Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Liberal gossip

2009-07-04T18:10:19Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Liberal gossip''' is the trait whereby liberals care more about gossipy facts than about genuine issues. ==Examples of Liberal Gossip== *Wikipedia, which obsesses with guilt...'

'''Liberal gossip''' is the trait whereby liberals care more about gossipy facts than about genuine issues.

==Examples of Liberal Gossip==
*Wikipedia, which obsesses with guilt by association, to the point of being called the "National Inquirer of the internet".
*Liberals reaction to Alaskan governor [[Sarah Palin]]'s selection as [[John McCain]]'s running mate, obsessing over trivial details of her family rather than her strong conservative policy message.
*Spreading false and destructive rumours about prominent [[conservative]] figures, such as [[Rush Limbaugh]], [[John Schlafly]] and [[Sean Hannity]].

Classroom prayer

2009-07-04T18:06:09Z

LeoS:

'''Classroom prayer''' is teacher-led, state-sanctioned [[prayer]] in schools. The Supreme Court case [[Engel v. Vitale]] (1962) banned classroom prayer from [[public schools]] in the [[United States]]. Classroom prayer has been banned in [[government]] schools in most other Western countries. An exception is the usually [[liberal]] [[Britain]], which indeed mandates Christian worship in public schools.

Most private schools, even religious schools, do not allow classroom prayer, but many Christian institutions, including many Catholic schools, do allow teacher-led prayers at special school events, such as school assemblies, school sporting events, and graduation exercises. Some language teachers at religious schools teach the students the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary in the respective language(s) and begin each day's instruction with one or the other.

Some private or religious schools hold religious assemblies, including religious services such as the Roman Catholic Mass, that permit prayer outside of the classroom, away from intellectual pursuits.

Prayer was encouraged, allowed and practiced in [[U.S.]] public schools from colonial times until 1962, when the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]'' banned school prayer, citing the [[First Amendment]]'s prohibition on the government respecting an establishment of religion a precedent for its ruling. The UK has a little-observed legal requirement that all pupils "shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship," except where the parent of the pupil has asked for the pupil to be excused from this.<ref> [http://www.england-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980031_en_7#pt2-ch6 School Standards and Framework Act 1998 part 2 chapter 6]</ref>

[[Atheistic]] groups herald this as a great victory for their ideology, as since 1962 U.S. taxpayers have been compelled to fund and support a nominally-secular but effectively-atheistic position for the 90% of [[American]] students who attend [[public school]]. Supporters of the decision claim that there is a "separation of church and state" in the [[U.S. Constitution]], echoing the phrase used by Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptists,<ref>http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html</ref> though no such phrase exists in the actual text of the [[First Amendment]] (the relevant part of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]).

== Examples of wrongful suppression of student prayer ==
Since 1962, and primarily since the 1990s, many students across the U.S. who engaged in prayer have found themselves targeted by overzealous teachers and school administrators.

In 1994, at Waring Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri, fourth-grader Raymond Raines was sent to the principal's office after a teacher spotted him bowing his head in prayer before lunch. Raymond was eventually separated from his classmates and given a week's detention for his continued prayers.<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34772</ref> His mother, Ellen Raines, eventually withdrew Raymond from the school and enrolled him in a private school where he could practice his faith without persecution.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E4DC1139F933A25751C1A962958260</ref>

On May 5, 1995, U.S. district judge Samuel Kent issued a ruling against students uttering the name of Jesus during prayer at a high school graduation in Texas, stating, "And make no mistake, the court is going to have a United States marshal in attendance at the graduation. If any student offends this court, that student will be summarily arrested and will face up to six months incarceration in the Galveston County Jail for contempt of court. Anyone who thinks I'm kidding about this better think again. Anyone who violates these orders, no kidding, is going to wish that he or she had died as a child when this court gets through with it."<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56479</ref>

On January 15, 2002, in Wilton, New York, kindergartener Kayla Broadus was stopped by her teacher from saying the "God is great, God is good" table prayer out loud with her friends before snack time.<ref>http://www.cjonline.com/stories/041302/usw_nation.shtml</ref> The Saratoga Springs City school district sided with the teacher, claiming the prayer was a violation of the supposedly constitutional "separation of church and state." Kayla's parents filed a lawsuit against the school and received a temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge David Hurd on February 5, 2002, against the school's suppression of Kayla's prayer. On February 8, 2002, Judge Hurd issued a preliminary injunction against the school ordering it to allow Kayla to say grace with her friends. Following the injunction, the school decided to settle the embarrassing case, saying that Kayla could pray without inviting her friends to join her (as this was inexplicably deemed "disruptive").

From 2004 to 2006, a [[public school]] banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it. Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. Larue did, according to her deposition. In that sworn statement, Larue said she briefly informed Summa of a parental complaint about the Bible study, and Summa then instructed her to end the practice, citing fear over 'separation of church and state.' Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess, according to the deposition."<ref>http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/</ref>

In 2005, a New Jersey award-winning high school football coach, Marcus Borden, was ordered by his intolerant school district not to bow his head or "take a knee" during any player-initiated prayers. Borden resigned from coaching in October over the issue. Borden later sued and a trial judge ruled in his favor, but school officials and their allies have appealed to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Political Terms]]
[[category:Establishment Clause]]

United States Independence Day

2009-07-04T18:02:29Z

LeoS:

[[File:Dcfireworks.jpg|right|200px| The Spirit of '76]]

'''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], for on July 4th, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]], breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]] and the new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref> This has long been the most important of all American anniversaries, and its very first celebration was held in the nation's capital, then [[Philadelphia]]. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870, <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/history.html History of the Fourth] PBS.org</ref> and as a legal holiday in 1941. '''This is year number {{age|1776|7|4}} of our Independence.'''

It should be mentioned that the 4th of July, 1776, was when the USA declared independance; it would not be formally recognised until September 3rd, 1783.

Most American businesses are closed and the citizens enjoy the summer holiday with cookouts, get-togethers, concerts, baseball, picnics, barbecues, bon fires, parades, and at night time enjoy displays of [[fireworks]]. Some people hold re-enactments of [[Revolutionary War]] era and some people give political speeches at events across the nations cities and towns.

The [[American flag|Flag]] and symbols of it are in evidence everywhere, in this annual outpouring of [[patriotism]]. An expression of pride and hope can be found in many patriotic songs such as the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, My Country 'Tis of Thee and The Stars and Stripes Forever. <ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/patriotic/patriotic-home.html Patriotic Melodies] The Library of Congress</ref>

==Patriot Quotes==
[[File:Spirit of 76.jpg|right|225px]]

[[John Adams]] wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3rd, it reads: <ref>[http://www.101kidz.com/holidays/4thjuly/history.html July 4th History] Kidz101.com</ref>
{{cquote| '''The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of [[America]]. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.'''}}

In a letter written on June 24, 1826, [[Thomas Jefferson]] says of the Fourth of July:
{{cquote|'''May it be to the world, what I believe it will be ... the signal of arousing men to burst the chains ... and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. ... For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.'''}}

[[John F. Kennedy]] said:
{{cquote|'''We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.'''}}

The [[Declaration of Independence]]:
{{cquote|'''We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'''}}

==Historic Patterns==

<blockquote>
In 1776, ''in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king.'' <ref> [http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=VideoArticle&id=6948 U.S. declares independence] </ref>
</blockquote>

The first celebrations of the Fourth of July began in 1777, but it was not a major holiday until politics intruded. By 1800, partisanship had become bitter in the [[First Party System]]. The [[Federalist Party]], in its strongholds like Boston, turned the Fourth into a day of celebrating the party and denigrating the opposition. The Jeffersonian Republicans, believing the Federalists had misappropriated the American Revolution and neglected the role of [[Thomas Jefferson]], staged their own, more democratic, celebrations. Disorder sometimes marred the festivities, but the public enjoyed both parties' observances. The War of 1812 saw the substitution of solemn observances for the noisy partisan celebrations.

By the [[Era of Good Feelings]] after the War of 1812, the holiday became nonpartisan and was enthusiastically celebrated across the land. It encouraged national identity and unity with orations, dinners, militia musters, parades, and fireworks.

The Fourth took on a military dimension that stressed masculinity. Festivities were opened to the entire public and exemplified [[Republicanism|republican]] and egalitarian principles, but they increasingly depicted a militarized, masculine ideal of citizenship and accorded women few roles other than as spectators.

Especially in small cities and towns the holiday combined patriotism and entertainment in an attempt to reaffirm common values and reinforce community solidarity. The festivities' main ingredients, often covering several days before 1940, were civic and patriotic oratory, parades, sports and games, carnivals, dances, fireworks, music, and food.

The Fourth celebrates prowess—first national strength and in recent decades individual strength. The Peachtree Road Race was begun in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1970 and is held each year on the Fourth of July. The first ten-kilometer race attracted a mere 110 runners; by 1994, the number of participants had grown to some fifty thousand.

During the 1960s and 1970s, some cities with large antiwar elements, such as Denver, saw parades and picnics replaced by demonstrations and rioting ridiculing patriotism and denouncing the Vietnam War. Those protests were gone by 1975.

The Fourth is an affirmation of Americanism for Americans in remote locations (such as the Overland Trail in the 1850s) and for Americans overseas. They hold special celebrations at embassies and consulates, as well as private parties wherever expatriates gather.
===Oratory===
Typical celebration in the west during the early 1820s paid tribute to the pioneers, observed the customs and traditions of their old homes, alluded to current problems, and sought to reconcile political interests for the occasion. Lawyers were called on to read the Declaration of Independence and to discuss its current and future meaning. Special tribute was paid to Washington and the Founding Fathers, as well as to the personification of the "Genius of Liberty" which would advance both the spiritual and material basis of the United States and counteract the influence of Europe's despotic monarchism. The moral and religious tone of the celebration was accompanied by a general interest in eating, drinking, and offering toasts. The general acceptance of verbose, exaggerated, and ungrammatical Fourth of July oratory was not the result of ignorance. It was based on the idea that people were in danger of losing their liberty, when they forgot to commemorate the manner in which it was won.

As the fireworks grow louder and brighter, the oratory grows softer and dimmer, and often is dispensed with.

===Antebellum Southern Whites===
From 1778 to 1821 orations in the South reflected the nationalist feeling of the period, but in the next decade the threat to the expansion of slavery created an undertone of suspicion. In 1831 and 1832 nullification dominated the celebration, and the abolitionist threat and the horror of slave revolt appeared next. In the 1840s and 1850s the orators defended the institution of slavery. In the five years before the outbreak of the Civil War orators in Charleston and other deep South cities began to accept secession as inevitable. From 1847 to 1860 the orators spoke increasingly with one voice against the hostile action of the federal government. In the border states the emphasis was more on preserving the Union at all costs.
===Blacks===
Before the Civil War free blacks found fault with the Declaration of Independence for inconsistency and the closely related grounds of hypocrisy and ineffectuality. They held negative attitudes toward Thomas Jefferson and dismissed the Fourth of July because it did not include freedom for blacks. Black leaders and white abolitionists fought to insure that the Declaration would remain an inescapable commitment.<ref> Benjamin Quarles, "Antebellum Free Blacks and the 'Spirit Of '76.'" ''Journal of Negro History'' 1976 61(3): 229-242. </ref>

The Fourth is a celebration of freedom and no one had more cause to celebrate than the freed slaves. African American celebration of the Fourth of July in southern cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War featured a major parade with all the local black organizations marching or making floats, followed by picnics and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. At the same time, Fourth of July celebrations by the white community tended to be much more subdued.

== Reagan: What July 4th Means to Me ==
Representative of the traditional meaning of the Fourth is this oration written and delivered by [[President Ronald Reagan]] in 1981. It captures the essence of what the holiday means to millions of Americans:
[[File:Reagan large 4.jpg|left|250px]]
{{clear}}
{{cquote|<big>For one who was born and grew up in the small towns of the Midwest, there is a special kind of nostalgia about the Fourth of July.</big>

I remember it as a day almost as long anticipated as Christmas. This was helped along by the appearance in store windows of all kinds of fireworks and colorful posters advertising them with vivid pictures.

No later than the third of July - sometimes earlier - Dad would bring home what he felt he could afford to see go up in smoke and flame. We'd count and recount the number of firecrackers, display pieces and other things and go to bed determined to be up with the sun so as to offer the first, thunderous notice of the Fourth of July.

I'm afraid we didn't give too much thought to the meaning of the day. And, yes, there were tragic accidents to mar it, resulting from careless handling of the fireworks. I'm sure we're better off today with fireworks largely handled by professionals. Yet there was a thrill never to be forgotten in seeing a tin can blown 30 feet in the air by a giant "cracker" - giant meaning it was about 4 inches long.

But enough of nostalgia. Somewhere in our growing up we began to be aware of the meaning of days and with that awareness came the birth of patriotism. July Fourth is the birthday of our nation. I believed as a boy, and believe even more today, that it is the birthday of the greatest nation on earth.

There is a legend about the day of our nation's birth in the little hall in Philadelphia, a day on which debate had raged for hours. The men gathered there were honorable men hard-pressed by a king who had flouted the very laws they were willing to obey. Even so, to sign the Declaration of Independence was such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with the words "treason, the gallows, the headsman's axe," and the issue remained in doubt.

The legend says that at that point a man rose and spoke. He is described as not a young man, but one who had to summon all his energy for an impassioned plea. He cited the grievances that had brought them to this moment and finally, his voice falling, he said, "They may turn every tree into a gallows, every hole into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. To the mechanic in the workshop, they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the Bible of the rights of man forever."

He fell back exhausted. The 56 delegates, swept up by his eloquence, rushed forward and signed that document destined to be as immortal as a work of man can be. When they turned to thank him for his timely oratory, he was not to be found, nor could any be found who knew who he was or how he had come in or gone out through the locked and guarded doors.

Well, that is the legend. But we do know for certain that 56 men, a little band so unique we have never seen their like since, had pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Some gave their lives in the war that followed, most gave their fortunes, and all preserved their sacred honor.

What manner of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, 11 were merchants and tradesmen, and nine were farmers. They were soft-spoken men of means and education; they were not an unwashed rabble. They had achieved security but valued freedom more. Their stories have not been told nearly enough.

*John Hart was driven from the side of his desperately ill wife. For more than a year he lived in the forest and in caves before he returned to find his wife dead, his children vanished, his property destroyed. He died of exhaustion and a broken heart.

*Carter Braxton of Virginia lost all his ships, sold his home to pay his debts, and died in rags. And so it was with Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Rutledge, Morris, Livingston and Middleton.

*Nelson personally urged Washington to fire on his home and destroy it when it became the headquarters for General Cornwallis. Nelson died bankrupt.

But they sired a nation that grew from sea to shining sea. Five million farms, quiet villages, cities that never sleep, 3 million square miles of forest, field, mountain and desert, 227 million people with a pedigree that includes the bloodlines of all the world.

In recent years, however, I've come to think of that day as more than just the birthday of a nation.
''It also commemorates the only true philosophical revolution in all history.''

Oh, there have been revolutions before and since ours. But those revolutions simply exchanged one set of rules for another. Ours was a revolution that changed the very concept of government.

'''Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those ''voluntarily granted to it by the people.'''''

'''We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should.''' <ref>[http://www.originofnations.org/books,%20papers/quotes%20etc/what_july_fourth_means_to_me.htm What July Fourth Means to Me: Ronald Reagan]</ref>

Happy Fourth of July,

'''Ronald Reagan''' 
''President of the United States''}}

==Symbols of Liberty in the United States:==

*[[Flag of the United States of America]] [[Image:USflag.jpg|right|100px|]]
*[[Liberty Bell]]
*[[Statue of Liberty]] [[Image:Liberty2.jpg|right|100px|]]
{{clear}}
==See also==
* [[Declaration of Independence]]
* [[Founding Fathers]]
* [[American Revolution]]
* [[American History Painters]]

==Further reading==
* Martin, Howard H. "The Fourth of July oration," ''Quarterly Journal of Speech,'' Volume 44, Issue 4, 1958, Pages 393–401
* Quarles, Benjamin. "Antebellum Free Blacks and the 'Spirit of '76'" ''Journal of Negro History'', Vol. 61, No. 3 (Jul., 1976), pp. 229-242 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2717251 in JSTOR]
* Sweet, Leonard I. "The Fourth of July and Black Americans in the Nineteenth Century: Northern Leadership Opinion Within the Context of the Black Experience," ''Journal of Negro History,'' Vol. 61, No. 3 (July 1976), pp. 256-275 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2717253 in JSTOR]
* Travers, Len. ''Celebrating the Fourth: Independence Day and the Rites of Nationalism in the Early Republic.'' (1997). 304 pp.
* Waldstreicher, David. ''In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes: The Making of American Nationalism, 1776-1820'' (1997)
* Warren, Charles. "Fourth of July Myths," ''William and Mary Quarterly,'' Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul., 1945), pp. 238-272 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1921451 in JSTOR], by leading conservative scholar

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[category:United States History]]
[[category:American Revolution]]
[[Category:United States Holidays]]

Bill Clinton

2009-07-04T17:59:43Z

LeoS: /* Post-Presidency */

{{President
|image=billclinton.jpg
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|party=Democratic
|vp=Al Gore
|previous=George H. W. Bush
|next=George W. Bush
|birth_date=August 19, 1946
|birth_place=Hope, Arkansas
|death_date=
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|spouse=[[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]
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'''Bill Clinton''' (formally '''William Jefferson Clinton'''; born William Jefferson Blythe III) (1946—) a Democrat, was president of the United States, elected in 1992 and reelected in 1996. Previously he had served as governor of Arkansas. His administration was characterized by sustained prosperity, a budget surplus, free trade internationally, military interventions in southeastern Europe, reform of the [[New Deal]] welfare system, and an impeachment by the House of Representatives. In the Senate, Clinton was acquitted and remained in office. Clinton, a policy wonk, was (with Ronald Reagan) one of the two best campaigners in recent decades. Although a mediocre speaker Clinton became known as "the Great Campaigner." His discursive style is personal and intimate, yet, thanks to television, was vicariously enjoyed by large audiences. Like Ronald Reagan. Clinton used his rhetorical skills to achieve political success; he survived despite legislative defeats, repeated scandal (he was notorious as a womanizer) and an actual impeachment.<ref> Whittington (1997)</ref>

After leaving the White House, he became a very well-paid speaker. His wife, [[Hillary Clinton]], was elected to the Senate in 2000 from New York, reelected in 2006, and in 2007 was the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. Clinton became the major fundraiser and campaigner for his wife, and tried but failed to use his special appeal to the African American vote to neutralize her main opponent, [[Barack Obama]]. Obama named Hillary Secretary of State and thus far Bill Clinton has kept a low profile.
[[File:Clinton1.jpg|alt=Bill Clinton|thumb|330px|1994 cartoon by Tom Toles shows Clinton was all things to all people]]
== Early Life ==
Clinton was born in Hope,<ref> [[Mike Huckabee]] was born in Hope in 1955, but did not know Clinton.</ref> Arkansas, a month after his father William Jefferson Blythe III, a salesman, was killed in an auto accident. He was raised by his maternal grandparents until age 4, when his mother Virginia Kelly (1923-1994), a nurse, married Roger Clinton (1909-1967), a car dealer. Roger was an alcoholic and violent; the marriage was tempestuous, including a divorce and a remarriage in 1962. A life-long Southern Baptist, Clinton graduated from the Hot Springs public high school in 1964. He attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where he became active in Democratic politics and won prestigious Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University in England. He was a bit player in the anti-Vietnam war movement, and managed to stall the draft until he received a high lottery number, an evasion that became controversial in his first presidential campaign. He attended Yale Law School (JD 1973). A hail fellow well met, Clinton developed a vast network of friends. He met [[Hillary Clinton]] at Yale; they married in 1975 and had one daughter, Chelsea in 1980.

