Last year, Dobson caused a huge political stir when he announced he "cannot and will not" vote for Republican nominee Sen. John McCain. He later changed his tune, after McCain's pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, calling her selection "one of the most exciting days of my life,".....

Dobson is stepping down.
Yeah!!!!! another evil old man out of the game

"government speech'

Summum's seven guiding principles in a Utah municipal park that has long displayed a monument listing the Ten Commandments.
The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado, ruled in 2007 that free speech guarantees Summum the right to erect a monument.
But the Supreme Court unanimously agreed Wednesday with the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah, which argued that displays on public property, privately donated or otherwise, amount to "government speech" and fall under the discretion of local officials.

What the hell is 'government speech'?

Tax Exemption vs Religious Free Speech

The appeals court ruled the state violated the church’s First Amendment rights when Montana’s commissioner of political practices at the time, Gordon Higgins, ruled the church became an incidental campaign committee,” “that must report its expenditures to the state, because the church supported a 2004 constitutional initiative defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

BUMMER-
Many athiests beleive churches should pay taxes, but then is that really a good idea? They already appear to hold huge political power as it is.

In 2006, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula ruled against the church. He said in his ruling that “nothing in the First Amendment keeps the state from exercising its regulatory authority over the political process, even when the politicking takes place in the ’sanctuary.”’

Chemtrails vs Contrails

I kinda feel sorry for this women, the comments were not shy about pretty much calling her a fool. After I read her letter and the reader comments, I remember also noticing similar strange 'trails' in the sky over Helena recently. They were not your normal 'contrails,' they were cross hatched, were quite close together, were curiously different. I remember thinking how unusual and strange these were. I will need to do some research on this one.

Chemtrails’ overhead
By Therese Emmanuel Grey - 02/25/2009
I woke up with a sore throat this morning. So did my daughter. We have not been around anyone sick, but yesterday, we went outside to enjoy a beautiful sunny day. My kids and I couldn’t help noticing the planes zigzaging back and forth in “X” formations, one after the next, leaving white trails, that slowly dissipate into eery looking “clouds.” We’ve noticed it for years, over Bozeman, over Great Falls, over Billings and Helena.

I looked up “chemtrails” on You Tube and there is some amazing footage. Apparently, this is going on all over the world.

Why, with all of the other environmental concerns that we have, does this toxic spraying continue above our heads, year after year? Where are these planes coming from? They can only dump the white stuff for a few miles and then more come. Is it the military base here in Great Falls? I would like to know.

If this is a covert vaccination progam, what are we breathing, and who made the decision on our behalf? And who funds this massive operation at a time when money seems to be running out everywhere? I’m sending a copy of this letter to our representatives. Help us out, please. It’s time for Big Sky Country’s big sky to stay blue. If not for us, then for our children.

Therese Emmanuel Grey

P.O. Box 928
Emigrant


Reader Comments:
HakonMontag wrote on Feb 25, 2009 1:16 PM:
" Speaking of the shutdown of all air traffic in the days after 911...I vididly remember going outside and sensing the difference in [ambient noise]...it was so quiet...it was really kid of nice for a few days with absolutely nothing flying in the skies.

I also have an animation on my home computer of the commercial air traffic over this country for any given day. You'd be amazed. "

obsethed wrote on Feb 25, 2009 1:14 PM:
" There has got to be more important things to worry about than aircraft contrails. How old are you? This has been going on for decades.

Contrails are line-shaped clouds sometimes produced by aircraft engine exhaust, typically at aircraft cruise
altitudes several miles above the Earths surface. The combination of water vapor in aircraft engine exhaust and the low ambient temperatures that often exists at these high altitudes allows the formation of contrails. Contrails are composed primarily of water (in the form of ice crystals)
and do not pose health risks to humans. They do affect the cloudiness of the Earths atmosphere, however, and therefore might affect atmospheric temperature and climate. The basic processes of contrail formation described in this fact sheet apply to both civil and military aircraft.
Persistent contrails pose no direct threat to public health.

