The Ballad of Marty Minto (formor WORD-FM/Pittsburgh talk show host)

You may have heard this in the news but in case you have not, a talk show host who did a program for Christian Talk station WORD-FM out of Pittsburgh recently got the shaft. His name is Marty Minto and yes my friends he is a pastor

Why did he get the shaft???

Well it appears that the station manager feels that he was being too real. Someone called up the radio station and asked if Pope John Paul II is in heaven. Pastor Minto give an honest answer and did not say that Pope was in heaven or not in heaven (i.e. Hell). All he said that you had to be "born again" to get into heaven.

In short Minto did not judge one way or another regarding the Pope's eternal resting place, but left that to his God. Some people include the manager of WORD-FM did not like what he said and now Minto does not have a mic for the time being. Maybe he should try secular talk radio in the future, allthough Michael Savage clams that is format is creating smoke screens as well.

What should have Minto said??? Yes the Pope is in heaven because he done a lot of great things and take that on faith. Maybe if he did he would still have his job.

Brannon S. Howse worte a piece which has been posted at World Net Daily regarding this and says this is nothing buy a sign on how Christian personalities are born again be default. He did not say that, but that's how I saw his piece.

As for WORD-FM the manger can do what he like, and if the parent company approves than so be it. After all it is their station and they can do what they like with it.

Here is a thought that Howse did not come up with. What if this has to do more with earthly politics rather than "Christian-Happy Talk?" After all the Catholics and the Protestants did come together in their attempt to save Terri Schiavo. It is not the first time and it will not be the last time. Protestant leaders like James Dobson, and D. James Kennedy have made alliances with Cathloics leaders in their attempt to foward their Social Conservative platforms. If I am not mistaken Phyllis Schlafly is a Catholic herself but don't quote me their. What I can tell you is that Schlafly is the Mother of today's Social Conservative movement or as they like to call themselves the "Pro-Family" movment.

One thing that Schlafly did in her attempt to derail the national Equal Rights Amedment (and it was a bad thing) was to use church going people, regardless of the ways they worshiped or how the methods differed. She knew that these people held on to certain beliefs and would never likley change those beliefs. These people were key into "Stopping ERA." Later on Jerry Fallwell, and James Dobson would gain followers and join in the fight as well.

I should tell you right now that I used to be a Social Conservative. I am no longer such. On many issues regarding limited government, individual Freedom, and individual liberty I would be an agreement with them. Next time Schlafly does a piece education issues especially when it comes to the goverment ran schools in our country, you better you bet she will be one of my “recommended readings."

The one thing I have problems with "people of faith" is that they have a tendency to try to enact laws that have more to do with their faith than how it will benefit this nation. We are not talking about laws making murder illegal here. What I am talking about is banning profane language not only on "broadcast media" but even cable TV and satellite Radio!!! Broadcast airwaves I can see why (I don't nesscary support it personaly) but services that you have to pay for? Yep its all about family values...right? How about calling it what it really is? Your "religious values" which you are forcing upon others.

It does not stop their, they would likely force stories to close on Sunday, and force women to become mothers (i.e. making abortion illegal) when they are not ready to take on such a role. Yes I do support adoption, but still I believe that the woman has the right and that right alone to decide to let that unborn child live...or not. You will never ever stop abortion especially in the first trimester.

That's the way I see it regarding why a Pastor lost his talk show. It was not about who goes into heaven or not. Its about an earthly kingdom that the Dobson's, Kennedy's, Robertson's, Fallwell's, Schlafly's etc etc dream about. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that Christians should stay out of politics, but at same time they need to understand what our government is really about, and how organzied religion has not helped anyone when it becomes an official religion of the state.

Comments about my comments???? E-Mail me at donmccullen@prodigy.net

Welcome to TAX DAY!!!

I want to share some words of wisdom from T. Coleman Andrews who was the Commissioner of the the IRS from 1953 untill 1955.

"Congress went beyond merely enacting an income tax law and repealed Article IV of the Bill of Rights, by empowering the tax collector to do the very things from which that article says we were to be secure. It opened up our homes, our papers and our effects to the prying eyes of government agents and set the stage for searches of our books and vaults and for inquiries into our private affairs whenever the tax men might decide, even though there might not be any justification beyond mere cynical suspicion.