== Early Political Career ==
After returning to Arkansas as a law professor at the university, Clinton was elected state Attorney General in 1976. In 1978, he was elected Governor of Arkansas, becoming the youngest governor in the country at age 32 . Though defeated in 1980, Clinton won back the governorship in 1982 and held it until becoming President in 1992.

===Early Scandals===
Clinton was involved in several scandals while Governor of Arkansas. He used Arkansas state policemen to arrange rendezvous with meet women.<ref>Thomas C. Reeves, ''[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n14_v10/ai_14988880 Why Troopergate matters to voters]'', ''Insight on the News,'' April 4, 1994.</ref>

His close personal business partnerships with James and Susan McDougall in a failed Savings and Loan business venture led to investigation of the [[Whitewater]] affair. Several of the people involved with the sale of land prior to the Clinton presidency were indicted, but prosecutors never charged either Clintons with a crime.

==Election of 1992==
The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) formed in early 1985 to formulate a moderate Democratic agenda. With [[Al From]] as executive director and Georgia Senator [[Sam Nunn]] as chairman, DLC comprised mostly Southern Democratic congressmen. They sought to rebuild the party's image after a series of defeats by Reagan and Bush. They wanted to assure voters that the moderate-conservative wing of the party was alive and well, and that its policy initiatives fit with mainstream American values. After the 1988 defeat, From asked Clinton in March 1990 to become the first DLC Chair from outside Washington. He and Clinton recruited state and local officials from around the country for the DLC, trying out some of the policy initiatives developed by the affiliated think tank the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). Proposals that found their way into Clinton's 1992 platform included:
* Apprenticeship programs for non-college-bound skilled workers
* A program of national service for college students (with student loan forgiveness)
* A ROTC-style program to train new police officers in colleges
* An enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor
* Government-subsidized individual savings accounts for Social Security.

The two DLC manifestos and Clinton's 1991 "New Covenant" speech accounted for more than 60% of the promises in the 1992 Democratic platform. <ref> Borrelli, 432-35</ref> Clinton campaigned as a "New Democrat," with an appeal to southerners and moderates that included demands for welfare reform and support for the death penalty.

After the surge of support for the war policy of President [[George H.W. Bush]] pushed his popularity to the 90% level, most prominent Democrats decided to wait out the 1992 election. Clinton, though little known outside Arkansas, proved the best campaigner in a weak field and won he Democratic nomination. Unexpectedly, billionaire [[Ross Perot]] entered the race (and briefly led the polls). Both Bush and Perot proved poor campaigners, as Clinton and his running mate [[Al Gore]] promised a more responsive government. Republicans tried to use the character issue, questioning his failure to serve in the [[Vietnam War]], repeating rumors of extramarital affairs, and stories of marijuana use in college days. But Bush was handicapped by a bad economy, and was wounded badly by breaking a promise to not raise taxes. Clinton hammered away at the economy--"It's the economy, stupid!" explained his campaign manager. Clinton and Gore ran as "new Democrats", promising to cut middle class taxes, reduce domestic spending, end welfare and support capital punishment. Clinton won the electoral college decisively, and outpolled Bush 43% to 37%, with 19% for Perot.

Clinton thus won easily, and entered Washington with a Democratic Congress and a vague agenda.

Clinton, the first President born after [[World War II]], represented the "baby-boom" generation.

==Presidency (1993-2001)==

=== Taxing and Spending ===

[[Image:ClintonPresident.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Bill Clinton's Presidential cabinet]] Clinton's first priority while coming into office the the economy. In an attempt to lower [[interest rates]] Clinton sent Congress a deficit reduction plan in early 1993. However, Clinton's problem was that about half of government money goes to entitlement programs such as [[social security]] and [[medicare]]. Refusing to cut domestic spending, he increased taxes on gasoline, heating oil, and natural gas, breaking his campaign pledge not to raise tax rates. The tax increases proved very unpopular with the American people.

=== Health Care Reform ===

In 1993, Clinton called for a national medical care system that would incorporate the 15% of the population that was entitled to emergency care but lacked broader insurance. Clinton decided on a plan using regional insurance purchasing agencies along with modest tax subsidies to combine universal coverage with cost efficiency. He and his advisors believed the plan would be acceptable to big business and the larger insurance companies, but the plan was opposed by a well-financed campaign. The plan however, put a burden Small business, which feared it could not afford it. The insurance industry and doctor organizations also opposed it. Republicans argued that it was too costly and relied too heavily on government. Congressional Democrats were divided on the issue. Faced with public opposition, the Clinton plan failed without even having a vote in Congress.

Skocpol (1996) suggests the major mistake may have been in emphasizing the cost-reducing aspect of the plan, not realizing that Americans were willing to pay for a government program that would provide generous benefits to them. The fear that Clinton's proposals would lead to the sort of health care rationing prevalent in Canada and other countries further troubled the voters. Starr (1997) notes that Clinton sought to achieve liberal ends of universal coverage through the conservative means of managed competition among private health plans, with a backup cap on the rate of growth in average insurance premiums. This approach had a political as well as policy rationale. It was meant to be the basis of an alliance that could include conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans and thereby achieve the majorities necessary for congressional passage. But what we saw as compromise, they did not -- especially as the very locus of the political center shifted to the right during the debate. Health care reform that seemed "inevitable" to many serious observers at the start became unthinkable by the end. Polls showed strong initial support, but he never secured passage in either house of Congress and Republican victory in the 1994 elections doomed his plans.

=== 1994 Republican Revolution ===

[[Image:032309contractwithamerica.jpg|right|thumb|275px|]] Clinton's popularity had slipped by 1994 and the GOP, under [[Newt Gingrich]] launched a national midterm campaign based on a Republican "Contract with America." They proposed lower taxes, welfare reform, tougher anti-crime laws, term limits for Congress, revised rules in Congress and a balanced budget amendment.

In the elections of 1994, the Democrats lost 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and 8 seats in the Senate (followed by two defections after the election), giving the Republicans a majority in both houses of Congress for the first time since 1954. The Republicans also had a net gain of 12 governors' seats in that election.

Republicans won a stunning victory, gaining 54 seats in the House and 8 seats in the Senate, for the first time in 40 years, they had the majority in both houses of Congress.

Analysts have suggested many causes for the drastic change in political sentiment in the country ebtween 1992 and 1994; among the causes suggested were voter disgust at Congressional scandals mainly implicating Democrats, voter distrust of Clinton after the presentation and defeat of the Clinton health care reform proposal--dubbed "Hillarycare"; the nationalization of the election by Gingrich's "Contract with America", and more skilled framing of issues by the Republicans in 1994.

In their first 100 days the House did pass the Contract with America, however, the GOP Senate failed to go along and Clinton's vetoes defeated the Contract.

=== Government Shutdown ===

In 1995 President Clinton and Congressional Republicans fought a bitter battle over the new federal [[budget]]. Clinton vetoed Republican budget proposal, claiming they cut social programs. Speaker Gingrich believed that Clinton would back down and approve the budget. If not the entire government would shut down because of lack of funds. Clinton allowed just that, and by doing so gained political capital by successfully blaming that shut down on Republicans. Soon afterword, Clinton and the Congress reached an agreement to a balanced budget.

==1996 Reelection Campaign==
[[File:ECON1994.jpg|thumb|390px]]

By the time of his 1996 reelection campaign the economy had improved which Clinton took credit for. [[Unemployment]] and inflation was low, American wages increased, crime rates fell, and the number of people on welfare declined. The [[Republican Party]] nominated Senate Majority Leader [[Robert Dole]]. Ross Perot ran again, this time on the Reform Party, but his day was past. Clinton was reelected in a landslide with 49% of the popular vote, to 41% for Dole, and 8% for Perot. Despite his personal victory, Republicans maintained control of the House and Senate.

==Clinton voter Coalition==
===Public Opinion: Clinton's popularity===
Needham (2005) argues the "permanent campaign" is said to have reached its apogee in the incumbent communications strategies of Clinton and British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. However, their assiduous courting of public opinion while in office has been used to explain both the high approval ratings of these leaders and their unpopularity for long periods of their incumbency. This apparent paradox suggests that the permanent campaign model is too blunt an instrument to usefully describe or evaluate incumbent communications. Its assumption of continuity between election campaigning and office-holding fails to explain how the strategic terrain changes once a challenger takes office. The concepts of branding and relationship marketing can be used to highlight the difference between gaining support in the one-off transaction of an election and retaining voter loyalty in a post-"purchase" setting. The success of Blair and Clinton in establishing a relationship with voters from within office can be assessed using six attributes of successful brands: simplicity, uniqueness, reassurance, aspiration, values, and credibility. As incumbents, facing challenges in shifting strategic and institutional environments, Blair and Clinton developed messages that were simple and appealed to voter aspirations. Voters remained skeptical about the extent to which these leaders embodied values and delivered on their promises.

==== Voter demographics ====

{| class=wikitable
! colspan="8" |The Presidential Vote in Social Groups (percentages)
|-
! rowspan="3" | ''% of 1996 total vote''
|
| colspan="6" |''% of 3-party vote''
|-
|
| colspan="3" |''1992''
| colspan="3" |''1996''
|-
! ''Social group''
! ''Clinton''
! ''Bush''
! ''Perot''
! ''Clinton''
! ''Dole''
! ''Perot''
|-
|
| Total vote
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 38
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
| style="text-align:right;" | 49
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
|
| '''Party and ideology'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| Liberal Republicans
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| style="text-align:right;" | 54
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 13
| Moderate Republicans
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 63
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| style="text-align:right;" | 72
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| Conservative Republicans
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 82
| style="text-align:right;" | 13
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 88
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
| Liberal Independents
| style="text-align:right;" | 54
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| style="text-align:right;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 18
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| Moderate Independents
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| style="text-align:right;" | 50
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
| Conservative Independents
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| style="text-align:right;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
| style="text-align:right;" | 60
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 13
| Liberal Democrats
| style="text-align:right;" | 85
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
| style="text-align:right;" | 89
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| Moderate Democrats
| style="text-align:right;" | 76
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 84
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| Conservative Democrats
| style="text-align:right;" | 61
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
| style="text-align:right;" | 69
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
|
| '''Gender and marital status'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 33
| Married men
| style="text-align:right;" | 38
| style="text-align:right;" | 42
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 33
| Married women
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| Unmarried men
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 29
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
| style="text-align:right;" | 49
| style="text-align:right;" | 35
| style="text-align:right;" | 12
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| Unmarried women
| style="text-align:right;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 31
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 62
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
|
| '''Race'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 83
| White
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
| Black
| style="text-align:right;" | 83
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
| style="text-align:right;" | 84
| style="text-align:right;" | 12
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| Hispanic
| style="text-align:right;" | 61
| style="text-align:right;" | 25
| style="text-align:right;" | 14
| style="text-align:right;" | 72
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| Asian
| style="text-align:right;" | 31
| style="text-align:right;" | 55
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
|
| '''Religion'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
| White Protestant
| style="text-align:right;" | 33
| style="text-align:right;" | 47
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 29
| Catholic
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 35
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| style="text-align:right;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| Jewish
| style="text-align:right;" | 80
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;" | 78
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| Born Again, religious right
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 61
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
| style="text-align:right;" | 65
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
|
| '''Age'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| 18–29 years old
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 34
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
| style="text-align:right;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 34
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 33
| 30–44 years old
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 38
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
| 45–59 years old
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 24
| 60 and older
| style="text-align:right;" | 50
| style="text-align:right;" | 38
| style="text-align:right;" | 12
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
|
| '''Education'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| Not a high school graduate
| style="text-align:right;" | 54
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| style="text-align:right;" | 18
| style="text-align:right;" | 59
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 24
| High school graduate
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 51
| style="text-align:right;" | 35
| style="text-align:right;" | 13
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 27
| Some college education
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
| College graduate
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| Post graduate education
| style="text-align:right;" | 50
| style="text-align:right;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 14
| style="text-align:right;" | 52
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
|-
|
| '''Family income'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
| Under $15,000
| style="text-align:right;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
| style="text-align:right;" | 59
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| $15,000–$29,999
| style="text-align:right;" | 45
| style="text-align:right;" | 35
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| style="text-align:right;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 27
| $30,000–$49,999
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 38
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| Over $50,000
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 18
| Over $75,000
| style="text-align:right;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 51
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
| Over $100,000
| style="text-align:right;" | —
| style="text-align:right;" | —
| style="text-align:right;" | —
| style="text-align:right;" | 38
| style="text-align:right;" | 54
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
|-
|
| '''Region'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| East
| style="text-align:right;" | 47
| style="text-align:right;" | 35
| style="text-align:right;" | 18
| style="text-align:right;" | 55
| style="text-align:right;" | 34
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
| Midwest
| style="text-align:right;" | 42
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| South
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| West
| style="text-align:right;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 34
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
|
| '''Community size'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
| Population over 500,000
| style="text-align:right;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| style="text-align:right;" | 13
| style="text-align:right;" | 68
| style="text-align:right;" | 25
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| Population 50,000 to 500,000
| style="text-align:right;" | 50
| style="text-align:right;" | 33
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
| style="text-align:right;" | 50
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| Suburbs
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
| style="text-align:right;" | 47
| style="text-align:right;" | 42
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
| Rural areas, towns
| style="text-align:right;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| style="text-align:right;" | 45
| style="text-align:right;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|}
'''Source:''' Voter News Service exit poll, reported in ''The New York Times'', November 10, 1996, p. 28.

==Second term==
The economy proved highly prosperous, and Clinton not only balanced the budget but produced the first surplus in memory. The reasons include reduction in defense spending after the Cold War (from 5% of GDP to 3%), a revenue burst from the dot-com bubble (the short-lived overexpansion of high tech), and restraints onspending imposed by the GOP Congress.

=== Impeachment ===

On August 17, 1998, after relentless media attention, leaks, and news of White House intern [[Monica Lewinsky]]'s upcoming testimony regarding her extramarital affair with the President, Clinton made history by becoming the first U.S. president to testify in front of a grand jury in an investigation of his own possibly criminal conduct. In an address to the nation, he admitted to having misled the public and a Federal Court over keys elements of testimony. [[Kenneth Starr]], a special prosecutor appointed to investigate the case, was instructed to pursue the matter.
[[File:ClintonTIME9801.jpg|thumb|290px]]
In the second term Clinton was accused of perjury when he lied under oath during the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit. In the end Clinton was impeached by a largely party-line vote in the House and was tried in the Senate for two counts: "perjury" and "obstruction of justice".<ref>The House turned down two other counts: "abuse of power" as well as another count of "perjury" in connection with the Paula Jones case.</ref> The Senate voted largely along party lines with all Democrats voting "not guilty" on both counts - joined by 5 and 10 Republicans, respectively (making the counts 55-45 and 50-50 in favor of the not-guilty verdicts). Although in the former case a majority of Senators voted to convict, two thirds majority being necessary to remove him from office. Speaker Gingrich, who had promised Republicans that impeachment would be a success, had failed badly and was forced to resign and left Congress. The Republican next in line resigned, admitting he too had committed adultery.

[[David Gergen]], former White House Communications Director for both Presidents Reagan and Clinton, summarized the hurt of the President's misconduct:
{{Cquote|The deep and searing violation took place when he not only lied to the country, but co-opted his friends and lied to them....when you have gone over the line, you won't bring others into it...You don't foul the nest."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/quinn110298.htm In Washington, That Letdown Feeling], By Sally Quinn, ''The Washington Post'', November 2, 1998, Page E01</ref>}}

Clinton lost his law license in Arkansas because he had committed perjury before a Federal judge.

