Ron Paul's Third Party Bid -- Would He Even Have to Run? (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The most asked question on the campaign trail this election cycle seems to be if Texas Congressman Ron Paul will run as an independent or third party candidate if he fails to earn the Republican nomination. The more important question for the Republican Party to ponder isn't if Paul will run independent, but does Paul even have to run as an independent to divide the vote in a general election?

Voters who support Paul for the Republican nomination do so in a desire to change the role of government, end preemptive wars and drastically cut federal spending, among others. These loyal voters are very independently minded and very dedicated to the goal to change government. If they do not believe a candidate will fulfill their campaign promises to reduce the federal government they won't vote for them, period.

One example of how voters cast their vote with or without Paul's organization in the contest can be seen in the Florida primary. Paul's decision to skip Florida in favor of other upcoming contests like Maine was built on the understanding that Florida would be all risk and no reward as a winner-take-all primary having multiple costly media markets.

Without Paul campaigning in Florida, not advertising on Florida TV stations and not hiring a single campaign worker in the state, one would expect a terrible finish there. A vote percentage not unlike Rick Perry's finish in New Hampshire, a state he ignored and got less than 1 percent of the vote -- only 1,766 votes. Or perhaps a fate like Jon Huntsman's in Iowa, a state he openly ignored and ended up with just 739 votes. Paul got 7 percent of the Florida vote total without ever campaigning there -- well over 100,000 votes.

It is also noteworthy that in New Hampshire more registered Democrats wrote in a vote for Paul (2,273 write-in votes) than Perry got in total votes. No other Republican candidate drew that many votes from across the aisle in New Hampshire.

Even if Paul does not run as a third party candidate, his voters can still tip the balance of some battleground states in a general election, and this movement is almost unstoppable. Even if Paul endorsed another candidate, his loyal supporters would carefully evaluate that candidate and decide for themselves if he or she is worthy of their vote. After all, that is what led them to Paul's candidacy in the first place -- careful study of politics and political record.

It's looking more like the only choice voters have is between Paul or Barack Obama. Obama would win the general election if anyone other than Paul is the Republican nominee because they could not carry the Libertarian-Republican voter bloc, and Paul would win the general election if he is the Republican nominee because in a general election he would draw in the most independent voters and voters from across the aisle.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120207/pl_ac/10860927_ron_pauls_third_party__bid__would_he_even_have_to_run

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Eczema Causes, Natural Treatment for Eczema | ArticleGoes ? Free ...

? HTML Ready Article. Click on the ?Copy? button to copy into your clipboard. ; Plumber London: Just a Call and Problem Solve By: Jason Ausie The 24 Hour Emergency Plumbers London is known for the services they provide. Home is where heart is. After a long tiring day it is the home that gives [...]

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LONDON (Reuters) ? BP (BP.L) has turned a corner after the Gulf of Mexico disaster, its chief executive said on Tuesday, predicting the British oil firm would now return to output and cashflow growth and rejecting calls for a fundamental restructuring of the group. Europe?s second-largest oil group by market capitalization said its cashflow would [...]

Source: http://letourenglish.jameshouts2010.com/962/eczema-causes-natural-treatment-for-eczema-articlegoes-free/

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World News - 9 dead, dozens missing after blast at Pakistan factory

Arif Ali / AFP - Getty Images

An injured woman is removed from a collapsed factory in Lahore, Pakistan, on Monday.

By The Associated Press

LAHORE, Pakistan -- Rescue workers struggled to reach dozens of people trapped in the rubble of a factory that collapsed in an eastern Pakistani city Monday, killing at least nine, officials said.

The factory, which manufactured medicine, was set up illegally in a residential area of Lahore. It caved in after several gas cylinders inside exploded, said the city's deputy commissioner, Ahad Cheema. Authorities had previously closed the factory three times, but each time it reopened.

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The factory was owned by a local politician, who used his influence to keep it open despite complaints from neighbors, said local resident Munawar Ali.

Powerful Pakistanis often use their influence to circumvent the law and extract illegal profits.

Records indicate there were around 60 people, including women and children, inside the factory when it collapsed, said Rizwan Naseer, head of the state-run rescue service in Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital.

The nine dead people who were pulled out included five women, three boys and one adult man, said Naseer. Authorities rescued 11 people, and several others managed to extricate themselves. At least 32 people were still believed to be trapped, he said.

Rescue workers were having a difficult time digging out others under the rubble because the narrow streets around the factory made it hard to get heavy machinery to the site, said Naseer.

A young girl, Shakila Iqrar, wept at the scene as she told reporters that her cousin and older sister were trapped under the huge slabs of concrete.