The income tax is bad because it has robbed you and me of the guarantee of privacy and the respect for our property that were given to us in Article IV of the Bill of Rights. This invasion is absolute and complete as far as the amount of tax that can be assessed is concerned. Please remember that under the Sixteenth Amendment, Congress can take 100% of our income anytime it wants to. As a matter of fact, right now it is imposing a tax as high as 91%. This is downright confiscation and cannot be defended on any other grounds.

The income tax is bad because it was conceived in class hatred, is an instrument of vengeance and plays right into the hands of the communists. It employs the vicious communist principle of taking from each according to his accumulation of the fruits of his labor and giving to others according to their needs, regardless of whether those needs are the result of indolence or lack of pride, self-respect, personal dignity or other attributes of men.

The income tax is fulfilling the Marxist prophecy that the surest way to destroy a capitalist society is by steeply graduated taxes on income and heavy levies upon the estates of people when they die.

As matters now stand, if our children make the most of their capabilities and training, they will have to give most of it to the tax collector and so become slaves of the government. People cannot pull themselves up by the bootstraps anymore because the tax collector gets the boots and the straps as well.

The income tax is bad because it is oppressive to all and discriminates particularly against those people who prove themselves most adept at keeping the wheels of business turning and creating maximum employment and a high standard of living for their fellow men.

I believe that a better way to raise revenue not only can be found but must be found because I am convinced that the present system is leading us right back to the very tyranny from which those, who established this land of freedom, risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to forever free themselves..."

Now read this from Neal Boortz and John Linder. This is from their upcomming book that adovcates for the Fair or National Retail Sales Tax.

Now here's where things get really depressing. After the idea of an income tax was declared to be unconstitutional the politicians in Washington chose sides and drew their battle lines. On the one side we had Democrats who were eager to spend the money that would come from an income tax. The Democrats included a platform calling for such a constitutional amendment permitting the income tax in both their 1896 and 1908 platforms. Republicans were opposed.

Those who favored the income tax scheme met with considerable success in capturing public sentiment with promises that the tax would "soak the rich" and would leave the vast majority of Americans alone. Wealth envy was every bit as alive and well in the early 1900s as it is in the early 2000s.

The history timeline now brings us to Texas Senator Joseph Bailey, a conservative Democrat, who cooked up a scheme to humiliate congressional Republicans. Bailey introduced a bill calling for an income tax. Even though Bailey himself was opposed to an income tax, he thought that the Republicans would rush in to kill this legislation. This would further the image that Democrats were trying to cultivate of Republicans as hostile to the poor and concerned only about protecting the wealthy. Wouldn't you know it; things didn't turn out as Bailey had planned. Liberal Republicans, backed by Teddy Roosevelt, came out in support of the bill. Passage seemed all but certain.

Conservative Republicans needed a way to derail the Bailey Bill and the growing threat of an income tax. In one of the worst examples of legislative play-calling in the history of our Republic, Republicans came up with the brilliant idea of announcing that they would support the idea of an income tax, but only if that income tax came about as the result of an amendment to our constitution. This group of conservative Republicans felt that while there might be some chance the proposed amendment would actually make it through the House and the Senate, there was just no way in the world that the legislatures of three-fourths of the states would vote for ratification and make it a part of our Constitution.

Oops.

Sail through the House and the Senate the amendment did. The vote in the Senate was 77-0 and the House approved it by 318-14. It was off to the states for ratification. Conservative Republicans were certain that the effort was doomed. They were wrong.

Democrats launched a massive effort to convince the people that any income tax would only be directed at the wealthy, and that ordinary Americans would be left unscathed. Conservative legislatures in the West and the South convinced their constituents that the adoption of the income tax would have little effect on them, since incomes high enough to be taxed were rare in these areas. The people, thus anesthetized, raised little objection and the 16th Amendment was ratified on February 12, 1913 . This date should be added to December 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001 as dates in American history that shall forever live in infamy.