It was during this scandal that Clinton famously stated: "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is".<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/21/newsid_2525000/2525339.stm</ref>

=== Foreign Policy ===
Clinton entered office after the U.S. won the [[Cold War]], and the U.S. was the only superpower. There were no major foreign crisis during his presidency. Clinton's foreign policy was based on five principles: 1) strong alliances with Europe and Asia, 2) positive relations with former adversaries, 3) a global perspective on local conflicts, 4) the adaptation of national security priorities to incorporate technological advances, and 5) effective economic integration.<ref>Samuel R. Berger, "A Foreign Policy for the Global Age," ''Foreign Affairs'' 2000 79(6): 22-39. 0015-7120 </ref>

Butfoy (2006) argues that in the 1990s the "revolution in military affairs" (RMA), which produced "smart" weapons like cruise missiles, came of age. This apparently transformed how America viewed the relationship between force and international relations. It looked as though technology was framing foreign policy. In particular, smart weapons enabled Clinton to combine risk minimization with an expanded security agenda. However, we should be wary of ascribing technological determinism to the conflicts of the 1990s dominated by Washington's flexing of its strategic superiority, such as its bombing of Belgrade. As shown by comparison with US strategy after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Washington's stance in the 1990s was shaped by linkages between technology and specific political circumstances. As these circumstances changed, so did the RMA's place in US efforts to shape world order.

====Human Rights====
Supporters of human rights faulted Clinton’s ideological transition from [[Wilsonianism| Wilsonian idealism]] to [[Realist|realism]], especially regarding China and Bosnia. They gave high marks for his efforts at pushing peace negotiations in Haiti and the Middle East, the use of economic sanctions against North Korea, India, and Pakistan, and his efforts to get a chemical weapons convention. However, they give low marks in terms of human rights for inaction on the genocide in Rwanda and the Russian repression of secessionist Chechnya.

====NATO and Eastern Europe====
Much attention was devoted to Eastern Europe.

Clinton actively promoted the expansion of NATO to the east, over the objections of Russia. Russia wanted to maintain some degree of control over its former satellites, and they wanted true independence. The NATO expansion was a political decision. An expanded NATO gave full play to political functions aimed at merging East European nations into NATO and bringing about their transformation into Western-style political and economic systems. NATO members will continue to work toward containing Russia if it fails to integrate itself into the West and returns to its traditional expansionist practices. The Russian transformation and NATO's adjustment influenced each other.
=====Bosnia=====
With the breakup of [[Yugoslavia]] civil wars erupted leading to genocide. With NATO support--but without UN approval--Clinton sent in the US Air Force to launch air strikes on Serbs in Bosnia and later deployed twenty thousand troops. The goal was to protect Muslin Bosnians from genocidal attacks from the Serbs. The policy eventually worked in Bosnia but later had to be extended to nearby Kosovo. Clinton briefly consulted Congress, but promised the troops would soon leave. They remained for years.
====Ireland====
But for the efforts of President Clinton and his administration, and his special envoy Senator George Mitchell, the [[Good Friday Agreement]] (1998) reached between the British government, Irish republicans, and Ulster unionists would be impossible and the troubles would still be going on.
====Middle East====
There was little progress in the Middle East, where US support for srael angered the Arabs. Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu worked poorly with Clinton. The election of Ehud Barak as prime minister in May 1999 appeared to give the president his last chance to achieve a foreign policy success. A meeting at Camp David between Palestinian leader [[Yasser Arafat]] and Barak in December 2000 produced a plan to create a Palestinian state in about 95% of the West Bank and Gaza. The plan was not accepted by the public on either side. President Clinton's hesitant political style was partially responsible for the lack of a lasting peace settlement.
====Japan====
Relations with Japan, the main American ally in Asia, started off poorly. Yet by 2000, both sides realized how important was friendship, and this led to a redefinition and strengthening of the US-Japanese alliance. Although some changes have occurred in the asymmetry of power in the post-Cold War alliance with the relationship becoming less unequal, US interests still dominate, for the weakness of the Japanese economy limited its self confidence.
====China====
Clinton started off with heavy criticism of the lack of human rights in Chine. The main issue was Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status for China, favored by China and American business and farm interests but strongly opposed by religious and human rights groups. Clinton's policy, which began with a 1993 executive order to make MFN status conditional on Chinese reforms, changed as the importance of a trade relationship with China forced the issue to be separated from the government's human rights policies.

He adjusted his China policy in 1996 and advocated dialogue and engagement; this led to improved relations. But Washington continued to criticize China on the issues of Hong Kong, human rights, trade, arms sales, Taiwan, and questionable political donations to US election campaigns. President Jiang Zemin's visit to the United States regained the momentum and led to a level of cooperation between the two countries not seen in years. The major factors affecting the relationship include: the enduring impact of the 1989 Tiananmen episode when the Communist Party crushed a democratic movement with the army; the negative coverage of China by American media, American psychological insecurity caused by the rise of China, and US domestic politics which has a love-hate relationship with China (loving to buy cheap Chinese products while watching competing American factories shut down.)
====India====
Relations with India were expected to improve following the end of the Cold War. They did not do so as both sides mishandled relations. The contradictory policies of the Clinton administration that simultaneously pressured India to liberalize its economy while criticizing New Delhi on human rights and nuclear issues undermined the very officials who strove to improve ties. In the face of criticism from Washington and opposition at home, Indian diplomats lost their enthusiasm for rapprochement. The controversy that surrounded the passage of the Brown Amendment, which restored aid to Pakistan in 1995 despite Islamabad's violation of the 1985 Pressler Amendment, is a case study of the delicate nature of the Indo-American relationship. In resurrecting Cold War rhetoric, Indian parliamentarians and American congressmen demonstrated their unwillingness to establish a new relationship. However the [[George W. Bush]] administration reversed policy and developed close, friendly ties to India.
====Canada====
Relations with Canada went smoothly. Thanks to the precedent set by the [[Brian Mulroney]] government and the administration of [[George H.W. Bush]] in the resolution of issues such as the acid rain problem and the Pacific salmon dispute. A friendly relationship between the Canadian prime minister [[Jean Chrétien]] and Clinton helped, as did the strong economic growth enjoyed by both countries. In addition, there were multilateral and bilateral institutions in place, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, to resolve some major disagreements. However, the relationship faces a number of challenges in the future. While concerns about ballistic missile attacks and threats of international terrorism are priorities for Americans, Canadians do not share those concerns but view the importation of American culture into their country with trepidation, and there are no institutional structures in place to resolve disagreements on these particular issues.
====Mexico and NAFTA====
Clinton, with GOP help, passed a free trade agreement over the objection of most Democrats and labor unions. The implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) generated political disagreements and stress in Mexico, involving issues of economics, labor unions, environmentalism, and international power. Mexico's financial crisis of 1993-95, which led to peso devaluation and new dislocations in that country, and disputes between Clinton and the Congress also exacerbated NAFTA's implementation. Nonetheless, the positive consequences of NAFTA included increases in Mexican imports to the United States and shifts in the trade balance in Mexico's favor.

====Iraq====
Clinton tried to contain Iraq, and used military attacks to make the point. Clinton launched a small cruise missile attack against Iraq in 1993 as a response to a suspected terrorist assassination attempt made on former President George H. W. Bush in Kuwait. In 1998, Clinton threatened military action when Iraq denied full access to UN weapons inspectors.

====Africa====
In Africa, Clinton expressed the exasperation of he American public after decades of single-party rule involving massive misuse and pillage of the continent's resources by local dictators. Clinton called for an end to protected European economic and commercial zones and for open competition on terms that would gradually eliminate African dependency. The Americans, in an effort to promote both democracy and prosperity, urged the African political class to create regimes in their states responsible to the people, to accept participation by opposition parties, and to install rigorous accounting and management procedures. Congress and public opinion supported the new initiatives, which involved much less public assistance to Africa and a great deal more private investment and mutually profitable trade. Essentially, American policy challenged African leaders to undertake reforms that would make them artisans of their own futures.

==== Al-Qaeda terrorism ====
The Arab terrorist group [[al-Qaeda]] conducted a World Trade Center bombing in 1993, simultaneous bombings of the US embassies in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]] in 1998, and the attack on the [[USS Cole]] in 2000. Clinton bombed al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan in response, but meanwhile 19 terrorists were plotting an even more ghastly attack on America which took place on September 11, 2001, eight months after Clinton left office.

== Post-Presidency ==
Clinton has spent much of time since leaving office working for charitable causes such as support and fund-raising for the victims of AIDS and the Asian tsunami. In the case of the Indian Ocean tsunami, he teamed with former president [[George H.W. Bush]] to raise money for relief efforts.

Bill Clinton's wife, [[Hillary_Rodham_Clinton|Hillary Clinton]], was elected Senator to New York in 2000. She was reelected in 2006. She made a failed bid for the [[2008_Presidential_Election#Declared_Democratic_Party_Candidates|Democratic presidential nomination in 2008]].

Clinton has been criticized by both liberals and conservatives for his actions in his wife's presidential campaign. ''Time'' called him "his wife's attack dog". <ref>http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2008/01/28/OpEd/Editorial.On.The.Campaign.Trail.Bill.Clinton.Should.Keep.His.Mouth.Shut-3171498.shtml</ref> Although he had signed up most black leaders to support Hillary, the great majority of Black voters went for Obama. Clinton was accused of racism by implying that many voters chose [[Obama]] for reasons of race, rather than policy, saying that he succeeding in some regions for the same reason [[Jesse Jackson]] did.

After Obama refused to give Hillary the Vice Presidential nomination, both Clintons loyally campaigned for Obama. Obama easily defeated Senator [[John McCain]], and named Hillary Secretary of State. Bill Clinton has maintained a low profile in 2009.

==Bibliography==
[[File:Clinton2.jpg|thumb|530px|left]]
===Basic reading===
* Berman, William C. ''From the Center to the Edge: The Politics and Policies of the Clinton Presidency'' (2001) 160pp, useful summary and interpretation
* Campbell, Colin, and Bert A. Rockman, eds. ''The Clinton Legacy'' 348 pp [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=58143940 online edition]
* Clinton, Bill. ''My Life''. (2004). ISBN 0-375-41457-6. [http://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Bill-Clinton/dp/140003003X/ref=sr_1_8/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464316&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]
* Felsenthal, Carol. ''Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House‎'' (2008) 386 pages
* Gillon, Steve. '' The pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the rivalry that defined a generation‎'' (2008) 342 pages, by a leading historian; [http://books.google.com/books?id=d-U2IzI2r5YC&pg=PA78&dq=intitle:clinton&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=2007&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]
* Hamilton, Nigel. ''Bill Clinton: Mastering the Presidency'' (2007) covers 1993-96, 766pp [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ky8fzAmUIvAC&pg=PA203&dq=intitle:clinton&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=2007&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]
* Harris, John F. ''The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House'' (2005) ISBN 0-375-50847-3, the best coverage of the presidency [http://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Bill-Clinton-White-House/dp/0375760849/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464409&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Hyland, William G. ''Clinton's World: Remaking American Foreign Policy'' (1999) ISBN 0-275-96396-9 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=14147621 online edition]
* Klein, Joe. ''The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton'' (2003) by leading journalist [http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,490843,00.html online excerpt and search]; [http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Misunderstood-Presidency-Bill-Clinton/dp/0767914120/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464449&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Levy, Peter. ''Encyclopedia of the Clinton Presidency'' (2002), 400pp; 230 well-balanced articles
* Maraniss, David, ''First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton'' (1996) ISBN 0-684-81890-6. Biography to 1991. [http://www.amazon.com/First-His-Class-Biography-Clinton/dp/0684818906/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464484&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Posner, Richard A. ''An Affair of State: The Investigation, Impeachment, and Trial of President Clinton'' (1999) ISBN 0-674-00080-3 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77420690 online edition]
* Schantz, Harvey L. ''Politics in an Era of Divided Government: Elections and Governance in the Second Clinton Administration'' (2001) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102246366 online edition]
* Schier, Steven E. ''The Postmodern Presidency: Bill Clinton's Legacy in U.S. Politics'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Presidency-Clintons-Politics-Political/dp/082294135X/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464518&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

===Biographical and Presidential===
* Barber, Benjamin. '' The Truth of Power: Intellectual Affairs in the Clinton White House‎'' (2008) 336 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=zwywJroh6PoC&pg=PA11&dq=intitle:clinton&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=2007&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]
* Berman, William C. ''From the Center to the Edge: The Politics and Policies of the Clinton Presidency'' (2001) 160pp, useful summary and interpretation
* Campbell, Colin, and Bert A. Rockman, eds. ''The Clinton Legacy'' 348 pp [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=58143940 online edition]
* Congressional Quarterly. ''Congress and the Nation 1993-1997: A Review of Government and Politics: 103rd and 104th Congresses'' (1998); ''Congress and the Nation 1997-2001: A Review of Government and Politics: 105th and 106th Congresses'' (2002). Highly detailed nonpartisan coverage (1200 pp each) of all political issues, including presidency
* Gillon, Steve. '' The pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the rivalry that defined a generation‎'' (2008) 342 pages, by a leading historian; [http://books.google.com/books?id=d-U2IzI2r5YC&pg=PA78&dq=intitle:clinton&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=2007&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]
* Hamilton, Nigel. ''Bill Clinton: Mastering the Presidency'' (2007) covers 1993-96, 766pp [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ky8fzAmUIvAC&pg=PA203&dq=intitle:clinton&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=2007&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]* Harris, John F. ''The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House'' (2005) ISBN 0-375-50847-3, the best coverage of the presidency [http://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Bill-Clinton-White-House/dp/0375760849/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464409&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Klein, Joe. ''The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton'' (2003) by leading journalist [http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,490843,00.html online excerpt and search]; [http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Misunderstood-Presidency-Bill-Clinton/dp/0767914120/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464449&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Levy, Peter. ''Encyclopedia of the Clinton Presidency'' (2002), 400pp; 230 well-balanced articles
* Schantz, Harvey L. ''Politics in an Era of Divided Government: Elections and Governance in the Second Clinton Administration'' (2001) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102246366 online edition]
* Schier, Steven E. ''The Postmodern Presidency: Bill Clinton's Legacy in U.S. Politics'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Presidency-Clintons-Politics-Political/dp/082294135X/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464518&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

===Clinton to 1992===
* Abbott, Philip. "A 'Long and Winding Road': Bill Clinton and the 1960s," Rhetoric & Public Affairs 9.1 (2006) 1-20 in Project Muse
* Borrelli, Stephen A. "Finding the Third Way: Bill Clinton, the DLC, and the Democratic Platform of 1992," ''Journal of Policy History'' Vol. 13#4 (2001), pp. 429-462 in Project Muse
* Goldman, Peter L. et al, ''Quest for the Presidency, 1992'' (1994) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=11169230 online edition]
* Maraniss, David, ''First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton'' (1996) ISBN 0-684-81890-6. Biography to 1991. [http://www.amazon.com/First-His-Class-Biography-Clinton/dp/0684818906/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464484&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

===Foreign Policy===
* Butfoy, Andrew. "The Rise and Fall of Missile Diplomacy? President Clinton and the 'Revolution in Military Affairs' in Retrospect." ''Australian Journal of Politics and History'' 2006 52(1): 98-114. Issn: 0004-9522 Fulltext: in Ebsco [http://www.questia.com/read/5014679475 online complete editon]
* Cohen, Warren I. ''America's Failing Empire: U.S. Foreign Relations since the Cold War.'' 2005. 204 pp.
* Davis; John. "The Evolution of American Grand Strategy and the War on Terrorism: Clinton and Bush Perspectives" ''White House Studies'', Vol. 3, 2003
* Hendrickson, Ryan C. ''The Clinton Wars: The Constitution, Congress, and War Powers'' (2002)
* Hyland, William G. ''Clinton's World: Remaking American Foreign Policy'' (1999) ISBN 0-275-96396-9 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=14147621 online edition]
* Jewett, Aubrey W. and Marc D. Turetzky. "Stability and Change in President Clinton's Foreign Policy Beliefs, 1993-96" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 28, 1998 [http://www.questia.com/read/5001392338 online edition]
* Livingston, C. Don, Kenneth A. Wink; "The Passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives: Presidential Leadership or Presidential Luck?" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 27, 1997 [http://www.questia.com/read/5000429192 online edition]
* Maclean, George A. ''Clinton's Foreign Policy in Russia: From Deterrence and Isolation to Democratization and Engagement'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Clintons-Foreign-Policy-Russia-Democratization/dp/0754649016/ref=sr_1_5/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464518&sr=8-5 excerpt and text search]

===Domestic Policy===
* Edwards; George C. "Bill Clinton and His Crisis of Governance" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 28, 1998
* Fisher; Patrick. "Clinton's Greatest Legislative Achievement? the Success of the 1993 Budget Reconciliation Bill" ''White House Studies'', Vol. 1, 2001
* Greenspan, Alan. ''The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World by Alan Greenspan'' (2007)
* Harris, John F. ''The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House''. (2005) ISBN 0-375-50847-3, covers the major policy issues
* Lanoue, David J. and Craig F. Emmert; "Voting in the Glare of the Spotlight: Representatives' Votes on the Impeachment of President Clinton" ''Polity'', Vol. 32, 1999
* Needham, Catherine. "Brand Leaders: Clinton, Blair and the Limitations of the Permanent Campaign." ''Political Studies'' 2005 53(2): 343-361. Issn: 0032-3217 Fulltext: in Ebsco
* Nie; Martin A. "'It's the Environment, Stupid!': Clinton and the Environment" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 27, 1997 [http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5001516576 online edition]
* Patterson, James T. ''Restless Giant: The United States from Watergate to Bush vs. Gore'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Restless-Giant-United-Watergate-History/dp/019512216X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195117012&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Poveda; Tony G. "Clinton, Crime, and the Justice Department" ''Social Justice'', Vol. 21, 1994 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&se=gglsc&d=5000301618 online edition]
* Renshon; Stanley A. ''The Clinton Presidency: Campaigning, Governing, and the Psychology of Leadership'' Westview Press, 1995
* Schantz, Harvey L. ''Politics in an Era of Divided Government: Elections and Governance in the Second Clinton Administration'' (2001) ISBN 0-8153-3583-0
* Stiglitz, Joseph E. ''The Roaring Nineties: A New History of the World's Most Prosperous Decade'' (2004) economic history; [http://www.amazon.com/Roaring-Nineties-History-Worlds-Prosperous/dp/0393326187/ref=sr_1_6/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464518&sr=8-6 excerpt and text search]
* Wattenberg; Martin P. "The Democrats' Decline in the House during the Clinton Presidency: An Analysis of Partisan Swings" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 29, 1999 [http://www.questia.com/read/5001303783 online edition]

