Liberals and Democrats continue to downplay and diminish President Bush's reelection this past November. Despite their negativity, the U.S. economy continues to strengthen. Furthermore, despite John Kerry's droning about "over-hype", the U.S. and the world rejoice with the people of Iraq as they successfully complete their National Assembly elections as part of their march toward freedom and democracy.

Similarly, even as many conservatives and Republicans cringe somewhat as they evaluate Alberto Gonzales' nomination to serve as Attorney General due to his apparent or stated views about abortion and gun control, there are at least a few signs emanating from the early days of President Bush's second administration that give reason for hope that true morals, family values, and Constitutionality will be well-served during the next four years.

Thankfully, President Bush's inaugural address was filled with God-centered concepts and understated Scriptural references. America has always "proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth." He spoke of how oppression is wrong, of how freedom is eternally right, of sacrifice, justice, character, and equality, of the reality of evil, and of the truths of God's law and word. In contrast to those who fight for the rights of some at any and all costs, President Bush stated that "the exercise of rights is ennobled by service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak." Bush referred to the Lord's sovereignty when he asserted, "God moves and chooses as He wills". He affirmed the Lord's role in the lives of His creation when he called Him "the Author of Liberty" and referred to the Lord's watch-care over our country. As I considered these facets of the President's speech, I was reminded of the first portion of Psalm 33:12:

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD...

When President Bush addressed the recent March for Life by phone, he reiterated his commitment to our unborn children when he spoke of our "duty to protect the weak" and promoting a "culture that will protect the most innocent among us and the voiceless" as well as "working to promote a culture of life, to promote compassion for women and their unborn babies." The President continued by declaring that "the America of our dreams [is] where every child is welcomed in life and protected in law" and pointed to the step-by-step progress of increasing legal protection of the unborn and that "this progress is a tribute to [the] perseverance [of those striving to protect life] and to the prayers of the people." While we all enjoy medical advances vastly improving our lives, Bush claimed that "we will not sanction the creation of life only to destroy it." The President concluded by asking for the Lord's blessings on the people attending the march and for the nation.

One of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings' first public actions in her new position was the denouncement of a PBS kids' cartoon program episode that uses lesbian characters. The episode is part of the animated series "Postcards From Buster", which is produced by the large Boston public television station WGBH. The Department of Education has funded PBS children's programming with almost $100 million through the federal Ready-To-Learn program over the past five years. In her response, Spellings' wrote that, "Congress' and the Department's purpose in funding this programming certainly was not to introduce this kind of subject matter to children, particularly through the powerful and intimate medium of television." Furthermore, "many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode." PBS has decided not to distribute the episode to its 349 stations; however, WGBH will still defiantly make it available to other PBS stations that unfortunately decide to air the episode. While I could argue about the Constitutionality of the Department of Education, I am nonetheless thrilled with Secretary Spellings' prompt and unambiguous stance, especially considering the harsh treatment she has received from the liberal media and homosexual activists since making it. Brava, Secretary Spellings. Your response is a crystal clear shot across the bow.

These words and actions of President Bush and Secretary Spellings are in stark contrast to the humanism corrupting the extreme liberal movement in our country, which is described by the Apostle Paul:

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper. Romans 1: 21-23, 28

I'm anxiously waiting to hear the President's State of the Union Address to further ascertain what priorities and emphases President Bush will have during his second term.

Now if we could just do something about the illegal immigration fiasco...