The FairTax (c) 2005 John Linder & Neal Boortz

It is an uphill battle people since some people it is more important to protect gun rights than our tax rights, and then some. I hope people that have read this points understand know how this "progressive" income tax is nothing but a socialist dream come true. Soak the rich, Eat The Rich, Make the Rich pay, it is the middle and poor class that really suffers. We have to pay the taxes while the boys and girls in the beltway pay for all the perks and votes they need to stay in power.

Anyway what I shared with you comes from today's Nealz Nuze's blog. Please read what else he has to say today. Its a MUST READ!!!

http://boortz.com/nuze/200504/04152005.html#andrews

Tonight's Recommended Readings from The Blog According to Don

Radio host fired after talk about whether pope would go to heaven.
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1113454260228210.xml&storylist=penn

Neal Boortz talks about the Estate Tax or as he like to call it the DEATH tax, and how leftys are using Paris Hilton (Her family is in the Namesake hotel business) for their own personal gain. The Real losers are not the Hilton but the sample farm workers...oh I forget we taxpayers must to come to the aid of the farmers. Amazing how one woman turned Ed Schultz into a good socialist.
http://boortz.com/nuze/200504/04142005.html#deathtax

The left does not want to see John Bolton at the UN. Bill Kristol says sour grapes
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/482dtqni.asp

Helle Dale says Bolton must be confermend
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/helledale/HD20050414.shtml

Robert Novak also has his Bolton piece and talks about Dem Chris Dodd
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20050414.shtml

Ann Coulter talks about the Pie Throwing liberals and how they throw like girls
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/ac20050414.shtml

Larry Elder supports the minutemen
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/larryelder/le20050414.shtml

Speaking of Minutemen they are inviting Hillary Clinton to come down to the board...People beware this woman
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/4/13/101828.shtml

E-Mail me at donmccullen@prodigy.net

Prime Time TV Score Card: What Shows have been renewed

Well USA Today yesterday has listed the shows that have been renewed and what shows going, going, GONE!!! Their is a list of shows that may or may not be renewed but those will listed in post of this post on the renewed shows. Keep in mind that they focus ONLY on the scripted TV shows. No reality, Sports shows (real or not) or newsmagazine shows are highlighted on these lists.

ABC:

What did ABC renew???

According to Jim
Alias
Boston Legal
Desperate Housewives
George Lopez
Grey's Anatomy
Hope & Faith
Lost

Gone or will so be from ABC's lineup

Complete Savages
Jake in Progress
Life as We Know It
NYPD Blue (Starting to release this on DVD)
Rodney

CBS

What did CBS renew???

CSI
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Cold Case
King of Queens
Numb3rs
Still Standing
Two and a Half Men
Without a Trace

Gone or will so be from CBS's lineup

Center of the Universe
Clubhouse
Dr. Vegas
Everybody Loves Raymond (lives on in repeats)
JAG (Should be on DVD soon)

Note: NCIS is not on the renewed list but very likely it will be renewed.

FOX

What did FOX renew???

House
King of the Hill
Malcom in the Middle
The O.C.
The Simpsons
That 70's Show (Guys your pushing your luck here. The 80's is around the corner for this program and don't forget your attempt at an "80's Show" bombed. Oh well Big Bucks No Whammies...STOP!!!)
24

Gone or so will be from FOX's lineup...and all shall be forgotten

Jonny Zero
Method & Red
North Shore
Point Pleasant
Tru Calling

NBC

What Did NBC renew

Crossing Jordan
ER
Joey
Las Vegas
Law & Order
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Medium
Scrubs (What does NBC see in this show???)
The West Wing (We shall see how they do without Martin Sheen. Question is who gets it??? Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits. Expect some real GOP bashing if Alda gets on the A list)

Gone or so will be from NBC's lineup

American Dreams (Should have moved the show to Cally in the third year. Hello American Bandstand people)
Father of the Pride (Not everything Dreamworks does in the computer cartoon department is gold)
Hawaii (Jack Lord must be turning in his grave when NBC came up with this show. Now he can rest in peace knowing this one bombed)
LAX (Sorry Heather)
Medical Investigation
Third Watch

UPN

What did UPN renew???