===Polls, campaign, images, character, scandals===
* Blaney, Joseph R. and William L. Benoit. ''The Clinton Scandals and the Politics of Image Restoration,'' (2001) [http://www.amazon.com/Scandals-Politics-Restoration-Political-Communication/dp/0275971066/ref=sr_1_4/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194471793&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search] [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=101159621 online edition]
* Borrelli, Stephen A. "Finding the Third Way: Bill Clinton, the DLC, and the Democratic Platform of 1992," ''Journal of Policy History'' Vol. 13, #4 (2001), pp. 429-462 in [[Project Muse]]
* Cohen; Jeffrey E. "The Polls: Change and Stability in Public Assessments of Personal Traits, Bill Clinton, 1993-99" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 31, 2001
* Cronin, Thomas E. and Michael A. Genovese; "President Clinton and Character Questions" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' Vol. 28, 1998
* Denton Jr. Robert E. ''The 1992 Presidential Campaign: A Communication Perspective,'' (1994) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104563698 online edition]
* Denton Jr. Robert E. ''The 1996 Presidential Campaign: A Communication Perspective,'' (1998) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=26288597 online edition]
* Denton Jr. Robert E. and Rachel L. Holloway, eds. ''The Clinton Presidency: Images, Issues, and Communication Strategies, 1996 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=24374540 online edition]
* Denton Jr. Robert E. and Rachel L. Holloway, eds. ''Images, Scandal, and Communication Strategies of the Clinton Presidency'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Scandal-Communication-Strategies-Presidency-Presidential/dp/0275971767/ref=sr_1_4/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464518&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]
* Glad; Betty. "Evaluating Presidential Character" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 28, 1998 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&se=gglsc&d=5001393536 online edition]
* Maurer; Paul J. "Media Feeding Frenzies: Press Behavior during Two Clinton Scandals" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 29, 1999 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&se=gglsc&d=5001239881 online edition]
* O'Connor; Brendon. "Policies, Principles, and Polls: Bill Clinton's Third Way Welfare Politics 1992-1996" ''The Australian Journal of Politics and History'', Vol. 48, 2002
* Posner, Richard A. ''An Affair of State: The Investigation, Impeachment, and Trial of President Clinton'' (1999) ISBN 0-674-00080-3 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77420690 online edition]
* Renshon, Stanley A. "The Polls: The Public's Response to the Clinton Scandals, Part 1: Inconsistent Theories, Contradictory Evidence" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 32, 2002 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000773179 online edition]
* Renshon; Stanley A. '' The Clinton Presidency: Campaigning, Governing, and the Psychology of Leadership'' (1995) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=9961027 online edition]
* Starr, Kenneth. ''The Starr Report: The Findings of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr on President Clinton and the Lewinsky Affair'' (1998) ISBN 1-891620-24-X
* Whittington, Keith E. "The Rhetorical Presidency, Presidential Authority and President Clinton," ''Perspectives on Political Science,'' Vol. 26, 1997
* Waldman, Michael. ''POTUS Speaks: Finding the Words That Defined the Clinton Presidency'' (2000) ISBN 0-7432-0020-9
* Wattier; Mark J. "The Clinton Factor: The Effects of Clinton's Personal Image in 2000 Presidential Primaries and in the General Election" ''White House Studies'', Vol. 4, 2004
* Weisberg, Herbert F., and Janet M. Box-Steffensmeier. ''Reelection 1996: How Americans Voted,'' 1999 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=62235822 online edition]

===Health reform===
* Fox, Daniel M. "A Lost Cause: Bill Clinton's Campaign for National Health Insurance, and: The Road to Nowhere: The Genesis of President Clinton's Plan for Health Security," ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' vol. 73, # 2, Summer 1999, pp. 367-369 in [[Project Muse]]
* Johnson, Fard. "Politics, Propaganda and Public Opinion: The Influence of Race and Class on the 1993 - 1994 Health Care Reform Debate." (2004). ISBN 1-4116-6345-4
* Laham, Nicholas, ''A Lost Cause: Bill Clinton's Campaign for National Health Insurance'' (1996) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-lost-cause-bill-clintons-campaign-for-national-health-insurance-by-nicholas-laham.jsp online edition]
* Rushefsky, Mark E. and Kant Patel. ''Politics, Power & Policy Making: The Case of Health Care Reform in the 1990s'' (1998) ISBN 1-56324-956-1
* Skocpol, Theda. ''Boomerang: Clinton's Health Security Effort and the Turn Against Government in U.S. Politics,'' (1996) [http://www.amazon.com/Boomerang-Health-Reform-Against-Government/dp/039331572X/ref=sr_1_2/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194472221&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

==Primary sources==
* [http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/publications/ERP/ Council of Economic Advisors, ''Economic Report of the President'' (annual 1947- )], complete series online; important analysis of current trends and policies, plus statistical tables
*Clinton, William jfeerson. ''Conversations: William Jefferson Clinton: from Hope to Harlem‎'' ed. by Janis F. Kearney (2006) 402 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=EVdrKWADFnsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:clinton&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=2006&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]
* Starr, Kenneth. ''The Starr Report: The Findings of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr on President Clinton and the Lewinsky Affair'' (1998) ISBN 1-891620-24-X [http://books.google.com/books?id=NxWTTbiij0wC&dq=inauthor:Starr+inauthor:Kenneth&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]
===Memoirs===
* Clinton, Bill. ''My Life''. (2004). ISBN 0-375-41457-6. [http://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Bill-Clinton/dp/140003003X/ref=sr_1_8/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194464316&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]
* Blumenthal, Sidney. ''The Clinton Wars''. (2003). ISBN 0-374-12502-3 [http://www.amazon.com/Clinton-Wars-Sidney-Blumenthal/dp/0374125023/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194472136&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Greenspan, Alan. ''The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World'' (2007), memoir by head of Federal Reserve
* Stephanopoulos, George. ''All Too Human: A Political Education'' (1998) ISBN 0-316-92919-0 [http://www.amazon.com/All-too-Human-George-Stephanopoulos/dp/0316930164/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194472067&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{USPresidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clinton, Bill}}
[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]
[[Category:Arkansas Governors]]
[[Category:Democrat Governors]]
[[Category:Corruption]]
[[Category:Reagan Era]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]

Historical apologism

2009-07-04T17:57:22Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Historical apologism''' is a tendency of some, typically liberal, historians to attempt to apologise for actions in the past, judged by standards of the present. For e...'

'''Historical apologism''' is a tendency of some, typically [[liberal]], [[historians]] to attempt to apologise for actions in the past, judged by standards of the present. For example, apologising "on behalf of the white race" for slavery in the [[United States]], despite the fact that both the slave-owners and slaves are long since dead, and supporting "compensation" to African-Americans, by virtue of the crimes of another generation.

Historical apologism can be said to violate the principle of [[justice]] that a person cannot be tried for the crimes of their ancestors. Leading [[law]] expert Richard Carter described such an idea as "setting an absurd precedent; should the [[Italians]] apologise for the actions of the [[Romans]], the [[Mexicans]] for the [[Aztecs]]?"

Ayn Rand

2009-06-29T19:47:40Z

LeoS:

[[Image:Jhyu65.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Ayn Rand''' ("Ayn" rhymes with "mine"), born '''Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum''' (1905-1982) was a [[Russian]]-born [[philosopher]], screenwriter, and novelist, who began her career in Hollywood. She used her novels to promote her philosophy, known as [[Objectivism]]. Her best-known novels are [[Atlas_Shrugged|''Atlas Shrugged'']] and ''[[The Fountainhead]]''.

She is a highly political author, with her novels often serving as political messages. She was a advocate of minimal government interference in buisiness, and a strong objection to socialism and nationalism.

==Her views==
{{Main|Objectivism}}

Ayn Rand attracted a following based on her opposition to [[collectivism]], as articulated in her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged''. Her followers today tend to be [[libertarians]] and predominantly unmarried men, many of whom are drawn to a self-indulgent lifestyle consistent with Rand's philosophy. Rand often called herself a "radical for capitalism," by which she meant the pure, ''laissez-faire'' variety.

Rand's philosophy was anti-Christian to the point of even declaring that "faith, as such, is extremely detrimental to human life: it is the negation of reason."<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_topic_religion</ref> The movement she founded supports an "absolute right" to [[abortion]] at any time during pregnancy,<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5105</ref> including partial-birth abortion.

Ayn Rand's philosophy and followers also support a "right" to have same-sex marriage, and opposed California's [[Proposition 8]] defining marriage as between one man and woman.<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=21821</ref>

Rand had very little in common with [[conservatives]] except for a mutual opposition to communism and socialism. Rand was an [[atheism|atheist]] and opponent of traditional [[family]] values, who personally adhered more to [[Hollywood Values]] than conservative ones.<ref>http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/biofaq.html</ref> She was a strident opponent of altruism.

==Quotes==
"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: The stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission – which is the stage of the darkest periods of [[human]] history, the stage of rule by brute force."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45735 WorldNetDaily.com Should Democratic Party merge with Communist Party?, August 12, 2005</ref>

==Books Written==
*''We the Living''
*''[[Anthem (book)|Anthem]]''
*''The Fountainhead''
*''Atlas Shrugged''
*''Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal''
*''The Romantic Manifesto''
*''The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution''
*''[[The Virtue of Selfishness]]''

==References==
Doherthy, Brian. 'Radicals for Capitalism a Freewheeling History of the Modern Libertarian Movement.' New York: Public Affairs, 2007.
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer Ayn Rand Institute]
*[http://www.ARIwatch.com ARI Watch] — argues that the above misrepresents Ayn Rand.
*[http://www.ios.org/ The Atlas Society — home of The Objectivist Center]
*[http://wiki.objectivismonline.net/wiki/Main_Page Objectivism Wiki]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rand, Ayn}}

[[Category:Women Authors]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Libertarianism]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]

Port

2009-06-29T19:39:57Z

LeoS:

'''Port''' is a sweet, fortified [[wine]] produced in the [[Douro]] valley region of [[Portugal]]. It comes in several different varieties.

A '''port''' is also the name of a town or city that includes a harbour, sitting on the shore of the sea, a river or a lake. [[New York City]] and [[Philadelphia]] are both ports.

==Links==
*[http://www.wineorigins.com/page.cfm?pageID=21 An Introduction to Port] at the Center for Wine Origins
*[http://portlover.com/ Port Lover] for Port wine enthusiasts

[[category:Alcoholic Beverages]]

The Decemberists

2009-06-29T19:37:32Z

LeoS: List of potentially influential songs.

'''The Decemberists''' are a liberal, Indie-rock band from [[Portland]], [[Oregon]]. Their members include Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen.<ref>[http://www.decemberists.com/ Decemberists Official Site]</ref> They played a concert for [[Barack Obama]], and endorsed him for the presidency. <ref>[http://elbo.ws/post/1073585/news-conservative-critics-raise-stink-over-decemberistsbarack-obama-rally/]</ref>

They are known for glorifying [[rape]], [[suicide]] (most often by [[drowning]], and some songs simply involve death by drowning, without suicide being involved<ref>[http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858618440/]</ref>), and various other sinful acts in their music; the songs "We Both Go Down Together" (rape and double-suicide)<ref>[http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/We-Both-Go-Down-Together-lyrics-The-Decemberists/390818DB0383F62248256F940029D818]</ref>, "The Landlord's Daughter/You'll Not Feel the Drowning" (rape and apparent [[homicide]] by drowning, in the respective parts of the song<ref>[http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858618544/]</ref>), and the entire story arc of the latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is based around rape, intercourse, homicide, infanticide (although at least the character who so gleefully sings of his childrens' murders is the villain, although lead singer Meloy takes undue joy in the song) and the eventual double-suicide of the main characters by drowning<ref>[http://www.decemberists.com/downloads/Dcmbr_WebPDFBook.pdf]</ref>. Apparently they also suffer from a severe lack of originality, as well as a severe lack of morals.)

When asked whether he felt his music could corrupt those who listened to by glorifying rape, homicide and suicide, leader singer Colin Meloy said that he "didn't care".

===Decemberists Songs with Potentially Negative Influences===
*Mariner's Revenge: Glorifies obsessive revenge and murder.
*July, July: Encourages fleeting entanglement over true romance.
*Legionnaire's Lament: Encourages alcoholism.
*We Both Go Down Together: Encourages rape against a unrequited love.
*O Valencia!: Pro-gang message.
*Yankee Bayonet: Glorifies the Confederate cause in the [[American Civil War]].
*Infanta: Pro-monarchist message.
*Eli, the Barrow Boy: An anti-Christian and possibly Wiccan image of life after death.
<references/>

[[Category:Bands|Decemberists, The]]

Shadow

2009-06-29T19:32:26Z

LeoS:

A '''shadow''' is a region of darkness, caused by the placement of an obaque object between a surface and a light source. The length of a shadow cast by the [[sun]] can be used to gauge the [[time]]; it is shortest at noon (although it will usually still cast a shadow.)

The absence of direct [[sunlight]] tends to mean the shadow is colder than the area around it.

Shadow

2009-06-29T19:32:09Z

LeoS: Created page with 'A '''shadow''' is a region of darkness, caused by the placement of an obaque object between a surface and a light source. The length of a shadow cast by the sun can be used to ga...'

A '''shadow''' is a region of darkness, caused by the placement of an obaque object between a surface and a light source. The length of a shadow cast by the sun can be used to gauge the time; it is shortest at noon (although it will usually still cast a shadow.)

The absence of direct sunlight tends to mean the shadow is colder than the area around it.

The Decemberists

2009-06-29T19:30:08Z

LeoS: Quote from interview about "Hazards of Love".

'''The Decemberists''' are a liberal, Indie-rock band from [[Portland]], [[Oregon]]. Their members include Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen.<ref>[http://www.decemberists.com/ Decemberists Official Site]</ref> They played a concert for [[Barack Obama]], and endorsed him for the presidency. <ref>[http://elbo.ws/post/1073585/news-conservative-critics-raise-stink-over-decemberistsbarack-obama-rally/]</ref>

They are known for glorifying [[rape]], [[suicide]] (most often by [[drowning]], and some songs simply involve death by drowning, without suicide being involved<ref>[http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858618440/]</ref>), and various other sinful acts in their music; the songs "We Both Go Down Together" (rape and double-suicide)<ref>[http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/We-Both-Go-Down-Together-lyrics-The-Decemberists/390818DB0383F62248256F940029D818]</ref>, "The Landlord's Daughter/You'll Not Feel the Drowning" (rape and apparent [[homicide]] by drowning, in the respective parts of the song<ref>[http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858618544/]</ref>), and the entire story arc of the latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is based around rape, intercourse, homicide, infanticide (although at least the character who so gleefully sings of his childrens' murders is the villain, although lead singer Meloy takes undue joy in the song) and the eventual double-suicide of the main characters by drowning<ref>[http://www.decemberists.com/downloads/Dcmbr_WebPDFBook.pdf]</ref>. Apparently they also suffer from a severe lack of originality, as well as a severe lack of morals.)

When asked whether he felt his music could corrupt those who listened to by glorifying rape, homicide and suicide, leader singer Colin Meloy said that he "didn't care".
<references/>

[[Category:Bands|Decemberists, The]]

Video games

2009-06-28T19:22:19Z

LeoS: Undo revision 679265 by KOTAKU (Talk) This is getting tedious.

'''Video games''' are addictive activities targeted at teenagers, sometimes with tragic results.<ref>Some claim that 2/3rds of videogamers are over 18 years old, but far more people are over that age and a much higher percentage of minors are videogamers.[http://www.pan-o-matic.com/blog/?p=45 Only a third of videogamers are under 18]</ref> Games are increasingly violent and offensive, attracting the attention of legislators in many states to protect the exploitation of children by them. Games such as ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' are very violent, sexually explicit, and feature [[criminal]] behavior. These games are rated "M 17+" for "Mature," but courts have stricken down laws preventing retailers from selling them to children, under an interpretation that the First Amendment protects offensive video games even for children.<ref>http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/148962.html</ref> Some people argue that violent video games cause violent behavior in some children, but such a link has yet to be conclusively proven. The effects of violent video games on the developing psyche of children and adolescents vary greatly and of course have much to do with the mental stability of the subject in question.
Serious crimes have been associated with video games, but nearly all mentions of video games in media coverage of said crimes are added for the sake of sensationalism and are irrelevant. For example, a 14-year-old brutally murdered a video arcade employee one morning and his cousin stands trial for murdering the store manager when he entered the store shortly thereafter.<ref>http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1212467732102240.xml&coll=1</ref>
In the [[United States|USA]], all retail games carry ratings from the [[ESRB]], a video game ratings organization.

== Various genres ==

Video games in the course of their existence have grown from the simple arcade style games, and have become more detailed and separated from one another. Genres can now include [[first person shooters]], [[racing]], [[Simulation game|simulation]], [[role-playing]], [[sports]], [[action]] and many others. Even then, games can combine genres, such as ''[[Mass Effect]]'' (Role Playing and Third Person Shooting), or not fit nicely into any genre, like ''[[Katamari Damacy]]''.

== Popularity & Controversy ==

Games have risen in popularity over the years, as is shown in the rise of video games sales from the 1980s until today. This has brought with it a various amount of controversy as the video game industry continues to grow with its original player base.