All contrails are line-shaped clouds composed of ice particles. These ice particles evaporate when local atmospheric conditions become dry enough (low enough relative humidity). The ice particles in contrails do not reach the Earths surface because they fall slowly and conditions in the lower atmosphere cause ice particles to evaporate. Contrail cloudiness might contribute to human-induced climate change. Climate change may have important impacts on public health and environment
al protection.

www.epa.gov/oms/regs/nonroad/aviation/contrails.pdf
This is the Environmental Protection Agency webpage, it's granola bar approved! "

HakonMontag wrote on Feb 25, 2009 12:52 PM:
" try this link for a haarp primer instead of youtube...

http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/ "

HakonMontag wrote on Feb 25, 2009 12:49 PM:
" It's amazing when the people come out from under their happy hats to dissuade someone with real concerns. Only two posters realise there is a difference between a contrail and a chemtrail. Only two posters know that HAARP even exists and what it is all about (kinda scary in itself). And another big MONEY pit for government and military spending.

Aircraft (daily air traffic) in this country follow regular patterns. Some 15,000 planes can be in the air above the US at any given time of day. But they all run regular routes.

These "cross-hatch-patterns" and the chemtrails they leave behind are from the government....they are not commercial airliners. They are not following the regular air traffic patterns.

You people need to do some actual research and when you crawl out from under that rock where you live...don't toss it at the first person who walks by.

[ex USAF/SACCS) "

purple wrote on Feb 25, 2009 11:03 AM:
" I miss the days when I was growing up when jet fighters routinely broke the sound barrier while flying air defense sorties over this country. "

wildwally wrote on Feb 25, 2009 10:41 AM:
" Oh wait--what's that I hear??--wap,wap,wap
Just as I thought--a fleet of Black helicopters............seriously, give me a break! I live very close to Emigrant, was outside all day on the days she is talking about and did not experience any of the sights, sounds, or chemicals(!) that the letter writer refers to. "

thedukeofhelena wrote on Feb 25, 2009 10:38 AM:
" Therese, this has been going on in Montana since the 90's. Yes, they are "chemtrails". I guess people must not look up very much because I remember the days back in the 60's, 70's, 80's and before when the skies were absolutely clear.

A contrail from an aircraft will dissolve immediately, since it's only water vapor. These cross hatched patterns and lines that are "chemtrails" do not do that. They simply melt into a gloppy mass that then floats down upon everyone and everything and makes people/animals sick. I think it's HAARP activity. "

messenger wrote on Feb 25, 2009 10:35 AM:
" This is not meant to be rude at all, but please get some help. That is some serious paranoia you have going there.

That being said, I think I'll start making a tinfoil hat to keep the government out of my head. "

Bigp wrote on Feb 25, 2009 10:33 AM:
" Okay, okay, I am not sure who is out there more, anon12345 or Theresa Grey. First, if you are truly claiming you have not been exposed to a germ, then you are in a class bubble. Do you get the mail? Do you get groceries from a store? And excuse me, there were vapor trails in the sky when I was a kid, way before Ronnie Ragen was in office. Not sure what this HAARP is all about, but those streams have been there since the 50s. "

jbone1984 wrote on Feb 25, 2009 10:24 AM:
" Whether or not there is a conspiracy regarding the purpose of contrails and chemtrails in our skies, an interesting debate about the affect these trails have on our climate can be scientifically engaged. On 9/11/01, planes in the US were grounded for three days allowing climatologists to study a trail free sky. The results were interesting, and may even suggest a cooling effect. I heard about this from a PBS documentary about particulate pollution called Dimming the Sun. An inquiry article called The Contrail Effect (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun/contrail.html) talks about this topic more.
Conspiracy or not, cooling or warming effect or not, the bottom line for me is the visual impact it has on our skies. On a clear cloudless day, contrails become an eyesore. "

crush720 wrote on Feb 25, 2009 9:56 AM:
" Very often a person is contagious before they show any symptoms of being sick. You could very easily have been exposed to a cold virus and never known it. Even the guy sneezing behind you in line at the grocery store.

