Perennial sale draws dozens of gardeners

By Christine Anne Piesyk | October 11, 2008 |

If you have a green thumb, Veteran’s Plaza was the place to be Saturday morning as the Montgomery County Master Gardeners Association  held their annual perennial sale. Before the heat of the day set, a mix of occasional and veteran garden enthusiasts gathered to find new plants, or add or expand the varieties in their gardens.

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Republicans surprised at the hateful feeding frenzy they caused

By David W. Shelton | October 11, 2008 |

This year’s presidential election campaign has brought plenty of surprises, upsets, and great moments. It’s also produced some of the lowest and most disgusting examples of vitriolic hate and ignorance. Neither campaign is innocent of mudslinging and misleading ads, but the McCain/Palin campaign actually pretends that they’re surprised at the reaction they’re getting to their horrific campaign.

The snake-oil blathering reached its fever pitch last week just after the Vice Presidential debate when corrupt governor Sarah Palin accused Obama of “pallin’ around with terrorists who would strike at their own country.” Well, imagine the reaction that she got. As if on cue, the rallying supporters shouted their jeers against the Democratic candidate. What they didn’t expect was the shouts of “off with his head” or “kill him!”

Never mind the fact that the accusation is completely false. CNN reviewed the claims and the project records, and points out that the William Ayers, a founding member of the radical Weather Underground group, was involved with a series of bombings in the 1960’s — when Obama was eight years old. Ayers is now Distinguished Professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. «Read the rest of this article»

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Americans United Asks IRS to investigate Arkansas church for political endorsement

October 11, 2008 |

Church-State watchdog group says Pastor violated federal tax law with call to vote for McCain

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate an Arkansas church whose pastor endorsed John McCain from the pulpit Oct. 12.

According to a report in the Associated Press, Bishop Robert Smith of Word of Outreach Christian Center in Little Rock told congregants, “I will be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

Smith later admitted that he took this action fully aware that federal tax law prohibits houses of worship from opposing or endorsing candidates. He told the Associated Press, “It’s about principle. I wouldn’t care if it’s my mother. If she isn’t for life or for heterosexual relationships, I wouldn’t vote for my momma.”

Smith’s violation of the law was part of a larger effort coordinated by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group. The ADF sponsored a so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” Sept. 28 during which pastors were urged to violate federal tax law by endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit. Smith had planned to take part in that event but was out of town at the time. «Read the rest of this article»

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