===Violence===

Most of the controversy comes from the rising trend toward violence in video games, as pioneered by ''[[Doom (video game series)|Doom]]'', ''[[Quake]]'', and the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series.

At least one study has shown that, contrary to the position mentioned above, kids who don't play video games at all seem to show more violent tendencies. Of course, as expected, those who played violent video games for large amounts of time also showed violent tendencies, however the study claims that this is a "risk marker", not an actual cause. <ref>http://wii.qj.net/New-research-reveals-kids-who-don-t-play-videogames-at-all-are-more-at-risk-of-violent-tendencies/pg/49/aid/118505 New research reveals kids who don't play video games at all are more at risk of violent tendencies</ref>

Multiple studies have shown a correlation between violent video games and levels of real life violence, caused by playing some of the aforementioned video games.<ref>http://www.apa.org/science/psa/sb-anderson.html</ref>

===Sexuality===

Although nudity is not prominent in [[western]] video games, there are various products containing sexually-suggestive material. One reason for the relative lack of explicitly sexual material in western games may be the refusal of [[Wal-Mart]] (the leading distributor of video games in the United States) to sell games carrying an "Adults-Only" rating.<ref>http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=440903</ref> One notable target of controversy is the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series after a third-party mod was released that allowed the player to engage in a mini-game containing explicit sexual material. Mods are, as "third-party" would imply, fan-made and are not the responsibility of the game's developer. Other sources of this criticism relate to the game ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' as it was one of the first games where a female character (the protagonist) is depicted and advertised as a sex symbol.<ref>Ashley, Robert. "The Secret History of Videogame Sex." Official Playstation Magazine Feb. 2006: 96-99.</ref>

== Video Games & Society ==

As video games become more popular, their impact on society becomes ever more present. A prime example of this is the massive ad campaigns for the [[Halo (game)|Halo]] series, as well as [[Grand Theft Auto]]. Advertising, merchandising, and even social pressures have changed in the ever-growing influence of video gaming.

Due to their popularity, various corporations have begun placing advertisements for their products within the context of the game. [[Second Life]], an Internet-based virtual world, has blurred the lines between real-world and virtual world, and companies such as Adidas, Reebok, and Dell have set up virtual stores selling real-world products within the game. [[Reuters]] also operates a news bureau reporting news in the game.

== Faith in Video Games ==

Faith in Video Gaming has, as a rule, either led to the creation of new and dynamic antagonists, or video games that are mediocre, such as ''Spiritual Warfare'' and ''Bible Adventure'' for the Nintendo, or ''The Bible Game'' for various systems. ''Bible Adventure'' in particular is infamous for it's poor design and playability.

The Bible, or other such religious texts, tell a story spanning many different viewpoints. Turning these ideas into a video game, however, most often leads to games that tend to bore most video game audiences.

Religion has, however, taken a prominent place amongst the various heroes and villains in video games. The [[Breath of Fire Series|''Breath of Fire'' series]] and the ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' games, in particular, use a god as a main antagonist in many of its incarnations. Other games to use religion in some way include the ''Final Fantasy'' series, ''[[Left Behind: Eternal Forces]]'', ''[[Black and White]]'', ''Heaven and Hell'', ''[[Xenogears]]'', ''[[Okami]]'', and the ''[[Tales]]'' series, particularly ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]''. Unfortunately, many (not all) of the aforementioned games present religion (or it's respective church and followers) as evil, fake, or having ulterior and nefarious motives.

Games may include a fictional religion as part of the setting if the use of a real religion may invite undesirable controversy.

Video game reviewers have sometimes unjustly attacked and reviewed games where real-world religion plays a notable role. One of the most prominent examples of this is the game ''[[Left Behind: Eternal Forces]]''.<ref>http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/left_behind</ref>

==Popular Video games==
*''[[Assassins Creed]]'' - Taking place, after a fashion, during the [[Crusades]]. Play as Altair, and kill leaders from both sides to stop a deadly plot.
*''[[Age of Empires]]'' - An [[Real-Time Strategy|RTS]] in which the player leads an ancient civilization.
*''[[Call of Duty]]'' - A series of [[first person shooters]] in which a player is either a soldier in World War II or a soldier involved in the [[War on Terror]].
*''[[Civilization]]'' - A strategy game in which the player leads a civilization from it's birth, and into the future.
*''[[Donkey Kong]]'' - An early platform game in which [[Mario]] (then known as "Jumpman") tries to save his girlfriend Pauline from a barrel-flinging ape named Donkey Kong. Both Donkey Kong and Mario went on to star in many other successful video games.
*''[[Final Fantasy]]'' - A very popular and long running [[RPG]] series in both the [[United States]] and [[Japan]]. Earlier games were rather child friendly, but the series has become more mature over time.
*''[[Gears of War]]'' - Mankind has been annihilated by an underground race of beings.
*''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' - A game series about gangster like characters who perform missions to rise to the top by killing, stealing, and other, sometimes violent, missions.
*''[[Guitar Hero]]'' - A game where players play the role of the [[guitar]]ist in a band. Uses a special controller in the shape of and played similarly to a guitar.
*''Half-Life'' and ''Half-Life 2'' - First Person Shooter series about Gordon Freeman, a luckless scientist turned hero-from-desperation. This game uses one of the leading physics engine in first person shooters, the Source engine.
*''[[Halo]] - A trilogy of games following a super soldier during a fictional future [[war]].
*''[[Harvest Moon]]'' - Farm life simulator, with many sequels spreading from various platforms. Character runs a farm, raises animals, and can eventually marry.
*''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' - A popular series of fantasy action-adventure games.
*''[[Mass Effect]]'' - A science fiction RPG for mature players.
*''[[Medal of Honor]]'' - A first person shooter series usually taking place in the front lines of World War II.
*[[Mortal Kombat]] - Multi-player fighting game which is famous for violence, blood, and gory finishing moves called "fatalities".
*''[[NHL]]'' series - A series of Hockey games produced by EA Sports.
*''[[Pac-Man]]'' - An old maze game. It was very popular with kids and adults back in the eighties.
*''[[Portal]]'' - A popular first person shooter/puzzle game using the same game engine as ''Half-Life 2'' involving inter-dimensional travel through portals in an abandon testing facility. This game is known for its deadpan sense of humor.
*''[[Resident Evil]]'' - Survival/horror video game series, revolving around viral zombies and the survivors of the zombie attacks.
*''[[The Sims]]'' - A life simulator produced by EA.
*''[[Super Smash Brothers]]'' - Series of Nintendo fighting games. It mixes characters from different [[Nintendo]] franchises [with some exceptions] in wide environments.
*''[[Soul Calibur]]'' - A weapon-based fighting game. Revolves around the tale of two weapons, Soul Edge [Cursed] and Soul Calibur [Blessed], and those who fight for control or destruction of the weapons.
*''[[Street Fighter]]'' - One-on-one [[martial arts]] fighting game series, where a player selects one of various martial artists and battles other players or against computer-controlled characters.
*''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' - Side-scrolling platform game series by [[Nintendo]]. Players play as Mario and Luigi, two Italian plumber brothers, who explore the Mushroom Kingdom in order to rescue Princess Peach from the evil Bowser [called Koopa in Japan]. Possibly the most well known game in the world.
*''[[Tomb Raider]]'' - Series of games following the adventures of Lara Croft.
*''[[Pong]]'' - the first real video game, resembling 2-d ping-pong.

==See Also==
*[[Video game controversy]]
*[[Jack Thompson]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.whattheyplay.com/ What They Play - the parent's guide to video games]

==References==

<References/>

[[Category:Entertainment]]
[[Category:Video Games]]
[[Category:Computers]]

Video games

2009-06-28T19:03:34Z

LeoS: Undo revision 679261 by FlyingPieceOfCheese (Talk) Pointless parody.

Contraception

2009-06-28T18:03:29Z

LeoS:

'''Contraception''' (or '''birth control''') refers to techniques, [[drug]]s, or devices that prevent [[pregnancy|conception]]. There are many different [[Methods of contraception|methods]], each having its own level of effectiveness and safety. The only known method that is 100% effectice is [[abstinence]]. [[Abstinence]] during fertile times can take the place of artificial form of birth control. <ref> "When a couple for serious reasons abstain from intercourse at times at which they might conceive, their abstaining is itself chosen sexual behaviour, and virtuous sexual behaviour because it is expressive of a recognition of the demands of the procreative good." [http://www.linacre.org/contra.html Linacre.org] </ref>

The availability of contraception is often cited as one of the enabling conditions for [[feminism]] and the [[sexual revolution]].

==Catholic teachings on contraception==

The [[Roman Catholic church]] prohibits the use of artificial contraceptives such as pills or barriers to Catholics, though it supports natural methods of avoiding conception based on timing. The policy on contraception is given in the [[Humanae Vitae]].

*The Church does not teach that in engaging in intercourse one has to be acting with a view to procreating, an objective one could realistically have in mind only when one was fertile. What she teaches is that sexual intercourse will not make for an authentic unity of two-in-one-flesh if those engaging in it set out to negate its built-in significance as generative/procreative behavior. <ref>[http://www.linacre.org/contra.html Linacre.org]</ref>

==Anglican teachings on contraception==

The [[Anglican Church]] regards sexual love as an essential way for a husband and wife to express and strengthen their mutual love, citing Genesis 2:18 'It is not good that the man (Adam) should be alone' in support of this. At the [[Lambeth Conference]] of 1930 a resolution was passed stating: ''Where there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, complete abstinence is the primary and obvious method.'' It continued by saying that if there was morally sound reasoning for avoiding abstinence, ''the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of Christian principles.''

However, by the Lambeth Conference of 1958, contraceptive use among most Anglicans was widespread and a resolution that year stated that the responsibility for deciding upon the number and frequency of children was laid by God upon the consciences of parents ''in such ways as are acceptable to husband and wife''. <ref> [http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/socialpublic/smte.html#contraception Science, Medicine, Technology & Environment | Church of England] </ref>

==Legality (US)==

Until a 1923 court decision, the federal [[Anthony Comstock|Comstock Act]] prohibited the use of the mail service to distribute contraceptives or information on contraception or [[abortion]]. Contraception was until this time considered [[obscenity|obscene]] for legal purposes, as it was considered to serve only in the promotion of immorality.

Until 1965, some US states criminalized the possession and/or distribution of contraceptives for reasons of public morality on the grounds that contraception would encourage premarital sex. In the 1965 [[Supreme Court]] case of [[Griswold v. Connecticut]], [[activist judge]]s invented a constitutional right to contraception. The 1972 case of Eisenstadt v. Baird later extended this invented right to include even unmarried couples, rendering any legal attempt to restrict access impossible.

==Legality (International)==

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Contraception]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/when-does-life-begin Opposing Views: When Does Life Begin?]

Contraception

2009-06-28T18:03:14Z

LeoS:

'''Contraception''' (or '''birth control''') refers to techniques, [[drug]]s, or devices that prevent [[pregnancy|conception]]. There are many different [[Methods of contraception|methods]], each having its own level of effectiveness and safety. The only known method that is 100% effectice is [[abstinence]].[[Abstinence]] during fertile times can take the place of artificial form of birth control. <ref> "When a couple for serious reasons abstain from intercourse at times at which they might conceive, their abstaining is itself chosen sexual behaviour, and virtuous sexual behaviour because it is expressive of a recognition of the demands of the procreative good." [http://www.linacre.org/contra.html Linacre.org] </ref>

The availability of contraception is often cited as one of the enabling conditions for [[feminism]] and the [[sexual revolution]].

==Catholic teachings on contraception==

The [[Roman Catholic church]] prohibits the use of artificial contraceptives such as pills or barriers to Catholics, though it supports natural methods of avoiding conception based on timing. The policy on contraception is given in the [[Humanae Vitae]].

*The Church does not teach that in engaging in intercourse one has to be acting with a view to procreating, an objective one could realistically have in mind only when one was fertile. What she teaches is that sexual intercourse will not make for an authentic unity of two-in-one-flesh if those engaging in it set out to negate its built-in significance as generative/procreative behavior. <ref>[http://www.linacre.org/contra.html Linacre.org]</ref>

==Anglican teachings on contraception==

The [[Anglican Church]] regards sexual love as an essential way for a husband and wife to express and strengthen their mutual love, citing Genesis 2:18 'It is not good that the man (Adam) should be alone' in support of this. At the [[Lambeth Conference]] of 1930 a resolution was passed stating: ''Where there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, complete abstinence is the primary and obvious method.'' It continued by saying that if there was morally sound reasoning for avoiding abstinence, ''the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of Christian principles.''

However, by the Lambeth Conference of 1958, contraceptive use among most Anglicans was widespread and a resolution that year stated that the responsibility for deciding upon the number and frequency of children was laid by God upon the consciences of parents ''in such ways as are acceptable to husband and wife''. <ref> [http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/socialpublic/smte.html#contraception Science, Medicine, Technology & Environment | Church of England] </ref>

==Legality (US)==

Until a 1923 court decision, the federal [[Anthony Comstock|Comstock Act]] prohibited the use of the mail service to distribute contraceptives or information on contraception or [[abortion]]. Contraception was until this time considered [[obscenity|obscene]] for legal purposes, as it was considered to serve only in the promotion of immorality.

Until 1965, some US states criminalized the possession and/or distribution of contraceptives for reasons of public morality on the grounds that contraception would encourage premarital sex. In the 1965 [[Supreme Court]] case of [[Griswold v. Connecticut]], [[activist judge]]s invented a constitutional right to contraception. The 1972 case of Eisenstadt v. Baird later extended this invented right to include even unmarried couples, rendering any legal attempt to restrict access impossible.

==Legality (International)==

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Contraception]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/when-does-life-begin Opposing Views: When Does Life Begin?]

User talk:OscarJ

2009-06-28T15:15:42Z

LeoS: Reverting vandalism, and my comments to the vandal.

{{Welcome|sig=[[User:JessicaT|KotomiT]][[User talk:JessicaT|''nandeyanen?'']] 08:27, 17 April 2009 (EDT)}}

==Compassion==
Good catch on that parody in [[Compassion]]. Thank you. --[[User:JessicaT|KotomiT]][[User talk:JessicaT|''nandeyanen?'']] 07:33, 20 April 2009 (EDT)

You're welcome--[[User:OscarJ|OscarJ]] 07:38, 20 April 2009 (EDT)

== Moronic vandal ==

Thanks for so swiftly catching and reverting the work of that liberal vandal! --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 01:16, 12 May 2009 (EDT)

You're welcome. Thanks for blocking him. --[[User:OscarJ|OscarJ]] 01:22, 12 May 2009 (EDT)

==Thank you==
It seems I must thank you both for your help with Keijo and for catching my numerous errors. So..... Thank you, [[User:PTaylor|PTaylor]] 13:32, 15 June 2009 (EDT)

You're welcome. Thanks for helping me revert his vandalism --[[User:OscarJ|OscarJ]] 13:36, 15 June 2009 (EDT)

== Vandal reverts, Part II ==

Thanks once again for your efforts! Please post to my talk page in the future, or better yet use the send email function, if one of the Admins doesn't seem to be around. Thanks. --[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 21:29, 19 June 2009 (EDT)

Lord Haw-Haw

2009-06-28T15:01:50Z

LeoS:

'''William Joyce''' (1906-1946), often referred to as '''Lord Haw-Haw''', was a [[Nazi]] propagandist during [[World War II]]. Joyce was born in [[New York]], and moved to [[England]] as a teenager. He became a member of the British Union of Fascists, holding a German-sympathetic opinion of the growing tension, in the 1930s. Joyce moved to [[Germany]] shortly before the beginning of the war, and immediately began recording radio propaganda that was broadcast for British audiences.<ref>http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/vohawhaw.htm</ref>

Joyce's last broadcast was on April 30, 1945, which is the same day that [[Adolf Hitler]] committed suicide. He was captured in May, and was shot during his capture. The shot was not fatal, but he did not have much longer to live.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/29/a2015029.shtml</ref>

Joyce was prosecuted for treason by the United Kingdom, despite the fact that he was not a British citizen. The grounds given for British jurisdiction were that Joyce had nevertheless possessed a British passport and had falsely claimed British citizenship. His wife, Margaret, had broadcast alongside her husband, but was not prosecuted because officials "felt that she had suffered enough", according to secret files that were released in 2000. <ref>http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/UK/11/09/london.hawhaw/</ref> William Joyce was found guilty of these charges, and was [[hanging | hanged]] in January, 1946.

==Also see==
* [[Tokyo Rose]]

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Fascists]]
[[Category:Nazis]]
[[category:World War II]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, William}}

User talk:LeoS

2009-06-28T14:57:59Z

LeoS:

{{welcome|sig=--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:43, 26 June 2009 (EDT)}}

Hi Leo, sorry, but I do not care what you say
:And yet you took the time to reply. How nice. Kindly stop wrecking the place and go away. [[User:LeoS|Leo Samuels]] 10:57, 28 June 2009 (EDT)

User talk:OscarJ

2009-06-28T14:55:32Z

LeoS:

User talk:OscarJ

2009-06-28T14:55:02Z

LeoS:

Talk:Essay:School Prayer and the First Amendment

2009-06-28T14:41:38Z

LeoS:

Interesting start. I recommend that the concluding sentence be changed to propose a specific legal approach, such as a constitutional amendment, reconsideration by the courts, election of pro-prayer candidates, or shutting down the [[public schools]]. Also, there are a few spell-check typos that you (or we) could tidy up. Godspeed.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 09:10, 28 June 2009 (EDT)
:Thank you for your kind words! I've spellchecked to remove the consistent mistake in "separation" (might need to work on that!) and other typos, added a couple of paragraphs on ways to reverse this injustice and reposted the result. In Christ, [[User:LeoS|Leo Samuels]] 10:41, 28 June 2009 (EDT)

Essay:School Prayer and the First Amendment

2009-06-28T14:40:03Z

LeoS: Conclusion added, typos corrected. In Christ.