There is no reason to become paranoid about planes! It's exhaust, just like from your car, only planes use a lot more fuel. "

jvlyons wrote on Feb 25, 2009 9:09 AM:
" Therese,

I think it must be Dick Cheney and George Bush out to KILL YOU. They are so evil.

Whoops, make that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are out to KILL YOU! Beware, sweetheart.

Best wishes,

Johnny "

blueman13 wrote on Feb 25, 2009 8:44 AM:
" Wow... I really hope this lady is joking... "

electstat wrote on Feb 25, 2009 8:14 AM:
" When I was in Grad. school I also used YouTube as my main research source. hahahaahahahaha.

Give me a break. "

capital_city wrote on Feb 25, 2009 8:05 AM:
" Now run to the store and get as much tinfoil as you can - that way you can make your hats a little thicker. "

mtsilvertip wrote on Feb 25, 2009 7:49 AM:
" WOW!

Now this is tin foil hat stuff!

Get a grip, Get a life. "

enu22 wrote on Feb 25, 2009 6:51 AM:
" Therese, stand on your left leg and jump up and down 4 times, then close your eyes, click your heels 3 times while repeating the phrase, "don't look up". "

anon12345 wrote on Feb 25, 2009 6:50 AM:
" There is a logical explanation for the chemtrails, though one which is unsettling. Chemtrails are simply a tool employed by the H.A.A.R.P. (High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Project). This project is a weapon/research device which is a vestige of the Reagan "Star Wars" program. The metals sprayed into the sky reflect sunlight back into the upper levels of the earth's atmosphere in order to heat any area of the atmosphere known as the "ionosphere." Once heated, radio and electromagnetic waves can be broadcasted and/or large amounts of potential energy locked up in the ionosphere can be accessed.

Yes. This is happening everywhere. I woke up to a chemtrail patchwork over the Philadelphia region this morning.

Here is a primer on H.A.A.R.P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnRPZOUVhJ4 "

ar23 wrote on Feb 25, 2009 6:24 AM:
" You think this is some conspiracy? Give me a break. How do you KNOW you weren't around anyone sick...its FEBRUARY! Germs are everywhere, door handles, sinks etc...I think you are over reacting in the worst way. "

VRC wrote on Feb 25, 2009 4:28 AM:
" Yes by all means lets go back to the future and get rid of all those terrible things that make our homes warm in the winter, allow us to travel outside our neighborhoods, eat food that is grown many miles from our neighborhoods, allow us to be able to find out what is going on the the rest of the world, and of course allow the print media to exhist even though the reality of partisan reporting is destroying it. Now if we can only remove people from Montana everything will be wonderful. "

purple wrote on Feb 25, 2009 2:17 AM:
" Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee

THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING

Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee

I would explain contrails left by aircraft in flight, but the explanation would just go over your head

Hee Hee Hee Hee "

Email Evangelism

I received a convert or else email from a Ms. Ford in response to an old post I made in 2000.
At first I did not know which woman she was talking about. I did not post anything recently that would make any sense, and then I realized what she was talking about. I went online and retrieved the old post at http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/guest/lori.html

Diana’s e- condescending-mail
Subject line: Hi (so tricky)
no salutation,

“Did you ever think that just maybe that woman that was
suppose to call you got sick, or even died, maybe something happened to make it impossible to call!
You should never put your trust in anyone but Jesus,
Faith is substances hoped for things not see, Now you
have misplaced your faith, and are lost, just suppose
you are right and there is not Jesus then you will be okay
but just suppose if people that believe In Jesus is right then when you die, you are going to be in terrible trouble. I will
pray for you!” (Sincerely?)

no sign off

The typical theist hollow threat (of hell) and empty promise (prayer). She is practically yelling that I am in big trouble and she will pray for me. Did she really think this would dissuade me? This only convinces me even more how relieved I am that I won’t be stuck in heaven with types like her.

