility: Indus Facil/Fix Uwharrie Com. (S76) IRC Update. (S94) Clarify Refunds of Tax Overpayments. (S97) Reform UI Tax Structure/Expedite Analysis. (S99) Informational presentation by Staff	544 LOB
2:00 PM	Session Convenes (House)	House
3:00 PM	Session Convenes (Senate)	Senate
4:00 PM	Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government -- CANCELLED (House)	1425 LB
4:00 PM	Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology -- CANCELLED (Senate) Budget	1425 LB
4:00 PM	Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology (Senate) Agency Presentations	1425 LB

Read More

Filing in for Thunder Pig

Thunder Pig has asked me to fill in for him for a couple of days while he is busy with other projects for a few days. (I am working on the Legislative Calendar post for the day, but it is taking far longer than I thought it would, so please bear with me).

My name is Scarlet and I am the co-founder, along with Thunder Pig and Mohican, of the Counter Progressive Unit tasked with building a force of conservative cyberwarriors and political organizers to contribute to a strengthening of the conservative movement within the Republican Party of western North Carolina at the local level. We are mainly low-profile types, preferring to spread the Promethean fire to empower conservatives rather than lead. Our goal is to teach conservatives how to use the tools available to them in order that they might take back their party, win elections, and preserve American Exceptionalism for the next generation.

I graduated from the Intermediate Level in Thunder Pig's social media college, and will be putting those skills to use in an attempt to fill in for him. Mohican will be contributing posts also as he can find the time to do so.

I am married to a wonderful man named Jack and have twin girls I am homeschooling in order to instill them with the values my husband and I share, and to give them an education that is far superior to the drivel being taught in public schools. I know, because I went to public schools and had to put up with their socialist indoctrination.

Read More

Timelapse: Undulatus asperatus

Undulatus asperatus (or alternately, asperatus) is a rare, newly recognized cloud formation, that was proposed in 2009 as the first cloud formation added since cirrus intortus in 1951 to the International Cloud Atlas of the World Meteorological Organization. The name translates approximately as roughened or agitated waves.
     The clouds are most closely related to undulatus clouds. Although they appear dark and storm-like, they tend to dissipate without a storm forming. The ominous-looking clouds have been particularly common in the Plains states of the United States, often during the morning or midday hours following convective thunderstorm activity. As of June 2009the Royal Meteorological Society is gathering evidence of the type of weather patterns in which undulatus asperatus clouds appear, so as to study how they form and decide whether they are distinct from other undulatus clouds.


Source: National Weather Service



Previously

Waves in the Clouds

Read More

Donald Rumsfeld Honored with Victory of Freedom Award

I don't know how I missed this! One of my heroes, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, received the Victory of Freedom Award from the Nixon Foundation in December. The video and slideshow below is of that event.





Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Board Chairman Ron Walker and members Larry Higby and Amb. George Argyros presented Sec. Donald Rumsfeld with the Foundation’s Victory of Freedom Award Monday evening for his determination, dedication and devotion to the cause of freedom. The master of ceremonies was Sandy Quinn, newly elected President of the Foundation.


The 13th and 21st Defense Secretary has served over 50 years in public life, a brilliant career that began on Capitol Hill before the talented young Congressman was recognized by President Nixon to lead the Office of Economic Opportunity, and later went on to serve as the 37th President’s Counselor and Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In his remarks upon accepting the award, Sec. Rumsfeld noted RN’s acumen for team building as one of the most enduring aspects of his legacy.




“Richard Nixon assembled truly impressive minds from Henry Kissinger to Pat Moynihan to Bryce Harlow to George Shultz, Alan Greenspan, and Dick Cheney,” said Sec. Rumsfeld. “As diverse as they were what they seemed to share was a rare trait: they could distinguish between the seemingly urgent and truly important.”


Of the Nixon Administration’s most urgent and important challenges was re-establishing the morale of the U.S. Military in the midst of the Vietnam War. Upon entering the Oval Office, RN immediately started laying the groundwork for an all-volunteer military force ultimately instilling a more dedicated and disciplined culture within its ranks.


“The difference was dramatic…In 1975, I was the first secretary of defense to arrive in office with the all-volunteer military fully in place,” said Sec. Rumsfeld. “That our military is capable, dedicated, and overwhelmingly supported by our citizens today is a lasting tribute to Richard Nixon.”




Source: The Richard Nixon Foundation

Read More

Waves in the Clouds

This is a short timelapse of the clouds I shot while shopping yesterday.


Here are a few other shots I took yesterday:

Read More

Is this is the Civility Democrats Seek? Union Operative Sabotages Tea Party Sound System

I wonder if this is what Democrats mean when they say they want more civility in politics?
I wonder if this is what Democrats mean when they say they are more tolerant of dissent?
I wonder if this is what Democrats mean when they say Tea Partiers are violent?
(a Union Saboteur physically assaulted Tea Partiers when he was caught trying to destroy the sound system)






MADISON, Wisc. — Police officers in Madison detained and subsequently released a labor union operative who attempted, somewhat successfully, to destroy the speaker system at the Tea Party counter rally Saturday.


Police would not release the name of the man, or any more details, but eyewitnesses told The Daily Caller he ripped the wiring out of several different speaker systems. Part of the sound system went out for about five minutes.


When a Tea Partier, Luke Bacher, confronted the man ripping the speaker wiring out, Bacher said the man physically assaulted him. That caused police to get involved and detain the union operative.


Source: The Daily Caller

Commentary

I think the video below tells even more about the story and what is behind the Lefty protests: They want a new revolution in this nation that will wipe away what our Founding Fathers fought for...