{{Essay By|LeoS}}
Since 1962, ordinary Christian American taxpayers have been subsidising a public schooling system that, quite apart from its many failings and overwhelming liberal bias, insists on suppressing religion in the lives of young peoples. Liberals who support the destruction of classroom prayer insist that they are supporting the [[First Amendment]] right for people to hold different beliefs, and that the separation of church and state prevents it.

'''Nothing could be further from the truth.'''

The separation of church and state was designed to prevent the system whereby in England, senior bishops automatically gain seats in Parliament. It does not mean that the federal government should be attempting to secularize the nation. Indeed, attempting to do this would be a violation of the First Amendment which guarantees a freedom of belief. Liberals attempt to use this to claim that specifically Christian worship would be intolerant. In fact, even if the minority beliefs ''were'' disadvantaged (and exposure to Christianity will have anything but that effect), suppressing classroom prayer only disadvantages the majority Christian student population.

School prayer always stuck to the First Amendment. It allowed the majority Christian student group to use their freedom of belief and to create a feeling of mutual respect in the classroom. Nobody is forced to contribute against their beliefs; they can simply wait quietly and respect others' beliefs, in accordance with the First Amendment. Before the ban on school prayer, nobody was forced to act against their beliefs. Now, a majority of the students are forced to act against their beliefs.

This is not just a moral injustice, it is a constitutional one.

'''There has to be a reckoning.'''

But how can that happen? In this, just like Roe vs. Wade, liberals pass laws by stealth through the courts. Judges are meant to interpret laws, not create them, and yet liberal judges and justices have continued to pass laws against the will of the people and the Constitution. A cursory glance through the U.S. Constitution reveals no mention of “school prayer” or “abortion”; so how can it ban one and legalise the other? Whatever you believe about those two issues, you cannot argue that the Constitution rules on them; it quite simply does not.

So, how do we proceed to return school prayer to its rightful place in our classrooms? How do we stop multiculturalism and militant Islam infecting students? One way is through a constitutional amendment. Personally, I feel that this is not the way to proceed. Firstly, it is overwhelmingly difficult to achieve; two-thirds supermajorities in Congress and three-quarters of the states will not be easy to create. The other disadvantage of the amendment route is that it will allow liberals to misrepresent our efforts. '''We are not trying to create a new right; only affirm the ones that already exist.'''

My favoured solution is for the court that originally outlawed prayer to follow my argument and thus reverse its decision. Again, this may be difficult. It may be easier for the court to simply say that the Constitution has no ruling, and let the elected Congress and President decide. That is the democratic way. Unlike liberals, I am not afraid of democracy. Real democracy will bear me out, and will restore classroom prayer. Liberals who fear the results of genuine democracy try to circumvent it through the courts. We need a succession of strong, conservative presidents to reshape the Supreme Court, and thus repeal the unjust precedent.

[[User:LeoS|Leo Samuels]]

Essay:Evidence for Electoral Fraud in the 2008 Presidential Election

2009-06-28T12:08:28Z

LeoS: Created page with '{{Essay By|LeoS}} '''Feel free to add examples to this list.''' Considering the landslide victory won by Barack Hussein Obama in the 2008 election, despite being well to the lef...'

{{Essay By|LeoS}}
'''Feel free to add examples to this list.'''

Considering the landslide victory won by Barack Hussein Obama in the 2008 election, despite being well to the left of the average American voter leads to the conclusion that special circumstances must have been involved. Some of these are likely a reaction to the liberal media's constant attacks on President [[George W. Bush]] and the attempt to pretend that he, and not [[John McCain]] was Obama's opposition. Others, however, point to a more sinister explanation.

=="Mistakes" by [[ACORN]]==
*Attempting to register a 7-year old girl as a voter in [[Connecticut]].
*30,000 felons were allowed to vote in [[Florida]].
*In Florida, over 60% of registerations from ACORN had already been registered.
*Several dead people registered to vote in [[Texas]].
*24,000 felons were allowed to vote in [[Washington]].
*In Indiana, a little under half of 5000 registrations were found to be false.
*Duplicate registrations found in Florida.

==Obama's Actions==
*Obama refused to intervene in an obviously rigged election in [[Iran]], presumably in fear that some would question his own victory.
*The fact that Obama formed his transition team '''before''' the result was announced. Did he know ahead of schedule?
*The refusal to present a birth certificate to assure voters of his eligibility constitutes fraud of the [[Constitution]].

Essay:School Prayer and the First Amendment

2009-06-28T11:44:52Z

LeoS: Spelling and formatting.

Gerald Celente

2009-06-28T11:44:01Z

LeoS: A/An

'''Gerald Celente''' is a trend forcaster in the [[United States]], with a strong track record of predictions. Amongst his verified predictions are the 1987 stock market crash, the collapse of the [[USSR]] in the early 1990s and the 2008/2009 global recession. This only adds credence to his latest prediction, that the policies pursued by the [[Obama]] administration will cause a financial disaster, which he has dubbed an "[[Obamageddon]]" in 2012.

Gerald Celente

2009-06-28T11:43:04Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Gerald Celente''' is a trend forcaster in the United States, with a strong track record of predictions. Amongst his verified predictions are the 1987 stock market crash, t...'

Obamageddon

2009-06-28T11:39:55Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Obamageddon''', a portmanteau of the words "Obama" and "armageddon" is a name given by leading economic expert Gerald Celente to a predicted financial disaster in 2012, ca...'

'''Obamageddon''', a portmanteau of the words "Obama" and "armageddon" is a name given by leading economic expert [[Gerald Celente]] to a predicted financial disaster in 2012, caused by the economic policies of the [[Obama]] administration. Celente, who succesfully predicted the current recession, believes that the anti-buisiness policies pursued by [[President]] Obama will cause a futher financial collapse within four years of his taking office.

[[Category: Barack Hussein Obama]]

Conservapedia:Essays

2009-06-27T21:08:37Z

LeoS:

'''''This is an Index of "Essays" written by Conservapedia Members.'''''

Unlike articles, essays may represent a particular point of view. If you write an essay, please attribute it to yourself and link it to this top page. Essays are still subject to control for obscenities, etcetera.
==Politics==
#'''[[Essay:Gun control]]''' by [[User:StephenW|StephenW]]
#'''[[Essay:US Armed Citizens and Crime Control]]''' by --[[User:Crocoite|Crocoite]] 10:03, 24 December 2007 (EST)
#'''[[Essay:End Gates' Tax Exemption]]'''
#'''[[Essay: Liberal Falsehoods]]'''
#'''[[Cuban Dealings Essay]]'''
#'''[[Essay:Gun Control Essay "Gun Distribution: More Than a Shot in the Dark"]]'''
#'''[[Essay:Court Rules for Gay Club, but Gives School Alternatives]]'''
#'''[[Essay:Withdrawal of Jurisdiction Upheld]]''' by [[user:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]]
#'''[[Essay:Title IX]]''' by [[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]]
#'''[[Essay:About the emotional basis of Political power]]'''
#'''[[Essay: 12 American Solutions for Jobs and Prosperity]] by American Solutions
#'''[[Essay:School Prayer and the First Amendment]] by Leo Samuels

==Religion==
#'''[[Essay:Oath of Saint Luke]]''' by [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]
#'''[[Essay: Extraterrestrial Life and the Bible]]''' by [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]
#'''[[Essay:About the emotional basis of Political power#What Is All This About?]]'''
#'''[[Essay: Noah's Ark Was Real]]''' by [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]
#'''[[Essay: Young Earth Cosmology]]''' by [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]
#'''[[Essay:Allegiance]]''' by [[User:DanH|DanH]]
#'''[[Essay:The Coming Fifth Great Awakening in America]]''' by [[User:AddisonDM|AddisonDM]]
#'''[[Essay:Shock "Value"?]]''' by [[User:JY23|JY23]]

==Conservapedia==
#'''[[Essay:Liberal Behavior on Conservapedia]]'''
#'''[[Essay:Why Conservapedia Should Stay the Way it Is]]''', by [[User:Hojimachong|'''Ĥøĵĭmåçħôńğ''']]
#'''[[Essay:Rules_of_Chivalry_for_Students]]''', by [[User:Aschlafly|Ashlafly]]
#'''[[Essay:Examples of Moronic Vandalism by the "tolerant"]]''' by [[User:AddisonDM|AddisonDM]]

==Wikipedia==
#'''[[Essay:Wikipedia's Ads-for-Charity]]
#'''[[Essay:Uses of Wikipedia]]'''
==Conservative popular culture==
#'''[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Songs]]'''
#'''[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies]]'''
#'''[[Essay:Music is not neutral]]'''
#'''[[Essay: Born Again American]]'''

==Science==
#'''[[Essay:Motivation for the Hypothesis of Intelligent Design]]
#'''[[Essay:Motivations for the Theory of Evolution]]''' by [[user:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]]
# '''[[Essay: Evolution of Psychiatric Medicine]]''' by [[User:RobS|RobS]]
# '''[[Essay: Out-of-place Artifacts, ET's, and the Great Flood]] by [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]
# '''[[Essay: Evolution Is More Vulnerable than Ever]] by [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]

==Other==
#'''[[Essay: Is File-sharing a Moral Action?]]''' by [[user:Aaronp|Aaronp]]
#'''[[Essay:Most Influential Persons]]
#'''[[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness]]
#'''[[Essay:Accuracy in Academia Interview]]''' by [[user:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]]
#'''[[Essay:Interview with Australian Researcher]]''' by [[user:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]]
# '''[[Essay:Adultress Story]]''' by ([[user:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]])
# '''[[Bias - Original work]] by [[User:Palmd001|Palmd001]]
==How To:==
'''Please add to all essays the following text:''' <nowiki>{{Essay by|Username of author (if more than one author, leave blank)}}</nowiki>

[[Category:Essays|{{{#PAGENAME}}}]]

Essay:School Prayer and the First Amendment

2009-06-27T20:58:44Z

LeoS:

Essay:School Prayer and the First Amendment

2009-06-27T20:57:40Z

LeoS: Something that I wrote for a debating society a few months ago.

Balanced budget

2009-06-27T20:41:34Z

LeoS:

A '''balanced [[budget]]''' is a budget in which receipts equal [or exceed] outlays. Fiscal conservatives, such as [[George H. W. Bush]] favour balanced budgets, whilst more liberal polticians do not.<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/balanced_budget.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:United States Senate Terms]]

President of the Senate

2009-06-27T20:38:44Z

LeoS:

The '''President of the Senate''' (not to be confused with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate) presides over sessions of the United States Senate, although their powers are considerably less than the Speaker of the House. The president votes only in case of a tie. The position of Senate President is granted by virtue of office to the [[Vice President]], although in practice, they rarely preside over Senate sessions, instead usually delegating to junior Senators, to allow them to learn Senate procedure. <ref>[http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/appropriation.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:United States Senate Terms]]

Puerto Rico Statehood

2009-06-27T20:07:38Z

LeoS:

'''Puerto Rico statehood''' is a proposal whereby the U.S. territory of [[Puerto Rico]] would become a state, with the rights in the [[Constitution]] guarranteed to it. This would give it voting power in the [[House of Representatives]] (currently it has none) and the right to elect two [[Senators]]. Typically, Democrats have supported statehood, in order to provide two likely liberal voices in the Senate.

Puerto Rico Statehood

2009-06-27T20:07:12Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Puerto Rico statehood''' is a proposal whereby the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico would become a state, with the rights in the Constitution guarranteed to it. This would gi...'

'''Puerto Rico statehood''' is a proposal whereby the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico would become a state, with the rights in the [[Constitution]] guarranteed to it. This would give it voting power in the House of Representatives (currently it has none) and the right to elect two Senators. Typically, Democrats have supported statehood, in order to provide two likely liberal voices in the Senate.

Health care

2009-06-27T20:03:55Z

LeoS:

'''Health care''' is the prevention, treatment, and management of [[illness]] and the preservation of mental and physical [[well being]]. It usually involves [[preventive medicine]] as well as [[drugs]] and [[surgery]].

In the [[United States of America]], people pay for health care using [[insurance]]. In other countries throughout the world, the government raises taxes in order to provide "[[socialized medicine]]". This has the effect of generally less efficient health care, as well as providing a disincentive to work.

==Politics of health care==

[[Robert Moffitt]] said:
*Liberal candidates generally embrace expanding government programs. Expanding government control over the financing and delivery of medical services will guarantee even bigger bureaucracy, higher taxes, and increasingly detailed regulations governing the delivery of care. Conservative candidates generally emphasize the need to re-energize the market and make individuals and families the key decision-makers in the system. [http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/08/09/couricandco/entry3152298.shtml]

==See also==

*[[Health insurance]]

==External links==
*[http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_12523427 ''Denver Post'', Debunking Canadian Health Care, 6/7/2009].

[[Category:Medicine]]

Fifty-seven states

2009-06-27T20:02:45Z

LeoS:

The '''fifty-seven states''' flap involved a remark [[Barack Obama]] made about how many states he had visited on the campaign trail. Although he may have meant 47, critics noted that there are 57 [[Islamic]] [[nation state|states]] and used the remark or slip as evidence of Obama being secretly Muslim.

Obama may have been confusing the 47 out of 48 states (other than Alaska and Hawaii) in the continental United States of America, though making such an elementary mistake about the country you aspire to lead seems unlikely.

==See also==
*[[My Muslim faith]]
*[[The bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor]]

==Links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws YouTube clip]

[[Category:United States Politics]]
[[Category: Barack Hussein Obama]]

Christian persecution

2009-06-27T18:38:37Z

LeoS: /* Modern world */ That hardly compares - my mistake

'''Christian persecution''' has occurred from the very beginnings of [[Christianity]] and continues today. Currently more than 200 million Christians around the globe suffer imprisonment, abuse and sometimes death because of their faith.<ref>[http://www.greaterthings.com/News/Christian/Persecution/ International Persecution of Christians]</ref>
==Ancient Rome==
Early [[Christian]] persecution was severe in Ancient [[Rome]]. Christians were most commonly executed by crucifixion and being put in arenas with lions. The emperor [[Nero]] was one of the most notorious persecutors.

This persecution continued up through the fourth century, when Constantine's [[Edict of Milan]] in 313 A.D. promulgated a doctrine of religious tolerance. In 391 A.D., Christianity became the state religion of Rome, gaining strength after Constantine's conquest of Rome from his fellow ''caesars'' of the time.<ref>"... in 391 AD, Christianity became the official, and only, state religion of the empire." [http://www.hyw.com/Books/History/Rome__Le.htm The Legacy of Rome] </ref>

Persecution generally ended in the Roman Empire in 313 A.D., with the [[Edict of Milan]].
==Reformation Europe==
During the [[Protestant Reformation]] many martyrs to the faith on both sides were persecuted and killed.
==Modern world==
In contemporary period, Christians continue to be attacked by governments in communist countries like [[China]] and [[North Korea]], and by hostile religious forces inclusing Moslems in Africa, and by Hindus in [[India]].

==Africa==
Large scale rioting and violence between Moslem and Christian communities are common in parts of Africa, such as [[Nigeria]] and [[Sudan]].
==Bulgaria==
In [[Bulgaria]], there have been incidents of persecution of Christians. In 1998, local Church of God in the town of Vratza was attacked by skinheads.<ref name=CSWBC>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=166 Bulgarian Christians under attack from skinheads and ultra-nationalists]</ref> On July 21st, 2004, the Bulgarian police force invaded the Bulgarian Orthodox churches across the nation and forcibly dragged out over 160 priests.<ref name=CSWB>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Bulgaria Bulgaria]</ref>
==China==
As with all forms of public assembly, the [[China|Chinese]] [[Communism|Communist]] Party keeps a tight rein on all religious activity, including those of Christians. While thousands of state-sanctioned churches exist in China, the process for obtaining a permit for a new church is cumbersome, and to be approved, clergy must also take exams over communist ideology.<ref name=StatedeptChina>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108404.htm]</ref> There is a shortage of Chinese-born ministers who would pass state qualification, and Chinese citizens are forbidden by law to worship at churches with foreign-born pastors.<ref name=StatedeptChina></ref> For all of the above reasons, the vast majority of Christians in China opt to worship at underground "home churches." Leaders and members of these churches face fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of church property.<ref name=VM>[http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/1096.htm Persecution Of Christians Around The World]</ref> In some extreme cases, an underground church is labelled a cult, which the CCP uses to justify some of the worst of its persecution, including torture and forced labor.<ref>http://www.online2.church123.com/attach.asp?clientURN=christiansolidarityworldwide2&attachFileName=52d82f5db78a2871ae131128a54455ac.attach&attachOriginalFileName=CSW_Briefing_China_Liu_Statement.pdf Torture testimony of Liu Xianzhi</ref>

==Egypt==
The Coptic Orthodox church is the largest Christian group in [[Egypt]].<ref name=CSWE>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Egypt Egypt]</ref> Majority of the violence against Christians in the 1990s were from Islamic extremists.<ref name=CSWE/> However there have been some incidents of violence against Christians due to communal tensions.<ref name=CSWE/> In 2007, Coptic Christians in Egypt were attacked by some Muslim rioters.<ref name=CSWECC>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=645 Egyptian Coptic Christians Attacked by Violent Mobs]</ref>

==India==
''See also [[Hindu fanatics]]''

[[Hindus]] form the religious majority in [[India]]. Proponents of the ''Hindutva'' ideology, often called ''Hindu fascism'', want to convert India into a Hindu nation in which other religions must assimilate to the Hindu religion, race and culture and seek to establish a cultural hegemony of Hinduism at the expense of other religions.<ref name=CSWI>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=73 A submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review: India]</ref> In India, Christians have faced repeated attacks from Hindus.<ref name=FOXHEAIC>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318549,00.html Hindu Extremists Attack Indian Churches, Torch Home of Prominent Christian]</ref> Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, aged 8 and 10, were burned to death in [[Orissa]] in 1999 by Hindus.<ref name=FOXHEAIC/> In 2007, Hindus attacked Christians in the state of Orissa.<ref name=FOXHEAIC/> Ninety-five churches were destroyed in the attack.<ref name=CSWCVO>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=72 Communal violence in Kandhamal District, Orissa: India]</ref>

==Iraq==
Persecution of the country's Christian minority has increased dramatically since the 2003 American invasion of [[Iraq]]. Christian archbishops were abducted in January 2005 <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7271658.stm Archbishop abducted in Iraq]</ref> and February 2008<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4182629.stm Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized ]</ref>. The Pope told President George Bush that "Particularly in Iraq, Christian families and communities are feeling increasing pressure from insecurity, aggression and a sense of abandonment."