To me, she does not come across as being truly concerned for my welfare. It seems my story pushed her buttons and she felt she needed to defend her faith.

Over the years this old post has come up and I find it strange how many think this statement from 2000 is the only reason I reject religion. It is just a brief example of the many reasons why I am who I am today.

Here it is
First Anniversary as an Atheist:

I have always questioned what people told me about the bible and the stories found in it. But in the early 1970’s, in Glendive, Montana, Billy Graham came to town. Through his music and his promise that Christ loved me he said all I needed to do was accept Christ into my heart and I will be saved. I walked down the aisle in tears and knelt down before the stage and became a Born-Again Christian. Afterwards, I was taken into a room and given a mentor. This mentor said she would call me the next evening and start guiding me through my new life as a “true” Christian.

This was the one and only time I’ve ever been stood up. I, a lonely teen-ager, sat next to the phone all evening for naught. Looking back I am glad she never called me. Who knows what I would be like today if she had. Anyway, I then commenced to make my life and my family’s life miserable for months with my new found faith. I literally carried the bible around, thumping it and tried to save my family. This is an embarrassing memory for me. Of course my siblings just dished it back and my parents ignored my ranting thinking, “She is just going through a phase”, and I was. I slowly came to my senses. For years after that, I always considered myself a Christian. I told myself the bible was not to be taken literally and since I had Christ within my heart he would not abandon me. So I grew up and all through my twenties I lived a normal life as any young person, Dating, Parties, Living on my own and enjoying life in general.

It wasn’t until after I married in my early thirty’s when the ugly face of fundamentalism appeared in my life once again. I have to thank at least two different individuals for pushing me completely away from religion. The first person is related to me through marriage and this person is a hard-core Catholic. I have never met such an angry and mean person like this before. Paranoia and bigotry come to mind immediately when this person’s name is mentioned. I used to just shake my head in disbelief and keep my mouth shut. Then a couple of years ago, this person and the spouse did not go to their daughter’s wedding because it would not be recognized by “the Church”. I was dumb- struck by their action. It was so sad at the wedding. The daughter on the night of the rehearsal, weakly told the preacher that her parents might not be there. She was still hoping they would change their minds and show up. They didn’t. These people put “the church” before their own flesh and blood. This is the number one reason I became an atheist. The only comfort I found that weekend was that most of the congregation from their church went to the wedding. I guess it will be very lonely for them in Heaven.

The second person who convinced me that “religion is bunk” was a former co-worker. This person is member of a local Charismatic Christian Church. This person felt it was a duty to save my soul. I actually liked this person, but when it came to religion and politics this person was way out there. Religion and politics are the same for this co-worker. A true Fundy to the marrow. This was the first Fundy I had ever met, and it was quite an experience. This Fundy of course believed the bible was literally true. My eyes would enlarge and my mouth would drop open in amazement over some of the things I was told to verify “THE TRUTH”. We had several discussions and then, during one of our discourses, the Fundy proclaimed I sounded like a Humanist. At that time I didn’t know what that meant. Later, I tortured myself and watched the proceedings of the impeachment trial of President Clinton. I couldn’t understand why people where acting so crazy. I still remember the anger and hatred in the voices. I was bewildered and disgusted by it all.

So, during this time in American History, I went to my computer one afternoon and typed in the search word “HUMANIST”, and my life was changed forever. That was one year ago this month. This is my first anniversary as a freethinker. I spent almost all of my spare time in 1999 surfing the net. The Internet Infidels has been a wonderful place to increase my knowledge and define who and what I am today. In the first few months I shied away from the title Atheist, I considered myself Agnostic, a Freethinker and or a Humanist. But, after twelve full months of research, there is no doubt I am an Atheist. I figure, if there is something else out there, it is defiantly not one the various gods’ man has made up.