Cuts
Eve
Girlfriends
Half & Half
One on One
Veronica Mars

Gone or soon will be from UPN's lineup

Second Time Around
Star Trek: Enterprise (Hey four seasons is better than three i.e. Star Trek:TOS. Time to give Star Trek a much needed pit stop ala Amazing Race lingo. Hey it did wonders for BBC's Doctor Who. Long Live Star Trek)

WB:

What did The WB renew

Charmed
Everwood
Gilmore Girls
One Tree Hill
Reba
7th Heaven
Smallville
What I like About You

Gone or Soon will be from The WB

Grounded for Life
The Mountain

Prime Time TV Score Card: What shows are truly on the Bubble

Here is are the shows that are on the bubble and my preditions on what shows will make it. Keep in mind these are the scripted sitcoms and dramas. Again Reality and newsmagazines have been left out.

ABC:
Blind Justice
Less than Perfect
8 Simple Rules
Eyes

Likely ABC shows to be renewed:

8 Simples Rules: Other ABC sitcoms like 'George Lopez' and 'Hope & Faith' get around the same numbers as 8 Simple Rules does. Sure it is not the same show without the late John Ritter but hey why chuck it if you don't everything else.

CBS:
Listen Up
Joan of Arcadia
Judging Amy
Yes Dear

Likely CBS shows to be renewed:

Judging Amy: It still pulls in very good numbers on Tuesdays along with NCIS and Amazing Race.

Joan of Arcadia: With JAG gone CBS might keep this show. It still beats ABC's 8 Simple Rules but not by much. Changes are that Numb3rs will take over JAG's old time slot on Fridays.

Yes Dear: Big mistake to dump this show for "Center of the Universe." Thanks to Idol this show even overtakes ABC's Alias statistly. It is a great companion show for "King of Queens."

FOX:
Life on a Stick
Bernie Mac
Arrested Development
Quintuplets

Likely FOX shows to be renewed:

Arrested Development: Sunday nights have not been kind of FOX recently, but since they are keeping Malcom in the Middle and King of the Hill for one more year why not. Maybe this could help Seth McFarlane's cartoon shows as well (Family Guy, and American Dad)

Life on a Stick: Its new but it shows promice in recent books. NBC did not help this week with the end time min-series.

Bernie Mac: It is not a big ratings getter, but like some UPN shows, it's ment for the African American audience. If it gets that group then its likely safe.

NBC:
Will & Grace
Committed
The Office

Likely to be renewed by NBC

Will & Grace: The reason why this show is on the bubble is because of the money. You know how these "stars" want more money in their checks when their shows do well. NBC will come though for them.

The Office: Its unique like Scrubs and better American version than Coupling. Both came from Britian. Shame on NBC if they chuck The Office.

UPN:
Kevin Hill
All of Us

Likely UPN shows to be Renewed

Kevin Hill: He is the black male Alliy McBeal. Kevin is just as unique as Veronica Mars

WB:
Jack & Bobby
Summerland

Likely WB shows to be Renewed:

Both and that is a longshot

Tonight's Recommended Readings from The Blog According to Don

Walter Williams contuines to talk about airport security and the TSA being dumb. They profile everyone but the ones that are likely might to try to kills us.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43771

I thought I never hear from the Heinz Lady again...Sadly we do and she is pan handling to those leftys still. Michelle Malkin talks about it.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43767

Burt Prelutsky talks about his favorates on radio and cable talk
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43768

Hate & Violence. Is this the liberal way??? Gunny Bob Newman says these days, the answer is YES!!!
http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/m-n/newman/2005/newman041205.htm

Conservative professors an endangered species??? No doubt about it and one young mexican at my old school is trying to get rid of one...If this stories still goes on I hope to talk about it. I the meantime read this piece Daniel Pipes
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/2526

John Stossel from the 20/20 TV newsmagzine on ABC says he has been getting nasty E-Mail regarding his stance on the enviroment. If you now Stossel he goes after big government instead of big business and most of his pals at ABC News don't like that. Anyway Stossel talks about Michael Crichton book that has the envio's on the run and who is REALLY behind the nasty E-Mails that Stossel got.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/GuestColumns/Stossel20050413.shtml