"There were voices coming from inside, but now they are not coming," said Iqrar. "I want to ask to all of you to please get them out quickly."

? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/06/10327442-3-dead-dozens-missing-after-blast-at-pakistan-factory

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Scientists Embed Electronic Components Into Optical Fibers

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists at the Universities of Southampton and Penn State have found a way to embed electronic components into optical fibers, in a breakthrough that could lead to the creation of super high-speed telecommunications networks. Rather than trying to merge flat chips with round optical fibers, the team of scientists used high-pressure chemistry techniques to deposit semiconducting materials layer by layer directly into tiny holes in optical fibers. This bypasses the need to integrate fiber-optics onto a chip, and means that the data signal never has to leave the fiber."

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/Gr_Iwjbh1cQ/scientists-embed-electronic-components-into-optical-fibers

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leading the way to a life off the street: CHRISTIAN CHARITY: A Call ...

INTRODUCTION
MISSIONAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH CHARITY
--A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY
--MISSION AND CHARITY IN SOCIETY
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR CHARITY1
--OLD TESTAMENT SUPPORT
--NEW TESTAMENT SUPPORT
IMPLICATIONS FOR MINISTRY
SUMMARY
REFERENCES CITED

INTRODUCTION

It is a simple task to gauge a person?s understanding of stewardship by studying their charitable giving, or lack thereof. Christians have been known for generosity since the New Testament; from collecting for fellow believers? needs to serving the church through their own homes. Throughout the ages this sharing of one?s property, possessions, and income has taken various forms, depending upon the culture, societal conditions, personal ability, felt or communicated need, and the prevailing understanding of charity. Scripture provides a record of the giving of the Israelites and the church, and the impetus for sharing with others?family, neighbors, or visitors?within one?s sphere of influence. From whatever denomination, most Christians will agree the Bible provides an unmistakable model of, and rewards for, giving of one?s resources.

With such sufficient encouragement, and ample evidence for a scriptural basis to share one?s resources with others, one would think that the external environment in which people find themselves would not necessarily be a factor in their giving. Unfortunately, we find that to be untrue in this day of a faltering economy. Given recent research, we see overwhelming evidence that the church has lost its obligatory teaching of stewardship and giving.

The people of God alone, following even a limited scriptural model of giving, could create a stimulus package of their own, wiping out the worst world poverty by just giving an average of ten percent. In his book God and Your Stuff, Wesley Willmer details the recent giving statistics of Christians. Although Christians out-give the general population by four times, their giving leaves a lot to be desired, as average giving of income is well below ten percent. Roman Catholics? average 1.5 percent of income; Protestants 2.8; and Evangelicals 4.8. (Wilmer 2002:143) However, even with a church that gives more than the general public, the statistics point to a disappointing decline in overall giving by Christians. In Money, Possessions, and Eternity, Randy Alcorn shares 2001 results from Barna Research that reveals significant trends in giving:

• A 19 percent drop in per capita donations to churches
• Among adults calling themselves ?born-again,? there was a 44 percent increase in those who gave nothing
• The number of donors to nonprofits or churches declined by 7 percent

Barna Research also reveals that not only does giving decrease as income increases, but that those making less generally give the highest percentage of their income. (Alcorn 2003:180) Likewise, in a new study on Christian giving, Passing the Plate, sociologists Christian Smith, Michael Emerson, and Patricia Snell expose even more disappointing facts:

Americans who earn less than $10,000 gave 2.3 percent of their income to religious organizations, whereas those who earn $70,000 or more gave only 1.2 percent. While the actual percentages are slightly higher for Christians who regularly attend church, the pattern is similar. Households of committed Christians making less than $12,500 per year give away roughly 7 percent of their income, a figure no other income bracket beats until incomes rise above $90,000 (they give away 8.8 percent). (Moll 2008)

The reasons given are: more people living on fixed incomes; they are following the example of the church?s external giving; they are not being asked to give; and they give from their wallets rather than from their paychecks?congregants simply do not plan to give in a premeditated manner. Alcorn?s commentary rings true here, ?What we do with our possessions is a sure indicator of what?s in our hearts.? (Alcorn 2003:101)

In declining economies such as we now find ourselves, individuals and families are historically at risk of losing employment and housing, and, for some, even becoming homeless. In this situation the normative and logical reaction is to pull back from charitable giving?limiting our financial stewardship in these areas, and lessening our missional impact to the world. However, I believe the U.S. church needs to reassess their understanding of missional stewardship with relationship to providing charity to the homeless and needy.

Scripture is replete with directives to serve the homeless and needy, and therefore, ministry to homeless and needy can be seen as God?s mission for the people of God. It is logical to assume that ministry to the homeless can be a quantitative measure of missional stewardship within the U.S. church. How a church deals with the weakest members of their own community is now, more than ever, indicative of their understanding of mission.

