In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Obama, Netanyahu Discuss Iran, Peace
• The Obama-nation of Abortion Coverage
• Health Care "Reform"
• Medicare Studies Obamacare
• The Obama Bow Kowtow
• The Good News Corner
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The Daily Brief - Monday, November 16, 2009
SPECIAL EDITION
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
Today's Daily Brief
1. World leaders deal major blow to Copenhagen climate change deal -
London Times
A key element of the international plan to address climate change is in jeopardy after several of the most powerful nations failed to confirm a previous commitment to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- Offer a chorus of praise for this direct answer to prayer, and continue to decree the demise of The Copenhagen Treaty in December. God is in control!
- "Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us." (Isaiah 8:10)
2. Russian gas pipeline's approval deals blow to EU - Deutche Welle
Slovenia's agreement to sign on to the South Stream pipeline project has dashed hopes by the European Union to reduce dependency on Russian gas.
- As the nations struggle to maintain their own sovereignty against the "brute force" of stronger Entities, ask our Lord to grant each one grace to do so. Pray that alternative sources of fuel and Energy will be discovered quickly in and for Europe, so that these nations can, indeed, be free of Their dependency on Russian gas.
- "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)
3. Obama Admin. Looking to Nationalizing Public Transportation System - Washington Post
The Obama administration will propose that the federal government take over safety regulation of the nation's subway and light-rail systems, responding to what it says is haphazard and ineffective oversight by state agencies.
- Okay . . . What's next? Ask our Lord to raise up a restraining force against the "pacman" mentality of this administration, that would seek to take over every aspect of our society. Pray, too, that the regulations already in place to safeguard the security of our nation's subway systems be enforced effectively. Pray!
- "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)
4. Weak dollar no quick fix for narrowing trade gap - AP
A weaker dollar may boost the nation's economy by increasing exports and narrowing the trade gap -- but that won't happen anytime soon.
- Pray for the strengthening of the dollar, for many nations, especially the oil nations, are discussing using some other money in which to sell oil - maybe ameros? Repent for our nation's squandering its immense wealth on things of pleasure rather than "laying up treasures in heaven." What we sow into His works brings blessings.
- "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." (Malachi 3:10)
5. Giuliani: 9/11 Trials in NYC Will Lead to More Terrorism - NewsMax
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani blasted the Obama administration on Friday for its decision to try five Sept. 11 suspects in New York, saying that such a trial would only encourage terrorists to target the city once again.
- Praise the Lord that Guilani has the courage to speak common sense. Probably the trials should be held in military tribunals, not in civilian courts. Pray that Attorney General Eric Holder also shows some wisdom in this matter and convinces our president that New York City trials are not correct.
- "You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" (Deuteronomy 4:6)
6. Abortion exposes divisions among Democrats - Reuters
President Barack Obama's bid to overhaul America's healthcare system has exposed a split over abortion within his Democratic Party that threatens to undercut the party's gains in recent elections.
- Knowing that the Lord established life and that His son Jesus stated that He is "the way, the truth, and the life," this split represents the beliefs of most American peoples. Praise the Lord that many politicians are convicted in their hearts (and probably in their pocket books) by the abortion issue. Pray that all our senators and representatives will hear their hearts burdened by the call to support life!
- "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26)
7. Two Earthquakes Strike Off Southern California Coast - Fox News
Two moderate earthquakes have struck under the ocean near the Channel Islands off the Southern California coast.
- What is the Lord showing us with these two earthquakes? Are they simply the movement of the tectonic plates? Praise the Lord that no people were injured by these phenomena!
- "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs." (Mark 13:8)
8. A million infected in Ukraine flu epidemic: minister - AFP
Ukraine's epidemic of flu and acute respiratory disorders has now affected more than a million people, the country's deputy health minister said on Tuesday.
Vasyl Lazoryshynets said the death toll from the epidemic had risen to 174, as President Viktor Yushchenko warned the country must brace itself for a second wave of infections. Read more.
- We wonder why the World Health Organization is not telling the world of the developing events in Ukraine and surrounding nations with this lethal flu, which independent sources claim is not "swine flu." Pray that intercessors will be alerted to pray over this catastrophe, as they begin to learn of this news. May their prayers avail much for the health and safety of every nation on earth in the face of this very dangerous illness.
- "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
The Middle East in Focus
1. The Secret Palestinian Plan - Fox News
A senior Palestinian official tells Fox News in the next few weeks the Palestinian Authority is planning to call for Palestinian statehood through a UN resolution -- a similar maneuver to that by which Israel was created.
- Pray for the Lord's intervention so that no two state plan is ever fulfilled.
- "Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us." (Psalm 2:1-3)
2. Netanyahu to PA: If you make unilateral moves, so will we - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Israel might take unilateral steps if the Palestinians did not return to the negotiating table.