Read More

The Battle of Iwo Jima: Feb 19, 1945 to March 26, 1945

65 Years ago, over 6,000 men died in the effort to take Iwo Jima and provide a stepping stone on the way to Japan. That was an era in which valor was common. May we never forget the men who died there, and never forget to honor their memories. 


Visit Old Time Radio for some radio reporting from Iwo Jima as it happened.



And here is the Academy Award winning film, "The Sands of Iwo Jima"...

Read More

2011 State of the State Republican ResponseAs Delivered by President Pro Tempore Phil Berger Q & A by Sen Berger and Speaker Tom Tillis

Download MP3



Transcript of Senator Berger's remarks as released by the NC Senate Republicans:


“Good evening. We want to thank Governor Perdue for sharing her vision on the State of the State.


“There are new majorities and 43 new lawmakers in this General Assembly. We all look forward to partnering with the governor in the coming weeks.


“The state of our economy is grim. And North Carolina faces serious challenges.


“These demand our undivided attention – and Senate and House Republicans already have taken steps to get our state back on track.


“But instead of maintaining the status quo, and continuing the failed policies that got us in this mess, we’re working to usher in a new era of government responsibility and accountability.


“For far too long, decision-making in these halls has been driven by the belief that government has all the answers. Over the past decade, Democratic officials insisted government incentives and programs create jobs better than the private sector. They said government knows what’s best for our kids, government should provide your health care, and government can fix almost any problem.


“And though the policies championed by the governor and Democratic lawmakers may sound appealing, they have proven ineffective, irresponsible, and costly. The result – North Carolina has the highest taxes in the southeast, nearly 10 percent unemployment, and a record-high, multi-billion dollar deficit.


“Republicans have a better plan. While Democrats think government is the answer, we think it’s largely the problem.


“We heard the voters last November. Government must get out of the way if the private sector is to prosper. And government simply can’t continue spending beyond its means and expect a different result.


“Instead, House and Senate Republicans are passing legislation that empowers citizens to make their own decisions about health care, create their own wealth, control their own education, and pave their own way to a brighter future.


“To help foster an environment favorable to job-creation, we have taken steps to scrutinize outdated rules and regulations that unelected bureaucrats impose on our businesses. Those businesses need and deserve the freedom to innovate, and profit.


“To attract the best and brightest doctors and give citizens the ability to access quality health care, we have started crafting common-sense medical malpractice reform.


“To help you protect your property rights, we will pass a moratorium on forced annexations.


“To give parents more of a choice in their children’s public education, we will pass a bill to eliminate an arbitrary cap on public charter schools.


“Governor Perdue promised the tax hikes passed two years ago would be temporary. We will keep her promise, because the best economic stimulus we can provide is letting people and businesses keep more of their own money. Reducing these taxes will help us compete with surrounding states for much-needed new jobs.


“Finally, we have begun tackling next year’s budget gap by targeting hundreds of millions of dollars in savings — now. And we have given the governor the power she requested to make additional cuts that will carry over into next year. These savings help ease the pain ahead, while protecting the jobs of school teachers and state employees.


“We are making all of these efforts, because we understand what government should do – provide the basics, like roads, schools, and public safety. And we understand what government should not do – tread on your personal freedoms.


“Government should help foster a business climate that helps the private sector create jobs. But government cannot create jobs in the private sector.


“And though government should applaud innovation and prosperity, it can’t force it.


“Our plan right-sizes state government – it reduces its size and scope.


“To this end, we welcome the ideas of the governor, our colleagues across the aisle, and citizens. We want constructive suggestions on how to make government more responsible, and less intrusive. Leadership means providing real solutions, not just sitting back and saying ‘no’.


“Together, we can make government smaller, smarter and more efficient. We can pass policies consistent with the limited-government views held our country’s founders, and still held by you.


“We must restore North Carolina to its rightful place as the South’s leader in job creation, education, and quality of life.


“Thank you. God bless. Good night.”

Read More

2.2 Magnitude Earthquake in Cherokee County, NC

A very minor earthquake shook portions of far western North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee this morning. Here are the details as released by the USGS:

Tectonic Summary

MAG	UTC DATE-TIME y/m/d h:m:s	LAT deg	LON deg	DEPTH km	LOCATION

2.2

2011/02/18 07:14:20

35.102

-84.278

4.9

12 km ( 8 mi) NE of Ducktown, TN

Felt Reports

Felt at Turtletown and Copperhill. Also felt at Blue Ridge, Georgia and Murphy, North Carolina.

EARTHQUAKES IN THE EASTERN TENNESSEE SEISMIC ZONE

The Eastern Tennessee seismic zone extends across Tennessee and northwestern Georgia into northeastern Alabama. It is one of the most active earthquake areas in the Southeast. Although the zone is not known to have had a large earthquake, a few earthquakes in the zone have caused slight damage. The largest known (magnitude 4.6) occurred on April 29, 2003, near Fort Payne, Alabama. Earthquakes too small to cause damage are felt about once a year. Earthquakes too small to be felt are abundant in the seismic zone, and seismographs have recorded hundreds of them in recent decades.

Earthquakes in the central and eastern U.S., although less frequent than in the western U.S., are typically felt over a much broader region. East of the Rockies, an earthquake can be felt over an area as much as ten times larger than a similar magnitude earthquake on the west coast. A magnitude 4.0 eastern U.S. earthquake typically can be felt at many places as far as 100 km (60 mi) from where it occurred, and it infrequently causes damage near its source. A magnitude 5.5 eastern U.S. earthquake usually can be felt as far as 500 km (300 mi) from where it occurred, and sometimes causes damage as far away as 40 km (25 mi).

Source: USGS

Read More