QUOTE OF THE DAY: I think those who oppose this ballistic missile system don't understand the threats of the 21st century.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: I think those who oppose this ballistic missile system don't understand the threats of the 21st century.
Awww! What a cute baby! Can I keep it?
Great pix, entergetic crowds and President! Looks like he is having a great time and super pix of Laura. thx
AWESOME PHOTOS!!
WEST VIRGINIA:
Supporters at Hedgesville rally cite Bush's religious values
By VICKI SMITH
Associated Press Writer
HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. (AP) -- Forget the war. Forget the economy. For many George Bush supporters, the presidency is about something more fundamental -- faith.
It's about their faith in him, and his faith in God.
Cindy Wilson, of Keyser, takes comfort in the knowledge that Bush is a Christian, she said, because if he is uncertain of a decision, God will make it for him.
"I believe the Bible is our guidebook, our user manual for life,'' said Wilson, who joined a crowd of at least 7,500 at Hedgesville High School for a Bush campaign rally Tuesday night.
"When man depends on man, we're limited,'' she said. "But God is limitless and will help him make the right choices.''
Bush drew his loudest applause when talking about social issues that resonate with conservatives including marriage and family. And he said what they wanted to hear when he declared that trying times demand "a strong and abiding faith.''
Sandra Kinnanan, of Charles Town, is unapologetic about her faith and the president.
"He opposes partial birth abortion and stem-cell research, and he believes in keeping God front and center,'' she said. "He stands for the values of myself, my husband and my family.''
Democratic challenger John Kerry may be a religious man too, she said, "but on those issues he's on the wrong side.''
Kinnanan said she cares about other issues including the economy, "but to me, if you have faith and the core of being God-centered, everything else will go with that. You'll have the right perspective in addressing jobs and other issues.''
For others in the crowd, the relevance of faith was more difficult to express, but just as important.
"I just love him, he's a good man,'' said Andrea Allen, of Hedgesville. "He has good morals.''
Janet Lyons, of Martinsburg, believes Bush's faith helps him withstand critics on the war in Iraq and other controversial policies.
"I like the fact that he isn't afraid to do what he thinks is right,'' she said.
However, Bush fans have other reasons for their support. For many, the past four years have been prosperous, and they give him partial credit.
"I'm better off than I was,'' said Patricia Koch, of Berkeley Springs. "My house is paid for, my husband has a good job, my children have good jobs.''
Bush won West Virginia's three easternmost counties by nearly 7,000 votes in 2000, and demographics are making the region increasingly Republican.
Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties have historically low unemployment, with rates as low as 3.3 percent in June. That's well below the state average of 5.4 percent for the same month.
But the region's unemployment rate has risen since Bush took office in 2001, Kerry campaign economic adviser Gene Sperling said. He cited figures from the final summer of President Clinton's second term, which ranged from 2.6 percent for Jefferson County to 2.9 percent for Morgan County.
Koch is unconvinced.
"There's plenty of jobs out there,'' she said. "People just don't want to work.''
About 50 Kerry supporters gathered on a corner near the high school hours before Bush arrived. But inside the stadium, there was no sign of dissent.
Sportsmen for Bush displayed blaze-orange signs, while Veterans for Bush held blue ones, and hundreds of others waved red, white and blue pompoms and flags.
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/APNews/News/ap0081r
In keeping with the tenor of the article excerpted above, I highly recommend the following books:
"A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W Bush"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1595230009/ref=pd_ts_b_13/103-5544354-3132660?v=glance&s=books&n=1000
"God and George W Bush" [just released today]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060760508/qid=1092791787/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/103-5544354-3132660?v=glance&s=books