To facilitate a foundation for this challenge we will discuss?albeit briefly?historical, missional, and biblical support for considering the necessity of the church to reassess its understanding of stewardship and involvement in charitable service. As an introduction, a healthy understanding of charitable giving and how God views the poor is in order. In The Other Six Days, R. Paul Stevens discusses the need for a theology of good works: what orthodoxy is to doctrine and orthopraxy is to works, orthopathy is to having a passion for God?s heart . . . ?to care for what God cares for.? (Stevens 1999:251) As the people of God develop a true theology of giving through understanding God?s heart, they will accept what the fourth century church father, John Chrysostom argued, that ?the rich are not owners of their wealth but stewards for the poor.? (Stevens 1999:252) He also admonishes the church ?that ministering to the poor simultaneously heals the hearts of the rich and nourishes Jesus,? agreeing with Matthew 25:40. Who better to educate our hearts on love and compassion than our neighbor?

In the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) we find an expanded version of who Christ considers our neighbor: anyone in need to whom we can provide hospitality . . . and thus, we express our love for God through our actions of grace, as we serve?not merely the neighbor?but God. This truth gives impetus to the church to have a passion for stepping beyond its comfort and into service. In Doing Well and Doing Good, Os Guinness contrasts those who would serve comfortably from within their own communities, and those who step boldly into the uncomfortable. There is a distinct difference between philanthropy and charity; ?to be a ?soup-kitchener? and cross the social lines to care for the poor and needy is a costly decision that requires moral initiative.? (Guinness 2001:221) It is this initiative that I would like to discuss.

Source: http://lbrmceo.blogspot.com/2012/02/christian-charity-call-for-return-to.html

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Sandia Labs engineers create 'self-guided' bullet

[unable to retrieve full-text content]ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? Figuring out how to pack a processor and other electronics into a machine gun bullet has been a challenge for engineers at Sandia National Laboratories, so weapons experts say the miniature guidance system the lab has developed is a breakthrough.

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-02-02-Laser-Guided%20Bullets/id-e924b2217fd84f82b2aa404ede04fb00

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UK minister Chris Huhne faces criminal charges (AP)

LONDON ? British Prime Minister David Cameron was making a third unwanted shake up of his government Friday, after prosecutors charged Cabinet minister Chris Huhne over an alleged attempt to pin a speeding penalty on his ex-wife.

Cameron, who took office in 2010 with a vow to keep his top ministers in their posts for the long term, was finalizing a replacement for Huhne's position in charge of Britain's energy and climate change ministry.

It follows earlier unplanned reshuffles of Cameron's Cabinet, after Liberal Democrat David Laws stepped down in 2010 over an allowances row and following the dramatic departure of Defense Secretary Liam Fox, who resigned last year following a furor over a close friend who had posed as an aide.

Huhne, who will continue to serve in Parliament with the Liberal Democrat party ? the junior member in Britain's coalition government ? faces a criminal charge of perverting the course of justice, Keir Starmer, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales said.

Prosecutors said the offense carried a maximum sentence of life in jail, though those convicted typically face much more lenient punishments.

The charge follows an eight-month police investigation into an allegation that Huhne persuaded his now ex-wife, economist Vicky Pryce, to accept a speeding penalty on his behalf in 2003, to avoid a driving ban.

Starmer said that Huhne and Pryce, who were married for 26 years and had three children and two stepchildren together before they split in 2010, would both face the same charge and appear in court on Feb. 16.

"We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr. Huhne and Ms. Pryce for perverting the course of justice," Starmer said.

Huhne has consistently denied any wrongdoing over the case, which relates to a speeding offense committed as a car used by the couple traveled from Stansted Airport, near London, to Huhne's home in Clapham, south London in 2003.

"I am innocent of these charges and I intend to fight this in the courts and I am confident a jury will agree," Huhne told reporters after he was informed he had been charged.

In a letter sent to Cameron tendering his resignation, Huhne said he would "mount a robust defense against the charges" and added that he had been honored to lead Britain's work to tackle climate change.

Cameron, in his written reply, told Huhne he had "made the right decision under the circumstances" to step down.

Starmer said Huhne was accused of having "falsely informed the investigating authorities that Ms. Pryce had been the driver of the vehicle in question" in order to escape a speeding penalty.

Cameron's office did not immediately say who would replace Huhne, though he is expected to be succeeded by another member of deputy prime minister Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrat party.

In a letter to Huhne, Clegg said he hoped his colleague ? previously a rival for their party's leadership ? would eventually return to a key role in government "as soon as possible."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/religion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120203/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_minister_charged

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