==Myanmar==
[[Myanmar]] also known as [[Burma]] is ruled by a highly repressive, authoritarian military regime. The country was placed under concern by the International Religious Freedom Act in 1999 and a wide array of sanctions are in place for its violations of human rights. Population estimated 6 percent Christianity and rapidly growing. The junta has not allowed permanent foreign religious missions to operate and confiscated all remaining assets since the 1960's. Proselytizing is forbidden, and the printing of Bibles in the country is strictly prohibited. Disobeying the juntu and Burmese Christians will be killed, imprisoned and other human rights violations. <ref>[http://www.christianfreedom.org/cfi-news/1-latest-news/391-the-demand-for-bibles-in-burma-is-growing-despite-enormous-persecution-of-christians.html The Demand for Bibles in Burma is Growing Despite Enormous Persecution of Christians] Christian Freedom International</ref>

==North Korea==
There are approximately 12,000 practicing Christians in [[North Korea]].<ref name=BBCCNK>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1744847.stm Eyewitness: Christianity in North Korea]</ref> Christians often face torture, imprisonment, and are often murdered.<ref name=CSWNK>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=North_Korea North Korea]</ref> According to human rights organizations, outside the officially sanctioned churches, Christians in North Korea can face harsh penalties.<ref name=BBCCNK/>

==Pakistan==
Christians in [[Pakistan]] have come under increasing attack in recent years.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=56 Religious freedom update - Pakistan]</ref> In 2004, three Christians were killed due to attacks by Islamists.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> Several Christian leaders in Baluchestan received threats.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> The Blasphemy Laws of Pakistan under Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code is used as a tool for Christian persecution.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> Some of the madrassas in Pakistan promote Islamic terrorism.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> President [[Pervez Musharraf]] recently in a speech called for scrutiny of the Blasphemy laws and to reform the madrassas.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/>

==Turkey==
In [[Turkey]], there have been incidents of persecution of Christians. In 2006 and 2007, one Catholic Priest and three Protestant evangelists were killed; churches were also attacked.<ref name=CSWT>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Turkey Turkey]</ref> In 2007, one German and two Turkish Christians were killed by Islamic extremists in Southeast Turkey.<ref name=CSWGTC>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=615 One German and two Turkish Christians killed in Southeast Turkey]</ref>

==United States==
Traditional Christian values are consistently ridiculed by [[Hollywood]]<ref>[http://www.adl.org/PresRele/RelChStSep_90/5392_90.htm Survey: Americans Believe Religious Values Are 'Under Attack'] Anti-Defamation League, November 14, 2008</ref>

Don Feder, founder of a group called Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation, used his condemnation of the 2005 film "V for Vendetta" to say, "It's very much in keeping with what has become Hollywood's standard anti-Christian message – that Christians are hypocritical hate-mongers, with tendencies toward violence, who are waiting to seize the reins of government and persecute unbelievers."<ref> see [ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/05/15/2009-05-15_is_hollywood_antichristian_angels__demons_sparks_debate_anew.html#ixzz0FeJYczRf&B David Hinckley, "Is Hollywood anti-Christian?" ''New York Daily News'' May 15th 2009]</ref>

David Limbaugh says, "This anti-Christian bias manifests itself in unflattering portrayals of Christians in Hollywood films and entertainment television."<ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/10/2/102405.shtml The Media and Hollywood War Against Christianity] NewsMax, October 2, 2003</ref>
==Further reading==
* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/ U.S Department of State, "International Religious Freedom" annual reports], the most detailed guide to conditions in every country; annual 2001-2008
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=fH5H492nmtMC&pg=PA239&lpg=PA239&dq=persecution+by+homosexuals+attach+church&source=bl&ots=x8qEuajjOn&sig=hzKSrRsHFZPwZvarr1opWitt3lo&hl=en&ei=1XsMSvr_BZio8gSh-LXQDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#PPA240,M1 Persecution, By David Limbaugh]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Persecution of Christians]]
[[Category:Church and State]]

Christian persecution

2009-06-27T18:37:52Z

LeoS: /* Modern world */

'''Christian persecution''' has occurred from the very beginnings of [[Christianity]] and continues today. Currently more than 200 million Christians around the globe suffer imprisonment, abuse and sometimes death because of their faith.<ref>[http://www.greaterthings.com/News/Christian/Persecution/ International Persecution of Christians]</ref>
==Ancient Rome==
Early [[Christian]] persecution was severe in Ancient [[Rome]]. Christians were most commonly executed by crucifixion and being put in arenas with lions. The emperor [[Nero]] was one of the most notorious persecutors.

This persecution continued up through the fourth century, when Constantine's [[Edict of Milan]] in 313 A.D. promulgated a doctrine of religious tolerance. In 391 A.D., Christianity became the state religion of Rome, gaining strength after Constantine's conquest of Rome from his fellow ''caesars'' of the time.<ref>"... in 391 AD, Christianity became the official, and only, state religion of the empire." [http://www.hyw.com/Books/History/Rome__Le.htm The Legacy of Rome] </ref>

Persecution generally ended in the Roman Empire in 313 A.D., with the [[Edict of Milan]].
==Reformation Europe==
During the [[Protestant Reformation]] many martyrs to the faith on both sides were persecuted and killed.
==Modern world==
In contemporary period, Christians continue to be attacked by governments in communist countries like [[China]] and [[North Korea]], and by hostile religious forces inclusing Moslems in Africa, and by Hindus in [[India]]. In some Western states, Christians are discriminated against in the name of multiculturalism. For example, the British Foreign Office sends out Ramadan and Hanukah cards, yet described the possibility of sending Chrismas cards as being "intolerant of different religious beliefs".

==Africa==
Large scale rioting and violence between Moslem and Christian communities are common in parts of Africa, such as [[Nigeria]] and [[Sudan]].
==Bulgaria==
In [[Bulgaria]], there have been incidents of persecution of Christians. In 1998, local Church of God in the town of Vratza was attacked by skinheads.<ref name=CSWBC>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=166 Bulgarian Christians under attack from skinheads and ultra-nationalists]</ref> On July 21st, 2004, the Bulgarian police force invaded the Bulgarian Orthodox churches across the nation and forcibly dragged out over 160 priests.<ref name=CSWB>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Bulgaria Bulgaria]</ref>
==China==
As with all forms of public assembly, the [[China|Chinese]] [[Communism|Communist]] Party keeps a tight rein on all religious activity, including those of Christians. While thousands of state-sanctioned churches exist in China, the process for obtaining a permit for a new church is cumbersome, and to be approved, clergy must also take exams over communist ideology.<ref name=StatedeptChina>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108404.htm]</ref> There is a shortage of Chinese-born ministers who would pass state qualification, and Chinese citizens are forbidden by law to worship at churches with foreign-born pastors.<ref name=StatedeptChina></ref> For all of the above reasons, the vast majority of Christians in China opt to worship at underground "home churches." Leaders and members of these churches face fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of church property.<ref name=VM>[http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/1096.htm Persecution Of Christians Around The World]</ref> In some extreme cases, an underground church is labelled a cult, which the CCP uses to justify some of the worst of its persecution, including torture and forced labor.<ref>http://www.online2.church123.com/attach.asp?clientURN=christiansolidarityworldwide2&attachFileName=52d82f5db78a2871ae131128a54455ac.attach&attachOriginalFileName=CSW_Briefing_China_Liu_Statement.pdf Torture testimony of Liu Xianzhi</ref>

==Egypt==
The Coptic Orthodox church is the largest Christian group in [[Egypt]].<ref name=CSWE>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Egypt Egypt]</ref> Majority of the violence against Christians in the 1990s were from Islamic extremists.<ref name=CSWE/> However there have been some incidents of violence against Christians due to communal tensions.<ref name=CSWE/> In 2007, Coptic Christians in Egypt were attacked by some Muslim rioters.<ref name=CSWECC>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=645 Egyptian Coptic Christians Attacked by Violent Mobs]</ref>

==India==
''See also [[Hindu fanatics]]''

[[Hindus]] form the religious majority in [[India]]. Proponents of the ''Hindutva'' ideology, often called ''Hindu fascism'', want to convert India into a Hindu nation in which other religions must assimilate to the Hindu religion, race and culture and seek to establish a cultural hegemony of Hinduism at the expense of other religions.<ref name=CSWI>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=73 A submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review: India]</ref> In India, Christians have faced repeated attacks from Hindus.<ref name=FOXHEAIC>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318549,00.html Hindu Extremists Attack Indian Churches, Torch Home of Prominent Christian]</ref> Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, aged 8 and 10, were burned to death in [[Orissa]] in 1999 by Hindus.<ref name=FOXHEAIC/> In 2007, Hindus attacked Christians in the state of Orissa.<ref name=FOXHEAIC/> Ninety-five churches were destroyed in the attack.<ref name=CSWCVO>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=72 Communal violence in Kandhamal District, Orissa: India]</ref>

==Iraq==
Persecution of the country's Christian minority has increased dramatically since the 2003 American invasion of [[Iraq]]. Christian archbishops were abducted in January 2005 <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7271658.stm Archbishop abducted in Iraq]</ref> and February 2008<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4182629.stm Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized ]</ref>. The Pope told President George Bush that "Particularly in Iraq, Christian families and communities are feeling increasing pressure from insecurity, aggression and a sense of abandonment."

==Myanmar==
[[Myanmar]] also known as [[Burma]] is ruled by a highly repressive, authoritarian military regime. The country was placed under concern by the International Religious Freedom Act in 1999 and a wide array of sanctions are in place for its violations of human rights. Population estimated 6 percent Christianity and rapidly growing. The junta has not allowed permanent foreign religious missions to operate and confiscated all remaining assets since the 1960's. Proselytizing is forbidden, and the printing of Bibles in the country is strictly prohibited. Disobeying the juntu and Burmese Christians will be killed, imprisoned and other human rights violations. <ref>[http://www.christianfreedom.org/cfi-news/1-latest-news/391-the-demand-for-bibles-in-burma-is-growing-despite-enormous-persecution-of-christians.html The Demand for Bibles in Burma is Growing Despite Enormous Persecution of Christians] Christian Freedom International</ref>

==North Korea==
There are approximately 12,000 practicing Christians in [[North Korea]].<ref name=BBCCNK>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1744847.stm Eyewitness: Christianity in North Korea]</ref> Christians often face torture, imprisonment, and are often murdered.<ref name=CSWNK>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=North_Korea North Korea]</ref> According to human rights organizations, outside the officially sanctioned churches, Christians in North Korea can face harsh penalties.<ref name=BBCCNK/>

==Pakistan==
Christians in [[Pakistan]] have come under increasing attack in recent years.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=56 Religious freedom update - Pakistan]</ref> In 2004, three Christians were killed due to attacks by Islamists.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> Several Christian leaders in Baluchestan received threats.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> The Blasphemy Laws of Pakistan under Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code is used as a tool for Christian persecution.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> Some of the madrassas in Pakistan promote Islamic terrorism.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/> President [[Pervez Musharraf]] recently in a speech called for scrutiny of the Blasphemy laws and to reform the madrassas.<ref name=CSWPAKISTAN/>

==Turkey==
In [[Turkey]], there have been incidents of persecution of Christians. In 2006 and 2007, one Catholic Priest and three Protestant evangelists were killed; churches were also attacked.<ref name=CSWT>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Turkey Turkey]</ref> In 2007, one German and two Turkish Christians were killed by Islamic extremists in Southeast Turkey.<ref name=CSWGTC>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=615 One German and two Turkish Christians killed in Southeast Turkey]</ref>

==United States==
Traditional Christian values are consistently ridiculed by [[Hollywood]]<ref>[http://www.adl.org/PresRele/RelChStSep_90/5392_90.htm Survey: Americans Believe Religious Values Are 'Under Attack'] Anti-Defamation League, November 14, 2008</ref>

Don Feder, founder of a group called Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation, used his condemnation of the 2005 film "V for Vendetta" to say, "It's very much in keeping with what has become Hollywood's standard anti-Christian message – that Christians are hypocritical hate-mongers, with tendencies toward violence, who are waiting to seize the reins of government and persecute unbelievers."<ref> see [ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/05/15/2009-05-15_is_hollywood_antichristian_angels__demons_sparks_debate_anew.html#ixzz0FeJYczRf&B David Hinckley, "Is Hollywood anti-Christian?" ''New York Daily News'' May 15th 2009]</ref>

David Limbaugh says, "This anti-Christian bias manifests itself in unflattering portrayals of Christians in Hollywood films and entertainment television."<ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/10/2/102405.shtml The Media and Hollywood War Against Christianity] NewsMax, October 2, 2003</ref>
==Further reading==
* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/ U.S Department of State, "International Religious Freedom" annual reports], the most detailed guide to conditions in every country; annual 2001-2008
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=fH5H492nmtMC&pg=PA239&lpg=PA239&dq=persecution+by+homosexuals+attach+church&source=bl&ots=x8qEuajjOn&sig=hzKSrRsHFZPwZvarr1opWitt3lo&hl=en&ei=1XsMSvr_BZio8gSh-LXQDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#PPA240,M1 Persecution, By David Limbaugh]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Persecution of Christians]]
[[Category:Church and State]]

United States House of Representatives

2009-06-27T14:22:06Z

LeoS:

[[Image:6535yttfr.png|right|thumb|Seal of the United States House of Representatives.]]
The '''House of Representatives''', often referred to as just "The House", is the lower chamber of [[Congress]] in which representatives of each state in the union gather. There are 435 voting members of the House, and each serves two year terms. Representatives can be re-elected an unlimited number of times, and indeed, most incumbents who seek re-election are continually successful. <ref>http://www.thirty-thousand.org/pages/QHA-08.htm</ref> Every state has at least one Representative, and are allocated more based on population. For example, [[California]] has 53 Representatives. The House of Representatives meets in the United States [[Capitol]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]

The House's presiding officer is a Representative from the party with the most members currently in the House, and is known as the [[Speaker of the House]]. The current Speaker of the House is [[Democrat]] [[Nancy Pelosi]], who is from [[California]]. The majority leader is [[Steny Hoyer]] and the minority leader is [[John Boehner]].

==Powers of the House==

The House has the power to [[impeach]] the [[president]] and other federal officials. The House is also responsible for dealing with revenue bills.<ref>US Government and Politics</ref>

==Current Composition==
*'''Democratic Party (Majority): 255 (+6)
*'''Republican Party (Minority): 176 (+0)
''Numbers in brackets are non-voting members from US territories such as the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Puerto Rico]].

==See also==
* [[Congress]]
* [[The Budget Process]]
* [[Glossary of Budget Terms]]

[[Image:HouseofRepresentatives.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Chamber of the United States House of Representatives.]]

==References==

<References/>

[[Category:United States Elected Officials]]
[[Category:United States House of Representatives]]

United States Senate

2009-06-27T14:21:34Z

LeoS:

The '''United States Senate''' is the upper house of the [[United States Congress]], the lower house being the [[United States House of Representatives]]. It is composed of 100 Senators, two from each of the 50 [[state]]s. The Senate convenes in [[Washington, D.C.]]. After the 2006 midterm elections, the Senate is equally divided, with 49 [[Republican]]s and 49 [[Democrat]]s. [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], giving Democrats the majority and control of the committees.

As far as voting on individual bills, most votes are not strictly along party lines, and senators from both parties can and do cross lines against what their leadership endorses on different issues. It should also be pointed out that many bills have bipartisan support, meaning that the bill has strong support among both Republicans and Democrats.

Unless rules specify otherwise, the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of Senators voting, if a [[quorum]] is present. The [[Chair]] puts each question by [[Voice Vote|voice vote]] unless the "yeas and nays" are requested, in which case a roll call vote occurs.<ref>http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/b_three_sections_with_teasers/glossary.htm</ref>

The Senate is named for the [[Roman Senate]], the governing council of ancient Rome. The Latin word means a council of elders, and derives from the same Latin root as ''senior.''

== Senators ==
Senators are elected by each of the fifty states. They serve for six-year terms, without term limits. Approximately one-third of the Senate comes up for re-election every two years. Although originally elected by the state legislatures, the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 gave that power to the citizens. If a Senator resigns or dies in office, that state's Governor appoints a temporary Senator to maintain that state's representation.

The position of '''President of the Senate''' is filled by the [[Vice President of the United States]]. The Vice President only votes in the case of a tie. The Senate's current Majority Leader is [[Democrat]] [[Harry Reid]] and the Minority Leader is the [[Republican]] [[Mitch McConnell]].<ref>http://senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/a_three_sections_with_teasers/leadership.htm</ref>

==Powers of Senate==
In addition to passing legislation, the Senate also has a number of unique and special powers.
* The Senate has the power to try cases of impeachment of federal officials, should such officials be impeached by the House of Representatives. When the [[President]] in on trial, such proceedings are overseen by the Chief Justice of the United States. Two notable instances of this were the impeachment proceedings of Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]] and [[Bill Clinton]]. Neither were removed from office.
* The Constitution gives the Senate the power to "advice and consent" appointments made by the [[President]]. Major appointments subject to this include heads of Cabinet-level federal departments, [[Supreme Court]] justices, [[U.S. District Court]] judges, [[U.S. Attorney]]s, ambassadors to foreign powers, high-ranking military commands and certain federal agencies such as [[NASA]] or the [[Environmental Protection Agency]].
* The Senate ratifies all treaties between the United States and foreign powers.
* If there no majority in the [[Electoral College]], the Senate selects the Vice President while the House selects the President. The Senate has only used this power once: in 1837, when it elected [[Richard Mentor Johnson]] Vice President after Virginia's delegates to the Electoral College voted for Martin Van Buren but refused to vote for him, giving him one vote shy of a majority. Under the Twelfth Amendment, the Senate elected Johnson 36 to 16 with three abstentions along sharp party lines.