I am not trying to promote a particular web page but, The Happy Heretic, was the first Web page that really jump- started my mind. Judith Hayes is a writer that uses humor to dis the religious. I read all her archives in one afternoon, and afterwards I felt I had known her all my life. All the questions and doubts I have experienced in life where in her stories. That afternoon, I felt a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. It was such a relief to know I am not alone in my exasperation with fanaticism.

Billings Satanist Sues

BILLINGS — A 35-year-old Billings man imprisoned for drug possession has filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against Yellowstone County, alleging jailers interfered with his satanic religious practices while he was in jail.The lawsuit filed by Jason P. Indreland claims county jail staff took from him a religious medallion, denied him access to a “Satanic Bible or Book of Satanic Rituals” and ridiculed and punished him for his religious beliefs.The suit alleges that Yellowstone County jail staff placed “Christian natured greeting cards under (his) cell door,” that said “Jesus was ready to save and accept him.”Indreland is serving a three-year sentence at the Montana State Prison for felony drug possession. He was convicted after police found him with 15 grams of methamphetamine in March 2007.County officials said they have not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

Satanism is not what people think it is.

Anti-Stimulus Ad and Jesus

$787 billion could stretch over time from the birth of Jesus to the current day.

“Suppose you spent one million every single day starting from the day Jesus was born and kept spending through today,” an announcer says as images of the three wise men, the Roman Coliseum, the Mona Lisa and other historic landmarks flash across the screen. A million dollars a day for more than 2,000 years. You would still have spent less money than Congress just did.”

Could the Republicans stop using Jesus as their poster boy, it's heretical.

Other comments from CNN viewers;

Still using the Lord's name in vain. I guess they haven't learned their lesson yet. I thought they got the message when the prayer for rain on the democrats convention backfired.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." - Exodus 20:7

I have a feeling that when people have the choice between a job and Jesus.. they'll break down and go for the job.

(My fav) I agree. Jesus would be against the government trying to help out people who have lost their jobs. He would definitely all about rich people getting more tax cuts.

Ask yourself, WWJD (what would Jesus [or your deity of choice] do) about the recession, the auto companies, the banks, the war in Afghanistan and other current issues facing The One and His Peeps.

Where were the GOP's Concerns with WWJD when they spent Trillions in a war against people who didn't attack us????

Kansas for Common Sense

The vote stemmed by a request by Kim Borchers and her group "Kansans for Common Sense" to place four books behind the library counter. She did not request they be banned, but did ask access by minors be restricted.
The books were "The Joy of Sex," "The Joy of Gay Sex," "The Lesbian Kama Sutra," and "Sex for Busy People."

The Kansas Library board needs to be replaced, like the school board members in Kansas that voted to promote intelligent design in Science class.

Freedom of Choice Act?

‘The U.S. Catholic Church's crusade against the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) has all the hallmarks of a well-oiled lobbying campaign. A national postcard campaign is flooding the White House and congressional offices with messages opposing FOCA, and the Catholic bishops have made defeating the abortion rights legislation a top priority. In the most recent effort to stop the bill, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia sent a letter to every member of Congress imploring them to "please oppose FOCA." ‘

There is only one hitch. Congress isn't about to pass the Freedom of Choice Act because no such bill has been introduced.

REALLY!

I remember seeing something about this in the Helena IR recently in a fundy comment.
It goes to show how the flock follows without question.

PETA

PETA accuses the fast food giant of allowing its U.S. chicken suppliers to use a slaughter method that often causes birds to endure broken bones and abuse by workers.

Very true, I love to eat spicy chicken wings, and every so often I find a broken bone in a leg or wing and to my horror my husband says that was probably done when they pull the birds from thier cages. That is really awful. Not only is it horrible for the chicken, but it's not good for human consumption either. Broken chicken bones are brittle and sharp.

Gay Parades

SAN DIEGO -- Four San Diego firefighters suffered harassment when they were assigned to ride in a gay pride parade, and the city did not do enough to prevent their harm, a jury decided Tuesday.