- Praise the Lord that Netanyahu is another David, who stands before the uncircumcized Philistine Goliath and cries out to the Lord to save his people. Goliath scoffed but he was killed by a young boy who believed in the Lord's power and might.
- "David said, "The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine." So Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you!" (1 Samuel 17:37)
3. Fatah Considers Reverting to Popular Warfare - Bridges for Peace
Following Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' [Abu Mazen] announcement that he would not run for another term, a senior Fatah official told Ynet that if serious progress was not made soon in peace talks, the organization would consider reverting to popular warfare. The source said Saturday [November 7] that more and more Fatah operatives were calling for a return to violent resistance. "We are not talking about terror attacks and weapons, but we are talking about protests and (throwing) stones, like the anti-fence protests, and about strikes and protests by the people, so that the world understands that the next step will be unpleasant and we go back to the way things were before Oslo," he said.
- Pray that any attempts by Fatah to reinstigate violence against Israelis as in past intifadas will be ineffective, that the Lord will protect his people from any and all violence.
- "Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; the tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually." (Psalm 74:22- 23)
Obama, Netanyahu Discuss Iran, Peace
[Note: this meeting took place one week ago tonight; and was reported for prayer on Friday by Bridges for Peace.]
In a conversation shrouded in a virtual media blackout, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama met on Monday night [November 9] and discussed both Iran and Middle East Peace, according to the Jerusalem Post. Citing a statement on the meeting by the White House, the Post said Obama "reaffirmed" America's "strong commitment to Israel's security, and discussed security cooperation on a range of issues.
The president and prime minister also discussed Iran and how to move forward on Middle East peace." After the meeting, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak canceled interview plans.
According to the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, Netanyahu was expected in his meeting with Obama to emphasize his seriousness regarding peace talks with the Palestinians and to point out Israel's willingness on restraining settlement construction in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria].
Before the Obama meeting, Netanyahu had similar words for the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly. According to a transcript of the speech, as provided on the Prime Minister's Office website, Netanyahu called for the immediate resumption of peace talks.
"I believe there is no time to waste," said Netanyahu. "We need to move towards peace with a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose. I want to be clear. My goal is not to have endless negotiations. My goal is not negotiations for negotiations sake. My goal is to reach a peace treaty, and soon."
Though Netanyahu promised a willingness to compromise in the peace process, he refused to back down on demands to demilitarize a Palestinian state. "I want to assure you Israel is willing to make great concessions for peace. But there can be no concessions on Israel's security," said the Israeli leader. "We have to ensure that weapons do not flow into the Palestinian areas in the West Bank, which overlooks Tel Aviv and surrounds Jerusalem. We cannot permit another Gaza or South Lebanon in the heart of the country."
Ironically, after being accused of planning to push for "economic peace" without ever intending to finalize a peace deal with the Palestinians, it was Netanyahu who challenged that approach in his speech.
"Prosperity can help advance peace-but only so far. To truly resolve the outstanding issues between us, we must begin and complete peace negotiations. . . So I say today to the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen]: let us seize the moment to reach an historic agreement. Let us begin talks immediately."
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, November 10, 2009)
- Pray that Prime Minister Netanyahu will stand firm in his demand for a demilitarized Palestinian state and Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state in the region; pray that America will be sincerely committed to Israel's security, supporting these demands. "
- "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:1-4)
The Obama-nation of Abortion Coverage
Health care may be on Sen. Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) Thanksgiving menu, but it could be awhile before the Senate talks turkey. The Majority Leader started the Rule 14 process last week, which basically means the House bill would be available on the legislative calendar by tomorrow. Of course, just because it's on the Senate calendar doesn't mean the chamber will do anything with it. In order to start considering the bill, Sen. Reid would need 60 votes on his motion to proceed. With shaky support from his own party, that prospect seems highly unlikely. If any of the 58 Democrats and two Independents vote against the motion, the bill would stall. In case you're wondering why the Senate is considering the House bill instead of its own version, H.R. 3962 is just a placeholder. Because tax bills can't originate in the Senate, Sen. Reid is using the House legislation as a shell. Eventually, that shell will be replaced by the Senate health care bill, which is still under construction in closed door meetings of the Senate leadership.
One of the biggest questions on everyone's mind is whether the Stupak-Pitts amendment will survive the secret negotiations. Yesterday, Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) was blunt about the bill's chances without it. "What is clear is that for this bill to be successful, there can be no taxpayer funding for abortion," he said. And he's right. The Stupak amendment was the only popular thing about H.R. 3962. PelosiCare passed by a measly five votes, while the amendment to strip abortion funding won by a landslide (46 votes)! That fact seems to be completely lost on the President, who can't backpedal fast enough on his promise that "no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions."