Brent Bozell once again puts the media on the spot. This time he goes after NBC regarding their love for Jimmy Carter (who loves commies and never hated one of them), and their hate for George W. Bush (sorry that Kerry lost...NOT!!!)
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/brentbozell/bb20050413.shtml

Two piece now regarding Tom DeLay. The first is from Linda Chavez in which she talks about that media that wants to feather and tar DeLay.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/lindachavez/lc20050413.shtml

Tony Blankley warns not to dump DeLay or a heavy price may have to be paid for the GOP
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/tonyblankley/tb20050413.shtml

Gary Aldrich warns all of us to make Sure that Hillary does not become the first woman Prez, unless you want someone that will ban guns and socialize our health care system.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/garyaldrich/ga20050413.shtml

E-Mail me at donmccullen@prodigy.net

Tonight's Recommended Readings from The Blog According to Don

I shall start off with last weeks audio commentary from Bob Parks, and he talks about Librarian that like to show off their clevage and tunnels that leak. No good for those who drive them.
http://mensnewsdaily.com/mp3s/parks-040805.mp3

Here are some random thoughts from Parks via his blog.
http://mensnewsdaily.com/blog/parks/2005/04/justice-delayd-justice-denied.html

Token Lefty tonight is Robert Scheer. We ingored the Pope's warning regarding Iraq. I could say that Scheer would disagree with him regarding abortion, but I support I woman's right to choose.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0412-32.htm

Sock me an E-Mail
donmccullen@prodigy.net

Today's Recommended Readings from The Blog According to Don

Guess who is behind borking John Bolton...George Soros just because he wants someone that will bow to the UN
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43743

The Donald (no realtion and his last name is Trump) is still giving Dan Rather the birdy
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/4/11/170617.shtml

Did Pope John Paul II promote socialism??? Star Parker looks into this.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/StarParker/sp20050412.shtml

Are the Judges above criticism??? Thomas Sowell talks about it and makes some good points.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/ts20050412.shtml

Ownership: An unalienable right??? Sounds like a MUST READ from Herman Cain
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/GuestColumns/Cain20050412.shtml

Robert Novak talks about Gray Lady's attempt to bork Delay
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20050411.shtml

Suzanne Fields talks Jane Fonda's audiobio
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/suzannefields/sf20050411.shtml

The liberals war on Wal-Mart. OK smarty pants, how bout challanging Wal-Mart and then some when local governments enact Eminent Domain to take property from people and replace them with Wal-Mart's in hope for more tax money??? Nahhh you liberals are so worried about "unions." Bill Murchison talks about this, and don't forget people. The unions demands are costly and are passed on to YOU and ME. Even Safeway and Kroger in Colorado are not able to give the unions what they want.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/billmurchison/bm20050412.shtml

The next time you hear "bad news" out of Iraq. Keep telling yourself that the old media is just an extendtion of the Democratic Party. David Limbaugh talks about it and the "Good News."
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/davidlimbaugh/dl20050412.shtml

Are Oil companies to blame for the high prices??? Brian Simpson says no way and shows you and me who is REALLY to blame...Enivormentalists and their environmental regulations
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050411/news_mz1e11simpso.html

Bryon York has new book out about the leftys and their attempts to gain power in goverment. Taken from this book he explans why Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 failed to rid us of Bush
http://www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.asp?ref=/york/york200504110813.asp

Another study about college professors and their liberal bias. Cathy Young talks about it.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/04/11/liberal_bias_in_the_ivory_tower/

Joseph Farah jumps on board regarding the Fair Tax
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43730

Greg Beato says we are ignore the real revoulation in Education...Homeschooling
http://www.reason.com/0504/fe.gb.homeschooling.shtml

Craig R. Smith gives us five steps to create wealth without gambling...Good Read
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43734

Token Lefty is Ellen Goodman: This piece I somewhat agree with. It talks about Pharmacists refusing to dispense birth control drugs. I speak for myself here...If the pharmacist owns the store and does not want anything to do with promoting it that is fine with me and the government should not interfear. However if he/she is working for someone that believes in birth control than that's another matter.
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=18859

E-Mail me at donmccullen@prodigy.net