==Current Composition==
*'''Democratic Party (Majority)''': 57
*'''Republican Party (Minority)''': 40
*'''Independant Democrats''' : 2
*'''Unresolved''' : 1

==Bibliography==
===Official Senate histories===
The following are published by the Senate Historical Office.
* ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]], 1774–1989''
* [[Robert C. Byrd]]. ''The Senate, 1789–1989''. Four volumes.
** Vol. I, a chronological series of addresses on the history of the Senate
** Vol. II, a topical series of addresses on various aspects of the Senate's operation and powers
** Vol. III, Classic Speeches, 1830–1993
** Vol. IV, Historical Statistics, 1789–1992
* Dole, Bob. ''Historical Almanac of the United States Senate''
* Hatfield, Mark O., with the Senate Historical Office. ''Vice Presidents of the United States, 1789–1993'' ([http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm essays reprinted online])
* Frumin, Alan S. ''[http://www.gpoaccess.gov/riddick/index.html Riddick's Senate Procedure]''. (1992).

===Scholarly studies ===
* Baker, Richard A. ''The Senate of the United States: A Bicentennial History'' (1988).
* Baker, Richard A., ed., ''First Among Equals: Outstanding Senate Leaders of the Twentieth Century'' Congressional Quarterly, 1991. biographies of famous Senators
* Barone, Michael, and Grant Ujifusa, ''The Almanac of American Politics 1976: The Senators, the Representatives and the Governors: Their Records and Election Results, Their States and Districts'' (1975); new edition every 2 years; latest issue August 2009.
* David W. Brady and Mathew D. McCubbins. ''Party, Process, and Political Change in Congress: New Perspectives on the History of Congress'' (2002)
* Caro, Robert A. ''The Years of Lyndon Johnson. Vol. 3: Master of the Senate.'' Knopf, 2002.
* Comiskey, Michael. ''Seeking Justices: The Judging of Supreme Court Nominees'' U. Press of Kansas, 2004.
* Congressional Quarterly '' Congress and the Nation: 2001–2004: A Review of Government and Politics: 107th and 108th Congresses '' (2005); massive, highly detailed summary of Congressional activity, as well as major executive and judicial decisions; based on ''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report'' and the annual CQ almanac; (CQ is a private company; it is nonpartisan and relied upon by all Senate watchers)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1997–2001 '' (2002)
** Congressional Quarterly. ''Congress and the Nation: 1993–1996 '' (1998)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1989–1992 '' (1993)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1985–1988 '' (1989)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1981–1984 '' (1985)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1977–1980 '' (1981)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1973–1976 '' (1977)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1969–1972 '' (1973)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1965–1968 '' (1969)
** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1945–1964 '' (1965), the first of the series
* Cooper, John Milton, Jr. ''Breaking the Heart of the World: Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the League of Nations. '' (2001).
* Davidson, Roger H., and Walter J. Oleszek, eds. ''Congress and Its Members'', (CQ, 10th ed. 2007) (Legislative procedure, informal practices, and member information)
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Most Exclusive Club: A History Of The Modern United States Senate'' (2005), the best history, by a leading historian
* Hernon, Joseph Martin. ''Profiles in Character: Hubris and Heroism in the U.S. Senate, 1789–1990'' (1997).
* Hoebeke, C. H. ''The Road to Mass Democracy: Original Intent and the Seventeenth Amendment.'' (1995). (popular elections of Senators)
* Lee, Frances E. and Oppenheimer, Bruce I. ''Sizing Up the Senate: The Unequal Consequences of Equal Representation.'' (1999). 304 pp.
* Malsberger, John W. ''From Obstruction to Moderation: The Transformation of Senate Conservatism, 1938–1952.'' (2000)
* Mann, Robert. ''The Walls of Jericho: Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Richard Russell and the Struggle for Civil Rights.'' (1996)
* Ritchie, Donald A. ''Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents''. (1991).
* Ritchie, Donald A. ''The Congress of the United States: A Student Companion'' (2nd ed. 2001).
* Ritchie, Donald A. ''Reporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps'' (2005).
* Rothman, David. ''Politics and Power the United States Senate 1869–1901'' (1966)
* Swift, Elaine K. ''The Making of an American Senate: Reconstitutive Change in Congress, 1787–1841''. (1996)
* Valeo, Frank. ''Mike Mansfield, Majority Leader: A Different Kind of Senate, 1961–1976'' (1999) Montana Democrat and majority leader
* VanBeek, Stephen D. ''Post-Passage Politics: Bicameral Resolution in Congress.'' (1995)
* Weller, Cecil Edward, Jr. ''Joe T. Robinson: Always a Loyal Democrat.'' (1998). (Arkansas Democrat who was Majority leader in 1930s)
* Wirls, Daniel and Wirls, Stephen. ''The Invention of the United States Senate'' (2004). (Early history)
* Zelizer, Julian E. ''On Capitol Hill : The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948–2000'' (2006)
* Zelizer, Julian E., ed. ''The American Congress: The Building of Democracy'' (2004) (overview)

====References====
<references/>

==See also==
* [[Congress]]
* [[U.S. Senate Glossary]]

==External links==
*[http://www.opencongress.org/person/senators OpenCongress - Senators]

[[Category: United States Senate]]
[[Category: United States Elected Officials]]
[[Category: United States Congress]]

United States House of Representatives

2009-06-27T14:14:24Z

LeoS:

[[Image:6535yttfr.png|right|thumb|Seal of the United States House of Representatives.]]
The '''House of Representatives''', often referred to as just "The House", is the lower chamber of [[Congress]] in which representatives of each state in the union gather. There are 435 voting members of the House, and each serves two year terms. Representatives can be re-elected an unlimited number of times, and indeed, most incumbents who seek re-election are continually successful. <ref>http://www.thirty-thousand.org/pages/QHA-08.htm</ref> Every state has at least one Representative, and are allocated more based on population. For example, [[California]] has 53 Representatives. The House of Representatives meets in the United States [[Capitol]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]

The House's presiding officer is a Representative from the party with the most members currently in the House, and is known as the [[Speaker of the House]]. The current Speaker of the House is [[Democrat]] [[Nancy Pelosi]], who is from [[California]]. The majority leader is [[Steny Hoyer]] and the minority leader is [[John Boehner]].

==Powers of the House==

The House has the power to [[impeach]] the [[president]] and other federal officials. The House is also responsible for dealing with revenue bills.<ref>US Government and Politics</ref>

==Current Composition==
'''Democratic Party (Majority): 255 (+6)
'''Republican Party (Minority): 176 (+0)
''Numbers in brackets are non-voting members from US territories such as the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Puerto Rico]].

==See also==
* [[Congress]]
* [[The Budget Process]]
* [[Glossary of Budget Terms]]

[[Image:HouseofRepresentatives.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Chamber of the United States House of Representatives.]]

==References==

<References/>

[[Category:United States Elected Officials]]
[[Category:United States House of Representatives]]

Christianity and science

2009-06-27T12:19:09Z

LeoS:

[[Image:Bacon5.jpg|thumb|right|175px|In his essay ''Of [[Atheism]]'' Sir [[Francis Bacon]] wrote: "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the [[Talmud]], and the [[Koran|Alcoran (Koran)]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref>Bacon, Francis, [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html Of Atheism]</ref> ]]
A notable fact in relation to '''Christianity and science''' is that the [[Scientific revolution|birth of modern science]] occurred in the geographic area of [[Christianity|Christianized]] [[Europe]].<ref>http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749</ref> Christians awed by the grandeur of [[God]]'s creative work have long striven to understand His creativity through [[Science|scientific]] study.

[[Sociology|Sociologist]] [[Rodney Stark]] investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the Scientific Revolution.
In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex,[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ The biblical origins of science], ''Journal of Creation'' 18(2):49–52, August 2004.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />
Stark believes that the [[Enlightenment]] was a ploy by "militant atheists" to claim credit for the rise of science<ref>http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3274629/False-conflict-Christianity-is-not.html</ref>.

Indeed, some of the most notable and revolutionary scientists were Christians. [[Nicolaus Copernicus]], who first proposed the heliocentric model of the universe, was an officer of the church. [[Rene Descartes]], who played an integral role in the development of physics, also set about to prove the existence of God in his "Discourse on Methods." [[Gregor Mendel]], who laid the foundations for genetics, was a monk. Although Descartes, Galileo later ran afoul of the Church, the Christian genesis of his and other scientists' work cannot be ignored.

Dr. Charles Thaxton similarly states that modern science developed in the Middle Ages in Christian Europe because of the Christian beliefs of scientists.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth17.html</ref>

Today, the prevalence of belief in God among American scientists is much lower than it is among the American public. <ref>[http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/news/file002.html]</ref><ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3341576]</ref>

Christians, though, upon being confirmed into their church study catechisms, or documents written to answer questions about their faith. According to the 1998 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ''Study Catechism,'' Christians are not conflicted when it comes to choosing modern science or Creationism. Question 27 asks " Does your confession of God as Creator contradict the findings of modern science?" The answer then states, "No. My confession of God as Creator answers three questions: Who?, How? and Why? It affirms that (a) the triune God, who is self-sufficient, (b) called the world into being out of nothing by the creative power of God's Word (c) for the sake of sharing love and freedom. Natural science has much to teach us about the particular mechanisms and processes of nature, but it is not in a position to answer these questions about ultimate reality, which point to mysteries that science as such is not equipped to explore. Nothing basic to the Christian faith contradicts the findings of modern science, nor does anything essential to modern science contradict the Christian faith."
" <ref>http://www.pcusa.org/catech/studycat.htm</ref>

Atheists sometimes claim that "science" is somehow the opposite of Christianity. In fact, science is the study of the universe, and is therefore completely compatable with Christianity.

{{Creation vs. evolution}}

==See Also==
*[[Bible scientific foreknowledge]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:History of Science]]

Proportionality test

2009-06-27T12:06:27Z

LeoS:

The '''proportionality''' test is a three-part test first adopted under [[Title IX]] by the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] Administration and then expanded by the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] Administration, which seeks to apply gender quotas to school [[sports]]. The test consists of counting the number of male and female participants on the school sports teams, and holds that schools are in compliance with Title IX if they:

#have the same proportion of girls in sports as enrolled in the school,
#are expanding the opportunities for girls in sports, or
#are satisfying the entire interest of girls to participate in sports.

When a school needs to cut sports teams for budgetary reasons and cannot provide additional sports for girls, then prongs (2) and (3) of the test cannot be satisfied. In that case the school must meet the quota requirement of (1), thereby causing it to eliminate many more boys teams than girls teams in order to make the proportional representation. [[James Madison University]] recently did precisely that, cutting far more boys teams than girls teams in order to meet Title IX's requirement for access for both boys and girls.

Many seek to apply the proportionality test fully to high schools.<ref>http://psg.com/~patf/TitleIX.pdf</ref> <ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NTgxOTlmZmMzYTgwMWZkZWY1NDA1YjkxZWE5MTU0Yjc=
</ref>

Proportionality tests can be said to be contrary to the principles of a [[meritocracy]], as they encourage promotion to sports teams based on gender, not ability.

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
* [[liberal denial]]

[[Category:United States Law]]

Atheist vs Secular

2009-06-27T12:03:14Z

LeoS:

The words '''atheist''' and '''secular''' can be easy to confuse, but they have subtly different meanings. An atheist is one who does not believe in a god, and therefore an atheist institution (for example) is one that openly holds the position that there is no god. [[Richard Dawkins]] is an atheist, and the "Out Campaign" is an atheist institution.

Someone who is secular, by contrast, does not display any belief or religion, regardless of their actual views. A secular institution is one that does not allow religion of any form. The French and Ameican public school systems are secular.

Atheism is protected by the [[First Amendment]] as freedom of expression. However, secularism prevents freedom of expression, and can therefore be said to be contrary to the First Amendment.

==Examples==
*School prayer: If someone chooses not to participate in [[school prayer]], they might be an atheist. If someone outlaws school prayer for all, they are secular.
*A librarian who does not read the [[Bible]] may be an atheist. A librarian who refuses to stock a copy of the Bible is likely secular.
*One who disagrees with Christian thought on the internet is an atheist. One who attempts to suppress it is secular.

Albinism

2009-06-27T12:01:29Z

LeoS: Redirected page to Albino

#REDIRECT [[Albino]]

Vitiligo

2009-06-27T12:00:40Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Vitiligo''' is disease that causes the skin to lose pigmentation and become more white. It is not to be confused with albinism. The singer Michael Jackson is reported to h...'

'''Vitiligo''' is disease that causes the skin to lose pigmentation and become more white. It is not to be confused with [[albinism]]. The singer Michael Jackson is reported to have had vitiligo.

Atheist vs Secular

2009-06-27T11:58:56Z

LeoS: Caused me a lot of confusion; useful distinction to know.

The words '''atheist''' and '''secular''' can be easy to confuse, but they have subtly different meanings. An atheist is one who does not believe in a god, and therefore an atheist institution (for example) is one that openly holds the position that there is no god. [[Richard Dawkins]] is an atheist, and the "Out Campaign" is an atheist institution.

Someone who is secular, by contrast, does not display any belief or religion, regardless of their actual views. A secular institution is one that does not allow religion of any form. The French and Ameican public school systems are secular.

==Examples==
*School prayer: If someone chooses not to participate in [[school prayer]], they might be an atheist. If someone outlaws school prayer for all, they are secular.
*A librarian who does not read the [[Bible]] may be an atheist. A librarian who refuses to stock a copy of the Bible is likely secular.
*One who disagrees with Christian thought on the internet is an atheist. One who attempts to suppress it is secular.

Novel

2009-06-27T11:39:10Z

LeoS:

A '''novel''' is a long, fictional [[book]], almost always divided into smaller units, or chapters. The word has the same origin as the word "novel" meaning new. Therefore, it can be said that a "new novel" is a [[tautology]].

A very short novel is sometimes called a Novella.

[[category:literature]]

United States Congress

2009-06-27T11:38:13Z

LeoS:

'''Congress (Congress of the United States)''' (a word derived from the Latin "congressum", from "congredior", meaning "to come together") is the term for the legislative body of the [[United States of America]], composed of the [[House of Representatives]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]]. Congress is currently controlled by the [[Democratic Party]], both in the House and the Senate. This may cause problems with its representative function, as the Democratic Party is 20% more liberal than the American electorate. (Polling information from Gallup.)

==Powers==

The powers of Congress, called the [[Delegated Powers]] are detailed in [[United States Constitution:Article I|Article I]], section eight. Congress is vested with the power to impose and collect taxes, to borrow an coin money, and to regulate foreign and interstate trade. Congress is also responsible to create post offieces and federal courts, maintain the army and navy, and admit new states into the union. Additionally, Congress can propose amendments to the [[Constitution]]. The [[Necessary and Proper Clause]] grants Congress all other powers necessary to carry out its duties.<ref>U.S. Government and Politics</ref>

==Origin==

The Congress of the United States was created in the [[Unites States Constitution:Article I|first article]] of the [[Constitution]].<ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section1</ref> Most historians agree that the bicameral system within Congress is derived from the English Parliament.

==Houses==
Congress is divided into two houses, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] and the [[House of Representatives]]. The Senate gives equal weight for each state, with each state electing 2 senators who serve 6 year terms. The House is proportioned based upon population, with each House member serving a 2 year term. The House and Senate must agree for [[legislation]] to be enacted. The [[President]] can [[veto]] that legislation which can then be overridden by a 2/3rds majority of both Houses of Congress.

The basis of these two components come from [[James Madison]]'s [[Virginia Plan]] and [[William Patterson]]'s [[New Jersey Plan]]. During the [[Philadelphia Convention]] in 1787, Madison's [[Virginia]] Plan called for two houses both of which would be represent each state based on its population. Smaller states took issue with this, as the provision was highly favorable to Virginia. Thus, William Patterson proposed the [[New Jersey]] Plan - which called for one house that represented each stated with a single vote. Eventually the [[Connecticut]] delegates proposed the [[Connecticut Compromise]] - which called for two houses, the upper of which would represent each state equally, and the lower of which would represent each state according to population.<ref>Boyer, 187</ref>

==Prominent Congressman==
*[[Larry McDonald]], a passenger on [[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] shot down by the Soviets on Sept. 1, 1983, the only congressman reported killed by the Soviets during the [[Cold War]]

==Quotations==
{{cquote|There is no distinctly American criminal class, except Congress}}

--Mark Twain
==References==
Boyer, Paul, Clifford Clark, Jr., Nancy Woloch, Neal Salisbury, and Harvard Sitkoff. The Enduring Vision. 5th. New York: Charles Hartford,
==Notes==

{{reflist}}
[[Category:United States of America]]
[[Category:United States Government]]
[[Category:United States Senate]]
[[Category:United States House of Representatives]]

Peter Roskam

2009-06-27T11:34:50Z

LeoS: Created page with ''''Peter Roskam''' is a Republican congressman representing the Illinois-6th district. He gained national recognition in the 2006 congressional election, when he defeated...'

'''Peter Roskam''' is a [[Republican]] [[congressman]] representing the Illinois-6th district. He gained national recognition in the 2006 congressional election, when he defeated favourite Democrat [[Tammy Duckworth]] on a local-issues and patriotic campaign.