I have to agree on this law suit. If the gay community wants the general public to accept them they need to reign in their overt sexual 'displays of affection'. It doesn't matter if it is gay or straight, most normal people are repelled by such behavior. I myself don't care to see teens making out in the park either. It's just gross.

Abstinence 'is NOT realistic,' Palin's daughter says

Correct girlfriend

The Palin family is the perfect example of how often religion does not get the results people pray for.

My Facebook list of 25 random things

Spent too much time on this not to post it here and on my page at the AtheistNexus

1. Spend too much time online doing this kind of thing
2. A Podcast Junky
3. Misunderstood
4. Can not get out of bed 1 minute earlier than necessary
5. A house without a cat is not a home
6. Have 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 rats
7. A Pastafarian
8. It's sad, but my laptop is my best friend
9. I post Comments on my local newspaper's website
10. Read in bed every night until I fall asleep
11. A Survivor Fan (I know, I know! I don't want to hear about it.)
12. Gave up Miller Lite for microbrews
13. Currently a non-smoker
14. Treat others as they would want to be treated
15. Generally content with my life & like my job
16. Worry too much about my kids
17. Hate shopping, but love 2nd hand stores
18. Snope forwarded emails, debunk and reply to all
19. Check my email alot
20. Office Politics is beneath me
21. Need to spend my time more constructively
22. Wish I could cook something other than what the kids like
23. Blog/Rant about theists
25. Only 25 things?

Thank Gawd for term limits

2 Bills pushed by Dan MCGee from Laurel seeks to take away governor’s appointment powers, again wanting to change our state constitution. This guy is creepy. He should be honest with his voters and run as a Constitution Party lackey. If you did not already know, it is a radical religious right wing party that would to love to replace our republican government with a theocracy.

It probably won't pass, and luckily this dude will go to the way side like our friend Mr. Grimes. Thank Gawd for term limits even thought it was another Republican poorly thought out plan that once again "amended the constitution" and this time to their detriment, don't they realize their messing with things that were not perfect, but was working fine until they screwed things up. Must they be reminded, that in the last 8 years of Republican rule, we are worse off now.

Mind boggling, not a working brain cell amongst them, they are purely emotional beasts from days gone by.

'Democrats said making board members run for office would revive the “culture wars,” and expose the school system to pressure from political interests.

VERY TRUE, that is how mr. mCgee got into office in the first place. It's what makes him tick. I and many others are tired of his crap and want real problems fixed.“

I wonder what other types of board memebers we should make run for office. Many business boards? Hmmmmm I would love to see that list, the repubs would have to rethink that one. Silly people. I swear they make things up as they go. Again they only target the evil secular school system. They obviously hate the fact that the school are supposed to treat all kids, not matter what religious background as equal to my wonderful kind unbeliveing kids. I don't want these wackos messing with my kids education. They want to ruin my kids Science education. How in the hell do they expect us to compete against a global econmy with stupid kids who think Evolution is 'only a theory. I guess they don't know Thomas Jefferson thought very poorly of home schooling, he did not want his daughter marrying an ignorant under-educated man.



'It will serve us in the end as one more divisive emphasis in our system when in fact we’re looking for what we have in common rather than what drives us apart,” said Democratic Sen. Bob Hawks of Bozeman.' Go Bob!

Republican Sen. Rick Laible of Darby joined Democrats in speaking against the bills, as he warned lawmakers that board elections would put schools in the hands of deep-pocketed special-interest groups. Go Rick! (He remembers all to well the ID mess in Darby a few years ago.)

Still, most Republicans voted — and spoke — in favor of the measures. They said more checks and balances are needed to keep the boards from mismanaging public resources.
(Who mismanaged what, give us a break!?)

“I believe in accountability,” said Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena. “There is a lot of criticism of public education right now. Look at all the people who have pulled their kids out and gone to home-schooling.”
Liar, most of us, are fine with our childrens education, its a loud obnoxius religous minority that causes discontent"

Each bill needs support from 100 out of the Legislature’s 150 total members.

The bills are Senate Bills 80 and 81.