Yesterday, White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod hinted that the President will do everything he can to strip the ban from the final bill, claiming that "the amendment changes the 'status quo,' something the President cannot abide." What changes the status quo is government-run health care. The Stupak amendment just adds the current restrictions to it. Planned Parenthood is already predicting an end to the amendment at the hands of the President, who President Cecile Richards calls her "strongest weapon." Meanwhile, her allies still insist on spinning the debate not as a denial of federal funding for abortion, but as a denial of the "right" to abortion--which is absurd. Under the Stupak amendment, women can get as many elective abortions as they want. But taxpayers have no more obligations to pay for that elective procedure than they do for a woman's elective plastic surgery.
Tell that to a group called Blue America. For every person who signs a petition to block the Stupak amendment, its leaders are sending coat hangers to 20 of the House Democrats who voted for it. "We're telling [them] ... [not to] take us back to an era of coat hangers and back alley abortions." Somebody ought to point out to them that this campaign is just exposing the lie of the pro-abortion movement. Why would they want to put something back in the bill that they said was never there? (Family Research Council)
Health Care "Reform"
Health Care "Reform" vs. Real Reform
According to Speaker Pelosi's definition of health care "reform," states can only get funding for liability demonstration projects IF they don't cap damages or attorneys' fees. Earlier this month the Congressional Budget Office said that tort reform would save $54 billion over the next decade. Another Health and Human Services study found reasonable limits placed on non- economic damages would reduce cost by an estimated $25.3 billion to $44.3 billion annually. Not to mention that several states have discovered millions in savings by introducing tort reform. As the Wall Street Journal reports, "30 states have adopted caps on awards as the core of their reform with huge success. Texas imposed malpractice caps in 2003, and the state has been rewarded with fewer lawsuits, a 50% drop in malpractice premiums, and a flood of new doctors." One reason why trial lawyers are left untouched could be the millions they give to Democrats every election cycle. (Family Research Council)
Medicare Studies Obamacare
You've Been Very Naughty
Last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "I'm hopeful that we will have a [healthcare 'reform'] bill as a Christmas present to the American people." Speaker Pelosi must think that we've been very naughty this year, because ObamaCare is the legislative equivalent of a lump of coal in our stocking. The more we learn about the bill, the worse it gets. A new report released this weekend by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the government agency in charge of running Medicare and Medicaid, takes ObamaCare apart.
First, it flatly rejects Obama's main selling point - that "reform" would save money - concluding instead that the House bill would actually "increase costs over the next decade by $289 billion." And given the government's track record, I strongly suspect that figure is too low. Second, the House bill would hurt senior citizens. The Washington Post reports:
"A plan to slash more than $500 billion from future Medicare spending - one of the biggest sources of funding for President Obama's proposed overhaul of the nation's health-care system - would sharply reduce benefits for some senior citizens and could jeopardize access to care for millions of others, according to a government evaluation released Saturday. The report . . . found that Medicare cuts contained in the health package approved by the House on Nov. 7 are likely to prove so costly to hospitals and nursing homes that they could stop taking Medicare altogether."
Remember, friends, this analysis is not coming from Fox News or the Chamber of Commerce. This is one of the administration's own federal agencies, and it's not the first to suggest that healthcare "reform" isn't "hope and change." (It's more like a socialist bait-and-switch.) Last month, government economists at the Department of Health and Human Services reported that "the nation's health care tab would increase somewhat more rapidly with the legislation than if nothing is done." (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; Nov. 16, 2009)
The Obama Bow Kowtow
Our submissive president has done it again. You will remember that last April at the G-20 meeting, Obama performed a deep bow before King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, igniting a firestorm of criticism. This weekend, demonstrating that he is a slow learner, Obama did it again - bowing at the waist to greet Japan's Emperor Akihito.
The White House immediately claimed Obama was merely following protocol. Wrong. You can go to this video and see dozens of other heads of state greeting Akihito without bowing. U.S. presidents should never bow.
Reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. My friend Bill Bennett said a photo of the encounter was "ugly." He added, "We don't defer to emperors. We don't defer to kings." Bill Kristol observed that he doubts Sarah Palin would have bowed or even curtseyed.
The bow hit such a nerve because Americans increasingly are concluding that our whole foreign policy under President Obama has become one big bow and apology. When he has a chance to remind the world of our defense of liberty, by going to Berlin to mark the anniversary of the fall of wall, for example, Obama refuses to go. But he never misses an opportunity to go to a forum and pronounce his own country guilty of imagined sins and offenses.
Rush Limbaugh sarcastically suggested today that Obama bows to royalty because he is jealous and hopes that someday he will be bowed to also. Not going to happen! (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; November 16, 2009)
The Good News Corner
Indescribable Christian Worship
by Chris Tomlin
Praise our INDESCRIBABLE SAVIOR today!!!
